Ashley Braun
@ashleybraun.bsky.social
Science + Environmental Journalist, Sr. Editor @ DeSmog, Fact-checker. Seattle, WA. ashleybraun.com
The Climate Working Group was hand-picked by Energy Secretary Chris Wright "for their rigor, honesty, and willingness to elevate the debate." We see their actual process in hundreds of pages of emails and documents, including attacks on mainstream scientists and institutions and rushed review.
🚨 NEW 🚨 Trump EPA's decision to repeal the endangerment finding now discards a signature report by 5 climate crisis deniers, produced so the admin could use it to scientifically justify rolling back climate regulations, 100s of emails reveal. @sharonkelly.bsky.social read 'em all 🧵 buff.ly/4m6XjbX
Trump EPA Abandons Climate Working Group Report in Endangerment Finding Repeal
Emails from the hand-picked, secretive group of climate crisis deniers revealed flaws in their methods and “animus” toward leading scientists.
www.desmog.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:53 PM
The Climate Working Group was hand-picked by Energy Secretary Chris Wright "for their rigor, honesty, and willingness to elevate the debate." We see their actual process in hundreds of pages of emails and documents, including attacks on mainstream scientists and institutions and rushed review.
“That level of warming would result in the loss of nearly all coral reefs and significant sea level rise that would overwhelm coastal communities.”
February 12, 2026 at 10:23 PM
“That level of warming would result in the loss of nearly all coral reefs and significant sea level rise that would overwhelm coastal communities.”
Maybe you've heard about Energy Sec. Chris Wright and the DOE declaring "energy emergencies" to keep coal plants open? Now the EPA's using the Clean Air Act to do something similar in Colorado, with implications beyond. @joefassler.bsky.social for @desmog.com 👉
www.desmog.com/2026/02/09/t...
www.desmog.com/2026/02/09/t...
Trump’s EPA Just Used the Clean Air Act to Prop up Coal Power
The Environmental Protection Agency threw out Colorado’s entire haze reduction plan, in what critics called ‘illegal’ and a possible warning to other states not to close fossil fuel plants.
www.desmog.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Maybe you've heard about Energy Sec. Chris Wright and the DOE declaring "energy emergencies" to keep coal plants open? Now the EPA's using the Clean Air Act to do something similar in Colorado, with implications beyond. @joefassler.bsky.social for @desmog.com 👉
www.desmog.com/2026/02/09/t...
www.desmog.com/2026/02/09/t...
"the [economic] models assume the future will behave like the past, despite the burning of fossil fuels pushing the climate system into uncharted territory." "Investors should also speed up the move away from fossil fuels as a fiduciary duty to avoid large future losses, said Campanale."
“The climate scientists we surveyed were unambiguous: current economic models can’t capture what matters most – the cascading failures and compounding shocks that define climate risk in a warmer world – and could undermine the very foundations of economic growth.”
This should be THE story everyday.
This should be THE story everyday.
Flawed economic models mean climate crisis could crash global economy, experts warn
States and financial bodies using modelling that ignores shocks from extreme weather and climate tipping points
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:23 PM
"the [economic] models assume the future will behave like the past, despite the burning of fossil fuels pushing the climate system into uncharted territory." "Investors should also speed up the move away from fossil fuels as a fiduciary duty to avoid large future losses, said Campanale."
You can help cover rent, legal guidance, relocation to a new or safer country, and other urgent transition needs for former Washington Post international employees not covered by Guild protections, in places from Cairo to Mexico City. www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo...
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
www.gofundme.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:27 PM
You can help cover rent, legal guidance, relocation to a new or safer country, and other urgent transition needs for former Washington Post international employees not covered by Guild protections, in places from Cairo to Mexico City. www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo...
Smart take as usual from @sammyroth.bsky.social on what the WaPo layoffs mean for climate reporting and democracy more broadly www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/washington...
February 5, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Smart take as usual from @sammyroth.bsky.social on what the WaPo layoffs mean for climate reporting and democracy more broadly www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/washington...
My heart goes out to all the great Washington Post journalists who lost their jobs today. www.npr.org/2026/02/04/n...
Bezos orders deep job cuts at 'Washington Post'
The Washington Post embarked on severe cuts despite appeals by the newsroom to owner Jeff Bezos. The paper is to narrow its focus largely to politics and national security.
www.npr.org
February 5, 2026 at 12:44 AM
My heart goes out to all the great Washington Post journalists who lost their jobs today. www.npr.org/2026/02/04/n...
Also, your Friday reminder that some birds are parasites (!) and just say no to parenting—but can teach us a lot about how species recognition works
Have you ever heard of a parasitic bird? This researcher's dedicated his life to studying these often maligned birds and how they help us better understand big questions like how a bird even knows which species it is. (Seems obvious yet...) My latest for @audubon.org www.audubon.org/magazine/res...
Got Beef With Cowbirds? This Researcher Wants to Change Your Mind
The nest parasites get a bad rap for making other birds raise their young, but study by study, Mark Hauber and his “Cowbird Lab” have revealed a species worthy of respect.
www.audubon.org
January 30, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Also, your Friday reminder that some birds are parasites (!) and just say no to parenting—but can teach us a lot about how species recognition works
Update: A judge ruled it was illegal when DOE “Secretary Chris Wright handpicked five researchers who reject the scientific consensus on climate change to work in secret on a sweeping government report on global warming.” @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/c...
January 30, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Update: A judge ruled it was illegal when DOE “Secretary Chris Wright handpicked five researchers who reject the scientific consensus on climate change to work in secret on a sweeping government report on global warming.” @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/c...
“Federal agents arrested independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for covering a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, where a pastor is also an official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” minnesotareformer.com/briefs/feds-...
Federal agents arrest journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for filming protest at St. Paul church • Minnesota Reformer
Federal agents arrested independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for covering a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, where a pastor is also an official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enf...
minnesotareformer.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:59 PM
“Federal agents arrested independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for covering a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, where a pastor is also an official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” minnesotareformer.com/briefs/feds-...
"The White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which reviews agency regulations, has expressed concerns over the strength of the scientific and economic analysis of the proposed repeal, the people said." www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Trump’s biggest climate rollback stalls over fears it will lose in court
Trump officials have delayed finalizing the repeal of the agency’s “endangerment finding” over concerns the proposal is too weak to withstand a court challenge.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:18 PM
"The White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which reviews agency regulations, has expressed concerns over the strength of the scientific and economic analysis of the proposed repeal, the people said." www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Reposted by Ashley Braun
yet another example from @desmog.com of how fossil asset owners fixate on "managing tons" thru carbon accounting to distract from the REAL problem: burning fossil fuels.
I write about why managing tons is doomed to fail extensively in my new book Existential Politics (link in bio).
I write about why managing tons is doomed to fail extensively in my new book Existential Politics (link in bio).
After Decades of Deflection, ExxonMobil Moves to Reshape Global Climate Accounting
For decades, ExxonMobil argued consumers, not oil giants, should take responsibility for fossil fuel pollution. It’s now backing Carbon Measures’ accounting scheme, which moves pollution “liabilities”...
www.desmog.com
January 26, 2026 at 2:55 PM
yet another example from @desmog.com of how fossil asset owners fixate on "managing tons" thru carbon accounting to distract from the REAL problem: burning fossil fuels.
I write about why managing tons is doomed to fail extensively in my new book Existential Politics (link in bio).
I write about why managing tons is doomed to fail extensively in my new book Existential Politics (link in bio).
For decades, ExxonMobil argued consumers, not oil giants, should take responsibility for fossil fuel pollution. It’s now backing a new accounting scheme which moves climate pollution “liabilities” to buyers’ books. @sharonkelly.bsky.social has the story for @desmog.com www.desmog.com/2026/01/23/e...
After Decades of Deflection, ExxonMobil Moves to Reshape Global Climate Accounting
For decades, ExxonMobil argued consumers, not oil giants, should take responsibility for fossil fuel pollution. It’s now backing Carbon Measures’ accounting scheme, which moves pollution “liabilities”...
www.desmog.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:08 PM
For decades, ExxonMobil argued consumers, not oil giants, should take responsibility for fossil fuel pollution. It’s now backing a new accounting scheme which moves climate pollution “liabilities” to buyers’ books. @sharonkelly.bsky.social has the story for @desmog.com www.desmog.com/2026/01/23/e...
"Saudi Aramco was the biggest state-controlled polluter and ExxonMobil was the largest investor-owned polluter."
Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from just 32 fossil fuel firms, study shows
- Critics accuse leading firms of sabotaging climate action but say data increasingly being used to hold them to account
@influencemap.bsky.social
#climatecrisis
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Critics accuse leading firms of sabotaging climate action but say data increasingly being used to hold them to account
@influencemap.bsky.social
#climatecrisis
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from just 32 fossil fuel firms, study shows
Critics accuse leading firms of sabotaging climate action but say data increasingly being used to hold them to account
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:06 PM
"Saudi Aramco was the biggest state-controlled polluter and ExxonMobil was the largest investor-owned polluter."
Have you ever heard of a parasitic bird? This researcher's dedicated his life to studying these often maligned birds and how they help us better understand big questions like how a bird even knows which species it is. (Seems obvious yet...) My latest for @audubon.org www.audubon.org/magazine/res...
Got Beef With Cowbirds? This Researcher Wants to Change Your Mind
The nest parasites get a bad rap for making other birds raise their young, but study by study, Mark Hauber and his “Cowbird Lab” have revealed a species worthy of respect.
www.audubon.org
January 15, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Have you ever heard of a parasitic bird? This researcher's dedicated his life to studying these often maligned birds and how they help us better understand big questions like how a bird even knows which species it is. (Seems obvious yet...) My latest for @audubon.org www.audubon.org/magazine/res...
Reposted by Ashley Braun
Here's my deep dive on the serious homeowners insurance situation that Idaho is facing and some possible ways forward. The reporting forced me to rethink some of my assumptions, and I hope it helps folks better understand this serious problem. www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-gov...
As evidence of Idaho homeowners insurance crisis mounts, so does bipartisan concern
New data also points to major insurance impacts in places surprising to many, including the Snake River Plain.
www.boisestatepublicradio.org
December 29, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Here's my deep dive on the serious homeowners insurance situation that Idaho is facing and some possible ways forward. The reporting forced me to rethink some of my assumptions, and I hope it helps folks better understand this serious problem. www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-gov...
Reposted by Ashley Braun
Charles Koch built his fortune importing Canadian oil—with Koch Inc importing more than a billion barrels of foreign oil into the US since 2015. Now a Koch-funded law firm is taking Trump's tariffs to the Supreme Court. @sharonkelly reports:
Battle Over Tariff Power Pits Trump Against Koch Network
Charles Koch’s fortunes were fueled by importing Canadian oil. Now a major Koch-funded law firm seeks to limit Trump’s tariff powers.
buff.ly
November 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Charles Koch built his fortune importing Canadian oil—with Koch Inc importing more than a billion barrels of foreign oil into the US since 2015. Now a Koch-funded law firm is taking Trump's tariffs to the Supreme Court. @sharonkelly reports:
Going down a rabbit hole for a feature I’m writing on Indigenous fire 🔥 and ended up with Kari Marie Norgaard’s book “Salmon and Acorns Feed Our People: Colonialism, Nature & Social Action,” a case study on the Karuk Tribe in NW California. This right here about sums it up:
November 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Going down a rabbit hole for a feature I’m writing on Indigenous fire 🔥 and ended up with Kari Marie Norgaard’s book “Salmon and Acorns Feed Our People: Colonialism, Nature & Social Action,” a case study on the Karuk Tribe in NW California. This right here about sums it up:
Well, glad we settled that little privacy issue, Facebook
November 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Well, glad we settled that little privacy issue, Facebook
Reposted by Ashley Braun
I'm excited to join @laurenfeldman.bsky.social, @tracybaim.bsky.social, @timafranklin.bsky.social, & @columbiajournalism.bsky.social's Duy Linh Nguyen Tu for a @nationalacademies.org session on strategies for advancing high-quality science journalism. Thurs, 11/13 (1 PM ET). Register: bit.ly/3WJZGYW
November 8, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I'm excited to join @laurenfeldman.bsky.social, @tracybaim.bsky.social, @timafranklin.bsky.social, & @columbiajournalism.bsky.social's Duy Linh Nguyen Tu for a @nationalacademies.org session on strategies for advancing high-quality science journalism. Thurs, 11/13 (1 PM ET). Register: bit.ly/3WJZGYW
Helps explain the Bill Gates climate memo: Gates Foundation gave $3.5M to climate crisis denier Bjorn Lomborg, who collaborated w/ Gates, said climate change "is not the existential threat that some would have us believe," supported fossil fuels as a poverty solution www.desmog.com/2025/11/05/b...
Bill Gates Gave $3.5M to Think Tank Run by Climate Crisis Denier Bjorn Lomborg
Tax records reveal that the billionaire’s foundation has donated for years to Lomborg’s Copenhagen Consensus Center.
www.desmog.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Helps explain the Bill Gates climate memo: Gates Foundation gave $3.5M to climate crisis denier Bjorn Lomborg, who collaborated w/ Gates, said climate change "is not the existential threat that some would have us believe," supported fossil fuels as a poverty solution www.desmog.com/2025/11/05/b...
Reposted by Ashley Braun
I get asked a lot about how climate change denial in USA affected or was exported to the rest of the world. Read this:
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
‘A Pretty Ugly History’: How Exxon Exported Climate Denial to the Global South
With Brazil about to host COP30, DeSmog has obtained copies of checks Exxon mailed to the right-wing Atlas Network in the 1990s to turn Latin America against climate treaties.
www.desmog.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:51 PM
I get asked a lot about how climate change denial in USA affected or was exported to the rest of the world. Read this:
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
I've been a freelance fact-checker for @sciencenews.bsky.social for 9 years. They deserve equitable and transparent pay and flexible remote work policy.
Workers of the Science News Media Guild will conduct a 24-hour #strike on Wednesday, 11/5. This comes after our members voted to reject the Society’s latest contract proposal. Our members previously voted by 92% to authorize a strike against the @society4science.bsky.social, if necessary.
November 4, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I've been a freelance fact-checker for @sciencenews.bsky.social for 9 years. They deserve equitable and transparent pay and flexible remote work policy.
Reposted by Ashley Braun
notes on gatesnotes, in a thread
"A new way to look at the problem" - er, no, he's been running this line for DECADES
On the headline: you can absolutely guarantee anyone presenting themselves as telling tough, hard truths is about to deliver some self-aggrandising nonsense
"A new way to look at the problem" - er, no, he's been running this line for DECADES
On the headline: you can absolutely guarantee anyone presenting themselves as telling tough, hard truths is about to deliver some self-aggrandising nonsense
October 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
notes on gatesnotes, in a thread
"A new way to look at the problem" - er, no, he's been running this line for DECADES
On the headline: you can absolutely guarantee anyone presenting themselves as telling tough, hard truths is about to deliver some self-aggrandising nonsense
"A new way to look at the problem" - er, no, he's been running this line for DECADES
On the headline: you can absolutely guarantee anyone presenting themselves as telling tough, hard truths is about to deliver some self-aggrandising nonsense
When you literally have the receipts
We obtained hundreds of documents revealing how Exxon funded the rightwing Atlas Network to spread climate denial in Latin America and all across the Global South.
Read @geoffdembicki.bsky.social's exclusive story.
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
Read @geoffdembicki.bsky.social's exclusive story.
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
‘A Pretty Ugly History’: How Exxon Exported Climate Denial to the Global South
With Brazil about to host COP30, DeSmog has obtained copies of checks Exxon mailed to the right-wing Atlas Network in the 1990s to turn Latin America against climate treaties.
www.desmog.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:24 PM
When you literally have the receipts