Jonathan Mingle
@jmingle.bsky.social
climate/energy journalist
author of GASLIGHT and FIRE AND ICE
words in @nytimes.com @nybooks.com @yalee360.bsky.social
@undark.org and more
website: jonathanmingle.com
signal contact: jmingle.74
author of GASLIGHT and FIRE AND ICE
words in @nytimes.com @nybooks.com @yalee360.bsky.social
@undark.org and more
website: jonathanmingle.com
signal contact: jmingle.74
Pinned
Jonathan Mingle
@jmingle.bsky.social
· Feb 19
Celebrating the 2025 Reed Environmental Writing Award winners
The Southern Environmental Law Center congratulates this year’s winners of its 2025 Phillip D. Reed Environmental Writing Award. Through their work, winners Jonathan Mingle, Jared Kofsky, Maia Rosenfe...
www.southernenvironment.org
I'm truly honored that my book GASLIGHT has been named winner of the 2025 Reed Environmental Writing Award presented by @selc.bsky.social.
Its David v. Goliath tale of grassroots power overcoming corporate energy interests seems more relevant than ever.
www.southernenvironment.org/news/celebra...
Its David v. Goliath tale of grassroots power overcoming corporate energy interests seems more relevant than ever.
www.southernenvironment.org/news/celebra...
🤯
"Venezuela is sitting on more natural gas than Saudi Arabia, and routinely flares off enough...to meet the entire annual demand of neighbouring Colombia—itself a rising importer of LNG." -- @seb.energyflux.news.ap.brid.gy
Any oil majors going in will own Venezuela's massive methane leaks, too.
"Venezuela is sitting on more natural gas than Saudi Arabia, and routinely flares off enough...to meet the entire annual demand of neighbouring Colombia—itself a rising importer of LNG." -- @seb.energyflux.news.ap.brid.gy
Any oil majors going in will own Venezuela's massive methane leaks, too.
January 15, 2026 at 1:14 PM
🤯
"Venezuela is sitting on more natural gas than Saudi Arabia, and routinely flares off enough...to meet the entire annual demand of neighbouring Colombia—itself a rising importer of LNG." -- @seb.energyflux.news.ap.brid.gy
Any oil majors going in will own Venezuela's massive methane leaks, too.
"Venezuela is sitting on more natural gas than Saudi Arabia, and routinely flares off enough...to meet the entire annual demand of neighbouring Colombia—itself a rising importer of LNG." -- @seb.energyflux.news.ap.brid.gy
Any oil majors going in will own Venezuela's massive methane leaks, too.
Reposted by Jonathan Mingle
"Coal power generation fell in both China and India in 2025, the first simultaneous drop in half a century, after each nation added record amounts of clean energy," writes @laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social for @carbonbrief.org: www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-coa... 🔌💡
Analysis: Coal power drops in China and India for first time in 52 years after clean-energy records - Carbon Brief
Coal power generation fell in both China and India in 2025, after each nation added record amounts of clean energy
www.carbonbrief.org
January 13, 2026 at 7:11 PM
"Coal power generation fell in both China and India in 2025, the first simultaneous drop in half a century, after each nation added record amounts of clean energy," writes @laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social for @carbonbrief.org: www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-coa... 🔌💡
Reposted by Jonathan Mingle
Breaking: NYT now says *six* federal prosecutors in Minnesota have just resigned over the Justice Department's push to investigate the widow of Renee Good and the department's reluctance to investigate the ICE agent who shot Good, according to people with knowledge of their decision.
Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Breaking: NYT now says *six* federal prosecutors in Minnesota have just resigned over the Justice Department's push to investigate the widow of Renee Good and the department's reluctance to investigate the ICE agent who shot Good, according to people with knowledge of their decision.
This is one way of calculating the enormous subsidy granted to fossil fuel firms in the form of freedom to treat the air we breathe as a dumping ground for their combustion products.
Now imagine if this weren't an 'externality' but incorporated into the price of coal, oil and gas.
Now imagine if this weren't an 'externality' but incorporated into the price of coal, oil and gas.
Fine-particulate and ozone air pollution from fossil fuels causes 4-6 million avoidable deaths per year: 7-10% of all deaths worldwide. At an ~$11 million statistical value of life, this is a 44-66 trillion $/yr (38-56% of ~117 T$/yr global GDP) cost that appears nowhere in fossil fuel economics.
January 13, 2026 at 5:31 PM
This is one way of calculating the enormous subsidy granted to fossil fuel firms in the form of freedom to treat the air we breathe as a dumping ground for their combustion products.
Now imagine if this weren't an 'externality' but incorporated into the price of coal, oil and gas.
Now imagine if this weren't an 'externality' but incorporated into the price of coal, oil and gas.
Reposted by Jonathan Mingle
We must stress: The only violence is coming from CBP/ICE. They are rioting in the face of sustained nonviolent protests by thousands of Americans across the country.
They are today’s Alabama State Troopers at the Selma bridge. They are Bull Connor’s police with firehoses in Birmingham.
They are today’s Alabama State Troopers at the Selma bridge. They are Bull Connor’s police with firehoses in Birmingham.
Protester blinded, skull fractured by DHS agent during Santa Ana demonstration, family says
Protester blinded, skull fractured by DHS agent during Santa Ana demonstration, family says
A young protester narrowly avoided being killed but was left permanently blind after a Department of Homeland Security agent fired a nonlethal round at close range during a Santa Ana protest last week, according to family of the victim.
www.latimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:27 PM
We must stress: The only violence is coming from CBP/ICE. They are rioting in the face of sustained nonviolent protests by thousands of Americans across the country.
They are today’s Alabama State Troopers at the Selma bridge. They are Bull Connor’s police with firehoses in Birmingham.
They are today’s Alabama State Troopers at the Selma bridge. They are Bull Connor’s police with firehoses in Birmingham.
Reposted by Jonathan Mingle
New analysis out today from Rhodium Group showing data centres were one of the major drivers of the first rise in total economy-wide emissions in the US in years
Uncontrolled growth of demand has helped boost coal growth, in conjunction with the LNG export boom ->
rhg.com/research/us-...
Uncontrolled growth of demand has helped boost coal growth, in conjunction with the LNG export boom ->
rhg.com/research/us-...
January 13, 2026 at 3:32 PM
New analysis out today from Rhodium Group showing data centres were one of the major drivers of the first rise in total economy-wide emissions in the US in years
Uncontrolled growth of demand has helped boost coal growth, in conjunction with the LNG export boom ->
rhg.com/research/us-...
Uncontrolled growth of demand has helped boost coal growth, in conjunction with the LNG export boom ->
rhg.com/research/us-...
[climate journalists nodding along wearily to this post]
A big part of this is editors' baked in need for novelty. They do not find it exciting to publish the same true and necessary thing once it's already been covered, despite the problem in question still being a threat.
Godzilla is rampaging? We already did that last week.
Godzilla is rampaging? We already did that last week.
Being right about trump was boring, tedious, partisan, ideological. Being wrong about trump? Heterodox, contrarian, free thinking.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
[climate journalists nodding along wearily to this post]
Don't look now but the "utility bills are too damn high" drumbeat has reached the White House.
They should be nervous. I recently listened to middle-class retirees rage against rate hikes at a South Carolina utility commission hearing. Courteously. But you could hear the pitchforks being sharpened.
They should be nervous. I recently listened to middle-class retirees rage against rate hikes at a South Carolina utility commission hearing. Courteously. But you could hear the pitchforks being sharpened.
Navarro: "We're looking very carefully at this problem of AI data centers driving up the cost of electricity. You can expect strong action from Trump. It's amazing in a bad way how much electricity is projected for AI, & a significant amount of it serves ChatGPT users in places like India & China."
January 13, 2026 at 3:47 AM
Don't look now but the "utility bills are too damn high" drumbeat has reached the White House.
They should be nervous. I recently listened to middle-class retirees rage against rate hikes at a South Carolina utility commission hearing. Courteously. But you could hear the pitchforks being sharpened.
They should be nervous. I recently listened to middle-class retirees rage against rate hikes at a South Carolina utility commission hearing. Courteously. But you could hear the pitchforks being sharpened.
Key point here that is not widely understood:
Avoided mortality from reducing particulate matter accounts for more than half of monetized benefits of *all* federal regulations (not just air quality regs).
That's precisely why the Chamber of Commerce et al have targeted EPA's methodology for years.
Avoided mortality from reducing particulate matter accounts for more than half of monetized benefits of *all* federal regulations (not just air quality regs).
That's precisely why the Chamber of Commerce et al have targeted EPA's methodology for years.
Ponder that: deadly air pollution cuts are a major part of the total monetized benefits of ALL regulations issued under ALL US regulatory laws across ALL federal agencies, making the Clean Air Act more than arguably the most cost-effective & one of the most successful U.S. regulatory laws, ever. 15/
January 13, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Key point here that is not widely understood:
Avoided mortality from reducing particulate matter accounts for more than half of monetized benefits of *all* federal regulations (not just air quality regs).
That's precisely why the Chamber of Commerce et al have targeted EPA's methodology for years.
Avoided mortality from reducing particulate matter accounts for more than half of monetized benefits of *all* federal regulations (not just air quality regs).
That's precisely why the Chamber of Commerce et al have targeted EPA's methodology for years.
whoa. good thing EPA assures us that none of those emissions endanger public health and welfare
otherwise this would be concerning IMHO
otherwise this would be concerning IMHO
In a newly published paper, we find that in 2025 human emissions of greenhouse gases added around 23 billion trillion joules of heat to the world's oceans – 39 times as much as the annual energy produced by all human activity on Earth. link.springer.com/ar...
January 13, 2026 at 12:49 AM
whoa. good thing EPA assures us that none of those emissions endanger public health and welfare
otherwise this would be concerning IMHO
otherwise this would be concerning IMHO
There are few areas of public health consensus as rock solid as the conclusion that breathing particulate matter shortens lives and raises the risk of chronic disease (stroke, heart disease, cognitive impacts).
There is no safe threshold for exposure to soot. None. Any amount is bad for you.
There is no safe threshold for exposure to soot. None. Any amount is bad for you.
People will get sicker. More people will have heart attacks and lung disease and other health challenges because of pollution. People’s lives will get worse, and shorter. People you know. Maybe me. Maybe you.
Breaking News: The EPA will stop considering lives saved when setting pollution limits and instead calculate only the cost to businesses.
January 12, 2026 at 8:03 PM
There are few areas of public health consensus as rock solid as the conclusion that breathing particulate matter shortens lives and raises the risk of chronic disease (stroke, heart disease, cognitive impacts).
There is no safe threshold for exposure to soot. None. Any amount is bad for you.
There is no safe threshold for exposure to soot. None. Any amount is bad for you.
Past GOP administrations tried to cook the books on deaths, disease caused by air pollution. Usually plays out via obscure EPA advisory panels and periodic 'integrated science assessments.'
But this is the first time one has pegged the monetary value of a life saved by lower soot emissions at ZERO.
But this is the first time one has pegged the monetary value of a life saved by lower soot emissions at ZERO.
The EPA will stop considering lives saved when setting pollution limits and instead calculate only the cost to businesses. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Past GOP administrations tried to cook the books on deaths, disease caused by air pollution. Usually plays out via obscure EPA advisory panels and periodic 'integrated science assessments.'
But this is the first time one has pegged the monetary value of a life saved by lower soot emissions at ZERO.
But this is the first time one has pegged the monetary value of a life saved by lower soot emissions at ZERO.
Trump wants his name everywhere. Kennedy Center, battleships etc. But @jsmankin.bsky.social anticipates how future historians will apply his brand:
"Trump’s greenhouse gas emissions will cause Trump’s heat waves, Trump’s droughts, Trump’s floods, Trump’s wildfires."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
"Trump’s greenhouse gas emissions will cause Trump’s heat waves, Trump’s droughts, Trump’s floods, Trump’s wildfires."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
Under Trump, U.S. Adds Fuel to a Heating Planet
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Trump wants his name everywhere. Kennedy Center, battleships etc. But @jsmankin.bsky.social anticipates how future historians will apply his brand:
"Trump’s greenhouse gas emissions will cause Trump’s heat waves, Trump’s droughts, Trump’s floods, Trump’s wildfires."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
"Trump’s greenhouse gas emissions will cause Trump’s heat waves, Trump’s droughts, Trump’s floods, Trump’s wildfires."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
We all know that Trump loves plastering his name on everything. Here's @jsmankin.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 2:32 PM
We all know that Trump loves plastering his name on everything. Here's @jsmankin.bsky.social
Reposted by Jonathan Mingle
Trump admits his fantasies about Greenland are not about the presidency or the country but his psyche. "Ownership is.....psychologically important for me. Now maybe another president would feel differently but so far I've been right about everything." [~17:30]
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/p...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/p...
An Interview With the President
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Trump admits his fantasies about Greenland are not about the presidency or the country but his psyche. "Ownership is.....psychologically important for me. Now maybe another president would feel differently but so far I've been right about everything." [~17:30]
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/p...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/p...
This piece explains why Trump's Greenland fixation isn't about national security.
“The US has such a free hand in Greenland that it can pretty much do what it wants.”
"The US could simply inform Denmark that it is building a base, an airfield or a port.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/w...
“The US has such a free hand in Greenland that it can pretty much do what it wants.”
"The US could simply inform Denmark that it is building a base, an airfield or a port.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/w...
Buy Greenland? Take It? Why? An Old Pact Already Gives Trump a Free Hand.
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:24 PM
This piece explains why Trump's Greenland fixation isn't about national security.
“The US has such a free hand in Greenland that it can pretty much do what it wants.”
"The US could simply inform Denmark that it is building a base, an airfield or a port.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/w...
“The US has such a free hand in Greenland that it can pretty much do what it wants.”
"The US could simply inform Denmark that it is building a base, an airfield or a port.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/w...
Reposted by Jonathan Mingle
For whatever reason, because of whatever backstory, for whatever ideological drives this guy has always worked for Russia.
#BREAKING US President Trump says doubts 'NATO would be there for us if we really needed them', in Truth Social post
January 7, 2026 at 3:39 PM
For whatever reason, because of whatever backstory, for whatever ideological drives this guy has always worked for Russia.
TIL that the guy spearheading Trump's scheme to take Greenland is the twin brother of Project 2025's lead author.
"hey bro, oh you crushed the federal govt's scientific research and foreign aid programs and regulatory apparatus?
yawn, watch me wreck NATO"
www.arctictoday.com/trumps-man-i...
"hey bro, oh you crushed the federal govt's scientific research and foreign aid programs and regulatory apparatus?
yawn, watch me wreck NATO"
www.arctictoday.com/trumps-man-i...
Trump's man in Greenland is on a mission to establish American control - ArcticToday
Danish state broadcaster DR has published a story about Thomas Dans, a man on a mission to make Greenlanders American citizens. Dans, a venture capitalist, who served as a Commissioner for the United ...
www.arctictoday.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:09 PM
TIL that the guy spearheading Trump's scheme to take Greenland is the twin brother of Project 2025's lead author.
"hey bro, oh you crushed the federal govt's scientific research and foreign aid programs and regulatory apparatus?
yawn, watch me wreck NATO"
www.arctictoday.com/trumps-man-i...
"hey bro, oh you crushed the federal govt's scientific research and foreign aid programs and regulatory apparatus?
yawn, watch me wreck NATO"
www.arctictoday.com/trumps-man-i...
If you want a deep dive into Greenland's ice and the scientists revealing its global significance (and how it has humbled many past imperial adventurers) check out Jon Gertner's excellent book "The Ice at the End of the World."
I reviewed it in 2020 for @nybooks.com:
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
I reviewed it in 2020 for @nybooks.com:
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
January 7, 2026 at 1:10 PM
If you want a deep dive into Greenland's ice and the scientists revealing its global significance (and how it has humbled many past imperial adventurers) check out Jon Gertner's excellent book "The Ice at the End of the World."
I reviewed it in 2020 for @nybooks.com:
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
I reviewed it in 2020 for @nybooks.com:
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
Reposted by Jonathan Mingle
No one I’ve admitted this year for influenza has been vaccinated.
“These viruses are serious, dangerous, and life-threatening. We are seeing children who are seriously ill, families grieving devastating losses, and hospitals under capacity strain.”
www.cnn.com/2026/01/05/h...
www.cnn.com/2026/01/05/h...
Flu reaches highest levels in the US in 25 years | CNN
Flu continues to visit misery across the US, with all but four states showing high or very high levels of activity as a new virus strain called subclade K continues to spread.
www.cnn.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:41 PM
No one I’ve admitted this year for influenza has been vaccinated.
Reposted by Jonathan Mingle
Costing $5 million a day just on ship costs, says Dominion Energy in lawsuit against the Administration. Hearing on Monday.
Virginia offshore wind developer sues over Trump administration order halting projects
The developers of a Virginia offshore wind project are asking a federal judge to block a Trump administration order that halted construction of their project, along with four others, over national sec...
apnews.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Costing $5 million a day just on ship costs, says Dominion Energy in lawsuit against the Administration. Hearing on Monday.
Yeah, Dominion got a much friendlier response when it lobbied Trump 1.0 Interior officials for another big energy project.
Maybe because that was a 600-mile fossil gas pipeline?
Just spitballing...
Gonna leave relevant section of my book on that subject here for the "leopards eating faces" file:
Maybe because that was a 600-mile fossil gas pipeline?
Just spitballing...
Gonna leave relevant section of my book on that subject here for the "leopards eating faces" file:
December 22, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Yeah, Dominion got a much friendlier response when it lobbied Trump 1.0 Interior officials for another big energy project.
Maybe because that was a 600-mile fossil gas pipeline?
Just spitballing...
Gonna leave relevant section of my book on that subject here for the "leopards eating faces" file:
Maybe because that was a 600-mile fossil gas pipeline?
Just spitballing...
Gonna leave relevant section of my book on that subject here for the "leopards eating faces" file:
Reposted by Jonathan Mingle
I have never, once in my career, heard of a news org responding to a decline-to-comment with, “Well, we’ll hold it until you do.”
The reason is obvious — it gives the subject of your story a pocket veto.
The reason is obvious — it gives the subject of your story a pocket veto.
December 22, 2025 at 2:48 AM
I have never, once in my career, heard of a news org responding to a decline-to-comment with, “Well, we’ll hold it until you do.”
The reason is obvious — it gives the subject of your story a pocket veto.
The reason is obvious — it gives the subject of your story a pocket veto.
Need a resolution for 2026?
Kierkegaard's got you: "Keep on walking"
"I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it...
Even if one were to walk for one's health and it were constantly one station ahead—I would still say: Walk!"
Kierkegaard's got you: "Keep on walking"
"I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it...
Even if one were to walk for one's health and it were constantly one station ahead—I would still say: Walk!"
December 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Need a resolution for 2026?
Kierkegaard's got you: "Keep on walking"
"I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it...
Even if one were to walk for one's health and it were constantly one station ahead—I would still say: Walk!"
Kierkegaard's got you: "Keep on walking"
"I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it...
Even if one were to walk for one's health and it were constantly one station ahead—I would still say: Walk!"
seems newsworthy
Under current climate policies, 79 per cent of the world’s glaciers will disappear by 2100, endangering the water supply for 2 billion people and raising sea levels dramatically
The world will soon be losing 3000 glaciers every year
Under current climate policies, 79 per cent of the world’s glaciers will disappear by 2100, endangering the water supply for 2 billion people and raising sea levels dramatically
www.newscientist.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:52 AM
seems newsworthy