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thenewlede.bsky.social
The New Lede
@thenewlede.bsky.social
Hi! We're The New Lede, a publication that covers environmental health & more. We provide investigative reporting, analysis, & explanatory articles about a broad range of environmental topics that are too often ignored.
https://www.thenewlede.org/
A recent poll shows that roughly four in ten US parents say they support MAHA.

Support was strongest among Republicans, though 34% of voters identifying as independents and 17% of Democrats also support MAHA, according to the poll.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/maha...
December 30, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Happy holidays to all our readers!

Want to spread some cheer by supporting our coverage of critical environmental issues?

Your donations will help us start 2026 strong, funding reporting on the issues that shape our health and the health of our planet.⤵️
act.ewg.org/cXWUG66dJEeF...
December 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by The New Lede
Cancer rates in Iowa are rising.

One suspected culprit: farm runoff.

Nitrates and pesticides are seeping into wells and municipal water systems, leaving communities deeply concerned about what’s coming out of their taps.

Watch our full documentary: thenewlede.org/2025/09/watc...
September 29, 2025 at 8:28 PM
“This has been very much, in my opinion, a women’s movement, women who are fed up with their kids getting sick,” said activist Kelly Ryerson, describing the rise of the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/maha...
MAHA muscle: The rise of the mom-driven movement shaking up Washington
Kelly Ryerson never intended to become a food and health activist. The northern California married mom spent several years working in finance jobs before directing her focus to raising her two childre...
www.thenewlede.org
December 22, 2025 at 7:38 PM
A recent poll shows roughly four in ten US parents say they are #MAHA supporters.

The mom-driven movement is shaking up Washington. ⤵️
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/maha...
MAHA muscle: The rise of the mom-driven movement shaking up Washington
Kelly Ryerson never intended to become a food and health activist. The northern California married mom spent several years working in finance jobs before directing her focus to raising her two childre...
www.thenewlede.org
December 22, 2025 at 5:50 PM
MAHA muscle is building in Washington.

A loose network of moms, wellness advocates, and environmental activists is gaining access to lawmakers and regulators while pushing sweeping changes to food, chemical, and health policy.

www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/maha...
MAHA muscle: The rise of the mom-driven movement shaking up Washington
Kelly Ryerson never intended to become a food and health activist. The northern California married mom spent several years working in finance jobs before directing her focus to raising her two childre...
www.thenewlede.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:10 PM
“There’s coal in our houses, on our windowsills, around our doors, our cars,” said Virginia resident Yugonda Sample-Jones.

As Trump promotes coal, communities across the US continue to choke on the industry’s dust.

@sierraclub.org @cleanaircatf.bsky.social
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/as-t...
As Trump promotes coal, no respite for communities choking on the industry's dust
David Jones Jr. is no stranger to treacherous work. For years, the 45-year-old South Baltimore resident made his living scaling tall buildings to install signs. But for Jones, the real danger has been...
www.thenewlede.org
December 19, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Weight loss drugs and surgeries do not address the root causes of global weight gain, researchers say.

A new report identifies ultra-processed foods and animal-based agriculture as key drivers of obesity and climate change.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/ultr...
Ultra-processed diets drive obesity and climate change — but solutions are within reach
Diets around the world dependent on ultra-processed foods and animal-based agriculture are driving obesity rates and climate change, but solutions exist that would bolster health, and save money and t...
www.thenewlede.org
December 19, 2025 at 1:03 AM
“The global increase in obesity since the 1980s has been the most rapid and dramatic change in the human phenotype throughout our entire evolution.”

A new study links the surge in obesity to diets dominated by ultra-processed foods.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/ultr...
Ultra-processed diets drive obesity and climate change — but solutions are within reach
Diets around the world dependent on ultra-processed foods and animal-based agriculture are driving obesity rates and climate change, but solutions exist that would bolster health, and save money and t...
www.thenewlede.org
December 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Obesity rates have nearly tripled worldwide over the past 50 years.

A new study points to ultra-processed foods as a key driver, linking them not only to obesity but also to climate change.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/ultr...
Ultra-processed diets drive obesity and climate change — but solutions are within reach
Diets around the world dependent on ultra-processed foods and animal-based agriculture are driving obesity rates and climate change, but solutions exist that would bolster health, and save money and t...
www.thenewlede.org
December 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
“You feel it in your eyes, you feel it on your skin. You taste it. It’s in your nose,” said South Baltimore resident David Jones Jr.

Across the country, coal dust exposure carries significant health consequences. ⤵️

@sierraclub.org @sejorg.bsky.social
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/as-t...
As Trump promotes coal, no respite for communities choking on the industry's dust
David Jones Jr. is no stranger to treacherous work. For years, the 45-year-old South Baltimore resident made his living scaling tall buildings to install signs. But for Jones, the real danger has been...
www.thenewlede.org
December 17, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Communities across the US are living with coal dust that pollutes the air, contaminates waterways, and harms health.

@sierraclub.org, @publicjustice.bsky.social, and others are calling for protections, but the Trump administration continues to promote coal.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/as-t...
As Trump promotes coal, no respite for communities choking on the industry's dust
David Jones Jr. is no stranger to treacherous work. For years, the 45-year-old South Baltimore resident made his living scaling tall buildings to install signs. But for Jones, the real danger has been...
www.thenewlede.org
December 16, 2025 at 11:14 PM
“Coal is killing and poisoning Americans,” said Yugonda Sample-Jones of Empower All.

As Trump promotes coal, communities say they are choking on it. ⤵️
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/as-t...
As Trump promotes coal, no respite for communities choking on the industry's dust
David Jones Jr. is no stranger to treacherous work. For years, the 45-year-old South Baltimore resident made his living scaling tall buildings to install signs. But for Jones, the real danger has been...
www.thenewlede.org
December 16, 2025 at 11:02 PM
A California farmer admitted to spraying animals with a diesel fuel mixture, leaving them without feed, and allowing animals to die from trampling — among other welfare violations.

That same farmer was recently spotlighted by the USDA. ⤵️

@ciwf.org
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/usda...
USDA spotlights dairy sanctioned for animal welfare violations in its “regenerative” push
When USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a regenerative farming pilot program this week, she highlighted one farmer in particular. What Rollins didn't note, however, was that the Alexandre Family ...
www.thenewlede.org
December 16, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Four groups of commonly used chemicals are costing the world nearly $3 trillion a year, according to a @systemiq.bsky.social report.

The health impacts alone equal roughly 2–3% of global GDP.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/toxi...
Toxic chemicals in food cost the world $3 trillion a year, new report finds
Four groups of chemicals in the global food system cost the world nearly $3 trillion a year by causing disease, decreasing fertility and polluting water and soil, according to a new report.
www.thenewlede.org
December 15, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Reposted by The New Lede
The EPA is dismissing a new cancer classification for the herbicide #atrazine from the world’s top cancer agency — the IARC.

The EPA echoed the chemical’s manufacturer, Syngenta, in its criticism.
December 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
In a 2024 investigation report, the USDA said it found “systemic failures” and animal welfare violations at a family farm.

Now the agency is spotlighting that same operation as a model for regenerative agriculture.

@ciwf.org @sejorg.bsky.social
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/usda...
USDA spotlights dairy sanctioned for animal welfare violations in its “regenerative” push
When USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a regenerative farming pilot program this week, she highlighted one farmer in particular. What Rollins didn't note, however, was that the Alexandre Family ...
www.thenewlede.org
December 12, 2025 at 10:20 PM
“Making Alexandre Family Farms a model for the future of regenerative is essentially saying it’s fine if you violate organic and animal welfare rules,” said Andrew deCoriolis of Farm Forward.

The USDA is spotlighting a sanctioned dairy operation. ⤵️
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/usda...
USDA spotlights dairy sanctioned for animal welfare violations in its “regenerative” push
When USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a regenerative farming pilot program this week, she highlighted one farmer in particular. What Rollins didn't note, however, was that the Alexandre Family ...
www.thenewlede.org
December 12, 2025 at 10:15 PM
At a USDA event for regenerative farming, Secretary Rollins introduced Blake Alexandre as a model farmer.

What the USDA failed to note was that Alexandre Family Farm was recently under investigation for a long list of alleged animal welfare violations.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/usda...
USDA spotlights dairy sanctioned for animal welfare violations in its “regenerative” push
When USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a regenerative farming pilot program this week, she highlighted one farmer in particular. What Rollins didn't note, however, was that the Alexandre Family ...
www.thenewlede.org
December 12, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The EPA is bringing in another industry insider, further stacking an administration already filled with former lobbyists and corporate executives shaping environmental policy.

@publiccitizen.bsky.social @revolvingdoordc.bsky.social
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/epa-...
EPA adds another industry insider as the administration’s lobbyist ranks grow
The nation’s main office for protecting Americans from harmful chemicals is welcoming its fourth prominent industry insider since President Trump took office, adding to an administration full of forme...
www.thenewlede.org
December 12, 2025 at 12:31 AM
The Senate has confirmed Douglas Troutman, a former industry lobbyist, to lead chemical safety at the EPA.

Seventy percent of key energy and environment nominees in the Trump administration have ties to the industries they now regulate.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/epa-...
EPA adds another industry insider as the administration’s lobbyist ranks grow
The nation’s main office for protecting Americans from harmful chemicals is welcoming its fourth prominent industry insider since President Trump took office, adding to an administration full of forme...
www.thenewlede.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:49 PM
“This has to be in the top two or three priorities for Congress.”

Dariush Mozaffarian of @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social urged lawmakers to take on the ultra-processed foods crisis at a summit in Washington.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/heal...
Health advocates call for policymakers to tackle ultra-processed foods "crisis" at DC summit
Health advocates and policymakers from both sides of the political aisle called for the federal government to prioritize the public health crisis they warn has resulted from the pervasive ultra-proces...
www.thenewlede.org
December 11, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Nearly 70 percent of what Americans eat is ultra-processed.

At a Washington summit, experts urged federal action to curb additives linked to chronic disease.

@tuftsnutrition.bsky.social @cfstruefood.bsky.social
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/heal...
Health advocates call for policymakers to tackle ultra-processed foods "crisis" at DC summit
Health advocates and policymakers from both sides of the political aisle called for the federal government to prioritize the public health crisis they warn has resulted from the pervasive ultra-proces...
www.thenewlede.org
December 11, 2025 at 6:29 PM
A new report from @systemiq.bsky.social estimates toxic chemical exposure could lead to 200 to 700 million fewer births worldwide over the next 75 years.
www.thenewlede.org/2025/12/toxi...
Toxic chemicals in food cost the world $3 trillion a year, new report finds
Four groups of chemicals in the global food system cost the world nearly $3 trillion a year by causing disease, decreasing fertility and polluting water and soil, according to a new report.
www.thenewlede.org
December 11, 2025 at 1:29 AM