
Economic opportunities tied to climate goals, Gov. JB Pritzker says at Aspen conference
The Trump administration has enacted drastic funding and policy cuts across a range of sectors, largely targeting renewable energy incentives, scientific agencies and racial equity efforts. These cuts have left Illinois state lawmakers scrambling to fill budget holes, including a $771 million shortfall in funding for public transit that remains unresolved.
During his remarks Monday night in an interview with ABC anchor Linsey Davis, Pritzker conceded these federal changes have put state and national climate goals at risk. Yet he maintained that Illinois has retained its ability to lead the Midwest in climate policy, emphasizing the importance of economic incentives to bring renewable energy and green technology to the state.
'If you want to accelerate the endeavor on climate action, you've got to make it understandable to everybody that there are jobs and economic opportunities available to them as a result of the change in our economy,' Pritzker said.
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, passed by the Illinois legislature in 2021, has somewhat defined Pritzker's approach to making green development projects economically feasible. The watershed act set Illinois' goal of transitioning to renewable energy by 2050, established incentives for rooftop solar and electric vehicles and established clean energy workforce programs. Pritzker said that 70% of the state's current power mix comes from clean energy, though nuclear power accounts for the vast majority of this. Wind, solar and other renewables make up just below 14% of Illinois' power supply.
Since CEJA's passage, the state has faced rising demand for electricity, leading to an increasingly unstable grid and consistent utility rate hikes. State legislators discussed passing another large energy bill this year that would have boosted energy storage and management for Illinois' electric grid. The bill did not pass this session, but Pritzker said that he is committed to passing a similar package next year.
Though Pritzker recently announced that he will seek a third term as governor, many have speculated that he will throw his hat in the ring for the 2028 presidential election. Pritzker did not comment on a potential 2028 candidacy but when asked if he thought he'd make a good president, he said he thinks 'the bar has been set pretty low.'
'(Democrats) still believe that the most important role that we have in government is to stand up for working families, for the most vulnerable, for the middle class,' he said. 'Do Democrats get it right all the time? No, and I think that it is as much a failure of messaging as anything else. I'm not suggesting that Democrats haven't gotten policies wrong. But let's not walk away from civil rights because we lost an election.'
The discussion took place during the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference, a three-day event that has brought hundreds of state and local leaders to Chicago to talk about climate policy, clean energy and environmentally friendly infrastructure.
'Illinois has one of the most ambitious climate goals of any state, and so I think (we) just feel very proud to be from here, and to have the event here,' said Kobi Weinberg, a co-founder of the conference's Chicago iteration and of the Chicago Climate Corps. 'It's not just trying to expand climate efforts here in Chicago but in the broader Midwest too.'
This is the first year the Aspen conference has taken place in Chicago. It has been held in Miami since its inception in 2022. Pritzker issued a statement in February to announce the conference was coming to Chicago, touting Illinois as a regional innovator in climate policy and infrastructure. He also spoke at last year's conference in Florida.
Sunrise Movement activists held a rally Sunday at the University of Chicago, where some events during the first day of the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference were held. They called on Pritzker and other state authorities to pass a 'Make Polluters Pay' act, which would require the fossil fuel industry — instead of taxpayers — to fund green, resilient infrastructure and disaster response in the face of climate change, following similar bills recently passed in Vermont and New York. Pritzker did not comment on the rally during Monday's discussion.
Other speakers included Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and André Corrêa do Lago, president of United Nations climate conference COP30.
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UPI
8 minutes ago
- UPI
FCC approves Skydance-Paramount $8B merger
1 of 3 | The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday announced it had approved Skydance's acquisition of Paramount Global. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 24 (UPI) -- The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday announced its approval of Skydance's $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global, ending months of uncertainty surrounding the deal but inflaming allegations of corruption directed at the Trump administration. The FCC voted 2-1 in favor of Skydance's acquisition of Paramount and all of its subsidiaries, including Paramount Pictures, CBS television, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. Among the commitments Skydance made to the Trump administration was ensuring it will include news and entertainment programming that "will embody a diversity of viewpoints across the political and ideological spectrum" and that CBS News' reporting "will be fair, unbiased and fact-based," according to the FCC. Skydance has also pledged that it will not establish any diversity, equity and inclusion policies -- ideology that seeks to create inclusive environments that the Trump administration has been seeking to remove from both public and private sectors on allegations of discrimination. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr described the merger as a change that will instill public trust in media. "It is time for a change," he said in a statement. "That is why I welcome Skydance's commitment to make significant changes at the once storied CBS broadcast network." Though the FCC said Skydance does not have any DEI programs, Carr said the agreement "marks another step forward in the FCC's efforts to eliminate invidious forms of DEI discrimination." Skydance announced the deal in July of last year, but the merger has stalled amid frictions with the Trump administration, as President Donald Trump has sparred with CBS News. Trump sued CBS News while campaigning for re-election in October for $10 billion in a lawsuit many saw as one he wouldn't win over editing of a 60 Minutes interview with his political opponent, Democrat Kamala Harris. He then upped the amount in damages to $20 billion after winning re-election. Earlier this month, Paramount Global reached a $16 million settlement with Trump that Democrats and critics of the Trump administration are calling a bribe and an affront to free speech -- accusations that only intensified after Trump earlier this week said Skydance has pledged $20 million more in advertising, PSAs and "other Similar Programming, for a total $36 MillIon Dollars." Paramount Global told UPI that the $16 million, minus fees and costs, will be allocated to Trump's future presidential library. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the only Democrat of the three commissioners and the only one not appointed by Trump, dissented to the merger, and described Paramount's settlement as "cowardly capitulation" and accused the FCC of losing its independence. In her strongly worded dissent, Gomez warned that this merger will not be the last time the Trump administration threatens the First Amendment. "The Paramount payout and this reckless approval have emboldened those who believe the government can -- and should -- abuse its power to extract financial and ideological concessions, demand favored treatment and secure positive media coverage," she said. "It is a dark chapter in a long and growing record of abuse that threatens press freedom in this country." Democrats were quick to lament their concerns online. "Trump filed a sham lawsuit against CBS, but instead of fighting it CBS' parent company, Paramount, paid Trump $16 million to his future library. So, you got to ask, why did Paramount do that if the suit was quote 'meritless'?" Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said in a video statement published online. "Well, maybe because they needed Trump to approve their multibillion-dollar merger, which Trump just did. The appearance of this wink-wink deal basically let's every other company and every other billionaire know that Trump is open for business, apparently happy to accept offers in exchange for favors." Warren has called for a full investigation into the deal. Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass, and Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., described Thursday as "a dark day for independent journalism" and called the approval of the merger "a stain on the storied history of the Federal Communications Commission. "The FCC's approval of the Paramount-Skydance merger reeks of the worst form of corruption. The timing speaks for itself: Paramount settled with Trump for $36 million on Tuesday and the FCC approved the merger on Wednesday," they said in a joint statement. "The stench of this transaction will linger over the commission for years."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
RNC Chair Michael Whatley will run for Senate from North Carolina, sources tell CNN
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is expected to run for the Senate in North Carolina, setting up a marquee race in next year's midterms, two sources familiar with Whatley's plans tell CNN. He will enter the race with President Donald Trump's backing, after Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, opted against running for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. A North Carolina Republican consultant who has worked to set up Whatley's campaign told CNN on Thursday that a formal announcement is expected to come 'in the next week to 10 days.' Politico first reported Whatley's plans. The president preemptively threw his support behind Whatley in a post on Truth Social Thursday night where he also endorsed RNC treasurer Joe Gruters to succeed him as the committee's leader. 'Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina,' Trump wrote. 'He is fantastic at everything he does, and he was certainly great at the RNC where, in the Presidential Election, we won every Swing State, the Popular Vote, and the Electoral College by a landslide! But I have a mission for my friends in North Carolina, and that is to get Michael Whatley to run for the U.S. Senate.' The RNC chairman's entry sets the stage for what's likely to be one of the best-funded, highest-profile Senate races on the 2026 midterm calendar. Former Gov. Roy Cooper, a popular Democrat who was term-limited after eight years and left office at the end of 2024, also plans to announce a Senate run in the coming days, sources told CNN. Lara Trump plans to remain in her in role as host of a weekly Fox News show and will also appear alongside Whatley at upcoming political events, a source said. 'I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from the people of my home state whom I love so much,' she said in a post on X. 'While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads.' The clash in North Carolina comes as Democrats, who need to flip four Senate seats to claim the majority, look for opportunities to make races for Republican-held seats competitive on an unforgiving map in which North Carolina could be the only true toss-up. Democrats' Senate hopes of flipping GOP-held seats elsewhere could hinge on retirement and recruiting questions. In Maine, five-term Sen. Susan Collins has beaten back stiff Democratic challenges in the past. In Texas, Sen. John Cornyn faces a primary challenge from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a scandal-plagued conservative firebrand who Democrats view as a much weaker general election candidate. In Iowa, Sen. Joni Ernst has not yet announced her reelection plans, though Republicans have several strong potential replacements if she opts out. In Ohio, Democrats hope former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who narrowly lost his seat in 2024, will attempt a comeback — this time challenging Republican Sen. Jon Husted. Democrats must also defend Senate seats in several swing states, including Georgia, where Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking reelection and open seats in Michigan and New Hampshire. Whatley previously spent five years as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and the RNC's general counsel. He took the helm of the national party in 2024 after Trump's tensions with former RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. Gruters, who Trump on Thursday said 'will have my Complete and Total Endorsement' to succeed Whatley as chairman, was floated as a possibility for the leadership post in 2024 as well. 'I'm looking forward to advancing President Trump's America First agenda as the next Chair of the RNC,' Gruters said in a statement to CNN. 'He is the greatest President in our nation's history, and I'm ready to serve, fight, and win for our party and our country.' The Florida state senator is a longtime friend and ally of Trump, bucking the party line in the Sunshine State by backing Trump over Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Their relationship predates Trump's time in office to when he was a celebrity developer still weighing a political future. In 2012, on the eve of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Gruters convinced Trump to headline a fundraiser for the nearby Sarasota GOP. Gruters, who was chairman of the local party at the time, named Trump the Statesman of the Year. Trump had endorsed Gruters in his bid to become Florida's chief financial officer, a cabinet-level position that is elected statewide. It's unclear if Gruters will drop out of the race. DeSantis recently passed over Gruters and spurned Trump when he filled a vacancy at state CFO with state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia. This story has been updated with additional information. CNN's Donald Judd and Steve Contorno contributed to this report.


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
The White House is feuding with ‘The View.' Here's why.
From late-night show hosts to the animated sitcom South Park, the feud between President Donald Trump and the entertainment industry shows no signs of slowing down. Now the administration finds itself in a dispute with ABC's 'The View' after a White House spokesperson suggested the long-time talk show could be coming to an end. The comment comes after CBS canceled late-night comedy 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' after 33 years, a decision Trump celebrated on social media. During a July 23 episode, co-host Joy Behar said Trump is jealous of former President Barack Obama because 'Obama is everything that he is not.' She added that, unlike Trump, Obama is 'trim, smart, handsome, happily married, and can sing Al Green's song 'Let's Stay Together' better than Al Green. And Trump cannot stand it. It's driving him crazy.' Following the dig, White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers referred to Behar as 'an irrelevant loser suffering from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.' 'It's no surprise that The View's ratings hit an all-time low last year. She should self-reflect on her own jealousy of President Trump's historic popularity before her show is the next to be pulled off air,' Rogers said in a statement. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives of 'The View' for comment on Rogers' statement. When asked for a comment on behalf of Behar, her manager Bill Stankey told USA TODAY, 'On behalf of me……..Release the Epstein files.' In May, Attorney General Pam Bondi had reportedly told Trump that his name appears several times throughout the criminal case files on the late financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, according to CNN and the Wall Street Journal. How did this start? The latest tension between the White House and 'The View' started after an Oval Office meeting with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos on July 22, when Trump accused Obama of treason. The president called the Democrat a 'ringleader,' adding that his actions were 'seditious.' Later that day, Obama addressed a July 18 report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that claimed the former president 'manufactured and politicized intelligence to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup' against Trump's presidential victory against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016. Obama also said he supported the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Russia tried to influence the 2016 election. He dismissed the allegations against him, calling them the typical 'nonsense and misinformation' emerging from the Trump White House. On the next morning's episode of 'The View,' Behar defended Obama with a sly remark against Trump regarding the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. 'First of all, who tried to overthrow the government on Jan. 6? Who was that again? That was not Obama,' she quipped. Late-night talk show hosts also make jabs at Trump Before the beef with Behar, Trump was at odds with his usual late-night foes, starting with Colbert, who during a July 17 episode announced that 'The Late Show' would be ending in May 2026. 'I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings,' Trump wrote on Truth Social July 18. He later made a jab at ABC's Jimmy Kimmel, insinuating that his show would be the next to end and that he 'has even less talent than Colbert.' Kicking off his July 21 episode monologue, Colbert asked, 'How dare you, sir?' 'Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go (expletive) yourself,' Colbert said. Trump fired back on a July 22 Truth Social post, writing: 'The word is, and it's a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, (Jimmy) Fallon will be gone.' 'These are people with absolutely NO TALENT, who were paid Millions of Dollars for, in all cases, destroying what used to be GREAT Television. It's really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!' the president wrote. Fallon's show is slated to continue until at least the end of 2028 when his contract with NBCUniversal ends. In 2022, Kimmel extended his contract through his show's current 23rd season. Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY