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Supreme Court climate case could bankrupt oil companies, send gas prices soaring, experts warn
A Supreme Court showdown over climate change lawsuits could leave oil companies bankrupt, gas stations facing financial ruin and Americans paying more at the pump if the justices allow cities and states to pursue billions in damages against the fossil fuel industry, energy policy experts warn.
«You would see mass exodus and that would create more scarcity with fuel, more so than we’re seeing already today, higher prices,» Jason Isaac, CEO of American Energy Institute, told Digital. «And that’s really what this is about. It’s about controlling these companies and stopping the use of hydrocarbons.»
The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in Suncor v. Boulder, a dispute over whether federal law prevents cities and states from suing oil companies under state law for alleged climate damage linked to emissions that cross state borders.
During oral arguments, Justice Clarence Thomas pressed Boulder’s attorney, Kevin Russell, on whether the legal theory could expose businesses beyond oil producers to similar lawsuits, including large retailers.
WAVE OF OVERLOOKED ‘LEFT-WING’ LAWSUITS COULD COME WITH AN UNEXPECTED PRICE TAG FOR AMERICANS
«Nothing in our theory prevents that,» Russell acknowledged, although he noted that state tort law could impose additional limitations.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh separately raised concerns about the potential financial consequences of widespread litigation, warning that enough lawsuits could «bankrupt» defendants and questioning whether virtually any manufacturer or business could face similar claims.
The city and county of Boulder, Colo., sued oil giants ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy in 2018, accusing the companies of knowingly contributing to climate change while misleading the public about the alleged dangers of fossil fuels. The municipalities are seeking damages to help cover the mounting costs of climate-related harms. There are roughly 30 similar lawsuits pending in jurisdictions across the country, including cases in Portland and Baltimore.
Boulder’s lawsuit alleged ExxonMobil and Suncor knew for decades about the climate risks associated with fossil fuels but misled the public about those risks. The complaint pointed to a 1977 internal memo from ExxonMobil that circulated among the company’s highest-level managers. The memo reported that «current scientific opinion overwhelmingly favors» that fossil fuels contribute to the rise in CO2 emissions.
David Bookbinder, who previously served as counsel of record for Boulder but is no longer involved in the case, described the lawsuit as a way to implement an «indirect carbon tax» during a Federalist Society forum last year.
But Boulder has maintained that the case is not an attempt to regulate national climate policy, arguing instead that Colorado has the authority to hold companies accountable under state law for alleged harms suffered within its borders.
«Since the founding, states have had the power to provide tort remedies for injuries occurring within their borders even when the conduct causing those injuries occurred elsewhere,» Russell told the justices.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, BANNED RIFLES AND ‘CLIMATE LAWFARE’: BLOCKBUSTER FIGHTS AWAIT SUPREME COURT
O.H. Skinner, executive director of the Alliance for Consumers, argued that the lawsuits are an attempt to accomplish through the courts what climate advocates have been unable to achieve through Congress.
«When you really boil it down, and you separate it from all the legal arguments, the advocates who push these cases are very clear,» Skinner told Digital. «That it’s an effort to get a backdoor carbon tax, because carbon taxes have never passed in Congress, or to bankrupt the energy industry.»
Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from the case without providing an explanation.
Isaac warned that a Supreme Court ruling in Boulder’s favor could open «Pandora’s box,» allowing thousands of jurisdictions to pursue similar lawsuits. He said a 4-4 split could have a similar practical effect by leaving the lower court’s ruling in place, although a tie would not establish nationwide precedent.
«There are over 90,000 levels of government — government entities just in the United States alone — that could also begin lawsuits against energy companies,» Isaac told Digital. «Driving up cost to consumers because the cost to defend those would be astronomical.»
LAWSUITS COST EVERY AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. SUPREME COURT CAN HELP
Skinner argued that who could be sued could extend beyond oil producers to businesses across the energy supply chain, including gas stations, automakers and utilities that sell or use fossil fuels.
«From Boulder’s perspective, anybody who’s contributed to climate change would reliable, any sort of company, big or small, and the problem here is that to the left, climate change is everything and everything is climate change,» Skinner told Digital. «So it’s very hard to find a line for who isn’t contributing to climate change.»
But Isaac said the case is different from lawsuits against tobacco or opioid companies because greenhouse gas emissions come from countless sources around the world and cross state and national borders, making it difficult to isolate responsibility for climate-related damage.
«Emissions are a global phenomenon,» Isaac told Digital.
CONSERVATIVE GROUPS SAY JUSTICE KAGAN CANNOT BE IMPARTIAL IN UPCOMING SUPREME COURT CLIMATE LITIGATION
ExxonMobil and Suncor argue that because greenhouse gas emissions travel globally, Colorado cannot use state law to hold companies liable for emissions originating outside its borders. The companies contend that such disputes should instead be governed by federal law.
Meanwhile, other states such as Utah have barred these types of state tort lawsuits from being pursued.
«If the energy companies were to lose and Colorado were to win, this would in effect drive up the prices of gas all across the country,» Utah Attorney General Derek Brown told Digital. «And so those kind of decisions ultimately, it’s the province of Congress.»
law, federal courts, supreme court oral arguments, climate change environment, energy, states rights, controversies environment, state and local
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Texas’ red wall facing its biggest threat in decades as Republicans scramble to defend it
DALLAS — Democrats see a rare opening in Texas, and James Talarico is giving them their clearest shot in years at turning the state blue. If he pulls off the upset, the former teacher and Presbyterian seminarian could knock the first brick loose in Texas’ red wall.
The polling and fundraising figures help explain why Democrats see that possibility.
To put it in perspective, Talarico’s polling leads are wider than those recorded against Ted Cruz in 2018, when Beto O’Rourke came closer than any Democrat in decades to winning a Texas Senate race. And the enthusiasm on the ground from those who spoke with Digital backs up the numbers.
DEEP IN TRUMP COUNTRY, A NEW GENERATION REVEALS THE DIVIDE BEHIND TEXAS’ TIGHT SENATE RACE
What’s more, Talarico’s campaign raised $64 million from July through September, more than three times Trump-backed candidate Ken Paxton’s $18 million haul over the same period. Since launching his campaign, Talarico has raised more than $146 million.
But Paxton, currently the state’s attorney general, has enjoyed Republican outside groups pouring more than $200 million into Texas to support him, nearly all of it bankrolled by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. Additionally, MAGA Inc., President Donald Trump’s principal super PAC, has spent another $33.7 million on ads backing Paxton, according to AdImpact.
At his Dallas rally on Thursday, Talarico underscored that divide by casting the race as a David and Goliath fight, telling supporters they were his weapon against powerful interests.
«David wasn’t as big or as strong as Goliath. He didn’t have as many weapons, but he had hope. He had faith, and he had a slingshot,» he said. «Dallas, you are my slingshot. The people of Texas are my slingshot.»
Talarico’s momentum has also shown up on the campaign trail.
Earlier this week, Talarico hopscotched across Texas, stopping in El Paso before holding events in Midland and Amarillo and drawing a larger-than-expected crowd in deep-red Lubbock on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Trump campaigned with Paxton about four miles away that same night, shifting his rally time so it overlapped with Talarico’s event.
The dueling rallies put the race’s divide on display. Talarico’s campaign said more than 4,000 people signed up for his Lubbock rally, prompting a move to a larger venue.
«I know that we’re not the only show in town tonight, and I appreciate all 4,000 of you that showed up here this evening,» Talarico said at the Fiesta Center in Lubbock on Oct. 27. «That’s a lot of Talafreakos in one room.»
The Democratic candidate and his supporters have embraced the moniker «Talafreako,» a nickname first given to him as a derogatory dig by Republicans and President Trump.
Voters at Talarico’s rallies in Lubbock told Digital that Trump’s repeated Texas visits signaled Republican anxiety, while Paxton backers remained confident the state would stay red after a costly and contentious primary that saw Republicans divided over Paxton and sitting Sen. John Cornyn, who was ultimately ousted in the May runoff.
«Trump’s in Lubbock? Trump’s in Lubbock, Texas? He’s scared, he is scared,» one supporter told Digital.
Natalie, from Friona, called Trump’s same-day rally a sign Republicans were «nervous.»
«I think it’s performative, like to come the exact same day as he is here,» she said.
Jenny, from Brownsville, told Digital outside Trump and Paxton’s rally that the race was «not close» and she predicted that «Paxton will wipe the floor» with Talarico.
DUELING RALLIES THRUST DEEP-RED LONE STAR TOWN INTO THE CENTER OF THE POLITICAL UNIVERSE
Beyond the rally crowds, some Talarico supporters in Dallas and Lubbock said Paxton’s past legal controversies and impeachment by the Texas House shaped their views of the Republican nominee.
«We’re here in support of honesty, decency and integrity,» Lori, a Dallas voter who has voted Republican in the past, told Digital. «That’s what we like to see in a candidate, and we think Talarico is all that in one.»
George, a lifelong Texan at the Dallas rally, said years of watching Texas politics had become «heartbreaking» and called Talarico «a breath of fresh air.»
In Lubbock, Georgia cited several of Talarico’s policies and called him «authentic.» She also said his lack of an indictment was a plus, contrasting him with Paxton.
MEET THE VOTERS WHO COULD BREAK THE GOP’S DECADES-LONG GRIP ON A REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD
Elias, a nurse from Lubbock, described Paxton as a weak leader.
«He had a chance to kind of redeem himself despite his ugly past, but he’s not a man, he can’t stand up for himself. He needs daddy Trump to come and support him.»
With Election Day on Nov. 3, the question is whether Talarico can turn rally crowds and a polling lead into a historic win. A victory would crack the GOP’s decades-long grip on Texas. A loss would leave Democrats still searching for a path to turn the state blue.
midterm elections, politics, texas, democrats senate, republicans elections, battleground voters
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Flávio Bolsonaro reapareció tras su salida de Brasil, denunció persecución política y cuestionó los resultados “imposibles” del balotaje
El senador Flávio Bolsonaro, ex candidato presidencial derrotado por el Partido Liberal (PL), afirmó este viernes que su salida de Brasil hacia Estados Unidos tras la segunda vuelta electoral “no es un signo de debilidad” y planteó la posibilidad de que el país celebre nuevas elecciones antes de 2030.
En una transmisión de unos 20 minutos por Instagram, Bolsonaro informó que decidió dejar Brasil tras una conversación con su esposa, Fernanda Bolsonaro. Durante su reaparición, agradeció a sus seguidores por los cerca de 60 millones de votos que recibió. “Esto me da mucha fuerza, mucha lucidez e incluso más valor para afrontar lo que sea necesario, para rescatar y salvar a nuestro país, para volver a presentarme a la presidencia. No me refiero a 2030, no, me refiero a antes”, sostuvo el legislador.
Flávio Bolsonaro acusó al presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, del Partido de los Trabajadores (PT), de utilizar recursos estatales durante la campaña, entre ellos el aumento del monto de la Bolsa Familia en vísperas de los comicios.
Durante la transmisión, Bolsonaro comparó la conducta que atribuyó a su rival con infracciones en un partido de fútbol. “Hubo varios goles marcados con la mano que mi oponente anotó y que no fueron anulados por el VAR [árbitro asistente de video]. Jugó completamente al margen de las reglas de la ley electoral”, agregó.
La legislación prevé que, si la Justicia electoral determina un abuso de poder y anula una candidatura ganadora dentro de los dos años posteriores a la elección, Brasil debe convocar a comicios presidenciales directos.
El senador también cuestionó la proclamación de los resultados por parte del Tribunal Superior Electoral (TSE) y volvió a aludir a un supuesto fraude, sin presentar pruebas. Según sostuvo, un resultado adverso para Lula en la segunda vuelta sería “matemáticamente imposible”.
Bolsonaro señaló que resolvió abandonar el país después de visitar a su padre, el ex presidente Jair Bolsonaro, quien se encuentra bajo arresto domiciliario. De acuerdo con su relato, agentes de la Policía Federal lo citaron en ese lugar para comunicarle que el ministro Alexandre de Moraes, del Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), ordenó cancelar sus pasaportes.
“Entonces lo miré a la cara y le dije: ‘Papá, la persecución ha comenzado’. Incluso un poco antes de lo que imaginaba, porque todo el mundo sabe que Brasil vive actualmente en estado de excepción”, relató Flávio Bolsonaro. El ex xmandatario respondió: “Ya sabes adónde quieren llegar con esto, ¿verdad?”.
El senador afirmó que temía ser utilizado “como moneda de cambio para algún interés dentro del sistema” y aseguró que perdió “contra el sistema” y no contra su oponente.
“Dije que no me sometería a eso. Eso no es señal de debilidad, amigos. Puedo ser muchas cosas, pero no soy tonto. Supe analizar la situación y entendí hacia dónde se dirigían, y más rápido de lo que imaginaba”, afirmó.
Jair Bolsonaro llamó a ser parte de un “momento de unión y no de buscar culpables”
El ex jefe de Estado, preso por golpismo, pidió “unión y no buscar culpables” tras la derrota electoral de su hijo Flávio, según un mensaje que su esposa, la ex primera dama Michelle Bolsonaro, publicó este viernes en redes sociales.
“Vivimos tiempos difíciles. Necesitamos reflexionar y, solo después, actuar”, transmitió Michelle al citar al referente derechista, que tiene prohibido utilizar sus perfiles o divulgar comunicados. La ex primera dama señaló que Bolsonaro, a quien definió como “líder”, agradeció el “empeño y sacrificio” de los militantes durante la campaña presidencial de Flávio Bolsonaro.
Michelle Bolsonaro negó que el exmandatario responsabilice a aliados por la derrota electoral de su hijo frente a Lula, quien ocupa la Presidencia de Brasil.
De acuerdo con su publicación, al ex presidente le “entristecen” las versiones que “pregonan la división” dentro de su espacio político y apuntan “injustamente a supuestos culpables”.
Jair Bolsonaro gobernó Brasil entre 2019 y 2022 y enfrenta una condena de prisión por golpismo. Además, no puede participar de forma directa en comunicaciones públicas a través de redes sociales ni de mensajes difundidos por otras personas.
Domestic,Politics,South America / Central America,Government / Politics
INTERNACIONAL
Governor probing ‘Decoy Dan’ Sullivan election scandal warns system flaw hiding in plain sight
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy warned that an alleged Democratic scheme to recruit a second «Dan Sullivan» into the state’s pivotal Senate race exposed a deeper vulnerability in its election system, telling Digital in an exclusive interview that his administration is investigating newly surfaced evidence just days before the midterms.
Dunleavy said The New York Times uncovered details that state officials did not have when they initially challenged the second Sullivan’s candidacy this past summer — including alleged involvement by operatives connected to Democratic nominee Mary Peltola.
The Republican argued Alaska’s relatively new election system helped make the controversy possible, as state and federal authorities pursue separate investigations into potential wrongdoing.
«This would have never happened if we didn’t have ranked-choice voting,» Dunleavy told Digital. «If this was a historical primary, a primary that our fathers and grandfathers had, this individual [retired schoolteacher Dan Sullivan of Petersburg] would not have gotten out of the primary.»
‘DECOY DAN’ SULLIVAN CASE LEADS TOP SENATOR TO BREAK FOUR-YEAR X SILENCE: ‘PATTERN OF LIES’
Dunleavy cited reporting that the Petersburg Sullivan initially denied having been recruited, but the Times found Peltola-connected operatives had worked to recruit spoilers named «Dan Sullivan» from around the state.
«We’re compelled to do an investigation on behalf of the people of Alaska, because as they say in Alaska, which is a big fish state, if you can smell the fish way far from the dock, you’ve got a real problem,» Dunleavy said.
«And so, this really does stink.»
Alaska’s election system advances the top four finishers from a nonpartisan primary to a general election in which voters rank candidates by preference. Dunleavy argued that traditional party primaries would have prevented the second Sullivan from reaching November’s ballot.
«Our job as executives are to make sure that we can provide our people with an election that everyone could look at it and say that was done with integrity. And right now this cast, unfortunately, a pall over all of this,» he said.
Dunleavy said the state’s initial investigation in June after the Petersburg Sullivan surfaced ultimately led to the state Supreme Court, which allowed both Sullivans’ names on the ballot, with Senator Sullivan marked «incumbent.»
«Initially, when [Petersburg Sullivan] contacted the Division of Elections, he wanted his name listed as Daniel S. Sullivan. That’s not his middle initial. That’s the middle initial of our incumbent senator. His website looked very, very, very similar to our incumbent senator. And we went to court over this, and the Supreme Court of Alaska ruled that they were going to put his name on the ballot,» he said.
«We knew there was a problem, but the courts had decided. And then of course, the article comes out in the Times and there’s a whole list of issues that we were never privy to.»
The new reporting identified contradictions in accounts of what transpired over the summer, including whether there was contact between Petersburg Sullivan and any campaigns.
RNC REJECTS NARRATIVE OF SPOILER CANDIDATES ‘ON BOTH SIDES,’ CALLS ALASKA SCHEME ‘FRAUDULENT’
«There’s a lot more smoke and a lot of fishy smell after this article came out,» he said.
In Alaska, elections are overseen by the lieutenant governor, not the governor, and Digital reached out to Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom for comment on whether or how her office is investigating.
«They’re obviously shoulders deep now in an election with all the people and all the polls open here with early voting. The governor’s office is in charge of making sure that there’s execution of the laws. That’s what this investigation is going to look at to see if there were any violations of law or if there was a civil violation as well,» Dunleavy added.
Peltola’s campaign has denied involvement with either Sullivan campaign. Peltola also dismissed the controversy as a distraction during a campaign appearance Wednesday, while the New York Times reported that operatives connected to her campaign participated in efforts to recruit potential spoiler candidates.
Digital reached out to Peltola for additional comment.
Former FEC Chair Hans von Spakovsky told Digital that something investigators should look at is whether individuals paid by Peltola or another political organization were providing any «in-kind» services to the Petersburg Sullivan.
«In-kind services are considered a contribution to a campaign. Failure to disclose such services is a violation of federal law. Also, if the fair market value of the services provided to the campaign exceeds the maximum contribution allowed to a federal candidate, that is also a violation of federal law. If this was knowingly and intentionally done, it moves from being a civil violation to a criminal violation of the law,» von Spakovsky said.
Von Spakovsky pointed to an FEC case involving socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, which accepted campaign assistance from Australian Labor Party members whose travel expenses and stipends were paid by the foreign political organization.
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The FEC determined that the arrangement constituted a prohibited $24,422 in-kind foreign contribution. Sanders’ campaign and the Australian Labor Party each agreed to pay $14,500 in civil penalties to settle the matter without admitting liability.
With Election Day approaching, the governor said the investigation would continue for as long as necessary, warning that the alleged effort could foreshadow new attempts to manipulate elections through misleading candidacies and other tactics.
Digital’s Hannah Brennan contributed to this report.
elections disputes, voter fraud concerns, elections state and local, elections, politics, state and local, voting
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