This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

Some of the votes Americans cast on Tuesday that may have mattered most for the climate were quite a bit down-ballot from the presidential ticket: A handful of states held elections for the commissions that regulate utilities, and thereby exercise direct control over what sort of energy mix will fuel the coming years’ expected growth in electricity demand. In three closely watched races around the country—the utility commissions in Arizona, Montana, and Louisiana—Republican candidates either won or are in the lead. While they generally pitched themselves to voters as market-friendly, favoring an all-of-the-above approach to energy, clean energy advocates interviewed by Grist cast these candidates as deferential to the power companies they aspired to regulate.

Arizona is, in a word, sunny. Its geography makes it “the famously obvious place to build solar,” said Caroline Spears, executive director of Climate Cabinet, a nonprofit that works to get clean energy advocates elected. But its utilities have built just a sliver of the potential solar energy that there is room for in the state—and the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates the state’s investor-owned utilities, is partly to blame for that. That commission’s most recent goal for renewable energy, set in 2007, was an unambitious 15 percent to be reached by 2025. “Their goals are worse than where Texas currently is and where Iowa currently is on clean energy,” Spears said. What’s more, the current slate of commissioners is in the process of considering whether to ditch that goal altogether.

Louisiana’s Public Service Commission is described as “one of the most reviled utilities in the country by its customers.”

Donald Trump has made it clear that there are groups he’d like to punish.

Much attention has been paid to the president-elect’s planned crusades for his next term against immigrants and transgender people. But less discussed has been another group on the list: protesters. Building off the bipartisan crackdown on anti-war student dissent last year, Trump has made clear he hopes to discipline, and potentially prosecute, civil disobedience with increased force.

In May, he promised a group of donors that “any student that protests, I [will] throw them out of the country.” Trump hoped this would serve as a warning. “You know, there are a lot of foreign students,” he continued. “As soon as they hear that, they’re going to behave.” 

This is more than just bluster. Reuters reported that sources said Trump hopes to follow through on the promise on day one of his administration, by signing an executive order prioritizing deporting “international students who support Palestinian militant group Hamas and have violated the terms of their student visas.” 

Public health experts, physicians, and scientists responded with fury and disgust to the news that President-elect Donald Trump will nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the secretary of health and human services. If Kennedy—who has also promoted dangerous and ludicrous ideas about fluoride, 5G technology, and the causes of HIV/AIDS, among innumerable other pseudoscientific claims—assumes the position, “the damage he could do is near infinite,” warns Dr. Andrea Love, an immunologist and microbiologist.

“He will do great harm—generational harm.”

The scope of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is immense: It sits over 13 other agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Indian Health Service.

Kennedy, an environmental attorney by training with no background or credentials in medical or public health, is the founder of the anti-vaccine organization Children’s Health Defense. He became one of the loudest voices in the anti-vaccine movement when he began falsely claiming nearly 20 years ago that the shots are tied to autism.

In the days before the election, when too many stories about deadlocked polls and undecided voters and the MAGAfication of young men began to wear on my soul, I turned to TikTok to see what women were thinking. Soon enough I was swimming in a sea of female excitement and angst. I watched videos of ordinary women of all ages and races—in deep blue districts and deep red ones—describing what this election meant to them. Women who had just voted, sitting in their cars and sobbing about what it would mean to elect the first female president, what it would mean to defeat a vitriolically sexist candidate who’s been found liable for sexually assaulting one woman and who stands accused by dozens more, whose campaign gleefully demeaned women as “trash” and “childless cat ladies.” What it would mean to elect someone who’d spent the last three months, and the two years before that, connecting reproductive freedom to economic concerns. What it would mean to elect someone taking the stress of caring for both kids and parents seriously, who recognizes the housing crisis is hurting all but the richest, who has more than a concept of a plan for how to address such problems.

I watched one young woman driving 10 hours to her home state because her absentee ballot never arrived, muttering “10 and 2, 10 and 2” as she stared out at the road ahead. I watched women flying across the country to vote. I watched women take part in the “They both reached for the gun” Chicago meme as they talked about canceling out the vote of their Trump-supporting father, brother, or husband. Or bragging on husbands or dads whose vote they didn’t have to cancel. One who said she wouldn’t have to cancel out her husband’s vote because he’d forget to do it if she didn’t remind him.

One woman told of breaking off her engagement when she found out her fiancé was for Trump. (“I can’t share my life with someone who is going to vote in that direction…Ladies, we need to stick together.”) I watched as young woman after young woman testified that they’d never, ever consider dating anyone who voted for Trump. I watched as women who were in middle or high school in 2016 reacted in horror at seeing, for the first time, Trump bragging on an Access Hollywood bus about grabbing women by the pussy and moving on them “like a bitch,” or stalking Hillary Clinton around a debate stage, or seeing the testimonies of the more than 25 women who have reported being sexually assaulted by him. “Dads voted for this?” read one incredulous caption.

There can be no doubt that there is fertile ground for those who find prominence and profit in nurturing resentment of women.

When the Fair Labor Standards Act was signed into law in 1938, first establishing a national minimum wage, it came with an exemption: employers could pay some disabled workers less than minimum wage. The federal exemption still stands, even as many states roll back their versions—and that wage can still be as little as 25 cents an hour.

25 states have since introduced or enacted legislation to phase out this outdated practice. Defenders of the 14(c) certificate program often argue that the disabled workers it covers, most of whom have intellectual and developmental disabilities, just wouldn’t get a job elsewhere.

A study published today in JAMA Health Forum by University of Pennsylvania researchers refutes that argument. Its authors found that in two states—New Hampshire and Maryland—that banned the practice, employment rates for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as people who are autistic, either increased or didn’t change when employers had to pay them an equal wage.

Neurologist Mihir Kakara, the study’s lead author, says the finding “points towards the fact that these people are able to work in equal-paying, fully integrated jobs as their peers who do not have a disability, given the right resources.”

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump announced former Fox News host Pete Hegseth was his pick for secretary of defense. The choice is iconoclastic to say the least. Although Hegseth served as an Army National Guard officer, he has no experience in government leadership that could inform the management of the federal government’s largest agency.

What Hegseth does have are connections to the TheoBros, a group of mostly millennial, ultra-conservative men, many of whom proudly call themselves Christian nationalists. Among the tenets of their branch of Protestant Christianity—known as Reformed or Reconstructionist—is the idea that the United States should be subject to biblical law.

Last year, the magazine Nashville Christian Family ran a profile of Hegseth, in which he mentioned being a member of a “Bible and book study” that focused on the book My Life for Yours by Doug Wilson, the 71-year-old unofficial patriarch of the TheoBros. Patriarch is the right word: When I interviewed Wilson a few months ago, he said that he, like many other TheoBros, believes women never should have been given the right to vote.

Wilson presides over a small fiefdom in Moscow, Idaho, where he is the head pastor of the flagship church of the denomination he helped found, the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC). In Moscow, Wilson has also helped to establish a college, a printing press, and a classical Christian school. In addition to his Moscow ventures, Wilson is also extremely online—he blogs, he posts on social media, and he makes slickly produced YouTube videos. Once a fringe figure, famous mostly among reformed Christians, last year Wilson’s star power brightened considerably in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and a speaking slot at the National Conservatism conference alongside then Ohio senator, now vice president-elect, JD Vance.  

Cole Palmer’s availability for Chelsea’s crucial match against Arsenal this weekend is uncertain after the forward sustained a knee injury in his previous outing. Palmer has been one of Chelsea’s most consistent and influential players this season, often seen as the key figure capable of delivering the goals and performances the Blues need to secure victories. His ability to drive the team forward and contribute in big moments has made him one of the first names on the team sheet for manager Enzo Maresca.

With Chelsea set to face Arsenal in what promises to be a high-stakes Premier League encounter, the club is sweating over Palmer’s fitness. The attacker himself will surely be eager to feature in such a significant game. However, while Maresca has refrained from providing a definitive update on Palmer’s condition, he did hint at the possibility of him starting, depending on how well he recovers before the match. This has left Chelsea fans anxious, as Palmer has become a pivotal part of their attacking force this season.

Further fueling speculation, Palmer posted an update on his Instagram story, showing himself wearing a ‘Game Ready’ wrap on his knee. This device is used for both hot and cold therapy and is typically used in recovery from injuries. However, it did not provide a clear indication of whether Palmer would be ready for the match, as such wraps are commonly worn during the rehabilitation process, regardless of the player’s immediate availability.

Despite Palmer’s importance to Chelsea’s attacking options, it would be unwise for Arsenal to assume that his presence or absence will decide the outcome of the game. Chelsea is a team with multiple attacking threats, and Arsenal will need to focus on their overall strategy, regardless of Palmer’s fitness.

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Mohammed Kudus has emerged as one of the standout players in the Premier League, yet he is not playing for one of the traditional Champions League clubs. Since his move from Ajax to West Ham, the Ghanaian midfielder has been a key figure for the Hammers. His performances have made him one of the most sought-after players in London, with clubs like Arsenal now turning their attention to his development. It has been reported that Kudus could be playing his final season for West Ham, as bigger clubs are keeping an eye on him, with Arsenal among those monitoring his progress closely.

Arsenal, who have been on the lookout for players to enhance their midfield, see Kudus as a talented playmaker who could add creativity and flair to their squad. His ability to create chances, combined with his technical skill, has made him stand out even when West Ham has struggled in games. His consistent ability to make an impact in matches, regardless of the team’s performance, is what makes him an appealing prospect for top clubs like Arsenal.

The Gunners are in the process of strengthening their squad, and Kudus has become a key target for them. According to Football Insider, Arsenal plans to keep tabs on Kudus throughout the remainder of the season to assess whether he is the right fit for their team. The decision on whether to pursue him in the summer will depend on his continued form, as Arsenal has other targets in mind as well. Kudus has the potential to be an excellent addition to their squad, but he must maintain his high level of performance to prove that he is the right choice for Arsenal.

If Kudus continues to impress and remains consistent, he could be the next Ghanaian to play for the Gunners, following in the footsteps of previous stars from the African nation. However, his future at West Ham and potential move to a club like Arsenal will likely depend on the offers he receives and his performances in the coming months.

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Arsenal is facing a major challenge as Declan Rice is an injury doubt ahead of their crucial Premier League game against Chelsea. The midfielder has been an essential player for the Gunners this season, featuring in nearly every match. However, Rice missed Arsenal’s Champions League game against Inter Milan due to injury and has struggled to recover in time for the Chelsea match.

Hours before the game, Rice still seems to be feeling pain, which puts his participation in doubt. The Gunners have been working relentlessly to get the England international back into the squad, especially now that captain Martin Odegaard is fit to play. The club is in a race against time to assess Rice’s fitness and make a decision on whether he can play through the pain.

According to Football Insider, Arsenal is keen to have Rice in the squad for the Chelsea match, even if he is not 100% fit. The Gunners may be prepared to let him play through pain, knowing how important his presence in the midfield is. Rice has been a standout performer for Mikel Arteta’s side since his summer move, contributing both defensively and offensively. His absence would be a big blow for Arsenal, especially in a game that could be crucial in their bid for the Premier League title.

However, there is a risk that if Rice plays while still injured, he could worsen the issue, which might sideline him for a more extended period. Arsenal’s medical team is likely monitoring his condition closely to determine whether he can make the sacrifice and play through the pain or whether it would be better for him to rest and recover fully.

Rice’s availability remains uncertain, but his determination to play and help his team is a testament to his importance in the squad. Arsenal is hoping for a last-minute recovery, but if he is not fully fit, his absence will be felt by the Gunners in this highly anticipated clash with Chelsea.

Ray Parlour has recently drawn a fascinating comparison between Martin Odegaard and one of Arsenal’s all-time greats, Dennis Bergkamp, as the Norwegian midfielder returns to fitness ahead of the crucial Chelsea game. Parlour, a key figure in Arsenal’s midfield during the club’s glory years, has noted the similarities between the two players, particularly in their technical ability and vision on the ball.

Bergkamp, who is widely regarded as one of the best players to ever wear an Arsenal shirt, was known for his exceptional creativity and precision in finding teammates with perfectly weighted passes. His skill, footballing intelligence, and ability to score stunning goals during his time at the club made him a fan favourite and a pivotal part of the team during Arsène Wenger’s tenure. Bergkamp’s legacy as a technical maestro is one that Odegaard is being measured against, which speaks volumes about the level of respect the Norwegian has earned in his relatively short time at Arsenal.

Parlour, while praising Odegaard’s qualities, made it clear that the comparison should not be taken to mean that Odegaard has reached the heights of Bergkamp just yet. Speaking to Mirror Football, he said, “Well, I look at Bergkamp when I played. I wouldn’t say he [Odegaard] is as good as Bergkamp, but he’s very similar in the way he can see vision and he will create chances. What I’m saying is he can get into little areas, he’s a very clever player.”

Odegaard’s rise at Arsenal has been remarkable since his move from Real Madrid. As club captain, he has shown leadership qualities and a growing influence in midfield, creating vital chances and scoring important goals. However, as Parlour points out, while Odegaard has been excellent for Arsenal, he still has some way to go before he can be considered on the same pedestal as Bergkamp. Odegaard’s next challenge will be to help deliver silverware for the Gunners, something Bergkamp achieved throughout his illustrious career at the club. Only then, after winning major trophies, will the comparison truly hold weight.

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Ethan Nwaneri is quickly becoming one of the most exciting young talents at Arsenal, and it might not be long before Mikel Arteta has to find a regular spot for him in the starting XI. The teenager has impressed with his performances in his limited appearances in the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup. His flair and maturity beyond his years have caught the eye of many fans and pundits alike.

Despite Nwaneri’s evident potential, Arteta has been cautious with how much first-team football he gives the youngster. The manager is mindful of not overwhelming him too soon, understanding the delicate balance of developing a young player without rushing their progress. However, Nwaneri’s contributions have not gone unnoticed, and as the team looks to improve their form, the question arises: could he be given more playing time in the upcoming matches?

The next test for Arsenal is a high-stakes London derby against Chelsea, and Nwaneri’s cameo appearance in the recent game against Inter Milan has sparked discussion about whether he should start this crucial match. Former Arsenal player Kieran Gibbs has weighed in on the matter, advising Arteta to give the young star a chance. In an interview with ESPN, Gibbs stated, “I would start him there. You could have said over the last months with the results that they have had that he could have played a couple of games and see how it went. Now I think it would be a good time to throw him in.”

Given the team’s recent struggles, introducing fresh talent like Nwaneri could provide a much-needed spark. His creativity and energy might be the injection Arsenal needs as they push to get back on track and win more matches. If Arteta trusts Nwaneri more in the upcoming games, it could mark the beginning of an important phase in his career, helping Arsenal to build a stronger future.

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Arsenal is facing a difficult challenge in keeping hold of William Saliba, who has become one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe. Since establishing himself as a regular in Arsenal’s first team, Saliba has impressed with his performances and is now considered one of the top defenders in world football. His rise to prominence has coincided with Arsenal’s resurgence as one of the leading clubs in the Premier League, and he has been crucial to their defensive solidity.

Despite his standout displays, Arsenal has yet to translate their good performances into major silverware, and the club knows that it must secure some trophies soon to keep their key players satisfied and prevent them from being tempted by offers from top clubs. Saliba’s form has caught the attention of Real Madrid, a club known for its ability to sign almost any player they desire, which has put Arsenal in a difficult position. While Arsenal remains confident that Saliba will stay at the club, there are concerns internally that the allure of Real Madrid could be too strong for the defender.

However, recent reports have provided Arsenal with a sense of relief. According to Four Four Two, Real Madrid may have shifted their focus away from Saliba and towards another young defender, Castello Lukeba of RB Leipzig. The report suggests that Real Madrid may now prioritise signing Lukeba, a promising talent in the Bundesliga, rather than continuing their pursuit of Saliba.

For Arsenal, this could be great news, as it would remove the looming threat of Real Madrid signing one of their most important players. Still, given Real Madrid’s track record in the transfer market, the Gunners will remain vigilant and continue to work on securing Saliba’s future at the club.

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Arsenal is reportedly among the clubs interested in signing Jonathan David as his contract nears expiration, which could offer a valuable solution to their recent scoring challenges. Despite a strong start to the season, Arsenal’s form has waned, with goals proving harder to come by in recent weeks. Many fans and analysts have observed that the club missed an opportunity to add firepower to their attack in the summer transfer window when they chose not to sign an additional striker.

In the summer, Arsenal was linked with several forward targets, including Benjamin Sesko, who ultimately chose to stay at RB Leipzig. Rather than pursue other options, Arsenal opted not to bring in a new striker. However, with their recent struggles in front of goal, adding a proven scorer like David could give the team a much-needed boost in the second half of the season. Waiting until the summer could prove risky, as David would be a free agent by then and likely attract increased competition from other top clubs.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Arsenal’s competition for David is already significant, with Premier League rivals Manchester United and Liverpool reportedly interested in the Canadian forward as well. Additionally, elite European clubs such as Barcelona and Juventus are also monitoring his situation, making it clear that David’s next move will be hotly contested.

David has proven himself a consistent goalscorer in recent seasons, both in Ligue 1 with Lille and internationally. Known for his pace, movement, and finishing ability, his skillset aligns well with Arsenal’s style, and his goal-scoring consistency could provide the boost they need. Securing David’s signature in January would help Arsenal gain an edge over their rivals and potentially inject much-needed depth and versatility into Mikel Arteta’s front line as they pursue a stronger finish to their Premier League campaign.

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After how long we have been hoping our Arsenal Women will finally rediscover their goal-scoring form, Friday night was very satisfying indeed.
For a long time, our Gunner women’s main setback has been their inability to capitalize on their domination, convert it into chances, and finally score goals. A clinical Arsenal side might have easily won games like the 0-0 draw against Everton and the 1-1 tie with Manchester United. But they didn’t.

Well, on Friday night, they took our complaints with their lack of clinicality personally, thumping a Brighton side that everyone thought was on the rise, 5-0. Prior to their match against Arsenal, the Seagulls had conceded only four goals in six games. However, an unforgiving Arsenal demonstrated their superiority by scoring five goals against them.

By halftime, Beth Mead (13), Caitlin Foord (22) and Frida Maanum (25) had given the Gunners a 3-0 advantage. In the second half, the Gunners only needed to return, keep it simple, play their game, and finish the game for a vital win, but they did the opposite. They still kept the visitors under pressure, with Lina Hurtig scoring in the 76th minute, four minutes after replacing Caitlin Foord, and Alessia Russo converting a penalty in injury time for her second WSL goal in a row.

Renee Slegers couldn’t contain her joy after the game about how her team’s game plan worked. She claims that in order to address their troubles in front of the goal, they spent a lot of time in training working on their offensive concerns, which thankfully paid off.

“I’m really happy for the girls. The investment they put in and that they get the effect today in the game.”

Strangely enough, towards the end of last year, Arsenal went through an awful patch which saw our lead at the top of the EPL table get severely reduced. First of all we drew with Liverpool, which was swiftly followed by defeats to West Ham and Fulham, and was immediately followed by our home defeat to Liverpool in our first FA Cup game of the season.

The Gunners obviously needed to do something and the solution found by Arteta was to take the squad over to Dubai for a week’s warm-weather training in the sun. They came back fully refreshed and set off on a seven-game winning run that put us firmly back in the tight race for the title.

This was recalled yesterday when the media asked Arteta if our current run (losing to Bournemouth and Newcastle with that Liverpool draw in between) was a similar situation to last year and could he turn it around again. He replied: “The results probably were very similar, but the context is very different, because you tend to forget why you lost a full game against Bournemouth, or what happened what we didn’t win against Liverpool or the amount of situations we have had to go through.

“It does not matter, in the end we cannot go to Dubai for a week now like we did last time, we can go to Dubai still for two days – if that’s the solution we’ll go forward and backwards! The team is doing 10 times more better things than we used to do at that period, that’s the positive thing, but for all this to be clear and relevant you have to win, especially to answer certain questions.”

So, we have to beat Chelsea, but that is far from certain in our current form, but it is good to know that Arteta is looking for a similar solution to last season, but really, will just two days in Dubai be enough to get the squad back on track?

At a rally Saturday in Gastonia, North Carolina, Donald Trump thanked God for an October jobs report that showed a slow-down in job growth due in part to the recent hurricane that decimated the western part of the state.

“How good was that?” Trump asked the crowd. “To get those numbers four days before the vote was…” Trump said, trailing off. Then he paused and looked upward, presumably to God, who he told: “Thank you very much sir. Thank you.”

“He’d prefer to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that the US economy added just 12,000 jobs in October. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su attributed the slow growth to “significant impacts from hurricanes and strike activity.” That’s a reference to Hurricanes Helene and Milton and an ongoing strike by Boeing machinists. Noting the unemployment rate remains at 4.1 percent and inflation is falling, Su said the jobs report “reflects an atypical month rather than a shift in the broader economic outlook.”

Donald Trump is amplifying attacks on the media in the final days of the campaign, broadly threatening retaliation against the industry for coverage critical of him.

“To make America great you really have to get the news shaped up,” Trump told Fox News Saturday morning.

During a rally in North Carolina later that day, Trump called journalists covering the event “monsters,” and “horrible, horrible, dishonest people.”

During the Fox News interview, Trump attacked several outlets. He called ABC News “corrupt,” renewing his gripe that the network’s David Muir during a September debate had correctly noted that that FBI data shows violent crime declining, contradicting Trump’s erroneous claims that it was “through the roof.”

Donald Trump has an enemies list. The Sierra Club has an allies list—some 259,000 Pennsylvanians who could decide the election.

They have demonstrated concern for the climate crisis, the clean energy transition, and the environment—but they are young, or newly registered, or do not regularly vote. “These voters can be critical,” says Sarah Burton, the Sierra Club’s national political director. “But they often need extra pushes to get out and actually vote.”

So the Sierra Club is enlisting a vast cadre of volunteers to turn them out. People are gathering in dining rooms across the state and in zoom calls nation-wide to write postcards and make phone calls. As of Thursday, they’d contacted about 100,000 people on the club’s list.

“The only thing that defeats Trump and MAGA Republicans is collective action, and in my mind, specifically collective action on climate. There is such a potential there. I think it’s really exciting,” Burton says.

With the election on everyone’s mind, it’s a good moment to revisit a consequential election from the past. No, we’re not talking about 2016. Let’s go way further back—to what’s considered the only successful coup d’etat in US history. 

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In the late 1800s, Wilmington, North Carolina, was a city where African Americans thrived economically and held elected office. This did not sit well with white supremacists, who during the election of 1898 used violence to intimidate voters and overthrow the elected government.

The leader of the coup, a former Confederate colonel named Alfred Moore Waddell, gave a speech in which he told white people: “If you see the Negro out voting tomorrow, tell him to stop. If he doesn’t, shoot him down. Shoot him down in his tracks.”