As we continue our effort to keep you up-to-date on how money corrupts American government and politics, as well as other news of the day, we’re pleased to publish this daily digest compiled by BillMoyers.com’s John Light.
No more drilling –> Shell’s attempt to drill in the Arctic this summer — which sparked a number protests — turned out to be a bust, and now the Obama administration has moved to block future drilling. Jennifer Dlouhy at FuelFix: “The Interior Department announced it was canceling government auctions of drilling rights in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, previously scheduled for 2016 and 2017 respectively. At the same time, it formally rejected bids by Statoil and Shell for more time to search for crude under their existing Arctic leases. The decisions ensure a long chill on oil development in U.S. Arctic waters and deal another blow to Alaska, which heavily depends on energy revenue and is still reeling from Shell’s pullout. Environmentalists celebrated the move as a victory for Arctic waters and the animals that thrive in them.”
Looking for leadership –> Congress returns from a long Columbus Day vacation today, and the search for a Republican speaker of the House continues this week.
Ohio takes on gerrymandering –> Jessie Balmert at the Cincinnati Enquirer: “If voters approve the ballot initiative this November, Ohio could become a nationwide leader on how to draw lines for state lawmakers’ districts, said Michael Li, an elections expert at New York University School of Law’s Brennan Center for Justice. The much-maligned process of allowing lawmakers draw Rorschach test-like districts to ensure a win for their party could end — or at least become less egregious — with this first-of-its-kind proposal, he said.”
Iran moves in a new direction –> The Iran nuclear deal began going into effect on Sunday, writes Elliot Hannon at Slate, “formally beginning the process of de-escalating a decade-long diplomatic standoff between Washington and Tehran that, if all goes to plan, will allow for a reduction in Iran’s nuclear activity and greater international oversight of its program, in return for the alleviation of economic sanctions imposed on the country.”
A turning point for Canada? –> Canadians head to the polls today to vote on whether conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper gets a fourth term. Polls show Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party and son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, in the lead. Via: AP.
Let’s talk policy some more –> John Nichols at The Nation: “After One Good Debate, Democrats Need to Schedule a Lot More of Them.”
Who’s stepping up? –> “Which countries are doing the most to stop global warming?” asks The Guardian’s data team. This interactive compares side by side what major polluters have said they’d be willing to do under the UN deal that will likely be signed in Paris this December.
Funding fear –> At The Intercept, Lee Fang investigates Robert Shillman, one California conservative donor whose money is behind a number of the right-wing calls to keep Syrian refugees out of America — unless they’re non-Muslim.
What happens when you die alone? –> In a fascinating #longread, The New York Times’ N. R. Kleinfeld digs into the life of George Bell and the events following his death. Bell was a loner who died alone in his New York apartment.
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