Brad Johnson

@climatebrad.hillheat.com

29259 Followers 3228 Following

Climate hawk. DC-based journalist. Registered Parliamentarian. FSP. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://Hillheat.news/subscribe

July 22, 2026 Re: Reject HR9720 the DC Taxing Authority Review Act Dear Members of the House Oversight Committee: On behalf of the League of Women Voters of the United States (the League), we write to express our strong opposition to H.R. 9720, the DC Taxing Authority Review Act which would severely interfere with the ability of the District of Columbia (DC) to manage its finances. This bill is yet another attempt to interfere in the business of DC and undermine its ability to selfgovern. Passage of this legislation would require Congress to approve any legislation passed by the DC Council that imposes or increases a tax or fee. This legislation is the latest in a long line of attacks on DC's democracy and the stability of its finances. DC residents pay federal taxes and comply with all the other duties of citizenship, yet Congress continues to insert itself in its daily business while giving DC’s residents limited control over their own local governance. While we recognize that Congress has the authority to reject or amend laws enacted by DC through the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, passing this bill would micromanage the affairs of the DC, highlighting the relegation of its more than 700,000 residents to second-class citizenship without the same voting rights enjoyed by citizens of states. We exhort you to uphold democracy and grant District residents the autonomy to manage their own affairs, free from external interference or meddling. We urge the Committee to reject HR9720, which would be an undemocratic overreach that would destabilize DC’s finances. District residents need the autonomy to manage their own affairs, free from external interference or meddling. It remains painfully clear that the right to vote is meaningless if the will of DC residents can be subverted and micromanaged by a Congress that gives them no say in the matter. For questions, please feel free to reach out to me at jjones@lwv.org or Kristen Kern, our Federal Policy and Advocacy Mana…
July 22, 2026 The Honorable James Comer Chairman U.S. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Re: DoorDash Support for H.R. 9720, the “D.C. Taxing Authority Review Act” Dear Chairman Comer and members of the committee: On behalf of DoorDash, I write to express our support for H.R. 9720, the “D.C. Taxing Authority Review Act,” which would require congressional approval before the District of Columbia can impose or increase a tax or fee. We believe this is a reasonable check against the hastily enacted local taxes and fees that fall hardest on small businesses and the residents who depend on them. DoorDash's marketplace in the District is built overwhelmingly on small, independent merchants: Roughly 80% of DC merchants that were active on our platform as of December 2025 had 3 or fewer storefronts on the platform. These are the businesses least able to absorb new taxes and fees or the administrative burden of complying with them, from costly point-of-sale upgrades to added compliance overhead. The District's recently passed delivery tax illustrates the risk: a tax on virtually every delivery, with proceeds designated for a myriad of projects and the District’s general fund, passed without a single public hearing and, consequently, without input from the residents and small businesses it will most heavily impact. Based on our internal data, a tax like this would mean millions of dollars a year in added costs for D.C. residents and lost revenue for local merchants, and that burden grows quickly as the rate is increased, as authorized by the Budget Support Act. Research on comparable taxes bears this out: an economic analysis of Colorado’s retail delivery fee found it raised takeout prices by nearly 1%; cut delivery orders by more than 400,000 a year; cost the restaurant sector over $12 million in revenue; and resulted in a loss of roughly 234 jobs across restaurant and delivery workers. Taxes like this also fall …
July 21, 2026 The Honorable James Comer, Chair The Honorable Robert Garcia, Ranking Member Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chairman Comer and Ranking Member Garcia: On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I write in opposition to the D.C. Taxing Authority Review Act (H.R. 9720). H.R. 9720 turns the fundamental premise of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act on its head and endangers public services in D.C. Under current law, Congress can move to disapprove of a bill after it is passed by the council and signed by the Mayor. H.R. 9720 would instead require Congress to approve any new local tax or fee in order for that tax or fee to become law. This bill would severely restrict the District of Columbia’s autonomy to raise and spend its tax dollars to meet the needs of its constituents, a right afforded to every other state and local government across the country without the intervention of Congress. The bill would explicitly preempt the residents of D.C. from democratically choosing to enact a new Business Activity Tax (BAT) that could raise $500 million to support public services. The District of Columbia has consistently proven its ability to manage its own finances, as the District’s financial statements received a clean audit opinion for 29 consecutive years, indicating no material misstatements or errors. In the latest financial report, D.C. finished FY 2025 with a balanced budget, fully funded trusts for retirement benefits, and a strong bond rating. To meet the unique financial challenges posed to the District from the actions of the federal government, including unprecedented federal layoffs and historic cuts to federal programs such as SNAP and Medicaid, D.C. must have all policy tools available to meet the needs of its residents.
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A basic physical law tells us that the water holding capacity of the atmosphere goes up at about 7% per degree Celsius increase in temperature. (4% per °F) Observations show that this is happening at the surface and in lower atmosphere: 1°F since 1970 over global oceans and 4% more water vapor. This means more moisture available for storms and an enhanced greenhouse effect.
POLITICO Influence Newsletter Header By Jacob Wendler With help from Rachel Shin, Zack Colman and Daniel Barnes FIRST IN PI — Bipartisan K Street firm Invariant has hired longtime Democratic Hill aide David Weinberg to lead its congressional oversight and investigations practice as K Street braces for a potential shift in power come November. Weinberg most recently led oversight investigations for Senate Homeland Security Committee Democrats as staff director. — Invariant, founded in 2007 by famed Democratic lobbyist Heather Podesta, is the latest shop to staff up with experienced Democratic staffers from key Hill committees. Squire Patton Boggs hired Giancarlo Pellegrini from the House Oversight panel last week, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld poached Marcus Childress from the House Judiciary Committee in March. (POLITICO has been a client of Invariant since January 2026.)
JTF-DC Arkansas Guardsmen continue patrolling Logan Circle Photo by Pfc. Chris Lara Martinez | Joint Task Force DC | 07.19.2026 U.S. Army Spc. Blake Sartain with the Arkansas National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, stands guard while in front of the Embassy of Argentina at Logan Circle in Washington, D.C., July 19, 2026. About 5,000 National Guard members are supporting the mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan... JTF-DC Arkansas Guardsmen continue patrolling Logan Circle JTF-DC Arkansas Guardsmen continue patrolling Logan Circle Photo by Pfc. Chris Lara Martinez | Joint Task Force DC | 07.19.2026 U.S. Army Spc. David Fitch with the Arkansas National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, pulls security around a high-traffic area at Logan Circle in Washington, D.C., July 19, 2026. About 5,000 National Guard members are supporting the mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department to... JTF-DC Arkansas Guardsmen continue patrolling Logan Circle JTF-DC Arkansas Guardsmen continue patrolling Logan Circle Photo by Pfc. Chris Lara Martinez | Joint Task Force DC | 07.19.2026 U.S. Army Spc. Kylie Criner with the Arkansas National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, maintains a vigilant security posture throughout Logan Circle in Washington, D.C., July 19, 2026. About 5,000 National Guard members are supporting the mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police... JTF-DC Arkansas Guardsmen continue patrolling Logan Circle JTF-DC Arkansas Guardsmen continue patrolling Logan Circle Photo by Pfc. Chris Lara Martinez | Joint Task Force DC | 07.19.2026
The Secretary of Labor may not finalize, implement, 6 or enforce the proposed standard titled ‘‘Heat Injury and 7 Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings’’ 8 published by the Occupational Safety and Health Adminis9 tration in the Federal Register on August 30, 2024 (89 10 Fed. Reg. 70698), or any substantially similar standard.
Turd in the punchbowl
"... The government has failed to preserve the key physical evidence in this case: the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, including the section of its line that Mr. Hearn is charged with damaging."
July 20, 9:30 am status hearing in U.S. v Hearn
Fox News: Blame Canada
February 28, 2025
February 28, 2025
The grey line provides a rational climate target. This target is composed of a combination of a maximum rate of global temperature change and of a corresponding maximum absolute temperature increase. The indication of stability limits for large unmanaged ecosystems, e.g., of the boreal forests of about 0.1 °c per decade, then leads to an upper limit of < 1 °c for the maximum temperature increase. The global climate system already operates in the upper part of the grey boundary. Further temperature increases above the present level would lead to a temperature range that has not been experienced by current systems.
Satellite imagery captures wildfire smoke extending from western Ontario to the Mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic Ocean late Thursday. (NOAA)
PurpleAir map of AQI at deadly levels from Detroit to Washington DC and in the Sierras and Rockies.
Marlo Garnsworthy @icebird.bsky.social · 2d Just my iPhone, no enhancement whatsoever. Red sun and smoky skies on Outer Cape Cod due to wildfires in Canada. https://bsky.app/profile/icebird.bsky.social/post/3mqnkumzlek2g
https://www.firemap.live/ active wildfires and smoke across Canada and United States
Trending 1. Election Security 2. Climate Politics 3. Movie Watchlist 4. Brenda Fricker 5. World Cup
Wildfires and smoke in North America
Air quality in Duluth Air quality index (AQI⁺) and PM2.5 air pollution in Duluth • 25.1K Followers • 08:00, Jul 16 Local time Data attribution IQAir arrow pointing to the right contributor iconcontributor iconcontributor icon 11 stations from 10 contributors 781 US AQI⁺ Hazardous face expression based on aqi value Main pollutant: PM2.5 466.4 µg/m³
A plane taking off into the wildfire smoke-darkened sky over Boston on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. / NBC10 Boston
The Reflecting Pool is drained and behind a tarped fence
The CN Tower in Toronto on Wednesday as smoke from wildfires enveloped the city.Credit...Laura Proctor/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press
puffins
James Hoggan and Brendan DeMelle
Michael Mann and Ashley Braun
Naomi Klein and Mary Stuart
Photograph of disgustingly green mimosas with tattered blue fragments floating in them. Jen: "We had reflecting pool mimosa's!"
Nolan at his hearing
Trump's National Guard arrested a student organizer last night in DC for "disorderly conduct". His hearing will be Monday morning at 9:15 am at DC Superior Court, 500 Indiana Ave NW
Air toxics monitoring stations at HU-Beltsville, HCNR, Lake Montebello, and Essex
Beltsville historic AQI - 160 AQI at 7 am July 5
DC Ambient Air Monitoring Network
DC air now at unhealthy levels
The air in the DC region has continued to worsen, with readings of 288 and 278 in the toxic core, which is now forming its own subplume covering Wards 2, 6, 7, and 8, reaching into Arlington, and PG County down to Rosaryville up to Woodlawn
Air quality map from DC fireworks air pollution event at 3 am
National air quality map shows almost no regions with fully healthy air
TASK FORCE under a bootprint Designed by the National Design Studio
AQI at 1 am in DC region
Cheez doodles Celebrating 250 Years of the USA The Wise Owl mascot dressed in revolutionary era garb
Smoke from the Aspen Acres fire rises above a home on July 1 in Pueblo, Colorado [Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images/AFP]
How the Heat Is Upending Plans for America's 250th Birthday A parade in Philadelphia, one of the largest in its history, was canceled, and the Great American State Fair in Washington closed for several hours. 4 min read Calls for Aid in Washington Climb 20 Percent as Heat Suffocates City 3 min read Forecast risk of unhealthy heat for Friday Some Moderate High Weather Tonightʼs Weather Syracuse Clear Now 90°F | Evening low 72°F Source: Tomorrow.io Heat Index › Dangerous New York Dangerous Houston Extreme caution Chicago Forecast for Friday · NOAA High Wind Risk › Moderate risk Omaha Moderate risk Grand Rapids, Mich. Moderate risk Sioux City, Iowa Forecast for Friday · NWS
max temperatures, global map, Climate Reanalyzer https://climatereanalyzer.org/wx/todays-weather/?var_id=t2max&ortho=1&wt=1
2m temperature anomaly global map from climatereanalyzer.org https://climatereanalyzer.org/wx/todays-weather/?var_id=t2anom&ortho=1&wt=1
The scorching heat blanketing much of the US this week would have been “virtually impossible” if not for the climate crisis, researchers have found, warning that the high temperatures could threaten Independence Day celebrations and World Cup matches this weekend. “The climate the country has today is fundamentally different to the one it had when the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence,” said Theodore Keeping, extreme weather and wildfire researcher at Imperial College London, in a press release. The analysis from World Weather Attribution, an international consortium of climate researchers, comes as a high-pressure system, or heat dome, brings hot and humid conditions to a large swath of the central and eastern United States, as well as southern parts of Canada. Even amid the climate crisis, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, such heatwaves are rare, the analysis says, occurring an estimated one time in every 200 years. But if planet-warming emissions had not heated the planet by 1.4C (2.5F), such events would not have been expected to occur even once in many thousands of years, the researchers found.
NYT 7/2/26: "Why it’s hot: The meteorological phenomenon causing the extreme heat is a sprawling high-pressure system, also known as a heat dome. Like a lid on a boiling pot, heat domes trap the air beneath them, pushing warm air toward the ground that, as it sinks, compresses and becomes much hotter. Global warming: While tying a single heat wave to climate change requires extensive analysis, scientists say that heat waves have grown longer, hotter and more frequent. The past 11 years have been the hottest on record."
East Wing demolished and cage installed at White House
HB2 (Delegate Betsy Carr), SB72 (Senator Kannan Srinivasan) — Reducing heating and energy costs for the most vulnerable Virginians. HB284 (Delegate Michael Feggans), SB371 (Senator Jeremy McPike) — Requiring Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to develop voluntary demand flexibility programs for high energy demand customers. Passed with bipartisan support. HB397 (Delegate Charniele Herring) — Lowering long-term energy costs by directing Virginia to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. HB434 (Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling), SB621 (Senator Kannan Srinivasan) — Optimizing grid utilization to get more out of the current distribution system. Passed with bipartisan support. HB628 (Delegate Katrina Callsen), SB175 (Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg) — Expanding small-scale solar across the Commonwealth by raising the carveout for projects on rooftops, schools, churches, parking lots, landfills, and brownfields. Passed with bipartisan support. HB892 (Delegate Irene Shin) — Improving forecasting of power usage to avoid overestimates that cause higher prices. HB895 (Delegate Rip Sullivan), SB448 (Senator Lamont Bagby) — Increasing the deployment of energy storage to lower peak prices for ratepayers. Passed with bipartisan support. HB1191 (Delegate Irene Shin) — Permitting high energy use customers to invest in new energy infrastructure while protecting ratepayers from increased costs. Passed unanimously. HB1256 (Delegate Irene Shin) — Evaluating how to best protect ratepayers from paying excessive costs due to market spikes in fuel costs. Passed unanimously. HB1360 (Delegate Irene Shin) — Requiring investor-owned utilities to provide greater transparency on coal and oil generating units in rate proceedings. Passed unanimously.
No more morning weather balloons in the Rockies and High Plains.
Eastern red-backed salamander
New York Times Why Europe Is the Fastest-Warming Continent The burning of fossil fuels is raising temperatures worldwide, but local factors, on land and at sea, determine which regions warm most rapidly.
CBP police in their car
Two CBP police in Columbia Heights
it is the policy of the United States to promote AI literacy and proficiency among Americans by promoting the appropriate integration of AI into education, providing comprehensive AI training for educators, and fostering early exposure to AI concepts and technology to develop an AI-ready workforce and the next generation of American AI innovators
Aparna Raj with 51.79% after Terry Lynch and Jackie Reyes eliminated
Crowd watching futbol
Today's flooding rainfall risk - high from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle