EPA Head Zeldin on "Ruthless" podcast

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07/29/2025 19:16

Subject: EPA Head Zeldin on "Ruthless" podcast

quote

Anonymous

I’m floored by the sheer volume of climate denial coming from this administration. On the “Ruthless” podcast, Trump’s EPA chief Lee Zeldin announced the U.S. no longer considers carbon dioxide a problem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gReirNB2rwA That’s not just wrong—it’s a full-on rejection of science, law, and reality.

He mocked the EPA’s Endangerment Finding, sneering at the idea that CO₂ and methane are pollutants. But here’s the truth: the Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts v. EPA (2007) that greenhouse gases qualify as “air pollutants” under the Clean Air Act. The EPA’s finding wasn’t some casual opinion—it was a legally binding, science-backed determination that these gases endanger public health.

Zeldin’s dismissive “more than zero” comment about CO₂’s role in climate change is a rhetorical dodge. The Endangerment Finding is built on decades of research from the IPCC and USGCRP showing exactly how greenhouse gases drive global warming. It’s not vague—it’s damning.

He then falsely claimed the EPA only studied CO₂ in mixtures and only regulated mobile sources. Wrong again. The 2009 finding focused on vehicle emissions because the Court required it, but its implications extend far beyond cars. Stationary sources were regulated later, based on the same science.

Zeldin also claimed the EPA never studied CO₂ individually and skipped public comment. That’s a lie. The agency reviewed mountains of data, received over 300,000 public comments, and conducted economic impact analyses. This wasn’t a backroom decision—it was one of the most transparent regulatory processes in EPA history.

Then came the cow strawman. “They want to kill all the cows because of methane.” No serious climate policy proposes that. What’s actually being discussed? Feed additives, manure management, and better livestock practices. Not cow genocide.

He misquoted AOC, twisted environmental justice funding, and claimed subgrantees can “do whatever they want” with billions in climate funds. Again—false. Federal grants come with strict oversight, reporting, and audit requirements. The EPA isn’t handing out blank checks.

And the cherry on top? Zeldin says the EPA will “get rid of that stupid start-stop feature” in cars. Newsflash: the EPA doesn’t mandate that feature. Automakers use it to meet fuel economy standards. If those standards are gutted, sure—expect more idling and more emissions.

This isn’t just misinformation—it’s a coordinated effort to dismantle climate protections under the guise of “deregulation.” The science hasn’t changed. The law hasn’t changed. Only the political will to ignore both. Zeldin has turned out to be another science-denying charlatan and con-man doing industry's bidding.