Trump’s Troublesome Environmental Policy: From Ocean Depths to Atmospheric Heights

In this wide-ranging episode of American Angst, Dr. Michael Bailey and Dale take a deep and sobering look at Donald Trump’s environmental record. Using a “bottom of the ocean to the top of the atmosphere—and into our minds” framework, Michael walks through Trump’s approach to deep sea mining, fossil fuel expansion, weakened clean air and water protections, changes to endangered species rules, and targeted obstruction of wind and renewable energy. The episode also explores Trump’s efforts to dismantle climate policy infrastructure, suppress scientific data, defund research agencies, and erase public reporting on climate change. Together, Michael and Dale examine what it means for a democracy when environmental policy is shaped not just by ideology, but by the deliberate undermining of shared facts and scientific expertise.

The views expressed on American Angst are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.