GRIST

JANUARY 8. 2026

In 2025, the US suffered a billion-dollar disaster every 10 days

A new analysis finds that in 2025 disasters in the U. S. took 276 lives and caused $115 billion in damages. It could have been much worse.

Trump invaded Venezuela to restore an oil industry he helped destroy

U. S. sanctions helped cause the collapse of Venezuelan oil production — damage that Trump is now using as justification for his strike against the country.

JANUARY 7. 2026

Texas clears the way for petrochemical expansion as experts warn of health risks

Public Health Watch chronicles, in 13 scenes, a fossil-fuel infrastructure boom that could worsen air pollution in some areas and exacerbate climate change.

JANUARY 6. 2026

Why forcing people to go green can backfire

A new study reveals a conundrum for climate policy and those who make it: People hate when you tell them what to do.

Trump says he’ll unleash Venezuela’s oil. But who wants it?

As oil prices fall and demand nears a peak, exploiting Venezuela’s heavy crude reserves won’t be as easy as Trump thinks.

JANUARY 5. 2026

The biggest climate migration problem may be that there’s not enough of it

In his new book, Julian Hattem explores how migration can be a climate solution — not just for those who move, but their home communities as well.

JANUARY 4. 2026

Despite Trump-era reversals, 2025 still saw environmental wins. Here are 7 worth noting.

Environmental advocates notched key wins at local and state levels this year — despite the Trump administration’s rollbacks.

JANUARY 3. 2026

Louisiana town fights for relief after a billion-dollar oil disaster

Federal and state officials have sued the company behind the blast, but Roseland, Louisiana, residents say the case won’t bring relief to their town.

JANUARY 2. 2026

Wildfire smoke is a national crisis, and it’s worse than you think

Greenhouse gas and particulate emissions from fires around the world may be 70 percent higher than once believed.

University of Nebraska is eliminating a key climate research department

As Nebraska's weather intensifies, farmers are losing a critical resource to understand it.

DECEMBER 23. 2025

What happens when disaster recovery becomes a luxury good

As federal services deteriorate, a patchwork of private companies is taking their place — for better or for worse.

The country’s largest magnesium supplier shut down. Now what?

Only a few years ago, if you popped open a can of soda anywhere in the United States, the container you held more likely than not contained bits of magnesium harvested from the Great Salt Lake. Now, the country’s supply of the critical mineral looks uncertain.

The Bad River Band is suing to protect its wild rice from an oil pipeline

The lawsuit targets a federal permit for Enbridge’s Line 5, which the tribe says puts wetlands, rivers, and treaty-protected resources at risk.

This Netflix holiday rom-com is secretly an environmentalist fantasy

Don't watch "A Merry Little Ex-Mas" for the romance. Watch it for the sustainability messages, which shine as bright as LED Christmas lights.