The Washington Post reports that the Trump White House is hoping Americans will grow numb from the ever-rising COVID-19 death toll. Philip Rucker joins to discuss. Aired on 7/06/2020.

The Democratic-led House Appropriations Committee on Monday proposed a funding bump for the Interior Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), soundly rejecting cuts proposed by President Trump.

The committee bill would increase funding for the EPA, Interior and related agencies by $771 million for fiscal 2021, including a $304 million increase for Interior and a $318 million increase for the EPA.

“With this bill, we reject the Trump administration’s pandering to the fossil fuel industry and disregard for the environment and public lands. Instead, we increase funding to preserve our landscapes, protect endangered species, and help prevent the worst impacts of climate change,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) in a statement.

The $36.7 billion in funding is slightly smaller than the $37.2 billion the committee approved last year. The final budget approved for the agencies was reduced following a compromise with the Republican-led Senate.

Meanwhile, a separate appropriations bill would increase the Energy Department's budget by $2.3 billion over last year's budget.

In his budget wish-list unveiled earlier this year, President Trump proposed a 26 percent cut to the EPA’s budget and a 16 percent cut to the Interior Department budget.

He also proposed cutting the Energy Department's budget by 8 percent.


Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/506020-house-proposes-boost-for-environmental-agencies-after-trump

While COVID-19 cases spike in the U.S., the curve is flattening in Canada.

The president spent the July 4th holiday going after attacks on issues of race and culture in America while making false claims such as 99% of coronavirus cases are effectively harmless. Aired on 7/06/2020.

Former CIA Director John Brennan joins Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss Pres. Trump’s history of being “masterful at distracting attention” away from the issues as the administration is unable to address the COVID-19 outbreak. Aired on 7/6/2020.

Justin Trudeau is helping Canadians with their homework, Georgia nixes driving test, and prom is held online. Growing up in the time of corona is not easy.

President Donald Trump claims to have a high IQ and is among the smartest presidents ever, so let's go through his American history lessons and see how incorrect they are.

As coronavirus cases continue to grow across the country, Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch discusses the risks of reopening and trajectory of the spread. Aired on 7/3/2020.

NBC News' Tom Brokaw joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss President Trump's trip to South Dakota and controversial decision to hold celebrations at Mount Rushmore ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, also reacting to the news that the Washington Redskins football team is reviewing a name change amid the national reckoning on race and equality after George Floyd's death. Aired on 07/03/2020.

Temperatures and carbon dioxide are up, regulations are down: Environmental headlines you missed this week

May set a record for above average temperatures and CO2 is at an all-time high.

May sets records, July likely to be extra hot
Spring 2020 set records as this May was tied with 2016 for the warmest May on record in 141 years -- 1.71 degrees above average.

It also marked the 425th consecutive month, or 35 years, that temperatures were above average.

And the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that trend isn't likely to stop with most of the U.S. facing the likelihood of a hotter-than-average summer going into July.


Don't let the pandemic fool you, CO2 is at an all-time high
Despite reports early in the pandemic that keeping everybody at home led to reductions in pollution and wildlife reclaiming the streets, the gas that traps heat and adds to those record-high temperatures is at an all-time high.


Carbon dioxide levels in 2018 were higher than any other point in recorded history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Carbon dioxide levels in 2018 were higher than any other point in recorded history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NASA

Carbon dioxide reached its highest level in 800,000 years, according to NASA.

If levels continue to rise, the climate could face more above-average temperatures and other changes that would become more difficult to reverse.

Much more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/temperatures-carbon-dioxide-regulations-environmental-headlines-missed-week/story?id=71583312