Environment and Health

Extremists Want to Ban Discussing Their Abortion Bans
Sensing just how unpopular their agenda is, anti-choice extremists are attacking reporters for calling their abortion bans “bans.”

Cannabis Laws Are Changing. Drug Testing Must Change Too.
Adults who consume alcohol legally and responsibly outside of work aren’t penalized by employers. It should be no different for marijuana.

The Most Influential Musician You Never Heard Of
The late scientist Roger Payne captured the sounds of humpback whales and ignited an unlikely global phenomenon.

To Clear the Air, Cut Military Spending
Most of us understand the need to cut carbon emissions. But a huge share of our tax dollars are funding the most carbon-intensive institution on the planet.

Cartoon: Heads in the Sand
As wildfire smoke clouded the sky, businesses and politicians shoved their head in the sand.

A Surprising Win for Animal Rights — and Democracy
The Supreme Court sided with a voter-backed animal welfare rule over the corporate lobbyists who opposed it.

To Protect Our Children, Tax the Rich
A campaign to curb greed was key to the first fight against child labor. With GOP states putting young kids to work, we need that battle again.

Over-the-Counter Birth Control Would Be a Game Changer
Amid a widespread assault on reproductive health care, more accessible birth control would be a landmark moment.

The Drug War’s Dark Origins
When you hear why politicians wanted to ban marijuana in the first place, you’ll understand why our century of prohibition can’t end soon enough.

Baseball’s Deadly Rule Change
Welcome rule changes have shortened MLB games — but owners are pushing beer sales later into shorter games. That could have deadly consequences.