American businessman and government official, secretary of energy since 2025
Diplomatic talks between Iran and the United States on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly have produced little progress and Iran has warned the conflict could escalate after the Nov. 3 midterm vote. President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s seven‑day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Oil and US Treasury yields have risen on the stalemate, lifting global energy and borrowing costs.
Kuwait and Gulf states have seen a latest wave of strikes on power and desalination plants, triggering electricity rationing as Iran targets civilian infrastructure. Desalination supplies about 90% of Kuwait’s drinking water, relying on energy-intensive cogeneration. Authorities warn that continued attacks could deplete strategic water reserves and intensify water scarcity.
The US has finalised a 30‑year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia and has submitted it to Congress for review. The pact will allow US firms to help build Saudi nuclear power, could permit domestic uranium enrichment after a joint study, and has drawn warnings that it will increase proliferation risks and regional tensions.
The United States has signed a 123 agreement with Saudi Arabia to expand civilian nuclear cooperation and potentially allow enrichment abroad. While officials promise high safeguards, experts warn of proliferation risks and uncertain oversight as Congress reviews the deals.
Federal filings show the Department of Energy terminated hundreds of Biden-era energy grants in October based on political alignment of states, prompting Democratic leaders to condemn the move as an abuse of power. The White House says decisions were apolitical.
The Energy Department has selected five states—Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah—as potential hosts for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. These campuses would combine waste management, enrichment and advanced reactors, with data centers and manufacturing. The plan aims to attract private investment and create jobs, as part of a broader push to accelerate civilian nuclear energy under the current administration.
The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement and a bilateral safeguards pact, but President Donald Trump has said the deal is conditional on Riyadh normalising relations with Israel. Officials and commentators are disputing whether the White House and Energy Department coordinated the announcement. Critics warn the pact weakens non‑proliferation safeguards and could spur a regional arms race.
The United States has claimed total control over the Strait of Hormuz, vowing to keep the waterway open amid ongoing hostilities with Iran. Washington describes its naval blockade as a “wall of steel,” while Tehran says it will continue to assert influence and imposes potential tolls as talks stall. Oil flows have shifted as attacks and new routes affect trade.
Scientists reconstruct ancient forests using fossil leaf cuticles to show canopy loss during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, revealing how forests thin, then recover slowly—an event linked to today’s rapid CO2 rise and warming.
Maintenance projects across national parks face a growing backlog, with a $24 billion gap. White House priority lists tie funds to Washington, risking delayed repairs at sites nationwide.
Iran faces intensified pressure from U.S. sanctions while the Strait of Hormuz remains bottlenecked. Washington warns of the toughest sanctions yet; Tehran vows crushing responses. Iraqi tankers seek passage; global oil flows are at risk.
Natalie Harp, a longtime Trump aide known as the “Human Printer,” is drawing renewed scrutiny as reports detail her proximity to the president and influence over information reaching him. The coverage centers on her letters to Trump and her visibility at events, with lawmakers weighing the implications for governance and access.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix has brought IndyCar racing to Washington, D.C., with President Trump waving the green flag to start the race as political pageantry surrounds the event. The spectacle continues amid ongoing debates about security, cost, and the symbolism of the presidency’s capital makeover.
President Donald Trump has submitted a 30-year civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress, starting a 90-day review. The deal would allow U.S. firms to export civilian nuclear technology and build AP1000 reactors. The White House says the pact will only move forward if Riyadh normalises relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
Iran continues to push for de-escalation and a reopening of Hormuz as sanctions bite. Tehran reports progress with Oman on a temporary corridor, while inflation soars and imports fall, in a war that has disrupted global energy routes.
Brent crude has climbed toward $97 a barrel after renewed exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran over the past week. US strikes have hit sites along Iran's southern coast while Iran has attacked US-linked vessels and bases in the region; shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained and US pump and diesel prices have risen.
Oil prices have climbed with Brent above $95 and WTI near $93 as fighting in the Middle East continues to disrupt shipping routes. Analysts say supply fears and demand shifts, particularly from China, are shaping the rally. Markets are also awaiting inflation data and policy signals as bond yields rise globally.
The United States has secured major control over Venezuela’s oil reserves through a NABEP deal, placing a Pentagon-backed stake and rights to buy output at cost. Officials say the move secures energy dominance and replenishes reserves, heightening geopolitical stakes.
The U.S. is escalating pressure over Iran’s nuclear program amid ongoing Gulf tensions. Officials have signaled that military actions may degrade Iran’s capabilities if diplomacy fails, while combat in the region continues and energy markets respond to the disruption of supplies.
Diesel prices have surged to record levels amid the Iran war and ongoing Middle East tensions, with weekly readings showing prices at $5.90–$6+ per gallon in several states. The cost burden is rippling through transportation, groceries and consumer prices, while officials say relief remains uncertain in the near term.
New Mexico’s name remains unchanged as lawmakers urge Apple and Google to keep the state labeled New Mexico on maps. President Trump has sparked a broader renaming conversation by suggesting changes to Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario, and now New Mexico, drawing swift pushback from state officials and lawmakers.
The EPA has rolled back Biden-era power-plant emissions rules as part of a broader deregulatory push. The move, announced at a G20 energy ministers meeting, removes requirements for fossil-fuel plants to install emissions-control technologies and could reshape the nation’s emissions trajectory.
The DC Circuit has ruled that the Energy Department exceeded its authority by keeping Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell coal plant online under emergency powers, despite an earlier plan to retire it in 2025. The decision affects Michigan and other states, with ongoing debates over electricity reliability and costs.
Energy ministers and key delegates from G20 nations, including Canada and Saudi Arabia, gather in Houston for discussions on energy security as gas storage in Europe strains ahead of winter. Russia’s attendance has stirred debate amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine and Iran, with US officials highlighting the need for affordable, reliable energy.
The Environmental Protection Agency has repealed most of the Biden-era carbon-pollution standards for power plants and is proposing to eliminate remaining greenhouse-gas rules for the sector. The agency argues the rules exceed its authority under the Clean Air Act and would not meaningfully curb emissions. The move follows a broader push by the Trump administration to unleash American energy and roll back climate regulations.
Diesel prices have surged amid global supply disruptions linked to conflicts in the Middle East and Europe. The United States is weighing export restrictions to ease domestic pain, while Europe and the UK face pressure from rising costs and tight supplies. The situation remains highly fluid as policymakers consider next steps.
G7 leaders have agreed to coordinate an International Energy Agency release of up to 100 million barrels of oil and diesel over four months, including a substantial diesel release for 20 days, to ease record-high diesel prices driven by the US–Israel war on Iran and disruptions to Russian and Chinese exports. The move begins immediately and will include refinery coordination and talks on further diesel releases.