Natalie Fertig

2 months ago | scientificamerican.com | Natalie Fertig |Jordan Wolman

CLIMATEWIRE | Lawmakers and officials from Western states are warning that President Donald Trump’s firings and funding freezes will leave the region woefully unprepared for the coming wildfire season, just two months after blazes ravaged Los Angeles. The new administration’s moves to terminate nearly 10 percent of Forest Service personnel and pause grants intended to reduce the risk and intensity of fires have left states scrambling to make sure they don’t lose valuable preparation time.

2 months ago | politico.com | Natalie Fertig

The Oregon governor said the new leader of the Department of Agriculture will unfreeze funds soon. Wildfire mitigation — or making forests healthier in order to reduce the risk of a wildfire from happening — has become a key tool in addressing the increasing risk of wildfires, and has bipartisan support. | Justin Sullivan/AFP via Getty Images The Department of Agriculture will restart some wildfire grants, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek told POLITICO on Saturday.

2 months ago | politico.com | Nick Niedzwiadek |Natalie Fertig

Lori Chavez-DeRemer, nominee to be secretary of Labor, testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on Capitol Hill, on Feb. 19, 2025. | Francis Chung/POLITICO PROTEST VOTE — Lori Chavez-DeRemer should be a cinch to confirm as secretary of Labor. The former Oregon congresswoman is liked by both unions and business interests and received a positive response from Democrats when her nomination was announced.

Feb 12, 2025 | politico.com | Natalie Fertig

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. looks on during the Senate HELP Committee hearing to examine his nomination to be secretary of Health and Human Services, in Washington, on Jan. 30, 2025. | Jason Andrew for POLITICO WILL THE REAL POPULISTS PLEASE STAND UP — Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is set to be confirmed on Thursday as Health and Human Services secretary, wants to remake the U.S. food system and take on the pharmaceutical industry.

Jan 8, 2025 | politico.com | Natalie Fertig |Zack Colman

A home burns during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif. today. | Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images BEHIND THE BLAZE — As of this afternoon, more than 1,000 structures have burned in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood in the last two days. The news gets worse — many of them recently lost the most important thing that families rely on when disaster strikes: insurance.