Paula Smith (@PaulaSmith)

"Timeline: The "Gold Bars" Fight over $20 Billion in EPA Funding" "Two sides to a story, referencing largely the same facts" This week, the New York Post ran “$375B EPA slush fund handled by John Podesta gave billions to charities founded only months earlier.” The article revived a recent controversy involving $20 billion in disputed climate change funding moved by the EPA to the Citibank before inauguration, explaining that the money was distrubuted by former Special Climate Envoy John Podesta. The news controversy started on February 12, 2025. New EPA administrator Lee Zeldin stirred the pot with a tweeted video announcement, claiming “We found the gold bars and they are now being recovered for you, the hardworking American taxpayer.” What followed was a classic house-divided news phenomenon, in which conservative media focused on one set of true details, and blue-leaning media another. Zeldin said he acted in response to a Project Veritas video showing a Biden EPA official claiming “We’re on like, the Titanic, throwing gold bars off the edge.” In essence, the Biden administration moved $20 billion in funds designated for “climate change things” to Citibank, preventing the next administration from cutting them. Was Biden right to make sure congressionally-obligated funds were spent, or was Zeldin right to try to recover the money? (continue reading) https://www.racket.news/p/timeline-the-gold-bars-fight-over?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1042&post_id=158444836&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=r2s1z&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email