This week I’m chatting with environmental lawyer Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice, an incredible nonprofit law firm whose tagline is “because the Earth needs a good lawyer.” Indeed, it does.
When I interviewed Abbie for my book back in 2023, she and I were critiquing how the Biden administration was handling climate policy. We wanted them to do so much more, bigger, faster... what I would give to be having that conversation now! In hindsight that era was a fever dream of climate progress compared to having the Trump Administration, Congress, and in some cases the courts all stacked against the clean energy transition and environmental protections more generally. So I reconvened with Abbie to try to make some sense of the Trump administration’s sweeping attacks on climate progress.
The stakes, in her words:
“We’re arguing about the fundamentals. Now we’re not even arguing about the policy. We could come out of this time with neither presidential authority nor congressional authority to create, and enforce strong environmental laws.” — Abigail Dillen
Oof. But we are not quitters, right team? So, from the Supreme Court, to suing the government, to Project Phoenix, to her spicy take on the whole abundance narrative, Earthlings 🌎, let’s dive in — wherever you get your podcasts!
Wild thing I learned from Abbie in this conversation: Per analysis by The Washington Post, 1 in 3 cases where the courts rule against the Trump administration, the administration is doing something to avoid compliance. YIKES.
Abbie’s CALL TO ACTION 🗣️
Buckle up, this is an especially nerdy one: Read Supreme Court dissents in order to fire yourself up:
When you’re reading the news, “the Supreme Court did X and this seems outrageous,” ... go read that opinion. Look at what country you’re living in, and I think it will give you a sense of both alarm, but also obligation, to get out there and change the politics. Because they won’t change by themselves.
She suggests starting with what Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson had to say in Trump v. CASA, on universal injunctions and beyond.
And if you want to hear more from Abbie, check out the conversation below with her and
from my 2024 book tour. 👇🏽Love politics 💛 with Bill McKibben and Abigail Dillen
Sharing this conversation from Season 1, recorded in Oct 2024 featuring journalist and environmental legend Bill McKibben, and Abbie. We covered fossils for fossil fuels, changes in the Supreme Court, the Environmental Justice For All Act, some lessons instilled by my parents, love politics, and so much more.
Tomorrow/Saturday: No Kings protests 🙅🏽♀️👑
See you (and like 10 million other pro-democracy Americans) in the streets on Saturday the 18th. NO KINGS in the USA! Find an event near you: nokings.org. Wear yellow! 💛 And make a plan to stay safe: Know your rights.
Below is my sign from the No Kings protest in June. Click through to the video to see the other side of my sign :)
I spilled something all over this sign and recycled it. So, what message should I carry this time? Drop suggestions in the comments, pretty please!
Alright, Earthlings. 🩵 Have fun, stay safe, see ya next week.
Podcast notes:
If you’re enjoying this podcast, please help others find us — follow, rate, and review the show. ✅ Text the link of your favorite episode to your favorite group chat, and discuss!
This podcast is ad-free thanks to the support of Future Being, a grant making and special project studio, which supports the healing of our planet and the safeguarding of biological and cultural diversity.
This episode was produced and edited by Gabby Bulgarelli, and me, Ayana, with help from associate producer Jenisha Shrestha.
If you’re new here, peruse the back catalog. A few dozen hours of sweet podcast conversations with incredible guests await you. ✨
