Greenwire, Oct. 31). Trump repeatedly dismissed warnings about climate change leading up to the election. In response to the U.N. report, he questioned the motivations of the scientists behind it. “I want to look at who drew it. You know, which group drew it,” Trump said. “Because I can give you reports that are fabulous, and I can give you reports that aren’t so good.” Two years into his presidency, Trump has rolled back or weakened a host of climate initiatives. One of the first and biggest steps was his decision in June 2017 to withdraw the United States from the landmark climate accord that sought to bring the world’s nations together with the shared goal of keeping climate change to a minimum. The Trump administration also froze Obama-era plans to gradually increase fuel efficiency standards for cars in the 2020s. And it’s rolling back the Clean Power Plan, which sought to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at power plants (Climatewire, Oct. 2). Trump promoted Republican Patrick Morrisey, who failed yesterday to unseat Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. As the state’s attorney general, Morrisey tried to block the Clean Power Plan in court — a move that earned him the support of the West Virginia Coal Association. Manchin — who has a 45 percent career rating with the League of Conservation Voters — opposed the Clean Power Plan, as well, once describing it as an “assault on our state’s economy and our way of life.” He did better Tuesday than two other coal-country Democrats running for re-election. Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana couldn’t keep his seat against Republican Mike Braun. Donnelly was one of a handful of Senate Democrats to vote against the Clean Power Plan, but his effort to strike a more conservative tone wasn’t enough to convince voters in a state that sent Vice President Mike Pence to Washington alongside Trump. North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D) also lost — in spite of her own opposition to the Clean Power Plan. The winner in the state’s Senate race was Rep. Kevin Cramer (R). “Thank you North Dakota,” Cramer wrote on Twitter after the win. “Representing you in the United States Senate will be the honor of a lifetime.”   This article appeared on the E&E News website at https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060105411 ]]>