The New Lede
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thenewlede.bsky.social
The New Lede
@thenewlede.bsky.social
Hi! We're The New Lede, a publication that covers environmental health & more. We provide investigative reporting, analysis, & explanatory articles about a broad range of environmental topics that are too often ignored.
https://www.thenewlede.org/
"Chlorpyrifos is just one of over a thousand pesticide active ingredients that pose risks to not only aquatic organisms, but all wildlife, the environment and human health," said Sara Grantham of @beyondpesticides.org.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/long...
Long-term exposure to a common pesticide speeds up aging in fish, study finds
Chronic exposure to small amounts of a pesticide greenlighted for almost a dozen US crops speeds up aging in fish and cuts their lives short, adding to concerns about the chemical’s human health risks...
www.thenewlede.org
February 1, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Iowa has the second-highest rate of cancer in the nation, and has become one of only two US states where cancer overall is increasing.

Chris Jones says Big Ag is a major culprit and is running for office to address the problem.

✍️ @keithschneider69.bsky.social
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/time...
“Time to change”- Iowa water quality scientist launches long-shot bid for state office
Three years ago Chris Jones was a highly regarded research engineer at the University of Iowa, where he directed stream pollution monitoring work and published details about the state’s dismal water q...
www.thenewlede.org
January 30, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by The New Lede
Opinion: #MAHA has been captured by corporate interests.

“We have been played,” writes Lee A. Evslin, MD, a pediatrician and former hospital CEO, who details how the chemical lobby is putting our health at risk again.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/stea...
The corporate capture of MAHA: How the chemical lobby is stealing our health again
We have been played. For months leading up to the 2024 election, the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement captivated a nation overwhelmed by chronic diseases. I found hope in a powerful promi...
www.thenewlede.org
January 19, 2026 at 10:42 PM
A research engineer is taking on Big Ag in Iowa with a long-shot run for agriculture secretary.

Chris Jones is pushing for accountability for pollution and incentives for farmers to adopt more sustainable practices.

@circleofblue.bsky.social
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/time...
January 29, 2026 at 2:34 PM
After exposing Big Ag’s toxic impact on Iowa’s water, Chris Jones was forced out of his job.

He didn’t back down. Jones is now launching a long-shot run for state office to combat water pollution.

✍️ @keithschneider69.bsky.social of @circleofblue.bsky.social
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/time...
“Time to change”- Iowa water quality scientist launches long-shot bid for state office
Three years ago Chris Jones was a highly regarded research engineer at the University of Iowa, where he directed stream pollution monitoring work and published details about the state’s dismal water q...
www.thenewlede.org
January 29, 2026 at 1:00 AM
In 2023, powerful legislative allies of Iowa’s farm sector strong-armed the University of Iowa to kill Prof. Chris Jones’s blog.

Now, Jones is launching a long-shot political campaign to serve as Iowa’s 18th agriculture secretary.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/time...
“Time to change”- Iowa water quality scientist launches long-shot bid for state office
Three years ago Chris Jones was a highly regarded research engineer at the University of Iowa, where he directed stream pollution monitoring work and published details about the state’s dismal water q...
www.thenewlede.org
January 28, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Syngenta says there is no credible evidence linking Parkinson’s disease to its weed killer paraquat.

Yet this week, the company settled out of court on the eve of what would have been the first US trial to publicly examine those claims.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/syng...
Syngenta settles bellwether US trial over paraquat links to Parkinson's
On the eve of the opening of what would have been a bellwether US trial over allegations that a widely used weed killer causes Parkinson’s disease, paraquat-maker Syngenta reached a settlement with th...
www.thenewlede.org
January 28, 2026 at 6:56 PM
On the eve of a bellwether US trial over claims that the weed killer paraquat causes Parkinson’s, Syngenta quietly settled with a retired landscaper who blamed the company for his diagnosis.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/syng...
Syngenta settles bellwether US trial over paraquat links to Parkinson's
On the eve of the opening of what would have been a bellwether US trial over allegations that a widely used weed killer causes Parkinson’s disease, paraquat-maker Syngenta reached a settlement with th...
www.thenewlede.org
January 28, 2026 at 5:58 PM
The pesticide paraquat is known to be extremely dangerous, even in small amounts.

This week, the first US paraquat trial is set to begin, examining links between the pesticide and Parkinson’s disease.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/firs...
January 27, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Thousands of Americans allege that exposure to the toxic pesticide paraquat contributed to their Parkinson’s disease.

A historic trial is set to begin this week as the first paraquat case is heard in the US.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/firs...
First US paraquat trial to start this week, examining links between the pesticide and Parkinson’s disease
A trial with nationwide implications is set to open Wednesday in Philadelphia pitting a retired landscaper suffering from Parkinson’s disease against the multinational agrochemical company Syngenta ov...
www.thenewlede.org
January 27, 2026 at 7:00 PM
The first US paraquat trial is set to begin this week, examining alleged links between the pesticide and Parkinson’s disease.

“The case will definitely inform public policy,” said George Kimbrell, legal director for @cfstruefood.bsky.social.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/firs...
First US paraquat trial to start this week, examining links between the pesticide and Parkinson’s disease
A trial with nationwide implications is set to open Wednesday in Philadelphia pitting a retired landscaper suffering from Parkinson’s disease against the multinational agrochemical company Syngenta ov...
www.thenewlede.org
January 27, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by The New Lede
A thimble-full of #paraquat can kill you, but don’t worry, everyone — Lee Zeldin’s #EPA is asking for one more study on paraquat’s safety to be conducted not by independent, unbiased scientists but by its manufacturer.

Get the rest in this op-ed from our Environmental Health Science Director ⬇️
January 26, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Opinion: Reapproving the toxic pesticide dicamba poses a serious public health risk.

Nathan Donley of @biologicaldiversity.org says "MAHA-washing" allows Big Ag to keep using millions of pounds on US crops with virtually no safety measures.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/comi...
Coming to a social media post near you – a “MAHA-washed” dicamba approval
To start the new year off on the right foot, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin needed something he could sell to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.
www.thenewlede.org
January 26, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Opinion: The EPA under Lee Zeldin is "MAHA-washing" dangerous pesticides.

Nathan Donley of the @biologicaldiversity.org warns dicamba approval threatens farms, gardens, and public health while pretending to follow science. ⤵️
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/comi...
Coming to a social media post near you – a “MAHA-washed” dicamba approval
To start the new year off on the right foot, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin needed something he could sell to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.
www.thenewlede.org
January 26, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by The New Lede
🚨 A premier European research institute has dismissed its lead cancer scientist following a major glyphosate study.

Peers allege industry interference.

Nearly 200,000 plaintiffs are suing Bayer & Monsanto over cancer claims tied to glyphosate.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/outr...
Outrage at European science center as director ousted after study on glyphosate
A leading European chemical safety institute has fired the director of its cancer research center after the director led an extensive testing program into the safety of the pesticide glyphosate, spark...
www.thenewlede.org
January 24, 2026 at 11:25 PM
"Attacks on Dr. Mandrioli have increased in intensity in recent months since publication of the results of the Global Glyphosate Study, which found that glyphosate causes dose-related increases in cancer," said Dr. Philip Landrigan of
@bostoncollege.bsky.social.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/outr...
Outrage at European science center as director ousted after study on glyphosate
A leading European chemical safety institute has fired the director of its cancer research center after the director led an extensive testing program into the safety of the pesticide glyphosate, spark...
www.thenewlede.org
January 26, 2026 at 7:44 PM
🚨 A leading glyphosate researcher was fired after alleged industry pressure.

“Dr. Mandrioli [...] has been subjected to vicious attacks by the chemical industry,” said Dr. Philip Landrigan of @bostoncollege.bsky.social.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/outr...
Outrage at European science center as director ousted after study on glyphosate
A leading European chemical safety institute has fired the director of its cancer research center after the director led an extensive testing program into the safety of the pesticide glyphosate, spark...
www.thenewlede.org
January 25, 2026 at 9:23 PM
🚨 A premier European research institute has dismissed its lead cancer scientist following a major glyphosate study.

Peers allege industry interference.

Nearly 200,000 plaintiffs are suing Bayer & Monsanto over cancer claims tied to glyphosate.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/outr...
Outrage at European science center as director ousted after study on glyphosate
A leading European chemical safety institute has fired the director of its cancer research center after the director led an extensive testing program into the safety of the pesticide glyphosate, spark...
www.thenewlede.org
January 24, 2026 at 11:25 PM
A “superb scientist” was fired after launching major safety tests on the pesticide glyphosate.

A letter alleges pressure from chemical giants, including Bayer.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/outr...
Outrage at European science center as director ousted after study on glyphosate
A leading European chemical safety institute has fired the director of its cancer research center after the director led an extensive testing program into the safety of the pesticide glyphosate, spark...
www.thenewlede.org
January 24, 2026 at 10:25 PM
After launching broad safety tests on #glyphosate, the director of a European cancer research center was fired, fueling concerns that chemical industry pressure is shaping what should be independent science.

@pesticideaction.bsky.social @who.int
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/outr...
Outrage at European science center as director fired after study on glyphosate
A leading European chemical safety institute has fired the director of its cancer research center after the director launched an extensive testing program into the safety of the pesticide glyphosate, ...
www.thenewlede.org
January 24, 2026 at 8:45 PM
“The only way these projects work is through massive, unending public funding and support,” said Tyler Lobdell of @foodandwater.bsky.social.

The USDA is pausing manure-to-gas loans amid high delinquency rates and project failures.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/manu...
USDA pauses manure-to-gas loans amid high delinquency, project failures
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pausing a loan program aimed at promoting anaerobic digesters — many of which are issued for large-scale farms that turn animal waste into gas — to investiga...
www.thenewlede.org
January 23, 2026 at 10:30 PM
“The chemical industry wants to take us back to a time when they can do whatever they want with little oversight,” said Tracey Woodruff of @ucsf-prhe.bsky.social.

Lawmakers clashed this week over the future of the nation’s premier chemical safety law.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/tsca...
Hearing underscores partisan rift over GOP proposal to loosen chemical safety rules
The deep rift between Democrats and Republicans over the future of the nation’s premier chemical safety law was on full display on Thursday in a hearing designed to kickstart legislation that would al...
www.thenewlede.org
January 23, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Breaking: USDA freezes manure-to-gas loans after high default rates, days after advocates warned the program props up polluting factory farms—not clean energy.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/manu...
USDA pauses manure-to-gas loans amid high delinquency, project failures
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pausing a loan program aimed at promoting anaerobic digesters — many of which are issued for large-scale farms that turn animal waste into gas — to investiga...
www.thenewlede.org
January 23, 2026 at 6:29 PM
A sharp partisan divide over the nation’s core chemical safety law (#TSCA) emerged at a House hearing Thursday, as Republicans pushed a draft bill to fast-track new chemical approvals.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/tsca...
Hearing underscores partisan rift over GOP proposal to loosen chemical safety rules
The deep rift between Democrats and Republicans over the future of the nation’s premier chemical safety law was on full display on Thursday in a hearing designed to kickstart legislation that would al...
www.thenewlede.org
January 22, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Pesticide Fight: Chemical giant Bayer gets a boost as the Supreme Court takes up a case that could help block costly lawsuits over its Roundup weed killer.
www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/baye...
Bayer gets boost as US Supreme Court says it will hear Roundup case
The US Supreme Court said on Friday that it will take up the issue of federal preemption over pesticide warning labels, a move sought by Bayer as a means of blocking costly future litigation over the ...
www.thenewlede.org
January 22, 2026 at 8:39 PM