NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration is moving to overrule any state laws that may protect consumers’ credit reports from medical debt and other debt issues.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has drafted what’s known as an interpretative rule related to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, interpreting the law in a way that says the FCRA should preempt any state laws or regulations when it comes to how debt should be reported to the credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax and Trans Union.

This repeals previous Biden-era rules and regulations that allowed states to implement their own credit reporting bans. More than a dozen states like New York and Delaware prohibit the reporting of medical debt on a consumers’ credit report.

Excerpt from this story from Canary Media:

President Donald Trump has made it quite clear how he feels about state laws that aim to make fossil fuel companies pay for damages caused by climate change. An executive order issued in April compared these efforts — known as climate superfund laws — to extortion. The administration has since sued New York and Vermont, the two states with these measures on the books.

This hostility, however, has not stopped a growing number of state legislatures from taking up their own climate superfund proposals. Last month, legislative committees in Maine and New Jersey advanced bills. Lawmakers in Illinois, Oregon, and Rhode Island are also considering such legislation. Connecticut lawmakers plan to add their state to the list.

Why do the proposals continue to multiply despite steadfast federal opposition? Because the law and the science are both on their side, proponents say. And because it’s just fair.

“Climate superfund laws are based on the principle that if you make a mess, you clean it up,” said Jamie Flynn, a visiting fellow at the Conservation Law Foundation. ​“It’s kindergarten-level ethics.”

States, municipalities, and tribal governments have tried a variety of strategies for holding oil and gas companies responsible for the problems created by their products. Some have sued, accusing fossil fuel interests of deceiving the public or investors by concealing the hazards of burning hydrocarbons. Others have filed antitrust cases, accusing major companies of colluding to dominate the market, leaving customers locked into climate-damaging products.

Climate superfund laws take a different, arguably more practical approach, by pointing to very visible storm and flooding impacts, and demanding compensation. While the details vary from state to state, climate superfund bills all have a similar framework. They call for the state to tally up expenses incurred by climate change — which could include both recovery costs and protective measures — and then to divide the total among major fossil fuel suppliers and start collecting the money.

The money collected would alleviate the burden on taxpayers by repaying states for past recovery efforts — the cleanup Vermont had to undergo after catastrophic flooding in 2023, for example — and by covering future resilience projects, like wetlands restoration.

Opponents — which include fossil fuel companies, attorneys general from oil-producing states, and, of course, the Trump administration — have deployed several arguments against these laws.

The broadest is that these measures interfere with the federal government’s attempts to unleash American energy dominance by penalizing fossil fuel companies. Others claim that consumers would see prices go up as a result of the added costs. They also argue that the laws constitute an attempt to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, which has historically been under federal authority.

Two weeks after I complained about AB 2047, I find out about this other bill, enrolled into law in September, that has Linux distros scrambling for a way forward.

The law basically specifies certain properties of the APIs used to communicate a user's age bracket to a downloadable app and thus (it is assumed) to the developer of that app.

I don't write apps that collect age data, so why do I care? Because the easiest way for Linux distros to comply with the law is to stop licensing their software to California residents as of January 2027.

Left Unprotected

I just want to share some awareness and a few simple ways we can all help make the world a safer place for animals everywhere.

I think this is such an important topic, and I just want to share what I can in hopes of spreading a little more kindness and love toward animals who need it most.

Some states still have really weak animal protection laws, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) and other reports.

If you live in any of these states, your voice really matters:

North Dakota

Alabama

Idaho

Kentucky

Mississippi

Animals deserve care and protection just like people do. We should all have strong laws that punish abuse and neglect the same way, no matter where we live. Since animals can’t speak for themselves, it’s up to us to stand up for them.

There are lots of ways to make our communities safer for animals, but it starts with action. Here are some simple things we can do together to help make a difference.

🐕 1. Build a Culture of Compassion

Start local awareness drives — posters, school talks, or social media posts teaching kindness to animals and how to spot abuse. Keep the community involved at all times.

Encourage empathy early — partner with schools to include humane education programs that teach kids how to treat animals with care.

Host community adoption or rescue fairs — bring shelters and rescues into public spaces where people can meet adoptable animals.

🏠 2. Support and Strengthen Local Rescues

Volunteer with local animal shelters, TNR (trap-neuter-return) groups, or wildlife rehab centers.

Foster animals — especially during overcrowded times (summer and holidays).

Donate supplies like food, blankets, litter, or medical items — rescues often struggle with costs more than people realize.

Promote local rescues online — simple posts can help animals find homes faster.

📣 3. Be the Voice They Don’t Have

Report cruelty or neglect immediately — call animal control, the police, or cruelty hotlines if you see animals in danger.

Document and share issues like chained dogs, neglected livestock, or illegal breeders — respectfully, with care for safety and accuracy.

Support community petitions for stronger local ordinances (like anti-tethering laws, breeder licensing, or spay/neuter programs).

💬 4. Engage With Local Leaders

Attend city council meetings or write letters urging better local animal policies (for example, mandatory shelter standards or anti-cruelty training for officers).

Organize advocacy groups — even small, informal ones can push local change by showing public demand.

Partner with veterinarians who are willing to speak publicly about the importance of welfare laws.

🌱 5. Create Safer Neighborhoods for Strays

Set up community feeding stations for stray cats or dogs — paired with TNR (trap-neuter-return) to stop overpopulation.

Build winter shelters from simple materials (like styrofoam coolers or wood boxes).

Organize spay/neuter drives or fundraisers to help low-income families care for pets.