The Justice Department has finalized new regulations that effectively eliminate the use of “disparate impact” analysis—a key tool for proving racial discrimination based on statistical disparities—marking a significant rollback of civil rights protections. These regulations, issued without public comment, narrow the ability of government and private entities to be investigated or sued for policies that unintentionally cause racial disparities, focusing instead on intent-based discrimination. The move aligns with conservative arguments that discrimination should only be proven through explicit intent, rather than data showing unequal impact. Critics warn that this shift could weaken efforts to address systemic racial inequities, as it makes it significantly harder to challenge policies that unintentionally disadvantage marginalized groups. More here: https://wapo.st/4s2l6iC
#CivilRights #DisparateImpact #JusticeDepartment #RacialJustice #RegulatoryChange #LegalPolicy #discrimination

Curious how the Trump administration plans to revive coal? Evelyn Hockstein reports new policies aim to boost coal output despite its decline to just 15% of US electricity in 2024. Officials may delay plant retirements to meet AI-driven energy demands, but experts doubt coal's long-term comeback. Details: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/29/trump-officials-to-announce-plan-to-boost-coal-output.html #EvelynHockstein #TrumpAdministration #coalpolicy #energytransition #fossilfuels #regulatorychange #electricity #workforce #cleanenergy #AIenergy #USpolicy Great analysis by Hockstein.

I’m a big fan of using metaphors and similes to explain #regulation and #regulatorychange. Even to people who are steeped in this stuff, an effective analogy can unlock understanding and massively aid communication. A #request to the fediverse: what are most effective metaphors, similes and analogies you’ve used or seen others use to explain something regulatory? Please do credit where you can!