Today’s column (gift link) is another entry in my “observations that will please no one” series. Enjoy?
On Dec. 2, U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber and two GOP colleagues tried to make a political issue out of meetings between environmental groups and the Biden White House during the last administration.
I was pulled between two reactions. One, if non-government organizations have to turn over their private communications to Congress that would have an incredible chilling effect from a First Amendment standpoint. Was this more masked authoritarianism?
Or, was this just more political theater from people whose party gives them nothing else to do?
Tough question. Then I was away for a week working on my book. The time proved that it was likely the latter. More theater. But that’s a good opportunity to point out why the debate over mining and environmental issues is so intractably stuck.
Read “We need more communication about mining and the environment, not less,” in the Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribune. His new book about Hibbing Mayor Victor Power and his momentous fight against the world’s largest corporation will be out soon.
