Inside That Weird Anti-Science Conference Where Trump’s EPA Chief Delivered the Keynote

Mother Jones
by Dharna Noor
April 16, 2026
2 views
6 min read

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The Bottom Line

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin delivered a keynote at an anti-science conference promoting climate change denial.

How This Affects You

This signals potential policy directions from the EPA that may contradict established climate science, possibly affecting environmental regulations.

AI Summary

Lee Zeldin, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), delivered the keynote address at a conference hosted by the Heartland Institute last week, where climate deniers gathered to promote misinformation. The event, held in a hotel basement near the White House, featured displays claiming "CO2 is a lifesaver" and pamphlets titled "Fossil fuels are the greenest energy source." Zeldin stated that the world is no longer following "blind obedience" to dire climate predictions, implying a shift away from established climate science. This gathering signals the increased influence of groups like the Heartland Institute within the Trump administration, with Zeldin reportedly being considered for attorney general. The conference also included a panel on "Bringing Youth into the Climate Realist Fold," which was disrupted by activists from Climate Defiance.

What's Being Done

Activists from Climate Defiance disrupted a panel at the conference.

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