Bloggers react to the news of Obama’s picks for top enviornmental posts: Kate Sheppard at Gristmill gathers reactions from both environmental advocates and business-oriented think tanks. (Myron Ebel of the Competitive Enterprise Institute warns that Carol Browner shares many of Al Gore’s “wildest opinions.”) Frances Beinecke at NRDC’s Switchboard considers Obama’s choices to be proof…

The Bush administration’s decision to let mining companies dump their waste into waterways is bad news, but bloggers note a few bright spots on the coal-mining scene. Rob Perks at NRDC’s Switchboard announces that Bank of America “will phase out financing of companies whose predominant method of extracting coal is through mountain top removal.” Erik…

The big news in Congress this week is that Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has replaced John Dingell (D-Mich.) as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee – a move likely to have big implications for national climate policy, as Kate Sheppard at Gristmill explains. Meanwhile, Alicia Mundy at WSJ’s Health Blog wonders if the leadership…

This week Senator Max Baucus, chair of the powerful Finance Committee, released a policy paper on healthcare reform. Ezra Klein notes that it’s not a reform proposal, but “the beginning of Max Baucus’s attempt to create a health care reform process” – and he explains the plan and the politics surrounding it in two separate…

This week’s edition is devoted to blogging about election results: the performance of state-level ballot measures, what the new Congress looks like, speculation about cabinet picks, and priorities for President-Elect Obama and the 111th Congress.

On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Wyeth v. Levine, the case that will decide whether FDA approval shields drug manufacturers from liability claims under state laws. (Read more about this idea of preemption here.) Bloggers have a lot to say about the case and this concept of preemption: Niko Karvounis at…

Once again, bloggers turn their keyboards to the economic crisis: Merrill Goozner at GoozNews explores how the stock market’s collapse may affect health-insurance premiums. Chris Mooney at Science Progress looks at the grim prospects for increased science funding. Kate Sheppard at Gristmill brings us an interview with Van Jones, who explains how the recommendations in his…

Bloggers have more thoughts on the environmental and human-health impacts of the economic crisis: Sarah Rubenstein at WSJ’s Health Blog explains why a sick economy can make the case for health reform more compelling. Joe Paduda at Managed Care Matters suggests a way to improve the health insurance situation that doesn’t require a huge amount…

Bloggers worry about how a Wall Street bailout and economic turmoil might affect environmental issues, and they advocate for green avenues to help the economy. David Roberts at Gristmill compiles warnings from opinion leaders about not letting a bailout interfere with green investments, and advocates for an energy-efficiency initiative to help the economy. Alex Salta…

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has announced the winners of its 2008 MacArthur fellowships (or “genius grants”). Maggie Mahar at Health Beat links back to past stories on geriatrician Dr. Diane Meier and critical care specialist Dr. Peter Provnost. Andrew Plemmons Pratt at Science Progress looks at the work of neuroscientist Sally Temple with stem cells. Jacob Goldstein…