Climate Change, Environment, Science and the Law

Gregg M. Goldfarb
  • 5.0 (29)
  • Natural Sciences
  • Updated Biweekly

This show presents guests to discuss a range of topics on the most critical issues of our times, including climate change, energy, the environment, science, and the law. Oftentimes, the topics are intertwined making the discussions multi-layered and fascinating. Guests are industry leaders that discuss the issues in a question and answer format almost as if they are in a courtroom. Guests are not prepped prior to the show. As a trial attorney that focuses on environmental, institutional sexual abuse, healthcare and pharmaceutical litigation for several decades, Gregg digs into the guests opinions and points of view with the objective of advancing the issues involved with these critical topics. This is show for you if you find yourself asking these questions. Is climate change real? Is climate Change caused by humans? Is climate change caused by fossil fuels? Should I be worried about climate change? Is renewable energy reliable? How does the Iran conflict or war impact energy? Will the Iran conflict or war cause nations to use more renewable energy? Is renewable energy better for the planet than fossil fuels? Do fossils fuels (oil, gas) warm the planet? How do fossil fuels warm the planet? What is plug in solar? Can I buy a plug in solar? Does my State permit plug in solar? Will plug in solar reduce my electric bill? Can I install plug in solar myself? Why are my electric bills rising? Is the price of gas going to go up or down? What is a heat dome? Are heat domes caused by climate change? Why is Trump stopping wind farns? Why is Trump attacking renewable energy? Is it legal for Trump to pay conpanies not to create wind farms? What is geothermal energy? Is hydrogen a potential source of clean energy? What is clean energy? What is net zero emissions? Does geoengineering work? What is geoengineering? What are the risks or downside to geoengineering? Can solar panels help farmers? Are agrovoltaics good for farmers? How many environmental regulations has Trump rescinded? How many clean energy jobs were lost because of Trump? How much clean energy did we lose because of Trump? What is the Strait of Hormuz? How does the Strait of Hormuz impace the price of gas? What is causing the water shortages in the Colorado River? How is the government dealing with the shortage of water from the Colorado River? Why don't people trust science? Should I be skeptical of science? Should I trust my doctor? Should i trust AI for my medical issues? Are plastics bad for the planet? Does recycling work? Does recycling helo reduce the use of plastic? What is happening to the bee populations? Are bees in trouble? What can be done to help the bee populations? What are monarch butterflies? Are the monarch butterlies in danger? Are pesticides bad for humans? Is glyphosate bad for humans? Why are wildfires so big? Is climate change causing the wildires? Why do we use pesticides? What are herbicides? Are herbicides bad for the planet? Is paraquat dangerous for people? Is roundup dangerous for people? Is rounder toxic? Can roundup cause me to get cancer? Can roundup cause my to get non hodgkins lymphoma? Why are social media companies being sued? What is the update on the roundup litigation? Did Bayer settle the roundup cases? What are the terms of the roundup settlement? What is the update on the Johnson @ Johnson talc cases? What the terms of the settlement of Johnson @ Johnson talc cases? What is the status with the Boy Scout sexual abuse cases? What is the status with the MESH litigation? What is the status with the AFFF litigation? What are PFAs? What are forever chemicals? Are forever chemicals bad for us? Are PFAs bad for us? How can I avoid PFAs in my drinking water? Is Trump doing anything about PFAs? Are microplastics are problem for us or the planet? How do microplastics harm us? Does capital punishment work? Is Trump using firing squads? Is Trump using the electric chair? Are native plants better for your yard? Are non-native plant

  1. 1d ago

    Mass Tort Update 2026: Meta Settlement, Round Up, J&J Baby Powder, & Hernia Mesh Cases | Steve Smith Pt. 1

    If you or a family member has a case in Talc, Roundup, Hernia Mesh, or the social media litigation, you've probably heard a settlement number in the news and wondered what it actually means for you. On this episode of Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb, host Gregg Goldfarb sits down with Steven Smith, Vice President of Broughton Partners, to unpack four major mass tort campaigns that are all reaching critical moments at once. Smith explains why J&J's $5.5 billion Talc settlement is really a floor, not a ceiling — with total payouts from this first wave expected closer to $8 billion, and no cap on what the company pays over time. He breaks down why a recent Supreme Court preemption ruling gutted the "failure to warn" claims in the Roundup litigation, while "design defect" claims may survive, and why the proposed class action's roughly $50,000 average case value has some claimants better off staying out of it. On Hernia Mesh, he details the split between Bard (which resolved lower-value cases early while holding back its biggest claims for a separate, stricter fund) and Covidien, where a recent verdict topped $66 million. And on social media, he walks through how Meta's $16.68 billion settlement with 29 state attorneys general is actually a step toward compensating individual families, not the end of the road. Throughout, Smith and Goldfarb stress that "qualified" is doing a lot of work in every one of these settlements — and that claimants should be talking to their own firm about where their specific case stands before assuming a headline number applies to them. What You'll Learn Why J&J's $5.5B Talc settlement is a floor, not a final number What "qualified" actually means — and why it changes as a case matures How the Supreme Court's preemption ruling reshaped the Roundup litigation Why some Roundup claimants may be better off outside the class action How Bard and Covidien ended up handling hernia mesh cases so differently What the $66 million Covidien verdict signals for pending cases Why Meta's $17B settlement is with states, not the injured kids themselves How to tell if your case is being handled by the right firm What "opting out" of a settlement means, and when it makes sense   Time Stamps: 0:00 – Cold open: $17 billion Meta settlement 0:27 – Intro: Steven Smith joins to break down mass tort settlements 1:22 – Talc / Johnson & Johnson (baby powder settlement, $5.5B+) 12:02 – Roundup (Bayer, Supreme Court ruling, class action) 17:37 – Hernia Mesh (Bard, Covidien, $66M verdict) 22:38 – Social Media (Meta, TikTok, Snapchat — $17B settlement explained)    Steven Smith is Vice President of Broughton Partners, a mass tort marketing and consulting firm, where he has spent nearly 20 years advising law firms and claimants across major litigations including Talc, Roundup, Hernia Mesh, Social Media, Camp Lejeune, PFAS, NEC, and Depo-Provera. Known industry-wide as "The Mass Tort Mentor," he works to help claimants get connected with qualified representation and to help law firms navigate complex, evolving litigation.    Contact / Follow Stephen Smith:  Firm: https://www.broughtonpartners.com/ Phone: 954-224-1733  Email: steve@broughtonpartners.com   Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.

    Mass Tort Update 2026: Meta Settlement, Round Up, J&J Baby Powder, & Hernia Mesh Cases | Steve Smith Pt. 1

  2. Sep 9

    Is Your Cereal Lying to You? A Former Kellogg Insider Explains | Lisa Sutherland & Marion Nestle

    What does a cereal box actually tell you? A lot more than you'd think. On this episode, Gregg Goldfarb is joined by Lisa Sutherland, who spent years running nutrition strategy inside Kellogg, and Marion Nestle, one of the country's most well-known food policy critics, to unpack their new book, Sugarcoated. The two co-authors met almost two decades ago when Nestle got rare access to Kellogg's archive: every piece of cereal packaging the company had ever created, dating back to 1919. What they found sitting in that library became the foundation for a book that traces American food policy, marketing tactics, and health claims through the lens of the cereal aisle. The conversation digs into how sugar content in cereal has changed since Sutherland's time at Kellogg, why the toys that consumer advocates once got pulled from cereal boxes are quietly making a comeback, and how the FDA and watchdog groups have spent decades battling cereal makers over health claims that cross the line. Nestle and Sutherland don't paint food companies as villains — they're businesses answering to shareholders every quarter — but they make clear that understanding that incentive is the key to understanding everything on the shelf. Gregg also gets both authors' take on whether today's political moment, with food additives and health claims under new scrutiny, is a real opportunity for change or just more noise.   Join Gregg Goldfarb, Marion Nestle and Lisa Sutherland on Climate Change Environment Science & the Law as they explore: Why cereal boxes are a surprisingly rich record of American food policy history  How sugar content in cereal has actually changed since the 1990s — and how much  What life was like inside Kellogg's nutrition division, from label claims to ad strategy  Why the toys that were pulled from cereal boxes years ago are showing up again  How the FDA and consumer advocacy groups have repeatedly challenged cereal health claims  Why "healthier" products don't always win shelf space, even when companies want them to  What it actually takes to write a book with a co-author — and find a literary agent  Which cereals actually hold up as healthier choices, according to a nutrition PhD   TIME STAMPS  0:00 – The Open 0:17 – The Cereal Box as Sophisticated Advertising 1:40 – Why Sugarcoated, Why Now 2:39 – A Century of Cereal Boxes Reveal Food Policy History 5:53 – "They Want to Get Kids Hooked" — Toys Are Back 7:03 – Profit, Market Share, and the Cheerios Takeover 9:18 – Is This False Advertising? 11:57 – "That's the Issue" — The Real Incentive Behind Big Cereal 13:59 – The Michelle Obama White House Story 15:43 – What Readers Will Get From the Book 21:47 – The Healthiest Cereals, According to a Nutrition PhD 22:45 – Release Date & Sign-Off   Lisa Sutherland, PhD, is a public health–trained nutrition scientist and the former Vice President of Nutrition at Kellogg Company. She now works in academia, applying her food industry experience to public health education. Marion Nestle is a professor emerita of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, the author of Food Politics, and a longtime critic of food industry marketing practices. She writes daily at foodpolitics.com.   Contact / Follow Marion Marion Nestle Blog: https://www.foodpolitics.com/ Marion Nestle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marion-nestle-9515ba8/   Contact / Follow Lisa Lisa Sutherland LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lasutherlandphd/   Get the book! Sugar Coated: Unboxing the Hidden Forces Shaping America's Favorite Breakfast Food: https://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Coated-Unboxing-Breakfast-California/dp/0520421272   To hear more mass tort updates and legal issues shaping our communities, subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb.

    Is Your Cereal Lying to You? A Former Kellogg Insider Explains | Lisa Sutherland & Marion Nestle

  3. Aug 27

    J&J Talc Settlement Explained: Who Qualifies and What Happens Next | Cameron Stevenson

    Ten years. Three bankruptcies. Multiple trials. A lead plaintiffs' firm disqualified along the way. The Johnson & Johnson talc litigation has produced just about every issue a mass tort can produce, and for the tens of thousands of women waiting on it, the only question that ever mattered was whether it would actually resolve. On this episode of Climate Change Environment Science & the Law, host Gregg Goldfarb sits down with Cameron Stevenson, shareholder at Levin Papantonio and one of the primary attorneys involved in the litigation, to walk through the settlement that finally came together. Stevenson explains what "uncapped" means in practice, why the deal is built for current claimants rather than future ones, and why he believes the dollar for dollar recovery for those claimants is substantially better than what the $8.9 billion bankruptcy proposal would have delivered, since that plan would have absorbed future claims, state AG claims, and Canadian class claims and paid out over roughly 25 years. He also delivers the part of this episode that claimants most need to hear: having a filed case does not automatically mean qualifying. The settlement is built around epithelial ovarian cancer, and Stevenson explains why post-hysterectomy pathology is the document that determines eligibility, and why some cases filed early in the litigation may not make it through. From there, Gregg and Cameron lay out the process step by step: the registration window, the opt-in release, the proof phase, how a case gets plotted on the settlement grid, and the 95% participation threshold the deal has to clear. Stevenson also addresses future diagnoses, why ovarian cancer's long latency means new cases will keep surfacing for decades, and why anyone diagnosed down the road needs to be acutely aware of their own state's statute of limitations. The conversation closes with the reason this episode exists. Attorneys are inundated, calls are rushed, and clients are hanging up unsure of what they were just told. Gregg's call to action is simple: share this with someone who needs it, then take your questions back to your own lawyer.   Join Gregg and Cameron Stevenson on Climate Change Environment Science & the Law as they explore: 0:00 – "It Will Not Qualify" 0:13 – Did Talc Actually Settle? 0:58 – The Settlement Is Real, and It's Finalized 2:18 – Why a Smaller Number Beats the $8.9 Billion Bankruptcy Deal 4:05 – The Diagnoses Still Coming 30 Years From Now 5:22 – The One Document That Decides Your Claim 7:20 – Stop Doing the Math on What You'll Get 7:59 – Inside the Settlement Grid 10:45 – What You Need to Do This Week 11:39 – When the Money Actually Moves 14:47 – The Deadline That Can Still Cost You Everything   Cameron Stevenson is a shareholder at Levin Papantonio and one of the primary attorneys involved in the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder litigation, a mass tort spanning more than a decade, three bankruptcy attempts, and multiple trials. He returns to the show to break down the settlement for the claimants and families who have been waiting on it.   Contact / Follow Cameron Stevenson: Phone: (850) 435-7176 Email: cstephenson@levinlaw.com Firm: Levin Papantonio Website: https://levinlaw.com To hear more mass tort updates and legal issues shaping our communities, subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb.

    J&J Talc Settlement Explained: Who Qualifies and What Happens Next | Cameron Stevenson

  4. Aug 21

    Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Update: Covidien Verdict, Bard Settlement, and What Comes Next | Timothy O'Brien

    Larry Patterson went in for a routine hernia repair. He came out, eventually, with several inches of his bowel removed. Timothy O'Brien, board-certified trial attorney and shareholder at Levin Papantonio, just won $88 million for Patterson and his wife Tammy against Covidien, a Medtronic company. It is the largest compensatory award in fifteen years of mesh litigation, and the first of roughly 2,500 cases to reach a jury. The mesh, Symbotex, sits right against your intestines behind a collagen barrier meant to last 30 days. Covidien's own internal testing showed it was gone in under seven. They knew in 2003. O'Brien walks Gregg through the evidence that turned the trial, where sales staff swore to doctors the barrier lasted a month while R&D said otherwise in writing. He also maps the hernia mesh lawsuit landscape, from the Bard settlement covering 33,000 claimants to why Medtronic Covidien is the last major manufacturer still fighting, and what a bellwether verdict actually means for the thousands of people still waiting on their own cases   Join Gregg and Timothy O'Brien on Climate Change Environment Science & the Law as they explore:   What You'll Learn Why a generation of surgeons stopped doing tissue-to-tissue repair, and what that traded away How Symbotex's protective barrier was supposed to work, and how fast it actually disappeared The 2003 document that locked in the depositions and became the case's spine Why sales and R&D were telling two completely different stories about the same product What a bellwether trial is, and why the first one carries the most weight Where the Bard, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic Covidien litigations stand right now Why about 100 new Covidien cases are still being filed every month What Covidien's planned appeal means for people still waiting How to find out if you or someone you love has a case   Time Stamps 0:00 – "They are lying": the sales pitch vs. the truth 0:48 – Meet attorney Timothy O'Brien 1:02 – The hernia mesh "safety feature" that failed 2:06 – Why hernia mesh exists in the first place 4:13 – The Patterson case: what happened to the plaintiff 5:41 – The depositions that exposed Covidien 7:46 – 2003: when they allegedly knew the truth 9:33 – The 3 major mesh manufacturers, explained 11:59 – What a "bellwether trial" means for your case 14:07 – Will Covidien settle or appeal? 17:40 – How to contact Timothy O'Brien about your case   Timothy O'Brien is a board-certified trial attorney and shareholder at Levin Papantonio, where he has served as lead or co-lead counsel in mass tort litigation against major hernia mesh manufacturers, including Bard, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic Covidien. He recently helped secure an $88 million verdict in the first bellwether trial of the Covidien hernia mesh multidistrict litigation.    Contact / Follow Timothy O'Brien:  Firm: Levin Papantonio  Website: https://levinlaw.com     Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.

    Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Update: Covidien Verdict, Bard Settlement, and What Comes Next | Timothy O'Brien

  5. Aug 14

    Plan to Save Florida's Environment | Candidate Richard Lamondin, Florida Senate District 38

    Richard Lamondin and his brother started their company 13 years ago after reading that a fifth of all toilets leak, learning to replace them from YouTube videos, and going door to door at apartment communities. That business became ecofi, a national firm that cuts energy and water use in buildings. On this episode of Climate Change Environment Science & the Law, he tells host Gregg Goldfarb why that work led him to run for the Florida Senate in District 38. The through line is affordability. Richard lays out what he sees as the squeeze on Miami families, from preschool costs to rents to a property insurance market he says has become unaffordable, and argues that Florida's problem is one of priorities rather than funding. He also explains what a legislative supermajority is, why he says most of the decisions that touch daily life come from Tallahassee rather than Washington, and what breaking that math would change at the committee level. Gregg, an environmental lawyer, brings his own history to the table, including an early case in the Keys built on the argument that in South Florida the environment is the economy. From there the two get into coastal resilience: storm surge, living sea walls, mangroves, fish stocks, fertilizer runoff and algae blooms, and saltwater intrusion into the aquifer. Richard's case is that decades of inaction on coastal risk are a direct upstream cause of today's insurance bills. They also cover why South Florida has so little rooftop solar despite the climate, the Everglades restoration work Richard says has stalled, and what his first 100 days and first three bills would look like.   Join Gregg and Richard Lamondin on Climate Change Environment Science & the Law as they explore: TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – "Can people actually make it here?" The real Florida crisis 0:40 – Meet the guy trying to flip Florida's most winnable Senate seat 1:33 – From fixing toilets to running for Senate (the EcoFi origin story) 2:43 – $2,000/month for preschool. Florida's affordability breaking point 3:59 – Alligator Alcatraz and the $10 land deal for Trump's private library 6:05 – "Silence is complicity." Calling out his opponent 8:58 – Did she back Alligator Alcatraz? His answer will surprise you 10:43 – The one seat that breaks Florida's Republican supermajority 13:44 – Is protecting the environment going to cost you money? His answer 16:55 – Florida is the Sunshine State, so why is solar this hard? 19:23 – Alligator Alcatraz's hidden victim: Florida's darkest skies 21:31 – His first 100 days in office, mapped out 23:46 – How to help flip the seat   Richard Lamondin is a born and raised Miamian and the co-founder and CEO of ecofi, a sustainability firm that works with real estate owners nationwide to reduce energy use, water use, and utility costs through renewables, LED lighting, water efficiency, and EV charging infrastructure. He and his brother started the company 13 years ago after learning to replace leaking toilets from YouTube videos and going door to door at apartment communities. He is a first-time candidate for the Florida Senate in District 38, which covers coastal Miami-Dade from Brickell and Key Biscayne to Homestead, where he is challenging the district's incumbent.   Contact/Follow Richard Lamondin: Website: https://richard.vote/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richard-lamondin-jr-7a1b221a   Contact/Follow his company: Website: https://goecofi.com/ Email: hello@goecofi.com   Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.

    Plan to Save Florida's Environment | Candidate Richard Lamondin, Florida Senate District 38

  6. Aug 5

    The Future of Solar with Bill McKibben: Farmers, Plug-In Solar & the Iran Conflict

    Sunlight travels 93 million miles to reach Earth, and as Bill McKibben points out on this episode of Climate Change Environment Science & the Law, none of those miles pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Host Gregg Goldfarb sits down with the bestselling author of "Here Comes the Sun" to unpack why the Iran conflict, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is becoming the second energy shock of the decade, and why it's pushing Asian nations that depend on oil and gas shipped through the Gulf to accelerate their pivot to solar, wind, and batteries. Bill breaks down the numbers behind China's clean energy build-out, explains why California now generates more than half its electricity from the sun thanks to massive battery buildout, and makes the case that renewables are no longer a fringe bet but the more reliable, and often cheaper — choice for most of the world. The conversation then turns to American farmland, where Bill separates fact from fiction on solar leasing: the stable income it provides farmers, the rise of agrivoltaics (from French vineyards seeing a jump in Chardonnay yields to sheep grazing beneath panels in New England), and why devoting a small share of U.S. farmland to solar could meet 100% of the country's energy needs. He closes with a practical tip anyone can use right now, inexpensive, plug-in balcony solar panels that require no electrician and are now legal in ten states, with more expected to follow.   Join Gregg and Bill McKibben on Climate Change Environment Science & the Law as they explore: Why the Strait of Hormuz has become a geopolitical argument for solar, wind, and batteries How China's clean energy build-out compares to the rest of the world, and what's happening across Southeast Asia Why California now draws more than half its power from the sun, and the role battery storage plays overnight Why some countries are ramping up coal short-term even as long-term investment shifts to renewables Why 80% of the world's population lives in fossil-fuel-importing countries, and what that means for the economics of going solar How solar leasing works for farmers, and what percentage of land is typically involved What agrivoltaics is, and how shade from solar panels is boosting crop yields and pollinator populations Why solar polls well across party lines, even when the motivations differ What plug-in balcony solar is, what it costs, and which states have legalized it How to get involved through Third Act, the climate advocacy group for Americans over 60   TIME STAMPS 00:00 Sunlight does not go through the Strait of Hormuz 00:18 Can solar actually power an economy 01:14 The second energy shock of the decade 02:17 China's pace, and who else is switching 03:44 The US exception: wind and solar rollbacks 04:54 Why coal is the patch, not the bet  05:27 Batteries and California after sundown 06:42 The oil money headwind, and the 80% who import 07:58 Farmers, land, and stable income 09:18 Corn for ethanol vs the same acres in panels  10:20 Agrivoltaics: shade, sheep, and pollinators 11:26 "It looks like a monstrosity" 12:15 What a farmer earns, and the removal bond 13:41 Trump flags at the mailbox, panels on the roof 14:26 Balcony solar is legal in 10 states 15:33 Push your state, and Bright Saver 16:53 Third Act and 350.org 17:59 Here Comes the Sun   Bill McKibben  is a bestselling author and one of the world's leading environmental advocates, known for decades of work sounding the alarm on climate change while championing practical solutions like the rise of solar power. He is the founder of 350.org, a global grassroots climate advocacy organization, and Third Act, which mobilizes Americans over 60 for action on climate and democracy. His latest book, "Here Comes the Sun," explores the accelerating global shift to renewable energy.    Contact / Follow Bill McKibben:  Organization: 350.org | Third Act  Website:https://thirdact.org  Balcony Solar Resource: https://brightsaver.org    Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.

    The Future of Solar with Bill McKibben: Farmers, Plug-In Solar & the Iran Conflict

  7. Jul 29

    The 28th Amendment: One Man's Plan to Fix a Broken Constitution | Tom Teicher

    Is the Constitution built to handle the next 250 years, or is it time for a real mechanism for change? Tom Teicher, a constitutional thought leader, spent years developing a proposal for a 28th Amendment that would finally give structure to Article Five's long-dormant constitutional convention option. Cut to the Chase: Gregg sits down with Tom to break down how his plan would work: 153 impartial delegates chosen by state legislatures under an 80% supermajority requirement, closed-door sessions modeled on 1787, a two-thirds override for Congress, and ratification by direct popular vote rather than the states. They dig into why only 17 amendments have passed in over two centuries, what issues a modern convention might tackle, and why Tom insists the process must stay above party politics.   Join Gregg and Tom Teicher on Cut to the Chase: as they explore Why the Constitution has only been amended 17 times in over 200 years How Tom's proposed 28th Amendment would structure a modern constitutional convention Why delegates would be chosen by an 80% supermajority in state legislatures How Congress and the public would each get a role in approving changes Why the proposal is designed to stay impartial, with no sitting officials as delegates What it would take to keep the process out of near-term politics KEY MOMENTS Introduction: Framing the state of the Constitution at nearly 250 years old Tom's background and how he came to work on constitutional reform Why Article Five's convention option has never been used The proposal: turning the convention into a structured, recurring process How the 153 delegates would be chosen, and the 80% supermajority rule Devil's advocate: could the delegate-selection process be changed or gamed? The history of the proposal, from 2022 to today, and its reception so far How a convention would run: closed doors, open agenda, majority votes Congress's role: reviewing and potentially sending proposals back Ratification by national popular vote instead of the states How a convention might handle modern issues like AI, executive power, and more Keeping the amendment out of near-term politics with a 2029 effective date Historical parallels: Jefferson's 19-year proposal vs. Madison's view Closing thoughts: what one change could preserve the American experiment Tom Teicher is a constitutional thought leader and citizen advocate for reforming Article Five of the U.S. Constitution. With a law degree and a background largely in the nonprofit sector, he has spent years developing a detailed proposal for a 28th Amendment that would establish a structured, recurring constitutional convention process. His proposal has been shaped through public feedback since 2022, including a widely shared explainer video released in 2024 and a written essay published in 2025, and has been reviewed by a constitutional law professor.   Contact / Follow Tom Teicher:  Website: TomTeicher.com   Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Cut to the Chase: with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.

    The 28th Amendment: One Man's Plan to Fix a Broken Constitution | Tom Teicher

  8. Jul 27

    Every Continent, 50 Years, No Regrets: Building a Career You Love | Ron Magill

    When Ron Magill announced his retirement on February 15th, plenty of people assumed South Florida was losing its most recognizable voice in the animal world.   On this episode of Cut to the Chase: host Gregg Goldfarb sits down with Ron to set the record straight. He retired from the county, moved his office about 30 yards north, and took on a new role as Goodwill Ambassador and Conservation Liaison for the Zoo Miami Foundation. Ron walks through the work ahead of him, including building the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment, the largest conservation endowment at the zoo, where none of the money can be spent at the zoo itself and goes entirely toward protecting animals in the wild. He also shares the travel programs he's leading, from 11 national parks across five states to polar bears in Churchill and a return voyage to Antarctica.   The conversation turns personal when Ron shares the story of the animal that changed his life. It was a squirrel that came down from a tree during recess, at a time when he was a Spanish-speaking kid being bullied so badly he'd retreated into his shell. He also weighs in on why Miami has become what he calls the Ellis Island of exotic animals, what's realistically possible with pythons and iguanas at this point, and why he's profoundly concerned about the rollback of environmental protections at a national level.   Join Gregg and Ron Magill on Cut to the Chase: as they explore: Why "retirement" for Ron meant moving offices rather than stepping away, and what the Zoo Miami Foundation role actually involves How the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment works, and why none of that money can be spent at the zoo How listeners can join Ron's travel programs through the travel tab at zoomiami.org Why local conservation in your own backyard matters before global causes Whether you can actually make a living in wildlife and conservation work, and what it takes Why storytelling, not statistics or pie charts, is the skill that opens doors in this field What Miami is doing to build green corridors connecting parks for wildlife Why invasive species like pythons, iguanas, and lionfish are here to stay, and what management realistically looks like Why the python hunts matter for public education even when they don't dent the population   TIME STAMPS 0:00 – Intro: "The Ellis Island of Exotic Animals" 0:30 – Welcome to Cut to the Chase & Ron's 4-Decade Legacy 1:01 – Retiring from the County, Not From the Mission 1:38 – New Role: Zoo Miami Foundation & Conservation Endowment 2:05 – Upcoming Trips: Antarctica, Africa, National Parks & How to Join  3:36 – Conservation Work: Audubon, Wildlife Rescue & Protecting Our Backyard 4:22 – Giving Back: Scholarships for the Next Generation  5:06 – "Living a Scam": On Loving Your Job 5:37 – Can You Actually Make a Living Doing This? 6:53 – Why Storytelling Matters More Than Ever 7:11 – The Next Ron Magill? Rising Stars at the Zoo  7:59 – Conservation in Your Own Backyard (Inspired by Wild London) 9:17 – The Squirrel That Changed His Life 11:29 – Escaped Animals & Hurricane Andrew 12:08 – Miami's Invasive Species Crisis: Pythons, Iguanas & More 13:01 – Are We Making Progress? The State of Global Conservation 13:56 – Final Thoughts & Call to Action    Ron Magill has spent more than four decades educating millions about wildlife and inspiring generations to care about conservation. After 46 years working under Miami-Dade County, he now serves as Goodwill Ambassador and Conservation Liaison for the Zoo Miami Foundation, where he leads the foundation's travel program and continues building the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment. He is also a USA Nikon Ambassador and wildlife photographer who has set foot on every continent and visited Africa more than 50 times.   Contact / Follow Ron Magill: Website: https://zoomiami.org (travel programs under the Travel tab) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-magill-0257bb8/   Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Cut to the Chase: with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.

    Every Continent, 50 Years, No Regrets: Building a Career You Love | Ron Magill
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This show presents guests to discuss a range of topics on the most critical issues of our times, including climate change, energy, the environment, science, and the law. Oftentimes, the topics are intertwined making the discussions multi-layered and fascinating. Guests are industry leaders that discuss the issues in a question and answer format almost as if they are in a courtroom. Guests are not prepped prior to the show. As a trial attorney that focuses on environmental, institutional sexual abuse, healthcare and pharmaceutical litigation for several decades, Gregg digs into the guests opinions and points of view with the objective of advancing the issues involved with these critical topics. This is show for you if you find yourself asking these questions. Is climate change real? Is climate Change caused by humans? Is climate change caused by fossil fuels? Should I be worried about climate change? Is renewable energy reliable? How does the Iran conflict or war impact energy? Will the Iran conflict or war cause nations to use more renewable energy? Is renewable energy better for the planet than fossil fuels? Do fossils fuels (oil, gas) warm the planet? How do fossil fuels warm the planet? What is plug in solar? Can I buy a plug in solar? Does my State permit plug in solar? Will plug in solar reduce my electric bill? Can I install plug in solar myself? Why are my electric bills rising? Is the price of gas going to go up or down? What is a heat dome? Are heat domes caused by climate change? Why is Trump stopping wind farns? Why is Trump attacking renewable energy? Is it legal for Trump to pay conpanies not to create wind farms? What is geothermal energy? Is hydrogen a potential source of clean energy? What is clean energy? What is net zero emissions? Does geoengineering work? What is geoengineering? What are the risks or downside to geoengineering? Can solar panels help farmers? Are agrovoltaics good for farmers? How many environmental regulations has Trump rescinded? How many clean energy jobs were lost because of Trump? How much clean energy did we lose because of Trump? What is the Strait of Hormuz? How does the Strait of Hormuz impace the price of gas? What is causing the water shortages in the Colorado River? How is the government dealing with the shortage of water from the Colorado River? Why don't people trust science? Should I be skeptical of science? Should I trust my doctor? Should i trust AI for my medical issues? Are plastics bad for the planet? Does recycling work? Does recycling helo reduce the use of plastic? What is happening to the bee populations? Are bees in trouble? What can be done to help the bee populations? What are monarch butterflies? Are the monarch butterlies in danger? Are pesticides bad for humans? Is glyphosate bad for humans? Why are wildfires so big? Is climate change causing the wildires? Why do we use pesticides? What are herbicides? Are herbicides bad for the planet? Is paraquat dangerous for people? Is roundup dangerous for people? Is rounder toxic? Can roundup cause me to get cancer? Can roundup cause my to get non hodgkins lymphoma? Why are social media companies being sued? What is the update on the roundup litigation? Did Bayer settle the roundup cases? What are the terms of the roundup settlement? What is the update on the Johnson @ Johnson talc cases? What the terms of the settlement of Johnson @ Johnson talc cases? What is the status with the Boy Scout sexual abuse cases? What is the status with the MESH litigation? What is the status with the AFFF litigation? What are PFAs? What are forever chemicals? Are forever chemicals bad for us? Are PFAs bad for us? How can I avoid PFAs in my drinking water? Is Trump doing anything about PFAs? Are microplastics are problem for us or the planet? How do microplastics harm us? Does capital punishment work? Is Trump using firing squads? Is Trump using the electric chair? Are native plants better for your yard? Are non-native plant

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