Sep 6, 2017

Spicer keynoting energy conference Trump addressed in 2016

Evan Vucci / AP

Sean Spicer will be speaking later this month at Shale Insight 2017 in Pittsburgh for a public-private discussion on shale development and gas-drilling technical insights, the conference organizers announced Wednesday. Trump spoke to the conference last year as a presidential candidate.

Context: Trump's former press secretary has just signed a deal with Worldwide Speakers Group, and Spicer could get paid more than the typical $20,000-$30,000 previous White House press secretaries have received for speeches.

Before the shale event in Pittsburgh, Spicer will be talking at investment bank Rodman & Renshaw's annual conference September 11.

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Orion Rummler

America's dwindling executions

The Trump administration wants to reboot federal executions, pointing to a 16-year lapse, but Pew Research reports the government has only executed three people since 1963.

The big picture: Nearly all executions in the U.S. are done by states. Even those have been steadily dropping for two decades, per the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) — marking a downward trend for all executions in the country.

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Top NSC official may be moved after "Anonymous" rumor fallout

President Trump at the Daytona 500. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Top Trump administration officials are in discussions to reassign deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates to the Department of Energy from the National Security Council, per two sources familiar with the planning.

Why it matters: Coates' working relationship with National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, who elevated her to the deputy role only months ago, has strained amid an effort by some people inside the administration to tag her as "Anonymous" — a charge she has vehemently denied to colleagues.

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Orion Rummler

Jeff Bezos commits $10 billion for climate change research

Bezos at Amazon Smbhav in New Delhi on Jan. 15. Photo: Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced the launch of his "Earth Fund" on Monday via Instagram to fund climate change research and awareness.

What he's saying: Bezos says he's initially committing $10 billion to fund "scientists, activists, and NGOS" that are working on environmental preservation and protection efforts.

Go deeper1 hour ago - Energy & Environment