Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup #700 - Watts Up With That?

• The Supreme Court granted President Donald Trump a preliminary victory by lifting several legal hurdles to his plan to limit mail-in voting eligibility. • Despite this ruling, the president's proposal remains currently blocked by a lower-court order, meaning the rules have not yet changed.

• The Supreme Court lifted a federal judge's injunction on Monday, allowing key provisions of President Donald Trump’s mail-in voting order to proceed during the appeals process. • The ruling specifically permits the creation of eligible citizenship lists and governs the distribution of ballots via the USPS, overturning a previous block based on "speculation" regarding the 2026 midterms.

• U.S. Senator Darline Graham won the Republican primary runoff on Tuesday to secure the GOP nomination for her late brother Lindsey Graham's Senate seat in South Carolina. • The victory ensures Graham will appear on the general election ballot to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.

• Mail-in voting has expanded significantly since 2000, with 37 states now permitting no-excuse ballots leading into the 2026 elections. • Donald Trump has proposed that the postmaster general mandate all mail-in and absentee ballots be placed in secured envelopes marked "Official Election Mail" featuring unique tracking barcodes.

• UK Prime Minister Burnham will join a delegation of world leaders to lobby US President Trump to increase the supply of Patriot missiles to Ukraine. • The diplomatic push follows urgent pleas from President Zelenskyy to bolster Ukraine's air defenses against ongoing Russian attacks.

• Dutch Bros shares rose 4.17% in recent trading to reach a price of $51.95. • Technical analysis indicates the stock is showing strong upward momentum and is currently trading above key support levels.

• The "Cockroach" party, a political pressure group, has announced a new protest march in Delhi. • The group is demonstrating against the Modi government, claiming the administration has failed to honor promises that previously led the party to cancel protests in July.

• A surge of protests in India has significantly disrupted the traditional media landscape, leading to a shift from legacy news outlets to independent digital platforms. • Independent journalists and "celebrity YouTubers" are increasingly replacing traditional anchors as audiences flee "godi media," a term used by journalist Ravish Kumar to describe outlets that dismiss political dissent.

• British American Tobacco shares are currently trading at GBX4,166, reflecting a 0.67% decrease as the stock holds near a support level of GBX4,139. • The company has recently conducted a share buyback program, which has effectively reduced the stock's free float and contributed to mixed technical signals.

• Apple (AAPL) stock is trading flat at $308.84, experiencing a slight decline of 0.53% during the current session. • Technical analysis indicates that the stock has found a critical support level at $302.29, preventing a deeper price drop.

• A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed on Tuesday in the Bombay High Court challenging a Maharashtra government mandate requiring taxi, auto-rickshaw, and app-based cab drivers to have working knowledge of Marathi. • The petition targets a notification from the Home (Transport) Department dated August 12, 2026, which amended the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

• A youth-led protest movement in India, associated with the "Cockroach Janta Party," has emerged to demand better jobs and economic opportunities. • The movement achieved a significant victory on July 25, 2026, when students celebrated the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.