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{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Dems could probe Russian diesel importers Democrats and outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) are telling banks and ports that Congress may investigate imports of Russian diesel after President Trump said the U.S. would import the fuel. © Stephanie Scarbrough, Associated Press In letters...

President Trump’s diesel deal appears to be too little too late, and a little too contentious, to reduce the price of diesel in the U.S.

Why Trump's efforts to pin high gas prices on Ukraine are politically convenient but economically backward.

Democrats and outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) are telling banks and ports that Congress may investigate imports of Russian diesel after President Trump said the U.S. would import the fuel. In letters to major banks and several U.S. port authorities, the lawmakers wrote that “any importation of Russian diesel into the U.S. raises significant...

House and Senate Democrats vowing to probe President Donald Trump’s deal to import Russian diesel to the US are asking banks and ports to preserve records related to issue, saying they anticipate further Congressional oversight.

Top Democrats poised for powerful roles next year are demanding that major banks and ports preserve any records they have tied to potential imports or other deals involving Russian diesel . Why it matters: Probing President Trump's agreement with Moscow will be a priority if Democrats regain control of either or both chambers of Congress. The new demand shows that inquiries will extend beyond the White House and into C-suites. Driving the news: "[A]ny importation of Russian diesel into the U.S. raises significant legal questions and may be subject to legal action, as well as congressional investigations," a new letter obtained by Axios states. It's signed by Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). They're in line to lead the powerful Foreign Relations, Banking, Finance and Judiciary Committees, respectively, if Democrats regain the Senate. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), who's in line for the Foreign Affairs Committee gavel if House control changes, also signed. It's led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the top Foreign Relations Democrat who is not seeking reelection. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who is also retiring, signed as well. State of play: The Wall Street recipients of Saturday's letter are J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, Citi, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. The same letter went to port authorities for the ports of Houston, Beaumont, and Corpus Christi, Texas, and New York/New Jersey. Catch up quick: Earlier this month Trump claimed an agreement to bring escalating Russian exports to global and U.S. markets, and the Treasury Department waived sanctions to help enable it. Friction point: The lawmakers and other critics say it runs afoul of a bipartisan 2022 law barring imports of Russian oil, gas, and petroleum products. "The potential arrangement to import Russian diesel also raises significant national security concerns, given that it would finance Russia's brutal and illegal war against Ukraine," the letter states. Yes, but: The Treasury Department has repeatedly claimed the agreement is legal. The big picture: The new letter urges the banks and ports not to enable "purchase, transportation, importation, unloading, storage, financing, or distribution" of Russian diesel in the U.S. It also goes further, urging the parties not to facilitate any transactions for Russian diesel to other markets under the recent sanctions waiver. Zoom in: Citing "anticipation of further congressional oversight," it calls on recipients to preserve a wide range of potential records and communications related to "proposed or actual" transactions. Think contracts, shipping documents, vessel records and plenty more. The demand extends to any communications with suppliers, intermediaries and U.S. government officials. The lawmakers want confirmation by Wednesday that records are being preserved, plus details of any potential or actual Russian diesel transition. What we're watching: It's unclear how much Russian diesel, if any, will reach U.S. shores. Reports Friday in S&P Global , Reuters and elsewhere identify a tanker that initially signaled a New York destination, while the shipping intelligence firm TankerTrackers on Friday said three tankers had signaled U.S. destinations. But ships' planned destinations frequently change for one reason or another. Sign up here for Axios' Future of Energy newsletter.

The first Russian diesel tanker headed to New York carries 40,000 tons, but a retired general says that only covers a couple hours of U.S. demand.

The Trump administration’s $8 billion relief program for farmers is throwing a lifeline to the industry, but producers are still facing lower margins due to high diesel prices amid the Iran war — and experts say the move might only buy time for solving deeper challenges. Through the initiative announced earlier this week, farmers will...

{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Trump uses DPA to give $150M for gas and diesel President Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Thursday night, announcing that the government would be spending $150 million toward boosting domestic gas and diesel production as the White House looks to ease consumer...

‘Refineries are national security and economic assets’

Aaron Lehman, president of the Iowa Farmers Union and fifth-generation farmer in Polk County, Iowa, says both diesel prices and tariffs have been devastating for farmers. Lehman says farmers have not felt that an Iowa voice has been standing up for them in Washington and says that while farmers need relief, temporary measures do not address the underlying causes of their financial strain. Lehman says agriculture has a monopoly problem that leaves farmers especially vulnerable when fertilizer supplies are disrupted. Lehman says he finds President Donald Trump's deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to lower diesel costs disturbing. He speaks with Kailey Leinz and Joe Mathieu on Bloomberg’s "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)

Czech President Petr Pavel on Tuesday said President Trump's diesel deal with Russia derailed peace talks between the Kremlin and Ukraine, saying both sides were "so close" to a ceasefire. "It will be much harder now," Pavel told the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which includes Politico. "Russia uses this momentum to get out of...

Democrats believe circumstances have aligned for them to win a slew of competitive elections in the state How will Trump’s mass deportation agenda shape the US midterm elections? Our reporters answer your questions Mary Peltola’s campaign to represent Alaska in the US Senate has taken her to parts of the massive state’s interior that are inaccessible by road and on the frontlines of the cost-of-living crisis she hopes will make her the first Democrat to win the seat in nearly two decades. She has been to towns where paper towels retail for $40, a half gallon of oat milk goes for $21 and the cost of a new freezer can be quadruple what it is in the state’s largest city, Anchorage, simply because it’s so complicated to get there. Along the Arctic Ocean, she’s heard of communities where power bills have climbed to $1,500 a month because they rely on generators for power and the Iran war has pushed the cost of diesel to new heights . Continue reading...

The rationale for Trump’s decision to allow Russian diesel shipments was to lower the prices farmers and long-haul truckers were paying ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.

President Donald Trump has blamed Ukraine for surging diesel prices that are hurting Republicans' election chances with the midterms just two weeks away.

President Donald Trump said "it's time" for Ukraine to agree to a deal with Russia on Tuesday.

The new Harvest Fuel Relief program is the latest payment to farmers squeezed by the president’s own war and tariffs.

Farmers across the United States will soon get relief from the cost of diesel, President Donald Trump said during his rally near Wichita, Kansas, on Monday evening, CBS News reported. The post WATCH: President Trump Announces $8 Billion in Relief to Help Farmers with Diesel Costs appeared first on Breitbart .

President Trump is facing backlash from Democrats and Republicans for his decision to waive certain sanctions on Russia amid a diesel deal. CBS News' Aaron Navarro reports.

The USDA said farmers don't need crop insurance to qualify and can prepare to apply by creating a Login.gov account.

President Donald Trump announced the $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief program at a Kansas rally to offset rising diesel costs for farmers during harvest season.

Under the Harvest Fuel Relief program, the Agriculture Department will provide economic aid for farmers hurt by high diesel prices.