{"id":46076,"date":"2025-06-25T15:41:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T15:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/?p=46076"},"modified":"2025-06-26T03:45:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T03:45:16","slug":"bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/","title":{"rendered":"Bias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s easy to assume you\u2019ve got the full picture\u2014especially when headlines confirm what you already believe. But when it comes to issues like asbestos policy (yes, we\u2019re still talking about asbestos in 2025), the story is more layered than it first appears.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reading outside your bubble doesn\u2019t mean abandoning your values\u2014it means challenging assumptions, spotting blind spots, and getting closer to the full truth. Because let\u2019s be honest: if the words \u201cTrump\u201d and \u201casbestos\u201d are in the same sentence, your opinion probably loads before the page does.<\/span><\/p>\n

The basics <\/b><\/h3>\n

In March 2024,<\/span> the EPA under Biden banned chrysotile asbestos\u2014the last type of asbestos still used in the US. However, recent reports in 2025 suggest that a second Trump administration could review or reverse parts of that ban, citing potential industrial uses. Nothing\u2019s changed yet, but it\u2019s kicked off a fresh round of \u201cWait, we\u2019re still talking about asbestos?\u201d across the internet.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the left<\/b><\/h3>\n

Democratic voices have sounded the alarm, warning that reversing the asbestos ban could reignite a public health crisis. Critics <\/span>highlight<\/span><\/a> its link to cancer and point out that asbestos still kills around 40,000 Americans annually. They also <\/span>claim<\/span><\/a> this is proof that Trump will side with corporations over people, and hint at possible ties to Russia (asbestos is one of Russia\u2019s main exports).<\/span><\/p>\n

On the right <\/b><\/h3>\n

Right-leaning outlets are keeping quiet on the story. Lynn Dekleva, an official in Trump\u2019s EPA, <\/span>says<\/span><\/a> they are reassessing whether the ban on chrysotile asbestos “went beyond what is necessary to eliminate the unreasonable risk.” Defenders of asbestos argue that the naturally occurring mineral is ideal for insulating buildings and poses an insignificant risk if handled by professionals taking the necessary precautions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Compare the coverage<\/b><\/h3>\n

Both sides agree that asbestos exposure is toxic and cancer-causing. However, there is debate on how effectively you can reduce the risk of exposure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration <\/span>says<\/span><\/a> there is no \u201csafe\u201d level of exposure for any type of asbestos fiber. Exposure to asbestos for as little as a few days has caused mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>HealthLinkBC<\/span><\/a>, exposure is only possible if asbestos frays or crumbles, which causes the particles to become airborne and settle in the lungs. Which means it could potentially be used safely if it\u2019s handled carefully by trained professionals and limited to industrial settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are some cases of asbestos exposure that are beyond the control of even the pros. Aging buildings and water damage can release asbestos particles. And the process of mining it from the ground can expose people who live nearby.<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Whether you think revisiting the asbestos ban is outrageous or overdue, it\u2019s worth looking at how both sides are framing the issue\u2014and what they\u2019re leaving out. That doesn\u2019t mean all views are equally valid, but it does mean that understanding where others are coming from can sharpen your own thinking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014Alex Buscemi (abuscemi@buildersmovement.org<\/a>)<\/p>\n

We\u2019re a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization on a mission to overcome our most toxic divides.<\/span><\/em>
\nSign up<\/strong><\/a> for our FREE weekly newsletter.<\/strong><\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s easy to assume you\u2019ve got the full picture\u2014especially when headlines confirm what you already believe. But when it comes to issues like asbestos policy (yes, we\u2019re still talking about asbestos in 2025), the story is more layered than it first appears.\u00a0 Reading outside your bubble doesn\u2019t mean abandoning your values\u2014it means challenging assumptions, spotting…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":46078,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"collection_feed":[],"type_feed":[77],"class_list":["post-46076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos? - Builders<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Trump administration could reverse a Biden-era ban on the last type of asbestos still used in the US. Compare how media covered the news.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos? - Builders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Trump administration could reverse a Biden-era ban on the last type of asbestos still used in the US. Compare how media covered the news.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Builders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-25T15:41:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-26T03:45:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/asbestos.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"753\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"abuscemi\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/#\/schema\/person\/70e349194917307728e72f5f246e3d95\"},\"headline\":\"Bias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos?\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-25T15:41:15+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-26T03:45:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/\"},\"wordCount\":532,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/asbestos.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/\",\"name\":\"Bias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos? - Builders\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/asbestos.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-25T15:41:15+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-26T03:45:16+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/#\/schema\/person\/70e349194917307728e72f5f246e3d95\"},\"description\":\"The Trump administration could reverse a Biden-era ban on the last type of asbestos still used in the US. Compare how media covered the news.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/asbestos.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/asbestos.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":753},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Bias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/\",\"name\":\"Builders\",\"description\":\"Rise Above Us vs Them. Be a Builder\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos? - Builders","description":"The Trump administration could reverse a Biden-era ban on the last type of asbestos still used in the US. Compare how media covered the news.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Bias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos? - Builders","og_description":"The Trump administration could reverse a Biden-era ban on the last type of asbestos still used in the US. Compare how media covered the news.","og_url":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/","og_site_name":"Builders","article_published_time":"2025-06-25T15:41:15+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-06-26T03:45:16+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":753,"url":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/asbestos.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/"},"author":{"name":"abuscemi","@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/#\/schema\/person\/70e349194917307728e72f5f246e3d95"},"headline":"Bias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos?","datePublished":"2025-06-25T15:41:15+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-26T03:45:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/"},"wordCount":532,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/asbestos.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/","url":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/","name":"Bias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos? - Builders","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/asbestos.jpg","datePublished":"2025-06-25T15:41:15+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-26T03:45:16+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/#\/schema\/person\/70e349194917307728e72f5f246e3d95"},"description":"The Trump administration could reverse a Biden-era ban on the last type of asbestos still used in the US. Compare how media covered the news.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/asbestos.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/asbestos.jpg","width":1200,"height":753},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/06\/25\/bias-watch-is-trump-bringing-back-asbestos\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Bias Watch: Is Trump Bringing Back Asbestos?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/","name":"Builders","description":"Rise Above Us vs Them. Be a Builder","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46076"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46076\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46076"},{"taxonomy":"collection_feed","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collection_feed?post=46076"},{"taxonomy":"type_feed","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type_feed?post=46076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}