The cartoon by Peter Kuper portrays Lee Zeldin, appointed EPA administrator in 2025, across four panels that show a progression from intact natural habitats to scenes of industrial pollution and species loss. Early panels place Zeldin amid trees, animals and an EPA emblem. Later panels show him consuming the agency logo and exhaling flames from a smokestack. The caption states that Zeldin fired scientists and advanced deregulation targeting climate and environmental statutes. The work responds to ongoing policy shifts at the agency during the second Trump administration.
A caribou in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge displays antlers spelling out thanks to Joe. The image addresses the Biden administration decision to limit oil exploration in the refuge area. The refuge has long been the focus of debate between energy development interests and conservation priorities. The visual ties the policy shift directly to the habitat protection outcome for the herd.
The image depicts a worker in safety gear using a brush to create a canvas showing oil derricks and a large dollar sign. This replaces the surrounding mountain, river and forest scene. The work responds to ongoing debates in August 2019 over expanded drilling and logging on federal lands. Such expansions raised questions about impacts to water quality, fish populations and species including the bald eagle. The visual argument centers on differing perspectives of value in natural areas.
