The EPA Just Ended Summer Blend Requirements Early on Trump’s Order, So Gas Prices Are About to Drop
President Trump is making new moves this week to address key affordability issues for all Americans.
Earlier Thursday, he issued an executive order to lift tariffs on imports of beef as prices edge near $7 a pound. The move is a 90-day pause to get beef prices back down and give American farmers more time to grow their herds after they were decimated by Bidenflation for nearly four years. Now, Trump’s working on getting gasoline prices back down.
The EPA announced Thursday that beginning September 1, it will allow E10 gasoline to be sold at a higher Reid Vapor Pressure — effectively ending the costly summer-blend fuel requirement two weeks early. The temporary waiver will free up hundreds of thousands of additional barrels of gasoline per day for American drivers. It will also override stricter state-level summer-blend rules in California, Texas, and Arizona for up to 20 additional days.
Translation: more gas in the supply chain, coming faster than the regulatory calendar would normally allow. Supply goes up. Prices go down. It’s not complicated — but it requires a president and an EPA administrator willing to cut through the red tape that inflates energy costs for no good reason.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said it plainly: “President Trump has prioritized ensuring American families have affordable gasoline and energy. Throughout this administration, EPA has taken decisive action like issuing RVP waivers to provide relief at the pump and fortify our gasoline supply chain. Today, we continue this work with our federal partners to increase supply and lower gas prices for all Americans.”
DOE Secretary Chris Wright added: “Increasing the supply of gasoline means lower prices for American families. Today’s action is another example of this Administration using every available tool to cut red tape, increase the supply of gasoline, and lower prices at the pump.”
Here’s what’s worth understanding about the summer-blend requirement and why ending it early matters. Federal regulations require refineries to produce a more expensive, lower-volatility blend of gasoline from June through mid-September — designed to reduce summertime smog. The intent has merit. The cost is real: summer-blend gasoline is more expensive to produce, reduces overall supply, and raises pump prices every summer. When the EPA lifts the RVP restriction early, refineries can immediately transition to the cheaper winter blend, supply expands, and the price at the pump reflects it.
California has the most restrictive summer-blend requirements in the country — no surprise, given that Gavin Newsom’s regulatory apparatus seems designed to make energy as expensive as possible for the residents he claims to represent. The EPA waiver overrides California’s extended summer restrictions, which is precisely the kind of federal preemption that makes Sacramento Democrats furious but Californians’ wallets slightly less empty.
This is the third major consumer price action in a single week: ground beef down 25% via a 90-day tariff waiver, drug prices at a 60-year record low, and now gasoline supply expanded by executive action. Add it to the 2026 economic record alongside record-low unemployment claims, 83,000 construction workers building factories, and the largest tax cut in American history.
Democrats called all of this impossible and voted against the legislative framework that enabled it. More supply. Lower prices. Fewer regulations. America First in action.
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
Iran TV Airs Sick Threat Against Barron Trump, Reports of $10M Bounty
Iranian state media aired an insane video about killing Barron Trump, along with reporting a $10 million bounty on his head ... and it's sure to get President Donald Trump's attention.
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CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Video: Iran TV Broadcasts Disturbing Threat Against Barron Trump, Reports $10M Bounty
The "Where to kill Barron Trump" clip says Barron's movements are being "fully monitored" while he's attending New York University ... and claims Barron's accounts for Xbox and Discord have been hacked.
The video goes into depth about what Barron wears ... and what his bodyguards wear. It also alleges his travel habits.
Per reports, the f-ed-up video is tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ... and it's a big-time escalation in the threats coming out of Iran toward Trump as the war rages on.
The chilling video aired amid Trump ratcheting up pressure on Iran to finally crack ... his latest measure, dubbed "economic D-Day,” is meant to cripple Iran's economy.
The video might just be a BS scary tactic ... but it's still pretty freaking unnerving for the 20-year-old college student.
Chaos around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s future as ‘six month plan’ revealed
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are just days away from relocating back to Britain with their children.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be relocating back to the UK in a matter of days, however, they may not actually be staying here permanently. Just last week, it was reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, alongside their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will be moving back to Britain.
It was reported that the children had already been enrolled on British schools, with the exact name and location of the school not revealed. It was also reported that the family would live in a private, non-royal residence, with the location kept private for security reasons. The motive behind the move was not reported.
While many think this means the Sussex family will be back in the UK - the country they once criticised very publicly - someone close to the couple has revealed that it could actually only be temporary.
The source told The Times: “It’ll be an extended period of time — it could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more — I don’t think even they know yet.
“They might suddenly go: ‘Why don’t we try Canada for a while? Why don’t we try Australia?’ It’s one of the great things about being private individuals [that they can live where they choose].”
The family has spent the last six years living in Montecito, California (Image: Instagram / @meghan)
Harry and Meghan themselves have not released a statement on their upcoming move back to Harry’s home country.
Rumours have been swirling about why they are relocating, with some people believing it is due to Harry’s desire to be close to King Charles.
Other reports suggest that Meghan has been offered an acting role based in Britain, although there is no official confirmation.
The family are reportedly set to fly over from California before the end of August, allowing the children to settle before they start at their new school. It has been reported that the family will keep their Montecito home in America, and their Portugal holiday home. It has also been reported that the family's chickens will stay at the Montecito home, while the family's two dogs are expected to fly over to the UK with them.
