We know two of the biggest issues plaguing the U.S., guns and climate change, cannot be fixed on a federal level until 2021.

Because of that, Mike Bloomberg announced Tuesday that he is doubling his efforts on these two issues which have already led to half of the U.S. coal plants being closed and replaced with cleaner and cheaper energy, and 21 states having background checks for guns.

As he said in his Bloomberg Opinion op-ed, Beyond Carbon will be a grassroots effort to begin moving America as quickly as possible away from oil and gas and toward a 100 percent clean energy economy. At the heart of Beyond Carbon is the conviction that, as the science has made clear, every year matters, and we can’t wait.

We have a lot to do, and Mike has never been one to sit still.

The New York Times‘ David Leonhardt summed it up best in his piece “In Praise of Bloomberg” on Mike’s decision on 2020: “It’s a case study of putting country before self.” Read the full column here.

Follow the latest on the Beyond Carbon campaign and more at @MikeBloomberg, @BloombergDotOrg or here in my newsletter, which anyone can subscribe to at sheekeydaily.com.

Economy Today:
OECD Cuts Global Economic Outlook Again and Warns Worse May Be Ahead (Bloomberg)
The global economy is suffering more than expected from trade tensions and political uncertainty which are clouding prospects particularly in Europe, according to a gloomy report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Following Trump Tax Cut, U.S. Federal Deficit Up 77% Already in 2019 (Bloomberg)

Trade Today:
U.S. Trade Gap Surged to $621 Billion in 2018, Highest in 10 Years (Bloomberg)
Trade deficits with China, Mexico, EU have widened to records.

China Won’t Make Big Concessions on Trade Deal, Ex-Minister Says (Bloomberg)

Remember the Hanoi Summit? North Korea Rebuilding Long-Range Rocket Site, Photos Show (NBC News)
Photos taken just 2 days after the Trump-Kim Hanoi summit show rebuilding at North Korea’s operational space launch facility.

Wealth Ranking: The latest list of the world’s billionaires is out today and the top 10 are:
1 – Jeff Bezos & family at $131B
2 – Bill Gates – 96.5B
3 – Warren Buffett – 82.5B
4 – Bernard Arnault & family – 76B
5 – Carlos Slim Helu & family – 64B
6 – Amancio Ortega – 62.7B
7 – Larry Ellison – 62.5B
8 – Mark Zuckerberg – 62.3B
9 – Michael Bloomberg -55.5B (up from #11 last year)
10 – Larry Page – 50.8B

And Finally: Kylie Jenner Becomes the World’s Youngest Self-Made Billionaire (Bloomberg)

Best of Twitter.

I wanted to share some of the tweets following Mike’s announcement Tuesday:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – @TeamPelosi: “Mike Bloomberg’s candidacy would have been an important addition to the discussion about how we go forward as a country. However, Mayor Bloomberg has always made a significant difference. I know he will continue to do great things for America.”

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer – @ChuckSchumer: “Mike Bloomberg was a great mayor and would have been a strong candidate. I am certain his passion for making the country a better place will continue, albeit not as a candidate, particularly on issues like climate change, guns, and curtailing the abuses of President Trump.”

Former President of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards – @CecileRichards: “Thank you to @MikeBloomberg who has always stood up for important issues – from women’s rights to gun safety to protecting our environment. Proud to fight alongside you, today and tomorrow.”

Hillary Clinton – @HillaryClinton: “Thanks to @MikeBloomberg for deepening his commitment to progress on clean energy, the opioid epidemic, gun violence prevention, better public schools, and all the other pressing issues our feckless president won’t take action on. This is service.”

Congressman Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts – @JoeKennedy: “.@MikeBloomberg thank you for your continued advocacy and dedication to improving our country — from gun control to climate change, we’re stronger because of your leadership.”

Political commentator and former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau – @jonfavs: “This is a good piece. People will focus on his decision not to run, but Bloomberg’s commitment to retire every coal-fired plant over the next decade and move us towards 100% clean energy is laudable and urgently necessary.”

Mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto – @billpeduto: “Although @MikeBloomberg has decided not to run for President, cities around the world will continue to benefit from his leadership on issues like Climate Change, Gun Reform & Opioid Addiction. Thanks, Mike for building a global network of cities, helping one another.”

Mayor of Seattle Jenny Durkan – @MayorJenny: “Seattle and cities throughout the country will be served by the leadership of @MikeBloomberg and his continued advocacy for urgent solutions on climate change and gun safety. Look forward to continuing to work with him as we make progress on our challenges from the ground up!”

Best of late night.

“Mardi Gras is kinda weird in the year 2019. Times have changed. I’m surprised we still have ‘The Bachelor’ in the year 2019 to be honest with you, which we will, one day no doubt, look back on with shame.”
— Jimmy Kimmel

On President Trump’s tweet that the Democrats had gone “stone cold CRAZY” with investigations.

“Trump, on the other hand, is sweaty hot crazy.”
— Stephen Colbert

On President Trump’s comment that he “cooperates all the time with everybody” when he was asked if he would cooperate with the House judiciary investigation into obstruction of justice:

“He’s right, unless you count the special counsel, the F.B.I., every single Democrat, half his own cabinet and every country in the United Nations except Russia. Other than that, yes, everybody!”
— James Corden