Tik Root, Grist

Tik Root is a senior staff writer at Grist, covering climate solutions and economics. He started his career as a freelance journalist in Yemen, and has since covered everything from Al Qaeda to the Olympics for outlets such as National Geographic, The New York Times, and The Atlantic, among others. He previously worked at The Washington Post and Scripps News. Tik lives in Vermont with his wife and son.

The Latest from Tik Root, Grist

Electric vehicles

Your gas car works fine. Consider an EV anyway.

Swapping your gas car for an electric vehicle is a climate win in almost all cases, says a new study, which even “tipped the scales” against EVs.

By Tik Root, Grist . 14 August 2026
Clean energy supply chain

The year the US doubled down on critical minerals

Trump took unusual steps in 2025 to strengthen American control over a supply chain crucial to many industries — and to the clean energy transition.

By Tik Root, Grist, Anita Hofschneider, Rebecca Egan McCarthy . 26 December 2025
Electrification

Americans like home electrification — but also still love their gas stoves

Less than one-third of Americans want a fully electric home. That number jumps to 60 percent if they can keep cooking with gas.

By Tik Root, Grist . 11 December 2023
EV charging

Are EV chargers a cybersecurity risk?

Hackers have already tampered with the machines, so far in ways that are relatively innocuous. But experts warn it could get much worse.

By Tik Root, Grist . 17 July 2023