Political Climate

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206

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Political Climate delivers an insider’s view on the most pressing questions in energy and climate. Through biweekly analysis and debate, the podcast explores the nuances of how policy and politics are shaping the energy transition in the U.S. and around the world. Political Climate goes beyond partisan echo chambers to bring you insider scoops and authentic conversations with voices from across the political spectrum – all with a healthy dose of wit. Tune in every other Monday with hosts Julia Pyper, Neil Chatterjee, and Brandon Hurlbut along with influential and insightful guests.

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June 8, 202650 min

Daniel Yergin: How Energy Made America a Superpower

As America marks its 250th anniversary, one question looms large: What made the United States an energy superpower — and what will determine whether it stays one? This week, Political Climate welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning author and S&P Global Vice Chairman Daniel Yergin for a sweeping conversation across two and a half centuries of American energy history. From the birth of the oil industry and the rise of the automobile to the shale revolution, AI-driven electricity demand, and the race for critical minerals, Yergin connects the turning points that shaped the modern economy — and the ones unfolding right now. The conversation also explores why the current Strait of Hormuz crisis has been less disruptive than many feared, how the shale boom transformed America’s geopolitical position, and why innovation has consistently been the country’s greatest competitive advantage. Along the way, the team digs into: 4:28 - 250 years of energy: key inflection points 7:41 - Regulation and markets: the shale revolution, peak oil, and climate action 13:52 - America becomes a net gas exporter 18:50 - The biggest misses in energy markets today 23:02 - Crisis in the Persian Gulf 24:16 - Challenges with the energy transition 27:44 - America's innovative mindset 30:19 - AI, affordability, and the coming electricity boom 37:45 - Copper, critical minerals, and the new supply chain race 41:17 - How to win on personnel and policy 46:40 - Middle East conflict: a 1970s redux? If the last 250 years were defined by fossil fuels, energy security, and entrepreneurship, what will define the next 250? Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions. Subscribe to catch all of our latest episodes! Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others find the show. Visit ⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠ to sign up for our soon returning newsletter. Political Climate is hosted by Julia Pyper, Neil Chatterjee, and Brandon Hurlbut. This episode was produced by Bruno Falcon.

May 25, 202651 min

The Year of Permitting Reform? Sen. Armstrong Makes the Case

Permitting reform has stalled in Congress for years — but a newly appointed senator with three decades of energy industry experience and nothing to prove politically may be in a position to finally help get it done. Senator Alan Armstrong (R-OK) came to Washington in March with a single priority — meaningful permitting reform — and under a year to achieve it. Both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge that America’s infrastructure approval process is too slow and costly, and yet major reform efforts have repeatedly failed. Could this be the year that changes? On this episode, Sen. Armstrong addresses the policy substance behind the politics, including past sticking points and what a workable path forward might actually look like. He joins hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee to discuss NEPA reform and judicial review, the fight over pipelines versus transmission lines, and why fossil fuel and clean energy developers are increasingly aligned on what needs to change. Also this episode, energy investor and strategist Steve McBee on his latest venture: Amped, a new initiative focused on rebuilding the political power of the clean energy industry. Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, a leading conservative clean energy advocacy organization working to accelerate American innovation and reduce global energy emissions. This episode was produced by Bruno Falcon. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Visit www.politicalclimatepodcast.com for more!

May 11, 202657 min

Governors vs. Rising Power Bills

Electricity prices are rising across America — and governors are scrambling to respond. From California to Pennsylvania to Virginia, states are experimenting with dramatically different approaches to lowering power bills: taking on utility monopolies, freezing rate hikes, reforming electricity markets, accelerating new generation, and pushing data centers to pay their own way. On this episode of Political Climate, we unpack why energy affordability has become one of the hottest political issues heading into the 2026 midterms, what state leaders are doing about it, and whether or not their strategies will work. Hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee break down: 11:44 - Energy affordability in the California governor's debate 17:42 - PA Gov. Shapiro rails against the “broken” utility business model 26:14 - States demand PJM market reforms 31:53 - Virginia's energy affordability package 34:05 - A mix of strategies from Connecticut to Kentucky to Arizona and beyond 42:30 - AI data center cost drivers and state responses 52:13 - Energy affordability and the 2026 election Plus: the team kicks off with a discussion on the geopolitical fallout from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and what it means for energy and cleantech. Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions. Subscribe to catch all of our latest episodes! And head on over to ⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠ to sign up for our soon returning newsletter.

April 27, 202643 min

Grid Utilization: Unlocking the Cheapest Megawatt in America

What if the fastest, cheapest fix for America’s power grid is hiding in plain sight? On this episode of Political Climate, we dive into grid utilization — and how to unlock the massive untapped potential of a system that operates at just ~50% capacity (as Secretary Wright noted just last month). With Ian Magruder (founder and executive director of the Utilize Coalition) and guest co-host Hillary O’Brien (managing director of clean power at ClearPath) we explore how solutions such as advanced transmission technologies and virtual power plants can unlock hundreds of gigawatts and deliver $100+ billion in savings — plus the policy changes needed to scale them. At a moment of surging demand, is there really a debate between building more or finally using what we already have better? Episode highlights: 1:38 - Roundup: SF Climate Week, cybersecurity & Chinese EVs on TikTok 9:12 - The case for grid utilization 14:47 - Companies to watch in the utilization space 17:18 - The "build" versus "use" debate 25:25 - Speed to power with DOE's $1.9 billion SPARK program 28:38 - Policy action to accelerate grid innovation & VA case study 39:20 - Better grid use transcends political divides Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions. Subscribe to catch all of our latest episodes! And head on over to ⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠ to sign up for our soon returning newsletter.

April 13, 202656 min

Will EVs Surge Amid Iran Oil Shocks?

Gas prices are spiking as the Iran war disrupts global oil markets — so will this be the moment that finally supercharges EV adoption in the U.S.? This week on Political Climate, we explore how past energy shocks have driven policy shifts aimed at greater energy diversification — and whether history is repeating itself, only with new stakes. Avery Ash, CEO of Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE), joins the show to discuss how geopolitics, consumer behavior, and technological advancements are colliding at a pivotal moment. Does the U.S. need a more strategic, policy-driven approach to energy security in an era of rising conflict and global competition? Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions. Subscribe to catch all of our latest episodes! And head on over to ⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠ to sign up for our soon returning newsletter.

March 31, 202656 min

Win or Learn: Shane Battier on Energy’s March Madness Moment

March was defined by blown predictions, resilience, wins, losses, and last-minute turnarounds—and not just in college basketball. In many ways, those same forces are shaping the energy sector today. Shane Battier—NCAA champion at Duke in 2001 and two-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat—knows a thing or two about performing under pressure. Now, he’s bringing that playbook to cleantech. In this episode of Political Climate, we sit down with Shane to talk about what March Madness can teach us beyond the court. Then, we shift gears to break down some of the latest developments across the energy landscape, including: 21:45 - Key takeaways from CERA Week 30:40 - Powering AI: contrasting projects from Google and SB Energy 33:11 - New efforts to boost grid utilization— not just build out 38:02 - A surprising coal comeback in Alaska an beyond 43:14 - vWhy the U.S. is paying TotalEnergies $1 billion to abandon offshore wind plans 48:24 - A Democratic bid to lower costs by restoring tax clean energy tax credits From the Final Four to the future of the grid—this episode covers the strategies, setbacks, and big bets shaping energy today. Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions. Subscribe to catch all of our latest episodes! And head on over to ⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠ to sign up for our soon returning newsletter.

March 12, 202657 min

Energy Shocks: Iran, AI, and the 2026 Midterms

Energy is back at the center of politics. From war in the Middle East disrupting oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz to AI-driven data centers sending U.S. power demand soaring, energy policy is shaping the road to the 2026 midterms. In the first episode back from a break, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee sit down with Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) and former Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) at the Winterfest conference to discuss: How conflict in the Middle East is rattling energy markets and American consumers — and whether it could strengthen the case for clean energy. How to protect ratepayers as AI data centers push up electricity demand and power prices — and who will own the affordability debate. Why some conservatives are warming to solar — and whether clean energy companies are getting more politically savvy. Plus, some podcast news! Political Climate has partnered with ClearPath, a leading conservative clean energy advocacy organization focused on advancing American energy innovation while reducing global emissions. To kick things off, Julia speaks with ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell. Subscribe for smart conversations at the intersection of energy, climate, markets, and politics.

December 19, 202556 min

Unpacking a Volatile Year in Climate and Energy

2025 has been one of the most turbulent years on record for U.S. climate and energy policy. The One Big Beautiful Bill is in; the Inflation Reduction Act is out. Clean energy grants have been canceled, permits delayed, and federal priorities reshuffled. At the same time, electricity demand is surging, consumers are worried about affordability, and trade disputes are disrupting supply chains. Amid all this volatility, has the clean energy transition stalled? To help make sense of it all, we’re joined by Jane Flegal, Executive Director of the Blue Horizons Foundation and former member of the Biden White House climate policy team, who brings a rare perspective spanning academia, philanthropy, government, and the private sector. In this episode, we step back to assess the major forces shaping climate and energy today and in the months ahead—including the federal policy reset, the AI-energy nexus, and contentious geopolitics. Plus, how advocacy needs to evolve in light of these shifts. Together with Jane, we unpack lessons learned from a wild year in climate and energy—and make some bold predictions about where we're headed next. *** Political Climate is hosted by Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut and Neil Chatterjee. Bruno Falcon is the show's producer. Check out redesigned website at www.politicalclimatepodcast.com and be sure to follow the show wherever you like to listen. The podcast will be taking a couple month hiatus in early 2026 while one of our hosts is on maternity leave. But we’ll be back again with new episodes soon!

December 9, 202558 min

Inside the American Energy + AI Initiative

A hyperscaler, an energy developer, and a government official walk into a room. It’s not a joke — it’s the new reality as the U.S. scrambles to lead the global race for AI dominance. As frontier AI companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic push for fast, clean, and reliable energy at unprecedented scale, policymakers are racing to understand how America’s grid will keep up. In this episode, we sit down with Ann Bluntzer Pullin, Executive Director of the Hamm Institute for American Energy, to explore how the new American Energy + AI Initiative is convening senior federal officials, top tech leaders, energy CEOs, investors, and academics around one urgent question: Can the U.S. build the power and infrastructure needed to meet AI’s explosive electricity demand? We dig into the risks of getting it wrong — from grid instability to higher energy costs — and the opportunities for America to strengthen both its AI leadership and its energy system. If the U.S. can get the AI-energy equation right, the economic and strategic payoff could be enormous. Before diving in, we kick off with updates on COP30, recent political leadership shakeups, and early insights from FERC’s new proposal on interconnecting large loads. The interview with Ann begins at the 22:30 mark.

November 24, 202553 min

America's Critical Minerals Crisis

Critical minerals sit at the heart of modern life—from phones and data centers to EVs, defense systems, and the power grid. Yet the U.S. remains heavily dependent on foreign supply chains for these resources that are dominated by China. In failing to develop holistic and responsible mineral supply chains the U.S. risks bottlenecks in semiconductors, defense, and clean energy. This puts both economic security and climate goals at risk, while perpetuating human rights abuses. In this episode, we discuss what counts as a “critical mineral,” why obtaining these resources is so consequential, and how U.S. policy is shifting as geopolitical pressures mount. We also explore a new biotech and machine learning approach to recovering minerals from existing mine waste with Liz Dennett, founder & CEO of Endolith. Liz explains how American-led innovation can unlock new supplies for critical minerals, such as copper, in a more efficient and sustainable manner—and why the stakes are so high for these resources today.