Political Climate
Political Climate delivers an insider’s view on the most pressing policy questions in energy and climate. Through biweekly analysis and debate, the podcast explores the nuances of how policy and politics shape 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 for the latest takes from hosts Julia Pyper, Emily Domenech, and Brandon Hurlbut. Political Climate is produced by Latitude Media in partnership with Boundary Stone Partners.
Episodes
June 26, 2025 • 59 mins
U.S. grid operators braced for a surge in electricity demand and possible power outages this week as scorching temperatures hit the eastern half of the country. Heat waves are just one of the challenges facing increasingly strained electricity systems across the country, amid rapidly growing demand from data centers and a looming shortfall in supply.
On this episode of Political Climate we’re joined by Asim Haque, SVP of Governme...
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June 17, 2025 • 1 min
Dropping in with a quick update that Political Climate is pushing the release of our next full episode to next week. As our listeners know, the Senate is in the process of revising and releasing their version of the reconciliation bill that the House passed a few weeks ago. Senate Finance Committee text dropped Monday evening and there is a lot to unpack.
While there are many things we want to talk about that aren’t directly relat...
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June 2, 2025 • 43 mins
President Trump’s return to office has reignited a bold push for energy dominance — a sweeping agenda to supercharge U.S. energy production, slash regulatory red tape, and reestablish America as a powerhouse in global energy markets.
In this episode, we dive deep into what that actually means. From a wave of recent executive orders to the high-stakes reconciliation bill moving through Congress, we explore how the administration ai...
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May 19, 2025 • 48 mins
If you’re tracking the world of budget reconciliation then you know it’s crunch time as House Speaker Mike Johnson works to pass a party-line megabill by Memorial Day. House Republicans have a lot on their plates as they try to make significant spending reductions while extending tax cuts and raising the debt ceiling.
The fate of U.S. energy tax credits also hangs in the balance, as debate continues to rage around the GOP’s so-cal...
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April 9, 2025 • 3 mins
Hey Political Climate listeners, we’re jumping on to let you know that we’re taking a short recess.
The show will be back in another couple of weeks, with hosts Julia Pyper, Emily Domenech, and Brandon Hurlbut to help you understand the latest news with perspectives from across the political spectrum.
There is no shortage of activity, from tariffs to reconciliation, DOGE program cuts, and so much more. Follow Political Climate ...
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March 17, 2025 • 40 mins
As “Political Climate” marks the one-year anniversary of its re-launch, the deluge of energy sector news continues.
In today’s episode, the hosts dig into a series of recent and contentious moves from the Environmental Protection Agency—from massive power plant deregulations and an intention to undo the 2009 endangerment finding, to the termination of $20 billion in climate grants. Which of these policies could have the most impac...
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March 3, 2025 • 51 mins
In this special episode of “Political Climate,” hosts Brandon Hurlbut and Emily Domenech travel to Big Sky, Montana, to record the podcast live at the Winterfest conference. Now in its twentieth year, Winterfest brings together leaders in clean energy and finance to help move the global energy transition forward. This year the conference focused on finding solutions in a singular and difficult political moment.
To help make sense o...
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February 10, 2025 • 48 mins
Since President Trump took office on January 20, he has quickly enacted an expansive list of policies with immediate and dramatic impacts on climate and energy.
If you feel like you’re struggling to process these rapid-fire actions, you’re not alone.
Among other pursuits, the President has vowed to “terminate the Green New Deal” and paused funding for tons of clean energy projects—from offshore wind development to Solar for All an...
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January 24, 2025 • 48 mins
Amid the ongoing fires that have plagued California this month, the conversation around mitigation and prevention has accelerated.
In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by Anukool Lakhina, the CEO and co-founder of BurnBot. The company produces tank-sized robots that take in biomass, incinerate it, and extinguish it as they move. Prescribed burns are a normal part of forest management, but they typically require specific weather...
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January 13, 2025 • 43 mins
When President Biden departs the White House on January 20th, he will leave behind a nuanced and divisive legacy on climate and energy policy.
On one hand, his Administration passed the momentous Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act, which have collectively stimulated massive investment and jobs creation.
Yet IRA funds were slow to get out the door. Americans remained unaware of i...
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December 20, 2024 • 45 mins
In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by one of the most thoughtful—and occasionally controversial—voices in energy policy today.
Neil Chatterjee served on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2017 to 2021. During that time, he also served two stints as the chairman of the commission. At FERC, Chatterjee gained a reputation for his candor, as well as his divisive takes. For instance, in 2020, he embraced carbon pricing,...
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December 9, 2024 • 40 mins
In honor of the mixed assortment of Thanksgiving leftovers in our fridges, today’s episode features a grab bag of hot topics facing energy and climate policy today.
The hosts kick things off with a frank assessment of COP29, which wrapped up in Azerbaijan a few weeks ago. Members agreed to provide $300B in annual support to developing nations, but the lack of a more comprehensive pledge left many attendees concerned about the wanin...
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November 25, 2024 • 43 mins
The dust has settled on our national election, and the Republican Party has officially completed a trifecta—winning the White House and Senate, and keeping control of the House.
As a result, the GOP will have enormous power to shape energy and climate policy in the next session of Congress. While many of the specifics are still coming into focus, the House Natural Resources Committee will certainly play a central role.
In today’s...
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November 8, 2024 • 35 mins
On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was reelected in a landslide, becoming the first Republican to win the popular vote since 2004. Republicans also re-took control of the Senate, and will likely keep a majority in the House of Representatives as well.
In today’s show — which was recorded the morning after the election — the hosts unpack the results, and consider what they mean for the future of America’s clean energy sector....
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October 28, 2024 • 48 mins
The 2024 election has finally arrived. Early ballots have been mailed. The candidates are crossing the country, making their final pitches. Analysts are poring over countless polls, while tension builds.
Climate and energy didn’t surface as a central issue of this year’s presidential campaign. But the results of the race — as well as many more down-ballot — will have huge repercussions for the future of U.S. energy policy.
In tod...
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October 11, 2024 • 45 mins
With less than four months left in office, President Biden has green-lit another divisive climate-related policy.
On October 2, Biden signed the Building Chips in America Act into law. The bill allows the manufacture of microchips—like the ones in smartphones, medical devices, cars and more—to bypass federal environmental review.
The bill’s supporters hope it will drive domestic production and maximize the potential of Biden’s 202...
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September 27, 2024 • 39 mins
The team returns back from a mid-season break rested and ready to dig into a new Congressional attempt to fast-track clean energy projects.
Earlier this month, GOP Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas introduced draft legislation to overhaul the long-standing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The plan could provide critical momentum to get clean energy (and fossil fuel) projects built faster. Yet it has also caught flak from s...
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September 6, 2024 • 40 mins
In today’s episode, the Political Climate team takes us back behind the scenes of the 2024 Democratic National Convention to chat candidly with lawmakers and leading activists about some of the most pressing issues that Democrats will have to navigate after the election - no matter who occupies the Oval Office - and how they plan to tackle them.
In this episode, we’ll hear from a range of experts and leaders: from Senator Ed Markey...
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August 30, 2024 • 38 mins
In today’s episode – the first of a two-part dispatch – the Political Climate team takes us behind the scenes of the 2024 Democratic National Convention to chat candidly with lawmakers and leading activists about Democrats’ strategy for pitching climate policies in the lead up to November’s election.
Although Vice President Harris barely mentioned climate policy in her marquee speech, clean energy advocates from the public and priv...
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August 16, 2024 • 51 mins
Exactly two years ago, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. With more than $800 billion devoted to renewables, batteries, transmission, carbon removal, EVs, and the factories to build them, the bill is America’s largest-ever investment in climate solutions.
Yet the rollout of the IRA hasn’t been the smoothest. Some projects have been slow to come online, and polls show that many voters remain unaware of...
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