Political Climate

This summer, the United States celebrated the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Fifty years later, many people wonder: if we can get to the moon, surely we can fix the environmental issues here on Earth?

In this episode, we get NASA astronaut Scott Kelly’s perspective on fighting climate change, having seen the challenge we’re up against from the unique viewpoint of space.

Kelly has spent a whole lot of time in space — 520 days, to be exact. Upon his return from a continuous one-year mission, scientists were keen to study the impacts of spaceflight on his body, and compare the results to his identical twin, astronaut and politician Mark Kelly, who remained on Earth. Scott, meanwhile, used his time in orbit to study the impacts of humanity on the planet.

The Political Climate team sat down with Scott Kelly to discuss technology, politics and the unique perspective that traveling to space offers on the climate crisis. 

We also ask if he’d ever run for office — like his twin brother Mark, husband to former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is currently campaigning for Senate in Arizona as a Democrat.

Recommended reading:

• Newsweek: Scott Kelly Says View From Space Shows Earth Is Covered in Pollution and 'We Need Leadership to Protect It'
• NYT: Scott Kelly Spent a Year in Orbit. His Body Is Not Quite the Same.

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services! 

There were several moments of legitimate engagement on climate change at last week’s Democratic presidential debates. But did any of it resonate with voters?

In this episode, we break down the key points candidates made on stage in Detroit — from promoting direct air capture to climate justice — with help from Jigar Shah, president and co-founder of Generate Capital and co-host of the Energy Gang podcast.

Plus, top Republican pollster, Frank Luntz, gives Senate Democrats a lesson on climate change communication. We discuss the GOP strategist’s about face on climate change.

Finally, lawmakers in Ohio just passed an enormous subsidy package for coal and nuclear plants, while gutting the state’s renewable energy and efficiency standards. Utility FirstEnergy lobbied hard and helped elect allies to office to get $1.1 billion in ratepayer funds for its aging nukes. We round out the show with a look at Ohio’s controversial new law. 

Recommended reading:

• Grist: In Detroit, Democratic candidates actually did some climate debating
• Mother Jones: Joe Biden’s Climate Plan Melted During the Debate
• The Hill: Democratic senators turn to GOP for help in reaching conservatives on climate messaging
• Vox: Ohio just passed the worst energy bill of the 21st century
• Inslee profile pic

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services! 

The climate movement doesn’t have a persuasion problem; it has a turn out problem. Data reveal that environmentalists don’t show up to vote as often as the overall population in an election. 

So what gives? And could this impact races in 2020?

In this episode of Political Climate we take a hard look at how many Americans care about climate issues, and how many of those people actually vote — or don’t.

To figure this out the podcast team sat down with Nathaniel Stinnett, founder of the Environmental Voter Project, a non-partisan non-profit that identifies environmentalists across the United States and makes sure that they vote in every election.

We also discussed a new Democratic proposal to achieve 100 percent carbon neutrality by 2050. The idea was recently put forward by a group of more moderate, established Democrats rather than progressives. Is this a sign of policy alignment on the left? Or will this so-called Green New Deal alternative be a source of conflict within the party?

We recorded this show live on stage last week at the Sun Valley Forum in Ketchum Idaho. Take a listen!

Recommended reading:

• Environmental Voter Project
• ASU: House Committee Calls for Zero Greenhouse Gas Pollution by 2050
• TNR: The Democrats’ New Climate Plan Can’t Be Serious

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services! 

Billionaire hedge fund executive and environmental activist Tom Steyer is officially making a run for the White House — and putting an aggressive climate action plan at the center of his campaign.

In this episode of Political Climate, we speak with the newest contender in the 2020 Democratic primary about why he entered the crowded race, and how he plans to use "emergency powers" to combat climate change.

After the first Democratic debate it looked as though the field of presidential candidates could be thinning out. That is, until Steyer entered the race, pledging to spend $100 million on his bid.

He boosted his campaign on July 25 with the launch of a bold climate action plan — the only climate action plan to effectively address the climate crisis with the urgency that it demands, according to Steyer.

Political Climate sat down with the candidate for an in-depth interview the day after he announced his new climate policy.

Recommended reading:

• Politico: How Tom Steyer would address climate change
• PBS: What does Tom Steyer believe? Where the candidate stands on 6 issues
• Framework for a Justice-Centered Climate Plan

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services! 

What is going on in Washington D.C.? A bubbling House Democrat feud followed by a series of racially offensive presidential tweets has unleashed chaos in the U.S Capitol. Meanwhile, there’s one thing we’re not seeing much of: governing

In this episode of Political Climate we look at where we’re seeing attempts at climate action, and where we’re seeing a whole lot of climate distraction. A slate of clean energy bills have been introduced in Congress this year. Do they have any hope of passing before the 2020 election?

We also take a look at President Trump’s recent speech on the environment and the launch of a new Republican caucus on conservation. Does this prove that Republicans are seeing a real need to show leadership on the environment?

Finally, we check in on the Democratic presidential primary, which just saw billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer enter the race and momentum slide for a candidate forum of climate change. 

Recommended reading:

• GTM: Clean Energy Policy Push Faces Steep Climb Ahead of 2020 Election
• The Hill: Republicans form conservation caucus to take on environment, climate change
• Huffington Post: Fox News Cuts Into Trump Speech To Deliver A Brutal Real-Time Fact Check
• Gizmodo: Update on Our 2020 Climate Summit
• Politico: Schwarzenegger to Trump: 'You have to dial down Donald'

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services! 

Twenty Democratic presidential candidates faced off last week in the first debate of the 2020 election. It was a mixed bag — not only for the candidates, but also for climate.

There were more questions on climate change than in previous years, and yet climate issues saw just 15 minutes of airtime over the four hours the contenders were on stage. Did Democrats hit the right notes in their (brief) responses? Or did the first showing justify calls for a dedicated climate debate?

Also, who were the overall winners and losers? And are Democrats more united or divided heading into the race against President Trump?

In this week’s episode, we discuss how did candidates and climate change fared in the first round of debates.

Plus, what the heck happened in Oregon? Republican legislators fled the state last month to resist voting on a cap-and-trade bill, and then fringe right-wing militia groups said they would protect the politicians if law enforcement officials tried to bring them back. We discuss how a climate bill went off the rails and whether Democrats can ever count on Republicans to act in good faith on climate.

Recommended reading:

• Inside Climate: First 2020 Debates Spent 15 Minutes on Climate Change. What Did We Learn?
• HuffPo: Democrats To Consider Climate Debate Amid Mounting Pressure
• NYT: Biden, Recalling ‘Civility’ in Senate, Invokes Two Segregationist Senators
• NPR: Oregon GOP State Senators Go Into Hiding To Avoid A Climate Vote
• Oregon Live: How Oregon’s climate-change bill ran out of gas

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services! 

We often can’t see or feel air pollution — and yet, it is taking a toll.

Air pollution is responsible for the early deaths of some 7 million people every year, around 600,000 of who are children, according to the United Nations. In this episode, we hear stories of how people around the world are calling attention to this invisible killer.

We speak to Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, a mother campaigning to have pollution officially named as her daughter’s cause of death [3:30].

We also talk to Beth Gardiner, the author of “Choked,” a book about science, politics and personal experiences linked to pollution [12:55].

We hear from entrepreneur Romain Lacombe at Plume Labs, about his mission to map out city pollution the way that Google maps out traffic [20:00].

And we learn about how a group of women in Southern California are trying to protect their town from the real-world health impacts of online-shopping in an interview with Grist reporter Justine Calma [28.05].

Recommended reading:

• BBC: Ella Kissi-Debrah: New inquest into girl's 'pollution' death
• Choked: Life and Breath in the Age of Air Pollution
• Bloomberg: This Wearable Pollution Monitor Detects How Dirty Your Air Is
• Grist: The town that online shopping built — and women are trying to save

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

Democrats are dominating the public dialogue on climate change. That is just a fact. It’s part of their party platform in a way that it’s simply not for Republicans. And yet, things aren’t entirely black and white — or blue and red.

In this episode, we look at a range of Republican views on climate issues, from flat out denialism to reticent acceptance to legitimate climate commitments.

We discuss President Trump’s replacement for Obama’s Clean Power Plan, we look at new polling numbers that show Republican voters are concerned about their party’s stance on climate change, and we dig into conservative alternatives to the Green New Deal.

The Republican Party stance on climate change is shifting — but will any conservative climate proposals actually address the issue?

We sit down with former six-term South Carolina Congressman Bob Inglis, a thought leader of the eco-right, to get his take is on the current state of American politics and hear how he’s continuing to advance a conservative climate platform through his non-profit RepublicEN.

Recommended Reading:

• The Hill: Addressing Climate Change Is A Win For Republicans - Why Not Embrace It?
• GTM: Trump Administration Finalizes Revamp of Obama-Era Coal Rule
• The Hill: GOP Pollster Luntz: Majority Of Younger Republicans Worried By Party Stance On Climate Change
• Third Way: The New Climate Consensus
• E&E News: GOP Ready To “Cross The Rubicon” On Climate - Graham
• Matt Gaetz: Addressing Climate Change Through A Green Real Deal
• Greentech Media: A Divided Climate Means We All Lose
• RepublicEN

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

We are losing the fight against climate change, warns UN Secretary General António Guterres.

Even if countries were on track to meet their Paris Agreement goals — which they’re not — the world would experience catastrophic levels of warming by the end of the century.

But there are still signs of hope.

In this episode Political Climate, we discuss the state of global climate action with Mr. Guterres in an interview recorded last week at the R20 Austrian World Summit in Vienna.

Plus, Republicans attack their own on climate policy, while Democratic presidential hopefuls Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren roll out bold climate change plans. We begin the show with a check-in on U.S. politics.

Recommended reading:

• Axios: Paris + 2: Climate jolted faster than projected
• E&E: GOP criticizes its own on climate
• NYT: What Biden’s Climate Plan Shows About the Democratic Field
• FP: China Rises in U.N. Climate Talks, While U.S. Goes AWOL

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg was all alone when she started protesting the lack of political action on climate change last year outside of the Swedish parliament. Today, climate strikes inspired by Thunberg are drawing out more than 1 million young people around the world. But as she tells Political Climate: the fight is “not over yet.”

This week’s podcast was recorded at the R20 Austrian World Summit in Vienna, where former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger teamed up with Thunberg to call attention to the climate crisis. We sit down with Schwarzenegger to get his reaction to meeting Greta. Plus, we speak with the 16-year-old Swedish protester about her advice to climate activists in the U.S.

We also discuss takeaways from the recent EU Parliament elections, where Green Party members saw big gains in some of Europe’s largest countries. Could these results foreshadow a green wave in the next U.S. election?

Recommended reading:

• WaPo: Teen activist Thunberg urges leaders to admit climate crisis
• Guardian: European elections: triumphant Greens demand more radical climate action
• YouTube: Greta Thunberg Joins Arnold Schwarzenegger & More To Deliver Speeches On Climate

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast. 

The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, which comes with both opportunities and risks.

Climate change is opening up new shipping routes and increasing access to fossil fuel reserves, while also threatening ecosystems and fueling geopolitical tensions. Are we approaching the end of the polar peace zone?

Earlier this month, the Arctic Council met in Finland to frame a collaborative agenda on economic development and environmental protection. But for the first time since the Council’s inception, participants failed to sign a joint declaration after the U.S. refused to accept language on climate change — sparking fury and confusion.

In this episode, we speak with Retired Rear Admiral David Titley (9:45), meteorology professor at Penn State University, about the consequences of a warming Arctic.

We also talk to Malte Humpert (28:35), founder of The Arctic Institute, about the significance of the Pompeo’s statements and takeaways from the latest Arctic Council summit.

Plus, we discuss if there’s any chance of seeing climate policy pass in an infrastructure bill and co-host Brandon Hurlbut celebrates his first semi-viral tweet. As always, Political Climate ends with our segment called “Say Something Nice,” where our Democrat and Republican co-hosts have to say something redeeming about the opposing political party (43:00).

Tweet us your feedback on this episode @Poli_Climate!

Recommended Reading:

• Reuters: US sinks Arctic accord due to climate change differences
• The Atlantic: The Next ‘South China Sea’ Is Covered In Ice
• The Inquirer: Our transportation plan will improve infrastructure and tackle climate change
• The Hill: Markey releases infrastructure suggestions that align with Green New Deal goals
• Brandon Hurlbut goes viral

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast. 

House Democrats disinvited former Congressman Carlos Curbelo from a climate change hearing this week, just days before the Florida Republican was scheduled to testify. Did the Dems prioritize politics over finding climate solutions?

In this episode we're joined by Curbelo, a strong advocate for a national carbon tax, to get his view of what happened (15:15). Plus co-hosts Shane Skelton and Brandon Hurlbut spar over what this political play says about the future of climate action in the U.S. 

We also delve into reports of Joe Biden’s “middle ground” climate plan. Reuters says Biden plans to "appeal to both environmentalists and the blue-collar voters who elected Donald Trump.”

The former Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate has yet to officially release a climate platform, but the backlash has already begun — including from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Recommended Reading:

• Reuters: Presidential hopeful Biden looking for a ‘middle ground’ on climate policy
• ABC: Ocasio-Cortez attacks Biden on climate change policy, Biden says he's 'never been middle of the road'
• The Hill: Dems cancel plans to bring in Republican as climate change witness
• Washington Examiner: Landmark hearing exposes climate change gulf among Republicans and Democrats
• Former Congressman Curbelo’s testimony

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast. 

Democrats came together last week to present a united front on tackling climate change, but will it matter before 2020?

Political Climate speaks with Representative Kathy Castor (FL-D) on the passage of HR 9, the first meaningful climate change bill to pass the House of Representatives in nearly a decade. We find out why passing a bill to keep the U.S. in the Paris climate agreement was an important political move, despite zero chance of getting it past the self-proclaimed “Grim Reaper” Mitch McConnell.

Also, we revisit the scuffle between Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke and the youth-led climate activist group The Sunrise Movement. In a quick turnaround, Sunrise walked backed their critique of Beto’s climate action plan, while Beto signed on to the "No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge." Is this a kumbaya moment or egg on their faces?

Not to be outdone by O'Rourke, fellow presidential hopeful, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, presented part one of his “Climate Mission” plan last week. Political Climate discusses the details and whether Biden will offer up his own climate change plan now that he’s entered the race.

Recommended Reading:

• Roll Call: House Passes Climate Bill With Few Republican Backers
• Slate: Why The Left Needs More Climate In-Fighting
• Earther: How Students Convinced Beto O’Rourke To Stop Taking Fossil Fuel Money
• Vox: Jay Inslee Promised Serious Climate Policy and He’s Delivering

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast. 

Democratic Presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke unveiled a comprehensive climate change plan this week that seeks to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the U.S. by 2050. The $5 trillion proposal is the most detailed climate plan announced by a 2020 presidential candidate to date.

But the policy wasn't even a day old when the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led climate group backing the progressive Green New Deal, slammed O'Rourke for not being more ambitious.

O'Rourke isn't the only Democratic politician to face criticism for his climate plan in recent days. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also saw pushback over his Green New Deal plan for the city.

On this week’s episode of Political Climate, we look at how green Democrats need to be to win support from progressive members of their own party. Is this type of in-fighting a genius political strategy to push the envelope on what’s possible? Or will it end up muddling plans to address climate change?

Recommended reading:

• The Atlantic: Why Beto’s Climate Plan Is So Surprising
• The Hill: Group backing Green New Deal blasts O'Rourke's climate plan
• Streetsblog: Garcetti’s Green New Deal for Los Angeles Under Attack for Being Too Car-Centric
• Bloomberg: Ex-Trump Aide Who Backed Paris Accord to Join House Panel, Sources Say
• NYTimes: We Asked the 2020 Democrats About Climate Change (Yes All of Them). Here Are Their Ideas.
• Axios: What Biden and Beto just told us about the 2020 climate fight

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast. 

The Green New Deal is all over the news these days. But how did it get there?

Efforts to reform the U.S. economy in a more sustainable and equitable way didn't start with the introduction of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal resolution. And they certainly don't end there.

In this episode, Political Climate sits down with Green New Deal architects Rhiana Gunn-Wright, Demond Drummer and Zach Exley for an in-depth interview on the sweeping -- and evolving -- plan to address both climate change and economic inequality.

What can the climate movement learn from the original New Deal and World War II mobilization? Is there a viable alternative to the neoliberal policy model? Can progressive Democrats ever work with Republicans? We discuss all of this and more in a candid conversation (starts 21:00) with Gunn-Wright, Drummer and Exley, who currently lead the progressive policy shop New Consensus.

Plus, what does rapper and comedian Lil Dicky have in common with AOC? We kick off this episode with a look at two influential climate videos making their way around the Internet.

Recommended reading:

• Lil Dicky -- "Earth"
• The Intercept: A Message From the Future With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
• E&E: Meet the scholar crafting the 'Green New Deal'
• GTM: Green New Deal Resolution Calls for 100% ‘Clean, Renewable and Zero-Emission Energy Sources’

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast. 

What do bodybuilding and gerrymandering have to do with the fight against climate change? Arnold Schwarzenegger explains in an exclusive Political Climate interview.

The former California governor and global environmental leader has been tackling the related issues of climate change and pollution for years by working across the political aisle. In this episode (13:30), Schwarzenegger explains why he still believes in working with people of all political stripes.

The show kicks off with a look at recent headlines, including the clash between former Secretary of State John Kerry and Rep. Thomas Massie over climate science. Plus, Democratic Senators introduce a carbon pricing bill. We ask: is this an effective political strategy?

Recommended reading:

• Vox: Viral John Kerry-Thomas Massie exchange over climate
• NYT: The Problem With Putting a Price on the End of the World
• E&E: Whitehouse, Schatz float latest version of carbon fee bill
• The Hill: Schwarzenegger teams up with Holder to 'terminate' gerrymandering
• LA Times: Here’s why Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kevin de León are teaming up on climate change
• Schnapps

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast. 

Political Climate is back after a four-month hiatus. Did we miss anything?

Well, there was the Green New Deal resolution and launch of the new House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. There was also the introduction of a Republican-backed clean energy plan and the kickoff of a climate-centric presidential election. So there’s that.

In this episode, the Political Climate co-hosts catch up on the latest headlines. Plus, the podcast makes some news of its own!

Recommended reading:

• Slate: Why the Green New Deal Rollout Was Kind of a Mess
• Axios: Democrats vote "present" as Green New Deal fails Senate test
• Newsweek: Here's How the Green New Deal Compares to a Proposed Republican Climate Plan — The Green Real Deal
• The Hill: Newly-formed House climate panel holds first hearing
• Axios: Green New Deal: Where the 2020 presidential candidates stand
• Vox: Nancy Pelosi is trying to force Trump to return the US to the Paris climate agreement
• Political Climate

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast. 

The Political Climate partial shutdown comes to an end on April 8. Climate politics are evolving rapidly as the 2020 election looms large. The bipartisan podcast team will be back to discuss all of the latest twists and turns in an exciting new season.

Is there a bipartisan path forward on meaningful climate policy in America? If so, what does it look like?

Those are questions we’ve been grappling with on Political Climate this entire podcast season. Now we’re putting them — point blank — to our Democrat and Republican co-hosts.

This is our solutions show, and our final episode for 2018.

We kick it off with a rundown of the latest news headlines and issues to watch heading into the new year, including a coal-friendly Democrat taking a top spot on the Senate Energy and Committee, a new carbon fee and dividend bill, and a big utility’s voluntary 100 percent clean energy target.

Then the pressure is on co-hosts Brandon and Shane to share their climate policy solutions (21:30). We get both a big picture vision and specifics around what they think decision-makers can get done in the coming years. Plus, a cameo from the Governator.

We wind down show by reflecting on our takeaways from Season One of this bipartisan podcasting effort, where things get a little personal (47:50).

Then, as always, we cap it all off with our “Say Something Nice” segment — where our Democrat and Republican co-hosts have to say something redeeming about the opposing political party.

This is our last podcast of the year, but this doesn’t have to be goodbye! You can always catch up on previous episodes you may have missed, featuring interviews with Senator Martin Heinrich, Top Trump EPA official Mandy Gunasekara, Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, and many other decision-makers and thought leaders in climate and energy.

Then look out for a whole new season in 2019! Thank you for listening.

Recommended reading:

• NYT: Joe Manchin Faces Liberal Opposition in Bid to Be Energy Panel’s Top Democrat
• Bloomberg: Bipartisan Climate Fee Backers to Plant Flag During Lame Duck
• GTM: Xcel Energy Commits to 100% Carbon-Free Electricity by 2050
• Vox: US climate politics just got even more polarized. Here’s how Democrats can move forward.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via ApplePodcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

The Sunrise Movement over a blue wave.

It sounds like a tropical scene, but it was actually the state of affairs last week on Capitol Hill.

As Democrats prepare to take control of the House in 2019, a group of young activists — backed by Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — have put climate change front and center on the post-election agenda. And on protest signs right in front of Nancy Pelosi’s office door, as she seeks to become the next House speaker.

In this episode of Political Climate, we discuss how established Democrats are responding to pressure from left to act on climate. And we speak with a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement about the group’s quest to establish a Select Committee on a Green New Deal.

Plus, how did the 2018 midterms ultimately shake out? Things have changed quite a bit since our previous episode. We end, as always, with our “Say Something Nice” segment.

Recommended reading:

• Green New Deal
• New Yorker: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nancy Pelosi, and the Democratic Battles to Come in 2019
• NYT: ‘Message of Change’: 16 Rebel Democrats Vow to Oppose Pelosi
• Washington Examiner: Defiant in defeat, Carlos Curbelo says climate change activism will help GOP

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via ApplePodcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.