How a Humble Rock Could Transform Industry
Concrete is everywhere—from our homes and bridges to skyscrapers and data centers. But few people realize that the cement used to make concr...
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Political Climate
A podcast on energy and environmental issues in America and around the world. Presented by the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and Canary Media. Political Climate goes beyond echo chambers to b...
Episodes
20 of 211 episodesThe Climate Hushing Election
What do a Democratic firefighter running for Congress in Montana and a Republican educator running for Senate in Louisiana have in common? T...
The Politics of AI and Energy, with Phil Deutch
As AI accelerates and America's energy demands surge, some of the biggest questions aren't just about technology—they're about politics. In...
The Future of Energy Investing, with Phil Deutch
As America marks its 250th year, a new energy era is beginning. This week, veteran energy investor Phil Deutch, founder of NGP Energy Techno...
Inside Trump's Energy Affordability Strategy, with DOE's Alex Fitzsimmons
For years, America’s energy debate was largely about transition — what fuels to move away from and what technologies to build next. Now, a d...
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...
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 not...
Governors vs. Rising Power Bills
Electricity prices are rising across America — and governors are scrambling to respond. From California to Pennsylvania to Virginia, states...
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...
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...
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 wa...
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...
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...
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...
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. rem...
How FERC and Your Home Could Fast-Track AI Power
AI is reshaping the economy — and now it’s reshaping the electric grid. The growth of AI data centers is fueling an unprecedented spike in p...
Power Struggles: From DC to Beijing
As the U.S. government enters its fourth week of shutdown, the fallout is spreading far beyond Washington. Billions in clean energy and tech...
US vs China: Who's Winning the Energy Race?
When we think of the U.S.–China rivalry, headlines often focus on trade wars, Taiwan, or Artificial Intelligence. But one of the most conseq...
Shutdowns and Shakeups: What's at Stake for US Energy
With August recess behind us, Washington D.C. is gearing up for a busy fall. For many in the cleantech space – more questions than answers l...
What an 'Unapologetic Focus' on US Competitiveness Means for Climate Action
This week on Political Climate we’re live from Aspen Ideas: Climate in Chicago. We were joined by guest Greg Bertelsen, CEO of the Climate L...