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.

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!

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.

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.

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 power needs — and policymakers are scrambling for creative ways to meet it. In this episode of Political Climate, we explore two different approaches to expanding the nation’s power capacity: A novel federal initiative to fast-track large-load interconnections for data centers and other energy-hungry facilities. A bottom-up vision from Rewiring America showing how electrified homes could meet 100% of projected AI-driven demand growth — all while saving households money and strengthening the grid. At the heart of the discussion is a bold directive from Energy Secretary Chris Wright to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The proposal would establish new guidelines to expedite interconnection for large loads, especially those willing to be curtailable or co-located with dispatchable generation. The goal: speed to power, without the years of costly grid upgrades that have long stalled progress. But will this fast-track strategy position the U.S. to lead on AI innovation and clean tech competitiveness — or will FERC encounter speed bumps along the way? Hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee are also joined by Ari Matusiak, co-founder and CEO of Rewiring America. Ari explains how household electrification — from heat pumps to rooftop solar and batteries — could act as a powerful distributed solution to meet the AI era’s growing energy appetite. Topics discussed: 06:54 – D.C. Dispatch: The hosts discuss Capitol Hill updates, shutdown politics, and permitting reform. 13:48 – The Filibuster Debate: How Senate rules, party control, and institutionalism affect energy and climate policy. 20:43 – DOE’s Big Move: Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s directive to FERC to expedite large-load interconnections. 27:37 – What FERC’s Proposal Means: Neil Chatterjee explains how “speed to power” could transform AI-era grid planning. 34:31 – The Flexibility Frontier: Data centers, curtailment, and co-location—how flexibility can unlock faster power delivery. 41:26 – Rewiring America Interview: Ari Matusiak on how household electrification can meet hyperscaler demand and save consumers money. 48:20 – Politics and the Power Bill: The hosts wrap up with what rising electricity costs and AI growth mean for 2025 election politics.

As the U.S. government enters its fourth week of shutdown, the fallout is spreading far beyond Washington. Billions in clean energy and technology funding have been frozen or slashed — disproportionately in blue states — as the administration uses the budget standoff to push through parts of its policy agenda. How will the shutdown showdown end? Meanwhile, U.S.–China tensions are escalating once again. Beijing has announced new restrictions on exports of rare earth elements — critical for everything from EVs to AI — prompting President Trump to hit back with another 100 percent tariff. The rivalry between the world’s two largest economies is now reshaping global energy supply chains and the race for technological dominance. In this episode, the Political Climate team unpacks how shutdown politics, trade wars, and shifting climate rhetoric are colliding, with energy at the center of both America’s domestic and geopolitical struggles. While you're here, be sure to subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

When we think of the U.S.–China rivalry, headlines often focus on trade wars, Taiwan, or Artificial Intelligence. But one of the most consequential battlegrounds is undoubtedly energy, which underpins each economy. Who will invent, build, and export the technologies that power the 21st century? This week, Political Climate sits down with global energy policy expert Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU, to unpack the race for energy dominance. On one side, the U.S. is pumping record amounts of oil and gas, while policy momentum for low-carbon solutions has stalled although the industry has not. On the other, China is deploying solar, wind, EVs, and batteries at record scale and exporting clean energy technologies worldwide as part of a strategic plan, even as it continues to rely heavily on coal at home. So which strategy holds the upper hand? Where do the cracks appear in each country’s approach? And who is truly positioned to be the global leader on energy (and perhaps on other issues too) in the decades to come? We also kick off with a recap of recent developments in Washington, highlights from RE+ in Las Vegas, and a preview of New York Climate Week.

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 loom ahead. What is the outlook for wind and solar permitting, with renewable energy projects in the political crosshairs? Will Congress avoid a government shutdown before the end of September deadline? If not, what’s at stake? The Trump administration has frozen or cancelled hundreds grants in the climate and energy space and continues to conduct funding reviews. What’s on the chopping block? And how will shakeups at the Department of Energy affect the US technology competitiveness? In this episode, we set the table and discuss what’s on the menu in DC this fall when it comes to climate and energy policy. 03:58 Permit cancellations & prospects for reform 10:00 The electricity affordability crisis 20:42 The looming government shutdown 26:47 Federal funding cuts for clean energy 35:07 DOE program changes with Sydney Bopp 38:21 Changes at LPO & new lending programs 46:45 Impacts of a shutdown on US energy

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 Leadership Council, and former senior director of energy and resources policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, as well as a fantastic live audience.  The "energy transition” has been underway for decades. In the United States, this shift has been supported by 20 years of policy aimed at diversifying and securing the American energy system. U.S. emissions dropped by roughly 20% in that time. Now, we're entering a new inning for climate action marked by policy change, technology advancements, and increased global competition. In this episode, we discuss how an "unapologetic focus" on advancing U.S. competitiveness could be the key to continued progress on climate, while advancing U.S. priorities amid rising geopolitical tensions, increased energy demand, decreased affordability, and a fierce AI face. Much of the most important technology for realizing that success does not exist yet, which means it's a ripe area for American ingenuity and leadership. Will we seize the opportunity? To close out the show, we took a few audience questions focused on the winners and losers of this new climate future, and where we can focus our energy on building new infrastructure to ensure the most good and the most gain -- for everyone.

Now that Congress has passed and President Trump has signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we talk about the final language and what it means for the U.S. energy sector on this episode of Political Climate.  We discuss short term implications for solar and wind developers, particularly in light of a new executive order calling for new Treasury rules to strictly enforce the repeal of renewable energy tax credits. We also tackle what the OBBB means for American energy competitiveness on a global scale. Plus, a new Department of Energy report warns that blackouts could increase by 100 times in 2030 if the U.S. continues to close baseload power plants and fails to add additional firm capacity. Is the U.S facing a grid reliability crisis without coal and natural gas plants? We weigh in on the DOE report and the growing mismatch between US electricity supply and demand (for a primer, listen to our previous episode with Asim Haque, VP with grid operator PJM Interconnection).