250 Years of American Power, Fully Charged
As America hits its 250th birthday, here’s a question worth thinking about: how did the U.S. become a global superpower? Energy is a huge part of that story.
And that leads to a real cliffhanger: how does America stay competitive?
On the Political Climate podcast, we’ve been chasing these questions with a bipartisan lens since day one back in 2018. This year, with support from ClearPath, we’re going even deeper on the timely, high-stakes topics where energy and the environment meet policy and politics — both on the podcast feed and now in this freshly revamped newsletter.
So, hit subscribe to follow along. Then crack open an ice cold something and cheers to the next 250 years!
Understanding American Energy Competitiveness
We think a lot about the forces shaping the future of energy on Political Climate. There’s a lot to celebrate as America hits its 250th milestone. But we’re also at an inflection point.
How the country tackles energy and climate challenges is anything but settled. Geopolitics are shifting, technology is evolving fast, economies are volatile, demand for natural resources is surging, and the environment is under real strain. It’s a moment to learn from the past — and prepare for what’s next.
To that end, we have highlighted four engaging episodes worthy of a summer podcast playlist:
🎧 Energy Shocks: Iran, AI, and the 2026 Midterms
ClearPath’s Jeremy Harrell helped kick off our 2026 season by laying out the stakes for U.S. energy and climate leadership — from conflict in the Middle East to AI’s growing power demand to the midterms ahead.
“The U.S. has to go on offense. In the end, we have to get out of our own way. We have to drive forward and make smart investments in these [clean] technologies. We need to see them throughout the innovation pipeline… And at the moment, we’re not up to that task.” — Jeremy Harrell
🎧 What an “Unapologetic Focus” on US Competitiveness Means for Climate
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 nation’s energy system along with decarbonization. Now, we're entering a new inning for climate action. In this episode, recorded live at Aspen Ideas Climate 2025, we discuss how an "unapologetic focus" on advancing U.S. competitiveness is key to continued progress on climate, while advancing U.S. priorities amid rising geopolitical tensions. Featuring guest Greg Bertelsen, CEO of the Climate Leadership Council.
Political Climate is returning to Chicago in 2026 for another live episode recording at Aspen Ideas Climate on July 20-23. We hope to see you there!
🎧 Daniel Yergin: How Energy Made America a Superpower
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and CERAWeek founder Daniel Yergin — one of the world’s leading energy historians — traces a century of energy decisions that shaped American power over the past 250 years. Plus, Yergin’s views on our energy future. This conversation with one of the sector’s titans is not to be missed.
🎧 Will EVs Surge Amid Iran Oil Shocks?
Avery Ash, CEO of Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), joined us to discuss what oil volatility from the Iran conflict means for oil, electrification, and EV adoption. The Strait of Hormuz closure has provided a crude awakening… pun intended. We discuss what energy security truly means and why it’s arguably more important than ever.
“There’s certainly a historical track record in the U.S. of oil price shocks leading to policy changes... I think there is that opportunity for that conversation right now.” — Avery Ash
Find all episodes on the Political Climate website ⤵️
Just Tuning In? Welcome!
Excuse us. We should have introduced ourselves. If you’re new to the show, we’re thrilled that you’re here.
Political Climate delivers insider scoops and authentic debates on the most consequential energy and climate issues in the U.S. and the world at large. These issues touch nearly every facet of life, from what consumers pay every month on their utility bill, to jobs and economic growth, to how countries position themselves geopolitically.
The podcast offers the kind of behind-the-curtain analysis you typically only get over a drink. This newsletter is the next chapter: a place to surface the threads our hosts and guests can’t fully unspool in a single episode, and connect the headlines to the policy underneath them.
Meet the team driving the conversation:
In 2026, Political Climate returned to the airwaves with support from ClearPath, a conservative clean energy advocacy organization, championing a pragmatic energy and climate strategy grounded in innovation, national security, and economic independence. With this partnership, the podcast maintains editorial independence while benefiting from the ClearPath team’s deep expertise to drive meaningful dialogue
Three insiders. Two parties. One unusually honest conversation.
Press play and let us know what you think! You can send us a direct message here. Reach out on LinkedIn. Or write us a Spotify or Apple Podcast review.
Celebrate the Breakthroughs That Powered America
Want to see just how far American ingenuity has come? Check out ClearPath’s America 250 project for the full story. Steam engines. The electric lamp. Nuclear power plants. Carbon dioxide pulled straight from the air. It’s a remarkable run of breakthroughs — and the story is far from over.
So what’s next? ClearPath puts it simply: “We must recommit to what made America great,” betting that bold investment in breakthrough technologies keeps the next 250 years of energy innovation stamped “Made in America.”
This July 4th, take a trip back through the breakthroughs that got us here — then let’s go together and build what comes next.
See you here, on social media, and, of course, on the Political Climate podcast feed.
What’s Next
Next week, we’re rounding out the America 250 conversation with a two-part interview with Phil Deutch, longtime clean energy investor and founder of private equity firm NGP ETP. In part one, we dive deep into cleantech investment trends, the AI-energy collision, and look ahead to the next 25 years of American energy development. In part two, we drag Phil in to the politics of energy and Silicon Valley. It’s a good one! 🍿
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