Today, POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel sits down for an extended interview with Jigar Shah, the former director of the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office under the Biden administration where he oversaw billions of dollars in government loans to America’s energy sector. Siegel and Shah discuss Biden’s clean energy legacy, the second Trump administration, the future of government financing, DOGE and more. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio...
Feb 13, 2025•27 min
President Donald Trump announced new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States - a move that mirrors a similar policy he enacted during his first term. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the potential impact of these new tariffs on energy-related industries and the lessons learned from the first-term tariffs. Plus, President Trump declared that his administration would reverse former President Joe Biden's efforts to make a host of consumer products more efficient. Ben...
Feb 12, 2025•8 min
Senate lawmakers are kicking off work this week on their budget blueprint that aims to unlock President Donald Trump's legislative agenda, including spurring U.S. energy development. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down the details of that blueprint and why Republicans are still divided over how to advance Trump’s agenda. Plus, the Trump administration said in a recent court filing that the Energy Department expects to issue payments under its home efficiency rebate program later this week. Josh S...
Feb 11, 2025•10 min
The Trump administration is halting a $5 billion program to help build out the nation’s EV charging network, which upends years of federal precedent and raises legal questions. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down the suspension and how it’s a significant blow for America’s EV transition. Plus, a budget blueprint released Friday by Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) lays the groundwork for a party-line reconciliation bill that aims to spur U.S. energy development. James Bikales is a rep...
Feb 10, 2025•10 min
The Trump administration has made several moves that are disrupting one of the most critical and bipartisan functions of government: providing clean, safe and affordable water. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down how the administration is causing uncertainty for America’s water system and the reaction from lawmakers. Plus, an aide for the Department of Government Efficiency is now listed in the Department of Energy’s staff directory. Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro. Nirmal Mula...
Feb 07, 2025•9 min
An internal memo reviewed by POLITICO this week shows that the Environmental Protection Agency began partially lifting the Trump administration’s spending freeze for some environmental programs after a court order this week, according to a memo reviewed by POLITICO. James Bikales breaks down which programs are and aren’t disbursing funds, and how lawmakers are reacting. Plus, oil giant Chevron Corp. is in discussions with the Trump administration about the company’s federal license to produce oi...
Feb 06, 2025•8 min
President Donald Trump’s decision to delay tariffs on Mexico and Canada gives US consumers and the oil and gas industry some breathing room – at least for now. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the impact of these looming energy tariffs and the reaction from the industry. Plus, senior officials at the Energy Department encouraged staff during a Monday town hall to consider the offer to resign from federal service despite ongoing questions about the move’s legality. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITIC...
Feb 05, 2025•10 min
America’s offshore wind industry is on the ropes after two major announcements in the last month: President Donald Trump’s executive order to halt wind development and New Jersey saying it will not provide financial support for new offshore wind projects. POLITICO’s Ry Rivard breaks down how the industry is in tatters and what this means for the future of offshore wind in the United States. Plus, the Senate voted on Monday to confirm Chris Wright to lead the Energy Department. Ry Rivard covers e...
Feb 04, 2025•7 min
To satisfy AI’s big energy demands, President Donald Trump wants data centers to connect directly to power plants. But his plan could face problems with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down why Trump could have trouble getting federal energy regulators on board and what’s at stake for the tech and energy industries. Plus, an internal email obtained by POLITICO shows Agriculture Department employees have been ordered to delete landing pages discussi...
Feb 03, 2025•10 min
The European Union is set to start enforcing a little-known set of rules that could ultimately strain the US-EU energy relationship during the second Trump administration. POLITICO Europe’s Gabriel Gavin breaks down the details of these new regulations, how the Trump administration may respond, and what this means for the US-EU energy relationship moving forward. Plus, the Senate confirmed former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as secretary of the Interior Department Thursday night. Gabriel Gavin ...
Jan 31, 2025•11 min
Democratic state leaders pursuing ambitious climate goals are facing a two-pronged uphill battle: President Donald Trump and voters' concerns. POLITICO’s Jordan Wolman breaks down how state climate policies are reeling and why there are still pockets of optimism. Plus, the Senate on Wednesday confirmed Lee Zeldin, the former Republican congressman, to be the 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Jordan Wolman is a sustainability reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a PO...
Jan 30, 2025•8 min
The Trump administration’s government-wide spending freeze has provoked widespread alarm and could potentially put thousands of programs in jeopardy, including energy and infrastructure initiatives worth billions of dollars. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Kelsey Tamborrino break down what we know about Trump’s federal spending freeze, which has been temporarily halted by a judge, and how it could impact energy. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a ...
Jan 29, 2025•10 min
Within hours of taking office, President Donald Trump announced an executive order targeting the wind industry, particularly offshore projects. POLITICO’s Ry Rivard breaks down the impact of the move on the offshore wind industry and what’s next in the Trump vs. wind power saga. Plus, a chemical risk management rule issued in the final weeks of the Biden administration is among those whose effective dates have been delayed by Trump's regulatory freeze. Ry Rivard covers energy, the environment an...
Jan 28, 2025•8 min
Today, POLITICO Energy reporters Ben Lefebvre and Zack Colman chat with Canadian Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson for an extended interview. They discuss the future of the US-Canada energy alliance under the second Trump administration, President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Canada, areas of potential cooperation between the two countries, how Trump’s reelection is impacting global climate efforts and more. Zack Colman covers climate change for POLITICO. Ben Lefebvre is an energ...
Jan 27, 2025•22 min
President Donald Trump brought the leaders of OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank to the White House this week, and announced they will spend $500 billion to build AI data centers. But Trump’s photo-op moment was quickly dissed online by his Silicon Valley confidante, Elon Musk. On POLITICO Tech, E&E News energy technology editor Christa Marshall joins host Steven Overly to discuss the new AI initiative, called Stargate. Plus, all three of President Donald Trump’s nominees to lead the Department of ...
Jan 24, 2025•14 min
Today, POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel sits down with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) for an extended interview. They discuss President Donald Trump’s Day One executive orders, Trump’s plan to freeze a broad range of federal cash, areas for bipartisan cooperation this Congress, Lee Zeldin’s confirmation process, Democrats’ messaging failures and more. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio...
Jan 23, 2025•24 min
President Donald Trump is once again ordering the United States to withdraw from the historic Paris climate agreement — testing the limits of international climate diplomacy and inviting questions from around the world. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down what Trump’s exit from the climate deal really means. Plus, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will vote on the nominations of Chris Wright to be Energy secretary and Doug Burgum to be Interior secretary on Thursday. Zack Colman c...
Jan 22, 2025•8 min
President Donald Trump announced a flurry of executive orders and other actions related to energy after being sworn in on Monday. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre discusses the impact of those moves and what’s next on Trump’s energy agenda. Plus, President Trump tapped Republican Commissioner Mark Christie to lead FERC. Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deput...
Jan 21, 2025•8 min
Every few years, the federal government publishes the National Climate Assessment, which chronicles how climate change is transforming and devastating the United States. But the next installment of that report could be dialed back because of the Trump administration, which wants to significantly change how the report is made. Producer Nirmal Mulaikal chats with Scott Waldman from POLITICO’s E&E News to learn more. Plus, a new document obtained by POLITICO lists a menu of items that Republica...
Jan 20, 2025•10 min
The devastating wildfires burning across Los Angeles have prompted plenty of finger pointing — and artificial intelligence is catching some of the blame. Data centers consume large amounts of water and electricity, and critics have been quick to pounce on the industry’s environmental footprint. Now, California lawmakers are looking for ways to make AI more sustainable. POLITICO’s California tech reporter Tyler Katzenberger joins host Steven Overly to discuss. Plus, Donald Trump’s picks to lead t...
Jan 17, 2025•14 min
Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Energy Department, appeared to navigate through his confirmation hearing Wednesday largely unscathed. But Wright still had to contend with climate protesters, and Democrats still withheld their support as they seek a firmer commitment from him on addressing climate change. Josh Siegel, Ben Lefebvre and Kelsey Tamborrino discuss. Plus, Doug Burgum pledged to divest himself of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of shares of stock...
Jan 16, 2025•9 min
President-elect Donald Trump is preparing to resume his time in the White House with an extensive set of executive actions, including those that will target energy and the environment in major ways and seek to undo many of President Joe Biden’s moves in these areas. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén unpacks what Trump is aiming to do on Jan. 20th and what the implications will be for energy and climate. Plus, the Biden administration has issued an executive order that allows for the construction of data c...
Jan 15, 2025•8 min
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for the Departments of Interior, Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency will face Senate grillings this week ahead of their confirmation votes. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains how former North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright and former Republican congressman Lee Zeldin are expected to fare in the hearings and why the paths to confirmation may vary for each. Plus, the Supreme Court has declined to take up two major clima...
Jan 14, 2025•8 min
Last year was officially the hottest ever recorded. Global temperatures in 2024 surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming since the Industrial Revolution began, a symbolic but dangerous marker of a warming planet. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down the news and why the future of U.S. climate action on both the domestic and international front appears bleak. Plus, the Treasury Department is laying the groundwork for industry to claim the new clean fuel tax credit created under Democrats’ climate l...
Jan 13, 2025•6 min
The devastating wildfires that are raging throughout the Los Angeles area could break California's insurance market. POLITICO’s Camille von Kaenel lays out how the state's insurance market has already been teetering on the edge of insolvency for years now and why these recent fires could accelerate its collapse. Plus, a new analysis published in the journal Science says EPA's power plant climate rule would accelerate greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the power sector by pushing coal retir...
Jan 10, 2025•9 min
In a new report released this week, the Energy Department's internal watchdog identified several issues tied to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm's electric vehicle road trip during 2023. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down the report’s findings and the reaction from DOE and Republicans. Plus, the Interior Department announced that its oil lease sale for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge generated no interest from oil companies. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy for P...
Jan 09, 2025•8 min
President-elect Donald Trump will struggle to fulfill his promise to massively increase America’s oil production, according to energy analysts. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down why Trump’s oil production promise faces challenges. Plus, Trump once again attacked the Biden administration’s latest offshore drilling move and said he would try to pull the plug on new wind power developments. Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mul...
Jan 08, 2025•8 min
The Biden administration announced this week that it’s banning new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down how this move will impact America’s energy outlook and the incoming Trump administration’s policy agenda. Plus, top Republicans on Capitol Hill are still game planning how to advance Donald Trump’s vast legislative agenda, which includes energy as a central policy priority. Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is...
Jan 07, 2025•8 min
Today, POLITICO Energy Editor Matt Daily previews the biggest energy stories in 2025, including the Biden administration’s final days, the year-one priorities for the incoming Trump administration, global climate action, and more. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe ...
Jan 06, 2025•14 min
A new POLITICO review shows that two of the nation’s biggest clean energy lobbying groups are strengthening their relationships with the Republican party in order to save the green policies they’ve spent years pursuing. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down the groups’ efforts, why it’s happening now and how Republicans are responding. Plus, a new report from the Department of Energy says that data centers powering the development of artificial intelligence could require nearly three times as much ...
Dec 23, 2024•10 min
