Political Climate

AI may be reshaping more than the economy—it could be reshaping American politics. As data centers collide with rising utility bills, community opposition and the midterm elections, Democrats and Republicans are converging is some surprising areas.

Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut and Neil Chatterjee unpack the growing bipartisan backlash, the fight over who pays for new power infrastructure, and what responsible AI development could look like. Plus: Brandon gives a hat tip to the Trump Energy Department.

Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and beyond. Please rate and review to help others find the show!

This episode was produced by Bruno Falcon. More at ⁠⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠⁠.

Copper prices are soaring, China still dominates the supply chain, and demand is set to explode 50% over the next 15 years thanks to AI, data centers, and electrification. So who's racing to fix America's copper problem?

Endolith founder and CEO Liz Dennett returns to Political Climate for a candid update — from landing a national-security-backed Series A to launching the company's first field deployment in Arizona.

Liz gets real about what it takes to build a mining startup (spoiler: "getting punched in the face again and again"), why permitting reform could make or break domestic critical minerals production, and why grid instability and copper price surges hit poor and marginalized communities hardest.

It's a conversation about geopolitics, AI-guided microbes, and the invisible metal holding modern life together — plus why bipartisan cooperation might be the only way America wins the race for what's under our feet.

Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and beyond. Please rate and review to help others find the show!

This episode was produced by Bruno Falcon. More at ⁠⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠⁠.

Concrete is everywhere—from our homes and bridges to skyscrapers and data centers. But few people realize that the cement used to make concrete is responsible for roughly 8% of global carbon emissions. If cement were a country, it would be the third largest emitter on Earth.

And yet, these materials haven't changed much since the Roman Empire.

Why has innovation been challenging in the concrete and cement space? And why are entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers now suddenly paying attention?

On Political Climate, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and ClearPath's Rafae Ghani sit down with Brimstone CEO Cody Finke to explore one of the most ambitious industrial innovations in decades—what the startup calls a "Rock Refinery."

Rather than simply making cement cleaner, Brimstone is rethinking the entire production process, creating a model that could lower emissions while also producing critical materials that are essential for economic competitiveness.

In this episode:

Why cement has become one of climate's biggest—and least understood—challenges

How Brimstone is reinventing a manufacturing process that has changed little in centuries

Why heavy industry could become a major source of American economic growth

What it takes to commercialize breakthrough industrial technologies

How innovation—not just regulation—could reshape the future of manufacturing and decarbonization

If you've never thought much about cement, this episode might change your mind.

Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and beyond. Please rate and review to help others find the show!

This episode was produced by Bruno Falcon. More at ⁠⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠⁠.

What do a Democratic firefighter running for Congress in Montana and a Republican educator running for Senate in Louisiana have in common? They're both campaigning on climate issues—without ever saying the words "climate change."

From wildfires to floods, housing to electricity, communities across America are looking for solutions that are sustainable. Environmentally, yes—but increasingly, economically. As voters grapple with rising costs, energy affordability has become one of the defining issues of the 2026 midterms. At the same time, AI and data centers have emerged as new political flashpoints, fueling debates over electricity prices and environmental impacts.

Recorded live at Aspen Ideas Climate, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee are joined by veteran Democratic strategist Mitch Stewart of 270 Strategies to explore whether 2026 is becoming the "climate hushing election." They examine new polling, break down campaign ads, and debate how messaging on energy, affordability, AI, and data centers could shape who controls Congress.

Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions.

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As AI accelerates and America's energy demands surge, some of the biggest questions aren't just about technology—they're about politics.

In part two of our conversation with veteran energy investor Phil Deutch, partner and co-head of energy transition at NGP, we explore where Silicon Valley, Washington, and the energy industry are finding common ground—and where tensions are bubbling.

From AI data centers and energy affordability to regulation, geopolitics, and America's competition with China, the team examines what it will take to build the infrastructure needed to lead in the AI era.

Can the U.S. move fast enough to compete? Can policymakers, investors, and technology leaders align around a shared vision? And what happens when energy policy collides with public opinion?

Join hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee for the second half of a wide-ranging conversation.

Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions.

Subscribe to catch all of our latest episodes! Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others find the show.

Political Climate is hosted by Julia Pyper, Neil Chatterjee, and Brandon Hurlbut. This episode was produced by Bruno Falcon.