POLITICO Energy

How should Democrats talk about energy heading into the 2026 midterm elections? A new survey from a center-left group suggests they should pivot from their 2024 strategy under former President Joe Biden as voters remain anxious about the economy. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Kelsey Tamborrino break down the findings, along with how both parties are struggling to communicate around affordability and energy prices. Plus, a federal judge called the Trump administration's executive action to halt permits for both onshore and offshore wind projects across the country illegal. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is the host of POLITICO Energy and a congressional energy reporter for POLITICO.  Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Republicans are launching a two-week legislative sprint to update the nation’s permitting laws, aiming to speed up approval for new energy infrastructure projects. But President Donald Trump is creating a politically complicated path for House Republicans. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down what’s in the upcoming bills, how Trump is complicating the push, and whether Republicans can actually deliver on permitting reform.  James Bikales is an oil and gas reporter for POLITICO.  Josh Siegel is the host of POLITICO Energy and a congressional energy reporter for POLITICO.  Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the past decade, the U.S. power market was defined by predictability. But in 2025, that stability has broken down, creating an increasingly volatile system at a time when energy prices are rising nationwide. Ben Storrow from POLITICO’s E&E News explores why the U.S. power market is getting messier and why that matters for everyone. Plus, Florida's full congressional delegation is urging the Trump administration to remove their state's waters from its proposed offshore leasing map.  Ben Storrow is a reporter for POLITICO’s E&E News. Josh Siegel is the host of POLITICO Energy and a congressional energy reporter for POLITICO.  Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly a year into Republican control of the federal government, the oil and gas industry is still waiting on its biggest policy priority: a major overhaul of the nation’s permitting process. While the industry remains generally optimistic about the Trump administration, time is running out for lawmakers to act. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and James Bikales discuss how the industry is still waiting on major permitting reform and what they’re hearing on the Hill and from industry. James Bikales is an oil and gas reporter for POLITICO.  Josh Siegel is the host of POLITICO Energy and a congressional energy reporter for POLITICO.  Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it’s relaxing the fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks — a move that will strike a blow against electric vehicle manufacturing and in turn former President Joe Biden’s climate legacy. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the details of the move and the impact on the auto industry and climate. Plus, the National Petroleum Council issued reports to Energy Secretary Chris Wright calling for quicker permitting for energy projects and greater coordination between the nation’s natural gas and electric systems. Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump is releasing billions of dollars in federal energy assistance as families across the country grapple with soaring utility bills and the start of the winter heating season. The move offers short-term relief but comes as Trump is also proposing to eliminate the very program that provides it. Brian Dabbs from POLITICO’s E&E news explains how the funding helps families now and what it signals for the future of the program. Plus, Energy Secretary Chris Wright made the case Tuesday that the surge in data centers will actually lower Americans’ utility bills. Brian Dabbs covers the Energy Department and White House for POLITICO’s E&E News. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump is aggressively rolling back climate regulations in his second term with strong support from Republican lawmakers. But U.S. business groups and industries are worried that the rapid policy swings are creating uncertainty for their long-term planning and global competitiveness. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén explains the business and legal stakes of Trump’s climate deregulatory push. Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration is pushing for a major nuclear revival as part of its energy dominance agenda and as a way to help the United States win the AI race with China. But U.S. utility companies aren’t on board, hesitating to build new plants despite projections that electricity demand is expected to rapidly rise in the coming years. AJ Camacho from POLITICO’s E&E News explains why utilities are resisting Trump’s nuclear push. Francisco "A.J." Camacho is a reporter for POLITICO’s E&E News. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dario Gil, the Undersecretary for Science at the Department of Energy, dives into the intersection of energy demand and emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing. He discusses the urgent energy challenges posed by AI-driven data centers and emphasizes the importance of investing in fusion as a long-term solution. Gil also highlights the competitiveness with China, advocating for a robust U.S. stance in tech and energy. Moreover, he stresses the need to integrate security into research from the outset, ensuring a balance between speed and safety.

The Trump administration is putting a $1 billion dollar loan toward helping restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant. The move underscores the administration’s push for nuclear power as energy bills rise for Americans. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down why the Department of Energy is moving forward with the loan. Plus, the Trump administration launched an effort to roll back the Biden administration’s changes to the Endangered Species Act. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO and the host of POLITICO Energy. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO. Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices