A new podcast explores the ‘hot mess’ of climate politics
By Flannery Winchester
In CCL, we’ve always said climate change shouldn’t be a partisan issue. It affects Americans of all political stripes, and everyone wants to leave a safe, healthy world to future generations. We should all be able to work together toward that shared goal — and many of us are!
And yet… we see in our work on Capitol Hill that the climate change issue is, indeed, polarized along party lines. It’s challenging for lawmakers to come to broad bipartisan agreement around major climate policy. That’s why CCL’s work is so important: We’re one of the few groups working to build more common ground for those lawmakers to stand on.
As we do this work, sometimes it helps to take a step back and ask: How did we get here? How do the climate politics of today relate to the climate politics of the past?
In a new eight-part podcast series called “Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos,” host Peterson Toscano explores overlooked factors, underreported histories, and unexpected heroes in the climate story.
“This is a journey into surprising alliances and the resilience of those who stayed committed to solutions,” Peterson explains. Through research, archival recordings, and interviews with present-day advocates, “Hot Mess” uses lessons from the past to inspire collective action today. Peterson speaks with:
- Chelsea Henderson, host of the EcoRights Speaks podcast and author of the new book “Glacial: The Untold Story of Climate Politics”
- Katie Zakrzewski, a host of Green Tea Party Radio and a former CCL Conservative Fellow
- Bob Inglis, former Republican congressman and head of RepublicEn
- …and more!
Listen to episode 1 now:
If you want to get into the weeds of political history, it’s time to tune in. “CCL volunteers who love the twists and turns of power dynamics in Washington, and the intricate ways lawmakers navigate passing legislation, will love the depth and details my guests bring to the series,” Peterson says.
Once you’ve listened, share the love with folks in your life! “True Crime style podcasts are the most popular type of podcast for good reason—they tell complex stories in compelling ways,” Peterson points out.
“Sharing these episodes with people could spark interest in our work while also deepening the listener’s understanding of why volunteer advocacy is essential to passing meaningful climate legislation.”
Episodes 1 through 5 are available now on the Citizens’ Climate Radio feed, wherever you get your podcasts.
The post A new podcast explores the ‘hot mess’ of climate politics appeared first on Citizens’ Climate Lobby.