Blue Wave, Green Hope; and Public Lands Protection in the New Congress

Though climate was not directly on the ballot in the midterm elections, high fuel prices and concerns about data centers boosted Democrats to a “blue tsunami.” And the new Democratic majority in both houses of Congress means Republican anti-environment measures like fossil fuel expansion and public land exploitation may be slowed down or even halted. Colleagues from our media partner Inside Climate News talk us through the results and the opportunity for a Democratic-led Congress to now focus on clean energy to reduce energy costs. Also, congressional committees originate legislation and oversight investigations, and as Democrats take control their senior members will presumably become chairs with broad subpoena powers. Congressman Jared Huffman, who has represented northern California since 2013 is in line to chair the House Natural Resources Committee, and he joins us to share his priorities for the committee in the new Congress.