Why Democrats’ energy messaging isn’t about their climate bill

Democrats on the campaign trail are blasting oil companies for high gasoline prices and accusing Republicans of being too cozy with Big Oil. But that messaging strategy is overshadowing Democrats’ major legislative achievement this Congress: the $369 billion climate bill that President Joe Biden signed into law just two months ago. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down the reasons for that strategy, whether it’s effective and how Republicans are responding. Plus, EPA has proposed a new rule that will reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons, a group of chemicals that are significant contributors to global warming, by 40 percent. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department.