10 Minute Drill: "Schumer’s Texas-sized Headache, Greenpeace Runs to Europe"

Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Matt Whitlock
Special Guest: O.H. Skinner, Executive Director, Alliance for Consumers

Episode Overview

This special Wednesday episode delivers a rapid-fire rundown of current political flashpoints, diving into Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s challenges in Texas, controversies around Greenpeace’s legal maneuvering in Europe, and an expert interview on how progressive climate litigation is reshaping American energy policy and law. Matt keeps the tone witty, concise, and colloquial, offering both insight and plenty of memorable asides.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chuck Schumer’s Texas-sized Headache: Jasmine Crockett’s Senate Campaign

• Announcement Highlight:
  On Monday, Jasmine Crockett declared her U.S. Senate campaign for Texas, quickly thrusting herself into headlines (00:35).
• Trump’s Involvement:
  Crockett’s ad leans into being attacked by Donald Trump, positioning herself as an “anti-Trump hero.”
  • Host's Analysis:
    Whitlock critiques her strategy, noting that "the ad in general would be fantastic if the entire electorate were teenagers on TikTok. But it's the great state of Texas... a pretty red state." (00:57-01:17).
  • Challenge Identified:
    The campaign’s rejection of Trump voters is risky (“I think it's very difficult to see how she can make that math work without Trump voters.” - Matt Whitlock, 01:56).
• Campaign Memorable Moments:
  • The show lampoons Crockett’s conflict with a journalist (“You can't just declare that the profile is shut down and that you're revoking all permissions.” - Matt Whitlock, 02:33), referencing the classic “I declare bankruptcy!” pop culture gag.
• Highlight Reel:
  • Crockett’s colorful, off-the-cuff style is showcased:
    “Y'all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there. Come on now. The fact is, ain't none of y'all trying to go and farm right now. You not, you not. We done picking cotton.” (02:44)
  • Candid views on politics and the justice system further frame her candidacy as unconventional and combative (02:48-03:14).

2. Greenpeace Runs to Europe: A Legal and International Controversy

• Context Recap:
  Greenpeace faces a $345 million penalty (reduced from $667 million) after a U.S. jury found them liable for damages during Dakota Access Pipeline protests.
• Transatlantic Legal Maneuver:
  Greenpeace is attempting to get a Dutch court to overturn the U.S. verdict.
  • "Greenpeace is an American based organization and they have been held liable... instead of paying their fees and moving on, they're trying to appeal all the way to Europe, which has a very different set of laws that govern these issues." – Matt Whitlock (04:20-04:55)
  • Implications:
    Would set a precedent for foreign courts countermanding U.S. legal decisions, potentially undermining judicial sovereignty (05:00-05:30).
• Broader European Themes:
  Whitlock links this to broader complaints about Europe drifting from traditional Western values, referencing speech restrictions in the UK and migration crises.

3. Interview: O.H. Skinner on "Climate Lawfare" and Left-Wing Legal Strategy

• Recurring Guest Introduction:
  O.H. Skinner returns to discuss the coordinated use of lawsuits by progressives as a backdoor method for advancing climate and social policy (05:48).
• Main Thesis:
  • Progressives increasingly use the courts to achieve policies—like elements of the Green New Deal—that can't pass through legislatures, especially as conservatives gain ballot box wins (06:54).
    • "It's like a game show ... as the left sees [conservative wins] too, they're relying more and more on this long simmering strategy to win their policy victories through the courtroom." – O.H. Skinner (06:57)
• Case Studies:
  • Boulder, CO:
    Climate public nuisance litigation targets fossil fuel companies.
    • Not just about carbon taxes:
      "Don't worry, we'll just drive up the liability on these companies enough that they'll all just go into bankruptcy..." – Recounted from legal scholar Bookbinder (08:10)
    • Endgame: Cities and NGOs acquire energy sector control post-bankruptcy.
  • Plaquemines, LA:
    Red states are not immune—trial lawyers and local governments use legal strategies for policy aims, exploiting inattentiveness from conservative officials (10:00-11:28).
    • "If states don't step up ... your red estates are the ones bringing these lawsuits." – O.H. Skinner (10:35)
• The "Lawfare" Network:
  • Funding for these legal actions comes from wealthy left-wing donors (e.g., the Arabella Advisors network), trial lawyers, NGOs, and is closely linked to Democratic politicians.
    • "They're creating a money machine that feeds back 99% into Democratic politicians." – O.H. Skinner (11:57)
  • Even failed lawsuits can achieve policy wins by banning products or behaviors, making the entire enterprise "win-win" for progressives (12:25).
• Call to Action:
  Whitlock and Skinner stress the need for conservatives to recognize and counter this network of “woke lawfare.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt Whitlock:
  • “The ad in general would be fantastic if the entire electorate were teenagers on TikTok. But it's the great state of Texas… pretty red state.” (01:08)
  • “You can't just declare that the profile is shut down and that you're revoking all permissions.” (02:33)
• O.H. Skinner:
  • “As the left sees [conservatives winning] too, they're relying more and more on this long simmering strategy to win their policy victories through the courtroom.” (06:57)
  • “If states don't step up…your red estates are the ones bringing these lawsuits.” (10:35)
  • “They're creating a money machine that feeds back 99% into Democratic politicians.” (11:57)
• Crockett’s campaign ad (quoted by Trump):
  • “She's a very low IQ person. I watched her speak the other day. She's definitely a low IQ person.” (00:46)
• Jasmine Crockett (from highlight reel):
  • “Y'all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there. Come on now.” (02:44)

Important Timestamps

• 00:35: Jasmine Crockett’s Senate campaign launch recap
• 01:56: Can Crockett win without Trump voters?
• 02:33: The “I declare bankruptcy” analogy
• 04:00-05:30: Greenpeace’s transatlantic legal strategy and its risks
• 06:54: O.H. Skinner on climate “lawfare” and court-led policy
• 08:10: Bookbinder’s “bankrupt the energy companies” revelation
• 10:00: Why red states get caught in left-wing litigation
• 11:57: Breakdown of the “lawfare” network and its strategic goals

Tone & Style

• Fast-paced, breezy, and a little irreverent—Whitlock keeps things light while delivering substantive analysis.
• O.H. Skinner brings a straightforward, policy-wonk edge, outlining the mechanics and implications of progressive legal activism.

Summary

Whitlock’s special Wednesday drill covers the intersection of politics, media spectacle, and legal warfare. From the pitfalls of Jasmine Crockett’s outsider Senate bid in conservative Texas, through the international legal backchannels exploited by groups like Greenpeace, to the sophisticated network leveraging climate litigation for progressive ends—listeners walk away with a pointed, engaging, and at times sardonic understanding of pressing issues shaping the political landscape in late 2025.