Presenting: Season 2 of Boiling Point

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Boiling Point
Host: LA Times Studios
Episode: Presenting: Season 2 of Boiling Point
Release Date: July 23, 2026

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Episode Overview

This introductory episode launches Season 2 of the Boiling Point podcast, hosted by award-winning journalist Miranda Greene. The season focuses on how climate change is impacting California and seeks to unpack the intersection of science, policy, politics, and solutions emerging on the West Coast. The episode sets the stage for a deep dive into climate issues by highlighting the political struggle over environmental protections at the federal level and the tangible impact these dynamics have on local communities and ecosystems.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Environmental Policy in Crisis (00:02–01:03)

• Backdrop: The episode opens with coverage of an April congressional hearing focused on drastic proposed cuts to the EPA’s budget.

  • The head of the EPA, Lee Zeldin, must convince lawmakers to accept a 50% budget cut—a move that many see as a major threat to environmental protection efforts.
  • Tense exchanges underline the political discord, including questions about implications for water and air pollution, and oversight by the Chemical Safety Board.

  "Slashing environmental protections and leaving communities to fend for themselves."
  — Lee Zeldin, EPA Head (00:49)

  "Now you're going to pollute more of the water and the air."
  — Congressional Member (00:53)

2. California’s Climate Challenges and the National Context (01:03–01:56)

• Relevance to the West Coast: Miranda Greene emphasizes the direct impact federal policy has on California:

  "Why does what's happening all the way in Washington, D.C. matter to the West Coast? Well, the cuts and the environmental rollbacks happening on the federal level right now are having a very real impact in California."
  — Miranda Greene (01:03)

• The host frames the season’s core mission: to unpack the complex science, policies, and politics driving California to its “collective breaking point on global warming.”

  "We all know pollutants are bad for us."
  — Miranda Greene (01:38)

• An expert’s bleak metaphor highlights the pervasiveness of pollution:

  "We're kind of like plastic cyborgs now, right? It's everywhere."
  — Environmental Expert (01:42)

• The environmental consequences of rising temperatures are summed up succinctly:

  "Climate change is impacting very severely the ocean ecosystems."
  — Congressional Member (01:51)

3. Paths Forward & Potential Solutions (02:01–02:20)

• Surprising Solutions: The episode teases coming segments on innovative strategies to cut carbon emissions and transition beyond fossil fuels.

  "If we took even 20% out of the world demand for crude oil, the price would plummet..."
  — Congressional Member (02:01)

• Hope Through Resilience: Biologists and environmental experts remind listeners that some species can rebound if given the chance:

  "These animals are resilient. We have seen it with gray whales. They have seen dips in their population before, and they've always rebounded."
  — Marine Biologist (02:14)

4. Promise of the Season (02:20–02:44)

• Format for Season 2: The host explains the series will feature weekly interviews with reporters, experts, and key decision-makers, covering the biggest climate stories and solutions.

  "Each week, I'll speak to LA Times reporters, experts and decision makers to highlight the most pressing news related to our natural world and the innovative ideas that could help us move forward."
  — Miranda Greene (02:20)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being “plastic cyborgs” (Environmental Expert, 01:42):
  This vivid phrase underscores how deeply environmental toxins have penetrated human life.

• On gray whales' resilience (Marine Biologist, 02:14):
  A note of hope that, despite environmental crises, nature can recover with the right policies.

• On federal rollback's real-world impact (Miranda Greene, 01:03):
  Sharp commentary on why national policy decisions echo powerfully on the West Coast.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:02–01:03] Congressional hearing—EPA budget cuts & tense political debate
• [01:03–01:56] Mirrored effects of rollbacks on California, introduction to season theme
• [02:01–02:20] Potential solutions and resilience in nature
• [02:20–02:44] Preview of season’s format and approach

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Episode Tone and Approach

• Language and Style: Direct, urgent and science-focused, featuring a blend of journalistic investigation and expert analysis
• Host’s Tone: Inquisitive but assertive, centered on holding leaders and policy-makers accountable and finding actionable hope

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Summary

Presenting: Season 2 of Boiling Point sets up an ambitious, investigative look at the climate crisis in California. By framing the state’s struggles within the broader uncertainty of federal environmental rollbacks, the episode promises a season that spotlights both the challenges and the innovative, sometimes surprising, paths forward. Expect in-depth conversations with scientists, legislators, and those directly impacted—grounded in the reality that the stakes for California’s climate future have never been higher.

New episodes drop Thursdays; listeners are encouraged to tune in for the journey through the front lines of California’s environmental battles and solutions.

Transcript

[Miranda Greene]

This past April, a seemingly routine congressional hearing took place on Capitol Hill.

[Congressional Member]

Subcommittee will come to order.

[Miranda Greene]

It was about the Environmental protection agency's proposed 2027 fiscal budget. And there to get House members on board with the proposal was the current head of the epa, Lee Zeldin.

[Lee Zeldin]

I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the president's fiscal year 27 budget request for the U.S. environmental protection agenc.

[Miranda Greene]

Zeldin's goal was seen by many as a heavy lift. That's because his job was to sell members on the idea that they should cut his own agency's budget in half by $4.6 billion. To say that some of the members were upset was an understatement.

[Lee Zeldin]

Slashing environmental protections and leaving communities to fend for themselves.

[Congressional Member]

Now you're going to pollute more of

[Environmental Expert]

the water in the air.

[Congressional Member 2]

You don't support the investigation by the Chemical Safety Board then?

[Lee Zeldin]

I'm not saying that at all.

[Congressional Member 2]

I'm trying to get an answer to that question.

[Miranda Greene]

Why does what's happening all the way in Washington, D.C. matter to the West Coast? Well, the cuts and the environmental rollbacks happening on the federal level right now are having a very real impact in California. Welcome to season two of Boiling Point. I'm Miranda Greene. I'm an independent journalist and I've been covering climate change for a decade, from D.C. to California. This season I'll be taking you through the complex science policies and even politics that have gotten us to this collective breaking point on global warming. We all know pollutants are bad for us.

[Environmental Expert]

We're kind of like plastic cyborgs now, right? It's everywhere.

[Miranda Greene]

We all know rising temperatures are wreaking havoc on the environment.

[Congressional Member]

Climate change is impacting very severely the ocean ecosystems.

[Miranda Greene]

But there are also ways forward, some more surprising than others.

[Congressional Member]

If we took even 20% out of the world demand for crude oil, the

[Miranda Greene]

price would plummet and progressive action could be life changing not just for humans, but all species.

[Marine Biologist]

These animals are resilient. We have seen it with gray whales. They have seen dips in their population before and they've always rebounded.

[Miranda Greene]

Each week, I'll speak to LA Times reporters, experts and decision makers to highlight the most pressing news related to our natural world and the innovative ideas that could help us move forward. Boiling Point is presented by LA Times Studios. Listen to new episodes every Thursday.

[Glenn Gritzner]

When you hear the name Cheech Marin, you probably think one thing.

[Environmental Expert]

I made my first record when I was five. It was Pa Amorcito Corazon. It was a Mexican song.

[Glenn Gritzner]

Welcome to season two of Making Los Angeles, the show where we get to know the people who helped define this city, like Alex Cohen.

[Alex Cohen]

And I vowed, I'm like, I'm never coming back to this godforsaken city. And then, sure enough, here you are. Yeah, and here I am.

[Glenn Gritzner]

I'm Glenn Gritzner. Tune in to the latest episode of Making Los Angeles. Wherever you get your podcasts.