Fossil-fueled Fascism

Summary

---

Drilled – “Fossil-Fueled Fascism” (April 28, 2026)

Host: Amy Westervelt
Producer: Pushkin Industries

---

Overview:

This episode of Drilled, hosted by investigative journalist Amy Westervelt, explores how fossil fuel interests and corporate power intertwine with authoritarian politics and foreign policy, culminating in the recent U.S.-backed military intervention in Venezuela. The episode traces the roots of “fossil-fueled fascism” through the history of oil exploration and exploitation in South America—especially Guyana and Venezuela—highlighting the lasting legacy of American imperialism and corporate control in the region. By connecting these threads, Westervelt demonstrates how fossil fuel interests continue to shape global politics and undermine real climate solutions.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Guyana’s Oil Boom & Climate Paradox

• Guyana’s Transformation (02:07–04:10):
  • Reporting trip to Guyana revealed that a large portion of the country faces relocation due to climate change, even as it leans into oil production.
  • Guyanese officials justify oil exploration as a way to pay for climate adaptation.
• Dr. Troy Thomas’s Critique (03:14):
  • “Show me one example where that has happened...you got to release more into the atmosphere in order to have the ability to clean it up.”
  • Thomas questions the logic of using oil money for climate adaptation, highlighting the contradiction and lack of precedent.

2. Colonial Legacies & Border Tensions

• Historic Background (04:48–06:47):
  • Guyana’s colonial divisions and ongoing border disputes, especially with Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region, set the stage for current tensions.
• Oil Discovery’s Impact (05:55–06:47):
  • 2015 oil finds by ExxonMobil inflame the territorial dispute with Venezuela.

3. U.S. & Exxon’s Strategic Role in Guyana

• Exxon and U.S. Interests (06:21–09:40):
  • Exxon’s exit from Venezuela after nationalization (2007) and pivot to Guyana, securing lucrative oil deals.
  • Alfred Bullai speculates Exxon waited for Venezuela to become "difficult"—only to reveal Guyana’s reserves when the time was right.

4. Venezuela-Guyana Escalation

• Venezuela’s Referendum and Aggression (12:05–14:33):
  • In 2023, Venezuela holds a referendum on annexing the Essequibo region. Maduro later signs it into law and appoints a governor for “Essequibo.”
• International Response (13:34–14:33):
  • ICJ calls for restraint; UK and U.S. show overt military support for Guyana.
• U.S. Realpolitik (15:03–15:46):
  • Trump administration’s shifting stance: initially seeking rapprochement with Maduro for deportation deals, but reverting to sanctions amid disputed elections.

5. The “Red Line” & U.S. Military Intervention

• Chevron’s Exemption Revoked (15:19–16:17):
  • Trump administration cancels Chevron’s permit to export Venezuelan oil after Maduro’s election chicanery.
• History of U.S. Oil Imperialism (16:17–17:32):
  • The episode draws parallels from the Red Line Agreement in the Middle East to U.S. interventions in Latin America.
• Venezuela Confronts Exxon at Sea (17:42–19:15):
  • Venezuelan Coast Guard confronts Exxon vessels. President Ali of Guyana reacts with outrage and international diplomatic outreach.
• U.S. Escalation & Invasion (19:25–21:09):

  • Marco Rubio delivers stern warnings; joint U.S.-Guyana military maneuvers and claims of battling the fictitious “Cartel de los Soles” precede U.S. airstrikes in Venezuela and the ultimate capture of Maduro.

  • Notable Quote:

    • Marco Rubio (19:39): “It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana or attack Exxon Mobil or anything like. It would not end well for them.”

  • Timeline:

    • Aug 19 (U.S.-Guyana joint maneuvers) → Aug 22 (“Cartel de los Soles” announcement) → Sept 2 (U.S. airstrikes in Venezuela) → Dec 19 (Guyana oil production surpasses Venezuela) → Jan 3, 2026 (U.S. bombs Caracas, captures Maduro)

6. Corporate Capture & “Fossil-Fueled Fascism” Defined

• U.S. Oil Executives’ Reaction (21:10–21:46):
  • President Trump urges companies to invest in Venezuela’s oil sector; ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods resists, focused instead on safeguarding Exxon’s Guyana interests.
    • “We’re taking back what was taken from us. They took our oil industry. We built that entire oil industry.” – Darren Woods, Exxon CEO (21:23)
• Symptoms of Fossil Fascism (22:50–23:40):

  • Suppression of climate science, authoritarian responses, corporate capture of government, nationalism—all present in recent events.

  • Memorable Callout:

    • Amy Westervelt & Interjector:
      • “Denial and suppression of climate science? Check... Scapegoating migrants, ethnic minorities or environmentalists? Check... Authoritarian responses? Check...Corporate capture? Check...American energy dominance? Check. All the markers are there.” (22:50–23:21)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps):

• Dr. Troy Thomas (University of Guyana):
  “You got to release more into the atmosphere in order to have the ability to clean it up...how much is enough?” (03:14)
• Alfred Bullai (Transparency Institute Guyana):
  “I have a personal theory that the oil is all connected...when we drill, their resource will be sinking.” (09:00)
• President Irfan Ali (Guyana):
  “We are prepared to defend Guyana with what we have.” (13:06) “We have reached out to all our international partners, and all our international partners have responded positively.” (19:15)
• Marco Rubio (U.S. Secretary of State):
  “It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana or attack Exxon Mobil or anything like. It would not end well for them.” (19:39)
• Darren Woods (Exxon CEO): “We’re taking back what was taken from us. They took our oil industry. We built that entire oil industry.” (21:23) “If we look at the legal and commercial constructs and frameworks in place today in Venezuela today, it’s uninvestable.” (21:39–21:46)
• Amy Westervelt & Supporting Voice: “Denial and suppression of climate science to protect fossil fuel profits. Check... Scapegoating of migrants, ethnic minorities or environmentalists. Check. Authoritarian responses...check. Corporate capture of government? Check...American energy dominance? Check. All the markers are there. And they’ve been there, growing increasingly more obvious.” (22:50–23:21)

---

Critical Segment Timestamps

• 02:07 – Climate change threats and the oil adaptation paradox in Guyana
• 03:14 – Dr. Troy Thomas critiques oil as adaptation funding
• 05:55 – Venezuelan territorial claims and their oil connection
• 06:21 – Exxon’s transition from Venezuela to Guyana
• 12:05 – Venezuela’s referendum on annexing Essequibo
• 13:06 – Guyana’s President pledges to defend his country
• 15:19 – U.S. sanctions return; Chevron permit canceled
• 17:42 – Venezuelan Coast Guard confronts Exxon’s Guyana ops
• 19:39 – Marco Rubio’s direct warning to Venezuela
• 21:10–21:46 – Trump brings oil execs to White House; Darren Woods’ remarks
• 22:50–23:21 – Fossil-fueled fascism checklist from Amy Westervelt and contributor

---

Conclusion:

This episode weaves together South American history, oil politics, and current events to reveal the persistent—and contemporary—threat of “fossil-fueled fascism”: a system where energy interests, nationalism, and authoritarian tactics mutually reinforce one another at the expense of democracy, regional stability, and any hope for genuine climate progress. The repeating pattern of U.S./oil company intervention, climate denial, and disregard for local populations underscores Drilled’s core message: climate justice cannot be achieved without breaking the power of fossil fuel interests and their enablers.

---

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Navy Federal Credit Union Sponsor]

Guaranteed Human this episode is brought to you by Navy Federal Credit Union. May is their favorite because Military Appreciation Month is their time to celebrate those who go above and beyond. They know the military community protects our country, takes care of their families and volunteers in their communities. That's why they've helped the military community for over 90 years. Learn more at navyfederal.org Celebrate and Happy Military Appreciation Month. Navy Federal Credit Union Navy Federal is insured by ncua.

[Odoo Sponsor]

When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up and it gets complicated and confusing. Odoo solves this. It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. Odoo is all connected on a single platform in a simple and affordable way. You can save money without missing out on the features you need. Check out Odoo at o d o o.com that's o d o o.com a

[VRBO Sponsor]

vacation rental should come with support, not surprises. That's why VRBO comes with a VRBoCare guarantee and 24. 7 life support from real people. So if something goes sideways, VRBoCare can help. If the host cancels Verbocare if the

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

listing says heated pool but there's actually

[Amy Westervelt]

no pool to heat.

[VRBO Sponsor]

Definitely a verbo care thing.

[Amy Westervelt]

If my teenager starts calling me Leslie

[VRBO Sponsor]

instead of mom, that's a family thing. Leslie.

[Amy Westervelt]

That makes sense.

[VRBO Sponsor]

Sorry, book with support, not surprises. Verbo Care and 24. 7 Life Support. If you know you're Verbo terms apply. See verbo.com trust for details.

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

Pushkin.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Ladies and gentlemen, it's our pleasure to

welcome you to Georgetown, Guyana.

[Amy Westervelt]

A few years ago, our old producer Sarah Ventri and I took a reporting trip to Guyana. We did a whole season on the country just as it was becoming a brand new oil superpower.

[Salvador / Local Guide]

Right now even there are parts of the east coast and even here during spring tides, you should see the waves coming over the top of the wall. So any kind of RA rise in sea level, we're in trouble.

[Amy Westervelt]

That was Salvador, one of our guides in Guyana, giving us a tour of the sea wall surrounding Georgetown, the country's capital.

[Salvador / Local Guide]

How much do you keep building this wall up? At some point we're gonna have to think about moving and the government is already talking about it actually moving the capital back into where the big airport is.

[Amy Westervelt]

90% of the country will need to be moved moved in the next decade or so due to sea level rise exacerbated by climate change. But the government of Guyana wasn't embracing oil because they thought climate change was a hoax? No, they said they were embracing it to pay for climate adaptation. I asked Dr. Troy Thomas, a professor at the University of Guyana who's questioned the government's decision to allow massive amounts of drilling offshore, what he thought of this idea.

[Dr. Troy Thomas]

I want him to show me one example where that has happened and then show me another example where Guyana was the force to lead on something and develop something new and show the rest of the world. Show me those two things side by side. In fact, show me one of them first and then I might be interested. Neither of those two things have happened. And so that to me, and it doesn't make sense, you got to release more into the atmosphere in order to have the ability to clean it up. And if we look at the rate at which, you know, there is no cap on exploration, that's something that I. We are talking about low carbon development, but petroleum exploration and development is open ended. And I've been asking the question, maybe not loudly enough, but how much is enough?

[Amy Westervelt]

How much is enough? It's a great question. If you haven't listened to that season already, go check it out. We get onto everything. It does and doesn't mean for Guyana to be a big oil state, what it means for the people who live there, all of that for our purposes. Today though, I'm going to go back to Salvador and something he told Sarah and I about the early days of Guyana's founding as a country. He and his colleague Jamal led us through a small museum in downtown Georgetown, stopping occasionally to give us some backstory.

[Salvador]

So as you know, Guyana was actually spelled G U I A N E. At one point of time it was a British name. You got the true Guianas and what they used to call British Guiana, Dutch Guiana and French Guiana. Dutch Guiana is Suriname.

[Salvador / Local Guide]

Portuguese Guiana was here and Spanish Guiana was here and they are Naku. Spanish Guiana became part of Venezuela. Portuguese Guiana became part of Brazil. So you've got French now, French, Dutch and English. But the border got changed.

[Narrator / Reporter]

At this point, Salvador stood in front

[Amy Westervelt]

of a big map of the country

[Narrator / Reporter]

to show how these former colonies had

[Amy Westervelt]

been divided into new countries.

[Salvador / Local Guide]

We gave up this to Brazil and we gave up all of this to Venezuela. So now they claim that this should be the border. So two thirds of Ghana, they say, belongs to them, not us. No way. Sorry, not happening.

[Narrator / Reporter]

In case you missed that, he's saying that Venezuela is laying claim to a portion of Guyana. That border dispute has been going on for decades. But the 2015 discovery of oil in Guyana really got it going again. By that point, Venezuela had kicked out the foreign oil companies.

[Breaking News Announcer]

We interrupt this program to bring you a breaking news story. U.S. oil giant Exxon strikes oil in Guyana.

[Amy Westervelt]

Exxon was the company that felt most screwed over by Venezuela's final nationalization of oil. The government had said, hey, you guys can stay, but only as minority partners. And Chevron said okay. But Exxon said no way and its assets in the country were seized. It already knew at the time, of course that it was camping out on oil permits in Guyana that it had had since the 90s.

[Alfred Bullai]

The reason why we are famous now is that Venezuela has denied the US companies their rightful share or whatever that may be.

[Narrator / Reporter]

This is Alfred Bullai, a long time engineer and energy expert in Guyana. Today he works for Transparency Institute Guyana which pushes for increased government transparency. He says there had been exploratory oil drilling off and on in Guyana for decades before Exxon's big announcement.

[Alfred Bullai]

I knew there was oil being drilled and certain knowledgeable people knew that, particularly Mr. Barnum in the 1970s. The former president, he knew these things.

[Narrator / Reporter]

That's former president Forbes Burnham. The country officially gained independence from Britain in 1966.

[Amy Westervelt]

In the lead up to independence, the

[Narrator / Reporter]

most popular party was the People's Progressive Party, the ppp. At that point it was a cross racial party led by two men, one of Indian descent, Chetty Juggin, the other of African descent, Forbes Burnham. Like a lot of other South American political leaders at the time, they were both leftists and they had strong opinions about who should own and benefit from Guyana's natural resources, its people. Also, like a lot of South American countries, Guyana was on the CIA's radar at the time and they had strong opinions about which of these two men they'd prefer to see in charge of so many resources. That was Burnham, the one who didn't spend quite so much time throwing back mojitos with Fidel Castro as they have

[Amy Westervelt]

done in so many countries.

[Narrator / Reporter]

The CIA leaned on racial differences to

[Amy Westervelt]

split the party in two and then backed Burnham.

[Narrator / Reporter]

Despite its large stores of oil and relative stability compared to some of its neighbors, Guyana wasn't a big target for its oil for a while because it sat beneath the ocean floor some 40 miles off the coast. So from the 70s to the early 2000s, the big US oil companies were concentrating on Venezuela.

[Alfred Bullai]

So I am absolutely sure that they knew there was oil here and just waited. If Venezuela is going to play bad, then they said, well, okay, we have oil elsewhere, and then negotiated a very sweet deal so the people who knew about oil knew these things, but the general public didn't. I have a personal theory that the oil is all connected. And that's one of the reasons the Venezuelans don't really want drilling taking place here, because when we drill, their resource will be sinking.

[Amy Westervelt]

If you're hearing a lot of things that sound familiar, that sound like a little bit about what's happening today with the us, with Exxon, and with Venezuela. Yeah, I know after the break what everything the US and Exxon were getting up to in Guyana had to do with the invasion of Venezuela years later, and how it all connects back to the topic of this miniseries, fossil fueled Fascism. I'm Amy Westervelt, and this is drilled. Stay with us.

[TikTok Sponsor]

Want to be a star? No problem. Anyone can shine on TikTok. Post your first video today. Real life, real story, real you. Download TikTok and get started.

[Amy Westervelt]

I never really stop reporting a story once I've started. So even though it's been a while since my last reporting trip to Guyana, I keep tabs on the news there, try to keep up with sources, all of that. And I was surprised when suddenly one day last year, I saw a tweet from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praising Guyana for taking action to crack down on narco trafficking. In the press release that he, quote, tweeted, the Guyanese government had specifically name checked a gang, I knew the US Government had just invented the Cartel de los Soles in much the same way that the Trump administration has lumped anyone with progressive politics under the umbrella of Antifa and designated it as a terrorist organization. Cartel de los Solis is an idea. The idea of government corruption, of government officials looking the other way at drug traffickers, maybe even taking bribes from them, but it doesn't exist as an actual entity. I knew from my time in Guyana that they had beef with Venezuela and that that beef was about oil, and that the oil economy in Guyana was tied more to one company than any other Exxon Mobil, and that that company also had beef with Venezuela. Time to dig into what had been going on with Guyana and Venezuela lately. Turned out a lot.

[News Reporter]

Venezuela held a vote asking whether it

[Amy Westervelt]

should take over a portion of neighboring Guyana. This was the first story I found on NPR's State of the World. And it was from all the way back in late 2023, Venezuela voted on

[News Reporter]

what Now Venezuela's referendum was over a jungle region called Essequibo that makes up the western two thirds of Guyana.

[Amy Westervelt]

Okay, I knew that Essequibo was where the oil is in Guyana. So this was starting to make a little more sense still. They had a vote on annexing two thirds of a neighboring country.

[News Reporter]

On Sunday, Venezuela's autocratic President Nicolas Maduro held a news conference urging Venezuelans to throng to the polling stations. They were asked to approve or reject five ballot questions. The most provocative proposal was to annex Essequibo. Guyana's Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, said in a radio interview that his country was preparing for the worst.

[Guyana President Dr. Irfan Ali]

You go to war with what you have. We are prepared to defend Guyana with what we have.

[Amy Westervelt]

Venezuelans did vote to annex Esso, or whatever a vote under Maduro was worth. It was enough to mobilize the international community. The International Court of Justice announced that it has jurisdiction over the border dispute and asked both countries to remain calm until it could issue a ruling.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute whereby the Cooperative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.

[Amy Westervelt]

Meanwhile, various governments pushed for peace talks between Guyana and Venezuela, which did eventually happen and resulted in a written agreement between the two called the Argyll Accords.

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

Almost everyone seemed to immediately ignore this agreement. It was supposed to be, you know, a cooling off period.

[Amy Westervelt]

They agreed not do anything more around

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

this border dispute until the international court could make a decision. But almost immediately, Guyana asked the UK for a show of military support, which it provided. It sent a warship to the Guyana Venezuela border. A couple weeks later, things calmed down

[Amy Westervelt]

for a couple of months.

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

But in April 2024, Maruro signed the bill declaring Essequibo part of Venezuela into law. He took a little break after that for a little bit to make sure that he could secure re election. But in January 2025, Maduro was back

[Amy Westervelt]

at it, this time appointing a governor

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

for the new Venezuelan state of Essequibo.

[Amy Westervelt]

For a minute, it looked like the

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

Trump administration wasn't all that concerned about it.

[News Reporter / US Official]

The new Trump team didn't seem to mind, signaling a rapprochement with Maduro in exchange for Caracas agreeing to accept flights of Venezuelans deported from the Trump, though now says Maduro isn't taking back deportees fast enough.

[Amy Westervelt]

Then in February, Trump cut off an economic lifeline to Maduro's government, an exemption that Biden had passed to allow Chevron to export Venezuelan oil.

[Breaking News Announcer]

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that a permit which has allowed US Energy giant Chevron to export Venezuelan oil will be canceled.

[News Reporter / US Official]

Venezuela has been under strict U.S. sanctions since 2020, instituted by the first Trump administration in an effort to topple authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro. The permit was issued in 2022 by the Biden administration on the condition that Venezuela hold free and fair elections. But in 2024, after banning the strongest candidate to challenge him, Maduro claimed victory for a third term in office, despite significant evidence that he had in fact lost. Venezuela's political opposition estimates that Chevron's exemption from those sanctions has provided the Maduro government with rough billion dollars.

[Amy Westervelt]

Remember in the first episode of this series where we talked about the Red Line Agreement and how it bred this entitlement amongst the oil companies and the governments that supported them? Well, at the same time all that was happening in the Middle east, oil companies were doing the exact same thing in Latin America. Standard Oil of New Jersey, the company known today as Exxon Mobil, was the first foreign oil company to explore in Venezuela. It began drilling in 1913 there. Shell soon followed suit and hit a major find in 1922. By 1933, foreign companies, Gulf, Royal Dutch Shell and standard oil controlled 98% of the Venezuelan oil market. And then Venezuela did the unthinkable. It took it back. In 1943, it passed the Hydrocarbons Law, which required foreign oil companies to give half their oil profits to the state. In 2007, Hugo Chavez decreed that all oil projects in Venezuela must be majority owned by the national oil company. That's when Exxon left and Chevron stayed. This brings us up to speed all the way to March 2025, when Maruro crossed a red line.

[News Reporter]

Reports emerged of a Venezuelan Coast Guard vessel in Guyana's exclusive economic zone, specifically in the Starbrook Block, a site crucial for offshore oil operations. Social media quickly spread images and videos of the vessel and Venezuelan soldiers communicating with the prosperity floating, production, storage and offloading vessel before moving on to other units in the area.

[Amy Westervelt]

Venezuela sent a Coast Guard ship to Exxon's vessels offshore and told them they shouldn't be operating there. Here's part of their message to the ships.

[News Reporter / US Official]

According to President your present geographical position, you are operating in the exclusive economic zone of Venezuela Republic Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

According to to your present geographical position, you are operating in the exclusive economic zone of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Guyana's President, Dr. Irfan Ali was outraged.

[Guyana President Dr. Irfan Ali]

The patrol vessel transmitted a radio message declaring that the FPSO was operating in what it termed disputed interaction international waters.

[News Reporter]

Soon after, the Guyanese government confirmed the incursion and President Dr. IR finale swiftly activated diplomatic channels and condemned the actions as a violation of both international law and agreements made between the two nations.

[Guyana President Dr. Irfan Ali]

We have reached out to all our international partners, and all our international partners have responded positively.

[Amy Westervelt]

None more so than the US which issued a statement that Maduro would suffer consequences for his actions. They also sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deliver this message in person a couple weeks later.

[Marco Rubio]

It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana or attack Exxon Mobil or anything like. It would be a very bad day, a very bad week for them, and it would not end well for them.

[Amy Westervelt]

The very next day after that speech that Rubio gave, the US And Guyana conducted joint military maneuvers off the coast of Guyana on August 19. So a few months later, the U. S. Deployed military vessels off Venezuela's coast, claiming it was going after Cartel de los Solis. Then just a couple days later, August 22nd, we get this weird Guyana announcement, the one I mentioned before where they're talking about Cartel de los Soles. Rubio shares it, and by September 2, the US is carrying out airstrikes in Venezuela. On December 19, Guyana's oil production surpasses Venezuela's for the first time in history. On January 3, 2026, the US military bombs Caracas and takes Maduro and his wife captive. It's one of the clearest examples of fossil fascism. The two are later charged with drug trafficking in New York, When Trump brings the country's top oil executives to the White House to talk about divvying up Venezuela's oil, Though they're not what I would call excited.

[Darren Woods]

President Trump is pushing those oil companies

[News Reporter]

to invest $100 billion in Venezuela's oil infrastructure. At the White House on Friday, the President promised American oil executives that Venezuela was ready for investment.

[Darren Woods]

We're taking back what was taken from us. They took our oil industry. We built that entire oil industry.

[News Reporter]

But not every company is fully on board with some expressing concern about Venezuelan regulations and security needs for personnel.

[Darren Woods]

If we look at the legal and commercial constructs and frameworks in place today in Venezuela today, it's uninvestable.

[Amy Westervelt]

That was excellent CEO Darren woods speaking at the end there. And of course, woods isn't interested in Venezuela. The whole point of this operation, as far as he's concerned, was to protect Exxon's play next door in Guyana. From the early days of oil right up to the present, the industry has worked to connect itself to American identity.

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

And now the two are almost interchangeable. The fossil fuel industry and American imperialism

[Amy Westervelt]

go hand in hand, too. Now their preferred president is in power,

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

and those who question oil dominance or

[Amy Westervelt]

dependence are targeted as the enemy, whether foreign or domestic.

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

Fossil fascism is a term used by environmental sociologists to describe the response of the fossil fuel industry and its political allies to the deepening of the climate crisis and increased pressure to transition away from fossil fuels. That response, in a nutshell, is increasing alignment with authoritarian, nationalist or fascist political movements to protect their interests.

[Amy Westervelt]

Key markers of this phenomenon are denial

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

and suppression of climate science to protect fossil fuel profits.

[Amy Westervelt]

Check.

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

Scapegoating of migrants, ethnic minorities or environmentalists. Check. Authoritarian responses to climate, migration and resource conflicts, for example War and border militarization.

[Amy Westervelt]

Check.

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

And check. Corporate capture of government?

[Amy Westervelt]

Check.

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

The use of nationalism to justify continued

[Amy Westervelt]

fossil fuel extraction, American energy dominance?

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

Check. All the markers are there. And they've been there, growing increasingly more obvious. From the Red Line Agreement to the US Invasion of Iraq to the vilification of protesters, and now, today, the invasion of Venezuela and Iran, it's never been more glaring.

[Amy Westervelt]

The question is, how much longer will

[Supporting Voice / Interjector]

we let it continue?

[Amy Westervelt]

Drilled is an original Critical Frequency production distributed by Pushkin Industries. This miniseries was written and reported by me, Amy Westervelt. Our producers are Martin Saltz Ostwick and Peter Duff. Matthew Fleming did the artwork. Our First Amendment attorney is James Wheaton of the First Amendment Project. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next time.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 1]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutant, even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 2]

Hey, everyone, Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 1]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 2]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 1]

Anyways, get a'@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 2]

Liberty. Liberty.

[Amy Westervelt]

Liberty.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 2]

Liberty.

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.