Podcast Summary: The Daily

Episode: "50 States, 50 Fixes"

Date: January 2, 2026
Hosts: Michael Barbaro, Rachel Abrams
Guests/Reporters: Cara Buckley, Catrin Einhorn

Episode Overview

This episode highlights The New York Times' ambitious reporting project, “50 States, 50 Fixes.” As federal climate policies shift or recede, local, state, and tribal communities across the country are stepping up with their own creative, grassroots solutions to environmental challenges. Reporters Cara Buckley and Catrin Einhorn discuss how they and their colleagues found hopeful, pragmatic, and occasionally surprising stories in every state, focusing on how local actions are impacting climate, economies, and communities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Genesis of the "50 States, 50 Fixes" Project

• Personal Motivation & Optimism in Reporting
  • Buckley shifted from covering culture to the climate desk after struggling with climate news negativity (01:50).
  • Sought to uplift stories of impact and local action:

    “I thought maybe I can report this out. But in a way that focused on all these efforts that people were doing to try and reverse climate change.” — Cara Buckley (02:13)

• Approach: Solutions Journalism
  • Focused on solutions, not just problems:

    “Not the plane crashes, but the planes that are not only successfully landing, but doing it really well.” — Cara Buckley (02:51)

• Team Effort
  • Over 50 photographers, 13 reporters contributed.

    “There was a whole team of people that worked really hard on this series…” — Catrin Einhorn (05:23)

2. Criteria for Selection: Multiple Wins

• Projects needed to deliver on several fronts: environmental improvement, community health, economic benefits, and resilience (04:50-05:09).
• Connectedness of issues emphasized:

  “You're showing the interconnectedness of our climate to our economy, to our health.” — Michael Barbaro (05:09)

3. Standout Local Solutions

A. Rockport, Missouri: Wind Energy Transformation

• Funeral director Eric Chamberlain spearheaded a wind energy transition.
• From four turbines in 2008, the county now hosts 340+, supplying 50 jobs and $6M/year in tax revenue—a lifeline for the shrinking town.

  “…he distinctly remembers flipping on the switch in 2008 and watching the town’s electricity meter running backwards.” — Cara Buckley (07:02)

B. Montana: Guardian Dogs Protecting Farms and Grizzlies

• The return of grizzlies to Montana plains challenged farmers.
• Solution: livestock guardian dogs (e.g., Anatolian shepherds, kangals) protect both crops and bears, promoting human-wildlife coexistence.
• Ancient techniques rediscovered and localized; results spread peer-to-peer.

  “These dogs were protecting the people and they were protecting the bears, because if the bears are gonna threaten people’s lives and livelihoods, they’re gonna get themselves killed. So the dogs were this tool for coexistence...” — Catrin Einhorn (09:46)
  “We’re having to relearn these ancient practices that had been forgotten.” — Catrin Einhorn (11:44)

C. North Dakota's Standing Rock Tribe: EV Chargers

• After years of protest against fossil fuels, Standing Rock builds out clean energy with a network of EV chargers supported by a $6M Department of Energy grant (15:46-16:37).
• Federal funding key, but future uncertain as funding ebbs.

D. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Fighting Light Pollution

• Astronomer’s advocacy led to dimmable, hooded streetlights, reducing energy waste, carbon emissions, and harm to wildlife.
• City aims to save nearly $1 million/year in energy and prevent 12,000 metric tons of CO2 annually (18:36-19:19).

E. Oklahoma: Cleaner Streams by Fencing Livestock

• Farmers benefit financially and ecologically by fencing cows out of streams: healthier cattle, lower vet bills, ecological restoration (19:54-20:49).

F. Portland, Oregon: Creative Vegan Solutions

• Notable for its cultural creativity: vegan tattoo parlors, a vegan strip club (with the motto: “We put the meat on the pole, not on the plate”). Both hosts and guests amused by its “boggling” options (14:41-14:48).

4. Reporting Challenges & Politics

• Finding Non-Redundant, Diverse Stories
  • Some states presented unique challenges due to local priorities or political climates.
• Avoiding and Navigating the Politics of Climate
  • Solutions and environmental action often embraced for practical—not ideological—reasons.
  • Some participants wary to use language like “climate change.”

    “Sometimes people didn’t want to talk about climate change…they either don’t want to use that word or they definitely don’t want to talk about it as human caused.” — Catrin Einhorn (21:13)

  • Fear of repercussions or loss of funding led some to avoid interviews (21:41).

5. Reflections on Hope & Local Action

• Two-Pronged Outlook: (22:25)
  • Big picture remains daunting and scary.
  • Local efforts inspire hope:

    “There are so many people all over the country that are finding ways to work with the planet rather than against it.” — Cara Buckley (22:54)

• Personal Change & Broader Perspective:
  • Catrin Einhorn notes the spirit of Jane Goodall:

    “Every single day…we are making a difference. Our actions are making a difference, and we get to decide what kind of difference we make.” — Catrin Einhorn (23:41)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Solutions Journalism: (paraphrased)

  “Not the plane crashes, but the planes…landing really well.” — Cara Buckley (02:51)

• On Light Pollution:

  “People don’t think of it as real pollution, but according to a 2023 study, it’s growing globally at 10% a year…” — Cara Buckley (17:32)

• On Avoiding Politics:

  “I'm not gonna say it transcended politics, but people want clean air, they want clean water. They want beauty around them.” — Cara Buckley (20:36)

• On Inspiration from Jane Goodall:

  “Every single day we live, we are making a difference…and we get to decide what kind of difference we make.” — Catrin Einhorn (23:41)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Series Origins & Reporter Motivation: 01:27 – 05:35
• Missouri Wind Power Story: 05:39 – 07:52
• Montana Guardian Dogs: 08:01 – 12:23
• Standing Rock EV Chargers: 15:03 – 16:46
• Fayetteville, AR & Pittsburgh Light Pollution: 17:01 – 19:19
• Oklahoma Streams & Avoiding the Politics: 19:54 – 22:04
• Reflections on Future & Hope: 22:04 – 24:03

Conclusion

“50 States, 50 Fixes” is a testament to the creativity and determination of communities across America—often quietly, pragmatically, and outside partisan frames—addressing the climate crisis in ways that resonate locally and have ripple effects nationally. The reporting is both sobering and hopeful, showing the scale of the challenge but also the power and spread of local ideas.

Listen to this episode for a journey through American ingenuity, where climate, economy, and community intertwine beyond politics—one local fix at a time.