And, This is How Climate Change is Coming For All Of Us

Summary

Podcast Summary: "And, This is How Climate Change is Coming For All Of Us" Release Date: April 22, 2025
Podcast: This is Gavin Newsom
Host: Gavin Newsom
Guest: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

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Introduction: Addressing the Climate Crisis

In the Earth Day episode of This is Gavin Newsom, Governor Newsom engages in a profound dialogue with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse to dissect the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. The conversation delves into the intricate relationship between environmental policies, economic stability, and the pervasive influence of the fossil fuel industry.

Current State of Climate Policy in the United States

Governor Newsom commences the discussion by highlighting California's remarkable achievement of sourcing two-thirds of its electricity from renewable resources. He underscores the urgency of national and global collaboration to spearhead low-carbon growth initiatives.

Gavin Newsom (04:00): "California just reached 2/3 of all of our electricity now, renewable electricity. We're in the Howe business."

Senator Whitehouse elaborates on the precarious state of climate policy, emphasizing the advancements made during the Biden administration and the threats posed by regressive policies from previous administrations.

Sheldon Whitehouse (05:11): "We are the greatest culture makers in world history."

Economic Risks and the Insurance Crisis

A significant portion of the conversation centers on the looming financial crisis driven by climate-induced risks. Senator Whitehouse warns of a potential economic collapse when climate risks render properties uninsurable, drawing parallels to the 2008 mortgage meltdown.

Sheldon Whitehouse (05:11): "I think what most people don't know is how close we are to a climate driven economic collapse that comes when climate risk becomes uninsurable."

Governor Newsom agrees, highlighting the immediate impacts experienced in states like Florida and Louisiana, where extreme weather events have exacerbated insurance challenges.

Gavin Newsom (06:55): "The number one concern people have right now of accessing whatever insurance they had so they can recover their lives and get back on their feet."

Fossil Fuel Industry Influence and Political Corruption

The discussion shifts to the insidious tactics employed by the fossil fuel industry to obstruct climate legislation. Senator Whitehouse criticizes the industry's use of disinformation, dark money, and political corruption to derail meaningful climate action.

Sheldon Whitehouse (10:23): "They can spend similar talent in the disinformation, propagandizing, setting up phony front groups."

Governor Newsom points out the transparency issues and the significant financial clout wielded by oil executives, referencing the infamous meeting with Donald Trump as an example of blatant corruption.

Gavin Newsom (10:03): "And unfortunately, they can spend similar talent in the disinformation, propagandizing, setting up phony front groups."

California's Leadership and Federal Strategies

Highlighting California's proactive stance, Newsom praises the state's environmental initiatives and collaborations with other states to form a united front against climate change. Senator Whitehouse concurs, advocating for national vehicle efficiency standards and a cohesive energy policy modeled after California's successes.

Sheldon Whitehouse (15:00): "If the United States of America had the vehicle efficiency standards that California has, the carbon price that California has, if national energy policy was as good as California's, we would be on our way through this problem."

Looking Ahead: COP 30 and Global Climate Action

In closing, Governor Newsom and Senator Whitehouse discuss the significance of the upcoming COP 30 conference. They stress the importance of addressing insurance risks associated with climate change and forging narrow, actionable pathways to climate safety to secure a sustainable future for subsequent generations.

Sheldon Whitehouse (37:09): "If we can focus on that, then we can focus our minds adequately to find that narrow pathway to climate safety."

Gavin Newsom (38:24): "The issue of insurance and climate and connecting that dot, I think is profound."

Conclusion: A Call to Action

The episode wraps with a mutual acknowledgment of the urgent need to dismantle the fossil fuel disinformation machinery and implement robust climate policies. Governor Newsom and Senator Whitehouse reiterate their commitment to fostering bipartisan support and leveraging California's leadership to inspire nationwide and global climate action.

Sheldon Whitehouse (36:33): "We're one of them. In Rhode Island, we're right behind you."

Gavin Newsom (38:58): "I really appreciate it. I mean, anyone listening appreciates the insurance pressures they're under."

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This episode of This is Gavin Newsom serves as a compelling exploration of the intertwined nature of climate policy, economic stability, and political integrity. Through insightful dialogue, Governor Newsom and Senator Whitehouse illuminate the critical pathways needed to navigate the climate crisis and avert catastrophic economic repercussions.

Transcript

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Peace to the planet. I go by the name of Charlamagne Tha God. And guess what? I can't wait to see y'all at the third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival. That's right, we're coming back to Atlanta, Georgia, Saturday, April 26th at Pullman Yards. And it's hosted by none other than Decisions, Decisions, Mandy B. And Weezy. Okay, we got the R and B Money podcast with Tank and J. Valentine. We got the Woman Evolved podcast with Sarah, Jake Roberts, the Funky Friday podcast with Cam Newton, the Naked Sports podcast with Carrie Champion, Good Mom's Bad Choices podcast, the Trap Nerds podcast, and many more with will be on that stage live. And of course, it's bigger than podcast. We're bringing the Black Effect Marketplace with black owned businesses, plus the food truck court to keep you fed while you visit us. All right, listen, you don't want to miss this. Tap in and grab your tickets [e-mail] podcast festival, proudly sponsored by Nissan, the.

[Matt Rogers]

Big guests continue on Las Culturistas. This week, it's the very funny Amy Poehler. Don't overthink it. They talk water. We did not drink water growing up. Water was not a thing, period.

[Gavin Newsom]

Parenting, you got teen boys.

[Matt Rogers]

This is like the black diamond of parenting. And of course, I don't think so, honey. Horror movies.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Okay, okay.

[George M. Johnson]

Amy Poehler is on Las Culta.

[Matt Rogers]

The latest episode drops Wednesday. Listen to Las culturistas on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[George M. Johnson]

I'm ready to fight. Oh, this is fighting worse. Okay, I'll put the hammer back. Hi, I'm George M. Johnson, a best selling author with the second most banned book in America. Now more than ever, we need to use our voices to fight back.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Part of the power of black queer creativity is the fact that we got us.

[George M. Johnson]

You know, we are the greatest culture.

[Gavin Newsom]

Makers in world history.

[George M. Johnson]

Listen to fighting words on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Brendan Patrick Hughes]

My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell bent effort to sabotage a war.

[Matt Rogers]

J. Edgar Hoover was furious. He was out of his mind and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its knees.

[Brendan Patrick Hughes]

Listen to Divine intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Israel Gutierrez]

I'm Israel Gutierrez and I'm hosting a new podcast, Dub Dynasty. The story of how the Golden State warriors have dominated the NBA for over a decade.

[Gavin Newsom]

The Golden State Warri once again are NBA champions today.

[Israel Gutierrez]

The warriors dynasty remains alive in large part because of a scrawny 6 foot 2 hooper who everyone seems to love.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

For what Steph has done for the game. He's certainly on that Mount Rushmore.

[Israel Gutierrez]

Come revisit this magical warriors ride. Listen to Dub Dynasty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Gavin Newsom]

One of the issues that animates so many of us living in states like California, but people all across the United States, Florida, Louisiana, people in states that have been ravaged by some of the most extreme storms in our lifetime, hurricanes, floods, fires here on the West Coast, I think all recognize the imperative of focusing on the issue of climate change. Of course, so much of our focus is moved in other directions, but Mother Nature, she bats last and she bats a thousand. And that's why this week as we celebrate Earth Day in the United States of America, I thought it was important to talk about the state of climate policy in the United States of America. California just reached 2/3 of all of our electricity now, renewable electricity. We're in the Howe business. And my next guest is also focused on how America can lead the globe on low carbon green growth. This is Gavin Newsom. And this is Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Well, Senator, thanks for taking the time to be on the podcast and I thought it was a great time to have a chance to sit down and talk to you about one of the most pressing issues of our time. That's the issue of climate and what the climate is in Washington, D.C. the Trump administration has come in even more ferociously from my perspective, trying to analyze some of the progress that we've made here in the state of California. But all across the United States, a lot of the progress that was advanced, you advanced and your colleagues during the Biden administration and the IRA and the infrastructure bill promises that were promoted in Project 2025 that are taking shape. The EPA coming out with a set of recommendations and rulemaking that they're looking to advance. That is jaw dropping. So I really appreciate the timeliness of your visit and the opportunity to dialogue about some of these things. Tell me what I don't know in this space and tell me what folks listening should know about the state of climate policy in America.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

I think what most people don't know is how close we are to a climate driven economic collapse that comes when climate risk becomes uninsurable. So you can't get a property insurance policy on your home. There are plenty of Californians who are experiencing that and then when you can't get property insurance on your home, you can't get a mortgage on it, you can't sell it to somebody who needs a mortgage. So unless you're selling it to a billionaire who can pay cash, you're screwed. So no mortgage means your property values crash. And when your property values crash, if that happens to enough people, which it will, because this is driven by climate risk that touches millions and millions of people, you then get an economic wipeout like the 2008 mortgage meltdown caused across the country, harming people who had no problems with their mortgage. It was just the economic wipeout.

[Gavin Newsom]

So someone listening may think that may be slightly hyperbolic. Then again, folks living on the coasts, folks living in the south, in places like Louisiana, obviously in Florida, not just in California, are feeling that reality. Obviously the wildfires here in the western United States, the hurricanes in the southern part of the country, what's the national prism then to begin to address this issue? Obviously we've got to deal with some of the underlying issues of climate change. But in an adaptation policy we often are talking about sea level rise, we're talking about other strategies to mitigate. But you're talking about a looming financial crisis, which raises the bar of concern, correct?

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Yeah. And Florida, I think is first and worst. Florida has more liability from the fund it set up to backstop the insurers who go bust there, which is like a dozen already because they're basically little pop ups that aren't for real. And the state steps in when they don't pay claims and then the taxpayer has to pay and they've got a separate state backed insurance company that is trying to look like an insurance company and carrying all this liability that probably they won't be able to make good on. Those two risks to insurance to Florida are bigger than the state's actual like sovereign debt. So there's a huge overhang over Florida and it's going to do nothing but get worse. You've got property insurance rates that have tripled in a lot of places in Florida and that are expected to triple again. You know, that's really brutal. And when that happens, it starts cascading out through the economy. The International Financial Stability Board put out a global warning to banks. Look out for this. This is coming because, for instance, if all these properties value go down because they're not mortgageable any longer, then their value goes down on the loan to value ratio of a bank. And now suddenly a bank doesn't look solvent any longer and it's Got its own problems. So these problems cascade out into the economy and that's what we have to prepare people for. And I think, you know, you asked a great question. What do we do about it? Step one is to stop what is causing this, which is a climate change. But behind that, the climate denial operation of the fossil fuel industry, which through disinformation and political corruption is just ruining our ability to deal with a problem whose solutions are actually pretty evident. If we could get around the wiles and the mischief of the fossil fuel industry.

[Gavin Newsom]

I appreciate the clarity on that. I mean, the climate crisis is nothing more than a fossil fuel crisis. It's the burning of oil and gas.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

And then lying about it to the public at industrial scale and having the.

[Gavin Newsom]

Best scientists, having the best researchers in this space for decades and decades and being able to see into the future and then knowingly lied about it.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Yeah, yeah.

[Gavin Newsom]

They weren't just in denial. They actually suppressed this information from the public for decades.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

The scientists have known their stuff about climate this whole time. I mean, the scientist community can really take a bow for really excellent presentations and really excellent understanding and predictions. And that includes the ones paid by Exxon. They got it right 30 years ago.

[Gavin Newsom]

And Exxon needs some of the greatest geologists. They hire some of the best and the brightest minds. Best can be broadly described but for the job intended. So they're able to attract the talent because they're able to dig deep into their wallet to get that talent. But as a consequence, they're digging deeper into our wallets right now.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

And unfortunately, they can spend similar talent in the disinformation, propagandizing, setting up phony front groups. The whole armada of disinformation effort that they run is also being done at a very, hate to say it, it's being done very professionally.

[Gavin Newsom]

And so, Senator, you're one of the few folks, I mean, there's a handful of you and I, you know, I give do where it is deserved. There is a handful of US Senators that have the guts because I think it takes guts to say what you just said and the courage to be out front to call balls and strikes and to call out those that are responsible. Polluters should pay, but they're socializing the cost.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Econ 101.

[Gavin Newsom]

Econ 101 on all of us. So the question is why? Is it just simply because it's electorally ill advised to be so candid? Is it because of the corruption that is sort of imbued in the system? It's the unwillingness to take the risk to be more resolved in this space. Is it just what we've come to expect? And that is big money influencing having outsized influence.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Boom. Big money having outsized influence. If you set up an enormous armada of phony front groups and you put Madison Avenue tested fake messaging through that and you backstop it with literally billions of dollars in dark money into Congress, into the back pocket of Mitch McConnell so that he can throw super PACs drop ads on Democrats. You put that whole machine together and up against it, you have Democrats being like well meaning and talking about polar bears. It's like totally not a fair fight. It's the Panzer tanks versus the Polish cavalry. You just don't have a chance. So we need to be much better about it. The good news is we don't have to build the apparatus of lies. All we have to do is build a much more adept and sharp apparatus to point out the lies.

[Gavin Newsom]

Well said.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

And will people see what has been done to them when they understand what did. What was his name? Harvey used to say the end of the story? Yeah, of course.

[Gavin Newsom]

Yeah, that's the end of the story.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

That's the end of the story. You got lied to. Yeah, you got lied to at an industrial scale.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Peace to the planet. I go by the name of Charlemagne Tha God. And guess what? I can't wait to see y'all at the third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival. That's right, we're coming Back to Atlanta, Georgia, Saturday, April 20th at Pullman Yards. And it's hosted by none other than Decisions, Decisions, Mandy B and Weezy. Okay, we got the R and B Money podcast with Tank and J. Valentine. We got the Woman Evolved podcast with Sarah, Jake Roberts, the Funky Friday podcast with Cam Newton, the Naked Sports podcast with Carrie Champion, Good Mom's Bad Choices podcast, the Trap Nerd podcast, and many more will be on that stage live. And of course, it's bigger than podcast. We're bringing the Black Effect Marketplace with black owned businesses, plus the food truck court to keep you fed while you visit us. All right, listen, you don't want to miss this. Tap in and grab your tickets [e-mail] podcast festival.

[Matt Rogers]

There's a lot in life that feels like it should be guaranteed that just isn't. Fortunately, AT&T guarantees connectivity you can depend on or they'll make it right. AT&T connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.com guaranty to learn more. The big guests continue on Las Culturistas. This week, it's the very funny Amy Poehler. Don't overthink it. They talk water. We did not drink water growing up. Water was not a thing.

[George M. Johnson]

Parenting, you got teen boys.

[Matt Rogers]

This is like the black diamond of parenting. And of course, I don't think so, honey. Horror movies.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Okay, okay.

[George M. Johnson]

Amy Poehler is on Las Culta.

[Matt Rogers]

The latest episode drops Wednesday. Listen to Las culturistas on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to to podcasts.

[Israel Gutierrez]

I'm Israel Gutierrez and I'm hosting a new podcast, Dub Dynasty. The story of how the Golden State warriors have dominated the NBA for over a decade.

[Gavin Newsom]

The Golden State warriors once again are NBA champions.

[Israel Gutierrez]

From the building of the core that included Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to one of the boldest coaching decisions in the history of the sport.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

I just felt like the biggest thing.

[Gavin Newsom]

Was to earn the trust of the players and let the players know that we were here to try to help.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Them take the next step, not tear anything down.

[Israel Gutierrez]

Today, the warriors dynasty remains alive in large part because of a scrawny 6 foot 2 hooper who everyone seems to love for what Steph has done for the game.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

He's certainly on that, like Mount Rushmore for guys that have changed it.

[Israel Gutierrez]

Come revisit this magical warriors ride. This is Dove Dynasty.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

The Dubs dynasty is still very much alive.

[Israel Gutierrez]

Listen to Dub Dynasty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Brendan Patrick Hughes]

My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell bent effort to sabotage a war.

[Matt Rogers]

J. Edgar Hoover was furious. Somebody violated the FBI and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its knees.

[Israel Gutierrez]

The FBI went around to all their neighbors and said to them, do you.

[Brendan Patrick Hughes]

Think these people are good Americans? It's got heists, tragedy, a trial of the century, and the God damnedest love story you've ever heard.

[Matt Rogers]

I picked up the phone and my thought was, this is the most important phone call I'll ever make in my life. I couldn't believe it. I mean, Brendan, it was Divine intervention.

[Brendan Patrick Hughes]

Listen to Divine intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[George M. Johnson]

We ready to fight? I'm ready to fight. Is that.

[Gavin Newsom]

I thought it was.

[George M. Johnson]

Oh, this is fighting worse. Okay, I put the hammer back. Hi, I'm George M. Johnson, a best selling author with the second most banned book in America. Now more than ever, we need to use our voices to fight back. And that's what we are doing on Fighting Words. We're not gonna let anyone silence us.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

That's the reason why they're banning books like yours, George. That's the reason why they're trying to stop the teaching of black history, queer.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

History, any history that challenges the whitewashed.

[George M. Johnson]

Norm or put us in a box.

[Gavin Newsom]

Black people have never ever depended on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The so called mainstream to support us. That's why we are great.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

We are the greatest culture makers in world history.

[George M. Johnson]

Listen to Fighting words on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Gavin Newsom]

So we're all dealing with the consequences. Of course, you know, as a governor of California that's dealt with more natural disasters than, than most governors. And I think Jerry Brown could have said that prior to me. And in the last 10 years we've experienced some of the worst wildfires in US history. Not just California history, obviously the wildfires in Southern California that occurred in dead of winter. Yeah, nine months. The driest conditions we've experienced down there in modern history. And in January with 100 mile an hour winds attached to a fire, we experienced a loss of 13 plus thousand properties. The issue of insurance by definition is top of mind. It's the number one concern people have right now of accessing whatever insurance they had so they can recover their lives and get back on their feet. But the idea of getting back and rebuilding, the number one concern is can I get a mortgage now? Because can that mortgage be attached to a requirement to have insurance?

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Yeah, and that's the cascade. You can't predict the risk so you can't get the insurance. So the buyer who you want to sell your property to can't get a mortgage so you have to drop the price and you've got this property values crash that then cascades out through the economy. And it has been warned of so clearly that the chairman of the Fed, Jay Powell, Federal Reserve came a month ago to the Senate, spoke to the Banking Committee and said, you know, 10 to 15 years from now there'll be whole regions of the United States where you can't get a mortgage anymore.

[Gavin Newsom]

And he's having 10 and he's a pretty conservative, I mean not pretty, very conservative, very.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

He said 10 and not very greens.

[Gavin Newsom]

And not very green. So it's just look at bottom line is climate risk is financial risk.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Yes.

[Gavin Newsom]

And it's language I think hopefully that could bring people to the table on fundamentally addressing the solutions. Now let's we talk about prevention, we could talk about low carbon green growth, we could Talk about decarbonizing our economy and changing the way we produce and consume energy, but also how do we address the situational reality? 10 or 15 years? Obviously we're looking at IPPC, we're looking at, at 2045 goals and, and carbon neutrality in that, in that timeline. But beyond that, the insurance market and stabilizing. It's not unique to Florida, it's not Louisiana. I was up in Montana, of all places. They were discussing this as a top priority, obviously in California. Is there a federal frame? You talking to your colleagues about a federal strategy to address some of these insurance concerns?

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

I think until we turn the corner on fossil fuel emissions, the insurance industry is going to continue looking out into uncertainty. How bad does this get? Every year that we add more fossil fuel emissions, we add to their uncertainty, we add to their peril, and so they're going to continue to withdraw away from that risk. A board member of Allianz, which is one of the biggest insurance companies in the world, as you know, just recently wrote an article about how climate change means the end of the insurance industry business model. And by the way, that takes down mortgages that require insurance, and by the way, that also takes down a lot of financial transactions where there's an insurance component to a complex financial transaction. So this cascades out very, very widely and very rapidly. And we simply have to, like, start with first principles. This is caused by fossil fuel emissions. We're not dealing it, dealing with it properly because of fossil fuel mischief, politically, through their dark money and through their lies. We've got to break the back of the fossil fuel disinformation machine, get back to legislating properly. And then there's the possibility that the insurance industry says, okay, now we see an end through this. We can work our way through how we redesign product so we can still provide coverage in Florida, for instance, which is really in terrible, terrible shape.

[Gavin Newsom]

Well, it's interesting, you know, I can't help when I, when you bring up dark money to see to me how transparent and in the light of day that corruption is. I just think about that infamous meeting with oil executives that then candidate Donald Trump had where he said, give me a billion dollars and I'll roll back basically the 20th century, give you what you want.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

And he did.

[Gavin Newsom]

And he did.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

He's trying.

[Gavin Newsom]

And is that a gross exaggerate? Goes back to my opening question to you. I mean, epa, this is a wreck. I, I mean, I've seen. We went through Trump 1.0, we went through Bush. I mean, I went, you know, remember, I'm from my old office is in Ronald Reagan's office. And so even going back to the James Watts days, and I remember all the vandalism was being done on the environment back then, natural resources, not just in terms of environmental policy and waivers and the Clean Air act and the like, Endangered Species Act. But this seems, from my perspective, we're just a few weeks into this administration. This seems 10x the acceleration of that kind of analysis and regressive policymaking. Am I overstating?

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

No, you are not. Just one example that we're looking at a lot, both in the judiciary and the environment, but works committees is the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that the Trump administration is desperate to attack. And in order to do so, they're not just having EPA try to figure out ways to undo the fund. They got the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia to try to cook up a fake criminal case so they could use the fake criminal case as a justification to get a court order freezing the funds prior to seizing them. The problem was that the career staff said, there's no crime here. We can't do this. So what did they do? Fired the chief of the criminal division, went forward with the political U.S. attorney signing the pleading completely on his own. Not one person in office would sign it. Then the judge threw it out. So they're willing to break through barriers of bad behavior, including maladministration of the criminal laws, to try to get harm done to climate initiatives and to try to earn the billion dollars or whatever it was that they spent on. On Trump. We know it's north of 100 million. That was what was disclosed.

[Gavin Newsom]

Disclosed.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

But when you hide it through C4S and through Super PACs, and in it goes. And who knows what went into his crypto fund. I mean, the whole thing is just really hard to tell. But he could easily have gotten the billion dollars. We just don't know yet.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Peace to the planet. I go by the name of Charlamagne Tha God. And guess what? I can't wait to see y'all at the third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival. That's right. We're coming back to Atlanta, Georgia, Saturday, April 26th at Pullman Yards. And it's hosted by none other than Decisions, Decisions, Mandy B and Weezy. Okay, we got the R and B Money podcast with Tank and Jay Valentine. We got the Woman Evolved podcast with Sarah Jake Roberts, the Funky Friday podcast with Cam Newton, the Naked Sports podcast with Carrie Champion, Good Moms Bad Choices podcast, the Trap Nerd Podcast, and many more will be on that stage live. And of course, it's bigger than podcast. We're bringing the Black Effect marketplace with black owned businesses, plus the food truck court to keep you fed while you visit us. All right, listen, you don't want to miss this. Tap in and grab your tickets now. @blackffect.com podcast festival.

[Matt Rogers]

There's a lot in life that feels like it should be guaranteed that just isn't. Fortunately, AT&T guarantees connectivity you can depend on or they'll make it right. AT&T connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.com guaranty to learn more. The big guests continue on Las Culturistas. This week, it's the very funny Amy Poehler. Don't overthink it. They talk water. We did not not drink water growing up. Water was not a thing.

[George M. Johnson]

Parenting, you got teen boys.

[Matt Rogers]

This is like the black diamond of parenting. And of course, I don't think so, honey. Horror movies.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Okay, okay.

[George M. Johnson]

Amy Poehler is on Las Culta.

[Matt Rogers]

The latest episode drops Wednesday. Listen to Las culturistas on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Israel Gutierrez]

I'm Israel Gutierrez and I'm hosting a new podcast, Dub Dynasty. The story of how the Golden State warriors have dominated the NBA for over a decade.

[Gavin Newsom]

The Golden State warriors once again are NBA champions.

[Israel Gutierrez]

From the building of the core that included Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to one of the boldest coaching decisions in the history of the sport.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

I just felt like the biggest thing.

[Gavin Newsom]

Was to earn the trust of the players and let the players know that we were here to try to help.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Them take the next step, not tear anything down.

[Israel Gutierrez]

Today, the warriors dynasty remains alive in large part because of a scrawny 6 foot 2 hooper who everyone seems to love for what Steph has done for the game.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

He's certainly on that, like Mount Rushmore for guys that have changed it.

[Israel Gutierrez]

Come revisit this magical warriors ride. This is Dub Dynasty.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

The Dubs dynasty is still very much alive.

[Israel Gutierrez]

Listen to Dub Dynasty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[George M. Johnson]

We ready to fight? I'm ready to fight. Is that.

[Gavin Newsom]

I thought it was.

[George M. Johnson]

Oh, this is Fighting words. Okay, I'll put the hammer back. Hi, I'm George M. Johnson, a best selling author with the second most banned book in America. Now more than ever, we need to use our voices to fight back. And that's what we are doing on Fighting Words. We're not going to let anyone silence us.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

That's the reason why they're banning books like yours, George. That's the reason why they're trying to stop the teaching of black history or.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Queer history, any history that challenges the.

[George M. Johnson]

Whitewashed norm or put us in a box.

[Gavin Newsom]

Black people have never ever depended on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The so called mainstream to support us. That's why we are great.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

We are the greatest culture makers in world history.

[George M. Johnson]

Listen to fighting words on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Brendan Patrick Hughes]

My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell bent effort to sabotage a war.

[Matt Rogers]

J edgua was furious. Somebody violated the FBI and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its knees.

[Israel Gutierrez]

The FBI went around to all their neighbors and said to them, do you.

[Gavin Newsom]

Think these people are good Americans?

[Brendan Patrick Hughes]

It's got heists, tragedy, a trial of the century, and the God damnedest love story you've ever heard.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

I picked up the phone and my.

[Matt Rogers]

Thought was, this is the most important phone call I'll ever make in my life. I couldn't believe it. I mean, Brendan, it was divine intervention.

[Brendan Patrick Hughes]

Listen to divine intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Gavin Newsom]

You know, it's interesting, I think back, and forgive me for going back to Ronald Reagan, because you have been a recent champion of trying to protect California's waivers under the Clean Air Act. And just for those listening, it's an interesting fact. California's modern environmental movement. There were many moments, obviously offshore oil spill in Santa Barbara. But Ronald Reagan really established the regulatory regime as governor in 1967 with the creation of the California Air Resource board. And in 1970, a Republican by the name of Richard Nixon gave Reagan the authority under that Clean Air act to advance that waiver. Same person that brought us the Endangered Species act, among many other environmental rules, including the EPA itself. Republicans, I'm old enough to remember, not that I wasn't around for that necessarily, but I do remember Another Republican, George H.W. bush, on the issue of some issues around the ozone layer as well. What the hell's happened in this country that we've lost sort of a bipartisan appreciation for clean air, clean water, having a life you can live out loud without asthma and being able to live longer and healthier lives? I mean, there's a lot of rhetoric in this space.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Yeah.

[Gavin Newsom]

But what the hell has happened, this new reality?

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Well, I think the new reality has a lot to do with corruption and A lot to do with Citizens United, which unleashed political spending on an unprecedented level. And nobody had a bigger incentive to spend money politically than a polluter. And nobody had a bigger incentive to hide that it was them spending money politically than a polluter. So you could go in and make your backroom deal with the Republican Party and say, you knock it off on climate, you knock it off on environmental enforcement. We will give you all the money that you need, and nobody will know it's us. It'll all come through Californians for Peace and Puppies and Prosperity or some phony front group that will prop up for you. And the motives are huge. The International Monetary Fund says that the subsidy for fossil fuel in the United States every single year from being allowed to pollute for free is $700 billion.

[Gavin Newsom]

The subsidy.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

The subsidy.

[Gavin Newsom]

The American taxpayers are pain in the.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Aggregate, in the form of pollution, harms that in proper economics are baked into the price of the product, but they're not in the price of the product. So they're what economists call a negative externality, which is a form of subsidy. Ask Milton Friedman, the great conservative economist. Right. And when you're fighting for a $700 billion subsidy, how much would you spend a year in politics to protect 700 billion? I mean, the number goes through the roof. It's astronomical. So the notion that they could have given a billion dollars to trump the notion they could spend $10 billion a year influencing Congress is completely plausible when you're playing for stakes of that magnitude.

[Gavin Newsom]

It wasn't that long ago that These guys made $63 billion net profit in 90 days.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Yeah.

[Gavin Newsom]

With some of the most egregious gas spiking we've ever experienced in US History, with no account, zero accountability. As the price of the barrel of oil was going down, the price of gasoline was going up, and there were no new regulatory impositions or fees attached to that.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

That's the thing about this line that Republicans like to utter, that what we need is energy independence. We will never have energy independence in the United States of America with fossil fuel, because the price is not set in America.

[Gavin Newsom]

Thank you.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

The price is set by a foreign cartel. That's exactly where that 62 billion came from. Putin comes over the border prices spike in opec, and instead of being loyal to their American customers and keeping the prices where they were doing just fine, they ramped their prices up to meet the cartel price and gouged and gouged and gouged and made the biggest profits in the history of the corporation. Yeah.

[Gavin Newsom]

And somehow they had the American people, hard working folks defending these oil companies despite the fact they were directly being fleeced by these same folks, the same petro dictators overseas that were determining domestic policy, not just influencing foreign policy.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Well that climate denial machine got turned on full blast to say that this was Joe Biden's fault.

[Gavin Newsom]

Well said.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

And we did not have, and the President, then President Biden did not have a strategy to fight back. Now ultimately they went for the clawback legislation and by fighting for the clawback legislation they actually turned that issue where actually people started to blame the fossil fuel industry, particularly once they'd seen those profit reports. So we were able to turn that issue. But it took some willingness to fight and it took a while before the Biden administration got around to where they were willing to fight back. There were months in which there was a one way street of public information all saying Bidenflation, Biden gas prices. Biden did this.

[Gavin Newsom]

Which is the great irony because under the Biden administration we were never more energy independent. In terms of net exports, I think it's between 13.3 or 4 billion a million gallon barrels a day that we're exporting more than Trump administration ever exported. We're also producing more clean energy and green energy. And I want to compliment you on the IRA, the $369 billion, the up to a trillion dollars, we'll see where it counts. Up to of tax credits and obviously the infrastructure bill. Are you seeing the benefit? There's been a lot of, you know, I'm talking to Ezra Klein on the podcast, you know where he thought the mistake of those bills, it wasn't attached to streamlining and green tape and addressing the issue of a regulatory thicket in terms of advancing those alternative energy strategies.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

We could have done more. But right now you're seeing an awful lot of Republicans, senators and congressmen coming into John Thune coming into Speaker Johnson and saying hold on, hold on, not so fast. This is a factory in my district. This is a factory where I've got employees. This is an investment where I was there when we cut the ribbon. Not so fast. So I think we did a fairly good job there. It just isn't enough because you simply can't have a competition for energy in which one side, the polluting side pollutes for free and gets a $700 billion negative externality subsidy and the other side has to fight. And plus with that huge subsidy, they're attacking the other side constantly in the public media, lying about them, attacking politicians. It's a very, very tough environment. I will tell you Governor, if the United States of America had the vehicle efficiency standards that California has, the carbon price that California has, if national energy policy was as good as California's, we would be on our way through this problem. We would have a much wider pathway to climate safety. As it is, it is a very narrow path and we've got to fight really hard to make sure that we succeed.

[Gavin Newsom]

Well, I appreciate that and again it goes back to my compliments and they weren't lightly extended to you for being a fierce champion of protecting our hard earned status because of those waivers that have allowed us to advance our clean car goals to allow us to have an influence to support other states efforts. These 177 states, we call them because we're joining forces.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

We're one of them. In Rhode island, we're right behind you.

[Gavin Newsom]

God bless. And all the other climate alliances we've created, not just in the United States but also internationally in the MoU. MoU under two coalitions and the like. But let me ask you just in closing, there's one major conference coming up. It's cop, what we refer to as cop. What is cop? What does cop 30 represent and do you think it represents this next big international climate? What do you think this moment represents? Trump. Trumpism. What do you think we represent? You, your state, Rhode Island, California represent to the international community at this critical moment as well.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

What we are seeing is a long litany of fossil fuel lies about what our future is going to be on a collision course with the insurance industry's. Look at what our future is going to be. The fossil fuel industry can lie for free. The insurance industry makes trillion dollar bets on getting it right and has fiduciary responsibilities to do its best. And the insurance industry is predicting real calamity with that cascade through real estate markets and into world economic meltdown. So if in Brazil at the cop, we are focusing on that insurance risk and what it means for real estate markets, according to the economist magazine, a $25 trillion hit to the world's largest asset class, real estate. If we can focus on that, then we can focus our minds adequately to find that narrow pathway to climate safety. If it's more nebulous. Talk about ambitions and you know, green this and all, you know, it's like no, now we're down to a very narrow path. We've got to nail this if we're going to leave our children and grandchildren a pathway to climate safety.

[Gavin Newsom]

I appreciate it. It's interesting. I mean, just in closing, I appreciate, I really appreciate. I mean, again, anyone listening appreciates the insurance pressures they're under. The issue of affordability is the issue of our time. It's defined the last few years. I think it had big and outsized influence, clearly in the election, not just here, but around the globe, but the issue of insurance and climate and connecting that dot, I think is profound. And so I'm very grateful. Thank you, Senator, for taking the time well.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

You're living it. Thank you, Governor.

[Gavin Newsom]

Thank you.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Peace to the planet. I go by the name of Charlamagne Tha God. And guess what? I can't wait to see y'all at the third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival. That's right. We're coming back to Atlanta, Georgia, Saturday, April 26th at Pullman Yards. And it's hosted by none other than Decisions, Decisions, Mandy B. And Weezy. Okay, we got the R and B Money podcast with Tank and J. Valentine. We got the Woman Evolved podcast with Sarah Jake Roberts, the Funky Friday podcast with Cam Newton, the Naked Sports podcast with Carrie Champion, Good Moms, Bad Choices podcast, the Trap Nerd podcast, and many more will be on that stage live. And of course, it's bigger than podcast. We're bringing the Black Effect marketplace with black owned businesses, plus the food truck court to keep you fed while you visit us. All right, listen, you don't want to miss this. Tap in and grab your Tickets [e-mail] Podcast Festival, proudly sponsored by Nissan.

[Matt Rogers]

The big guests continue on Las Culturistas. This week, it's the very funny Amy Poehler. Don't overthink it. They talk. Water. We did not drink water growing up. Water was not a thing.

[George M. Johnson]

Parenting, you got teen boys.

[Matt Rogers]

This is like the black diamond of parenting. And of course, I don't think so, honey. Horror movies.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Okay, okay.

[George M. Johnson]

Amy Poehler is on Las Culta.

[Matt Rogers]

The latest episode drops Wednesday. Listen to Las culturistas on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Brendan Patrick Hughes]

My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell bent effort to sabotage a war.

[Matt Rogers]

J. Edgar Hoover was furious. He was out of his mind and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its knees.

[Brendan Patrick Hughes]

Listen to Divine intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[George M. Johnson]

I'm ready to fight. Oh, this is fighting worse. Okay, I'll put the hammer back. Hi, I'm George M. Johnson, a best selling author with the second most banned book in America. Now more than ever, we need to use our voices to fight back.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

Part of the power of black queer creativity is the fact that we got us.

[George M. Johnson]

You know, we are the greatest culture.

[Gavin Newsom]

Makers in world history.

[George M. Johnson]

Listen to fighting Words on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Israel Gutierrez]

I'm Israel Gutierrez and I'm hosting a new podcast, Dub Dynasty, the story of how the Golden State warriors have dominated the NBA for over a decade.

[Gavin Newsom]

The Golden State warriors once again are NBA champions today.

[Israel Gutierrez]

The warriors dynasty remains alive in large part because of a scrawny 6 foot 2 hooper who everyone seems to love.

[Sheldon Whitehouse]

For what Steph has done for the game. He's certainly on that Mount Rush.

[Israel Gutierrez]

Come revisit this magical warrior's ride. Listen to Dub Dynasty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.