Podcasts about Energy Information Administration

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: this past Friday, the U.S. Labor Department released the May Jobs Report, interesting numbers compared to the "experts'" predictions; on Wednesday morning, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index Report; oil prices react to President Trump's comments that Iran is too slow to negotiate a deal, must pay price, retaliation for the downing of an Apache helicopter, airstrikes on Iran to continue and the U.S. Energy Information Administration's release of U.S. Crude Oil Inventories; gas prices continue to fall; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and several opinions along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: this past Friday, the U.S. Labor Department released the May Jobs Report, interesting numbers compared to the "experts'" predictions; on Wednesday morning, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index Report; oil prices react to President Trump's comments that Iran is too slow to negotiate a deal, must pay price, retaliation for the downing of an Apache helicopter, airstrikes on Iran to continue and the U.S. Energy Information Administration's release of U.S. Crude Oil Inventories; gas prices continue to fall; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and several opinions along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Democratic leaders are pledging to restore wind and solar tax credits if they regain control of Congress and the White House, some clean energy developers are questioning whether continuing to pursue those incentives is necessary or even politically wise. POLITICO's Nico Portuondo breaks down why Democrats and parts of the renewable energy industry are increasingly at odds over those credits and what the debate means for America's clean energy future. Plus, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said that global oil consumption in 2026 is expected to fall from last year, and Constellation Energy's plan to reopen the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear site is one step closer to Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval. Nico Portuondo is a congressional energy reporter for POLITICO's E&E News. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy.  KJ Cline is the video producer for POLITICO Energy. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. Cyril Zaneski is executive editor of POLITICO's E&E News. Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO. Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO. Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram. Follow POLITICO here:    ➤ X: https://x.com/politico/ ➤ Instagram:  / politico      ➤ Facebook:  / politico   For more reporting on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump and some congressional Republicans are pushing to suspend the federal gas tax amid rising pump prices, accelerating inflation, and no end in sight to the Iran war. POLITICO's Amelia Davidson discusses the political hurdles on Capitol Hill and whether suspending the tax would actually make a meaningful difference for Americans. Plus, the U.S. Energy Information Administration raised its forecast for next year's oil and gasoline prices, and EPA proposed allowing developers of data centers, power plants and other industrial facilities to start some construction before obtaining federal air permits. Amelia Davidson is a Congress reporter with POLITICO's E&E News. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy.  KJ Cline is the video producer for POLITICO Energy. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. Cyril Zaneski is executive editor of POLITICO's E&E News. Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO. Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO. Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram. Follow POLITICO here:    ➤ X: https://x.com/politico/ ➤ Instagram:  / politico      ➤ Facebook:  / politico   For more reporting on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to the Energy Information Administration, the national average price for gasoline was $4.26 per gallon at the end of April and it was largely stable throughout last month. Not good. Certainly painful. But wholesale gas price has exploded higher in recent weeks and that means retail gas prices are about to do the same thing. The wholesale cost points to a nationwide pump price of $5. Not next month, soon.  Eurodollar University's Money & Macro Analysis--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about Augusta Precious Metals and what they have to offer - including physical gold for IRA accounts - by going to https://EurodollarGold.com or text EURO to 35052. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Just a Few Stocks Driving S&P 500 Rally Triggers Dot-Com Bubble Flashbackshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-05/dot-com-bubble-flashbacks-triggered-by-lack-of-s-p-500-breadthRCM/TIPP Steadies In May As Stress Easeshttps://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2026/05/05/rcmtipp_steadies_in_may_as_stress_eases_1180584.htmlhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Darrell Castle talks about the war against Iran and the efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for the commerce of the world along with the unexpected results being felt around the world. Transcription / Notes SOME UNEXPECTED RESULTS OF WAR Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. This is Friday the 24th day of April in the year of our Lord 2026. I will be talking again about the war against Iran and the efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for the commerce of the world along with the unexpected results being felt around the world as a result of this war. Let me start with a brief refresher regarding the history of the U.S. war with Iran before I get into unexpected results. The U.S. government back in 1953 started this long conflict by its overthrow of Mosaddegh who was popularly elect and his replacement with the Shah who was always seen as a U.S. puppet. If what I just said is true and I obviously believe that it is, then the U.S. has been in this conflict for 73 years. In 1953 the Korean War was just shutting down so maybe a new conflict was needed in the Middle East to feed the war machine, who knows. Fast forward to today and we find that often history does repeat but barely is it noticed because it will always be different this time. We have lots of propaganda coming out of the war from both sides and unlike propaganda in earlier wars today's propaganda reaches the whole world instantly through social media. In World Wars, for example, propaganda was designed only for the home populations of each side. Don't worry we are winning etc. Except for the Tokyo Rose broadcasts to the U.S. Navy and the Axis Sally broadcasts to the U.S. bomber crews the propaganda was primarily to keep the population's backs in the war effort. To that end a ceasefire is announced from time to time and that mere announcement will usually calm the headlines and the markets for a brief time. The other side quickly violates the ceasefire or denies that it exists and the whole thing starts over. President Trump says they have agreed to everything and the Iranians say no we will keep our uranium and the Strait remains closed. It appears to be just propaganda back and forth or perhaps just wishful thinking, and the confusion is exacerbated by Iran's lack of known leadership. We do know a few things that appear to be factual, however. Six or seven weeks ago, the U.S. and Israel launched a preemptive attack, surprise attack, sneak attack depending on your point of view. This attack was launched in the midst of negotiations ala Pearl Harbor. When the Japanese did it they thought and hoped it would demoralize the American people into negotiations favorable to Japan but it had the opposite effect and I submit this attack did the same to Iran. The U.S. dropped unprecedented amounts of bombs and missiles on Korea and Vietnam but neither surrendered and that fact of history seems to have gone unnoticed by the administration. The Iranians believe they are victims of an unprovoked attack which cost them dearly in terms of lives, treasure, and infrastructure. They think they are entitled to compensation for that and I submit that one way or another they will get it. In the meantime, the war is actually helping Iran by raising oil prices worldwide thus helping the Iranian export prices. They could insist on tolls through the Strait of Hormuz which they had never imposed before this war. I suspect that no permanent peace agreement will happen without compensation from the U.S. and/or Israel. Either way it would be on the backs of U.S. taxpayers. My guess is that this war will continue for a time that we could call indefinite and here is one reason why. Trump apparently started this war at the behest of Netanyahu but now he aggressively insults and attacks anyone he perceives to have said a negative word about him and that includes foreign leaders. He doesn't seem to understand that people remember the insults and foreign affairs of a great nation can't be conducted like kids jostling each other on a school ground. The problem of war in the Middle East is more than likely unsolvable as long a s Israel exists especially with its current leadership. Therefore, expect to be at war for a long time at least until it finally destroys the U.S. economy. Speaking of the U.S. and world economy let's look at some results of the war or at least some things made worse by it. This all comes at a time when rising debt levels and rising interest obligations are pushing the U.S. into a more fragile state. According to MoneyWeek U.S. debt has now exceeded 39 trillion. It has been only five months since it blew past 38 trillion. The debt has doubled since Trump was sworn in for his first term or about 10 years ago. No amount of bluster and bombast will erase certain facts such as the U.S. approaching 40 trillion amid rising interest rates, along with a coming debt crises. The U.S. has about 9 trillion of debt that must be refinanced or rolled over this cycle. Presumably short-term treasuries can be sold at about 3.5% but what if they can't and it takes 5%. That would be catastrophic and would accelerate the crash to unstoppable speed. I admit I'm no economist but that's the way it looks to me from the numbers. The disturbing thing is that Washington seems to take no notice of it at all. This fiscal year, 2026 the defense budget or war budget as its now called is about $950 billion. Trump has requested an almost 60% increase to $1.5 trillion for fiscal year 2027. That's all caused by the war right. Well, no, I'm afraid not folks because that doesn't even include the costs of the Iranian war so he's saying we need a 60% increase just to keep up. The U.S. has dropped tens of thousands of bombs and missiles on Iran and has lost a few aircraft along with great damage to bases all over the Middle East. The U.S. has had to move its military out of the Persian Gulf region and move its carriers at least 1000 kilometers or about 620 miles from the conflict to avoid missile attacks. So, one unexpected result of the war is that the U.S. multibillion-dollar carriers are very vulnerable to cheap drone and missile attack. Iran apparently has quite a stockpile of those and reportedly China is resupplying them all the time. Iran has an ace up its sleeve in this international poker game of death and that ace is the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is a narrow strip of water that links the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world. Before the war started approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day or about 20% of global production passed through the Strait along with 20% of global LNG exports according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The Strait is so vitally important to the world economy that it's a fair guess that disruption for a prolonged period would provoke a worldwide depression. Iran has spent decades accumulating the means to shut the Strait down. It has commanding geography with a thousand miles of coastline and many inlets where missiles can be stored and launched. The U.S. has discovered that even the U.S. Navy cannot police all of them. Just this week reportedly 24 Iranian tankers slipped through the U.S. blockade. If the Strait is not completely closed it is too dangerous for normal commercial shipping. Oil and natural gas are everywhere and in everything. They are the most important of all commodities that the world depends on. The Far East today is the manufacturing center of the world or the world's workshop and Middle East oil and gas keeps the Far East working. Until this war is resolved we can probably count on oil above 100$ per barrel and increasing shortages of many things we are used to having in abundance. Ultimately the real danger is worldwide food production and the increasing cost of food caused by ever lower crop yields. This threat to the world's food supply is being caused by the drastic reduction in fertilizer because so much of it is shipped through the gulf. The world needs fertilizer to grow crops and feed people and that is gradually being strangled. Once again, the unexpected results of war. Perhaps the markets of the world have just been waiting for a pin to pop the bubble so we will see that higher prices for fuel will result in higher prices for everything and that is as inevitable as night follows day. The result of all this and the result of the war will be a significantly lower standard of living for the people of the world. So, propaganda tells us the Strait will remain open and the Mullahs will never have a nuclear weapon. Neither statement appears to be true at the current time so that leaves the U.S. in a very difficult position. The U.S. could admit defeat and leave thus admitting that the Empire cannot fulfill its promises or the U.S. could resort to the unthinkable but I don't see many other choices. In any event the petrodollar world appears to be ending. I heard Marco Rubio, the Secretary of everything say that Brazil, the largest country in South America just concluded a deal with China to trade in the Chinese currency. The U.S. relies on the dollar as the world's reserve to bully and sanction other countries but if they are not trading in the dollar then sanctions are no threat. So, the world is changing rapidly and not in favor of the American people or at least that's my take on it.  Donald Trump has hung an Albatross around his neck and removing it is job number one. He might have to allow a strategic retreat to a more defensible line. The failure to reach that conclusion has resulted in the destruction of many armies and the loss of many wars. So, admit it was a mistake and find some way to reverse course no matter what Israel says about it. The longer he persists the worse it will get because he simply is not all powerful like he apparently thought he was, and neither is the United States. Finally, folks, I hope this was just a tragic mistake and not something preplanned and far more sinister but the unexpected results of it are apparently only unexpected by us normal people who are concerned about working, living, and raising our kids in a peaceful world. At least that's the way I see it, Until next time folks, This is Darrell Castle, Thanks for listening.

New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, shows U.S. ethanol production declined for the week ending April 17, falling 7.1 percent to an 11-week low of 1.04 million barrels per day. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advisors on This Week's Show Kyle Tetting Art Rothschild Adam Baley (with Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik) Week in Review (April 20-24, 2026) Significant Economic Indicators & Reports Monday No major announcements Tuesday Retail sales rose 1.7% in March, driven by higher gas prices. The U.S. Census Bureau said 12 of 13 categories reported higher revenue than February. The exception was miscellaneous stores. Gas station sales jumped 15.5% in a month when prices rose 24%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Excluding gas stations and car dealers, retail spending increased 0.6%. Sales at bars and restaurants rose 0.1%, following a 0.5% gain in February and two months of declines. Adjusted for inflation, total retail sales rose 0.8%, the most in a year. Retail sales represent about two-thirds of U.S. consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of the gross domestic product. Prospects for home sellers brightened slightly in March with a bump up in the pending home sales index from the National Association of Realtors. The trade group said its index rose 1.5% from February but was down 1.1% from the year before. It stood more than 26% below the 2001 index base, which the Realtors consider to be a normal sales level. The association said the monthly increase in contract signings amid rising mortgage interest rates suggested pent-up demand. It cited a lack of inventory, especially for young, first-time buyers. Among the top 50 metro areas in the country, the Realtors said the Milwaukee-Waukesha area had a 13.5% one-year gain in pending sales, second only to the Kansas City area, at 15%.  Wednesday No major announcements Thursday The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims rose slightly for the third week in a row to remain 42% below its average since 1967. A Labor Department report suggested continued reluctance among employers to let workers go. Total jobless claims dropped 1.9% from the week before to 1.9 million, which was 2.9% below the same time in 2025. Friday Consumer sentiment declined 6.6% in April as the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran continued to weigh down expectations for personal finances and the broader economy. Sentiment overall was nearly 5% lower than in April 2025 and near its low levels in mid-2022, when inflation reached 40-year highs. According to the University of Michigan survey, consumers expect inflation to rise to 4.7% in the next year and to settle around 3.5% longer term. The latest Consumer Price Index showed inflation at 3.3% in March, well above the Federal Reserve’s long-term target of 2%. Market Closings for the Week Nasdaq – 24837, up 368 points or 1.5% S&P 500 – 7165, up 39 points or 0.5% Dow Jones Industrial Average – 49229, down 218 points or 0.4% 10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.31%, up 0.06 point

America's oil industry is privately lobbying top Trump administration officials — including the president himself — to block any permanent peace plan with Iran that would leave Tehran charging tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. POLITICO's Ben Lefebvre explains the oil industry's short-term and long-term concerns, how the White House is responding, and why this waterway could make or break the deal. Plus, a new POLITICO survey found that Europeans want more renewable energy even if it temporarily increases their bills, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration said energy consumption in the United States will remain flat through 2050. Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. Cyril Zaneski is executive editor of POLITICO's E&E News. Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO. Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO. Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram. Follow POLITICO here:    ➤ X: https://x.com/politico/ ➤ Instagram:  / politico      ➤ Facebook:  / politico   For more reporting on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A surge in natural gas prices this winter was a reminder of the relationship between fuel markets and wholesale electricity prices. In the latest episode of our Power Trends podcast, U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Energy Economist Andrew Iraola and Industry Economist Lindsay Aramayo unpack what drove the recent electricity price spikes, natural gas constraints, and what we can expect in the months ahead.Aramayo discussed recent price volatility, noting that wholesale electricity prices averaged about $70 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in New York prior to Winter Storm Fern. “By the time we released our February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), those prices had increased to $220 per MWh,” she said. “That helps you see how volatile wholesale prices can be, and how dependent they are on natural gas prices.”New York relies on natural gas for residential heating and electricity production. Winter Storm Fern sharply increased heating demand while temporarily reducing natural gas availability. The disruptions to natural gas supply were caused in part by “freeze‑offs,” which occur during extreme cold when water and other liquids freeze and block the flow of natural gas.The reduction in fuel availability contributed to record natural gas withdrawals and a jump in gas prices. Iraola noted the behavior of the system in January and February often helps guide the rest of the year. If there is a large storage withdrawal, that can keep inventories below the five-year average, which puts upward pressure on prices. It also makes it more difficult to rebuild inventories during injection season, which runs from March through October.The discussion underscored why natural gas remains a key driver of electricity costs, particularly in regions like New York that sit at the end of the natural gas pipeline system. This can create tighter constraints during peak demand.According to Aramayo, data center buildout is a driver of electricity demand in other regions including the Mid-Atlantic and South. In New York, it's electrification of the transportation and building sectors that's driving demand.  EIA's reports note that natural gas will remain the dominant fuel for power generation and predict natural gas price increases, driven by stronger demand, will continue to place upward pressure on wholesale electricity prices in the coming years.The STEO reflects an increasingly complex and uncertain energy environment, the economists said. When evaluating natural gas markets, analysts consider volatility shaped by weather, infrastructure constraints, and fluctuating demand.Understanding these dynamics is essential for making sense of wholesale electricity prices and for planning a reliable, affordable grid.Additional ResourcesU.S. Energy Information Administration Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO)NYISO Winter Electricity Pricing Resource PageLearn MoreFollow us on X/Twitter @NewYorkISO, LinkedIn @NYISO, Bluesky @nyiso.comRead our blogs and watch our videos

Oil Prices, the Strait of Hormuz, and What It Means for Your Retirement Portfolio When a geopolitical crisis sends oil prices surging, the effects ripple through nearly every corner of the economy — and that includes your retirement savings. On this week’s episode of The Financial Hour of the Tom Dupree Show, Tom Dupree Jr. and Mike Johnson broke down exactly what’s driving elevated oil and gasoline prices right now, what history tells us about these moments, and — most importantly — how Dupree Financial Group is actively managing client portfolios in response. If you’re thinking about retirement or already in retirement, this conversation is one you’ll want to understand. Why Oil Prices Are Surging Right Now The immediate cause is the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which roughly 20–25% of the world’s daily oil traffic passes — approximately 8 to 9 million barrels per day. According to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, 89% of that oil is ultimately destined for Asia, with China receiving around 38% and India approximately 14–15%. This isn’t primarily a U.S. supply problem — but it is absolutely a U.S. pricing problem. As Tom Dupree Jr. explained on the show, American oil — West Texas Intermediate — is priced in a global market. When global supply is disrupted, domestic prices rise regardless of whether the U.S. is importing that oil. “When the world oil market goes up, our oil goes up regardless of whether we are buying it from anywhere else. So it even affects us here in the U.S., even though we are energy independent.” — Tom Dupree Jr. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: A Band-Aid, Not a Fix A natural question is whether the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) can ease the pressure. The short answer: not meaningfully. According to the EIA’s SPR data, the reserve holds oil in 60 salt caverns along the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana, with a maximum capacity of 714 million barrels. As of early March, the SPR held approximately 415 million barrels — representing roughly 125 days of supply — but its maximum release rate is only about 4.5 million barrels per day, a fraction of the daily volume bottlenecked through the strait. It also takes around 13 days for released oil to reach the market. Mike Johnson put it plainly: this is a supply chain bottleneck, not a shortage of oil. “Think about what happened during COVID with supply chain issues. This is the same scenario, maybe worse. It just happens to be with oil.” — Mike Johnson Short-Term Inflation, Long-Term Uncertainty High oil prices touch virtually everything — plastics, fertilizer, transportation, heating, cooling, and even the energy demands of AI computing infrastructure. Fertilizer inputs, including urea and ammonia, also pass through the strait, creating additional upward pressure on food costs that could affect companies like Caterpillar and John Deere further down the supply chain. In the short term, elevated oil prices are inflationary. But if the disruption causes a broader economic slowdown, deflationary forces could eventually follow. The FINRA investor education resources regularly caution that geopolitical shocks create exactly this kind of dual-directional uncertainty — and that reacting impulsively can do more harm than the event itself. The bond market is already reflecting this tension. As Tom noted on the show, the 30-year government bond appears to be heading back toward 5%, as fixed income investors price in the possibility that inflation may not be fully contained — and that the Fed may hold rates steady for the remainder of the year. What History Tells Us About War and Market Volatility Mike Johnson reviewed the historical record during the episode, and the findings may surprise you. Historically, market volatility spikes at the onset of a conflict but tends to recover relatively quickly. More instructive is what happens during extreme volatility clusters — periods when large moves, both up and down, happen on back-to-back days. The 2008–2009 financial crisis is the clearest example. Following the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy on September 15, 2008, the market experienced a sequence of 4–8% swings — up and down — within the same week. As Mike pointed out, those kinds of moves translated to 3,000-point Dow swings, similar to what investors saw on “Liberation Day” earlier this year. “When you have these clusters of volatility, it shakes all investors to their core. It’s ultimate fear and ultimate greed, literally back-to-back days.” — Mike Johnson Trying to trade through that kind of volatility is, in practice, nearly impossible. The window to act is measured in hours, not days — and you don’t know which direction the next move will be. How Dupree Financial Is Managing Portfolios Right Now This is where personalized portfolio management matters most. Rather than riding out the volatility passively or reacting emotionally, the Dupree Financial team made deliberate, research-driven moves this week. Trimmed energy positions: The team took partial profits on two energy holdings — one exploration and production company and one large integrated oil company — that had appreciated 15–25% due to the current bottleneck. They did not sell entirely, recognizing that the situation could persist, but reduced exposure to a scenario they cannot predict. Preserved cash and optionality: The proceeds were partially redeployed into a shorter-term bond position at approximately 3.71% yield, while keeping some in cash to maintain flexibility for future opportunities. Maintained dividend-paying positions: Most holdings in client portfolios continue to pay dividends, providing income regardless of short-term price swings. Positioned for potential buying opportunities: If markets experience a capitulation event — a sharp sell-off where stocks become “stupidly cheap,” as Tom described it — having cash on hand means the ability to act rather than watch. Tom framed the profit-taking this way: trimming energy stocks that had appreciated 15–25% in roughly two and a half months was equivalent to capturing three to four years of dividend income in a single move — a perspective that reframes “selling high” as disciplined income harvesting. “You let the market tell you when it’s time to sell. We’ve had several positions that we bought at reasonable prices, and over time the market got very, very happy about those particular stocks. And finally it became a compelling thing to let the market have it.” — Tom Dupree Jr. This approach — owning things at reasonable valuations, monitoring current yield as a measure of risk, and acting when the market offers the opportunity — reflects the investment philosophy Dupree Financial has built its practice around. It stands in contrast to a set-it-and-forget-it mutual fund approach or the kind of mass-market allocation model offered by large national firms that assign clients to counselors rather than connecting them directly to the people managing their money. Key Takeaways for Investors Thinking About or In Retirement The Strait of Hormuz closure is a supply bottleneck, not a shortage — oil prices are high because delivery is disrupted, not because oil has become scarce. Duration is the key variable. The longer the blockade lasts, the deeper the economic impact. The market is pricing in uncertainty because nobody knows the timeline. Oil companies are not a one-way bet. When the strait reopens, prices could fall sharply — possibly to the $50 range, according to at least one analyst — meaning energy stocks could give back gains quickly. Volatility clusters. During high-uncertainty periods, large market moves — up and down — tend to happen in rapid succession. Trying to trade them is a losing game for most investors. Cash has strategic value. Having liquidity during volatile markets means having the ability to buy quality assets at depressed prices — an advantage a fully-invested, static portfolio doesn’t have. Income-focused investing provides an anchor. When you’re in or approaching retirement, dividends and bond coupons keep cash flowing even when prices are moving unpredictably. For more perspective on how global markets are moving, visit the Market Commentary archive on the Dupree Financial website. Frequently Asked Questions How do rising oil prices affect my retirement portfolio? Higher oil prices can be inflationary in the short term, which may pressure the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates higher for longer. That can create headwinds for both stocks and bonds. For retirees drawing income from their portfolios, sustained inflation also erodes purchasing power. A portfolio built around dividend income, short-duration bonds, and carefully valued equities is generally better positioned to navigate this environment than one relying purely on price appreciation. Should I sell my energy stocks during the Strait of Hormuz crisis? Not necessarily — but taking partial profits after a 15–25% run may be prudent, especially in a retirement portfolio. The uncertainty around how long the blockade lasts cuts both ways: prices could go higher, or the situation could resolve and oil could fall sharply. Trimming rather than selling entirely allows you to capture gains while keeping some exposure to a continued rally. Is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve enough to stabilize oil prices? No. While the SPR currently holds approximately 415 million barrels, it can only release around 4.5 million barrels per day and takes roughly two weeks to reach the market. That’s a fraction of the volume being bottlenecked through the Strait of Hormuz. The SPR is useful as a short-term pressure valve but cannot replace the full flow of international oil traffic. What should retirees do when markets are extremely volatile? Avoid making large moves based on short-term headlines. Volatility tends to cluster — meaning big down days are often followed by big up days, and vice versa. Investors who sell in panic often miss the recovery. Maintaining a clear plan, holding dividend-paying positions for income, and preserving some cash to deploy on attractive opportunities is a more disciplined approach for long-term retirement investors. Why does the price of oil affect Americans even if the U.S. is energy independent? Because oil is priced in a global market. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, trades based on worldwide supply and demand dynamics. When global supply is disrupted — regardless of where that oil was originally headed — U.S. prices rise in tandem with international prices. Is Your Portfolio Ready for What Comes Next? Moments like this one — oil supply shocks, bond market volatility, uncertain Fed policy — are exactly when the difference between a personalized investment strategy and a generic one becomes most visible. At Dupree Financial Group, our team does our own in-house research and manages client portfolios directly. You’ll always have access to the people making decisions about your money — not an assigned counselor at a call center. If you’re not certain what you own in your portfolio or why, now is a good time to find out. We offer a complimentary portfolio review with no obligation. Schedule your review online or call us directly at (859) 233-0400. → Request Your Personalized Portfolio Analysis Dupree Financial Group is an SEC-registered investment advisor. The information presented in this podcast and blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Please consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. To learn more, visit SEC.gov/investor. The post Oil Prices, War, and Your Retirement Portfolio appeared first on Dupree Financial.

Permitting reform negotiations on Capitol Hill may be gaining new momentum after weeks of stalled talks, and now the White House is stepping into the mix. POLITICO's Kelsey Brugger breaks down why negotiations restarted now, how rising energy prices and electricity demand are raising the political stakes ahead of the midterms, and whether lawmakers can finally overcome years of failed attempts to pass a sweeping permitting deal. Plus, the Energy Information Administration sharply raised its forecasts for oil and gasoline prices for 2026, and a new report says that U.S. solar capacity is now expected to nearly triple by 2036. Kelsey Brugger covers energy and climate politics on Capitol Hill for POLITICO's E&E News. Stefan Todorovic is the video producer of POLITICO Energy. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. Cyril Zaneski is executive editor of POLITICO's E&E News. Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO. Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram. Follow POLITICO here:    ➤ X: https://x.com/politico/ ➤ Instagram:  / politico      ➤ Facebook:  / politico   For more reporting on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When oil prices spike nearly 30% in a matter of days and a weak jobs report hits on the same Friday, the word on every investor’s mind is stagflation. On this episode of The Financial Hour of the Tom Dupree Show, host Tom Dupree, James Dupree, and Mike Johnson break down how the Middle East conflict is rippling through oil markets, what it means for interest rates and inflation, and why personalized investment management matters more than ever when volatility takes center stage. Whether you’re thinking about retirement or already drawing income from your portfolio, the current environment is a powerful reminder that how your money is managed — and who manages it — can make the difference between weathering the storm and watching your principal erode. How the Middle East Conflict Is Driving Oil Prices and Market Turbulence The most immediate market impact from the conflict between Israel, the U.S., and Iran has been felt in energy prices. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude surged from roughly $72 per barrel to touch $92, according to data tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration — a move of nearly 30% in just days. Mike Johnson explained the supply dynamics at play: “Kuwait — they’re cutting oil production. And this is because the Strait of Hormuz is cut off for all practical purposes. These big producers are running out of storage for the oil. They’re essentially closing up the wells.” The Strait of Hormuz handles approximately one-fifth of all global oil shipments daily. With roughly 90 million barrels of crude produced worldwide each day, shutting down that corridor has massive supply implications. Tom Dupree noted the physical challenge: “What keeps an oil well going is the oil flowing through all the little capillaries. When that gets turned off, it starts to sludge up.” Restarting shut-in wells can take days to weeks, and operators risk losing pressure and production permanently. For those tracking market commentary on gasoline prices, Mike pointed out a critical consumer threshold: “When you get to about $3.50 a gallon, that’s when you start seeing an impact on spending in a more meaningful way. And then $4 is when things start getting much worse in terms of consumer spending.” Stagflation Fears: Why One Jobs Report Has Investors on Edge The Friday jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics came in weaker than expected, and the combination of rising commodity prices with a slowing labor market triggered immediate stagflation concerns across Wall Street. As Mike explained: “The market’s immediate knee-jerk reaction was that terrible S-word — stagflation. If we have a slowing economy with higher commodity prices, you have inflation and a slowing economy.” Tom was quick to add perspective: “One jobs number does not stagflation make. It’s a trend. But the fact that oil’s going up is gonna be considered inflationary, and then you get that jobs report on top of it.” Despite the volatility — with the market opening down 1.5% on Monday before recovering, followed by a sharp Tuesday sell-off — the broader indices showed resilience for the week. Mike observed: “We’ve essentially declared war. You’ve got oil prices up 30%. The market’s only off a little bit for the week. It’s been resilient as a whole.” This kind of choppy, bifurcated market is exactly why a disciplined investment philosophy matters. When risk-on and risk-off signals get scrambled day to day, reactive investors often make the wrong moves at the worst times. AI and the Job Market: Disruption Is Real, But It’s Not All Bad The conversation turned to how artificial intelligence is reshaping the employment landscape and what it means for market sentiment. James Dupree offered a nuanced take on the weak jobs data: “The AI stocks — they don’t really tie that to the economy because AI is going to replace jobs. So it might actually be good if there’s a bad jobs report for those AI stocks.” Mike broke down where the disruption is hitting hardest: “Some of your more tenured and senior workers — they’re benefiting from AI. What it’s impacting are the entry-level jobs. The number crunchers, entry-level analysts — those are the type of things that are able to be AI-ed away.” Tom drew a historical parallel: “AI is obviously the big thing right now. It’s the same way that the dot-com stuff was 20-something years ago. There will be winners and there will be losers, but I happen to believe that AI may actually create jobs because there will be more things that people can do.” For investors, the takeaway is that AI-related stocks occupy a unique space in the current market. James pointed to NVIDIA’s forward P/E ratio of 22 — below the S&P 500’s five-year average of roughly 23 — as evidence that some of the market’s fastest-growing companies are actually reasonably valued despite the broader market looking stretched. Sequence of Returns Risk: The Retirement Danger Most People Don’t See Coming Perhaps the most critical segment of the episode focused on a concept that every person in retirement or thinking about retirement needs to understand: sequence of returns risk. This is the idea that when your returns happen matters just as much as what they average over time — especially when you’re withdrawing money from your portfolio. Mike walked through a clear example: “Let’s say you have a million dollars and you’re drawing 4%, which is $40,000 a year. In the first year, the market goes down by 10% — your million dollars is now $900,000 plus you took out $40,000. So now you’re at $860,000. The next year, another 10% drop — down another $86,000 plus the $40,000 you withdrew. You have to get massive rises in the stock market to get back to even.” He continued: “There comes a point of no return where you’re forced to lower your withdrawal. If a million dollars is now $700,000 and you’re taking out $40,000, that’s now a 5.5% withdrawal rate. It’s negative compounding.” This is one of the core reasons the team at Dupree Financial Group structures retirement portfolios around dividend-paying investments. Tom explained the logic: “Sequence of returns is one reason why we invest for dividends — so that if the sequence of the return is negative, we may not have to be in a position to sell stocks in a down market. We can draw from the dividends.” For anyone approaching retirement or already drawing income, understanding this risk is essential. Resources from FINRA’s investor education center offer additional background on managing withdrawal strategies and retirement income planning. Berkshire Hathaway Under Greg Abel: Culture, Buybacks, and Alignment The episode also covered Berkshire Hathaway’s transition to new leadership under Greg Abel, who took over from Warren Buffett. Abel’s first annual letter to shareholders ran 18 pages — longer than Buffett’s typical letters — and signaled a leadership style rooted in operational detail and cultural preservation. Mike highlighted two significant announcements. First, Berkshire is resuming share buybacks for the first time since May 2024. Second, Abel is investing 100% of his post-tax salary — roughly $15 million per year — into Berkshire stock personally. “It’s all about alignment with shareholders,” Mike said. “It fits the Berkshire culture to a T.” The team also discussed Abel’s emphasis on corporate culture as a lasting competitive advantage. As Abel wrote in his shareholder letter, “Culture is our most treasured asset.” Tom connected that philosophy to Dupree Financial Group’s own approach: “We’ve worked to earn the trust of our clients and we have to keep working to keep that.” Historical Market Returns After Geopolitical Events Mike shared data that puts the current conflict in long-term perspective. Looking at one-year returns following major geopolitical events, the numbers are striking: 11.2% after the Korean War, 27% after the Cuban Missile Crisis, 13% after the Six-Day War, 10% after the Gulf War, nearly 27% after the invasion of Iraq, 19% after the Brexit vote, and 43% in the year following COVID-19. However, Tom added an important caveat for retirees: “What about the 30% drop that came before that? Individuals have to look at sequence of return, not just the long-term averages.” This distinction between how a static portfolio and a retirement portfolio respond to volatility is central to Dupree Financial Group’s investment philosophy — building portfolios of quality, dividend-paying companies in separately managed accounts where each client owns their individual stocks rather than being pooled into a mutual fund. Key Takeaways from This Episode Oil prices have surged nearly 30% due to Strait of Hormuz disruptions, with WTI crude jumping from $72 to $92 per barrel, creating ripple effects across the global economy. Stagflation fears are rising as weak jobs data combines with inflationary energy prices, though one report alone doesn’t confirm a trend. The $3.50 gas price threshold is where consumer spending starts to contract meaningfully — and $4 per gallon is where it gets significantly worse. Sequence of returns risk is more important than average returns for anyone in retirement or approaching it — early losses combined with withdrawals create negative compounding that can be devastating. Dividend investing provides a buffer during market downturns by allowing retirees to draw income without being forced to sell stocks at depressed prices. AI is reshaping the job market, benefiting senior workers while displacing entry-level roles, and creating a unique dynamic for tech stock valuations. Berkshire Hathaway’s Greg Abel is resuming share buybacks and investing his entire post-tax salary in Berkshire stock, signaling strong alignment with shareholders. Diversification across sectors — including energy exposure — helps portfolios weather geopolitical shocks through negative correlation benefits. Frequently Asked Questions How do rising oil prices affect my retirement portfolio? Rising oil prices can trigger inflation, which erodes purchasing power and can hurt broad market returns. However, portfolios with energy sector exposure may benefit from higher commodity prices. The key is having a diversified, actively managed portfolio that can adapt to changing market conditions rather than being locked into a one-size-fits-all approach. What is sequence of returns risk and why does it matter? Sequence of returns risk refers to the danger that poor market returns early in retirement — combined with portfolio withdrawals — can permanently damage your nest egg, even if long-term average returns are positive. A $1 million portfolio losing 10% while withdrawing $40,000 drops to $860,000 in year one, making recovery increasingly difficult. This is why income-focused strategies using dividends can help reduce the need to sell during downturns. Should I be worried about stagflation? One weak jobs report alongside rising oil prices raises the question, but stagflation requires a sustained trend of economic stagnation paired with persistent inflation. The current market has shown resilience despite the volatility. That said, having a portfolio strategy that accounts for inflation protection — through dividend growth stocks and diversified sector exposure — is prudent regardless of the economic outlook. How is AI affecting investment opportunities right now? AI-related stocks are trading somewhat independently from broader economic indicators. Companies like NVIDIA are showing strong earnings growth with forward valuations actually below the S&P 500 average. AI is displacing some entry-level jobs while creating opportunities for more experienced workers, making it a complex but potentially rewarding area for long-term investors. What did Berkshire Hathaway’s new leader announce? Greg Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett, announced that Berkshire would resume share buybacks and that he would personally invest 100% of his post-tax salary — approximately $15 million annually — into Berkshire stock. His 18-page shareholder letter emphasized operational detail and cultural preservation as his top priorities. Don’t Let Market Noise Derail Your Retirement When oil prices surge, jobs data disappoints, and geopolitical uncertainty dominates the headlines, it’s easy to feel like the ground is shifting beneath your feet. But reactive investing — selling in a panic or chasing the latest trend — is one of the biggest threats to a retirement portfolio. At Dupree Financial Group, every client gets a separately managed account with direct access to their portfolio managers — not an assigned counselor at a call center. Your portfolio is built around your retirement timeline, your income needs, and your risk tolerance, with quality dividend-paying companies that provide income even when markets get choppy. If you don’t know what you own in your portfolio, you need to. Call (859) 233-0400 or schedule your complimentary portfolio review online to find out how a personalized approach could help protect — and grow — your retirement income. Listen to the full episode and explore more market insights on The Financial Hour podcast archive. Hear from clients who’ve made the switch to personalized investment management. Dupree Financial Group is a registered investment advisor (RIA) registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The information provided in this blog post and podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Please consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. For more information, please review our firm disclosures on SEC.gov. The post Oil Prices Surge 30%: What Rising Market Volatility Means for Your Retirement Portfolio appeared first on Dupree Financial.

Project 2025 began not with a bill in Congress, but with a 900‑plus page playbook assembled by the Heritage Foundation and allied conservative groups, billed as a roadmap for the next Republican president. Heritage calls it a plan to “take back our government from the deep state,” while critics describe it as a bid to, in the words of the National Federation of Federal Employees, “destroy the administrative state” and replace it with loyalists.At the heart of the project is a personnel revolution. The blueprint urges reinstating and vastly expanding “Schedule F,” a Trump‑era job category that would let presidents reclassify tens of thousands of career civil servants as at‑will employees. According to an analysis by the Center for American Progress, one architect of the original order, James Sherk, projected roughly 50,000 positions could lose civil service protections. Advocates argue this would “ensure the President's policies are faithfully executed.” Opponents warn it would allow mass firings based on ideology, undermining neutral expertise in law enforcement, public health, and regulation.The document does not stop at staffing. It zeroes in on independent agencies that Congress designed to be insulated from day‑to‑day political pressure. In Project 2025's own terms, these are “so‑called independent agencies.” Chapters urge giving the president power to remove commissioners at will and subject their rules to aggressive White House review. Analysts at the Center for American Progress note that this could let a future president pressure the Federal Communications Commission on media licenses or keep the Federal Trade Commission from issuing rules like its recent ban on most noncompete clauses.Concrete agency changes are spelled out in vivid detail. A chapter on the Department of Energy recommends outsourcing core analytical work of the Energy Information Administration to private contractors, a move Boston Review warns could turn basic energy data into an ideological battleground. At the Environmental Protection Agency, Project 2025 proposes ending the role of career staff in awarding hundreds of millions in grants and handing that power to a single political appointee. The Health and Human Services chapter calls for steering teen pregnancy prevention funds toward abstinence‑only programs, reversing a decade of evidence‑based grantmaking.Running through the plan is a view of presidential power sometimes called the “unitary executive theory.” According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Project 2025 would concentrate control of the Justice Department in the White House, prioritizing an attorney general “above all loyal to the President” and easing the removal of officials who resist politically driven investigations.Supporters frame these ideas as a long‑overdue correction to an unaccountable bureaucracy. Critics, including nonpartisan legal scholars, warn that neutral guardrails like Senate confirmation, independent data, and protected civil servants are what keep any president from becoming an “imperial” figure.With the next election cycle underway, Project 2025 now functions as both a governing manual and a political litmus test. Candidates are being pressed to endorse, amend, or reject its proposals. The real test, though, will come if a future administration tries to turn this blueprint into executive orders, agency reorganizations, and real‑world firings.Thanks for tuning in, and come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

The Energy Information Administration reports record daily ethanol production and increased stocks. Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association says Congress is feeling pressure to act on E-15 legislation to help increase corn demand. 

Flags have been ordered at half staff in California as the state and the agriculture community nationwide mourns the loss of Representative Doug LaMalfa.  The Energy Information Administration reports ethanol represented over 11 percent of the nation's gasoline supply in October. Trade officials say China has purchased additional soybean supplies this week. 

As the global demand for clean energy intensifies, nuclear power is enjoying a resurgence not seen in decades. However, this renewed interest has exposed a critical vulnerability in the U.S. energy sector: a massive disconnect between uranium consumption and domestic production. As a guest on The POWER Podcast, Thomas Lamb, president and CEO of Myriad Uranium, discussed some of the complexities of the nuclear fuel cycle and how junior exploration companies are racing to secure America's energy future. The Great American Supply Deficit To understand the urgency of the current uranium market, one must first grasp the sheer scale of consumption. A single large-scale nuclear reactor consumes approximately 400,000 to 500,000 pounds of uranium oxide concentrate (U3O8) annually, depending on design, capacity, and operating efficiency. The U.S. operates 94 commercial reactors today, resulting in a national consumption of roughly 37 million to 47 million pounds of U3O8 per year. The domestic production figures, however, paint a starkly contrasting picture. “The United States consumes, for very round numbers, 50 million pounds of uranium per year, and produces a million pounds of uranium per year,” Lamb explained. To be more specific, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that domestic production of U3O8 was 677,000 pounds in 2024, and it's been much lower than that in the not-too-distant past. This imbalance creates a precarious reliance on foreign imports. Lamb noted that Kazakhstan alone produces more than 40% of the world's uranium. More concerning for U.S. national security is the country's reliance on Russia, where a surprisingly high percentage of U.S. reactor fuel bundles are sourced. “You have a worldwide supply deficit, and then you have an enormous domestic production deficit in the United States relative to consumption. That makes the U.S. vulnerable,” Lamb said. “What if Kazakhstan, China, [and] Russia kind of work together? What if they cut off the United States? What if some other things happen? The U.S. could be short of uranium.” Revitalizing History: The Copper Mountain Project Myriad Uranium is positioning itself to fill this gap by revitalizing past assets rather than starting from scratch. The company's flagship asset, the Copper Mountain Uranium Project in Wyoming, was a focal point of Union Pacific's energy subsidiary in the 1970s. Union Pacific invested approximately CA$117 million (in 2024 dollars, US$84.7 million) into the site, planning a large-scale mine to fuel reactors in Southern California that were ultimately never built due to the post-1979 nuclear freeze. Because the project was abandoned due to external market forces rather than a lack of resources, it represents a “brownfield” opportunity. “In our case, we already know it's there because a lot of the work was done,” Lamb said. “Now, we just have to … bring the information current,” he added.

Tariff juggling - just moving them around - no studies, no rationale Big Moves - One of the worst Novembers since 2008 The Big Short - End of a Era? PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter   Warm-Up - Last Few Days for IBIT CTP - Closing Price This Friday - The Big Short - End of a Era? - What is happening to Bitcoin? - THC laws changing - interesting loophole closed Markets - Tariff juggling - just moving them around - no studies, no rationale - Big Moves - One of the worst Novembers since 2008 - Hindenburg Omen - Fed Losing Cred WHY? - If tariffs are not inflationary and this administration has brought down prices on groceries.... - President Trump signed an EO Friday lowering tariffs on beef, tomatoes, coffee and bananas, according to Bloomberg - So , just shooting from the hip on all of this are we? --- Seriously, where is the plan, where is the analysis, where are the results? Total horseshit More Tariffs - Switzerland and U.S. agree to trade deal; U.S. will lower tariffs to 15% from 39%; Swiss companies are planning to make direct investments in the USA amounting to $200 billion by the end of 2028 - Switzerland will reduce some import duties on US Imports - For other US export interests, a solution was agreed that takes Switzerland's agricultural policy interests into account: under the agreement, Switzerland will grant the US duty-free bilateral tariff quotas on selected US export products: 500 tonnes for beef, 1,000 tonnes for bison meat and 1,500 tonnes for poultry meat. - Furthermore, Swiss companies are planning to make direct investments in the USA amounting to $200 bln by the end of 2028. - What did we accomplish here? - Just going back to what it was with a slightly higher tariff on Swiss goods than before...BECAUSE WE WERE GETTING KILLED WITH FOOD COSTS Fed Update - Markets no longer view December as a sure bet - Lots of Fed speakers out with commentary that is hawkish - Currently, there is a 46% chance of a rate cut by 0.25% - a month ago it was at 95% - AND, they should not cut in the absence of all data (Stephan Miran looking for 0.50%, but he is a total tool) More Horseshit! - Former Federal Reserve Board Gov. Adriana Kugler broke the central bank's rules regarding stock trading, according to a report released by the U.S. Government Ethics Office. - Now we know why she abruptly resigned a few months ago - That disclosure shows two kinds of violations of Fed rules regarding financial transactions by senior officials at the central bank: purchases of stocks of individual companies, as opposed to mutual funds; and purchases of securities during so-called “blackout periods” leading up to and after Federal Open Market Committee meetings. - Oh - Supposedly her husband did it - but come on! - Fed losing more credibility - this is not the first time.... StampFlation - The Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission for Shipping Services price changes to take effect Jan. 18, 2026. The proposed adjustments were approved by the governors of USPS this week. - The change would raise prices approximately 6.6 percent for Priority Mail service, 5.1 percent for Priority Mail Express service, 7.8 percent for USPS Ground Advantage and 6.0 percent for Parcel Select. BIG - Michael Burry, the investor whose successful bets against the U.S. housing market in 2008 were recounted in the movie "The Big Short," is closing his hedge fund, Scion Asset Management. - In a letter to investors dated October 27, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, Burry said he would liquidate the funds and return capital, "but for a small audit/tax holdback" by the end of the year. - "My estimation of value in securities is not now, and has not been for some time, in sync with the markets," Burry said in the letter. - Put on a big OPTIONS short on NVDA and PLTR - We checked and his Registration expired.. Has about $155 million under management - not so much.. - He hinted that he will be back doing something and will announce on November 25th... Softbank - We know that they CUT all of their NVDA holdings - Looking at the 13F, also cut ORCL - New position in INTC - Looking to raise significant cast to outlay to private companies over the next couple of months. - Stock is up 120% YTD, DOWN 12% last week - Did you know He had for many years the distinction of being the person who had lost the most money in history (more than $59 billion during the dot-com crash of 2000 alone, when his SoftBank shares plummeted), a feat surpassed by Elon Musk in the following decades. THC Blues ??? - A new ban, tucked into legislation ending the longest shutdown in history, outlaws products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. == Industry executives said that threshold will wipe out 95% of the $28 billion hemp retail market when it takes effect in a year. - 300,000 jobs could be effected ($28 billion annually) - Possible that state laws will win out, but clearly Federal laws are not going the way of the industry. - Concern that the blackmarket will grow again - However, this can be seen in several ways as it may be cleaning up some of the selling of things like Delta-8 those weird knock-offs seen at gas stations) UK Tax Scrap - British government bond yields rose sharply on Friday morning as investors react to reports that Finance Minister Rachel Reeves will scrap an expected increase in income tax. - The moves came as investors reacted to a report from the Financial Times of an income tax U-turn. - Remember that they did a similar plan a few years ago that caused major havoc with markets and currencies until they withdrew the idea. How Does This Work? - House Republicans drafting legislation that will redirect Affordable Care Act subsidies to individuals and away from health insurance companies, according to Politico Some Eco ...?? - Employment Situation for September 2025 that was supposed to be released on Friday, October 3, 2025, will now be release  Thursday, November 20, 2025 8:30 AM ET - What about October? White House says it may NEVER be released Hindenburg Omen - There was some excitement in the world of technical analysis the past two weeks as we saw 5 separate signals fire for something called the Hindenburg Omen. This is a warning signal of trouble, but trouble does not always come. What is fair to say is that Hindenburg Omen signals have appeared at every major stock market top going back several decades. - According to Tom McClellan: The current count of 5 signals is not as big as some other clusters. But we got 4 signals in a cluster at the end of 2021, ahead of the 2022 bear market. So 4 is enough, if the market is inclined to live up to this warning. And 2 signals were enough back in December 2024 and March 2025 to tell us about the trouble in the market which unfolded in the April 2025 tariff reaction minicrash. But 5 is better. Pied Piper - Losing Followers - OpenAi plans to invest $1.4 Trillion over the next 5 years or so - Biggest beneficiary - Oracle - Stock went from $250 to $340 overnight - now a $220 (Full Round-trip) - Oracle is looking to raise $38 billion in debt sales to help fund its AI buildout, according to sources with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be named because the information is confidential. Bloomberg reported on the planned debt raise last month. Disney Earnings - Hmmmmm...... - Shares fall 8% as revenue misses - Digging in for a prolonged flight with YouTube - The company also missed quarterly revenue expectations as the cable weakness overshadowed strong growth in the company's streaming and parks businesses central to its growth. - Family of 4 - Trip to Disney - A  3-night trip with tickets and dining is estimated to be between $6,000 and $9,000 Starbucks - Can it get any worse for this company? - Starbucks Workers United launched a strike in more than 40 cities and 65 stores on the day of chain's Red Cup Day sales event. - NY incoming Mayor Mandami says there should be a total boycott of the stores - The union is pushing for improved hours, higher wages and the resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practice charges levied against Starbucks. Buffett - Berkshire - Berkshire Hathaway revealed a $4.3 billion stake in Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL), and further reduced its stake in Apple (AAPL), detailing its equity portfolio for the last time before Warren Buffett ends his 60-year run as chief executive officer. - They also sold more Bank of America - *6% reduction - although still the thrid largest stockholder - Sold homebuilder DR Horton - Bought position in Domino's Pizza and Chubb ---- DPZ chart looks terrible Over to China - Economy not getting any better - Fixed-asset investment contracted 1.7% for the first ten months of the year, steepening from a 0.5% decline in the January-to-September period. - Retail sales climbed 2.9% in October from a year earlier, softening from a 3% year-on-year rise in September. - Industrial output expanded 4.9% in October, a slowdown from a 6.5% rise in the prior month. - The last time China recorded a contraction in fixed-asset investment was in 2020 during the pandemic, according to data going back to 1992 from Wind Information, a private database focused on the country. Electric Prices - We know that the new wave of data centers are requiring HUGE amounts of energy to keep them running - Residential utility bills rose 6% on average nationwide in August compared with the same period in the previous year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

In this episode, we dive into what is driving the recent downward pressure on oil prices. The Energy Information Administration released their October short-term energy outlook with a projection that caught our attention. They're forecasting that oil prices could fall to $47.77 per barrel in 2026—a 26% decrease from recent levels. That price sits below the $50 per barrel mark that industry analysts often cite as a critical breakeven point for shale profitability. For those of us who own mineral rights or receive royalty payments, this forecast has real implications worth understanding.  Be sure to listen to the full episode to learn our take on what oil prices are likely to do in 2026 and how this could impact future drilling and your oil royalties. As always, links to the resources mentioned in this episode can be found in the show notes at mineralrightspodcast.com.

A day on the job includes hundreds of quarters, giant balls of lint, and fishing weird stuff out of machines. Zachary Crockett throws in a load. SOURCES:Jordan Berry, owner of Laundromat Resource. RESOURCES:"Appliances in U.S. homes, by housing unit type, 2020," (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2023)."How the Washing Machine Liberated The Masses," by Allen Therisa (Culturescape, 2023)."Industry Overview," (Coin Laundry Association). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A bullish long-term outlook for rising natural gas demand and pricing has partially mitigated the current deep concerns about the steep erosion of oil prices. However, short-term gas pricing has proven very volatile, as the near-month NYMEX price has yo-yoed dramatically in October and the Energy Information Administration recently cut its January forecast. In today's RBN blog, we present a new metric that calculates the gas price sensitivity of major U.S. producers.

The Energy Information Administration said the U.S. is heading toward a record amount of ethanol exports in 2025. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When gas prices skyrocket, do station owners get a windfall? And where do their profits really come from? Zachary Crockett pulls up to the pump. SOURCES:Garrett Golding, assistant vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.Jeetander P. Sethi, founding member of the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association.Kai Trimble-Lea, owner of a B.P. gas station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. RESOURCES:"Top Numbers Driving America's Gasoline Demand," by Lem Smith (American Petroleum Institute, 2022)."Electric Cars Are Coming. How Long Until They Rule the Road?" by Brad Plumer, Nadja Popovich and Blacki Migliozzi (The New York Times, 2021)."Petroleum & Other Liquids," (U.S. Energy Information Administration). EXTRAS:"In the 1890s, the Best-Selling Car Was … Electric," by Freakonomics Radio (2022)."Is it Too Late for General Motors to Go Electric?" by Freakonomics Radio (2020).  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Electricity bills are expected to go up this Winter. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts an average electricity bill rise of approximately 4% from November until March 2026, reaching about $1,130 nationally. What are you doing, if anything, to mitigate the impact of those increased energy rates? 

The average cost of gasoline nationwide is hovering near the $3 mark and could soon dip below it, that's according to industry experts. That should be good news for our wallets and the overall economy. When Americans are using less of their income to fuel up their cars, they can be using that cash on other things, especially the rapidly approaching holiday shopping season. Unfortunately, however, home energy bills are expected to rise this winter, according to a report released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration this week Phil Flynn, a Senior Market Analyst at the Price Futures Group and Fox Business contributor, speaks with co-host of "The Big Money Show" Jackie DeAngelis about what's behind both of these trends, and what they tell us about the economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The average cost of gasoline nationwide is hovering near the $3 mark and could soon dip below it, that's according to industry experts. That should be good news for our wallets and the overall economy. When Americans are using less of their income to fuel up their cars, they can be using that cash on other things, especially the rapidly approaching holiday shopping season. Unfortunately, however, home energy bills are expected to rise this winter, according to a report released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration this week Phil Flynn, a Senior Market Analyst at the Price Futures Group and Fox Business contributor, speaks with co-host of "The Big Money Show" Jackie DeAngelis about what's behind both of these trends, and what they tell us about the economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The average cost of gasoline nationwide is hovering near the $3 mark and could soon dip below it, that's according to industry experts. That should be good news for our wallets and the overall economy. When Americans are using less of their income to fuel up their cars, they can be using that cash on other things, especially the rapidly approaching holiday shopping season. Unfortunately, however, home energy bills are expected to rise this winter, according to a report released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration this week Phil Flynn, a Senior Market Analyst at the Price Futures Group and Fox Business contributor, speaks with co-host of "The Big Money Show" Jackie DeAngelis about what's behind both of these trends, and what they tell us about the economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ethanol output recently jumped to the highest level in a month, while inventories declined modestly, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration is warning of looming power shortages just as electricity prices rise in the country. But it's also moving to cancel $8 billion in clean energy funding meant to boost power generation and modernize the grid. POLITICO's James Bikales, Kelsey Tamborrino and Josh Siegel discuss what these cuts could mean for the country's energy supply, electricity prices, and how both parties are preparing to message around the issue ahead of next year's midterm elections. Plus, U.S. oil production hit a record high in July and is increasing quicker than expected in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.  James Bikales is a reporter for POLITICO.  Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO and the host of POLITICO Energy. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks September 2025. Includes reviews of solar, wind, green and sustainable stocks, dividend stocks, and ETFs. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 159, September 26, 2025 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 159, published on September 26, 2025, titled “Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks September 2025.” This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a great crop of 15 articles for you in this podcast! Note: Some companies are covered more than once. ------------------------------------------------------------- Can Solar Power the AI Boom? Top Stocks to Watch This podcast edition is going to be heavy on solar stocks. And for good reason! I'm beginning with this article titled Can Solar Power the AI Boom? Top Stocks to Watch on finance.yahoo.com. It's by Ethan Feller and originally published on zacks.com. Here are some quotes. “It's hard to overstate how attractive solar stocks look right now, even without considering the potential AI infrastructure catalyst… the stocks highlighted here have already shown powerful momentum year-to-date. 1. SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) With shares trading at depressed valuations and demand for utility-scale inverters likely to rebound, SolarEdge Technologies offers contrarian upside if execution improves. Though it isn't yet reflected by the Zacks rank, SolarEdge Technologies currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating, it has experienced some significant revisions higher to its earnings estimates… Sales are also projected to grow by more than 24% both this and next year. 2. Nextracker Inc. (NXT) As the leading provider of solar trackers, Nextracker directly benefits from the shift to utility-scale projects. Its technology boosts panel efficiency and lowers costs, making it a natural winner as large-scale solar buildouts accelerate. The stock has moved significantly higher this year, up 85%, yet the company still trades at just 16.6x forward earnings. 3. Sunrun (RUN) A pure play on residential solar Sunrun has struggled under higher interest rates. But as financing conditions ease and consumer adoption of solar-plus-storage grows, Sunrun could be positioned for a strong recovery. Based on recent revisions, earnings are expected to inflect meaningfully positive over the next year. 4. Array Technologies (ARRY) Like Nextracker, Array builds solar tracking systems that enhance utility-scale efficiency. With a global footprint and strong backlog, Array offers solid exposure to the utility-scale solar buildout at a reasonable valuation. With earnings projected to grow 21.6% annually over the next three to five years and a forward earnings multiple of 14.2x, Array boasts a Price/Earnings to Growth ratio of 0.66. The combination of strong growth and reasonable valuation offers a compelling risk reward opportunity. 5. Shoals Technologies Group (SHLS) Shoals specializes in balance-of-system components — wiring, connectors, and infrastructure that every solar farm needs. Its recurring demand base and high margins make it a steady, less flashy way to play the solar boom. Shoals Technologies Group is in an especially advantaged vertical and is the only name in the group with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) rating, reflected by upward trending earnings revisions. Solar's Role in Powering the AI Revolution If AI data centers really do scale toward hundreds of gigawatts of demand, solar will almost certainly claim a portion, and potentially large share of that market, making now an opportune time to consider exposure to the sector before the market fully prices in this growth.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Stocks to Buy as Solar Power Set to Drive 50%+ of New Capacity Continuing on the solar power theme is this article. It's titled 3 Stocks to Buy as Solar Power Set to Drive 50%+ of New Capacity on finance.yahoo.com. I had to include it as the author is a favourite on this site. Her name is Aparajita Dutta. Here are some quotes on her picks. “Positive projections from the Energy Information Administration show solar powering over half of new U.S. electricity generation in 2025, signaling a rebound. While headwinds remain, growing demand and installation trends should sustain U.S. solar industry momentum. 1. Sunrun (RUN) Based in San Francisco, CA, the company develops, owns, manages and sells residential solar energy systems… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sunrun's 2025 revenues indicates an improvement of 11.2% from the prior-year reported figure… The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Sunrun Inc. (RUN): Free Stock Analysis Report. 2. Shoals Technologies (SHLS) Based in Portland, TN, the company manufactures a diverse portfolio of solar balance of systems products, including combiner/re-combiner boxes, disconnect boxes, custom harnessing solutions, junction boxes, wire, in-line fuses and racking and monitoring solutions… The stock boasts a long-term (three-to-five years) earnings growth rate of 24%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales indicates an improvement of 15.3% from the prior-year reported figure. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (SHLS): Free Stock Analysis Report. 3. Tigo Energy Inc.(TYGO) Based in Campbell, CA, the company is a provider of intelligent solar and energy storage solutions. On Sept. 2, 2025, Tigo Energy announced that its three-phase Tigo EI Residential solution has successfully completed mandatory compliance testing with a Slovak distribution system operator. This certification confirms that the solution complies with local grid requirements and Slovak regulatory standards, ensuring safe, efficient, and innovative solar energy management… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales indicates an improvement of 91.9% from the prior-year reported figure… It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. Tigo Energy, Inc. (TYGO): Free Stock Analysis Report.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Green ETFs 2026, Best Sustainable ETFs USA, Top Environmentally Friendly ETFs This next article is a useful compilation in chart form of the top sustainable ETFs. It's titled Green ETFs 2026, Best Sustainable ETFs USA, Top Environmentally Friendly ETFs on garadesud.md. It's by Barrett Schaefer. “The sustainable investing ETF list below highlights the top funds known for eco-conscious selections and healthy returns. ETF Name Focus Area Expense Ratio 1-Year Return (%) Carbon Footprint Reduction (%) Dividend Yield (%) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) Renewable Energy 0.42% 18.4 45 1.5 Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) ESG Broad Market 0.12% 15.7 38 1.8 SPDR S&P 500 ESG ETF (EFIV) Low Carbon Footprint 0.10% 14.8 50 1.9 Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) Renewable Energy - Solar 0.69% 22.2 48 0.3 iShares MSCI USA ESG Optimized ETF (ESGU) ESG USA Market 0.15% 16.0 40 1.6 First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy ETF (QCLN) Clean Energy Tech 0.60% 19.0 43 0.0 BMO Clean Energy ETF (CLNR) Renewable Energy 0.55% 20.1 46 1.2 Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG) ESG USA Market 0.10% 15.2 42 1.7 Global X Renewable Energy Producers ETF (RNRG) Renewable Energy 0.68% 21.5 47 1.0 iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) ESG Broad Market 0.15% 15.9 39 1.6 “ End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- A few Top Sustainable Dividend-Paying Stocks for September 2025 1. Why United Parcel Service is a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock (UPS) on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. Quote. “United Parcel Service Inc (Symbol: UPS) has been named a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Dividend Channel… [with] a strong 7.4% yield.” End quote. 2. PFG Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock on theonlineinvestor.com. By The Online Investor Staff. Quote. “Principal Financial Group Inc (NASDAQ: PFG) has been named a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Dividend Channel… [with] a strong 3.9% yield.” End quote 3. TXN Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. Quote. “Texas Instruments Inc. (Symbol: TXN) has been named a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Dividend Channel… including a strong 3.2% yield.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Renewable Energy Dividend Stocks: A Double Win of Green Investment This last article is titled Renewable Energy Dividend Stocks: A Double Win of Green Investment on nai500.com. It's by Sunlight Xiang. Here are a few quotes on the picks. “1. Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) With a market cap of $7 billion and a dividend yield of 5.89%, it is one of the world's largest renewable energy platforms. It operates over 5,300 power generation facilities across four continents, with a total generation capacity of nearly 40 gigawatts (GW). While it is a leader in hydroelectric power, it is actively expanding into wind, solar, and energy storage. In July 2025, it signed a 3 GW hydroelectric supply agreement with Google's parent company, Alphabet, setting a record for corporate hydroelectric procurement. The company expects continued cash flow growth and has a project pipeline of 24 GW. Its investment-grade balance sheet and conservative dividend payout ratio support its expansion capabilities. Combining its dividend yield and growth potential, its expected annualized return is around 15%. 2. NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) Although its subsidiary XPLR Infrastructure suspended its dividend, the parent company maintains a strong dividend track record: it has increased its payout for 30 consecutive years, with a compound annual growth rate of 10% since 2007. Its dividend yield stood at 3.2% in mid-2025, roughly double the S&P 500 average. This Fortune 200 company, which owns the largest utility in the U.S. (Florida Power & Light), added 1.1 GW of solar, wind, and storage capacity in the second quarter of 2025, with capital expenditures reaching $2 billion. Despite policy headwinds, it added 3.2 GW to its project backlog during the quarter, bringing the total backlog to approximately 30 GW (compared to 38 GW of operating capacity). 3. Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN) Boasting a market cap of $3 billion and a dividend yield of 7.52%, it owns nearly 12 GW of renewable energy capacity, in addition to operating 2.8 GW of natural gas generation facilities and district energy systems. Long-term PPAs ensure stable cash flow, and its annual dividend is expected to grow by 5% to 8% in the coming years. Although it paused a 200-megawatt solar project in Hawaii due to wildfire risks, it reached a deal in April 2025 to supply power to Microsoft from its planned 335-megawatt Mount Storm wind farm project in West Virginia. Thanks to its close ties with project developer Clearway Energy Group, it has access to a 30 GW project pipeline. A reasonable dividend payout ratio and ample liquidity underpin its resilience.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- More articles with Sustainable Investment Picks for September 2025 from around the world. 1. Title: Sempra Named Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock with 3.1% Yield on ainvest.com. By BNK Invest. 2. Title: 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Watch Amid Impacts of Policy Shift on finance.yahoo.com. By Aparajita Dutta. 3. Title: Boston financial group launches tool to promote Biblical… on wng.org. By Christina Grube. 4. Title: Is Ethereum's $5,000 Breakout a Sustainable Investment Opportunity or a Market Overextension? On ainvest.com. By BlockByte. 5. Title: GE Vernova (GEV) Gets Price Target Boost Amid Stronger Outlook on msn.com. By Neha Gupta. 6. Title: ESG lives on: Sustainable fund picks for every investment style on trustnet.com. By Emmy Hawker. 7. Title: Solar Stocks: Trump Guidance Offers New Dawn. This Is The Next Growth Driver. On investors.com. By Kit Norton. 8. Title: Top Wind Energy Stocks to Consider For Solid Returns & Portfolio Growth on finance.yahoo.com. By Avisekh Bhattacharjee. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast, “Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks September 2025.” Please click the like and subscribe buttons wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these tumultuous times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. My next podcast will be on October 24th. See you then. Bye for now. © 2025 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently unveiled a new industrial policy -- Buy Canadian – as the Washington and Ottawa try to sort out their trade tensions. It's a protectionist move that mirrors the Trump administration's Buy American strategy and comes as President Donald Trump's tariffs have hit Canada's manufacturing sectors. POLITICO's Zi-Ann Lum breaks down why this policy is coming now and how it impacts energy, trade, and U.S.-Canada relations. Plus, the share of disposable income U.S. drivers are paying for gasoline this year will likely fall to a 20-year low, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Tuesday.  Zi-Ann Lum covers Canadian federal politics and energy and environmental policy for POLITICO.  Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.   Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.   Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.    For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch    And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy    Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In almost every part of the country, the amount people pay for electricity has gone up faster than the rate of inflation and it will likely continue to rise, according to the Energy Information Administration. So what's ballooning your utility bill? We'll talk with energy and policy experts about the increasing demands posed by data centers, the aging electricity infrastructure, and the new barriers to expanding renewable power plants. But the picture isn't all grim; we'll explore the steps we can take to make California's electrical grid more sustainable. Guests: Costa Samaras, director of the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, trustee professor of civil and environmental engineering and an affiliated faculty member in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University Michael Wara, policy director for the Sustainability Accelerator at the Doerr School of Sustainability, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program and senior research scholar at the Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin covers the following stories: The National Association of Realtors reported June Existing Home Sales; President Trump announced a trade framework with Japan; Kevin has the details sorts through the data, puts the information into perspective, offers his insights and offers an opinion or two. Kevin interviews Tim Wullenweber, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Coolants Plus/StarFire. They discuss lower viscosity lubricants, new API specs for heavy duty motor oil and heavy-duty antifreeze. Oil and gas prices react to U.S.-Japan trade deal. expectations ahead of EU-China summit and U.S. Energy Information Administration data on crude oil inventories.

Kevin covers the following stories: The National Association of Realtors reported June Existing Home Sales; President Trump announced a trade framework with Japan; Kevin has the details sorts through the data, puts the information into perspective, offers his insights and offers an opinion or two. Kevin interviews Tim Wullenweber, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Coolants Plus/StarFire. They discuss lower viscosity lubricants, new API specs for heavy duty motor oil and heavy-duty antifreeze. Oil and gas prices react to U.S.-Japan trade deal. expectations ahead of EU-China summit and U.S. Energy Information Administration data on crude oil inventories.

We begin on a positive note by welcoming a “doer,” citizen extraordinaire, Jon Merryman, who couldn't stand the trash, especially old tires, being dumped in his neighborhood. So, he took it upon himself to clean it up and has now expanded his efforts across the country. Then co-president of Public Citizen, Robert Weissman, joins us to explain how spending in the recent bill passed by the Republican controlled Congress prioritizes the Pentagon and deportation enforcement at the expense of the social safety net, essentially trading life for death.Jon Merryman was a software designer at Lockheed Martin, who after retiring found his true calling, cleaning up trash in every county in America.When I first started looking at the environment next to my place of work, one of the things I did uncover was tires. And they were definitely there from the '20s, the '30s, and the '40s, they've been there for decades. And then just after a while, the soil and the erosion just covers them up. And you just discover them, and you realize this has been going on forever.Jon MerrymanNature is innocent. It really doesn't deserve what we've given it. And I feel like someone's got to step up to undo what we've done.Jon MerrymanRobert Weissman is a staunch public interest advocate and activist, as well as an expert on a wide variety of issues ranging from corporate accountability and government transparency to trade and globalization, to economic and regulatory policy. As the Co-President of Public Citizen, he has spearheaded the effort to loosen the chokehold corporations, and the wealthy have over our democracy.The best estimates are that the loss of insurance and measures in this bill will cost 40,000 lives every year. Not once. Every year.Robert Weissman co-president of Public Citizen on the Budget BillPeople understand there's a rigged system. They understand that generally. They understand that with healthcare. But if you (the Democrats) don't name the health insurance companies as an enemy, as a barrier towards moving forward. You don't say United Health; you don't go after a Big Pharma, which is probably the most despised health sector in the economy, people don't think you're serious. And partially it's because you're not.Robert WeissmanNews 7/11/251. This week, the Financial Times published a stunning story showing the Tony Blair Institute – founded by the former New Labour British Prime Minister and Iraq War accomplice Tony Blair – “participated” in a project to “reimagine Gaza as a thriving trading hub.” This project would include a “Trump Riviera” and an “Elon Musk Smart Manufacturing Zone”. To accomplish this, the investors would pay half a million Palestinians to leave Gaza to open the enclave up for development – and that is just the tip of the harebrained iceberg. This scheme would also involve creating “artificial islands off the coast akin to those in Dubai, blockchain-based trade initiatives…and low-tax ‘special economic zones'.” The development of this plot is somewhat shadowy. The FT story names a, “group of Israeli businessmen…including tech investor Liran Tancman and venture capitalist Michael Eisenberg,” who helped establish the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in February 2025. GHF has been accused of using supposed aid distribution sites as “death traps,” per France 24. Boston Consulting Group, also named in the FT story, strongly disavowed the project, as did the Tony Blair Institute.2. In more positive news related to Gaza, the National Education Association – the largest labor union in the United States – voted this week to sever ties with the Anti-Defamation League. The ADL, once an important group safeguarding the civil rights and wellbeing of American Jews, has completely abandoned its historic mission and has instead devoted its considerable resources to trying to crush the anti-Zionist movement. The NEA passed a resolution stating that the NEA “will not use, endorse, or publicize materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), such as its curricular materials or statistics,” because, “Despite its reputation as a civil rights organization, the ADL is not the social justice educational partner it claims to be.” Labor Notes writes that the ADL “has been a ubiquitous presence in U.S. schools for forty years, pushing curriculum, direct programming, and teacher training into K-12 schools and increasingly into universities.” One NEA delegate, Stephen Siegel, said from the assembly floor, “Allowing the ADL to determine what constitutes antisemitism would be like allowing the fossil fuel industry to determine what constitutes climate change.”3. Another major labor story from this week concerns sanitation workers in Philadelphia. According to the Delaware News Journal, AFSCME District Council 33 has reached a deal with the city to raise wages for their 9,000 workers by 9% over three years. The union went on strike July 1st, resulting in, “massive piles of trash piling up on city streets and around trash drop-off sites designated by the city,” and “changes to the city's annual Fourth of July concert with headliner LL Cool J and city native Jazmine Sullivan both dropping out,” in solidarity with the striking workers, per WHYY. The deal reached is a major compromise for the union, which was seeking a 32% total pay increase, but they held off on an extended trash pickup strike equivalent to 1986 strike, which went on for three weeks and left 45,000 tons of rotting garbage in the streets, per ABC.4. Yet another labor story brings us to New York City. ABC7 reports the United Federation of Teachers has endorsed Democratic Socialist – and Democratic Party nominee – Zohran Mamdani for mayor. This report notes “UFT is the city's second largest union…[with] 200,000 members.” Announcing the endorsement, UFT President Michael Mulgrew stated, “This is a real crisis and it's a moment for our city, and our city is starting to speak out very loudly…The voters are saying the same thing, 'enough is enough.' The income gap disparity is above…that which we saw during the Gilded Age." All eyes now turn to District Council 37, which ABC7 notes “endorsed Council speaker Adrienne Adams in the primary and has yet to endorse in the general election.”5. The margin of Mamdani's victory, meanwhile, continues to grow as the Board of Elections updates its ranked choice voting tallies. According to the conservative New York Post, Zohran has “won more votes than any other mayoral candidate in New York City primary election history.” Mamdani can now boast having won over 565,000 votes after 102,000 votes were transferred from other candidates. Not only that, “Mamdani's totals are expected to grow as…a small percent of ballots are still being counted.”6. Meanwhile, scandal-ridden incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams has yet another scandal on his hands. The New York Daily News reports, “Four high-ranking former NYPD chiefs are suing Mayor Adams, claiming they were forced to retire from the department after complaining that his ‘unqualified' friends were being placed in prestigious police positions, sometimes after allegedly bribing their way into the jobs.” Former Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who was already forced to resign in disgrace amidst a federal corruption investigation, features prominently in this new lawsuit. Among other things, Caban is alleged to have been “selling promotions” to cops for up to $15,000. Adams is running for reelection as an independent, but trails Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo.7. Turning to the federal government, as the U.S. disinvests in science and technology, a new report published in the Financial Times finds that, “Almost three-quarters of all solar and wind power projects being built globally are in China.” According to the data, gathered by Global Energy Monitor, “China is building 510 gigawatts of utility-scale solar and wind projects… [out of] 689GW under construction globally.” As this report notes, one gigawatt can potentially supply electricity for about one million homes. This report goes on to say that, “China is expected to add at least 246.5GW of solar and 97.7GW of wind this year,” on top of the “1.5 terawatts of solar and wind power capacity up and running as of the end of March.” In the first quarter of 2025, solar and wind accounted for 22.5% of China's total electricity consumption; in 2023, solar and wind accounted for around 14% of electricity consumption in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.8. Developments this week put two key rules promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission under former Chair Lina Khan in jeopardy. First and worse, NPR reports the Republican-controlled FTC is abandoning a rule which would have banned non-compete clauses in employment contracts. These anti-worker provisions “trap workers and depress wages,” according to Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, who has introduced legislation to ban them by statute. Perhaps more irritatingly however, Reuters reports the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis has blocked the so-called “click to cancel” rule just days before it was set to take effect. This rule would have, “required retailers, gyms and other businesses to provide cancellation methods for subscriptions, auto-renewals and free trials that convert to paid memberships that are ‘at least as easy to use' as the sign up process.” A coalition of corporate interests sued to block the rule, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a trade group representing major cable and internet providers such as Charter Communications, Comcast and Cox Communications along with media companies like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. Lina Khan decried “Firms…making people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription, trapping Americans in needless bureaucracy and wasting their time & money.”9. In another betrayal of consumers, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to break promises and speak out of both sides of his mouth. A new report in NPR documents RFK Jr. speaking at a conference in April, where he “spoke about the health effects of exposure to harmful chemicals in our food, air and water…[and] cited recent research on microplastics from researchers in Oregon, finding these tiny particles had shown up in 99% of the seafood they sampled.” Yet Susanne Brander, the author of the study, had gotten word just an hour earlier that “a federal grant she'd relied on to fund her research for years…was being terminated.” Brander is quoted saying "It feels like they are promoting the field while ripping out the foundation." Ripping out the foundation of this research is felt acutely, as “regulators are weakening safeguards that limit pollution and other toxic chemicals.” So Mr. Secretary, which is more important – stopping the proliferation of microplastics or slashing funding for the very scientists studying the issue?10. Finally, in Los Angeles masked federal troops are marauding through the streets on horseback, sowing terror through immigrant communities, per the New York Times. President Trump mobilized approximately 4,000 National Guard members – putting them under federal control – alongside 700 Marines in response to protests against immigration raids in June. As the Times notes, “It has been more than three weeks since the last major demonstration in downtown Los Angeles,” but the federal forces have not been demobilized. While some have dismissed the shows of force as nothing more than stunts designed to fire up the president's base, Gregory Bovino, a Customs and Border Protection chief in Southern California told Fox News “[LA] Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon.” As LA Mayor Karen Bass put it, “What I saw…looked like a city under siege, under armed occupation…It's the way a city looks before a coup.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Kelly and Joe discuss the role of the International Energy Agency, the Energy Information Administration, and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and the energy security concerns following a loss of trust in the independence of global energy analysis as political concerns seep in. Find Bob McNally's op-ed for the Wall Street Journal here: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/activists-neuter-a-global-watchdog-energy-policy-international-energy-agency-1ac4f81b Find Mark Mills and Neil Atkinson's report for the National Center for Energy Analytics here: https://energyanalytics.org/energy-delusions-peak-oil-forecasts/ // Host Bio: - Kelly Ogle is Managing Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute - Joe Calnan is VP Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute // Interview recording Date: May 21, 2025 // Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary. // Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

Every left winger should have their eyes held open and be forced to watch this on repeat until it sinks in. BONUS EPISODES available on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/deniersplaybook) SOCIALS & MORE (https://linktr.ee/deniersplaybook) WANT TO ADVERTISE WITH US? Please contact climatetownsponsorships@gmail.comDISCLAIMER: Some media clips have been edited for length and clarity. CREDITS Created by: Rollie Williams, Nicole Conlan & Ben BoultHosts: Rollie Williams & Nicole ConlanExecutive Producer: Ben Boult Editor: Laura ConteProducers: Daniella Philipson, Irene PlagianosArchival Producer: Margaux SaxAdditional Research & Fact Checking: Carly Rizzuto & Canute HaroldsonMusic: Tony Domenick Art: Jordan Doll Special Thanks: The Civil Liberties Defense CenterSOURCESAccounts, T. C. of P. (2023). Wind Power: Energy is Good for Texas. Comptroller.texas.gov.Alsaleh, A., & Sattler, M. (2019). Comprehensive life cycle assessment of large wind turbines in the US. 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Life cycle assessment of two different 2 MW class wind turbines. Renewable Energy, 37(1), 37–44.Haapala, K. R., & Prempreeda, P. (2014). Comparative life cycle assessment of 2.0 MW wind turbines. International Journal of Sustainable Manufacturing, 3(2), 170.Harris, J. (2024, November 28). Scene from Billy Bob Thornton's New Show Goes Viral as His “Landman” Character Savages Green Energy. The Western Journal.Hartke, K. (2017, July 5). “The Sideways Effect”: How A Wine-Obsessed Film Reshaped The Industry. NPR.Hookstead, D. (2025, January 14). “Landman” Goes Viral With Scene Crushing Woke Environmentalists | OutKick. OutKick.Imperative Podcasts. (2022). Boomtown - Chapter 3: Dust to DustInternational Energy Agency. (2024). World Energy Investment 2024. YouTube. Jack, S., & Masud, F. (2025, February 26). BP shuns renewables in return to oil and gas. BBC.Krauss, C., & Penn, I. (2022, June 7). Shell, the Oil Giant, Will Sell Renewable Energy to Texans. The New York Times.Kreil, E. (2024, March 11). United States Produces More Crude Oil than Any country, Ever - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Www.eia.gov.Malewitz, J. (2013, October 14). $7 Billion Wind Power Project Nears Finish. The Texas Tribune.McEwen, M. (2024, November 18). API runs ads to challenge “Landman” oil industry portrayal. Midland Reporter-Telegram.Murray, C. (2023, June 30). The McDonald's Grimace Shake's Viral (And Gruesome) TikTok Trend, Explained. Forbes.Nelson, J. (2024, November 27). “Landman” clip goes viral slamming renewable energy: “There is nothing clean about this.”. Fox News.NW, T. C. for R. P. 1300 L. S., Washington, S. 200, & info, D. 20005 telelphone857-0044. (2025). Oil & Gas Lobbying Profile. OpenSecrets.Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas, & OERB. (2022, July 19). Petro Pete's Adventure - Big Bad Dream - OERB. OERB.Paramount Plus. (2024a, November 27). Landman | Tommy Explains Why Even Wind Turbines Depend on the Oil Industry (S1, E3). YouTube.Paramount Plus. (2024b, December 3). Landman | Q&A with Billy Bob Thornton. YouTube.PBOG. (2017, October 12). The Well That Launched the Permian - Permian Basin Oil and Gas Magazine. Permian Basin Oil and Gas Magazine.Peach, S. (2021, June 30). What's the carbon footprint of a wind turbine?. Yale Climate Connections.Pitsel, P. (2021, February 26). What about Wind Farms?. LinkedIn.Plastic Pollution Coalition Editor. (2024, September 17). Fracked Gas is Now a Growing Share of the Fossil Fuels Being Turned Into Plastics. Plastic Pollution Coalition.Rapier, R. (2024, December 26). U.S. Oil Production Shattered Records Again in 2024. OilPrice.com.Rassenfoss, S. (2023, August 16). Shale Wells Producing More Early On, Then Declining Faster Than Ever. JPT.Schechter, D. (2020, February 16). VERIFY: Does conservative Texas actually lead the U.S. in green energy?. WFAA.Science Daily, & Taylor & Francis Group. (2024, May 16). Wind farms can offset their emissions within two years. ScienceDaily.Statistia. (2019, September 3). Infographic: Wind Turbines Are Not Killing Fields for Birds. Statista Infographics.Texas Monthly, & Wallace, C. (2019). Boomtown Podcast. Texas Monthly.The Climate Denier's Playbook. (2023, July 11). You Owe Your Life to Oil & Gas. Spotify.The Joe Rogan Experience. (2020, September 2). Joe Rogan Experience #892 - Greg Fitzsimmons. JRE Podcast.The Joe Rogan Experience. (2024, January 4). Joe Rogan Experience #2083 - Taylor Sheridan. JRE Podcast.TotalEnergies. (2024). Wind, Solar and Hydro Power: Our Renewable Energy Activities in France at a Glance. TotalEnergies.com.Twitter, & @bonchieredstate. (2024, October 24). Every left-winger should have their eyes held open and be forced to watch this on repeat until it sinks in. X (Formerly Twitter).U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2025, May 6). U.S. Field Production of Crude Oil (Thousand Barrels per Day). Www.eia.gov.Valle, S. (2023, April 4). 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According to a recent forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, solar panels and batteries will account for more than 80% of new power capacity installed in the U.S. this year.  The record growth of these technologies is hastening the decline of coal power in this country. Solar power alone will account for more than […]

Freezing your gas off! Weather is in the news affecting travel and crude oil and LNG pipelines. A new unique method of cargo theft, Kevin explains. Two tort reform bills introduced in Georgia are welcomed by the trucking industry, Kevin offers his insights. Oil reacts to supply disruptions in Russia and the U.S. awaiting clarity on sanctions as Washington tries to broker a deal to end the war in Ukraine; a 30-40% disruption to a pipeline from Kazakhstan - due to a drone attack; cold weather in the U.S. threatened oil supply from North Dakota and refineries in Texas and awaiting U.S. oil inventory data from American Petroleum Institute and the Energy Information Administration.

The Energy Information Administration says ethanol production averaged 1.111 million barrels a day during the week ending on December 27.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Commerce Department released the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, what does this inflation gauge tell us about the direction of inflation. The Conference Board released the consumer confidence index for December, Kevin offers his perspective on the report. Initial holiday sales numbers are in, how do they compare to prior years? Oil prices react to the dollar's strength, hopes for addition fiscal stimulus in China, American Petroleum Institute reporting that U.S. crude oil stocks falling and expected confirmation of those declines by the Energy Information Administration. 

—Here are 3 big things you need to know—   One — Donald Trump is nominating TV's Doctor Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.  CMS oversees Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and Healthcare-dot-gov, which currently provide coverage to nearly 50-percent of Americans. Two ---- President Biden has approved sending antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine in its war against Russia.  Multiple reports said Tuesday that the U.S. expects Ukraine to use the mines in its own territory in a region where Russian troops have made significant advances.   And number three — Most U.S. households will spend about the same or less on energy this winter, but some states may face higher costs due to colder weather. According to the Energy Information Administration, states like Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, and Kansas might see natural gas bills rise by 10 to 15 dollars per month. Electric heating may see a 2-percent increase, while natural gas prices will vary, with some areas dropping and others, like the Midwest, expected to rise by 11-percent.

In 1953, the New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series, “From Here to Eternity” won the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. And on May 24 deep in the  education section of The New York Times, there was a short piece titled “How Industry May Change Climate.” In the years after, scientists went from writing about the possible impacts of pollution on climate to warning U.S. presidents. And energy policy expert and scholar Jay Hakes says there's much more to the story. From scientists who quietly worked to address growing environmental threats, to lawmakers who deliberated in Congress and the White House over what to do about them, Jay says there's a history that hasn't been told. In his new book, Jay looks at these early climate change pioneers and asks about the challenges they faced.   What was it like trying to influence the White House? What solutions did these pioneers offer? And how can their stories further our discourse around climate change today?  This week, we go back to a conversation from August between host Bill Loveless and Jay Hakes about his book “The Presidents and the Planet: Climate Change Science and Politics from Eisenhower to Bush.”  Jay is a scholar and author on U.S. energy policy. From 2000-2013 he served as the director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. He also served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations, including a seven-year stint as director of the U.S. Energy Information Administration.  Jay's other books include “Energy Crises: Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Hard Choices in the 1970s” and “A Declaration of Energy Independence.”

In the wake of the Key Bridge collapse, researchers are considering what other crossings could be taken down by a wayward container ship. Also, the EIA's latest short-term energy outlook says diesel prices will likely decline over the coming months. We'll go through the data. And ELDs were supposed to be for hours-of-service compliance only, but more entities want to use the devices to track truckers' location. 0:00 – Feds says fuel prices likely to drop.  10:15 – More brokers, others tracking truckers using ELDs. 25:08 – Looking for other bridges vulnerable to collapse.

Presidential politics and energy expert Jay Hakes, a former University of New Orleans Political Science professor, has written a compelling new book about contemporary presidents and their response to environmental issues. He helped organize Jimmy Carter's Louisiana campaign in 1976 and he would go on to manage the Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta for 13 years. As an energy expert, he spent time shaping energy policy for the state of Florida and, under Carter, headed the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Hakes joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde and podcast producer Kelly Massicot to discuss his latest book, “The Presidents and the Planet: Climate Change Science and Politics from Eisenhower to Bush,” published by LSU Press. The wide ranging discussion also includes shaping public opinion (such as the awareness of the dangers from second hand cigarette smoke) and the future of electric vehicles. It is high powered conversation.

In 1953, the New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series, “From Here to Eternity” won the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. And on May 24 deep in the  education section of The New York Times, there was a short piece titled “How Industry May Change Climate.” In the years after, scientists went from writing about the possible impacts of pollution on climate to warning U.S. presidents. And energy policy expert and scholar Jay Hakes says there's much more to the story. From scientists who quietly worked to address growing environmental threats, to lawmakers who deliberated in Congress and the White House over what to do about them, Jay says there's a history that hasn't been told. In his new book, Jay looks at these early climate change pioneers and asks about the challenges they faced.   What was it like trying to influence the White House? What solutions did these pioneers offer? And how can their stories further our discourse around climate change today?  This week, host Bill Loveless talks with Jay Hakes about his book “The Presidents and the Planet: Climate Change Science and Politics from Eisenhower to Bush.”  Jay is a scholar and author on U.S. energy policy. From 2000-2013 he served as the director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. He also served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations, including a seven-year stint as director of the U.S. Energy Information Administration.  Jay's other books include “Energy Crises: Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Hard Choices in the 1970s” and “A Declaration of Energy Policy Independence.”

Our president promised to “end fossil fuels,” yet the train keeps-a-rollin' at record speed. Dr. Merrill “Buddy” Matthews of the Institute for Policy Innovation has the proof, fresh from the federal Energy Information Administration.  The U.S. has set yet another record in oil & gas production, once again disproving the “green” doomsayers who tried to discourage investment, claiming these would be “stranded assets” by now, having become obsolete in the “green” energy transition… that never was.   X: @JackiDailyHost TruthSocial: JackiDaily Rumble: TheJackiDailyShow YouTube: TheJackiDailyShow Instagram: JackiDaily Facebook: The Jacki Daily Show

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, on today's episode of The Wright Report, where we dive into the crucial headlines shaping America and the world. It's our Friday Headline Brief, heavy on news and light on analysis, setting the stage for the weekend. Domestic News: Energy Prices Surge: Natural gas prices are on the rise, leading to higher electricity bills this summer. The Energy Information Administration predicts the U.S. average monthly residential power bill to reach $173, a 3% increase from last summer, with regional differences varying widely. Federal Budget Deficit: The federal budget deficit is set to spike to $1.9 trillion this year, largely due to President Biden's student loan forgiveness plans. This increase pushes the national debt to $35 trillion, with interest payments now surpassing the entire military budget. Immigration Crisis: Cartels are offering VIP packages for illegal immigrants to travel from Panama to the United States, costing around $15,000. Despite executive orders aimed at curbing illegal immigration, thousands continue to cross the border. Women in the Military: Senate Democrats propose requiring women to register for the draft, sparking a heated debate. The proposal's future remains uncertain as it faces opposition in both the Senate and the Republican-controlled House. International News: Indian Ocean Tensions: India faces disputes with Sri Lanka and the Maldives over valuable underwater mineral nodules, potentially increasing China's influence in the region. Middle East and Eastern Europe: Updates on Israel's operations in Gaza and potential shifts towards a ceasefire, alongside discussions about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and potential peace deal timelines. Health and Science: Parkinson's Disease: AI advancements in Germany may predict Parkinson's disease up to seven years before symptoms appear, offering new hope for early treatment. Dementia Research: Certain prostate drugs show promise in reducing the risk of dementia with Lewy bodies by up to 40%. Natural Immunity: Studies confirm the long-lasting power of natural immunity from childhood flu exposures and its implications for other diseases, including COVID-19. New research suggests that regular walking can significantly relieve lower back pain, providing a simple yet effective solution for sufferers. Tune in for these stories and more, plus deeper analysis available on Substack. Don't miss this essential episode of The Wright Report. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32

The U.S. produces more crude oil than any other country, but the number of active oil rigs has fallen by nearly 70% since 2014, the Energy Information Administration reports. How can that be? The answer is a combination of innovation and financial pressure. Plus, the non-alcoholic beverage market booms, the U.S. Patent Office decides AI can’t be credited as an inventor and household debt burdens are on the rise.

The U.S. produces more crude oil than any other country, but the number of active oil rigs has fallen by nearly 70% since 2014, the Energy Information Administration reports. How can that be? The answer is a combination of innovation and financial pressure. Plus, the non-alcoholic beverage market booms, the U.S. Patent Office decides AI can’t be credited as an inventor and household debt burdens are on the rise.