Best Plotz Podcasts (2025)

1
Lewis County PUD GM David Plotz Discusses Clean Energy Implementation Plan, Data Centers 23:04

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23d ago23:04

23:04

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, David Plotz, General Manager of Washington State’s Lewis County PUD, discusses the PUD’s development of a Clean Energy Implementation Plan, details the PUD’s current generation mix and talks about how partnering with bitcoin mining companies as a form of data center load can enhance a utility’s appeal.…

1
Gabfest Reads | The Seven Rules of Trust 32:07

4d ago32:07

32:07

David Plotz talks with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales about his new book The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last. They discuss how Wikipedia’s culture of assuming good faith and shared purpose became a model for building trustworthy digital communities — and what lessons that holds for companies, social media, and poli…

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SRP’s Jeff Shaver Details How Customers Benefit from SRP’S Recycling of Old Power Lines 15:52

5d ago15:52

15:52

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Jeff Shaver, investment recovery analyst at Arizona public power utility Salt River Project, details how SRP is recycling old power lines and giving new life to previously un-recyclable material. He also details how SRP customers are benefiting from the recycling effort.…

1
Susie Wiles is a Sane Enabler 55:20

6d ago55:20

55:20

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the vivid and impulsive portrait Susie Wiles paints of Trump’s White House in a revealing interview with Vanity Fair, what the new unemployment numbers say about the economy and how Americans are feeling about it, and why some studies show that young Americans are increasingly antise…

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APPA’s Patricia Taylor Details Key Takeaways from New Report on Data Centers 12:20

9d ago12:20

12:20

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Patricia Taylor, Policy Director at APPA, discusses a recently released report by APPA on data centers. Among other things, she explains why APPA prepared the report on serving data centers and discusses some of the challenges utilities may face in serving data center customers.…

1
Civilizational Erasure 1:00:24

13d ago1:00:24

1:00:24

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what will happen as the Supreme Court considers whether a president can remove leaders of independent agencies without cause, how the overt signals about immigration and “erasure” in the new National Security Strategy are meant to stir up cultural anxiety in Europe, and the high-stak…

1
Fredericksburg, Texas, Officials Detail Steps Taken to Achieve Almost 40 Years Without a Lost Time Work Injury 16:15

16d ago16:15

16:15

In the latest episode of the Public Power Now podcast, Kyle Treibs, Superintendent of Electric Department for the City of Fredericksburg, Texas, and Kris Kneese, Director of Public Works & Utilities, for the city, detail how Fredericksburg and the city Electric Department have achieved almost 40 years without a lost time work injury.…

1
Kill Them All 1:13:29

20d ago1:13:29

1:13:29

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss why the killing of survivors in a US military strike on an alleged drug boat is so dangerous for Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration, what the results of this week’s special election in Tennessee could portend for the upcoming midterms, and the adoption of self-driving cars as …

1
Is This the End of the Trump Era? 1:06:10

28d ago1:06:10

1:06:10

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what happens when the government is untrustworthy as a strong pattern of DOJ lying under oath emerges, why the NYC mayor-elect and the president were so cordial with each other in the Oval Office, and how MAGA world continues to fracture as Marjorie Taylor Greene announces her resign…

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LIPA CEO Carrie Meek Gallagher Details Priorities in Q&A with APPA President and CEO Scott Corwin 28:29

30d ago28:29

28:29

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Scott Corwin, President and CEO of APPA, discusses a wide range of topics with Carrie Meek Gallagher, CEO of the Long Island Power Authority. Among other things, Gallagher said her priorities since being named CEO in June have been centered on stability at the public power utility, affordability and long-t…

1
DOJ is DOA 1:03:11

1M ago1:03:11

1:03:11

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss a new oral history of President Trump’s Department of Justice, the complex transactional nationalism of this week’s visit from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with guest Jake Sullivan, former National Security Advisor and co-host of the new podcast The Long Game, and what is l…

1
APPA’s Ursula Schryver Highlights Activities at Upcoming Joint Action Conference 8:34

1M ago8:34

8:34

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Ursula Schryver, Senior Vice President, Education, Training, and Events, at APPA, highlights sessions that will occur at APPA’s Joint Action Conference in early 2026, as well as discusses other conferences and events APPA will hold next year.By American Public Power Association

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Gabfest Reads | Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History 1:05:37

1M ago1:05:37

1:05:37

John Dickerson talks with journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation. Recorded live at the 92nd Street Y in NYC, their conversation explores how a decade of optimism, leverage, and moral hazard culminated in the financial collapse that defined mode…

1
Who Really Won the Shutdown? 1:01:39

1M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss why Democrats caved to end the government shutdown and what comes next, the affordability crisis with guest and editorial director for New York Times Opinion David Leonhardt, and the importance of this week’s spectacle of competing Epstein document drops. For this week’s Slate Plus b…

1
PowerTRX Pro Gives APPA Members Tools to Track and Improve Operations 8:12

1M ago8:12

8:12

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Ji Yoon Lee, Manager for Research & Development at APPA, provides details on PowerTRX Pro, which is the new name for the suite of products that public power utilities can use to track and improve operations (formerly the eReliability Tracker and eSafety Tracker).…

1
Spectacular Night for Democrats 59:15

2M ago59:15

59:15

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how Tuesday’s decisive election results give a legitimate boost to Democrats’ prospects as they work toward the midterms, whether the Supreme Court justices will finally draw a line on presidential power and protect Congress’s power of the purse in the consequential tariffs case, and…

1
ElectriCities of North Carolina Utilizes APPA Programs to Help Members Improve Operations 21:34

2M ago21:34

21:34

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Andy Fusco, Chief Strategy Officer for ElectriCities of North Carolina, details how ElectriCities has utilized APPA’s Reliable Public Power Provider and Smart Energy Provider Programs to help its members improve their operations using these two assessments as a benchmark.…

1
Live from Chicago! 1:19:00

2M ago1:19:00

1:19:00

This week, live from Chicago to celebrate 20 years of the Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump vs. Chicago showdown and the dynamics between progressive and centrist Democrats with former Chicago Mayor and Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, what threat President Trump poses to the future of…

1
New CEO of MMWEC Discusses Need for New Generation in Region, Benefits of Energy Storage for Members 27:21

2M ago27:21

27:21

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Tom Barry, the new CEO and Secretary of the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company, discusses the need for new generation in New England. He also details how MMWEC’s member utilities have benefited from energy storage projects. MMWEC is the joint action agency for public power in Massachusetts.…

1
Trump Literally Knocks Down the White House 58:05

2M ago58:05

58:05

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how President Trump reacted to the No Kings protests by embracing his own “cult of the ruler” in particularly dramatic fashion, whether the shutdown will eventually break enough government functions to force more urgency in negotiations, and why Young Republicans are fawning over Hit…

1
Benefits of APPA Membership, Advocacy Efforts Detailed by APPA’s Jeff Haas 7:45

2M ago7:45

7:45

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Jeff Haas, Senior Vice President for Membership and Marketing at APPA, discusses the benefits of being a member of APPA and details how advocacy is a cornerstone of APPA’s work.By American Public Power Association

1
Gabfest Reads | The Radical Fund That Rewired American Progress 30:45

2M ago30:45

30:45

Emily Bazelon talks with Yale law professor John Witt about his new book The Radical Fund: How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America. They explore the remarkable story of the Garland Fund—a small 1920s foundation that bankrolled early work by A. Philip Randolph, and others who would go on to shape the civil rights and labor mo…

1
Trump Ends the Gaza War 58:41

2M ago58:41

58:41

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Gaza ceasefire and prospects for long-term peace with Rob Malley, Middle East policy expert and co-author (with Hussein Agha) of the new book Tomorrow is Yesterday: Life, Death, and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel/Palestine, which side is likely to fold first in the ongoing govern…

1
Load Research Case Study Detailed by Officials with Belmont Light, Daymark Energy Advisors 17:26

2M ago17:26

17:26

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Kevin Bleau, Energy Resources Manager at Massachusetts public power utility Belmont Light, and Doron Koll, an energy consultant at Daymark Energy Advisors, discuss a load research case study that informed Belmont Light’s rate design. This free public resource was completed in collaboration with APPA.…

1
Portland is Not Actually Burning 1:04:19

3M ago1:04:19

1:04:19

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the extremely consequential new Supreme Court term beginning this week, the facts on the ground and the legal questions at play behind Trump’s escalating deployments of troops to US cities, and the likely legal defeat of state bans on conversion therapy. For this week’s Slate Plus bo…

1
Importance of Community Engagement Tied to Data Centers Highlighted by Silicon Valley Power’s Nico Procos 29:34

3M ago29:34

29:34

By American Public Power Association

1
Fat Generals 1:05:35

3M ago1:05:35

1:05:35

This week, John Dickerson, David Plotz, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the disturbing spectacle of military fealty staged by Hegseth and Trump at Quantico, the possible outcomes of the dramatic government shutdown, and the hybrid war Russia appears to be waging with drones over distressed European cities. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus ep…

1
APPA’s Paul Zummo Details Recently Released Performance Indicators Survey 7:37

3M ago7:37

7:37

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Paul Zummo, Director for Energy Efficiency Developments & Statistics at APPA, discusses APPA’s recently released 2024 APPA Performance Indicators Survey.By American Public Power Association

1
Tough It Out, Pregnant Ladies! 1:10:35

3M ago1:10:35

1:10:35

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how Trump is using the powerful machine of government prosecution to reverse-engineer crimes supposedly committed by enemies, his diatribe against Tylenol at the disastrous press conference on autism, and the echoes of past Red Scares in today’s free speech climate with historian Bev…

1
Franklin PUD GM and CEO Victor Fuentes Details Workforce Strategies Including Successful Student Intern Program 9:09

3M ago9:09

9:09

Victor Fuentes, General Manager and CEO of Washington State’s Franklin PUD, discusses the launch of a successful student intern program at Franklin PUD and other efforts at the PUD to proactively address workforce issues facing the utility sector in the latest episode of Public Power Now. He also addresses the steps that Franklin PUD is taking to m…

1
Gabfest Reads | The Recent Past of Prison Punishment 24:19

3M ago24:19

24:19

Emily Bazelon talks with author and Yale professor Judith Resnik about her new book, Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy. They discuss the history of the prison system’s use of punishments like whipping, how the practice came to an end, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]…

1
The Domestic Terrorist 1:06:04

3M ago1:06:04

1:06:04

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the government’s intimidation tactics aimed at chilling free speech after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, why Trump seems intent to provoke armed conflict with Venezuela, and how the president and his Republican allies are upending DC self-governance with guest Michael Schaffer (City C…

1
Pasadena Water and Power General Manager David Reyes Details Energy Storage Project 19:02

3M ago19:02

19:02

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, David Reyes, General Manager of Pasadena Water and Power in California, discusses how the utility is helping to achieve Pasadena’s goal of sourcing 100% of Pasadena’s electricity from carbon-free sources by the end of 2030 and provides details on a utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System being pursued …

1
Assassination of Charlie Kirk 1:02:54

3M ago1:02:54

1:02:54

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the assassination of Charlie Kirk amid an extremely troubling climate of political violence in America, another Supreme Court order with no majority explanation allowing racial profiling by ICE in LA, and a score-settling excerpt from Kamala Harris’s upcoming memoir 107 Days. For thi…

1
Heartland Energy’s Casey Crabtree Provides Details on Data Center Rate Policy 10:48

4M ago10:48

10:48

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Casey Crabtree, Director of Economic Development at Heartland Energy, a South Dakota-based joint action agency, provides details on Heartland Energy’s Demand-Adjusted Technology Advantage program, an interruptible data center rate policy, which was launched in March of this year.…

1
CDC DOA 1:00:56

4M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what the spate of legal defeats for the Trump administration portends as cases wind toward the Supreme Court, the real world effects of RFK Jr. gutting the CDC with guest Dr. Josh Sharfstein, and whether Democrats should compel government shutdown or avoid it now that Congress is bac…

1
Latest Environmental Regulation Developments Detailed by APPA’s Carolyn Slaughter 14:55

4M ago14:55

14:55

In the latest episode of APPA’s Public Power Now podcast, Carolyn Slaughter, Senior Director for Environmental Policy at APPA, provides an update on key environmental regulations of importance to the public power community including EPA’s proposal to repeal Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule Amendments. She also details what resources APPA offer…

1
Dial M for Mortgage Fraud 1:06:56

4M ago1:06:56

1:06:56

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s brazen effort to smash Fed independence by wielding allegations of mortgage fraud against Fed governor Lisa Cook, the expanding law enforcement role of the National Guard in DC and other cities, and the inexplicable folly of Trump’s all-out assault on the renewable wind indus…

1
CEO of California CCA MCE Details Benefits of Issuing Green Bonds 16:50

4M ago16:50

16:50

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Dawn Weisz, CEO of California community choice aggregator MCE, provides details on the benefits that flow to MCE and its member communities from the issuance of green bonds and describes MCE’s approach to power supply planning.By American Public Power Association

1
Is This Martial Law? 1:07:04

4M ago1:07:04

1:07:04

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s deepening takeover of Washington D.C. as National Guard troops from red states arrive, what if anything was accomplished in the whirlwind of Putin-Trump-Zelensky diplomacy, and this week’s launch of the new liberal publication The Argument with its Editor-in-Chief Jerusalem D…

1
Customer Academy, Workforce Strategies are Detailed by President and CEO of the Paris Board of Public Utilities 26:11

4M ago26:11

26:11

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Terry Wimberley, President and CEO of the Paris Board of Public Utilities, the public power utility for Paris, Tennessee, details how the utility engages with the Paris community and its customers including Paris BPU’s Customer Academy. He also discusses the strategies that the utility has implemented with…

1
Gabfest Reads | The Four Years That Changed New York City Forever 40:29

4M ago40:29

40:29

Political Gabfest host Emily Bazelon talks with Jonathan Mahler about his new book, The Gods of New York. They discuss the unraveling of Mayor Ed Koch’s New York City; how the city’s current mayoral race is mirroring the past; and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages could be quoted by name unless …

1
Humvees on the National Mall 57:59

4M ago57:59

57:59

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and guest host Jamelle Bouie discuss the perils of this week’s Trump-plus-Putin (minus Zelensky) summit in Alaska, how Trump’s claimed crime “emergency” provided pretext for National Guard deployment and takeover of D.C. police, and a new presidential memorandum requiring colleges to share admissions data t…

1
Utilities Director for Columbia, Missouri, Details Utility’s Approach to Power Supply Planning 19:22

5M ago19:22

19:22

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Erin Keys, Utilities Director for Columbia, Missouri, details how the city’s utility approaches power supply planning and discusses projections for power demand. She also discusses what her priorities have been since taking on her new role as Utilities Director. Keys started in her new role as Utilities Di…

1
Putting the BS in BLS 1:09:30

5M ago1:09:30

1:09:30

This week, Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the future integrity of US economic data after Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, what the mid-decade redistricting arms race portends for the future of US representative government, and the phenomenon of “Trump’s Rasputin,” Laura Loomer. Here are thi…

1
Utilities Director for Loveland, Colorado, Details Success of Drone Inspection Program 24:05

5M ago24:05

24:05

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Sharon Israel, Utilities Director for the public power community of Loveland, Colorado, discusses the success of the utility’s drone inspection program, which launched a year ago, and details the ways in which Loveland benefits from its relationship with Platte River Power Authority, a joint action agency.…

1
Gaza is Starving 1:04:08

5M ago1:04:08

1:04:08

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the international condemnations of Israel’s actions. They also examine how the Trump administration is gaining control of both universities and the judiciary—through settlements with Ivy League institutions and a controversial judicial con…

1
Impact of New Law on Public Power, Key Tax Credit-Related Deadlines Detailed by APPA’s John Godfrey 11:45

5M ago11:45

11:45

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, John Godfrey, Senior Government Relations Director at APPA, discusses the recent enactment of budget reconciliation legislation and the new law’s effect on public power. Meanwhile, the enactment of the budget reconciliation legislation has started the clock on a number of tax credit-related deadlines, whic…

1
Is John Roberts to Blame for Everything? 1:05:55

5M ago1:05:55

1:05:55

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the latest developments in the Epstein files saga, how Supreme Court decisions under John Roberts have dramatically expanded Trump’s power, and whether the Texas Republicans’ redistricting plan will tip the map redder, or backfire. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, Joh…

1
KYMEA President and CEO Doug Buresh Details Power Supply Portfolio Strategies 18:16

5M ago18:16

18:16

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Doug Buresh, President and CEO of the Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency, discusses the key benefits that KYMEA offers to its all requirements members and details KYMEA’s strategies related to assembling its power supply portfolio.By American Public Power Association