Best Mike Sommer Podcasts (2025)

1
Is Trump’s natural gas deal with China…real? 8:15

Play Pause

25m ago8:15

8:15

President Donald Trump says China is showing interest in buying U.S. natural gas — specifically from a $44 billion export project in Alaska that’s barely made any progress for more than a decade. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down this potential US-China energy deal, what questions remain and why there’s already Republican skepticism on the Hill.…

1
BONUS - Zohran: The Final Stretch 17:17

7h ago17:17

17:17

Candidate for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joins us to catch up on the final few days of the campaign. Will and Zohran discuss Andrew Cuomo’s embarrassing campaign against him, how he plans to protect New Yorkers from Trump’s threatened federal incursions into the city, NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch, and how he intends to implement his agen…

1
Trump and Xi meet as US-China energy tensions rise 9:22

20h ago9:22

9:22

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are holding face-to-face for the first time since Trump returned to office, with energy expected to be a top-tier issue. Ben Storrow from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down the stakes of this high-tension meeting, the two countries’ contrasting energy strategies and the stakes for the global…

1
A rocky road to the UN climate change conference 9:33

2d ago9:33

9:33

With just two weeks until the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil, a new UN report shows countries are falling far short of their Paris Agreement pledges. Rising energy demand, inflation, and political divisions are adding even more pressure to the talks — especially as U.S. climate leadership wanes under President Donald Trump. Sara Schonhardt …

1
FERC is finally full. Here’s their first Trump-assigned task. 7:33

3d ago7:33

7:33

The Trump administration is pressing the newly whole Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to speed up how quickly data centers can connect to the U.S. power grid. POLITICO’s Isa Domínguez breaks down the ambitious DOE proposal, the reaction from FERC watchers, and what to expect next. Plus, Exxon Mobil is suing California over its first-in-the-nati…

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981 - Down in the Mall (10/27/25) 1:15:41

3d ago1:15:41

1:15:41

It’s a call-in show! We respond to nineteen calls ranging from serious predictions about the Trump era and beyond, the future of the Middle East, Warren Zevon stories, books for kids and high schoolers, and trying to wean a friend off H3H3. Also: gossip about John Fetterman and Jair Bolsonaro. YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology is back o…

1
How the U.S. is trying to break China’s mineral dominance. 8:56

4d ago8:56

8:56

President Donald Trump is ramping up efforts to boost America’s supply of critical minerals by striking a deal with Australia, pitching potential partnerships with African leaders, and launching a multibillion-dollar investment fund to develop new sources. The push comes as Washington tries to loosen its reliance on China, which still dominates the…

1
Trump’s new oil drilling target: the Atlantic and Pacific oceans 8:46

7d ago8:46

8:46

The Trump administration is preparing to propose opening up federal waters in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for new oil drilling — a move that’s expected to spark strong backlash from governors in coastal states across party lines and could specifically put California Governor Gavin Newsom in a tough political position. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebv…

1
Trump and Qatar pressure EU to weaken key climate law 6:49

8d ago6:49

6:49

The Trump administration and the government of Qatar are warning the European Union to roll back a major corporate climate regulation — or risk higher energy prices. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down why Washington and Doha are teaming up to target this specific law and how Trump is once again using energy as a political weapon against Europe. Jo…

1
Trump canceled an Alaskan flood protection grant. Then a typhoon hit. 9:17

9d ago9:17

9:17

A powerful typhoon recently devastated the Native Alaskan village of Kipnuk — months after the Trump administration canceled a $20 million EPA grant meant to protect it from flooding. Now, Kipnuk and dozens of other towns are fighting that decision in court. Jean Chemnick from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down what happened in Kipnuk, why the grants …

1
What the shutdown means for federal energy and climate agencies 9:50

10d ago9:50

9:50

The ongoing government shutdown has sent uneven shock waves through federal climate and energy agencies, leaving operations frozen, offices short-staffed and priorities in limbo. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the shutdown’s impact on those agencies and how it compares to previous shutdowns. Plus, the United States and Australia announced an a…

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979 - Cat People (Running For Mayor) feat. Jon Bois (10/20/25) 1:05:04

10d ago1:05:04

1:05:04

Secret Base’s sports-data auteur Jon Bois is back to preview a new series: a history and analysis of mound charges in baseball, coming this November. We talk a little bit about recent sports news including Dana White’s new boxing league, Shohei Ohtani’s generational run, and the Seattle Mariners (RIP). We then do a deep dive on former Reform Party …

1
DOE Secretary Chris Wright is on the hot seat 11:05

11d ago11:05

11:05

POLITICO is exclusively reporting that Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s relationship with the White House is strained because of a series of political missteps and policy disputes, according to 10 people familiar with the dynamic. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down why there’s tension and if Wright’s job is in jeopardy. Plus, the Trump administratio…

1
DOE’s loan office is getting a Trump rebrand 7:35

14d ago7:35

7:35

The Trump administration is relaunching and rebranding the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office starting with a $1.6 billion loan guarantee to rebuild thousands of miles of electric transmission lines. The move comes after months of Republican criticism that had called the future of the office into question. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks …

1
FERC is back to full strength. What’s on the agenda? 7:23

15d ago7:23

7:23

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finally has a full slate of commissioners for the first time in six months, and the agency faces a packed agenda. POLITICO’s Isa Domínguez breaks down what’s ahead for the commission, how the White House is influencing its agenda, and why these decisions matter for consumers and the tech industry alike. Plus…

1
Another rainy day for the solar industry 8:17

16d ago8:17

8:17

The Trump administration has dealt another blow to renewable energy. Last week, the Bureau of Land Management sent back to the drawing board the country’s biggest proposed solar project, known as the Esmerelda Seven in Nevada. But even though President Donald Trump’s administration was behind the move, not all Republicans are taking it lightly, esp…

1
Oil permits are surging. But will production follow? 7:27

17d ago7:27

7:27

President Donald Trump is giving energy companies something they’ve wanted for years: a quicker timeline for oil and gas drilling permit approvals. According to a new analysis by POLITICO, Trump’s Bureau of Land Management has issued 4,483 applications for permits to drill on federal and Native American land — more than double the number approved d…

1
977 - The Next Day feat. Ryan Grim and Jeremy Scahill 1:28:05

17d ago1:28:05

1:28:05

Drop Site’s Ryan Grim and Jeremy Scahill return to talk more about the ceasefire deal in Gaza. We discuss what finally led to this moment, whether this ceasefire will be any different than the previous ones, and the future of Gaza, Israel, and the Gulf States. We then turn to the media’s coverage of Gaza: Jeremy’s new story on The Free Press’ “debu…

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Why Trump's oil industry allies are facing a looming crunch 8:02

21d ago8:02

8:02

America’s oil industry is hitting record highs, but the boom may not last as production surges, demand stagnates and storage tanks around the world fill up. That slowdown could deliver a political double-edged sword for President Donald Trump: cheaper fuel for consumers, but trouble for his biggest ally. Ben Storrow from POLITICO’s E&E News explain…

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The Transformation Gap - Why AI Fails — and What Real Leaders Do Differently 56:22

22d ago56:22

56:22

70% of AI projects fail — not because of bad models or missing data, but because of misaligned leadership and culture. The Transformation Gap reveals what separates organizations that scale transformation from those that stall. Hosted by Mike Sommer, this show decodes the human operating system behind enterprise success — how leaders create velocit…

1
AI is colliding with New York’s energy and climate goals 8:10

22d ago8:10

8:10

Artificial intelligence’s growing thirst for power is putting New York’s energy and climate goals under pressure by straining the state’s power system, driving up costs and threatening its ambitious clean energy targets. POLITICO’s Marie French breaks down how New York is trying to balance AI growth with its environmental goals and what this story …

1
Why Trump’s clean energy cuts could worsen America’s power crunch. 8:45

23d ago8:45

8:45

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 ener…

1
One of Trump’s justifications for gutting clean energy is falling apart 9:26

25d ago9:26

9:26

A new POLITICO analysis shows states that embrace renewable energy are more likely to save money for consumers compared to those relying on fossil fuels or nuclear power. It’s a finding that undermines one of the Trump administration’s main justifications for its aggressive rollback of federal clean energy policies. POLITICO’s Catherine Allen and M…

1
975 - Like a Virgin feat. Séamus Malekafzali 1:35:46

24d ago1:35:46

1:35:46

By Chapo Trap House

1
Trump knocks back America’s carbon capture industry 8:21

25d ago8:21

8:21

The Trump administration has canceled funding for nearly half of the federally backed megaprojects designed to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — a major blow to the U.S. direct air capture industry that had flourished under former President Joe Biden. Corbin Hiar from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down how these cuts could reshape the future o…

1
UNLOCKED: ICE is Coming to a City Near You feat. Memo Torres 43:07

25d ago43:07

43:07

Will interviews Los Angeles reporter Memo Torres, whose site L.A. TACO shifted from covering food and culture in the city to some of the most indispensable and horrific coverage of ICE raids available. Memo tells us about what happens to people when they get kidnapped, covering the horrors of fortress America, and practical advice for those who mig…

1
How Trump’s latest clean energy cuts will hurt both parties 10:43

29d ago10:43

10:43

President Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on clean energy, cutting $8 billion in funding in states that didn’t vote for him in last year’s election – but some GOP districts will take some collateral damage. The decision comes amid a heated partisan blame game over the ongoing government shutdown and builds on Trump’s broader rollback of clea…

1
MM43 - Punks & Bad Boys 2:25:50

28d ago2:25:50

2:25:50

Greetings Horror Sickos,Listener, please light a circle of candles and begin to scrawl out the ancient sigils in salt, and begin the accursed chant … “Let’s All Go to the Lobby, Let’s All Go to the Lobby, and Grab Ourselves a Snack”That’s right! Spooky season is upon us and to inaugurate another edition of Ghoulvie Screamset Horrortober, Will Massa…

1
Trump’s latest equity play: a Nevada lithium mine 8:45

1M ago8:45

8:45

The Trump administration is making a new move to secure America’s critical minerals: taking an ownership stake in a Nevada lithium mine alongside its developer. The deal is designed to boost U.S. supplies of lithium, a key component of electric vehicles and renewable energy. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down the details and implications of this …

1
PANIC WORLD: The Big Dumb Weather Conspiracy with Chapo Trap House 1:08:38

29d ago1:08:38

1:08:38

Like many things, there used to be a bipartisan consensus that in a disaster, you help as many people get through it as quickly and safely as possible. In the past 20+ years, though, we’ve seen a shift in how the right responds to climate catastrophes — including building out a robust selection of conspiracy theories from chemtrails to Flat Earth. …

1
Why states are racing ahead on EVs despite federal rollbacks 8:33

1M ago8:33

8:33

Even though the Trump administration and Republicans have scaled back federal support for electric vehicles, more than 40 red and blue states across the country are moving ahead with plans to tap into billions in federal funding to build fast-charging EV networks. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down why states are racing to expand EV infrastructur…

1
UNLOCKED: The Sumud Flotilla Interview feat. Zue Jernstedt 24:57

1M ago24:57

24:57

Zue Jernstedt joins us live from the Global Sumud Flotilla to talk to us about delivering aid to those in Gaza and weathering attacks from Israel.By Chapo Trap House

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Inside Trump’s new lifeline for U.S. coal 8:36

1M ago8:36

8:36

The Trump administration announced its latest major push this week to revive the U.S. coal industry including new funding, land leases and looser regulatory rules. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the details and impact of the move for the industry, along with what it means for rising electricity prices. Plus, the Energy Department has added “cl…

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973 - Cross on the Moon feat. Brendan James (9/29/25) 1:37:40

1M ago1:37:40

1:37:40

It’s Chapo—in person! Will, Felix, and Brendan James of Blowback (formerly Chapo Trap House) gather at Will’s apartment to talk about Eric Adams dropping out of the NYC mayoral race. They then read a profile of Adam Jentleson and his new PAC, Searchlight, and its novel plan to win elections by pulling Democrats to the right. Also this episode: Pete…

1
Plutonium: coming to a nuclear power plant near you? 8:13

1M ago8:13

8:13

The Trump administration is considering using weapons-grade plutonium to help fuel a new wave of nuclear reactors. But these plans are already concerning Democratic lawmakers and some Department of Energy officials, who worry that allowing commercial nuclear producers to have the material could pose defense and safety issues. POLITICO’s Zack Colman…

1
Trump’s climate contrarianism at the UN 8:54

1M ago8:54

8:54

President Donald Trump hasn’t been a big fan of renewable energy. And on the international stage, he’s used some unusual diplomacy to get his point across. These two themes collided earlier this week in New York City, where heads of state gathered for the UN General Assembly. In a nearly hour-long speech, Trump eviscerated his peers for falling for…

1
Is Lee Zeldin taking a risky shortcut? 8:01

1M ago8:01

8:01

EPA’s power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions might get switched off sooner than expected. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin intends to sign off next week on the final policy and legal justifications for repealing the so-called endangerment finding and Biden-era climate rules for cars and trucks, according to a scoop from E&E’s Jean Chemnick. But Zel…

1
Why Most CIOs Fail — And How to Lead Differently 37:04

1M ago37:04

37:04

Most CIOs focus on systems. The best ones build leaders. In this episode, executive coach Joe Woodruff — co-founder of CIO Mastermind — shares what separates high-performing CIOs from those who stall out. After coaching over 300 tech leaders, Joe has seen the patterns: isolation, lack of influence, and over-reliance on technical expertise. We dive …

1
The Army Corps piles on renewable energy 6:38

1M ago6:38

6:38

Once again, the Trump administration is working to hobble the growth of clean energy. On Monday, the administration announced plans to use the Clean Water Act permitting process to prioritize fossil fuel projects and potentially undercut renewable energy. POLITICO’s James Bikales and Kelsey Tamborrino break down what’s behind this move towards “ene…

1
Two paths diverge for the climate movement 9:11

1M ago9:11

9:11

Environmentalists have been stunned by President Donald Trump’s rapid-fire attack on many of their achievements. From Joe Biden’s climate law to longstanding regulations – green groups now find themselves on the defensive seemingly everywhere. But this week, they’re rallying in New York City for Climate Week to try to forge a new path ahead. The on…

1
971 - The Years of Whatever feat. Will Sommer (9/22/25) 1:17:39

1M ago1:17:39

1:17:39

Will Sommer of The Bulwark returns to Chapo to talk about the right’s reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk as well as his funeral proceedings in Arizona. We recap the Groyper War that preceded the assassination and the pressure it put on Kirk to move right, as well as the conspiracies surrounding his shooting. Was Israel involved? Why was …

1
API’s Mike Sommers on Trump 2.0 and the state of U.S. oil and gas 22:59

1M ago22:59

22:59

Today, POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel sits down for an extended interview with Mike Sommers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, to discuss the state of the U.S. oil and gas under President Donald Trump’s energy dominance agenda. The industry has secured policy wins like tax cuts, regulatory rollbacks, and expanded lease sales, but it faces …

1
Lawmakers unveiled a new permitting plan. Will this be the one? 11:28

1M ago11:28

11:28

The bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus unveiled a new permitting reform framework this week that aims to speed the construction of energy and infrastructure projects. But after years of gridlock and failed attempts, can Congress finally get a deal across the finish line? POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down what’s in the new proposal, why the Pr…

1
Is it the end of U.S. climate pollution tracking? 9:18

1M ago9:18

9:18

The Trump administration is proposing to eliminate EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, a federal program that’s tracked U.S. climate pollution since 2009. The move is drawing backlash from environmental groups, along with concern from Republicans and industry leaders who worry it could undermine U.S business interests. POLITICO’s Zack Colman br…

1
One of the biggest U.S. wind farms was nearly complete. Then Trump shut it down. 9:43

2M ago9:43

9:43

The Trump administration has halted construction on Revolution Wind, one of the largest U.S. offshore wind projects, even though it was nearly complete and set to power New England. That decision has triggered a costly legal battle, backlash from state political and business leaders, and raised fresh questions about the future of offshore wind in t…

1
For Trump, energy wins at the pump come at a cost to US companies 8:55

2M ago8:55

8:55

Americans may be getting relief at the pump this year, but U.S. oil companies are feeling the squeeze, cutting jobs and scaling back investments. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains why these conflicting trends are happening and what they mean for President Donald Trump’s energy dominance agenda. Plus, a new study published shows that climate change w…

1
969 - Pablo Torre Fucks Around and Finds Out feat. Pablo Torre (9/15/25) 1:31:47

2M ago1:31:47

1:31:47

In today’s two-parter, we start off with more coverage of the assassination of Charlie Kirk: what it means, possible motives, and the tidal wave of right-wing cancel culture it has wrought. Will then interviews journalist Pablo Torre of Pablo Torre Finds Out about recently unearthed collusion in the NFL, with a story that starts with Deshaun Watson…

1
SEIA’s CEO on Trump 2.0 and what’s ahead for solar 24:48

2M ago24:48

24:48

Since taking office, the Trump administration has putting clean energy under pressure -- cancelling funding, revoking permits, and tightening access to key tax credits. That comes at a time when solar remains among the fastest-growing sources of electricity in the United States and as energy demand is projected to surge in the coming years. POLITIC…

1
Trump vs. renewables: the Capitol Hill fallout 11:19

2M ago11:19

11:19

President Donald Trump’s campaign against renewable energy since taking office isn’t just hitting approved projects and green industries — it’s quietly rippling through Congress in small but significant ways across party lines. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down how the president's anti-clean energy agenda is complicating the Senate energy committe…

1
How MAHA plans to tackle America’s environmental hazards 9:34

2M ago9:34

9:34

The Trump administration’s latest Make America Healthy Again report was supposed to crack down on America’s environmental hazards. Instead, it delivers major wins for industry, including calling for faster chemical approvals and weaker pollution rules. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down how the report tackles environmental issues and why some MAHA…