Drilled
Pushkin Industries
Drilled is a true-crime climate change podcast exposing how corporate corruption and political operatives built decades of climate denial and delay. Hosted and reported by award-winning investigative climate journalists and led by Amy Westervelt, each season unravels new evidence of deception, disinformation, and the power structures keeping real climate solutions out of reach.
In September 2025, a group of Brazilian ministers trekked all the way to chilly North Dakota to see a presentation on a new type of clean energy project, one that promised to help them deliver Brazilian President Lula’s dream of turning Brazil into “the Saudi Arabia of sustainable aviation fuels.” It was the latest in a string of projects from Midwest Republican kingmaker and corn ethanol magnate Bruce Rastetter, whose investments in Brazil might just transform him into a global carbon czar, even as his Summit pipeline carbon project faces fierce opposition from Iowa to North Dakota. The problem? It all requires loads of land and none of it does a thing about climate change.
In September 2025, a group of Brazilian ministers trekked all the way to chilly North Dakota to see a presentation on a new type of clean energy project, one that promised to help them deliver Brazilian President Lula’s dream of turning Brazil into “the Saudi Arabia of sustainable aviation fuels.” It was the latest in a string of projects from Midwest Republican kingmaker and corn ethanol magnate Bruce Rastetter, whose investments in Brazil might just transform him into a global carbon czar, even as his Summit pipeline carbon project faces fierce opposition from Iowa to North Dakota. The problem? It all requires loads of land and none of it does a thing about climate change.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 14, 2020 • 28min
From Hot Take: Yes, We Still Need to Talk About Climate
Amid nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, some climate activists have been saying "now's not the time to talk about climate." On Hot Take, Mary Annaise Hegler and Amy Westervelt discuss the idea that climate and racial justice are connected and influence one another. Find Hot Take here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 7, 2020 • 35min
Naomi Klein on "Disaster Capitalism" in America
Naomi Klein describes how "disaster capitalism," the corporate feeding frenzy that happens in the wake of major crisis, is playing out in America right now. On a research trip to post-Katrina New Orleans for her book The Shock Doctrine, she connected her work on human rights and labor to climate, and shares what needs to happen, including the Green New Deal, to spur a justice-focused transformation in the United States.You can find Naomi's works here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 snips
May 29, 2020 • 23min
New Investigation Finds Shell Directly Funded Climate Denial
Guests Alexander Beunder and Jilles Mast reveal shocking discovery that Shell funded a top climate skeptic in the 1990s. They discuss direct funding from Royal Dutch Shell, impact on Dutch policy, scientist's shift to skepticism, and Shell's financial backing of climate denial.
May 22, 2020 • 10min
From Hot Take: Why the GOP's "Climate Lockdown" Narrative is Wrong
The New York Times recenty ran a story on the GOP's new climate narrative: that the Dems imposing climate action will be worse than the pandemic quarantine. In this episode from Hot Take, Mary Annaise Heglar and Amy Westervelt look at how the narrative emerged, why it's striking a nerve, and how to wrestle the climate story back. Find Hot Take here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 19, 2020 • 41min
The Death of Fred Singer and the Endurance of Climate Deniers
In April 2020, Fred Singer, longtime "king" of the climate deniers, died at the age of 95. Singer played a key role in shaping the history of science denial. Investigative reporter Dan Zegart, author of the book Civil Warriors, and Connor Gibson, an investigator with Greenpeace, discuss the climate denial machine Singer built, the legacy he leaves behind, and whether the COVID-19 pandemic may topple science denial and fake free marketeteering forever. Support us on Patreon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 9, 2020 • 17min
A Lawsuit Could Force FERC to Consider Climate Impacts of New Oil and Gas Projects
A lawsuit filed against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) over a small Massachusetts project could have nationwide implications. The lawsuit aims to force FERC to evaluate the overall emissions and climate change impact of any new energy project—something the courts ordered the agency to do yers ago and has particular relevance right now as FERC has been rapidly approving new energy infrastructure. Adam Carlesco, lead attorney for the plantiffs, walks us through the case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 29, 2020 • 26min
What Planet of the Humans Gets Wrong About Climate Change
The Michael Moore–produced documentary Planet of the Humans sparked controversy around renewable energy. Political scientist and environmental policy expert Leah Stokes joins us to discuss the many things the new film gets wrong about environmentalists and the fight for climate action.Additional resources:Michael Moore produced a film about climate change that’s a gift to Big OilSupport us on Patreon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 22, 2020 • 28min
Earth Day in Louisiana: A Petro-state Fights Back
On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and a decade after the BP Deepwarter oil spill, we head to Louisiana to examine petrochemicals, petroleum, plastic, fossil fuel philanthropy, and the impact the pandemic is having on it all.Additional resources:Bucket BrigadeHealthy GulfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 22, 2020 • 21min
Art, Autodesk, and What Accountability Looks Like for the Tech Industry
Joanie Lemercier has been a thorn in software company Autodesk's side for more than a year now, since the French artist first pointed out that Autodesk's computer-aided drafting (CAD) software keeps Europe's largest coal mine operating. Tech reporter Maddie Stone investigates how the software is used by not only coal mines but also to design oil and gas pipelines, raising urgent questions about climate accountability in tech.Read Maddie's feature here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 16, 2020 • 18min
How Big Oil is Using COVID-19 to Push Plastic
A new report from the Center for International Environmental Law examines how oil, gas, and petrochemical companies are leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic to push policy and increase profits. Carroll Muffet walks us through key points of the report, including how the industries are using the pandemic to boost single-use plastics. Read Pandemic Crisis, Systemic Decline: Why Exploiting the COVID-19 Crisis Will Not Save the Oil, Gas, and Plastics Industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
