Shift Key with Robinson Meyer
Heatmap News
Every week, Heatmap News Executive Editor Robinson Meyer and Princeton University Professor and energy systems expert Jesse Jenkins make sense of the biggest shift of our time -- navigating the energy transition away from fossil fuels. Drawing on their years of experience reporting on and researching climate change and decarbonization, Meyer and Jenkins unpack the most important issues of the week and how the impacts of climate change and efforts to address it are transforming our economy, politics, and society at large. Music by Adam Kromelow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
13 snips
Feb 21, 2026 • 30min
What the Supreme Court’s Tariff Ruling Means for the Energy Transition
Jonas Nahm, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins and former White House industrial strategy economist. He breaks down the Supreme Court tariff ruling and its legal reasoning. He maps alternative trade authorities the administration could use. He explores how tariffs affect EVs, solar, wind, data centers, and the limits of tariffs versus coordinated industrial policy.
12 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 40min
The Outdated Economics Driving Trump’s Car Standards Rollback
Kenneth Gillingham, Yale professor of environmental and energy economics who studies vehicle efficiency and regulation, and Hannah Hess, Associate Director at the Rhodium Group tracking clean investment trends. They discuss the economic assumptions behind the Trump rollback of fuel-economy rules and how economists now value fuel savings. They also cover Q4 2025 clean investment shifts, EV and battery project cuts, and strength in solar and storage.
17 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 42min
Trump’s Assault on the Clean Air Act and What Happens Next
Jody Freeman, Harvard Law professor and former Obama White House climate counselor, explains how the Trump administration’s repeal targets EPA authority under the Clean Air Act. She walks through the administration’s shifting legal arguments, how the courts might respond, and what it means for power plant and vehicle regulation. They also consider whether repeal could shift climate fights to states and cities.
20 snips
Feb 13, 2026 • 47min
The Power Grid Just Passed Its Biggest Test in Years
A deep dive into how an extended Northeast cold snap stretched the power grid and why winter peaks differ from summer ones. Conversation about generator failures, snow-packed solar and reduced wind output during the freeze. An explanation of New England’s heavy short-term use of oil-fired plants and how a new Maine–Quebec transmission line behaved under stress.
Feb 9, 2026 • 33min
What Senator Martin Heinrich Needs to See in a Permitting Deal
Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico senator and trained mechanical engineer who focuses on transmission and permitting policy, discusses what Democrats would need in a permitting reform deal. He explains why limiting executive interference matters. He highlights transmission’s central role for renewables, debates legislative levers to constrain permit decisions, and warns about data centers’ growing energy demands.
Feb 4, 2026 • 49min
Trump’s Most Self-Defeating Move on Rare Minerals
Nathaniel Horadam, former DOE loan office official and now founder of Full Tilt Strategies, explains critical-mineral policy. He breaks minerals into three policy groups and critiques recent stockpile and price-floor plans. He discusses the role of EV demand, lithium volatility, and what a better policy toolbox would look like.
16 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 46min
What the China-Canada EV Trade Deal Really Means
Andrew Moseman, EV market observer who tracks launches and affordability. Greig Mordue, engineering and policy professor with auto-industry experience. They discuss Canada’s new China EV import deal and its 49,000-unit cap. Conversation covers which automakers might benefit, regulatory and dealer hurdles for Chinese brands, political tradeoffs with farmers and auto regions, and the most notable EVs and price trends to watch for 2026.
15 snips
Jan 21, 2026 • 41min
Why America’s Climate Emissions Surged in 2025
In this engaging discussion, Ben King, Director at the Rhodium Group, dissects the surprising 2.4% rise in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2025. He explores key drivers like fossil fuel combustion in buildings and shifts in the power sector. The conversation touches on the impact of the AI boom, natural gas prices, and electric vehicle adoption. King also weighs in on the future role of industry versus transportation in emissions, the importance of policy in clean energy progress, and the economic opportunities emerging from clean investments.
15 snips
Jan 14, 2026 • 34min
Heatmap’s Annual Climate Insiders Survey Is Here
This discussion dives into the annual Insiders Survey, revealing insights from climactic leaders. They tackle industrial decarbonization challenges, spotlight promising clean heat companies, and critique misleading hydrogen terminology. The impact of AI on electricity demand raises concerns over decarbonization efforts. Notably, the hosts debate the U.S. EV industry's troubles and China’s dual role in emissions. Predictions suggest global emissions peaking by 2030, while the likelihood of solar radiation management deployment this decade remains grim.
27 snips
Jan 6, 2026 • 53min
Why Trump’s Oil Imperialism Might Be a Tough Sell for Actual Oil Companies
Rory Johnston, a Toronto-based oil markets analyst and founder of Commodity Context, dives into Venezuela's oil industry post-U.S. military incursion. He discusses the staggering costs and time required to restore production, estimating up to $100 billion and a decade of work. Johnston contrasts Trump's imperial rhetoric with the reality of $57 per barrel prices and the risks for oil companies like Chevron and Exxon. He also explores how U.S. sanctions and shifts in market dynamics could reshape global oil politics and energy transitions.
