The Time Repuplicans Took Climate Change Seriously

Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos is an eight-part series hosted by Peterson Toscano that uncovers the untold stories behind the rise and fall of bipartisan efforts to address climate change in the United States.

In this first episode, Peterson Toscano takes listeners back to a time when political cooperation on climate issues was possible. The episode explores the beginnings of climate politics in the 1960s, including early warnings about carbon emissions and surprising cross-party collaborations that are difficult to imagine today.

Key Themes

• The origins of climate politics in the 1960s.
• Bipartisan collaboration on environmental legislation.
• Early climate activism from figures across the political spectrum..

Listen Now!

Featured Guest

Chelsea Henderson
Chelsea hosts RepublicEn’s Eco Right Speaks podcast and has long advocated for conservative-led climate solutions. In this episode, she shares her insights into the early days of bipartisan cooperation and the conservative movement's role in addressing climate change.

Standout Quotes

“We must prevent the overheating of our planet, and that will take decisive action from everyone.” – Audio clip from Margaret Thatcher.

“Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich sitting on the same couch, talking about the climate, alongside Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson—truly, a coalition that seems unimaginable today.” – Peterson Toscano.

Episode Highlights

• 00:05:15 – Lyndon B. Johnson's 1965 climate briefing: The earliest official recognition of climate threats.
• 00:12:45 – Richard Nixon established key environmental protections, marking bipartisan action.
• 00:18:30 – Margaret Thatcher addresses the United Nations about the risks of climate change internationally.
• 00:22:15 – 2008 We Can Solve It bipartisan climate campaign featuring Nancy Pelosi, Newt Gingrich, Rev. All Sharpton, and Rev. Pat Robertson brought together unlikely allies to tackle climate change.

Resources Mentioned:

• RepublicEN https://republicen.org/
• Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics by Chelsea Henderson https://turnerpublishing.com/products/glacial-the-inside-story-of-climate-politics?srsltid=AfmBOorxPf93ogFUAc3tAeaVDEPGipWLwlgomJa2dJl6m57-dCMcJhV_

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