The global climate has undoubtedly changed. Earlier this year, Copernicus, one of the most trusted weather models in the world, calculated that global average temperatures have increased by 1.4°C (2.5°F) since the start of the Industrial Revolution. This seemingly slight increase has had an outsized effect on weather patterns, challenging our ability to predict and prevent disasters resulting from more extreme weather.  

Most Americans are at least somewhat concerned about global warming, the documented solution to which is greenhouse gas reduction. Yet just this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to rescind its central scientific basis for climate-related regulation.  And with so much competing for our attention, it is easy to imagine that relatively few people will take note of such a policy decision—let alone clearly understand the larger implications and how to respond.  

In this episode, NPR's Sadie Babits discusses her new book Hot Takes: Every Journalist’s Guide to Covering Climate Change, written to equip all of us (journalists or not) to take part in critical public discourse about climate science and policy.  

Listen in as Sadie and Ten Across founder Duke Reiter talk about the development of this book, and how journalists can and must rise to the challenges present in the political and media landscape today.  


The video format of this discussion will be released 8.7.25. Subscribe to the Ten Across newsletter at 10across.org/subscribe/ to receive it as soon as it is available.

Related links:  

“Funding cuts will hit rural areas hard. One station manager explains how” (All Things Considered, July 2025)  

“Congress rolls back $9 billion in public media funding and foreign aid” (NPR, July 2025)  

 “Trump EPA moves to repeal landmark ‘endangerment finding’ that allows climate regulation” (Associated Press, July 2025)  

“There’s a Race to Power the Future. China is Pulling Away” (The New York Times, June 2025)  

Relevant Ten Across Conversations podcast episodes:  

Getting Personal About Climate Change with Sammy Roth  

Reporting on Climate Change When it’s at Your Doorstep with Allison Agsten 10X Heat Series:

Covering Climate Change as It Unfolds with Jeff Goodell  

Journalists and Writers on Breaking the Existential Story of Our Lives—Climate Change    

Credits: 

Host: Duke Reiter Producer and editor: Taylor Griffith

Studio support and video crew: Louie Duran and Utkarsh Byahut

Music by: Research and support provided by: Kate Carefoot, Rae Ulrich, and Sabine Butler    

About our guest

Sadie Babits is the senior supervising climate editor for National Public Radio and author of “Hot Takes: Every Journalist’s Guide to Covering Climate Change.” She was previously professor of practice and the sustainability director for the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University. Sadie was a freelance journalist, editor, and consultant for many years and is a former board president of the Society of Environmental Journalists.