On this episode of The Unregulated Podcast Tom Pyle, Mike McKenna, and producer Alex Stevens discuss the updates from the Iran conflict, the upcoming midterms, Democrats' affordability problem, and more.

Links:

• Sam Graves Out: https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/powerful-house-republican-joins-retirement-wave-5558870c
• Trump Says US Will Consider Iran Ceasefire When Hormuz Is Open: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116329512466946656
• With Trump Focused on Iran, Affordability Worries Take Back Seat: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-31/with-trump-focused-on-iran-affordability-worries-take-back-seat?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=69cc752c7699020001e2d6a4&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=business&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky
• Can the Democrats Do Better?: NO: https://x.com/TonySeruga/status/2038368112031178781?s=20
• Gavin on High Speed Rail: https://x.com/mazemoore/status/2039071877461672424?s=20
• Moreno wants to widen ban on Chinese Autos: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/republican-senator-proposes-widen-us-ban-chinese-autos-2026-03-31/
• The affordability crunch is pushing Democrats to scale back climate ambitions: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/30/democrats-energy-affordability-climate-00848073
• Trump’s ‘God Squad’ exempts Gulf oil drilling from Endangered Species Act requirements: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5808861-gulf-of-mexico-oil-drilling-esa-god-squad/?email=ebc2f06a7ff85ddb8312c159ae74a0309d4b1ffd&emaila=76afe2afa715ddeb0bda14174a2608e3&emailb=e65a42d9e87113ea327ad990aedd346e7d3bc9d0c6913e29a724c034dc35938f&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=E%26E%203/31/26
• Trump Administration Sues New Jersey Town Over Natural Gas Ban: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-31/with-trump-focused-on-iran-affordability-worries-take-back-seat?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=69cc752c7699020001e2d6a4&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=business&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky
• More Covid Longing: https://www.politico.eu/article/europeans-urged-to-work-from-home-and-drive-less-as-eu-warns-of-long-crisis/
• Congress should be governing, not on a break in Disney World: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/04/01/lindsey-grahams-disney-world-trip-government-shutdown/89400182007/
• Shatner: Rocket Man: https://x.com/Super70sSports/status/2039062978054545657?s=20
• Energy and the Iran Conflict: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/energy-and-the-iran-conflict/

Links:

New OKC Senator

Alan-armstrong-senate-mullin-stitt-oklahoma-republicans.html

Source: NY Times

Clip: Paxton Shoots Back

https://x.com/KenPaxtonTX/status/2032454580257353760?s=20

Clip: Thom Tillis: Why Do All Politicians Do This? And Why Does Congress Always Give them Stupid Legacy Legislation?

https://x.com/ThisWeekABC/status/2035496667433349568?s=20

Opinion: Why are so many Democrats out of touch?

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/opinion/democrats-midterm-elections.html

Source: NY Times

CA Governor Polling

https://archive.ph/mQkAC

Source: LA Times

Bianco: Let’s Just Count Them. What’s the harm.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-21/riverside-county-sheriff-chad-bianco-seizes-more-than-half-million-ballots

Source: LA Times

Energy

Trump/Total Deal

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/ceraweek-us-totalenergies-shift-1-billion-wind-oil-gas-2026-03-23/

Source: Reuters

More and More and More Natural Gas

https://www.upstreamonline.com/exploration/us-independent-hits-gas-with-egypt-well/2-1-1964743

Source: Upstream

Asia Looking to the West for Oil

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/23/asia-wants-more-us-oil-to-reduce-middle-east-dependence-burgum.html

Source: CNBC

Apparently, the IEA is Nogalistic for COVID

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/03/20/people-urged-to-work-from-home-in-global-oil-crisis/

Source: The Telegraph

Jones Act Waived

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/18/trump-jones-act-oil-iran-war.html?taid=69bb0d5e363d3f0001067c43&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Source: CNBC

Maritime Union Not Happy

https://x.com/mercoglianos/status/2034337745993191660?s=20

Balsa Tree Poachers

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/half-million-balsa-trees-illegally-logged-amazon-rainforest-every-year-feed-global-wind

Source: Zero Hedge

Matt Iglesias: "How come no climate groups have the courage of their convictions to make the case for prolonging the war and keeping the strait closed?"

https://x.com/mattyglesias/status/2036100831989121352?s=20

Trump Suing CA for Emissions Standards

https://apnews.com/article/california-trump-administration-emission-vehicles-electric-cars-1e174fede381afb9c76b867cc92d86c6

Source: AP

Hands off my Thermostat

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/why-more-wa-utilities-want-to-remotely-control-your-thermostat/

Source: Seattle Times

In DC News…

H Street Street Car Going Away. At least they built it. Unlike California’s High Speed Rail.

https://x.com/SlopHq/status/2035791848317268057?s=20

#266: A Dry Buffalo (3/14/26)

Links:

Links:

Strait of Hormuz - Source: CNN

Hern Running in OK - Source: Fox News

Rahm Emmanuel - Source: WSJ

The Exodus Continues, Starbucks - Source: WSJ

Yahama to leave CA - Source: Fox Business

Funny How That Works: Competition in Health Care - Source: Washington Post

New Refinery: 100% Shale - Source: PR Newswire

McKenna responds to Senator Cramer on the PROVE IT Act - Source: Washington Times

Will Carb hit the brakes on new CA climate rules? Even some Dems want them to. - Source: NY Post

Lights out in NY - Source: NY Sun

Tweet of the Week:

https://x.com/TheKevinDalton/status/2031817172629291431?s=20

#265: Yabber, Yabber, Yabber (3/7/26)

Links:

Noem Out, Mullin In

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/05/markwayne-mullin-noem-dhs-00814761

Source: Politico

Iran

One Side: Rand Paul

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/sen-rand-paul-america-war-but-americans-didnt-vote

Source: Fox News

The Other Side:

https://thedispatch.com/article/iran-trump-supreme-council-leadership/

Source: The Dispatch

China’s Oil Dilemma

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/02/iran-us-strikes-china-oil-supply-charts-00806415

Source: Politico

AI Anxiety: Blackrock Limits Withdrawals

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-06/blackrock-s-26-billion-private-credit-fund-limits-withdrawals

Source: Bloomberg

Senate Permitting Talks Back On

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5770709-senate-democrats-energy-bill-talks/

Source: The Hill

Who Actually Wrote the Climate Manual for Federal Judges?

Source: The Honest Broker/Roger Pielke

https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/who-actually-wrote-the-climate-manual?utm_source=substack&publication_id=119454&post_id=189872400&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=2sdhe&triedRedirect=true

#264: What Is It Going To Get Me This Time? (3/2/26)

Links:

Iran

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/24/congress/ahead-sotu-dems-demand-trump-iran-plans-public-00796594?nname=playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nrid=0000014e-f102-dd93-ad7f-f9072a680001

Source: Politico

More Companies Leaving Blue States: Public Storage

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-02-24/storage-company-is-latest-to-leave-california-for-texas

Source: LA Times

Happy Anniversary, LNG Exports

https://www.forbes.com/sites/edhirs/2026/02/24/us-lng-exports-have-changed-global-energy-markets/

Source: Forbes

There they go again: Geothermal, the new wind and solar.

https://www.euronews.com/2026/02/19/geothermal-energy-could-replace-42-of-eus-fossil-electricity-which-nation-has-the-most-pot

Source: Euronews

Greenpeace

https://apnews.com/article/greenpeace-energy-transfer-dakota-access-pipeline-30bfb9939dea06f1e9763cd2d662ae73

Source: AP News

SCOTUS takes up Boulder climate lawfare case.

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/state-courts-cant-run-foreign-policy-fe111bae?st=u3a5pP&reflink=article_copyURL_share

Source: WSJ Opinion

Cassidy:

https://x.com/SenBillCassidy/status/2024870779364446696?s=20

Germany starts ditching climate targets.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/25/germany-accused-ditching-climate-targets-scraps-renewables-mandate

Source: The Guardian

#263: Good Luck Fellas (2/23/26)

Links:

President’s Day: Time to Fix It

https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/10/presidents-day-is-george-washington-erasure-america-250-is-the-perfect-time-to-fix-it/

Source: The Federalist

SAVE Act Continued

Remember last week when Chuck called the SAVE Act Jim Crow

https://x.com/guypbenson/status/2023503608403403089?s=20

Blue State Flight Continues

Colorado: Palintir

https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/2023933026120724944?s=20

WaPo Climate Reporters

https://x.com/kerpen/status/2019552872241779106?s=20

Affordability polling:

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/10/poll-shows-democrats-hold-edge-over-trump-in-energy-cost-battle-00767537

https://www.axios.com/2026/02/12/trump-epa-climate-rollback-emissions-impact?utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_source=x

Source: Axios
Jones Act Repeal:

https://x.com/senmikelee/status/2020943404306473058?s=12&t=a-7C8pWh0d6aHfECQMnMDw

Tony Blair says Drill, Baby, Drill

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/labour-reverse-ban-oil-gas-licences-blair-5HjdSJd_2/

Source: LBC News

Sasse Interview with Peter Robinson (Hoover). I’m putting in the Show Notes for people to watch.

https://x.com/hooverinst/status/2023836914558828719?s=12&t=a-7C8pWh0d6aHfECQMnMDw

https://x.com/In_Otter_News2/status/2024144434573557808?s=20

Links:

Climate Leadership Council: Yes, it still exists.

https://clcouncil.org/blog/eu-cbam-debut/

Source: CLC

Bypassing the Grid: How Data Centers Are Building Their Own Power Plants: https://cleanview.co/content/power-strategies-report
Coal plant owners say DOE ‘emergency’ order to run it violates Constitution: https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-emergency-order-craig-colorado-coal-tri-state/811088/
Why China is building so many coal plants despite its solar and wind boom: https://apnews.com/article/china-coal-solar-climate-carbon-emissions-242abe76eb69f5a362e977de74ff3254
The California Train is Back in the News.

https://x.com/GovPressOffice/status/2019112847595143410

Superbowl:

Ads

https://sportsnaut.com/nfl/2026-super-bowl-ad-cost-10-million

https://x.com/iowahawkblog/status/2019177230946140419?s=20

Links:

Lessons from the Big Storm

https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-green-energy-failed-america-during-storm-fern

Source: Daily Wire

Burn Oil. Save Lives.

https://nhjournal.com/blue-politics-black-oil-snow-storm-new-englands-energy-policy-fail/

Source: NH Journal

When you lose the Washington Post…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/28/oil-snow-energy-snow-storm-fossil-fuels/

Source: Washington Post

Here we go again. Nor’easter is a comin’

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/01/29/snow-storm-regional-impacts-noreaster-forecast/

Source: Washington Post

More Novel Climate Lawfare…

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/climate/michigan-oil-companies-lawsuit-antitrust-affordability.html

Source: NY Times

Census/Seats

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-york-california-projected-lose-6-house-seats-red-states-2030-census-analysis-shows

You heard of Dry January, but how about Vaganuary?

https://veganuary.com/is-your-electricity-vegan/

Source: Veganuary.com

https://electrek.co/2026/01/29/elon-musk-rumored-floating-merger-between-tesla-xai-spacex/

Source: Electrek

Tesla pivot:

https://electrek.co/2026/01/29/tesla-committing-automotive-suicide/

Source: Electrek

#260: Escape from Virginia (1/23/26)

Guest: Alvin Lui, president of Courage Is a Habit.

Links:

State senator defends bill to reduce personal vehicle use in Massachusetts https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/01/12/state-senator-defends-bill-to-reduce-personal-vehicle-use-in-massachusetts/

Nevada taking steps to wean itself off California fuel dependency https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/01/20/nevada-taking-steps-to-wean-itself-off-california-fuel-dependency/

Newsom Brags about ZEV sales…

https://www.ksbw.com/article/california-tops-25-million-zev-sales-newsom/70063253

The Postal Service's 'Next Generation' Electric Delivery Vehicles Cost $22,000 More Than Other Electric Vans https://reason.com/2026/01/14/the-postal-services-next-generation-electric-delivery-vehicles-cost-22000-more-than-other-electric-vans/
Tweet of the Week: Climate change: no one cares https://x.com/atrembath/status/2011559493495373931

#259: Do You Believe in Miracles? (1/15/26)

Guest: Rep. Peter Stauber, the current U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 8th congressional district.

Stauber Introduces Resolution to Overturn Biden's Mining Ban in Northern Minnesota: https://stauber.house.gov/media/press-releases/stauber-introduces-resolution-overturn-bidens-mining-ban-northern-minnesota

Links:

CNN: Trump moves to pull US out of bedrock global climate treaty, becoming first country to do so: https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/07/climate/trump-withdrawal-climate-treaty-international-agreements 

CNBC: Orsted pops 5% after U.S. judge rules firm can resume wind project halted by Trump: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/13/orsted-trump-wind-power-revolution-wind.html 
The Hill: Court rules against cancellation of some green grants in blue states: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5685418-federal-court-rules-against-trump/
CNBC: Trump says Microsoft will make changes to ensure consumers don’t pay for power used in AI buildout: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/12/trump-microsoft-changes-ensure-ensure-consumers-dont-pay-for-power-ai.html
CNBC: More drivers have $1,000-plus car loan payments. Here’s what buyers can expect in 2026: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/13/car-loan-payments-top-1000-for-more-drivers.html

Pipeline and Gas Journal: U.S. Gas Demand Sets Up Largest Pipeline Expansion Since 2008: https://pgjonline.com/news/2026/january/us-gas-demand-sets-up-largest-pipeline-expansion-since-2008