Charged Conversations w/ Brigham McCown

Joe Strecker Productions
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Dive into the Complex World of Energy Policy with Brigham McCown! Unravel the mysteries of energy through insightful conversations that demystify intricate policies. Get answers to your burning energy questions in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner. Tune in to gain a clear perspective on the energy landscape. Simplify. Understand. Empower.

  1. 3D AGO

    Charged Conversations - The Shadow Fleet: Unveiling the Hidden Oil Trade

    Charged Conversations w/ Brigham McCown

    14 min

  2. 12/22/2025

    Charged Conversations - Azerbaijan's Geopolitical Role In Energy

    Key Points: The podcast normally discusses the latest issues regarding energy, infrastructure, and national security.The featured country, Azerbaijan, is a country of 10 million people located between the Caspian Sea, Russia, Iran, and the Caucasus Mountains.The country is significant due to its location and geography.In a world where energy, logistics, and data are new fault lines of geopolitical competition, Azerbaijan sits at one of the most important cross-roads on Earth.

    21 min

  3. 12/08/2025

    Charged Conversations - What can the US learn from Europe's failed green policies

    This episode of Charged Conversations, hosted by Brigham McCown, will focus on Europe's aggressive green energy transformation. The central theme: the failure of energy policy built on ideology rather than physics and economics, despite noble intentions. This discussion is framed by a Wall Street Journal investigation that detailed how Europe cut emissions faster than anyone else, but at the cost of hobbling its own economy.Key points the episode plans to cover:The Warning for America: The host warns that Europe's issues are not a distant problem, but an "early signal" of what happens when governments "substitute aspiration for planning". He states that America is being pushed toward many of the same policies.The Promise vs. Reality: The segment begins by contrasting Europe's 20-year promise of a clean, job-creating, cheaper, and world-leading sustainable future with the actual outcomes.Today's Analysis: The episode will examine what Europe promised, what it delivered, and the resulting costs—industrially, economically, and politically.The Main Lesson: The ultimate goal is to determine what lesson the United States should take from Europe's experience.

    22 min

  4. 10/28/2025

    Charged Conversations - Rare Earths Real Consequences China's Leverage and America's Lag

    Today's episode is about minerals, specifically rare earth elements that quietly power our modern world, from electric vehicles to missile guidance systems. These 17 obscure materials are the backbone of our 21st century technologies, and right now they're overwhelmingly controlled by a single country, China. We'll break down what rare earths are, why they matter, how China came to dominate the global supply chain and what the US can realistically do to catch up. We'll also talk about America's vulnerabilities and what needs to change if we are to reclaim our industrial and strategic independence.

    9 min

  5. 10/17/2025

    Charged Conversations - Shutdown Theater : Who really holds the power?

    On today's episode, we're going to talk about power, just not the power we normally talk about that fuels our lights and laptops, but constitutional power the authority to govern, spend and keep America functioning when Congress hits gridlock Because the government shutdown is so significant. We're going to unpack what really happens during a government shutdown, how executive power fills the void and what this reoccurring dysfunction says about the future of American governance.

    12 min

  6. 09/30/2025

    Charged Conversations - Paris Climate Failures Paving the Way for Future Energy Solutions

    Unraveling of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and discover what practical energy security should look like today. Brigham McCown, dissects the New York Times' poignant reflection on a deal once hailed as a planet-saving milestone that, ten years later, seems more like a relic of bygone optimism. Prepare to understand why the agreement faltered and what lessons we must glean for a future fraught with geopolitical challenges and environmental imperatives.

    16 min

  7. 09/19/2025

    Charged Conversations - Phil Goldberg - The Complex World of Climate Litigation

    Is the courtroom the right battleground for climate change debates, or are we misusing our legal system for political gain? Join us as we host Phil Goldberg, and explore the controversial realm of climate change litigation. Goldberg pulls back the curtain on how these lawsuits often go beyond environmental concerns, serving as political tools or revenue generators. We dissect the limitations of using the judicial system to address climate issues and question if bypassing legislative and regulatory processes could have unforeseen global energy implications. We further explore the complexities of manufacturers' liability in the evolving climate litigation landscape. Goldberg sheds light on unusual legal trends, including lawsuits against car manufacturers over viral video-fueled thefts, which challenge traditional legal concepts like causation and foreseeability. From cases in Boulder, Colorado, to Charleston, South Carolina, the conversation underscores the urgent need for the U.S. Supreme Court to establish clear legal guidelines. We discuss how these multifaceted legal battles could reshape not just the legal industry, but also influence energy security and economic considerations.

    30 min

  8. 08/19/2025

    Charged Conversations - Geopolitics and Gas: A Complex Connection

    Join us at Charged Conversations as we unravel Europe's journey from commitment to urgency in securing US liquefied natural gas (LNG) amidst the turmoil of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Featuring insights from Brigham McCown, we'll explore the origins of this energy pact dating back to 2018, when Donald Trump and Jean-Claude Juncker aimed to ease tariff tensions through enhanced LNG trade. As we fast forward to today's landscape, our analysis reveals the intricate mechanics of energy procurement in Europe, where decentralized decision-making and private companies like Shell and Total Energies hold the reins. Dive into the challenges facing the US as it strives to meet Europe's soaring energy needs. While American gas production thrives, the hurdles lie in the infrastructure and regulatory landscape, with US LNG terminals stretched to their limits. We'll touch on the Biden administration's policy shifts that have introduced uncertainties, setting back progress on expanding LNG export capacities. This episode offers a comprehensive exploration of the intricate dance between political ambition, commercial execution, and the infrastructural realities that define the future of US-European energy relations. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on what's needed to fulfill the transatlantic energy promise.

    11 min
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Dive into the Complex World of Energy Policy with Brigham McCown! Unravel the mysteries of energy through insightful conversations that demystify intricate policies. Get answers to your burning energy questions in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner. Tune in to gain a clear perspective on the energy landscape. Simplify. Understand. Empower.

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