Messaging around climate change has been increasingly difficult in recent years as affordability, security, and other issues rise to the top. In an increasingly polarized political environment, climate communicators must work harder than ever to break through. In this episode of Atlas Live, we’ll zero in on the communicating climate challenges and opportunities around the 2026 Midterm Election. What climate and clean energy messages are resonating, and how should organizations adapt their communications to the political moment? We’ll sit down with Chris Moyer, founder and president of Echo Communications Advisors, and Phoebe Sweet, founder and president of Acadia Strategies, to discuss the strategies shaping climate communications throughout this election season. They’ll examine lessons from this election cycle, how to reach different audiences, and what the results could mean for climate communications moving forward.

The Home Energy Rebates programs help homeowners pay for energy-saving improvements including heat pumps, air sealing, and insulation with point-of-sale discounts. Initially introduced in 2022, the programs received new federal guidance in 2026 which narrowed eligibility, among other changes. In this episode of Atlas Live, Stephen Naimoli sits down with Kristofor Anderson of the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority and Julie Kempf of the Indiana Office of Energy Development to break down the latest developments. They’ll explore topics such as how these programs are designed to help households, and how the revised guidance will shape both existing and new programs.

Auto loans are a major recurring cost for households, but the interest rates lenders charge rarely account for a vehicle's fuel economy. A new Atlas Public Policy analysis, conducted with support from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), examined nearly 380,000 auto loans and found efficient and electric vehicle (EV) borrowers were up to 50% less likely to fall behind on payments, even though EV borrowers still paid more in financing costs. In this episode, Atlas’s Nick Nigro sits down with Annabelle Davis of NRDC and Jose Orozco Pelico of USC Credit Union to discuss what this data means for how lenders price risk, how credit unions are exploring non-traditional underwriting, and how aligning rates with actual risk could avoid penalizing EV drivers and support the broader shift to cleaner vehicles.

In this episode of Atlas Live, Nick Nigro welcomes back Angela Barranco, Executive Director for North America at Climate Group, for a preview of Climate Week NYC 2026. This event returns at a critical moment for climate and energy policy, with affordability concerns, political shifts, and a busy election cycle shaping the national conversation. We'll hear from Angela about how the events will bring together policymakers, advocates, businesses, and other leaders to advance the next phase of climate action.

Energy bills are rising across the country, putting new pressure on households, utilities, and state policymakers. In this episode of Atlas Live, Nick Nigro sits down with Dr. Zenon Christodoulou, Commissioner at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and Josephus Allmond, Chief Energy Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia. We’ll discuss what’s driving higher electricity costs and how state leaders are responding. We’ll also explore what tools states have to improve affordability while maintaining reliable service, achieving sustainability goals, and continuing to invest in the grid.

Across the country, state energy efficiency programs are facing new scrutiny as policymakers look for ways to address rising energy bills. But will cutting or pausing these programs actually make energy more affordable, and who benefits when program budgets are reduced? In this episode of Atlas Live, Atlas’s Stephen Naimoli sits down with Mark Kresowik of ACEEE and Bryan Howard of Montgomery County, Maryland, to discuss the politics and impacts of energy efficiency program cuts, what these changes mean for households and utilities, and what other options states have to improve affordability while continuing to support long-term efficiency and resilience.

Over the past five years, state DOTs have moved from playing little role in EV charging deployment to leading multimillion-dollar investments in a national network of high-speed chargers through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. What comes next after NEVI? In this episode, Atlas’s Rachael Nealer and Tina Hodges talk with Josh Rodriguez of AASHTO about their project examining how state and local transportation agencies are deploying EV charging infrastructure today—and recommendations to guide future efforts.

Our research shows China is leading the way on clean manufacturing investment—how is this shaping broader competition between the U.S. and China? Atlas Live is coming at you with the second episode in a series on global clean energy supply chains. In this episode, Atlas’s Nick Nigro sits down with Avery Ash of SAFE and Kate Logan of Asia Society to dive into how China has gotten to this point, what it will take for the United States to compete, and how policymakers can balance deployment, affordability, and supply change resilience as clean technologies become central to broader economic and geopolitical competition.