An election debrief on climate and possibility 🌎💙

So much to discuss. SO MANY WINS!

This much more expansive sense of possibility feels magnificent. And doesn’t this question of “what if we get it right?” feel a little less naïve now?

There’s no guest this episode, just Bill and Ayana reveling and digesting. You’ll hear us beginning to distill lessons on everything from data centers and climate hushing; to organizing and volunteerism; to not giving up on the South, and what it means to meet the moment.

We talked about the big victories we’re most excited about and the losses that stung. It was a delight to reflect on the candidates we had on as guests this season — who all won their races!

Also, the down ballot wins that will help us accelerate the clean energy transition: Texas Railroad Commission! Arizona Corporation Commission!

Georgia Public Utility Board! We shared our worry about the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (AKA the permitting bill).

Tl;DR it’s not really better than the status quo, so we should wait and renegotiate something better in the new Congress. On this we are clear: Organizing matters.

Showing up matters. THANK YOU to the many who made these wins possible. 👏 Some efforts we've highlighted: Third Act , Environmental Voter Project , Patagonia’s 11.2 Million Vote Project , Invest in America PAC , and Lead Locally .

Let these numerous and delicious victories, this dramatically expanded sense of what is possible, whet your appetite for more and deeper civic engagement. And listen to the end (or subscribe to the newsletter ) to find out who won the clean energy mascot competition. _____ That’s a wrap on this midterm election season of the podcast 💫 We had so much fun gabbing every week, making this show for you, with our wonderful team.

If you missed some earlier episodes, run it back. Lotsa goodies in there for ya.

Credits: This episode and the entire season was produced by Remoy Philip and Ayana, with support from Jenisha Shrestha. Graphic design by Holly Griffin of Design Hungry , social media support from Feeling Seen Studio , and original music by Emma Munger . _____ Mentioned in this Episode: * A Very Expensive Night for Big Oil , by Emily Atkin, Heated.

The U.S. oil and gas industry spent at least $182 million trying to elect Republicans. * The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC has won or are winning at 12 or 13 of the 18 they invested in. (Here is our interview with their founder Tom Matzzie ) * Adam Hamilton and Taking Back Religion from the Right , by Bill McKibben for The New Yorker * Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA) . If passed, the best-case emissions reduction from BAAJA is 3.8% in 2040 , or only 2.4% from 2027 to 2040.

Or as Abbie Dillen/Earthjustice put it, What Will BAAJA Do? Whatever the Trump Administration Wants . * A nationwide backlash against data centers erupts at the polls , The Washington Post.

Again, Abbie helps us parse this with her piece Voters Have Spoken: No Dirty Data Centers that connects the fight against data centers to the fight to block the BAAJA which would speed the proliferation of them. _____ Enjoying this podcast? Spread the word! 🗣️ To help more people find these conversations, review 🌟 and follow What If We Get It Right? on your podcast platform of choice.

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And do you have election reflections? We wanna hear — drop them in the comments.

Above all, thank you so much for listening, and for helping make good things happen in the world. You warm our weary/emboldened hearts. 💛 What’s next for the show?

Well, currently no plans for another season, but there’s certainly more to discuss.... Get full access to WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT? at ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe