Power Struggles: From DC to Beijing

Power Struggles: From DC to Beijing

From Political Climate by Political Climate

October 20, 2025 · 42 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of the U.S. government shutdown and escalating U.S.-China tensions on clean energy and technology.

As the U.S. government enters its fourth week of shutdown, the fallout is spreading far beyond Washington. Billions in clean energy and technology funding have been frozen or slashed — disproportionately in blue states — as the administration uses the budget standoff to push through parts of its policy agenda. How will the shutdown showdown end? Meanwhile, U.S.–China tensions are escalating once again. Beijing has announced new restrictions on exports of rare earth elements — critical for everything from EVs to AI — prompting President Trump to hit back with another 100 percent tariff. The rivalry between the world’s two largest economies is now reshaping global energy supply chains and the race for technological dominance. In this episode, the Political Climate team unpacks how shutdown politics, trade wars, and shifting climate rhetoric are colliding, with energy at the center of both America’s domestic and geopolitical struggles. While you're here, be sure to subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Topics covered

  • U.S. government shutdown
  • clean energy funding
  • U.S.-China relations
  • trade wars
  • technological dominance

Keywords

  • budget standoff
  • rare earth elements
  • EVs
  • AI
  • global energy supply chains

Mentioned in this episode

Products: clean energy, technology

Places: DC, Beijing, U.S., Washington, U.S.–China, America

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