Should Democrats Reframe Climate Change as an Affordability Issue?

Marisa Lagos Scott Shafer Guy Marzorati

Nov 13, 2025

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The Governor of the state of Para, Helder Barbalho and the Governor of California Gavin Newsom pose for a picture after signing a Memorandum of Understanding on wildfire prevention and response, forest health, and sustainable land management during a meeting in the framework of the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belem, Para State, Brazil, on Nov. 11, 2025. (Mauro Pimentel/AFP)

This week, Governor Gavin Newsom is at the COP30 United Nations climate summit in Brazil while the Trump Administration boycotts the global conference. During the conference, Newsom argued Democrats need to reframe climate change mitigation as an affordability issue. Marisa and Scott are joined by Guy to discuss the politics of energy and how the soaring cost of utilities is becoming a political cudgel.

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