America's energy policy has become increasingly politicized, with both parties championing only their energy courses of choice. This roundtable makes the case that the winning strategy is an all-of-the-above approach with renewables and natural gas working together, not either party’s talking points. Former Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) opens Switchboard alongside fellow Democratic Party officials, including former Mayor Mike Nutter (D-Philadelphia), former Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL), former Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), and former Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-VA), to lay out what energy policy actually means for jobs and household bills.

Landrieu frames energy as a kitchen-table issue and a national security issue, then the group digs into what’s driving the strain: electrification, data centers, AI, and manufacturing spiking power demand faster than the grid and permitting process can keep up. McAuliffe points to his experiences as Governor when jobs were lost because of insufficient natural gas supplies and infrastructure.

The argument here isn't left or right. It's whether the lights stay on and the bill stays affordable, while simultaneously balancing the important need to drive down emissions.

Switchboard is brought to you by Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future. To learn more, visit naturalalliesforcleanenergy.org, or find us on Youtube @NaturalAllies.

For years, some corners of the Democratic Party have demanded leaders embrace an aggressive zero-carbon-only future, and the result is a power grid that is now straining under new demand, continued reliance on the highest emitting fuels, and rising costs. Switchboard is where five Democratic leaders discuss how more practical “all of the above” energy positions are both good policy and good politics. Former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, former Governor Terry McAuliffe, former Mayor Michael Nutter, and former Congressmen Tim Ryan and Kendrick Meek share insights and laughs about the intersection of politics, energy and climate. Each episode pairs a roundtable with a one-on-one interview, bringing outside voices into the room to test the argument.