PODESTA IN THE NEWS: In 2022, President Joe Biden tapped long-time Democrat operative John Podesta to oversee the disbursement of $375 billon to climate-related initiatives – monies that were included in the dishonestly named "Inflation Reduction Act." Those funds were supposed to be spent on projects that would drive the country towards Democrats’ goal of a 40% reduction in carbon output below 2005 levels by 2030. In reality, the funds set up a gigantic slush fund within the White House, available to Podesta as he set about boosting Democrats’ prospects in 2024. When Podesta was appointed, Gina McCarthy, Biden’s domestic climate adviser, left the White House. Perhaps she declined to turn what was meant to be an important tool against climate change into a political magic wand.
The left-leaning media tried to prettify the Podesta appointment. The New York Times called him a "veteran Washington insider who spearheaded the Obama administration’s climate strategy," but also highlighted Podesta’s political credentials, which included serving as Bill Clinton’s chief of staff, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign chair and founder of the Center for American Progress, a leftist think tank. Likely most relevant was that Podesta was brought in to "help salvage a difficult second term for President Barack Obama"; in 2022, with Biden’s approval ratings collapsing, Podesta was brought out of retirement for another rescue mission.
In August 2024, the White House put out a fact sheet touting its accomplishments, citing in particular "over $265 billion in clean energy investments." But the purpose of those investments was not limited to cleaning up the air or reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
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