Why $6 Gas Isn't the End of the World | with Jason Bordoff

Why $6 Gas Isn't the End of the World | with Jason Bordoff

Author: The Progress Network with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas May 6, 2026 Duration: 36:22
What happens when the global energy supply faces its greatest disruption since the 1970s? Jason Bordoff, a leading energy expert and former advisor in the Obama White House, joins host Zachary Karabell to navigate a world where the Strait of Hormuz is closed and gasoline prices are soaring.   The conversation moves past the immediate panic at the pump to look at the future of how we power our lives. Bordoff shares personal stories of his father’s Brooklyn gas station in the 1970s, contrasting that era with today's physical reality of the shale revolution. The discussion focuses heavily on the innovation frontier. Bordoff and Karabell explore whether new technologies like advanced geothermal, modular nuclear power, and even fusion can finally deliver on the promise of universal energy abundance.   While acknowledging the hard truths of climate change and the energy needs of emerging markets, Bordoff explains why he is betting on policy and technology over pessimism. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope. For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Subscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/

It’s easy to feel that everything is falling apart, but what if the dominant narrative of decline is missing a crucial piece of the story? What Could Go Right? asks that question directly, offering a necessary counterpoint to the daily drumbeat of crises. Hosted by The Progress Network’s Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas, this podcast operates from a simple but radical premise: while the problems are real, so is the human capacity for ingenuity and constructive change. Each episode brings together a diverse group of thinkers, from scientists and activists to policymakers and cultural commentators, for conversations that go beyond diagnosing issues to exploring tangible solutions and underreported advances. You’ll hear nuanced discussions on everything from climate technology and economic innovation to the reshaping of governance and culture, all grounded in a realistic sense of possibility. This isn’t about blind optimism; it’s about engaged, evidence-based hope. Tuning in means joining a community that believes understanding what’s working is just as important as understanding what’s broken. If you’re weary of doomscrolling and looking for substantive dialogue that charts a path forward, this is the podcast for you.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

What Could Go Right?
Podcast Episodes
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Is Free Expression Actually Under Attack? | with Dinaw Mengestu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:03
We hear often that freedom of speech is under threat. And it’s easy to feel like things have never been worse in that regard. But is that really true? Dinaw Mengestu, an acclaimed novelist, MacArthur Genius grant recipie…