Hot Mess Part Four: The 1990s: When Climate Change Became a Partisan Issue

By the 1990s, momentum for climate action was growing, but so was opposition. In Episode 4 of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, host Peterson Toscano examines how fossil fuel interests, economic priorities, and cultural shifts began to unravel bipartisan efforts. Featuring insights from Chelsea Henderson and Katie Zakrzewski, this episode dives into the psychological and cultural barriers that fueled climate skepticism, the emergence of echo chambers, and the rise of polarization. Despite these challenges, the episode highlights leaders like Senator John McCain, whose bipartisan efforts provided hope for climate solutions.

Key Topics:

• The cultural and psychological roots of climate skepticism in the 1990s.
• How values of individualism and economic freedom clashed with environmental regulation.
• The role of cognitive dissonance and echo chambers in shaping public opinion.
• The rise of Senator John McCain as a climate advocate.
• Insights into the McCain-Lieberman Climate Change Bill of 2003.

Featured Guests:

• Chelsea Henderson: Host of Eco Right Speaks and author of Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics.
• Katie Zakrzewski: Co-host of Green Tea Party Radio and climate advocate.

Standout Quotes:

1. Katie Zakrzewski: "This is where the polarization really begins...economic priorities took precedence, creating a divide between regulation and free-market values."
2. Chelsea Henderson: "John McCain made a promise to New Hampshire voters: I will learn about climate change, and he kept his word."

Episode Highlights:

• [00:02:15] How cultural values in the 1990s paved the way for climate skepticism.
• [00:06:30] The role of cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias in resisting climate science.
• [00:15:40] The bipartisan McCain-Lieberman Climate Change Bill and its challenges.
• [00:20:50] Katie Zakrzewski’s perspective on the importance of engaging conservatives in climate action.

Call to Action

Want to learn how you can get involved in bipartisan climate solutions? Visit cclusa.org/action. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends or on social media. Every share helps inspire more people to take meaningful action on climate change.

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• Email: radio @ citizensclimate.org
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Credits

• Research: Horace Mo Mo, Lily Rushen, Peterson Toscano
• Editorial Assistance: Flannery Winchester, Elise Silvestri, Brett Cease
• Production: Peterson Toscano, Elise Silvestri

Music: Our theme music is Chasing Stories by Elise Silvestri. Other music byEpidemic Sound.