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Michael Shellenberger

Michael Shellenberger is an American author focused on the intersection of climate change, nuclear energy, and politics. A self-described ecomodernist, he argues for an embrace of modernization, and technological development usually through a combination of nuclear power and urbanization. Shellenberger was a Democratic candidate for Governor in the 2018 California gubernatorial election and is running as an independent in the 2022 gubernatorial election

Series

3 Whisky Happy Hour, 1 episodeFederalist Radio Hour, 3 episodesThe Ricochet Podcast, 2 episodes

Recent Episodes

The Ricochet Podcast
The Ricochet Podcast

The California Syndrome

We still can't help but wonder what happened to California; and today's guest has not only been writing about it for years, but is running for governor in hopes of administering a cure. Michael Shellenberger is confident he can take on Gavin Newsom and restore the Golden State to health. (Visit here to donate to his campaign!) He talks about his vision, the growing support he's receiving, and the big victory for eco-modernists at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Then Steven Hayward, who's filling in for Peter, switches from host to the guest chair to talk about his new biography, M. Stanton Evans: Conservative Wit, Apostle of Freedom. The guys also talk about the 70s, and the movies that inspired a lotta lunacy. And be sure to join Ricochet today so you can meet Rob and James in New York City! Music from this week's podcast: Placebo Syndrome by Parliament

Hosted by James Lileks, Rob Long, and Steve Hayward

Organization:
Ricochet

November 2021

August 2021

Federalist Radio Hour
Federalist Radio Hour

How Victim Ideology Fuels Addiction And Homelessness And Ruins Cities

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, author Michael Shellenberger joins Culture Editor Emily Jashinsky to talk about his new book "San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities" and how progressive policies are exacerbating drug addiction and homelessness in urban areas in the United States.

Hosted by Emily Jashinsky

Organization:
The Federalist

July 2020

Federalist Radio Hour
Federalist Radio Hour

Michael Shellenberger: Climate Alarmism Is Misleading And Immoral

Bestselling author, journalist, and environmental activist Michael Shellenberger joined host Ben Domenech to discuss climate alarmism and how the left wing media and activists have distorted the urgency of climate change. Shellenberger just published his most recent book, "Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All," this month. Shellenberger condemned the left's journalists, climate activists, and malthusian scientists for promoting climate alarmism. The radical left has taken an immoral position by denying vast, inexpensive energy sources to all people, he said, which they consider to be the moral center of apocalyptic environmentalism.

Hosted by Ben Domenech

Organization:
The Federalist

June 2020

3 Whisky Happy Hour
3 Whisky Happy Hour

‘Apocalypse Never,’ with Michael Shellenberger

This week's guest is Michael Shellenberger, the founder and president of Environmental Progress, and author of an important new book, Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All. Most books about the environment typically feature breathless panic about how the world is coming to an end. Michael's book is a rare outlier that debunks the extremism of most such apocalyptic claims, which too often are the predicate for not just bad policy, but counter-productive policy when it comes to environmental improvement in poor nations. Michael began his intellectual and political odyssey on the left, and has by degrees migrated to the center, along the way coming to support nuclear power as the most important current alternative energy source for limiting greenhouse gas emissions. But the book goes well beyond the issue of climate change to lay out a vision of what Michael calls "environmental humanism"—a conception of environmental protection that puts humans beings at the center of the story, a welcome contrast to the often explicit misanthropy of many modern environmentalists. I'll add as a personal note that I've known—and learned much from—Michael for more than a decade, and our episodic collaborations have been one of the more rewarding experiences of my professional life.

Hosted by Steve Hayward

Organization:
Ricochet

February 2020

The Ricochet Podcast
The Ricochet Podcast

The Most Interesting Virus in the World

The main topic? What else? The Coronavirus, which is roiling everything from the markets to the political arena and beyond. The Vice President is the new point man. Then we get down to the nitty gritty of the race for the Democratic nomination with Luke Thompson and talk to a sensible Democrat about the environment as we're joined by the President of Environmental Progress, Michael Shellenberger, on why nuclear power is the way to go and his new book, Apocalypse Never. And speaking of the Coronavirus, James gives us our Ricochet Member Post of the Week, which features a "returning champion." Music from this week's show: Carolina in the Morning by Dean Martin

Hosted by James Lileks, Peter Robinson, and Rob Long

Organization:
Ricochet