This week we focus on a thin slice of the energy pie to disabuse the notion of “energy independence.” When politicians reference this concept they speak narrowly in terms of oil and gas production in the United States. As though if we could somehow pump enough of our own oil specifically, we could break our dependence on foreign nations, especially those villainous bad actors like Russia and Iran. Not only is this talking point an illusion, the framing of it is completely false. For starters, we already pump more oil than we consume. Moreover, we import crude and refined oil from allies. 

Chapters

Intro: 00:01:00

Post Show Musings: 00:14:42

Outro: 00:20:15

Resources

U.S. Energy Information Administration: What countries are the top producers and consumers of oil?

NRDC: Study Shows 14,000 Unplugged Oil and Gas Wells in Gulf of Mexico

Baker Hughes Rig Count

Marketplace: Why oil companies aren't drilling on those 9,000 land leases

CNN Business: Why oil companies are raking in record profits under Joe Biden

Haas News: Explainer: The myth of 'energy independence'

U.S. Senate Committee On The Budget: Sen. Whitehouse on Fossil Fuel Subsidies: “We Are Subsidizing the Danger”

BLS: Fastest Growing Occupations

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