EPA Pulls the Jenga Block: The Endangerment Finding Falls and Climate Policy Enters a New Era of Uncertainty

Episode 34 tackles a seismic shift in U.S. climate policy: the administration’s February 12 move to strike down the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding—the legal foundation underpinning nearly every major federal climate regulation for the past 17 years. Mike and Neal break down what the Endangerment Finding actually did (and why it mattered), what its removal means for tailpipe rules, methane limits, power plant standards, and the broader regulatory framework—plus the real near-term impact: years of courtroom battles and massive uncertainty for businesses trying to plan, invest, and build. They debate whether this change will meaningfully alter emissions trajectories in the short term, why state-level leadership (and global market forces) may keep climate action moving anyway, and what this moment signals for founders and investors navigating climate and energy startups. Neal argues it’s a collective action gut-punch; Mike counters that it’s a reminder people and companies still have agency—and that “in spite of” can still drive progress. Also in this episode: A mailbag note from the drone world on “not invented here” culture—and why requiring a flight medical for FPV competition feels like innovation going backwards Goods, bads, and others: startup teams showing up on a Saturday, geopolitical posturing near Iran, Mike’s dog becoming his walking buddy, ICE warehouse spending, and why the accelerating pace of AI-written code has huge implications for careers, parenting, and the future