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Presented by Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance
Big Pharma hikes up drug prices every year, most recently on over 800 prescription drugs. But did you know these price hikes are often unjustified? For too long, Big Pharma has profited on the backs of hardworking Americans. Enough is enough.
![]() PRESENTED BY ![]() Thanks so much for joining us on Wednesday morning for a Punchbowl News pop-up conversation with White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy. We spoke with McCarthy about all things climate and infrastructure. We would like to thank Duke Energy for partnering with us to make the conversation possible. And a special shout-out to Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good for sharing her insights with us. Here are our top takeaways. White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy: → On the bipartisan infrastructure deal: “Climate change affects all of us. It’s not about the planet, it’s about the people. And that’s why we’re incredibly excited about the bipartisan infrastructure framework, because it is a downpayment on the kind of infrastructure investment that we need in this country and we’re investing in America in a way that is bipartisan, but also incredibly popular. So there are real, real actions being taken, investments that are being made, that are going to lay the infrastructure for a clean energy economy, restart our economy, grow jobs — good paying jobs.” → McCarthy reinforced President Joe Biden’s comments that a larger reconciliation package needs to pass along with the bipartisan framework negotiated by Senate moderates: “The president has been very clear that he’s going to both move forward this bipartisan bill, and he’s also going to move forward through a budgetary effort to actually make sure that we’re not just building the infrastructure, but it’s going to be filled with renewable energy, and exciting new opportunities for people across the country.” → On the non-negotiables: “We need that second package. We need tax credits, we need a clean energy standard. I would love to see a civilian climate corps.” → On nuclear energy: McCarthy acknowledged that nuclear energy was an important tool to help the United States reduce its carbon emissions and that the private utility sector could contribute to reducing emissions. “I was listening with the conversation you had with Lynn and she mentioned nuclear as well and I just want to thank her, and really the utility sector in general, for all their participation and support and things like the Clean Energy Standard and other things they know where they are heading. They want to make money, they are going to make lots of money but not by producing fossil fuels, but by producing the kind of clean energy that’s going to save all of us money… We need to take a look at how we make sure the existing nuclear fleet that’s safe and efficient remains in the books and active for a period of time, and we need investments in the nuclear of the future.” → On her optimism for the future: "I do think that there’s no choice but to make these investments, but I also think that America is up to the task. I think that Democrats and Republicans, at least in this venture, have shown they can work together. And I know we have the support on the Hill to get to that kind of clean energy future that we will be proud to hand to our kids." → Amid the Western heatwave, McCarthy tied the unprecedented temperatures to the urgency of investing in climate change mitigation efforts: “I’d like to think that this was abnormal, it is right now, but it just may be the new normal that we have to face because climate change doesn’t get reversed — which is why it’s so important for us to invest now, because it will only get more difficult to keep people safe and give our kids a healthy future.” Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good also joined us for a fireside chat to discuss how the energy industry is achieving its goals of carbon net zero by 2050. → On the technologies that can help drive the push to net zero: “There’s no silver bullet or single technology. This industry has operated with diverse technologies over a long period of time because they all have different operating characteristics. I would point to the importance of hydrogen and we’re so pleased to see the focus on hydrogen. The earthshot that the Department of Energy has focused on and really the work that Duke and others in the industry are doing. I would also put advanced nuclear in the mix. We’re a large nuclear operator. “Over 50% of the power in the Carolinas comes from nuclear, so we’re lending our operating expertise to new technologies. I would also add carbon capture and CCUS as being something that’s important to look at, and then long duration storage, storage technologies that give us the ability to move energy over longer periods of time.” A big thank you to Duke Energy for sponsoring this event. Watch the full conversation here. For those of you who aren’t Punchbowl News subscribers, we hope you’ll join the community. Our free morning newsletter comes out Monday through Friday. You can sign up here. We also invite you to consider our premium community — which includes a midday and evening wrap-up as well as lots of members-only events. Become a Premium Member ![endif]>
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Presented by Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance
Americans know who to blame for rising drug prices: Big Pharma. A majority of Republicans, Democrats, & Independents all believe Big Pharma’s focus on profits keeps drug prices high. Let’s hold Big Pharma accountable – it’s an issue we’re united on.