Contributor

John Podesta

Founder

John Podesta is the founder of the Center for American Progress. He currently serves as the senior adviser to the president for clean energy innovation and implementation. Podesta served as counselor to President Barack Obama, where he was responsible for coordinating the administration’s climate policy and initiatives. In 2008, he served as co-chair of President Obama’s transition team. He was a member of the U.N. Secretary General’s High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Podesta previously served as White House chief of staff to President William J. Clinton. He chaired Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president in 2016.

Latest

Compact View

Official COP28 Side Event: Trade in a Climate-Constrained World: Adding Value From U.S. Manufacturing to Indian Entrepreneurship Past Event

Official COP28 Side Event: Trade in a Climate-Constrained World: Adding Value From U.S. Manufacturing to Indian Entrepreneurship

The Center for American Progress, the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, and Development Alternatives are excited to host this official UNFCCC COP28 side event in Dubai.

A green salvo to counter Putin’s war in Ukraine In the News

A green salvo to counter Putin’s war in Ukraine

John Podesta and Julian Popov discuss why—and how—the European Union and United States must transition to a clean energy economy in order to cut off funding to Russia via fossil fuels.

Politico Europe

Julian Popov, John Podesta

We once backed using the filibuster. Now it must be reformed. In the News

We once backed using the filibuster. Now it must be reformed.

John Podesta and Wade Henderson explain why the exceptions to the filibuster must be expanded—at a minimum—to allow for the protection of voting rights.

The Washington Post

John Podesta, Wade Henderson

Revamping Federal Climate Science Report
 (An iceberg is seen on the Weddell Sea near the Antarctic Peninsula on February 1, 2020.)

Revamping Federal Climate Science

The urgency of the climate crisis requires day one executive action to restore scientific integrity and rebuild the federal climate science apparatus.

John Podesta, Bidisha Bhattacharyya, Bianca Majumder

The country needs the House’s oversight now more than ever In the News

The country needs the House’s oversight now more than ever

With the close of the impeachment trial, John Podesta makes the case that House Democrats must continue to shed light on President Donald Trump's corruption and deter further damage to U.S. democratic institutions.

The Washington Post

John Podesta

Trump’s chilling contempt for future generations In the News

Trump’s chilling contempt for future generations

John Podesta writes that the Trump administration's attack on U.S. national monuments would cause damage to cultural artifacts and to the local economies that depend on protected public lands.

The Washington Post

John Podesta

Battling Climate Change in the Time of Trump Report

Battling Climate Change in the Time of Trump

The Trump administration has caused nothing but despair for most people anxious about climate change, but there is an alternative path for making progress that could also help to keep this nightmare short lived.

John Podesta

Karzai risks much in his latest manufactured crisis In the News

Karzai risks much in his latest manufactured crisis

Karzai’s recklessness may undermine Afghanistan’s political transition, which has long been cited as the primary determinant of a peaceful future for Afghans.

The Washington Post

John Podesta, Tom Perriello, Caroline Wadhams

America needs more national parks In the News

America needs more national parks

John Podesta writes that America’s parks are a national treasure and a crucial economic engine for many parts of the country.

Politico

John Podesta

Preparing for the Upcoming Afghan Political Transition Article
Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks at a press conference during a ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. (AP/Rahmat Gul)

Preparing for the Upcoming Afghan Political Transition

The United States and its partners must continue to focus on Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential election and political transition despite the world’s focus on the conflict in Syria.

Caroline Wadhams, John Podesta

John Podesta on the U.N. Post-2015 Development Agenda Video

John Podesta on the U.N. Post-2015 Development Agenda

In this video, Center for American Progress Chair John Podesta, who served on the U.N. High-Level Panel, discusses the panel's recommendations to eradicate poverty and transform world economies through sustainable development.

John Podesta

The Millennium Development Goals Are Working In the News

The Millennium Development Goals Are Working

John Podesta writes about how the Millenium Development Goals are working and how we will continue to pursue the achievement of them.

Foreign Policy

John Podesta

Reforming Our Tax System, Reducing Our Deficit Report
In order to secure our fiscal future and achieve meaningful deficit reduction over the next 10 years, we need a plan that combines progressive, revenue-enhancing tax reform with pragmatic spending cuts that do not undermine the middle class, the poor, or seniors. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

Reforming Our Tax System, Reducing Our Deficit

In order to secure our fiscal future and achieve meaningful deficit reduction over the next 10 years, we need a plan that combines progressive, revenue-enhancing tax reform with pragmatic spending cuts that do not undermine the middle class, the poor, or seniors.

Roger Altman, William Daley, John Podesta, 8 More Robert Rubin, Leslie Samuels, Lawrence H. Summers, Neera Tanden, Antonio Weiss, Michael Ettlinger, Seth Hanlon, Michael Linden

Protecting Romanian Democracy Article
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta gestures before a parliament session in Bucharest, Romania.
<br /> (AP/Vadim Ghirda)

Protecting Romanian Democracy

John Podesta and Matt Browne explain the machinations of a beleaguered president trying to avoid impeachment.

John Podesta, Matt Browne

We Don’t Need More Foreign Oil and Gas In the News

We Don’t Need More Foreign Oil and Gas

Americans missed the big picture on the president's decision not to approve the Keystone pipeline, write Tom Steyer and John Podesta in the Wall Street Journal.

The Wall Street Journal

Tom Steyer, John Podesta

Enough Already In the News

Enough Already

It's time to talk to the Taliban, say Stephen Hadley and John Podesta in Foreign Policy.

Foreign Policy

Stephen Hadley, John Podesta

Obama’s Government Reform Plan Article
President Barack Obama waves after delivering remarks on government reform on January 13, 2012, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Obama’s Government Reform Plan

John D. Podesta applauds President Obama’s plan to reshape the federal government to boost U.S. economic competitiveness.

John Podesta

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Just released!

Interactive: Mapping access to abortion by congressional district

Click here