Politico | Energy & Environment
War-driven gas spike puts pressure on summer travelers — and Republicans
23 May 2026 at 05:34

War-driven gas spike puts pressure on summer travelers — and Republicans

23 May 2026 at 05:34

Memorial Day marks the traditional start of summer driving season — with an added dollop of political angst for President Donald Trump's party.

Gas prices above $6 per gallon are displayed at Chevron and Shell stations in Monterey Park, California, April 30, 2026.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Treasury extends Russian oil sanctions waiver for another month
19 May 2026 at 01:44

Treasury extends Russian oil sanctions waiver for another month

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

19 May 2026 at 01:44

A second extension of the waiver indicates that oil market pressures from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have not eased.

The tanker Boracay that allegedly belongs to Russia's so-called shadow fleet, Oct. 2, 2025, off Saint-Nazaire, France's Atlantic coast.

Politico | Energy & Environment
U.S. oil rush into Venezuela tests Trump’s democracy promises
11 May 2026 at 17:01

U.S. oil rush into Venezuela tests Trump’s democracy promises

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales and Sophia Cai

11 May 2026 at 17:01

The White House is full steam ahead on growing the oil industry in Venezuela. Elections are another matter.

Jarrod Agen, second from left, joins authorities at a ceremony after a U.S. commercial flight landing at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, on April 30, 2026.

Politico | Energy & Environment
‘Drill Baby Drill’ meets democratic limbo in Venezuela
11 May 2026 at 17:00

‘Drill Baby Drill’ meets democratic limbo in Venezuela

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales and Sophia Cai

11 May 2026 at 17:00

The White House is full steam ahead on growing the oil industry in Venezuela. Elections are another matter.

Politico | Energy & Environment
No quick rebound from Hormuz disruption, oil execs tell Dallas Fed
24 April 2026 at 02:15

No quick rebound from Hormuz disruption, oil execs tell Dallas Fed

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

24 April 2026 at 02:15

A Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas survey captured the oil and gas industry’s rising frustration with the Trump administration over the uncertainty and increased shipping costs fomented by the war in Iran.

Anonymous responses to the survey from 116 executives in the heart of the U.S. energy industry captured the sector’s rising frustration with the Trump administration over the uncertainty and increased shipping costs fomented by the conflict.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Trump team backs away from gasoline price promises
23 April 2026 at 05:17

Trump team backs away from gasoline price promises

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales， Kelsey Tamborrino and Aiden Reiter

23 April 2026 at 05:17

Administration officials on Wednesday softened their predictions of an end to the Iran war and its turbulent effects on energy prices.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prepares to testify before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on Capitol Hill, on April 22.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Wright downplays energy price forecast after Trump rebuke
23 April 2026 at 04:22

Wright downplays energy price forecast after Trump rebuke

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

23 April 2026 at 04:22

Lawmakers have grilled the energy secretary about gasoline prices and the war in Iran during multiple hearings over the past two weeks.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright testifying Wednesday on Capitol Hill.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Trump faces shrinking calendar to corral high fuel costs
22 April 2026 at 22:00

Trump faces shrinking calendar to corral high fuel costs

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

22 April 2026 at 22:00

The looming summer driving season — and elections that will determine control of Congress — are putting pressure on the Trump administration.

Gas prices are displayed at a station in Brooklyn on April 21 in New York City.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Ukrainian energy official: Lifting Russia oil sanctions is ‘wrong approach’
26 March 2026 at 07:54

Ukrainian energy official: Lifting Russia oil sanctions is ‘wrong approach’

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

26 March 2026 at 07:54

Oleksii Riabchyn, chief international officer at Naftogaz, also described Ukraine's efforts to position itself as a major natural gas hub for Europe.

Naftogaz executive talks Ukranian energy potential and impact of Russian attacks

Politico | Energy & Environment
Machado: Venezuela could quintuple oil production under a democratic government
25 March 2026 at 07:33

Machado: Venezuela could quintuple oil production under a democratic government

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

25 March 2026 at 07:33

The Venezuelan opposition leader laid out a detailed plan to oil executives gathered in Houston that would transform Venezuela's oil sector from a state-run enterprise to a 'fully private' industry.

Maria Corina Machado said her plan could raise the country’s oil production from the current roughly 1 million barrels a day to as much as 5 million barrels a day, higher than the country produced at its peak.

Politico | Energy & Environment
‘The worst I’ve seen’: Oil industry grapples with the fallout from US-Israel war with Iran
25 March 2026 at 06:00

‘The worst I’ve seen’: Oil industry grapples with the fallout from US-Israel war with Iran

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales and Ben Lefebvre

25 March 2026 at 06:00

The Middle East war is scrambling markets and threatening to remake the energy industry.

A speedboat operated by members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard approaches a British-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz in 2019.

Politico | Energy & Environment
White House energy adviser says oil companies ‘all on board’ with upping production
24 March 2026 at 07:06

White House energy adviser says oil companies ‘all on board’ with upping production

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

24 March 2026 at 07:06

Jarrod Agen, the executive director of the White House National Energy Dominance Council, said he has not received pushback to the administration's calls to drill more amid the war in Iran.

Jarrod Agen, executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council, speaks onstage on Sept. 23, 2025, in New York City.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Wright urges oil and gas industry to up production amid Iran war
23 March 2026 at 22:36

Wright urges oil and gas industry to up production amid Iran war

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales and Kelsey Tamborrino

23 March 2026 at 22:36

“Markets do what markets do,” he said at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright listens in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Oct. 14, 2025.

Politico | Energy & Environment
US to release 172 million barrels of oil from strategic reserve to combat energy price hike
12 March 2026 at 04:50

US to release 172 million barrels of oil from strategic reserve to combat energy price hike

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales and Carlos Anchondo

12 March 2026 at 04:50

The Trump administration move is in conjunction with the International Energy Agency action and comes as shipments from the Persian Gulf remain constrained.

A section of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve facility is shown in West Hackberry, Louisiana.

Politico | Energy & Environment
US official: ‘Not true’ Navy successfully escorted oil tanker through Strait of Hormuz
11 March 2026 at 02:23

US official: ‘Not true’ Navy successfully escorted oil tanker through Strait of Hormuz

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales and Paul McLeary

11 March 2026 at 02:23

Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed in a now-deleted social media post that the Navy escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright (left) and Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) speak at the Fort St. Vrain Generating Station in Platteville, Colorado.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Crude prices make record jump as Trump’s measures fail to calm markets
7 March 2026 at 10:11

Crude prices make record jump as Trump’s measures fail to calm markets

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

7 March 2026 at 10:11

The Trump administration has yet to solve the fundamental issue of getting oil and gas tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz again, analysts said.

A person fills their car with gas as fuel prices at a gas station are displayed behind them, March 4, 2026, in Baltimore.

Politico | Energy & Environment
US attack in Iran poses bigger risk to energy market than Venezuela
28 February 2026 at 22:49

US attack in Iran poses bigger risk to energy market than Venezuela

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

28 February 2026 at 22:49

A sustained U.S. military action against Tehran could set off a broader conflict in the Middle East and scramble global oil shipments.

A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 28, 2026.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Federal safety regulator warns his office can’t keep up with Trump’s Alaska oil push
26 February 2026 at 09:30

Federal safety regulator warns his office can’t keep up with Trump’s Alaska oil push

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

26 February 2026 at 09:30

The warning shows how the administration’s earlier DOGE-driven cuts to the federal workforce could cause problems for Trump’s other policy objectives.

The Trump administration is set to hold the first oil and gas lease sale in more than three years in Alaska's Cook Inlet next week.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Schumer dials up oversight pressure on Trump’s Venezuela oil fund
11 February 2026 at 17:46

Schumer dials up oversight pressure on Trump’s Venezuela oil fund

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

11 February 2026 at 17:46

The Senate minority leader is introducing a bill to direct a GAO investigation of the Trump administration’s handling of Venezuelan oil proceeds.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has criticized the Trump administration's unilateral moves in Venezuela.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Trump administration moves closer to opening Venezuela to more US oil producers
11 February 2026 at 06:11

Trump administration moves closer to opening Venezuela to more US oil producers

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

11 February 2026 at 06:11

The Treasury license allows companies to rehabilitate their existing oil equipment in Venezuela, much of which have fallen into disrepair.

People react to the news of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after U.S. military actions in Venezuela in Doral, Florida, on Jan. 3, 2026.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Energy secretary plans visit to Venezuela — but says Trump isn’t focused on its oil riches
9 February 2026 at 18:01

Energy secretary plans visit to Venezuela — but says Trump isn’t focused on its oil riches

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

9 February 2026 at 18:01

Energy Secretary Chris Wright is scheduled to be the highest-level Trump administration official to set foot in Venezuela since Nicolás Maduro’s capture.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaks during a meeting with President Donald Trump and oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Treasury opens Venezuelan crude oil trading up to more companies
30 January 2026 at 07:40

Treasury opens Venezuelan crude oil trading up to more companies

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

30 January 2026 at 07:40

The move will allow additional firms to join in the US-controlled effort to sell Venezuela’s oil.

Oil tankers are docked at the Cardon refinery in Punta Cardon, Venezuela, in January.

Politico | Energy & Environment
US oil producers pledge to help stabilize Iran if regime falls
14 January 2026 at 06:41

US oil producers pledge to help stabilize Iran if regime falls

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

14 January 2026 at 06:41

American Petroleum Institute President Mike Sommers indicated the industry is more open to helping in Iran than it has been with Venezuela.

Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute, during an event at the White House in June.

Politico | Energy & Environment
‘Uninvestable’: Trump pitch to oil execs yields no promises
10 January 2026 at 05:12

‘Uninvestable’: Trump pitch to oil execs yields no promises

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

10 January 2026 at 05:12

The CEOs heaped praise on the president’s actions in Venezuela but made no firm commitments to put money into restoring the country’s oil production.

President Donald Trump points to a reporter for a question during a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 9.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Trump says oil companies pledge to spend $100B in Venezuela
9 January 2026 at 11:48

Trump says oil companies pledge to spend $100B in Venezuela

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

9 January 2026 at 11:48

The White House is scrambling to expand a Friday meeting with oil executives because of skepticism from the top oil majors.

An abandoned oil pump jack stands in Cabimas, Venezuela, Jan. 7, 2026.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Wright: US will sell Venezuelan oil ‘indefinitely’
7 January 2026 at 22:19

Wright: US will sell Venezuelan oil ‘indefinitely’

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

7 January 2026 at 22:19

The Energy secretary’s statement comes after the U.S. seized another sanctioned crude tanker.

A tanker is docked on Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, on Jan. 7, 2026.

Politico | Energy & Environment
Trump: US will sell 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil
7 January 2026 at 09:30

Trump: US will sell 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil

Politico | Energy & Environment

By: By James Bikales

7 January 2026 at 09:30

The president said he would personally control the proceeds from the sales to ensure they are being used to “benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.”