Outlook August 2025: Finding ’em in Iowa!

by | Aug 4, 2025

republicEn executive director Bob Inglis was a guest speaker at the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale, Iowa.

Dear EcoRight Supporter,

Sometimes you know that you’ve found the right audience. So it was in Iowa in July; so it can be in the months to come.

Grayson Massey, our Utah contractor, arranged with his Iowa colleague, Mike Sylvester, for me to speak to the Central Iowa Young Republicans and to the Westside Conservative Club. With 30 in attendance at the YR dinner on Tuesday, 7/22/25, it was a great warm-up for the 110 that would be in attendance the next morning at the Westside Conservative Club. These were actual conservatives. Many were hearing for the first time that it’s conservative to act on climate change.  

At the Westside Conservative Club, I started by declaring, “I’m not running for president.” This was important, I was told, because nearly all Republican presidential candidates speak to the Club. In recent years, Donald Trump has spoken there as have Mike Pence and Nikki Haley.

As is typical in a staunchly conservative crowd, at least one person wasn’t having it. She chairs one of the local country parties, and she heckled me throughout my talk.  When I asked the crowd at the end of my presentation, “Why do we as conservatives resist action on climate?” she blurted out, “Common sense!”  

That wasn’t the view of a banker who approached me afterwards. He told me that he’s put solar panels on all of his branches and that it’s working for him. Others approaching afterwards were saying similar things. As is common in such crowds, no one confronts the heckler, but afterward they apologize for the heckling and express appreciation for the message.

Right message. Right places. That’s what you’re funding, and we thank you.

Onward,

Bob

Community Outreach & Engagement

Donor Exclusive: Sneak Peek at Our Sept. 9 Webinar with Climate Policy Expert Shuting Pomerleau

You heard it here first—our donors are the very first to know! On Tuesday, September 9th, we’ll be joined by Shuting Pomerleau, Director of Energy and Environmental Policy at the American Action Forum, for our next republicEn webinar. Shuting will dive into the future path of U.S. federal climate policy, offering insights on the energy provisions in the OBBBA and the implications of the pending repeal of the EPA’s endangerment finding. With experience at both AAF and the Niskanen Center, and a strong track record of thought leadership on market-based climate solutions, Shuting promises to bring depth, clarity, and pragmatism to the conversation. We’re excited to share this thoughtful discussion with our members—and you heard it here first.

Podcast

We are back! The EcoRight Speaks premiered its ELEVENTH SEASON on July 29th, just over five years since we started producing a show. Our first guest was Dr. Doug Casa, a heat exertion specialist and head of the Korey Stringer Institute, who shared with us the dangers a warming climate poses to athletes and ways to minimize risk.

Coming up in August we have an exciting slate of guests, including fan-favorite Mary Anna Mancuso, who pulls the veil back on what it’s like working on the editorial board team at the Miami Herald; Environmental Defense Fund Action head David Kieve, who talks about the cost of inaction on climate change; and Corey Kerkela, who spearheaded the Fellowship of the Trees on behalf of the Rotary Club. We are looking forward to a robust season of compelling guests and discussions.

Climate Week En Review

Your Weekly Roundup of EcoRight News from republicEn.

In the Media

republicEn articles/opinions

republicEn mentions/quotes/coverage

republicEn multimedia coverage

republicEn blog mentions/quotes/coverage

republicEn non-climate media coverage

Events

Upcoming events

  • 08/06-08/07: Cincinnati, OH – Ohio River Valley Climate Change & Health Conference guest presenter
  • 09/02: Martin County, FL – Martin County Republican Party, monthly meeting guest speaker
  • 09/03: Ft. Pierce, FL – Meeting with FL State Rep. Dana Trabulsy
  • 09/04: Hilton Head, SC – Rotary Club of Hilton Head Island guest speaker
  • 09/09: Virtual – College Republican Clubs of Utah guest speaker
  • 09/17: Tampa, FL – Congress to Campus at University of Tampa guest speaker
  • 10/04: Providence, RI – Creation Care Conference keynote speaker, Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse 
  • 10/10: Beaufort, SC – Rotary Club of the Low Country guest speaker
  • 10/17: Salt Lake City, UT – Conservative Climate Summit
  • 10/20: New York, NY – Journey of a Story panel moderator, The White House Effect film screening, presented by the Uproot Project
  • 11/03: Alexandria, VA – Episcopal High School, Sustainability and Service guest speaker

Past events

  • 07/01: Virtual – Zoom with FL Rep. Dean Black
  • 07/01: Virtual – Zoom with FL Rep. Webster Barnaby
  • 07/08: Vero Beach, FL – Oceanside Rotary Club guest speaker
  • 07/09: Indian Harbour Beach, FL – Indialantic Rotary Club guest speaker
  • 07/09: Frostproof, FL – Meeting with FL Rep. Jon Albert
  • 07/10: Virtual – Phone call with FL Rep. Sam Greco
  • 07/10: Vero Beach, FL – Rotary Club of Vero Beach guest speaker
  • 07/17: Virtual – Zoom with FL Rep. Brad Yeager
  • 07/17: Charleston, SC – “Why Now is the Time for Conservative Environmental Leadership” guest panelist, presented by the American Conservation Coalition
  • 07/22: West Des Moines, IA – Central Iowa Young Republican Club guest speaker
  • 07/23: Urbandale, IA – Westside Conservative Club guest speaker
  • 07/30: Virtual – Zoom with Rotary Climate Action Team
  • 08/04: Virtual – Zoom with FL Rep. Michael Owen