Circle of Blue WaterNews

About Circle of Blue WaterNews

Founded in 2000 by leading journalists and scientists, Circle of Blue provides relevant, reliable, and actionable on-the-ground information about the world’s resource crises. With an intense focus on water and its relationships to food, energy, and health, Circle of Blue has created a breakthrough model of front-line reporting, data collection, design, and convening that has evolved with the world’s need to spur new methodology in science, collaboration, innovation, and response. To document emerging and recognized crises, Circle of Blue collaborates with leading scientists and data experts. Through its partnerships, Circle of Blue then dispatches top journalists to map and define the region where the change is occurring. Making connections from localized occurrences to global trends, Circle of Blue publishes these reports online — free of charge — to inform academics, governments, and the general public, catalyzing participation across disciplines, regions, and cultures.

Publisher

Circle Of Blue

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Oct 2016

Latest episode

4 Aug 2025

Latest episodes

1 of 390 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   4 Aug 2025

   Circle of Blue - Speaking of Water | Will Congress Defy Trump on Water Infrastructure Spending?

   President Donald Trump has proposed a nearly 90 percent cut to the two funds that are the primary source of federal support for drinking water and sewer systems. The state revolving funds, which loan money at below market or zero-interest rates, have traditionally attracted bipartisan support, and Congress has objected to previous administrations that suggested trimming the program. With Trump in the White House, how will the Republican-led Congress respond this time? To address that question, Circle of Blue’s Brett Walton spoke with Mae Stevens, partner and water practice lead at Banner Public Affairs, a lobbying firm. A veteran of D.C. water policy, Stevens said that lawmakers could follow their accustomed path and buck the president’s recommendation to gut the funds. Returning the funds to their current level of more than $2.7 billion would be the goal. But with such a large proposed cut the negotiations will not be easy. “If you’re of the same party, you’re looking at your president’s budget saying ‘I don’t want to stray too much from the leader of my party,’” she said. “But at the same time, we do need more water infrastructure funding.”

2. 

   3 Dec 2024

   Speaking of Water - The Heat & The Fury - Climate Violence

   Brett Walton interviews journalist Peter Schwartzstein about his book, "The Heat and the Fury," which examines climate change's role in spurring global violence.

3. 

   16 Oct 2023

   Speaking of Water - High Cost of Cheap Water - WWF Report

   Stuart Orr of WWF discusses the significant economic value of healthy freshwater ecosystems with Brett Walton, highlighting the hidden costs of undervaluing water resources in this interview.

Inside a recent episode

Speaking of Water: China’s Water Challenges in 2021

Published 27 Jan 2021 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And that seasonality, that kind of temporal element is really just as important for thinking about the negative impacts of those high dams on China's downstream neighboring countries. And those impacts include ecological damage so you have fragmentation of aquatic habitat for fish and other species that live in the May Kong and its tributaries. You've got temperature sediment flow impacts. And then you also have impacts on flooding, on water supply, that's particularly concern, obviously, under drought conditions or when you have unusual degree of water scarcity. And then you also have impacts on things like food security. […]

Who has been a guest on Circle of Blue WaterNews

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Peter Schwartzstein
• Stuart Orr
• Peter Gleick

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

287,443

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

16 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 63 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

72

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

51

Contact Circle of Blue WaterNews

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Circle of Blue WaterNews