What Does It Mean To Be Energy Independent? - a podcast by NPR

The U.S. produces a lot of oil — currently more than 11 billion barrels a day. It produces so much oil and natural gas that overall, it sells more to other countries than it buys from foreign sources.

Yet a war almost 5,000 miles away has pushed U.S. gas prices to record levels – more than $4.30 per gallon, on average. This has lawmakers on both sides of the aisle wondering how the U.S. can become better insulated from global price shocks.

But Republicans, including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, want to see more drilling on U.S. soil.

So what are our options to become more energy secure? And if we produce so much of our own oil, why are gas prices so high anyway?

We discuss all that and more.

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