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Leslie’s Solo Take | What Keeps Me Up at Night
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In this special solo episode recorded on January 21, 2026, Leslie Palti-Guzman shares what truly keeps her up at night.
She begins as a parent, reflecting on how history is taught, the disappearance of classical foundations, and the transformation of information consumption in the digital age.
Then she pivots to her professional lens at the intersection of energy, trade, and geopolitics.
Key themes include:
• Why the US energy bonanza remains a strategic asset
• The risks of undermining transatlantic energy relations
• Europe’s record LNG dependence on the US in 2025
• Atlantic basin energy interdependence
• What are the limits of geoeconomic leverage
Leslie argues for data over rhetoric, for strong transatlantic alliances, and for diplomatic use of America’s energy power.
A reflective and strategic episode about markets, alliances, and energy leadership.
📨 Read a more complete take of "what keeps me up at night" on Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-185580397
🎧 Listen on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify
📨 Leslie’s Substack: https://lesliepaltiguzman.substack.com/
#EnergyVista #LNG #EnergySecurity #Geopolitics #Transatlantic #NATO #GasMarkets #Trade #Shipping #EnergyPolicy #MarketIntelligence
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Transcript
Introduction to Energy Vista Podcast
00:00:11
lpaltiguzman
Welcome to en Energy Vista, a podcast on energy issues, personal and professional trajectory, a podcast where we make experts great again, contribute actively to the public debate and policymaking around commodities, the geopolitics of energy, and trade.
00:00:29
lpaltiguzman
I'm your host, Leslie Pelti-Guzman. It's January 21st, 2026, and time for a new Energy Vista episode. Today,
Activism vs. Chronological History in Education
00:00:39
lpaltiguzman
I wanted to tell you what keeps me up at night.
00:00:44
lpaltiguzman
As a parent, I worry about how history is being taught today. History is increasingly taught by activism-driven themes, picked ideologically instead of teaching history chronologically, which is less subject to bias.
00:01:04
lpaltiguzman
Classics are disappearing from literature to curricula, Fewer students are exposed to the foundational texts that i have shaped our society.
US Energy Policy and Global Superpower Status
00:01:15
lpaltiguzman
And I also worry about how information is being consumed.
00:01:19
lpaltiguzman
Who is still reading the news to today? Real journalism, not sensational YouTube shorts. As a parent, all these worry me.
00:01:29
lpaltiguzman
But if I'm wearing my professional hat on, with my expertise on the intersection of energy, trade and geopolitics, my concerns take a different form.
00:01:45
lpaltiguzman
A few years ago, I strongly advocated for the US not to abort too soon its energy bonanza. I was worrying that the US, because of green activism and the push to become an electrostate or more based on renewables, that the US would shoot itself in the foot and um cease to be this ener energy superpower based on fossil fuels, notably shell gas, shell oil.
00:02:17
lpaltiguzman
This has been a huge competitive advantage for the US to have this amount of resources for its economy at home and abroad. And Washington has rightly used this advantage as a tool of diplomacy and trade.
00:02:36
lpaltiguzman
Now I
US-Europe Energy Relations and LNG Exports
00:02:37
lpaltiguzman
worry that the US is shooting it's shooting itself in the foot by undermining its relations with key energy partners, notably Europe. there However, you know even if Europe is really freaking out right now, I think that the the reality is that the US cannot, I mean, Europe cannot do much in the short term.
00:02:59
lpaltiguzman
There has been an energy deal over the summer between the US and Europe. It remains to be seen if it's going to last, even even if like the trade flows are more important like on the than this paper deal.
00:03:15
lpaltiguzman
um So it was in any way a long shot, this deal, because of it was worth like $250 billion dollars that the Europe should import such amounts of energy.
00:03:28
lpaltiguzman
um But in any case, Europe has actually in 2025 imported a huge amount of LNG from the US, its highest on record, on record more than 100 million tons.
00:03:42
lpaltiguzman
So this shows a huge level of interdependency between Europe and the US. Europe needs US energy. It needs US shell to LNG cargoes to have a functioning economy.
Europe's Energy Reliance and Diversification Challenges
00:03:57
lpaltiguzman
We all remember the shock to the system after the war in Ukraine started, Europe's economy completely suffered. Part of its industry had to shut down because of high record electricity prices and natural gas prices went to the roof, really impacting the competitiveness of Europe.
00:04:22
lpaltiguzman
So there is no way right now Europe ah can deco-bulb from the US. There is also the risk of falling into the political rhetoric trap.
00:04:35
lpaltiguzman
History will tell whether greenland whether the Greenland saga is a diversion, an imminent security threat, or a folly.
00:04:48
lpaltiguzman
Europe is freaking out. I said that, I will say it again, very very much panicking. On my end, for now, I focus on actions and data.
00:04:59
lpaltiguzman
And that should reassure Europe. Since coming into office, the US president has unleashed US s exports, notably LNG, by accelerating the permitting process, has really actually um promoted low energy prices globally. um like Europe has benefited from lower oil prices, um and as well as LNG prices compared to the peak of ah
00:05:29
lpaltiguzman
you know, 2022 when the Ukraine war started. New export facilities have taken final investment decision and all this will eventually benefit Europe because it's more supply, abundant supply that will reach the market in the coming years and bring down prices.
00:05:46
lpaltiguzman
um But exports need a market. The US
US-Europe Energy Trade Benefits
00:05:51
lpaltiguzman
needs Europe. So that's another point. Like right now, even the US cannot decouple from Europe, um especially at a time when there is huge competition between LNG suppliers or even oil suppliers.
00:06:08
lpaltiguzman
Europe is a perfect market for the US. It's an attractive market and because of the distance. So if you have all those tankers, oil and gas tankers crossing the Atlantic, sometimes it's much more it makes much more economic sense
00:06:26
lpaltiguzman
than crossing the Panama Canal or the Cape of Good Hope. um So we need to think about routes too and what's economics for those exporters.
00:06:38
lpaltiguzman
NATO still exists. Whatever
Europe's Energy Diversification Strategies
00:06:41
lpaltiguzman
the rhetoric, the US still care for Europe and for peace. So what about the long term? In any case, Europe wanted to diversify. Europe should.
00:06:51
lpaltiguzman
and can diversify its energy sources, more nuclear, eventually more renewable, more autonomy. But we need to understand that Europe's electricity might also grow because of data centers, electrical vehicles, and the electrification in general of the economy.
00:07:12
lpaltiguzman
And this source of electricity for Europe needs to be competitive, affordable, and if possible, green. That's going to be a big challenge, especially if the amount of electricity increases.
00:07:27
lpaltiguzman
um But, you know, we can be optimistic here. Even Venezuelan gas could benefit Europe one day, or unleashing Iranian energy could also profit Europe.
00:07:40
lpaltiguzman
And even prior to Trump's return to the White House, ah Europe was already very keen in diversification, in diversifying its sources of energy.
Strengthening US-Europe Relations
00:07:50
lpaltiguzman
So let's continue.
00:07:52
lpaltiguzman
um As someone who is both European and American, I have always advocate advocated for strong transatlantic relations. um Democratic countries have inspired the rest of the world and helped keep keep it safe. I think that the world is in the better place when the US is the policeman of the world with some help of key allies that take their own responsibilities and share the burden.
00:08:21
lpaltiguzman
um And I think you know it's a good idea to have more commitment from Europeans for their NATO ah military spending, um for example.
Conclusion: US Economic Leverage on Allies
00:08:31
lpaltiguzman
So these are great developments.
00:08:35
lpaltiguzman
And I like the concept of peace by strength. But the question remains, where does the strength stop? How far can economic leverage go, especially with allies?
00:08:48
lpaltiguzman
And is the US abusing its geoeconomic might? That's it for today. Thank you for listening. And um um well I'll be back with a guest very soon. so stay tuned. And this is Leslie Peltie-Guzman. saying good day and good luck.