🎤 What do Saturday Night Live, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and climate politics in Iowa have in common?
This week on Three Degrees, we sit down with actor, comedian, and former Congressional candidate Gary Kroger, who shares his journey from the stage at Studio 8H to the frontlines of the climate fight in the heartland.
🌍 Gary opens up about why climate change became his top issue - driven not by a political consultant, but by his kids. “If the next generation can’t breathe the air or drink the water, what’s the point of any other issue?” he says.
🗳️ He gets candid about the frustrations of running for office in a state increasingly hostile to science and progressive values, and why he and his wife ultimately left Iowa for Vermont. “We couldn’t keep paying taxes in a state that wanted to silence us.”
💬 We also talk campaign messaging, media failures, and how Democrats keep losing the thread on climate—despite overwhelming public support for clean energy and environmental action. Gary doesn’t hold back. “Republicans are great at distraction. Democrats lose their core issues trying to play catch-up.”
🎭 And of course, there’s humor. Gary shares behind-the-scenes stories from Curb, explains why laughter can open doors that facts alone can’t, and even gives us a golf tip—because if you’re going to change the world, you might as well work on your short game.
🎧 This is an episode about climate truth, political courage, storytelling, and why the most important message might be: climate action for your kids.
If you’re looking for stories that cut through the noise—stories grounded in truth, lived experience, and a commitment to the public good—look no further than the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative.
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