Rebecca Leber

Career Trajectory: From Policy Watchdog to Industry Investigator

Rebecca Leber has established herself as one of Washington's most consequential climate journalists through a career spanning investigative reporting, policy analysis, and environmental advocacy journalism. Her work consistently bridges the gap between regulatory processes and their real-world impacts.

• Early Career Foundations (2010-2014): Cut teeth at Grist analyzing state-level climate policies
• Investigative Breakthroughs (2015-2019): Mother Jones pieces on EPA deregulation led to congressional inquiries
• Systems Analysis Era (2020-present): Current role at Center for Climate Integrity focuses on fossil fuel industry accountability

Defining Works: Three Pillars of Impact

The EPA Is Using Taxpayer Dollars to Track the Press

This 2017 exposé revealed how Scott Pruitt's EPA contracted Republican opposition researchers to monitor media coverage, including surveillance of journalists' social media activity. Leber obtained procurement documents showing $120,000 in payments to Definers Public Affairs, a firm known for political opposition research. The piece sparked immediate backlash from press freedom groups and led to revised media monitoring policies at three federal agencies.

"When the watchdog becomes the watched, democracy's early warning system fails."

How Gas Stoves Became the New Front in the Climate War

Leber's 2023 investigation traced the fossil fuel industry's decades-long campaign to promote gas stoves as "clean energy." Through FOIA requests and archival research, she uncovered how industry groups worked with home builders and influencers to embed gas infrastructure in American homes. The article's publication coincided with renewed CPSC safety evaluations, directly cited in federal rulemaking documents.

Republicans Beg Their Party to Finally Do Something About Climate Change

This 2017 analysis piece dissected the growing rift between GOP leadership and younger conservatives on climate policy. Leber interviewed 12 Republican state legislators pushing clean energy initiatives, contrasting their efforts with congressional inaction. The article remains a touchstone in discussions about political polarization and climate solutions.

Pitch Guidance: Aligning With Leber's Reporting Lens

Focus on Institutional Decision-Makers

Leber's work consistently examines power centers rather than individual actions. Successful pitches should highlight:

• Underexplored connections between regulatory bodies and industry groups
• Policy enforcement gaps at state/federal levels
• Campaign finance ties influencing energy decisions

Her recent CPSC coverage demonstrates particular interest in how consumer protections intersect with climate goals.

Follow the Money Trails

Investigative leads should emphasize financial documentation:

• IRS 990 forms for industry-backed nonprofits
• Municipal bond filings for energy infrastructure projects
• Revolving door employment patterns between agencies and lobbyists

Leber's gas stove research successfully paired campaign finance records with architectural industry marketing plans.

Localize National Trends

While Leber primarily reports on federal policy, she frequently anchors stories through:

• State attorneys general investigations
• Municipal challenges to preemption laws
• Regional impacts of federal court rulings

Pitches should identify specific jurisdictions where national policies manifest in unique ways.

Awards and Recognition

• 2023 Covering Climate Now Award: Recognized for "redefining accountability reporting" through gas stove investigations
• SEJ Rachel Carson Award Finalist: Honored for sustained environmental reporting excellence (2021, 2022)
• National Press Club Consumer Journalism Award: Won for 2020 series on wildfire insurance failures