How the US quietly became the world's top oil producer
Net oil imports are dropping and the U.S. now produces more crude oil than any other country


What happened?
In President Joe "Biden's America," Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) tweeted Wednesday, the federal government "chooses energy dependence over energy DOMINANCE AND INDEPENDENCE." In reality, net oil imports are dropping and "the U.S. produces more crude oil than any other country on the planet," Marketplace said.
The commentary
The U.S. becoming the world's top oil producer "would've sounded absurd just a decade ago," especially because "we're producing all that oil with far fewer rigs," thanks to drilling innovations, Marketplace said. "No president has overseen energy production like Biden has," but he "isn't bragging" about it, Jim Tankersley said at The New York Times. Record oil and gas production has "strengthened Biden's hand in foreign policy" and it "helps reduce energy costs" at home, but "all that production has brought Biden grief from environmental groups" and "young progressive voters."
What next?
Biden "loves to talk about" the solar and wind power surging under his watch. But it's a "tough balancing act," Ryan Cummings, a White House economist who created a never-published 2023 chart showing America's energy boom, said to the Times. "You want to reduce emissions, but you need a bridge to get there."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department