A few days ago, the Biden administration released a report warning that a warming planet posed severe economic challenges for the United States, which would require the federal government to reassess its spending priorities and how it influenced behavior.

White House reporter Jim Tankersley explains why getting the government to encourage the right decisions will be so difficult.

Guest: Jim Tankersley, a White House correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• A chapter in the new Economic Report of the President focuses on the growing risks to people and businesses from rising temperatures.
• In theory, funding the government takes place in two major stages. But it’s a fraught and complicated process. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.