Chapter 720 - 336: The Pressure of the General Election

"I’m going to use the pressure of the upcoming election to get both parties to jointly pass a bill for my nuclear power project."

"It will require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to streamline its review process, establish a fast track for strategic energy projects, and shorten the approval timeline as much as possible."

Sanders was stunned. "You want to change the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s rules?"

"Rules are made by people," Leo said coldly. "As long as both parties want to win—and as long as they’re afraid of losing Pennsylvania—they’ll change the rules."

"But I don’t have enough influence on my own."

Leo stared at Sanders, finally baring his fangs.

"I need the entire Progressive movement to champion my cause."

"I need you, Daniel Sanders, as the leader of the Progressives, to go to Capitol Hill, to go before the media, and tell everyone: for the climate, for the workers, for the future of the United States, we must accept nuclear power, and we must reform the approval process."

"I need you to carry this banner."

Sanders looked into Leo’s eyes, which burned with ambition.

He suddenly understood.

Leo didn’t just want a nuclear power plant.

He was using this project—and the inevitable energy revolution it represented—to completely seize control of the Progressives’ narrative.

If Sanders followed Leo’s script, the Progressive platform would be rewritten.

It would no longer be about idealistic environmentalism, but a pragmatic path of industrial revival combined with clean energy.

And the architect of this new path would be Leo Wallace.

Sanders felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

He was old. His ways had hit a wall against the hard truths of reality countless times.

And now, this young man before him was standing on his shoulders, reaching for the lever of power that Sanders himself had never been able to touch his entire life.

"I’m saving our cause," Leo said, straightening his back. "Senator, you can choose to go down with your outdated dogmas, or you can join me and win the future."

Sanders was silent for a full five minutes.

He looked at the documents on his desk, then back at Leo’s unyielding expression.

"Pushing a project this sensitive during an election year... the risk is astronomical."

There was a sense of resignation in Sanders’ voice.

"I’ll call in the key figures among the Progressives. We need to hold a closed-door meeting in Washington. We have to reach an internal consensus on this."

"I can’t guarantee they’ll support you wholeheartedly, but I can at least ensure they won’t publicly attack you or undermine you."

Sanders looked at Leo and stated his terms.

"But you need to have your talking points ready. You have to give them a way to save face."

Leo nodded in agreement.

"No problem."

Murphy, standing to the side, let out a long sigh of relief.

He hadn’t even dared to breathe too loudly, terrified that the two heavyweights would have a falling-out right then and there.

If Leo and Sanders went to all-out war, he, the Senator caught in the middle, would be the first casualty to be torn to shreds.

Sanders picked up the intercom on his desk.

"I’ll arrange the meeting for tomorrow morning."

Sanders spoke a few words into the receiver, instructing his staff to clear his schedule for tomorrow. Then he hung up and looked at Leo.

"I hope you know what you’re doing, Leo. Once you take this step, you’ll be right in the eye of the storm."

"Countless eyes will be glued to every move made at Three Mile Island. The slightest misstep will trigger a nationwide panic."

Leo crisply buttoned his suit jacket.

"I’ve long been accustomed to being in the eye of the storm. Thank you for making the arrangements, Senator."