Welcome to Axis ProRata, a podcast that takes just 10 minutes to get you smarter on the collision of tech business and politics.

I'm Dan Premak. On today's show, tech proposes its own privacy regulations and the biggest name staying completely silent on the situation in Saudi Arabia.

But first, Washington. No, not the city, but the state, where voters next week will decide whether or not to impose a fee on carbon emissions.

Now, if approved, this would be the first time ever that voters in any state have effectively passed a carbon price, which many argue is an essential first step towards seriously addressing climate change.

It's supported by all

sorts of environmental interest groups, local billionaire Bill Gates, and Washington Governor Jay Inslee,

who some view as a possible 2020 presidential candidate, and if it passes, this could become

part of his campaign. On the other side, some very, very big oil interests, as Washington is America's fifth largest refining state.

And there's also at least a tacit assumption that President Trump would oppose the move based on some campaign statements and his pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord, but he hasn't explicitly chimed in.

The bottom line here is this proposal will be a litmus test.

If it becomes law, expect other

blue states to try following, as this effort has bedeviled progressives for over a decade. But if

it fails, particularly in a place like Washington, then it may be time for environmentalists to give up

the ghost, no matter how much sense they believe it makes. In 15 seconds, we'll go deeper on this

with Axios Energy

Reporter Amy Harder. But first, this. There is more news out there than ever before, but these

days, it's harder than ever to find it and to know what to trust. Axios AM takes the effort out

of getting smart by synthesizing the 10 stories that will drive the day and telling you why they

matter. Subscribe at signup.axios.com. And now, back to the pro rata podcast.

We're joined now by Axios Energy reporter Amy Harder. So, Amy, let's start big picture here.

What is the argument for having a carbon price, whether in Washington or anywhere?

The main argument is that the reason why fossil fuels, oil, natural gas, and coal,

...