John Podesta became angry when a left-wing activist friend suggested softening the centerpiece of President Obama’s climate regulations to make them more palatable for lawmakers, according to illegally obtained emails released Wednesday by the group WikiLeaks.

“I’m kind of offended that you think we would water down the rule to get more support from the middle of the roaders on Capitol Hill,” said Podesta, who is now chairman of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign, in a 2014 email he sent to the activist when he was still counsel to Obama.