189. Trump's "Big Ugly Bill" Passed without Land Sales, but the Fight for Public Lands Continues with Land Tawney

This week in the Outdoor Minimalist public lands news review, we cover:USDA’s major reorganization planWhat it means for the U.S. Forest Service and wildfire responseHow agency relocations and office closures could impact conservation workCentralization of services like civil rights, tribal affairs, and grants managementH.R. 1 “The Big Ugly Bill” with 🎙️ Guest: Justin Meuse, Government Relations Director for Climate and Energy at The Wilderness SocietyHow it opens up over 200 million acres of public lands to oil and gas drillingFederal funding updatesBudget cuts to the National Wildlife Refuge SystemEPA enforcement and staffing reductionsCulture war policy in parksEnactment of proposals to restrict education on climate change, Indigenous history, and LGBTQ+ history in National ParksState-level conservation winsVermont’s wildlife corridor lawTexas’ vote to protect the Fairfield Lake siteNew York’s new bird-safe buildings legislationVirginia’s trail access protectionsSubscribe to the full newsletter at theoutdoorminimalist.comHave tips, testimonials, or insights on public land changes? Submit them through our Google Form (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/JwC73G8wLvU6kedc9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Links & Resources:⁠Wilderness Society: “Open for Drilling” Report⁠ (https://www.wilderness.org/articles/press-release/map-reveals-200-million-acres-now-open-oil-and-gas-drilling)⁠Refuge Association on House Budget Cuts⁠ (https://www.refugeassociation.org/press-releases/2025/7/23/house-funding-bill-chips-away-at-national-wildlife-refuges-with-deep-cuts-amp-damaging-riders)American Bird Conservancy State Legislation Wins⁠ (https://abcbirds.org/news/state-legislation-wins-july-2025/)

25 Juli 29min

In episode 190 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we’re discussing urgent threats facing wildlife protections in the United States: the ongoing dismantling of the Endangered Species Act under the Trump Administration. The ESA has long been considered the backbone of wildlife conservation in this country, credited with saving iconic species like the bald eagle and the gray wolf. But legislative and administrative changes are eroding the very foundation of this landmark law and pushing for changes that could reshape how, or even if, we protect threatened and endangered species in the years to come.Joining me to break this all down is Ramona McGee, Senior Attorney and Wildlife Program Leader at the Southern Environmental Law Center. Based in North Carolina, Ramona has been on the legal front lines for nearly a decade, defending the rich and often overlooked biodiversity of the South.In this conversation, we explore what’s at stake if the legal definition of “harm” disappears from federal wildlife protections, how these changes could affect ecosystems and communities across the South, and the industries poised to benefit from deregulation. INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LISTENER SURVEY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----------------Southern Environmental Law CenterWebsite: https://www.selc.org/Ramona McGee: https://www.selc.org/staff/ramona-mcgee/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernenvironment/Podcast: https://www.selc.org/broken-ground-podcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-environmental-law-center/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/selcva

21 Juli 39min

From staffing crises in national parks to energy dominance expansion across millions of acres of public land, here’s what you need to know:FY26 Budget Breakdown: The House released its draft Interior-EPA spending bill, proposing deep cuts to conservation, environmental protection, and public lands. Including:$213M cut to the National Park Service, amid a 24% staffing loss23% EPA budget cut, gutting water, air, and environmental justice programsPublic Lands Open for Drilling: ConocoPhillips wants to expand its Willow Project with new test wells in the Western Arctic. Meanwhile, Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” opens over 200 million acres of federal land to oil and gas drilling.81% of BLM lands in the West now open to leasingQuarterly lease sales mandated, even without industry interestDrilling proposed in San Luis Obispo County, CADOE’s Dirty Grid Report: The Department of Energy is propping up coal plants under a new Trump executive order, claiming fossil fuels are needed for grid reliability. Burgum's Alcatraz Visit Sparks Backlash: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Alcatraz to assess reopening it as a prison for “dangerous criminals,” per Trump’s May directive. But the site draws over 1 million visitors annually and generates $60M/year.Public Broadcasting Cuts Approved: The House approved a rescission package eliminating $1.1 billion in CPB funding, gutting local public media nationwide.👉 Follow us on Instagram (@outdoor.minimalist.book) for quick news breakdowns and action alerts.Have tips, testimonials, or insights on public land changes? Submit them through our Google Form (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/JwC73G8wLvU6kedc9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Listen to Last Monday's Interview with Land Tawney: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/189-trumps-big-ugly-bill-passed-without-land-sales/id1586174667?i=1000717199476Episode Sources:Fiscal Year 2026 Budgethttps://www.npca.org/articles/9650-parks-group-to-congress-our-national-parks-need-more-staff-and-funding-not https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Fiscal-Year-2026-Discretionary-Budget-Request.pdf https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/fy26-interior%2C-environment%2C-and-related-agencies-bill-sumnmary-subcommittee.pdf https://www.eenews.net/articles/house-releases-interior-epa-spending-bill-with-deep-cuts/ Staff Cuts Continuehttps://www.resistancerangers.org/press/futher-cuts-will-irreparably-harm-parks https://protectnps.org/2025/07/09/supreme-court-ruling-greenlights-mass-layoffs-parks-groups-warn-national-parks-and-thousands-of-park-staff-in-jeopardy/ Public Lands Open for Drillinghttps://www.wilderness.org/articles/press-release/conocophillips-pursues-reckless-exploration-western-arctic# https://www.wilderness.org/articles/press-release/map-reveals-200-million-acres-now-open-oil-and-gas-drilling https://www.wilderness.org/sites/default/files/media/file/Open%20for%20Drilling_TWS%20Report_0.pdf https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/environment/article310421755.html Department of Energyhttps://www.nrdc.org/press-releases/doe-plans-prop-dirty-coal-plants https://www.energy.gov/topics/reliability Burgum Visit's Acatrazhttps://www.npca.org/articles/9815-parks-group-rejects-transfer-proposal-for-alcatraz https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-interior-doug-burgum-and-attorney-general-pam-bondi-visit-alcatraz-island Public Broadcasting Cutshttps://apnews.com/article/pbs-npr-budget-cuts-trump-republicans-b0044285659ab708e23eb2dc2f3eabfa Banning Ranch Becomes Southern California’s Newest Nature Preservehttps://www.sfgate.com/la/article/orange-county-randall-preserve-20770791.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com Michigan’s Mariners Preserve Opens for Public Accesshttps://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/saginaw-basin-land-conservancy-open-mariners-20769361.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com

18 Juli 19min

In this week’s episode, we cover sweeping public lands news from June 30 to July 11, including:The "Trump Tax" and what it means for public lands, drilling, and park funding (https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text)The environmental impact of Alligator Alcatraz and community-led legal resistance (https://www.everglades.org/stop-alligator-alcatraz/)SCOTUS ruling greenlighting federal workforce layoffs (https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A1174/362080/20250602120234175_Trump_v_AFGE_Stay_Appl_2.pdf)Good news: California’s 30×30 milestone and the Okefenokee land deal👉 Follow us on Instagram (@outdoor.minimalist.book) for quick news breakdowns and action alerts.Have tips, testimonials, or insights on public land changes? Submit them through our Google Form (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/JwC73G8wLvU6kedc9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

11 Juli 14min

For today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation Meg recorded with Nick Mucha, one of the editors of Patagonia’s new book: Tools to Save Our Home Planet: A Changemaker’s Guidebook and Patagonia's Senior Director of Environmental Issues and Strategy. This collection brings together wisdom, stories, and strategies from over 50 environmental and justice-focused activists working on the front lines of climate action around the world.The book was created to serve as both a call to action and a practical guide helping activists, organizers, and everyday people build skills in communications, fundraising, legal tools, mobilization, and collective action, especially during this turbulent political moment. It’s an inspiring and honest conversation about balancing hope with realism, finding your place in this work, and how each of us can turn concern for the planet into meaningful action.INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LISTENER SURVEY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----------------Tools to Save Our Home Planet: https://www.patagonia.com/product/tools-to-save-our-home-planet-a-changemakers-guidebook/BK925.html?dwvar_BK925_color=000Tools for Grassroots Activists: https://www.patagonia.com/product/tools-for-grassroots-activists-paperback-book/BK740.htmlPatagonia Activism Stories: https://www.patagonia.com/stories/activism/Patagonia Action Works: https://www.patagonia.com/actionworks/home/choose-location/

30 Juni 35min

This week, we’re breaking down one of the biggest public land threats in U.S. history. I sat down with Joshua Axelrod, Senior Policy Advocate at NRDC, to unpack the ongoing federal budget reconciliation process and how it’s being used to mandate the largest public land sell-offs ever proposed.We cover:The latest updates on the proposal to sell 1.2 million acres of BLM-managed landHow the Senate Parliamentarian’s ruling reshaped — but didn’t stop — the land sale proposalThe massive oil, gas, and coal leasing mandates hidden in the bill, both onshore and offshore👉 Call your senators before July 4th and demand they oppose public land sell-offs and environmental rollbacks in the Senate’s version of the budget bill.(https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm)👉 Follow us on Instagram (@outdoor.minimalist.book) for quick news breakdowns and action alerts.Have tips, testimonials, or insights on public land changes? Submit them through our Google Form (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/JwC73G8wLvU6kedc9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

27 Juni 25min

From greenwashed marketing campaigns to the real, tangible challenges of sourcing natural materials and overhauling entrenched supply chains, creating truly sustainable clothing is no small feat. And no one knows this better than today’s guests: Meli and Rensso Hinostroza, the sibling co-founders behind Arms of Andes.Born in California and raised between the U.S. and Peru, Meli and Rensso have built a brand rooted in their heritage and a mission to reconnect people with nature through minimalist, purpose-driven design. Specializing in alpaca wool apparel, they’re confronting the realities of working within a global manufacturing system that wasn’t built for sustainability.In this conversation, we explore what it actually takes to make garments from 100% natural fibers, how to navigate trade-offs between durability, performance, and environmental impact, and how brands can (and should) communicate sustainability claims with honesty. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into making that "eco-friendly" base layer you bought for your last backpacking trip, or how to spot genuine sustainability from greenwashed marketing, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LISTENER SURVEY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----------------Arms of Andes Website: https://armsofandes.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armsofandesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@armsofandesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/armsofandes

23 Juni 48min