In Episode 550 of District of Conservation, Gabriella welcomes back Stephen Gutowski - founder and publisher of The Reload. Stephen discusses the latest Virginia gun bills moving in Richmond and which bills Governor Abigail Spanberger is likely to sign into law. Tune in to learn more!

SHOW NOTES

Follow Stephen on X

Read and subscribe to The Reload

Virginia Governor Sends ‘Assault Firearms’ Ban Back to Legislature, Demands Expansion

Virginia House Bill 217

Gutowski Tweet on HB 217: Assault Firearms Ban & Update

In Episode 459 of District of Conservation, Gabriella interviews NSSF's Mark Oliva and Safari Club International's Bee Frederick about several lead ammunition prohibition bills moving through the Maryland legislature. Tune in to learn more and how these bans could impact your state.

SHOW NOTES

National Shooting Sports Foundation

Safari Club International

MD SB181: Hunting - Restrictions of Venison Donation

11% Excise Tax | Comprehensive Community Safety Act

For the 3rd Year in a Row, the Old-Line State Sees an Attempt to Ban Lead Hunting Ammunition

In Episode 548 of District of Conservation, Gabriella discusses Sable Offshore Company restarting operations off Santa Barbara's coast and the Endangered Species Committee - or "God Squad" - convening to grant an ESA exemption for offshore oil and gas on national security grounds. Tune in to learn more!

SHOW NOTES

Sable Offshore reveals huge amounts of oil pumping out to Chevron from Santa Barbara
Sable Offshore Corp. Begins Oil Sales from the Santa Ynez Pipeline System

Governor Newsom condemns and vows to fight Trump for exploiting Iran war crisis of his own making to harm California’s coastline

Extinction committee strips protections from rare Gulf whale

EP 371: Are Fishermen Harming Endangered Rice's Whales? ft. Captain Dylan Hubbard

Former Interior Secretary Bernhardt on God Squad meeting
‘Extinction Committee’ Allows Oil Drillers to Ignore Species Protections in Gulf of Mexico

Trump Cabinet exempts Gulf drilling from species protections

In Episode 547 of District of Conservation, Gabriella interviews Aurelia S. Giacometto - the 17th U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director during the first Trump administration. Presently, Aurelia is a partner at the Washington, D.C.-based Earth & Water Law.

Prior to joining Earth & Law, she served as secretary of Louisiana's Department of Environmental Quality and held various positions in the private sector.

Tune in to learn more about Aurelia and her 20+ year career in energy, conservation, and agriculture.

SHOW NOTES

E&W Law: Aurelia S. Giacometto Biography

Steamboat Institute

Ramaco Compliments Aurelia S. Giacometto on Joining E&W Law
USFWS Director Page

In Episode 546 of District of Conservation, Gabriella went to USDA HQ in Washington D.C., to interview Aubrey Bettencourt- the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief. Aubrey is a third-generation California farmer, sportswoman, and passionate conservationist.

Chief Bettencourt discusses her background, USDA's priorities, what the NRCS does, changes to the food pyramid, how agriculture isn't at odds with conservation, how Secretary Brooke Rollins is making her department more functional and efficient, the value of hobby farms and agribusinesses, if USDA needs a Farm Bill to survive going forward, and more.

SHOW NOTES

USDA

NRCS: Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt

NRCS Website

Kennedy, Rollins Unveil Historic Reset of U.S. Nutrition Policy, Put Real Food Back at Center of Health

In Episode 545 of District of Conservation, Gabriella recaps her trip to Arizona and discusses the impact of US-Israel strikes on Iran and domestic energy prices. Tune in to learn more!

SHOW NOTES

University of Arizona Pictures

A Grand Arizona Time Out West

Refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve now, before it’s too late

Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Under Biden, U.S. oil reserves to drop by 40 percent

Biden sold off nearly half the U.S. oil reserve. Is it ready for a crisis?

Starmer’s answer to Iran energy shock: Go green faster

America’s Natural-Gas Bounty Is Cushioning U.S. Markets From Global Shocks

In Episode 544 of District of Conservation, Gabriella welcomes Maria Davidson, Safari Club International Foundation's Conservation Program Manager, onto the program to talk about all things bears, large carnivores, and more from SCI 2026 Convention. Tune in to learn more!

SHOW NOTES

SCI Foundation

SCI Foundation Programs

Learn more about Maria Davidson

Bear Conservation Strategy Includes Reducing Bear Conflicts

In Episode 543 of District of Conservation, Gabriella catches up with Kenia Link from International Order of T. Roosevelt at the 2026 Safari Club International Convention in Nashville, TN.

Tune in to learn what IOTR is up to this year, their 10 target states for right to hunt and fish amendments, how to get more young people in support of hunting and fishing, SCI membership, and much more.

SHOW NOTES

Join Safari Club International

International Order of T. Roosevelt

Attend IOTR Summit

Right to Hunt and Fish Amendments

Listen to Hunt. Fish. Freedom. Podcast

In Episode 542 of District of Conservation, Gabriella discusses two trending news stories: the repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding and the Trump administration stepping in to resolve the Potomac River sewage crisis that began on January 19th, 2026. Tune in to learn more!

SHOW NOTES

Trump Administration to Repeal Endangerment Finding and Advance Historic Deregulation

President Trump Delivers Biggest Regulatory Relief in History

Ryan Maue on Endangerment Finding Being Administrative

What is the Potomac Interceptor?

Poo-thetic: Networks Refuse to Cover Largest Sewage Spill in U.S. History

Katie Pavlich News Nation Coverage of Potomac Sewage Disaster

Trump directs federal authorities to protect Potomac
DC Water CEO writes open letter on Potomac sewage spill

Government agencies less likely than private firms to comply with environmental regulations

In Episode 541 of District of Conservation, Gabriella welcomes Fred Bird - Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation's Eastern States manager. Fred discusses his role with the organization, New Hampshire right to hunt and fish moving through the legislature, rigs to reef, MAP Waters Act, EXPLORE Act, and how the outdoors still brings Americans together. Tune in to learn more!

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Fred and on Instagram

Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

NH CACR15: Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment

Granite Staters’ Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity: Get Right to Hunt and Fish to the Ballot

State Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish

New Hampshire - R3 Mandates

Steel to Sanctuary

Rigs to Reef: A Conservation Program Environmentalists Shouldn't Oppose