We cut fast and cut deep in this episode with “notorious anti-ESG lobbyist” Nephi Cole, who helps us dissect the recent wave of federal layoffs that’s hit public lands agencies in the last month. From the Forest Service to National Parks, thousands of public employees have been sent packing. Nephi explains how the unorthodox approach of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is affecting federal agencies, how the administration's approach seems to be changing, and how to cut fat in federal agencies without cutting muscle. 

Politico article on Musk and cabinet secretaries: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/06/trump-cabinet-musk-025093?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

E&E article on federal layoffs: https://www.eenews.net/articles/forest-service-braces-for-up-to-7000-layoffs/ 

Nephi’s piece in the Gazette: https://gazette.com/opinion/perspective-using-guns-to-drive-a-wedge/article_a03febba-0308-11ef-93fd-9f75c65ed8cd.html 

Ridgeline: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55077562-ridgeline

Your Mountain Podcast episode about federal layoffs: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5WVy3QO588qsnRlLR7L4qF?si=00a854a83bdb45dd

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