What We Lose When We Sell Off America’s Best Idea

When I was a kid, my family couldn’t afford expensive vacations. What my parents could do however, was pile us into the car and drive to the national forest in southern Mississippi. We were what my mom called the “genteel poor,” and while Disneyland wasn’t in the cards, public lands gave us access to magic just the same: towering longleaf pines, brilliant blue skies, and the sound of my dad’s footsteps as he carried my younger siblings on the final stretch of a long hike.

Those memories aren’t just sentimental—they’re a reminder of what’s at stake.

This week on Assembly Required, I take a hard look at the fight to preserve one of America’s most cherished institutions: our public lands. From the awe-inspiring landscapes of the National Park System to the lesser-known historic and cultural sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Forest Service, these spaces belong to all of us. And yet, right now, they’re under attack.

Despite drawing more than 330 million visitors and contributing over $55 billion to our national economy in 2023, our public lands will face devastating consequences from the Republican-backed tax law that puts billionaires before basic stewardship. The legislation slashes funding for the agencies that make these lands accessible and protected—gutting the National Park Service budget and opening the door to the sale of federal land for private profit. In places like the Great Smoky Mountains, the fallout is already real: shuttered campgrounds, canceled ranger tours, and lost jobs. And unless we act, this is only the beginning.

This isn’t just about vacation spots. Public lands are living classrooms, climate defenders, and places where we can connect to something bigger than ourselves. But to truly honor their value, we also have to be honest about their history. Much of this land was taken from Indigenous communities, and acknowledging that past is essential to shaping a more inclusive and responsible future.

To help us understand the gravity of what’s happening, I’m joined this week by former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who brings both lived and institutional wisdom to this fight. Later in the episode, you’ll hear from Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro, about how Black communities are reclaiming their rightful place in the outdoors.

Because here’s the thing: public lands should remain public. Not parceled out. Not privatized. Not quietly handed over under the cover of bureaucracy.

If you care about the environment, equity, or economic opportunity—you should care about this moment.

Watch the full episode below, and let’s protect what’s ours.