The Chainsaws Are Out For the Forest Service (4/10/26)
Plus supporting workers at Wells Fargo and Olin Winchester, a giveaway to the chemical industry and more
☎️ It’s the weekend, and we know what that means… voter contact! Help phonebank for James Talarico Saturday 11AM-2PM ET and get out the vote in Virginia tonight at 6PM ET, tomorrow at 2PM ET or Sunday at noon or 4:30 PM ET ☎️
TOO LONG, DIDN’T READ
Trump is attempting to demolish the Forest Service right before the heart of wildfire season - tell Congress, outdoor brands to speak up
Comment deadline TODAY to protect rules safeguarding us from chemical catastrophes
Help our friends at the National Immigration Law Center change the narrative by listening to their Freedom To Thrive podcast and voting for them to win a Webby
If you have questions, comments, and especially submissions for actions, please email us at roganslisttips@gmail.com!
THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE FOREST SERVICE
The chainsaws are out for the U.S. Forest Service. The Trump administration is planning a “reorganization” that will effectively destroy an agency that manages 193 million acres of public lands – firing personnel as they close or repurpose all nine of its regional offices, slashing its scientific capacity by shuttering research and development facilities in more than 30 states, replacing career professionals with political appointees. They’re also moving the headquarters from DC to Salt Lake City, which Hatch Magazine describes as “the beating heart of the anti-public-lands movement in America.” (Read more from former National Park Service chief ranger Walt Dabney here.) It’s being done with no debate or public input, and just before the heart of wildfire season.
These are our lands, and changes like this drastic and expensive demolition should be subject to our veto. 🗣️ Let’s reach out to our members of Congress and let them know we’re saying no. We can find language from 5Calls here. 🗣️
Activists are also seeking support from corporate sources, starting with the outdoor brands who built their businesses thanks to extensive access to public lands. While some (REI, Columbia, Patagonia) have spoken up, others like L.L. Bean have remained silent. 🗣️ Let’s use SaveUSFS.org to learn more and send a message to these companies pressuring them to get into the fight. 🗣️
(h/t to Rogan’s List reader Sue J for flagging!)
HOLD STATE AND LOCAL REPUBLICANS ACCOUNTABLE FOR TRUMP’S GENOCIDAL THREATS
A lot of attention is paid to whether congressional Republicans are willing to criticize Trump. Most aren’t, and don’t. But the thing is, most Republican politicians are not in Washington. They are in our states, our cities, and our towns. They have made a choice to be in, and stay in, a political party in which the head of the party—the current president of the United States—is openly threatening to commit war crimes, all the way to genocide. 🗣️ Let’s look up who represents us on the state and local level, and if they are Republicans, let’s contact them and say that we expect them to condemn Trump’s threats of war crimes and genocide in Iran. 🗣️
☮️ Looking for more ways to push back? Let’s continue demanding our members of Congress support a war powers resolution when they return next week, and join the Workers Strike Back call on building a broad-based antiwar movement Sunday at 3PM ET. ☮️
WELLS FARGO: UNION BUSTER, CLIMATE DISASTER FINANCIER
Wells Fargo been taking full advantage of MAGA control over our government to crack down on worker power and profit off climate change. They rushed to abandon key climate commitments after Trump’s inauguration, the first major financial corporation to do so, and their intimidation campaigns have led to the decertification of unions at multiple branches. Activists are responding, with Stop The Money Pipeline and Wells Fargo Workers United teaming up to deliver union gift bags to 200+ Wells Fargo branches across a dozen cities on Monday, May 4th, to invite workers to learn how to unionize. If we want to be part of this effort, we can contact organizers here or at sarahlasoff@stopthemoneypipeline.com.
SOLIDARITY WITH STRIKING WORKERS AT INDEPENDENCE AMMO PLANT
1,350 union workers at an ammunition plant in Independence, Missouri are entering Day 6 of their strike against Olin Winchester today. They’re seeking a contract with fair wages that account for rising costs and fewer mandatory overtime hours, one that allows for a real work-life balance. IAM Local 778 leaders have promised to say on the picket line as long as necessary. Let’s show our support for these folks. If we’re in the area, we can join them on the picket line and drop off water and other nonperishable foods. And all of us can follow for updates here and donate to support their efforts via Working Families’ Friend here (drop 778 strike in the comments, h/t Hamilton Nolan)
(Looking for a high-commitment way to help build power with organized labor? The Workers Organizing Workers program is holding a three-part training on salting, the age-old tactic of taking a job at a specific location with the explicit intention of organizing it into a union, starting MONDAY. We can learn more here and sign up here.)
DEADLINE TODAY TO COMMENT ON RULE EXPOSING US TO CHEMICAL CATASTROPHES
The big corporations that call the shots in our government won’t let something as unimportant as our lives and health get in the way of their profits. And the Trump regime is giving them whatever they want.
The White House is pursuing executive action to increase our vulnerability to chemical disasters. An EPA they’ve stacked with former American Chemical Council lobbyists is attempting to roll back Biden-era rules requiring the industry to better protect workers, first responders and fence-line communities from catastrophes like fires and explosions at chemical facilities. 📝 The deadline to submit public comments on their proposed weakened regulations is TODAY. We can make our opposition known here, and find talking points from Earthjustice here. 📝
HELPING PRO-IMMIGRANT STORIES GET TOLD
We have allowed the right to control the narrative on immigration and the border for too long, and it has shaped our politics and our society for the worse. As part of their advocacy, our friends at the National Immigration Law Center are trying to change that. Their Freedom to Thrive podcast is about powering pro-immigrant stories. Hosted by Hector Flores of Las Cafeteras, they speak with immigrants, artists, activists, and changemakers to share perspectives often missing from the national conversation, and explore how we can build a society where everyone has the freedom to thrive, no matter their background. Now they’ve been nominated for a Webby Award! 👂🏼We can help them win it by listening in here and voting for them here. 👂🏽
👀 KEEPING AN EYE ON… 👀
NEWS: We beat Turning Point USA! Clean energy slate wins majority on Arizona utility board
We’re now just THREE WEEKS AWAY from the May Day shutdown - commit to joining, find events near us, and convince more people to be part of it
Join the national organizing call to De-ICE Citizens Bank April 16th at 7PM ET ahead of an April 23rd protest at their shareholders meeting
Sexual predator Tony Gonzales cannot remain in Congress, tell MoCs to work for his removal
ICE is seeking to lease co-working office space in more than 100 communities nationwide - let’s see if it includes us and push owners and their agents not to sign any contracts
Public Citizen identifies 446 hospitals at risk thanks to the MAGA murder budget, let’s make sure folks in our community know we’re in danger and who’s to blame
Looking for ways to get engaged in the midterms? Here’s a full list! And here’s some ways to help with the spring elections!
As an Arizona resident, I know the importance of protecting our forests. Trees matter, for countless reasons.