Cameron Hanes - Keep Hammering Collective KHC 160 - Benji Backer
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Dec 2, 2025 Benji Backer, founder of the American Conservation Coalition, dives deep into the intersection of politics and environment. He shares his experiences with political toxicity, including receiving death threats while advocating for bipartisan support of public lands. Backer emphasizes the importance of reconnecting people to nature for mental health and community well-being. He champions a new conservation corps and the idea that nature transcends political divides, urging a pragmatic approach to conservation that prioritizes actions over labels.
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Judge Leaders By Outcomes
- Hold politicians accountable for actions, not performative social media stunts.
- Reward leaders who deliver outcomes instead of those who chase clicks and drama.
Bipartisan Stewardship Caucus Launched
- Benji helped start a bipartisan Senate stewardship caucus with four Republicans and four Democrats during a shutdown.
- The caucus aims to advance lasting conservation policies across public and private lands.
Special Interests Stall Solutions
- Special interests and tech companies now hold outsized political influence that blocks policy fixes.
- Benji calls this the counterculture: voters wanting leaders who 'get shit done' over serving special interests.
