Chris D’Angelo
@chrisdangelo.bsky.social
co-founder/ink-slinger at publicdomain.media / fomerly HuffPost / fan of trout, wood grain & Blues hockey / chrismdangelo.com / Signal: cmdangelo.33
Pinned
Public Domain | Chris D'Angelo | Substack
Investigative reporting on public lands, wildlife and government. Click to read Public Domain, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
www.publicdomain.media
🚨🚨🚨really excited to introduce Public Domain — an investigative, independent newsdesk I've launched w/ @jamesctobias.bsky.social & Roque Planas
we will be digging deep into enviro agencies and the public lands, wildlife and natural resources they manage
join us!
www.publicdomain.media
we will be digging deep into enviro agencies and the public lands, wildlife and natural resources they manage
join us!
www.publicdomain.media
how members of the newly formed bipartisan House Public Lands Caucus voted on yesterday’s resolution to lift the 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters...
11 Republicans: Yay
11 Democrats: Nay
open.substack.com/pub/chrisdan...
11 Republicans: Yay
11 Democrats: Nay
open.substack.com/pub/chrisdan...
House Public Lands Caucus Fails Test With Boundary Waters Vote
Partisanship trumped common ground on conservation in the long-simmering fight over a proposed mine in northern Minnesota.
open.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:12 PM
how members of the newly formed bipartisan House Public Lands Caucus voted on yesterday’s resolution to lift the 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters...
11 Republicans: Yay
11 Democrats: Nay
open.substack.com/pub/chrisdan...
11 Republicans: Yay
11 Democrats: Nay
open.substack.com/pub/chrisdan...
Reposted by Chris D’Angelo
Why does Steve Pearce own up to $2 million in gold bars and coins? www.publicdomain.media/p/trump-blm-... via @chrisdangelo.bsky.social
Docs Detail Trump BLM Nominee’s Vast Wealth, Financial Entanglements
Last year, Steve Pearce raked in up to $1.1 million off of frac tank leases and water sales — to whom remains unclear.
www.publicdomain.media
January 15, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Why does Steve Pearce own up to $2 million in gold bars and coins? www.publicdomain.media/p/trump-blm-... via @chrisdangelo.bsky.social
PERC, the Montana-based property rights and "free market environmentalism" nonprofit w/ a history of advocating for privatizing America’s federal lands and rolling back environmental laws, will be the primary beneficiary of the 2026 "conservation-focused" Wildlands event
January 13, 2026 at 2:49 PM
PERC, the Montana-based property rights and "free market environmentalism" nonprofit w/ a history of advocating for privatizing America’s federal lands and rolling back environmental laws, will be the primary beneficiary of the 2026 "conservation-focused" Wildlands event
one important point on the Karen Budd-Falen/Thacker Pass scandal...
it's not just that her family struck a lucrative deal to sell water to the mine
the relationship is ongoing...the mine is relying on the Budd-Falen ranch to monitor for drawdown impacts
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
it's not just that her family struck a lucrative deal to sell water to the mine
the relationship is ongoing...the mine is relying on the Budd-Falen ranch to monitor for drawdown impacts
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
January 8, 2026 at 6:33 PM
one important point on the Karen Budd-Falen/Thacker Pass scandal...
it's not just that her family struck a lucrative deal to sell water to the mine
the relationship is ongoing...the mine is relying on the Budd-Falen ranch to monitor for drawdown impacts
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
it's not just that her family struck a lucrative deal to sell water to the mine
the relationship is ongoing...the mine is relying on the Budd-Falen ranch to monitor for drawdown impacts
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
thank you @maddow.bsky.social for highlighting our reporting on this!
readers: subscribe to Public Domain and support our work at publicdomain.media
readers: subscribe to Public Domain and support our work at publicdomain.media
January 7, 2026 at 4:45 PM
thank you @maddow.bsky.social for highlighting our reporting on this!
readers: subscribe to Public Domain and support our work at publicdomain.media
readers: subscribe to Public Domain and support our work at publicdomain.media
our little"blog" (as Trump's Interior loves to call us) — a “blog” that recently blew the door open on Interior official Karen Budd-Falen’s financial ties to a massive lithium mine on federal land in Nevada — has sued the Trump Interior Dept …
…again
www.publicdomain.media/p/public-dom...
…again
www.publicdomain.media/p/public-dom...
Public Domain Sues Trump Administration Again
Plus, our investigation cited in NYT and featured on Rachel Maddow.
www.publicdomain.media
January 7, 2026 at 3:09 PM
our little"blog" (as Trump's Interior loves to call us) — a “blog” that recently blew the door open on Interior official Karen Budd-Falen’s financial ties to a massive lithium mine on federal land in Nevada — has sued the Trump Interior Dept …
…again
www.publicdomain.media/p/public-dom...
…again
www.publicdomain.media/p/public-dom...
link to our report from last month below
if you’re able, consider a paid subscription so we can keep doing this important work
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
if you’re able, consider a paid subscription so we can keep doing this important work
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
January 6, 2026 at 2:42 PM
link to our report from last month below
if you’re able, consider a paid subscription so we can keep doing this important work
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
if you’re able, consider a paid subscription so we can keep doing this important work
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
audio of Maddow’s show below…first segment highlights our “explosive reporting” (her words) on Trump Interior official's financial ties to massive lithium mine
“If there’s a public corruption child’s picture book, this is the kind of story that would be pictured."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgIW...
“If there’s a public corruption child’s picture book, this is the kind of story that would be pictured."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgIW...
January 6, 2026 at 2:41 PM
audio of Maddow’s show below…first segment highlights our “explosive reporting” (her words) on Trump Interior official's financial ties to massive lithium mine
“If there’s a public corruption child’s picture book, this is the kind of story that would be pictured."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgIW...
“If there’s a public corruption child’s picture book, this is the kind of story that would be pictured."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgIW...
my colleague @jamesctobias.bsky.social and I first reported this in our newsletter Public Domain three weeks ago
link here: www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
link here: www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
January 5, 2026 at 6:09 PM
my colleague @jamesctobias.bsky.social and I first reported this in our newsletter Public Domain three weeks ago
link here: www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
link here: www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
Reposted by Chris D’Angelo
Public Domain, an environmental news outlet, earlier reported some of the details of Mr. Falen’s financial relationship with Thacker Pass
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
SCOOP: A Top Trump Official Has Financial Ties To Controversial Nevada Lithium Project
Karen Budd-Falen’s family ranching operation agreed to sell water rights to the company developing the Thacker Pass lithium mine.
www.publicdomain.media
January 3, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Public Domain, an environmental news outlet, earlier reported some of the details of Mr. Falen’s financial relationship with Thacker Pass
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
Reposted by Chris D’Angelo
Top Trump Official Has Financial Ties To Controversial
#Nevada #Lithium Mine
@jamesctobias.bsky.social and @chrisdangelo.bsky.social
report for Public Domain
#news #environment
EJ Today Headlines: sej.org/headlines/list
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
#Nevada #Lithium Mine
@jamesctobias.bsky.social and @chrisdangelo.bsky.social
report for Public Domain
#news #environment
EJ Today Headlines: sej.org/headlines/list
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
SCOOP: A Top Trump Official Has Financial Ties To Controversial Nevada Lithium Project
Karen Budd-Falen’s family ranching operation agreed to sell water rights to the company developing the Thacker Pass lithium mine.
www.publicdomain.media
December 12, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Top Trump Official Has Financial Ties To Controversial
#Nevada #Lithium Mine
@jamesctobias.bsky.social and @chrisdangelo.bsky.social
report for Public Domain
#news #environment
EJ Today Headlines: sej.org/headlines/list
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
#Nevada #Lithium Mine
@jamesctobias.bsky.social and @chrisdangelo.bsky.social
report for Public Domain
#news #environment
EJ Today Headlines: sej.org/headlines/list
www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd...
Reposted by Chris D’Angelo
Top Interior Department official Karen Budd-Falen has financial ties to the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada, of which the American people are now partial owners thanks to the Trump administration: www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd... via @jamesctobias.bsky.social @chrisdangelo.bsky.social
SCOOP: A Top Trump Official Has Financial Ties To Controversial Nevada Lithium Project
Karen Budd-Falen’s family ranching operation agreed to sell water rights to the company developing the Thacker Pass lithium mine.
www.publicdomain.media
December 12, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Top Interior Department official Karen Budd-Falen has financial ties to the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada, of which the American people are now partial owners thanks to the Trump administration: www.publicdomain.media/p/karen-budd... via @jamesctobias.bsky.social @chrisdangelo.bsky.social
NEW: House Dems request Interior IG investigate BOEM acting director Matt Giacona for potential ethics violations, citing Public Domain’s exposé in June that detailed his work on policy matters that were previously the focus of his oil lobbying career.
www.publicdomain.media/p/lawmakers-...
www.publicdomain.media/p/lawmakers-...
Lawmakers Seek Ethics Probe Into Top Offshore Oil Regulator
Citing a Public Domain exposé, House Democrats ask Interior’s watchdog to investigate potential ethics violations by acting BOEM director Matt Giacona
www.publicdomain.media
October 9, 2025 at 4:08 PM
NEW: House Dems request Interior IG investigate BOEM acting director Matt Giacona for potential ethics violations, citing Public Domain’s exposé in June that detailed his work on policy matters that were previously the focus of his oil lobbying career.
www.publicdomain.media/p/lawmakers-...
www.publicdomain.media/p/lawmakers-...
Reposted by Chris D’Angelo
Wildfires aren’t just getting bigger. They’re getting massively more expensive.
A new study shows the most destructive fires are happening more often, fueled by climate change, urban sprawl, and decades of fire suppression.
@umairfan.bsky.social for @vox.com: www.vox.com/climate/4635...
A new study shows the most destructive fires are happening more often, fueled by climate change, urban sprawl, and decades of fire suppression.
@umairfan.bsky.social for @vox.com: www.vox.com/climate/4635...
The surging price tag of wildfires, in one chart
Wildfires are getting worse — and a lot more expensive for the rest of us.
www.vox.com
October 2, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Wildfires aren’t just getting bigger. They’re getting massively more expensive.
A new study shows the most destructive fires are happening more often, fueled by climate change, urban sprawl, and decades of fire suppression.
@umairfan.bsky.social for @vox.com: www.vox.com/climate/4635...
A new study shows the most destructive fires are happening more often, fueled by climate change, urban sprawl, and decades of fire suppression.
@umairfan.bsky.social for @vox.com: www.vox.com/climate/4635...
House Dems are demanding DOI turn over DOGE operative Hassen's financial/ethics docs
Docs that Public Domain obtained raise Qs about whether or when Hassen divested of energy-related holdings
Hassen was replaced in his role while we were reporting this story
www.publicdomain.media/p/tyler-hass...
Docs that Public Domain obtained raise Qs about whether or when Hassen divested of energy-related holdings
Hassen was replaced in his role while we were reporting this story
www.publicdomain.media/p/tyler-hass...
Democratic Lawmakers Demand Interior DOGE Leader’s Financial, Ethics Docs
Documents obtained by Public Domain raise ethics questions about former oil executive Tyler Hassen's investments.
www.publicdomain.media
September 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM
House Dems are demanding DOI turn over DOGE operative Hassen's financial/ethics docs
Docs that Public Domain obtained raise Qs about whether or when Hassen divested of energy-related holdings
Hassen was replaced in his role while we were reporting this story
www.publicdomain.media/p/tyler-hass...
Docs that Public Domain obtained raise Qs about whether or when Hassen divested of energy-related holdings
Hassen was replaced in his role while we were reporting this story
www.publicdomain.media/p/tyler-hass...
scoop from @jamesctobias.bsky.social: Internal docs obtained by Public Domain show that the federal government did not conduct an ESA or NEPA review for the Florida migrant detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz”
www.publicdomain.media/p/scoop-alli...
www.publicdomain.media/p/scoop-alli...
Feds Failed To Conduct Environmental Review Of 'Alligator Alcatraz', Internal Documents Show
The controversial migrant detention facility in Florida is being sued for violating federal environmental protections and harming endangered species
www.publicdomain.media
August 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
scoop from @jamesctobias.bsky.social: Internal docs obtained by Public Domain show that the federal government did not conduct an ESA or NEPA review for the Florida migrant detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz”
www.publicdomain.media/p/scoop-alli...
www.publicdomain.media/p/scoop-alli...
The Trump administration said it will go hunting for cases of wind energy companies unintentionally killing migratory birds — something it has long argued is not a violation of federal law.
www.publicdomain.media/p/trump-admi...
www.publicdomain.media/p/trump-admi...
The Trump Team’s Incoherence On Migratory Bird Rules
The administration said it will go hunting for cases of wind energy companies unintentionally killing migratory birds — something it has long argued is not a violation of federal law.
www.publicdomain.media
August 7, 2025 at 12:29 PM
The Trump administration said it will go hunting for cases of wind energy companies unintentionally killing migratory birds — something it has long argued is not a violation of federal law.
www.publicdomain.media/p/trump-admi...
www.publicdomain.media/p/trump-admi...
NEW: Republican-backed wolf-culling campaigns may wind up triggering federal protections again.
www.publicdomain.media/p/gray-wolf-...
www.publicdomain.media/p/gray-wolf-...
Denial Of Gray Wolf Protections Violated Endangered Species Act, Judge Rules
Republican-backed wolf-culling campaigns may wind up triggering federal protections again.
www.publicdomain.media
August 6, 2025 at 5:44 PM
NEW: Republican-backed wolf-culling campaigns may wind up triggering federal protections again.
www.publicdomain.media/p/gray-wolf-...
www.publicdomain.media/p/gray-wolf-...
excited for this one! tune in at 10 am!
10 am Eastern join me LIVE with questions for journalists running the Public Domain Substack on threats to public lands and the agencies tasked with managing them for all Americians.
Viewing links (no signup): revkin.substack.com/p/live-today...
Viewing links (no signup): revkin.substack.com/p/live-today...
July 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM
excited for this one! tune in at 10 am!
"Not one acre" became a rallying cry against Utah Sen. Mike Lee's attempt to sell off millions of acres of public land for housing development.
The Trump admin has a similar proposal, with ~400k on the chopping block.
Will 'not one acre' carry over?
www.publicdomain.media/p/trump-team...
The Trump admin has a similar proposal, with ~400k on the chopping block.
Will 'not one acre' carry over?
www.publicdomain.media/p/trump-team...
The Trump Team Is Still Eyeing Hundreds Of Thousands Acres Of Public Land For Housing
Will the administration’s ongoing push to open federal lands for housing development face the same public backlash that Sen. Mike Lee triggered?
www.publicdomain.media
July 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
"Not one acre" became a rallying cry against Utah Sen. Mike Lee's attempt to sell off millions of acres of public land for housing development.
The Trump admin has a similar proposal, with ~400k on the chopping block.
Will 'not one acre' carry over?
www.publicdomain.media/p/trump-team...
The Trump admin has a similar proposal, with ~400k on the chopping block.
Will 'not one acre' carry over?
www.publicdomain.media/p/trump-team...
Reposted by Chris D’Angelo
“We’re like blasting our nose off our face" Maine and the OBBA from @chrisdangelo.bsky.social themainemonitor.bluelena.io/index.php?ac...
‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ is bad news for Maine clean energy
+ more Maine environmental...
themainemonitor.bluelena.io
July 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
“We’re like blasting our nose off our face" Maine and the OBBA from @chrisdangelo.bsky.social themainemonitor.bluelena.io/index.php?ac...
Reposted by Chris D’Angelo
Renewables and storage come to rescue in New England heat wave www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
A heat wave hit New England's grid. Clean energy saved the day.
On the hottest day this year, behind-the-meter solar panels and a growing network of batteries helped prevent blackouts and saved consumers millions of…
www.canarymedia.com
July 8, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Renewables and storage come to rescue in New England heat wave www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
Aubrie Spady, who covered Interior chief Doug Burgum as a reporter at Fox News, was recently hired as Burgum's deputy press secretary.
Her father is a longtime conservative operative with close ties to the MAGA world.
www.publicdomain.media/p/aubrie-spa...
Her father is a longtime conservative operative with close ties to the MAGA world.
www.publicdomain.media/p/aubrie-spa...
She Covered Trump’s Interior Chief At Fox News. Now She’s His Flack.
Aubrie Spady was recently hired as Interior’s deputy press secretary. Her father is a longtime conservative operative with close ties to the MAGA world.
www.publicdomain.media
July 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Aubrie Spady, who covered Interior chief Doug Burgum as a reporter at Fox News, was recently hired as Burgum's deputy press secretary.
Her father is a longtime conservative operative with close ties to the MAGA world.
www.publicdomain.media/p/aubrie-spa...
Her father is a longtime conservative operative with close ties to the MAGA world.
www.publicdomain.media/p/aubrie-spa...
“listening”, round 4
BREAKING: Sen. Mike Lee is STILL trying to sell off public land. He just released a FOURTH version of his reconciliation language, and it keeps getting worse. It doesn't look like this version has been reviewed by the parliamentarian, but he's still trying.
🧵:
www.energy.senate.gov/services/fil...
🧵:
www.energy.senate.gov/services/fil...
June 28, 2025 at 7:59 AM
“listening”, round 4