STORIES TO READ 8-2-25

It's Saturday, and another great day to read, share and support independent and nonprofit media. Journalism from uncompromised media outlets is more important than ever. The stories I share here will sometimes be behind whatever paywall that organization uses. Quality journalism costs money, and sites that don't run ads or take corporate dollars need support. If possible, please donate or subscribe to the organizations that speak to you and bring value to your media diet.

Thank you. OK, let's read some stuff.

Interior Order Chokes Off Permits for Solar and Wind on Federal Lands (Heatmap) – Jael Holzman reports on President Trump's Interior Department saying it may no longer issue any permits to a solar or wind project on federal lands unless the agency believes it will generate as much energy per acre as a coal, gas, or nuclear power plant. To put it mildly, this is a big damn deal.

Life and Death in a Texas Homeless Camp (Texas Observer) – This 2021 piece is still a relevant and sobering read in 2025. As the unhoused population grows, cities like Austin are turning to legalized camps, where community and calamity collide. Reporter Gus Bova humanizes his subjects in a way that should be the gold standard for reporting on people on the fringes of society.

Gaza’s cash crisis is another painful reminder of how powerless we’ve become (Prism) – Israel decimated the banking system in Gaza, leading “cash brokers” to charge exorbitant fees to access banknotes, making it harder to live and buy food during the famine. This story is written by Mariam Mushtaha, a student at the Islamic University of Gaza, which was bombed and had many of its buildings destroyed in 2023.

All-female ‘Forest Corps’ fills federal agency gaps for Wyoming trail projects (Wyofile) – Reporter Katie Klingsporn writes about a Bridger-Teton National Forest nonprofit that created a team of former federal staffers in the wake of DOGE cuts to assist depleted Forest Service field crews. The five-person crew has "cleared more than 250 downed trees across 20 miles of trail."

AI Bunnies on Trampoline Causing Crisis of Confidence on TikTok (404 Media) – I absolutely love 404 Media. Their tone, style and approach to tech journalism feels so real and fresh. They are also really transparent about their process and the difficulties in being a handful of staff running a news organization. This story, about people failing to identify a video of adorable bunnies as AI slop, is a good example of taking something that on its surface doesn't seem that concerning, and peeling back why it matters with intelligence and humor.

So there you have it. Have a good day. See you next time.