
Ep. 35: How the Endangered Species Act Saved the West and America
From Gunfighters by MeatEater
June 30, 2026 · 56 min · Season 1
About this episode
This episode discusses the significance of the Endangered Species Act and its impact on American culture and politics.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of America’s most famous laws and contributions to world culture, yet half-a-century after its passage it has become yet another political lightning rod. But if you value having Thoreau’s “entire Earth,” the ESA is one of America’s best ideas. Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts. YouTube , Spotify , Apple , iHeart , Pandora , Amazon . MeatEater on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , Youtube , and Youtube Clips Check out more MeatEater's American History audio originals " The Long Hunters " and " Mountain Men " Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Topics covered
- Endangered Species Act
- politics
- environmental law
- American history
- wildlife conservation
Keywords
- Endangered Species Act
- 1973
- Thoreau
- environment
- conservation
- political issues
- wildlife
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Endangered Species Act
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