Alex Jones investigates Austin's Barton Springs, where federal restrictions now bar public access to the Sunken Gardens and diving zones under the guise of protecting endangered salamanders. He challenges the scientific validity of these claims, citing historical swimming traditions and comparing modern environmentalism to a transnational bank-controlled religion that erodes property rights like feudalism. While park officers enforce rules against stepping on habitats, Jones argues this is a Trojan horse for government overreach, suggesting local authorities should manage structural cracks and homeless issues independently without federal intervention. Ultimately, the segment frames these conservation efforts as an attack on liberty disguised as ecological preservation. [Automatically generated summary]
Due to the salamander's listing as an endangered species, they cannot allow the public to be walking around where they may be apparently harassing or squishing them.
We just got done talking to the head of public relations, Jim Hallbrook, down at...
Austin Parks and Recreation and he told us how they have to save the salamanders so people can't swim down here where they've been swimming for over a hundred years before that where the Indians were swimming.
So let's go on down there and talk to the park police, who I've heard are very friendly people.
Generally if they catch you swimming in an area you're not supposed to be, or if your dog's swimming where it's not supposed to be, and let's find out how the feds are saving us from ourselves. and let's find out how the feds are saving us Enforcing the law.
The last few days, as they construct a fence around the area, a place where people have been swimming for over a hundred years, and before that, the Indians, as we said earlier.
So let's go down and take a look at the area that the EPA's here to keep us safe from ourselves, because we're so evil.
You know, as we walk down here to film this historic area where Austinites have been enjoying nature for a long time, this gentleman out of the clear blue said something that made absolute sense.
As we speak, they're putting in these poles to create a fence around the sunken gardens which were constructed for people's enjoyment.
It's a real shame that we're losing our sovereignty here locally as the country is losing its sovereignty internationally.
And with executive orders and other unconstitutional acts, the executive branch is robbing Americans of their birthright.
You see, if they can restrict you from using your own park lands, what's next?
What else will you accept?
This is insanity.
And make no mistake, it's aimed directly at private property, watering down property rights, right here in the good old U.S. of A. You know, I have trouble even seeing any salamanders in this pool.
I would venture to guess, if I could capture one of these salamanders and go compare it with other stream and river salamanders, that you would find that it's a very common salamander.
But that would be a federal crime.
I would be put in federal prison, as others have been, for what they call endangering endangered species.
We were just talking to a lady and we'll talk to her more in the future and she says that earlier this year she was here swimming with her son and they helped save some fish that are getting caught in a crack over here, kind of like what happens to salmon when they go into dams.
And of course you don't hear...
The EPA trying to fix these fish traps that have been created by the wall falling down here.
No, they're just concerned about getting you used to doing what they say.
So let's go down here and check this out.
Ma'am, is this what you're talking about right here? is this what you're talking about right here?
We're told that there are cracks in the rock here that creates a powerful suction that small fish get stuck in and I'm sure a precious salamander could also get stuck in there.
And we hope that the EPA, they really care about wildlife, will try to check into this, some of the real threats to wildlife.
And not people.
But as you can see, this entire area is being fenced off because they say we are causing a problem.
This is the last time that any human Unless you're an environmentalist priest of the modern age, that Austinites or anyone else will be allowed in this area.
And it's, again, been used for a long time.
people actually built this structure and no longer will it be allowed for public use.
Well, let's go down here and get this and get out of here because I've got to go. - Woo!
This entire area is being restricted to human use.
What's next?
We hear that there may even be plans to restrict the spillway area where you're allowed to bring your dogs.
Take a look at the lush Eden that the federal government and pencil-necked bureaucrats, the type of people that tattled on you in high school and would try to steal your lunch money, Are engaged in.
Showing us who's boss, who controls the situation.
The bureaucrats downtown, the bureaucrats in Washington, not the people of this country.
And the way most Americans behave, we deserve what's happening.
And someday you'll be paying 30 bucks a pop to go in Barton Springs, and there'll be some elitist, cult-like environmental priestess, or priest, who has nothing to do with environment and everything to do with your bank account, making you say some strange incantation.
Governments need religions, and modern environmentalism is that religion.
Of course, it's controlled by a bunch of transnational banks that want to steal your property, but that's a little bit too intellectual for most Americans, so we'll continue to go on and be slaves.
Meanwhile, they'll continue to pillage the third world in the name of environmentalism.
Just give up your private property and all your problems will be solved.
Maybe they're right.
Thanks a lot, man.
unidentified
Take care.
You see this picture?
People pass by my door.
To tell me paradise on earth, it looks with water.
You know, is there always water?
And I don't drink, I don't do drugs, I don't smoke.
And I come here and bring my nine and a half year old, because it's within two miles of our home.
And you see how special this ring is?
It's man-made since the 1930s.
And if you go to the middle of that water, when you sing, you get echoes all around.
There are people playing drums and guitar here every day.
Yeah, my name is Alex Jones and my friends and others and people have been calling me about what area below Barton Springs that they're going to be closing.
I just came down here to find out exactly what the rumors are and what I've been hearing about an area below Barton Springs being closed to the public.
unidentified
There is an area that is salamander habitat at Sunken Gardens.
Which is the concentric stone rings that are downstream from Barton Springs that the Environmental and Conservation Services Department has decided they need to put a fence around to keep litter, debris, and people from intruding upon that salamander habitat.
I heard also that it was to keep some of the vagrants and people from congregating down there at night.
unidentified
That's not true, because obviously we're sitting here with endangered species, and if that was the case, if that was a problem, one, we wouldn't deal with a problem that way.
And you would be seeing fences in other places.
Now the fences there, the reason for the fence is for salamander habitat.
Why then have they not shut down Barton Springs Pool proper if it's salamander habitat, but they're shutting down some smaller springs?
unidentified
They have roped off areas of Barton Springs Pool and restricted and limited, actually restricted, no access to some of the areas.
And those areas, the fissures right next to the diving board.
We'll no longer have any public access to them because the springs are coming up right there, and due to the salamanders listing as an endangered species, they cannot allow the public to be walking around where they may be apparently harassing or squishing them.
I understand that people needed a reason to say Barton Springs.
I've been swimming there since I was a little kid.
But there are salamanders all over the country.
Tens of thousands of different subspecies and variations.
One salamander might have a tail that's a millimeter longer and might have two black spots on its back rather than one.
This is species variation.
You will have, say, some pools in the mountains of Arizona.
Which are spring-fed, where you'll have a type of fish that has a different color spot, and actually that stopped construction and development and actually made people that have lived in Arizona for hundreds of years have had to move out of their property.
Of course, they were paid for it for fish that really can't even mate with other fish, but since they're localized to a specific pool and have a few characteristics that are different, I just have a lot of problems with the so-called science.
Behind this, because I've seen so much corruption, I don't mean you personally, I know you're just a public information officer.
People that mean well go out and find something like the spotted owl, say, because most people don't want to just clear-cut that beautiful timber, destroy our old-growth forest.
So they go and say, well, this is hurting this owl.
And then later they find out that the owl could actually live in barns and many other places.
Species have a lot of...
It's like we have parakeets.
The monk parakeets live right down here, and monk parakeets have never lived in this part.
Of North America, they're in Guatemala and southern Mexico, but because of the climate changes, which are either cyclical or...
I mean, I don't mean to be diatribing, it's just that...
I've heard about the Environmental Protection Agency now trying to actually classify some forms of bacteria as endangered down in the Houston Ship Channel and other areas, and it seems like a Trojan horse.
So, I don't mean to be diatriping.
This probably won't even be on the air.
I'm just trying to get to the point of where you understand where I'm coming from, sir, is that I don't understand why we're allowing more and more of our properties, public lands, to be restricted in the name of things like a salamander.
Do you have any of the Environmental Protection Agency's information about the salamander?
unidentified
That information and the questions that you're really presenting, which are good questions, really need to go to Robert Hanson, who's the endangered species biologist on staff who's dealing with this issue.
I mean, it's just that I heard all about Barton Springs over and over again.
And I heard about how we should do this and we should do that.
And then they said, well, the people in the springs are hurting the salamander.
And if we're really going to be honest about it, we need to shut the springs down.
See, that's not going to happen because people want to use it.
unidentified
And they've been using it for 69 years.
But, again, with the questions about the species and the habitat, I really have to refer you to the Environmental Conservation Services Department because they're who we're getting basically...
Our instruction from to some degree on this as far as what needs to be done.
And we're just trying to keep the pools and places open and operational.
Yeah, it's a matter of people being in the salamander habitat just like they roughed off the areas in Barton Springs as well as other things that come with people.
You know, the trash that gets in there and stuff like that.
So basically, I guess that's all my questions then, Mr. Holbrook.
Look, it just comes down to the Environmental Protection Agency is allowing Barton Springs, in their graciousness, in their splendidness, to keep the parks open.
This should stay open because our medical industry, our government industry, is not dealing with the homeless people on the route.
The ground root level to deal with their blood sugar, to settle their chemistry and blood sugar where the homeless people gather.
It should be people there to deal with their blood sugar and to help them.
And then all the other existing organizations is not helping them to do that.
And this is their last of the oasis here.
Because that's the only thing healing for them to jump in.
Get rid of their alcohol and jump out.
I stay away from them because they might trip on my feet and so forth.
And this place, since the 30s, man-made.
And the salamander was once disturbed already.
And in the winter, my son and I were jumping in this cold water, trying to get the crawfish's claws tight and pull them straight out so we don't yank them.
They were still alive.
I can't imagine how many salamanders got sucked in there.