The Landscape

What the heck is Utah up to now that it’s land grab lawsuit has been snubbed by the Supreme Court and Senator Mike Lee has made public land sell-off untouchable in Congress? Kate and Aaron put that question to John Ruple, a Professor of Law and Stegner Center Fellow at the University of Utah, and Steve Bloch, legal director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. News We’re going on tour! Join us for live podcast tapings in Denver, Salt Lake City, and Grand Junction – Keep Parks Public Texas buys land for new state parks that will be developed using $1 billion voter-approved fund – Texas Tribune Judge dismisses case aimed at stopping Utah from reviving its public land lawsuit – Utah News Dispatch Resources Public lands are not “enclaves” and other errors in the report to Utah’s Legislative Commission on Federalism – S.J. Quinney College of Law American Lands Council filing in support of Utah’s land grab lawsuit Tell us why you love public lands and want them protected! – Keep Parks Public Follow @keepparkspublic on Instagram Email us at podcast@westernpriorities.org Credits Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss  Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Red rock formations on the Cedar Creek Canyon Road in Utah; Source: Murray Foubister/Wikimedia Commons  The post What’s next for Utah after SCOTUS snub and Mike Lee flame out? appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron interview author Barret Baumgart about his new book Yuck: The Birth and Death of the Weird and Wondrous Joshua Tree. Baumgart became obsessed with Joshua trees during the pandemic and ended up uncovering some interesting facts and stories about them. News Trump admin to ink deals with states for forest management – E&E News The Forest Service Claims It’s Fully Staffed for a Worsening Fire Season. Data Shows Thousands of Unfilled Jobs. – ProPublica As US wildfires rage, Trump staff cuts force firefighters to clean toilets, critics say – Reuters DOE picks 4 sites to build data centers on federal land – E&E News How Native Homes in New Mexico Are Tapping the Sun – New York Times Resources Email us at podcast@westernpriorities.org Keep Parks Public summer roadtrip  Episode transcript (coming soon) Credits Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss  Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK; NPS/Wikimedia Commons The post The strange and mysterious history of the Joshua tree appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron talk to Steve Ellis, a 38-year veteran of both the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management and current chair of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees, about what the Trump administration is doing, and trying to do, to the Forest Service, and what that means for everything from logging to wildfires. News How Congress and Trump are working together to drill, log, and mine virtually all public lands – Westwise Mass layoffs can move forward, with devastating impacts for conservation and science – High Country News Resources Email us at podcast@westernpriorities.org Episode transcript (coming soon) Credits Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss  Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Oregon Mt. Hood National Forest Trillium Lake; USFS/Flickr The post Former Forest Service leader on how Trump is hollowing out the agency appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron talk to writer, photographer, and adventurer Josh Jackson about his new book, The Enduring Wild, which beautifully captures the variety and vastness of California’s public lands—with a particular focus on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Josh is also the man behind the @forgottenlandsproject Instagram account, which he uses to share photos and stories of “forgotten” BLM lands in California, and soon, Nevada. Kate and Aaron also break down the public land sell-off and Roadless Rule repeal news. News 5 House Republicans declare red line on megabill land sales – Politico Mike Lee Flails As His Public Land Sale Triggers Firestorm – Public Domain Trump to rescind ‘Roadless Rule’ protecting 58 million acres of forest land – NPR Resources Subscribe to the Forgotten Lands Project newsletter  Buy The Enduring Wild book Follow The Forgotten Lands Project on Instagram Follow Keep Parks Public on Instagram Sign up for email updates about our summer tour  Episode transcript Credits Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss  Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Carrizo Plain National Monument; Credit @forgottenlandsproject The post How do we protect BLM lands? We tell their stories appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron talk to experts at the National Parks Conservation Association about illegal mining inside of Mojave National Preserve and a recent uptick in mining claims on public lands, including those near national parks. News 250+ million acres of public lands eligible for sale in SENR budget reconciliation package – The Wilderness Society From ski resorts to popular trails, see the public land Mike Lee proposes selling across the West – Salt Lake Tribune New report finds over 2,700 oil and gas-related spills occurred in West’s top oil-producing states in 2024 – Center for Western Priorities Resources The New Land Rush: Mining Claims Encroaching on National Parks – National Parks Conservation Association Episode transcript (to come) Credits Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss  Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Mojave National Preserve; Jeff Hollett/Flickr The post Mining companies are knocking at the doors of our national parks appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Trump’s Department of Justice just released an opinion stating that the Antiquities Act gives presidents the power to shrink or eliminate national monuments at will. But what does that mean, for example, if Trump tries to undo Chuckwalla National Monument or shrink Bears Ears? Will this DOJ opinion stand up in court? We put those questions and more to John Leshy, professor at UC Law and former Solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior under President Clinton.  News DOJ finds Trump can abolish areas protected as national monuments – Washington Post Resources Episode transcript  Credits Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss  Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Bears Ears National Monument – Indian Creek; Photo by Bob Wick, BLM The post The DOJ just told Trump he can eliminate monuments. Now what? appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron talk to Tracy Stone-Manning, former director of the Bureau of Land Management and current president of the Wilderness Society. Tracy tells us what it was like to inherit an agency that was decimated by the first Trump administration and what she’s worried about this time around—but also, what’s giving her hope for America’s public lands. We also cover the news that a provision to sell-off hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in Utah and Nevada has been stripped from the budget reconciliation package. News Maloy’s public land sell-off struck from Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ – Salt Lake Tribune House GOP Passes Budget Dismantling Public Land Protections, But Stops Short Of Sell-Off – Public Domain The Wilderness Society selects new president to lead conservation efforts Resources Follow CWP on Bluesky Episode transcript Credits Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss  Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Courtesy TWS   The post Tracy Stone-Manning on the biggest threats to public lands right now appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron talk to Kurt Repanshek, founder and editor of National Parks Traveler, about President Donald Trump’s proposed funding cuts to the National Park System as well as how staffing cuts imposed by Elon Musk’s DOGE are affecting the Park Service. News In the dead of night, House committee votes to sell off public lands – Center for Western Priorities Zinke wants public land sales out of Republican megabill – E&E News Nevadans distance themselves from Nevada rep’s attempt to sell public lands – Center for Western Priorities Resources National Parks Traveler Podcast Subscribe to Look West Episode transcript (to come) Credits Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss  Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: U.S. Dept of State/Flickr   The post How are the national parks holding up against DOGE and Trump’s attacks? appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron speak with Len Necefer, CEO & Founder of NativesOutdoors, a native owned outdoor media, apparel and consulting company. You may also know him as the man behind the Sonoran Avalanche Center Instagram account. Len talks about his latest project, a documentary film about the Colorado River basin titled The American Southwest, and how he’s advocating for public lands under the second Trump administration. Follow NativesOutdoors and Fin & Fur Films on Instagram for updates on the 2025 theatrical release of The American Southwest. News STATEMENT: White House proposes disposing of national park sites, national forests, and giving DOGE control over fighting wildfires – Center for Western Priorities Resources Subscribe to Look West Episode transcript Email us at podcast@westernpriorities.org Credits Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss  Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: The Upper Colorado River; Source: BLM/Flickr The post New nature doc frames the Colorado River as an opportunity, not a crisis appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron nerd out with John Ruple, public lands professor at the University of Utah and a former member of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) about recent changes to how the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is being implemented across federal agencies, like the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service. News Trump’s new goal: Revive a major climate pollutant that power markets have turned against – Politico Trump administration rolls back forest protections in bid to ramp up logging – Associated Press Trump nominee for public lands post withdraws after her criticism of Jan. 6 attack surfaces – Associated Press Federal judge orders immediate thaw of climate, infrastructure funds – Politico Resources Subscribe to Look West Episode transcript (to come) Email us at podcast@westernpriorities.org Credits Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss  Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Logging in national forest; USFS The post How the White House is making federal permitting less efficient appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.