The Landscape

Producers Lauren Bogard and Lilly Bock-Brownstein are joined by Timothy Ingalsbee of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology (FUSEE). Timothy explains why the Trump administration’s rushed reorganization of federal firefighting is so risky, what it means for the firefighters already heading into a dangerous season short-staffed, and why he sees the whole effort as less like reform and more like sabotage. In the news this week, the Senate voted to open the Boundary Waters to copper mining, and emails show Secretary Doug Burgum secretly helped craft talking points for Senator Mike Lee’s land sell-off bill. Plus, some big news from Aaron and the CWP team! News Senate Votes to Allow Mining Near Minnesota WildernessTrump’s Interior Dept. Crafted Talking Points For Mike Lee’s Public Land Sell-Off SchemeLeadership shuffle at Western conservation group Resources Fire Consolidation as Creative Destruction? Trump’s Proposed U.S. Wildland Fire ServiceWatch this episode on YouTube Produced by Aaron Weiss, Lauren Bogard, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Steve Segin, USFWS The post The dangerous rush to consolidate America’s wildfire response appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In this week’s episode, Aaron is joined by guest co-host Lauren Bogard for a conversation with Jonathon Klein, editor-in-chief of RideApart, an online news source for the motorized vehicle community. Jonathon makes the case that the OHV and powersports community has more at stake in the public lands fight than many of its members realize. He argues that the current moment is a rare opportunity for outdoor recreation communities to unite. Also this week: The Trump administration moves to relocate the Forest Service to Salt Lake City and the “God squad” votes to strip Endangered Species Act protections from Gulf of Mexico oil drilling. Plus, good news?! News US Forest Service to move headquarters from Washington DC to Salt Lake CityIn Sweeping ESA Rollback, Doug Burgum and Pete Hegseth Play GodBLM: About 3,000 acres immediately open to public after Dominguez-Escalante add-onThis ‘fairyland’ bog is a beacon for winter birders – and a sponge for the climateHistoric Front Range ranch near Continental Divide to be preserved as state wildlife habitat Resources Jonathon Klein: The Mojave’s Off-Road Trail Closure Isn’t What The Blue Ribbon Coalition Wants You to Believe It IsWatch this episode on YouTube Produced by Aaron Weiss, Lauren Bogard, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Nick Taylor, Flickr The post What the off-road community stands to lose on public lands appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Aaron is joined by Alan Spears from the National Parks Conservation Association to discuss his recent testimony before Congress about the Trump administration’s efforts to erase difficult histories from national parks and historic sites. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Alan makes the case that telling the full story of our past is patriotic. He warns about the consequences of sanitizing history and explains why telling complex stories strengthens our democracy. Plus, new documents reveal Interior official Karen Budd-Falen may be violating ethics agreements by working on grazing policy despite her family’s extensive ranching operations on public lands. News This Top Interior Official Is Working On Grazing Policy — An Issue She Was Disqualified FromNational parks employees say SFGATE has been blacklisted by the Interior DepartmentHistoric Front Range ranch near Continental Divide to be preserved as state wildlife habitat Resources Watch this episode on YouTube Produced by Aaron Weiss, Lauren Bogard, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: President’s House Site at Independence National Historic Site in Philadelphia, National Park Service The post America’s 250th anniversary and why history matters in our parks appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In this episode, Aaron and Kate are joined by Jesse Chakrin, Executive Director of the Fund for People in Parks. They discuss how his organization supports smaller, overlooked national park sites across the West through philanthropy and partnerships. From multilingual signage to junior ranger programs in American Samoa, Jesse shares how they’re making parks more accessible and welcoming while navigating an increasingly challenging political environment. Plus, oil prices top $100 a barrel as Interior Secretary Doug Burgum becomes the “Where’s Waldo” of the Trump administration. News Trump’s energy ‘tiger team’ struggles to find its roar with IranTrump official rips Americans who care about public land: ‘Financially illiterate’‘Sell-off Steve’ Pearce BLM nomination advances Resources The Fund for People in ParksWatch this episode on YouTube Produced by Aaron Weiss, Kate Groetzinger, Lauren Bogard, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Honouliuli National Historic Site, National Park Service The post Why America’s lesser known national parks matter now more than ever appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In this episode of The Landscape, Aaron and Kate speak with Jim Pattiz of the More Than Just Parks newsletter about public lands news after the first year of the second Trump administration, including Jim and his brother Will’s list of 70 major public-lands setbacks in 2025 and CWP’s assessment of Project 2025. Aaron also covers Steve Pearce’s confirmation hearing to lead the Bureau of Land Management and lawmakers’ concerns about National Park Service censorship and Freedom 250, including a judge’s order to restore Philadelphia displays about enslaved members of George Washington’s household and a leaked database of NPS materials flagged for review. Pattiz discusses short- versus long-term harms such as civil service attacks, logging mandates, land giveaways, and fast-tracked mining, and the group closes with hopes for coalition-building and rebuilding public lands governance. News BLM nominee Steve Pearce waffles on public land sell-offCorruption, censorship take center stage at Freedom 250 hearingConfidential database reveals which items NPS thinks may ‘disparage’ America Produced by Aaron Weiss, Kate Groetzinger, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Interpretive sign at Grand Canyon National Park, Wikimedia Commons The post 2025 was awful for public lands. Is there hope? appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In this episode of The Landscape, Aaron welcomes pollsters Lori Weigel from New Bridge Strategy and Miranda Everitt from FM3 to discuss the 16th annual Colorado College Conservation in the West Poll. The bipartisan polling team breaks down voter attitudes across eight Western states on public lands, conservation priorities, and the Trump administration’s funding cuts and policy rollbacks. The poll reveals consensus across party lines—including among MAGA voters—on protecting public lands, opposing sell-offs, and prioritizing renewable energy over fossil fuel extraction. News Groups sue over Trump effort to ‘erase’ history, science in national parksConcessionaire Nominated To Run National Park ServiceWater worries are top of mind for Arizonans, poll showsOpinion: Senators, reject the Steve Pearce nomination Resources 2026 Conservation in the West PollWatch this episode on YouTube Credits podcast@westernpriorities.orgPurple PlanetDavid Korzillus, BLM The post Unpacking the 2026 Conservation in the West Poll appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In this episode, Kate and Aaron are joined by Professor John Ruple, a public lands law expert at the University of Utah and former attorney at the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), to discuss the Trump administration’s dismantling of the CEQ’s authority over NEPA regulations. He breaks down what the Trump administration means when it claims to have ended NEPA’s “regulatory reign of terror” and why removing uniform environmental review standards creates chaos for public lands. News For $1 Million, Donors to U.S.A. Birthday Group Offered Access to Trump Potential conflicts over celebrating America’s 250th anniversary spill out in congressional hearingConcessionaire Nominated To Run National Park Service Resources Watch this episode on YouTube Credits podcast@westernpriorities.orgPurple PlanetDavid Korzillus, BLM The post What gutting the Council on Environmental Quality means for public lands appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In this episode, Kate and Aaron discuss how Congress is using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn public land management plans, creating chaos and uncertainty for federal lands. Steve Bloch from the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance explains that the CRA, originally designed to review agency rules, is now being weaponized to repeal resource management plans and even national monument plans like Grand Staircase-Escalante, despite these never being treated as “rules” before. News Resources Credits podcast@westernpriorities.orgPurple PlanetGrand Staircase-Escalante, John Fowler The post Weaponizing the Congressional Review Act against America’s public lands appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Aaron and Kate speak with Zachary Fort, president of the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association, about his opposition to Steve Pearce’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Fort, a former Republican and gun rights advocate, explains why hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts are concerned about Pearce’s track record on public lands. He discusses Pearce’s history of sponsoring legislation to sell off national public lands, his prioritization of oil and gas interests over public access, and his divisive leadership of the New Mexico Republican Party. Fort argues that Pearce’s support for transferring public lands to private ownership threatens hunting and shooting opportunities that generations of New Mexicans have relied on. News House Public Lands Caucus Fails Test With Boundary Waters VoteHouse Dems Demand Probe Into Top Interior Official, Citing Public Domain’s ReportingCongress passes environmental funding without Trump’s deep cuts Resources this episode Credits podcast@westernpriorities.orgPurple PlanetFlickr/Gage Skidmore The post Why a New Mexico gun rights leader opposes Trump’s pick to lead the BLM appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron talk to Kelly Mitchell, executive director of oil industry watchdog FieldNotes, about about what Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro’s capture by the US means for oil and gas producers here in the West. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has also been making the rounds on Fox cheering on Trump’s actions in Venezuela and calling on US companies to start drilling there, which we also touch on. News The Trump Administration Approved a Big Lithium Mine. A Top Official’s Husband Profited. Takeaways from Congress’ latest spending package Resources Credits podcast@westernpriorities.orgPurple PlanetRichard Waite, World Resources Institute The post Will Maduro’s capture lead to an American oil rift? appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In this episode of The Landscape, Aaron and Lauren ask veteran wildland firefighter Bobbie Scopa about the state of America’s wildfire response. Bobbie, who is a retired firefighter with the organization Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, shares insights from her five-decade career, exploring how recent federal layoffs and policy changes are impacting fire mitigation, hazardous fuels reduction, and the morale of those on the front lines. This episode delves into the complexities of forest management, the challenges of interagency coordination, and the dedication of those who protect our public lands. News Mike Lee reverses course on controversial national park proposal, but conservation groups say concerns still remainUSDA lost more than 20,000 employees this year, internal watchdog findsMexican wolves are rebounding, but are they ready for delisting? Resources Credits podcast@westernpriorities.orgPurple PlanetNPS photo by Brady Richards The post Burnout and bravery: Fighting fire on America’s public lands appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In this episode of The Landscape, Aaron and Kate talk to Cody Perry, a filmmaker and founder of Rig to Flip, and Professor Mark Squillace, an expert in public lands and environmental law at the University of Colorado, about the ongoing battle to change Colorado’s restrictive stream access laws. The conversation centers around Perry’s documentary “Common Waters,” which follows Prof. Squillace’s efforts to change the law by getting himself arrested. News Public Land Advocates Warn Senate Amendment Could Greenlight Sale of National Parks Resources Watch “Common Waters” previewSalida screening Jan 29Colorado Stream Access Coalition website Credits podcast@westernpriorities.orgPurple PlanetRig to Flip The post Common waters: inside the fight for stream access in Colorado appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

On this episode of the Landscape, Kate and Aaron are joined by filmmaker Annie Ersinghaus, rancher Don Schreiber, and Gail Evans, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, to talk about the impact poorly regulated oil and gas extraction has on New Mexico’s environment. Gail and Don appear in Annie’s new film, The Land of Sacrifice: The Burden of New Mexico’s Oil and Gas Extraction. News Hundreds of Joshua trees were scorched during the shutdownWealthy Ranchers Profit from Public Lands. Taxpayers Pick up the TabSheep Creek mine public meeting draws comments, concerns in Hamilton Resources Watch The Land of Sacrifice: The Burden of New Mexico’s Oil and Gas Extraction Credits podcast@westernpriorities.orgPurple PlanetSkyTruth/Fickr The post The dirty truth about oil and gas drilling in New Mexico appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In this episode of The Landscape, Aaron and Kate discuss the Trump administration’s plan to roll back oil and gas bonding rates designed to protect American taxpayers from the cleanup costs of abandoned wells. The episode features insights from David Jenkins, president of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship. His group recently released a report finding the […] The post Trump bonding rates could cost taxpayers billions appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Join us on The Landscape as we dive into the resurgence of uranium mining in the American West. Hosts Aaron Weiss and Kate Groetzinger speak with Land Desk author and public lands expert Jonathan Thompson about whether the current uranium hype signifies a boom or a bubble. We explore the history of uranium production, the […] The post Uranium boom or bubble? Exploring the future of uranium mining in the West appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Aaron talks to Rep. Jared Huffman, ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, about the government shutdown, whether Adelita Grijalva will ever get sworn in, and what he tells people who ask what’s bringing him hope in this dark time. Produced & hosted by Aaron Weiss (Kate’s back next week) Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org Music: […] The post What the shutdown means for public lands w/ Rep. Jared Huffman appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

This Saturday is National Public Lands Day, and in honor of that, we’re bringing you a special behind the scenes episode about our Keep Parks Public tour featuring the team here at CWP. As many listeners or Look West subscribers may know, the CWP team embarked on a 10-day journey that took us from Denver […] The post How people across the West are fighting to protect public lands appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron talk to former Montana gubernatorial candidate, public lands hunter, and Substack author Ryan Busse about how billionaires are cutting off access to the outdoors in Montana and a whole lot more. We also briefly touch on the news that the Trump administration is repealing the Public Lands Rule and give an update […] The post Ryan Busse on how billionaires are locking up land in Montana appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate hosts a live episode in Grand Junction on CWP’s Keep Parks Public tour! Guests discuss the importance of keeping our parks and monuments staffed and funded. Guests: Ken Mabery, former superintendent of Colorado National Monument, Cole Hanson, Grand Valley Outdoor Recreation Coalition board member and Gear Junction co-owner, Jessy Nuckolls, public lands advocate and […] The post LIVE in Grand Junction: Public land advocates take Trump attacks personally appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate hosts a live episode in Salt Lake City on CWP’s Keep Parks Public tour! Guests: Erika Pollard, National Parks Conservation Association; Davina Smith, Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition and Grand Staircase Escalante Partners; Scott Braden, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance; Doug Tolman, Save Our Canyons. Resources Keep Parks Public: Tell us why you love public lands […] The post LIVE: Utah conservation all-stars on how to Keep Parks Public appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.