The Landscape

Kate and Aaron are joined by Tim Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, and Mitch Flanigan, a former ranger at Denali National Park, to talk about recent firings across Interior department agencies, including the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Managment, as well as at the U.S. Forest Service. Prior […] The post Layoffs at Interior are causing chaos and heartbreak appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Aaron and Kate are joined by Mark Squillace, natural resources law professor at the University of Colorado Law School. Professor Squillace provided legal counsel to the Interior Department under President Bill Clinton and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, and he’s a two-time veteran of this podcast. Today, we discuss the legality of President Trump’s executive orders […] The post Can President Trump even do that? Public lands edition appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Drew McConville, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and an expert on public lands and energy, joins the conversation to unpack the immediate impacts of Trump's executive orders on the environment. He discusses the prioritization of fossil fuels over conservation, especially in relation to Alaska's ecosystems. The implications for indigenous communities and wildlife protections are alarming. Additionally, the episode highlights the potential dangers of rolling back environmental regulations and the complexities of nuclear waste management in local communities.

Lauren Bogard and Sterling Homard from the Center for Western Priorities dive into President Biden's conservation record, shedding light on his noteworthy achievements in public land protection. They discuss the implications of Doug Burgum's nomination as Interior Secretary, alongside legislative threats to the Antiquities Act. The duo highlights Biden's proactive initiatives, including new national monuments and advancements in renewable energy on public lands. They also explore public sentiment against changes to national monument designations and reflect on the future of conservation amidst political challenges.

In this discussion, Alan Zibel, a research director at Public Citizen specializing in energy and environmental issues, delves into the implications of Trump's 'energy dominance' agenda for public lands. He highlights the U.S. as a leader in natural gas exports and critiques the environmental consequences of excess production. Zibel explores the political ties between energy policies and industry interests, raising questions about the motivations behind them. Additionally, he addresses Biden's new conservation efforts and the ongoing controversies surrounding energy regulation.

In this insightful discussion, Chris Clarke, host of the 90 Miles from Needles podcast and a dedicated environmental journalist, dives into the controversial Cadiz pipeline project. He reveals how this water mining initiative threatens the Mojave Desert’s delicate ecosystem and scrutinizes the complex history of the project since the 1980s. Clarke also discusses the ecological and cultural stakes of aquifer depletion, stressing the urgent need for conservation efforts and the impact on indigenous communities.

In this special episode of The Landscape, Kate visits the Dolores River Canyon Country in southwest Colorado, along with CWP’s Lauren Bogard and Sterling Homard, to meet with folks who support protecting this special region. The Dolores River’s riparian zone contains the largest and most biodiverse stretch of unprotected public lands in Colorado. Advocates are […] The post Special episode: Inside the Dolores River Canyons appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Jennifer Rokala, Executive Director of the Center for Western Priorities, and Curtis Hubbard, a seasoned political consultant from Colorado, dive into the implications of the recent election results on public lands. They discuss the threatening tides of fossil fuel policies and Project 2025's potential overhaul of public land management. The duo emphasizes the importance of community involvement in conservation, navigating political challenges, and the risks of unqualified oversight. Tune in for insights on how these political shifts could transform America's treasured landscapes!

Sanjay Narayan, managing attorney at the Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program, delves into the lawsuit challenging the Uinta Basin oil train project. He discusses the case's implications for the National Environmental Policy Act and how it could reshape environmental regulation. Narayan highlights the balance between environmental concerns and energy demands, local health impacts, and the potential legal chaos if NEPA is weakened. The conversation also touches on the shifting political landscape and its influence on environmental governance.

Kate and Aaron are joined by Dr. Dominick DellaSala, Chief Scientist at Wild Heritage, a project of the Earth Island Institute. Dr. DellaSala came on The Landscape twice last year to talk about the Biden administration’s plans to protect mature and old growth forests. He recently wrote an op-ed for the Seattle Times in which […] The post What Biden can do for America’s forests before he leaves office appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.