America’s 250th anniversary and why history matters in our parks

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 From — Public Domain National parks employees say SFGATE has been blacklisted by the Interior Department — SFGATE Historic Front Range ranch near Continental Divide to be preserved as state wildlife habitat — Denver Post Resources Watch this episode on YouTube  Produced by Aaron Weiss, Lauren Bogard, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: [email protected] 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 Iran – Politico Trump official rips Americans who care about public land: ‘Financially illiterate’ – Raw Story ‘Sell-off Steve’ Pearce BLM nomination advances – Center for Western Priorities Resources The Fund for People in Parks Watch this episode on YouTube    Produced by Aaron Weiss, Kate Groetzinger, Lauren Bogard, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: [email protected] 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-off Corruption, censorship take center stage at Freedom 250 hearing Confidential database reveals which items NPS thinks may ‘disparage’ America Produced by Aaron Weiss, Kate Groetzinger, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: [email protected] 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 parks – Washington Post Concessionaire Nominated To Run National Park Service – National Parks Traveler Water worries are top of mind for Arizonans, poll shows – Axios Phoenix Opinion: Senators, reject the Steve Pearce nomination – Santa Fe New Mexican Resources 2026 Conservation in the West Poll – Colorado College Watch this episode on YouTube  Credits Produced and hosted by Aaron Weiss with production support from Lauren Bogard, edited by Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: [email protected] Music: Purple Planet Featured image: David 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 – New York Times Potential conflicts over celebrating America’s 250th anniversary spill out in congressional hearing – Associated Press Concessionaire Nominated To Run National Park Service – National Parks Traveler Resources Watch this episode on YouTube Credits Produced & hosted by Aaron Weiss and Kate Groetzinger, edited by Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: [email protected] Music: Purple Planet Featured image: David 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 the one in place for Grand Staircase-Escalante, despite these never being treated as “rules” before. News Trump admin’s approval of Northern Corridor sparks new lawsuit – Salt Lake Tribune NPS removes slavery exhibit in Trump admin crackdown on ‘negative’ history – E&E News Tri-State says no thanks to federal orders to keep Craig coal power plant open – Colorado Sun Resources Watch this episode on YouTube Credits Produced & hosted by Aaron Weiss and Kate Groetzinger Feedback: [email protected] Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Grand 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 Vote – Public Domain House Dems Demand Probe Into Top Interior Official, Citing Public Domain’s Reporting – Public Domain Congress passes environmental funding without Trump’s deep cuts – High Country News Resources Watch this episode on YouTube Credits Produced & hosted by Aaron Weiss and Kate Groetzinger Feedback: [email protected] Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Congressman Steve Pearce of New Mexico speaking at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland; Source: Flickr/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 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. – New York Times Takeaways from Congress’ latest spending package – E&E News Resources Watch this episode on YouTube Credits Produced & hosted by Aaron Weiss and Kate Groetzinger Feedback: [email protected] Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Natural gas drilling equipment on the Pinedale Anticline, WY. Source: Richard 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 remain – Salt Lake Tribune USDA lost more than 20,000 employees this year, internal watchdog finds – E&E News Mexican wolves are rebounding, but are they ready for delisting? – High Country News Resources Watch this episode on YouTube Credits Produced & hosted by Aaron Weiss and Kate Groetzinger Feedback: [email protected] Music: Purple Planet Featured image: NPS 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 Sterling 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 attempting to get himself arrested. News Public Land Advocates Warn Senate Amendment Could Greenlight Sale of National Parks – Flathead Beacon Resources Watch “Common Waters” preview Salida screening Jan 29 Colorado Stream Access Coalition website Video episode on YouTube Credits Produced & hosted by Aaron Weiss and Kate Groetzinger Feedback: [email protected] Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Screenshot from Common Waters preview; Source: Rig to Flip The post Common waters: Inside the fight for stream access in Colorado appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.