Jennifer Rokala on 11 years fighting for public lands at CWP

Floodlight News reporter Evan Simon joins Aaron and Kate to break down a controversial Forest Service land swap in Montana’s Crazy Mountains that quietly gave Yellowstone Club — a private club for billionaires — near-exclusive access to what should be public land, and how Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s involvement in the club raises serious questions. In the news this week: House Natural Resources Committee members put Doug Burgum through a brutal hearing, calling him out on everything from his anti-renewables talking points to Trump’s DC vanity projects and gutted public lands budget. News Interior Secretary Doug Burgum grilled over proposed $1 billion national park budget cut — SFGATE Huffman: Burgum misled Congress on triumphal arch — E&E News Interior Secretary Claims Ignorance of Trump’s July 4 “Vanity Projects” — Mother Jones Resources Trump officials, billionaires and the quiet reshaping of America’s public lands — Floodlight News We Went in Search of a Hidden Billionaire’s Club Reshaping Public Lands — Floodlight News Follow our new Instagram account @burgumblunders Watch this episode on YouTube  Produced by Aaron Weiss, Lauren Bogard, Kate Groetzinger, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: [email protected] Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Loco Mountain in Crazy Mountains, Mike Cline The post How a private billionaires’ club took over the Crazy Mountains appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In this special episode of The Landscape, the entire Center for Western Priorities team joins us for an interview with Jennifer Rokala, CWP’s outgoing executive director, to celebrate her 11 years leading the organization. Jen reflects on key victories throughout her tenure at CWP, the organization’s evolution as a communications-driven conservation hub, and her advice for Aaron as he steps into the role of executive director. Plus, the team talks about the best food in the West. Here are the restaurants mentioned during this episode: Hot Tomato Pizza – Fruita, Colorado Bin 707 – Grand Junction, Colorado Eegee’s – Tucson, Arizona Taco Party – Grand Junction, Colorado Rome Station – Rome, Oregon BirdHouse – Page, Arizona News Emails Show How Interior Dept Delivered New Drilling Permits for Burgum’s Billionaire Ally — Public Domain Shared ground: Coalition forms to promote affordable housing on public lands — Deseret News Solar ranch aims to prove grazing cattle under the panels is a farmland win-win — Los Angeles Times Resources Housing and conservation experts agree: Public lands can’t solve the housing crisis. Here’s what can — Center for Western Priorities via Substack Watch this episode on YouTube  Produced by Aaron Weiss, Lauren Bogard, Kate Groetzinger, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: [email protected] Music: Purple Planet Featured image: Center for Western Priorities team The post Jennifer Rokala on 11 years fighting for public lands at CWP appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In the second part of our series on the borderlands, Aaron and Lilly are joined by Bob Krumenaker, former superintendent of Big Bend National Park and current chair of Keep Big Bend Wild. They discuss the proposal for a border wall through one of America’s national treasures, the bipartisan coalition rallying to stop it, and what’s at stake for the park, communities, and local economy. Plus, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum struggles to defend a 38% cut to the National Park Service maintenance budget while making a $10 billion request for D.C.-based projects. News Fact Check: Burgum claims $10 billion Trump slush fund request is for NPS deferred maintenance only — Center for Western Priorities Senate ENR committee tussles with Burgum over permitting  — E&E News Trump used Park Service to funnel millions to ballroom construction firm — New York Times President’s Budget Proposal Slashes National Park Service Funding Amid Ongoing Attacks on National Parks — National Parks Conservation Association Border wall map disappears from government website — Big Bend Sentinel Land acquisition expands popular Jeffco park adjacent to Red Rocks — Denver Post Resources Borderlands part 1: The threats to public lands at the border Keep Big Bend Wild Mission Creep: How Trump is using the border to militarize our public lands — Westwise blog Watch this episode on YouTube  Produced by Aaron Weiss, Lauren Bogard, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: [email protected] Music: Purple Planet Featured image: U.S.-Mexico border within Big Bend National Park, NPS photo The post Borderlands part 2: The fight against a border wall at Big Bend appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

In the first installment of a two-part series on the borderlands, Aaron and Lilly are joined by Laiken Jordahl, National Public Lands Advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, to discuss his work protecting public lands along the U.S.-Mexico border. Laiken shares a boots-on-the-ground perspective on what makes these places special and how border wall construction is actively impacting our public lands. Plus, Kate returns to the pod! She and Aaron cover updates for BLM and National Park Service nominees, the withdrawal of the public lands rule, and more. News Pearce on a list of candidates Senate hopes to confirm soon — E&E News Trump Just Withdrew Scott Socha to Lead the National Park Service — SFGate White House completes review of BLM public lands rule — E&E News Trump used Park Service to funnel millions to ballroom construction firm — New York Times President’s Budget Proposal Slashes National Park Service Funding Amid Ongoing Attacks on National Parks — National Parks Conservation Association Border wall map disappears from government website — Big Bend Sentinel Resources Find Laiken Jordahl on X, Bluesky, Threads, TikTok, and Instagram Center for Biological Diversity No Big Bend Wall Mission Creep: How Trump is using the border to militarize our public lands — Westwise blog 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: San Rafael Valley border wall construction. Russ McSpadden, Center for Biological Diversity The post Borderlands part 1: The threats to public lands at the border appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

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 Wilderness — New York Times Trump’s Interior Dept. Crafted Talking Points For Mike Lee’s Public Land Sell-Off Scheme — Public Domain Leadership shuffle at Western conservation group — E&E News Resources Timothy Ingalsbee: Fire Consolidation as Creative Destruction? Trump’s Proposed U.S. Wildland Fire Service Watch this episode on YouTube  Produced by Aaron Weiss, Lauren Bogard, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: [email protected] 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 to prioritize Gulf of Mexico oil drilling. Plus, good news?! News US Forest Service to move headquarters from Washington DC to Salt Lake City — The Guardian In Sweeping ESA Rollback, Doug Burgum and Pete Hegseth Play God — Public Domain BLM: About 3,000 acres immediately open to public after Dominguez-Escalante add-on — Grand Junction Daily Sentinel This ‘fairyland’ bog is a beacon for winter birders – and a sponge for the climate — WBUR Historic Front Range ranch near Continental Divide to be preserved as state wildlife habitat — Denver Post Resources Jonathon Klein: The Mojave’s Off-Road Trail Closure Isn’t What The Blue Ribbon Coalition Wants You to Believe It Is Watch this episode on YouTube  Produced by Aaron Weiss, Lauren Bogard, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein Feedback: [email protected] 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 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.