We are way past the Manifest Destiny era! (which started out as a newspaper article.) Now even Federal Department heads are fawning crown princes declaring their own "executive orders".
Also my Mom would say you are repeating yourself Joe. Sometimes I am. But then I say Mom sometimes for emphasis. So at times she obliges I can make my point about HOUSES, for example.
Thanks for this. Adding more detail to support your sentence, "the solution to our housing crisis is density, not sprawl." Density means lower costs per capita for all infrastructure (pipes, wires, roads) and services (EMS, Fire, Police and pizza delivery, etc.). Planners and utilities sometimes talk about customers per mile. The math is easy: the more customers there are per mile, the more people there are paying for infrastructure and services. And, even if all new housing on these scattered public lands really were 'affordable,' that affordability would be cancelled by increased transportation and opportunity costs driving to and from home to work. Yup, bullshit. Thanks again.
Wes, thank you for your recent interview with Heather Cox Richardson, it was great to hear your views on the threats we all face with the trump regime plans for gross missuses of our federal public lands. I am one Wild Horse and Burro advocate among thousands in America and in many other countries following them touring in the fields and prairie lands, artists, authors, filmmakers, historians, online photographers and those who document their unique family herds even by individual name.
They have faced the BLM helicopter roundups and herd mismanagement practices (including kill pens and eventually ship to slaughter operations) and are bitterly fought for in litigation for their humane management, and very lives in several Western states. Currently in court litigation for the shrinking habitat they need for survival with livestock leaseholders and private ranchers. It is our concern as well, that the privatization of our public federal lands and National Parks does not happen! Horses are our national treasures! There are thousands of national and international advocates here who would love to have you know more about our mission to give our wild ones the voice they deserve, and have your voice with us!
Writing from Upstate NY where we spend our time in the Adirondack Park! I’m so thankful the federal government can’t touch it!!! I watched your live talk with Heather Cox, Wes!! You both are truth tellers and so many are thankful for your knowledge and willingness to call Bullshit when you see it.
PLEASE KEEP YELLING IT FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS!!!
I will call our senators but I do live in a blue state so not sure how much it will help but I’ll fight!!
What's the deal w MABA and Nature is Non Partisan? Don't get me wrong, Ruckleshouse is one of the best EPA administrator's we've had, and one side of my family was deeply committed conservative...conservers of nature! I'm into the concept. But the Nature is NonPartisan website uses similar rhetoric to what's being employed to dismantle ESA ("modernize" it) and manage forests badly. Curious about your thoughts!
Here in Star Valley,, Wyoming opening up some BLM land for housing would help us out a lot. 73% of all land in Lincoln County is public and a one acre lot currently costs about $300k. Supply and demand is part of the equation.
Percent public is looking at this the wrong way. Star Valley itself is mostly private. The surrounding public lands are high elevation mountains.
Those mountains are public because no one wanted them. I highly doubt that selling off tracts of land at 7-8k feet in Wyoming will ignite a building boom. I found one BLM bit (160 acres) outside of Bedford that could theoretically be sold.
And another dumpster fire! Thanks for keeping an eye on the shit show and keeping us posted so we can take actionable steps.
Call your Senator to Oppose land transfers
Mike Lee (R-Kolob), LOL best chuckle of the day!
I'm just glad someone got that.
Excellent reporting here Wes. This newsletter came into being at an important juncture in the history of public lands. Thanks for everything.
We are way past the Manifest Destiny era! (which started out as a newspaper article.) Now even Federal Department heads are fawning crown princes declaring their own "executive orders".
I'm going to keep my comment terse- Fook Bullshit doug burgum
Make America Beautiful Again. I am sure you know about this Wes.
https://open.substack.com/pub/emilyinyourphone/p/the-rights-newest-trojan-horse-meet
What Wes said!
Great article Wes. Thanks, This is much needed information to fight off the BS.
"Those trumped-up towers are just golden showers. Where are people supposed to live?"--Don Henley
Also my Mom would say you are repeating yourself Joe. Sometimes I am. But then I say Mom sometimes for emphasis. So at times she obliges I can make my point about HOUSES, for example.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/travel/trump-cuts-national-parks-summer-travel.html?unlocked_article_code=1.404.Or30.EZXQx7aloFMo&smid=url-share
Thanks for this. Adding more detail to support your sentence, "the solution to our housing crisis is density, not sprawl." Density means lower costs per capita for all infrastructure (pipes, wires, roads) and services (EMS, Fire, Police and pizza delivery, etc.). Planners and utilities sometimes talk about customers per mile. The math is easy: the more customers there are per mile, the more people there are paying for infrastructure and services. And, even if all new housing on these scattered public lands really were 'affordable,' that affordability would be cancelled by increased transportation and opportunity costs driving to and from home to work. Yup, bullshit. Thanks again.
Wes, thank you for your recent interview with Heather Cox Richardson, it was great to hear your views on the threats we all face with the trump regime plans for gross missuses of our federal public lands. I am one Wild Horse and Burro advocate among thousands in America and in many other countries following them touring in the fields and prairie lands, artists, authors, filmmakers, historians, online photographers and those who document their unique family herds even by individual name.
They have faced the BLM helicopter roundups and herd mismanagement practices (including kill pens and eventually ship to slaughter operations) and are bitterly fought for in litigation for their humane management, and very lives in several Western states. Currently in court litigation for the shrinking habitat they need for survival with livestock leaseholders and private ranchers. It is our concern as well, that the privatization of our public federal lands and National Parks does not happen! Horses are our national treasures! There are thousands of national and international advocates here who would love to have you know more about our mission to give our wild ones the voice they deserve, and have your voice with us!
For starters, see : WildHorseEducation.org
WildAtHeartImages.org
I'm following your substack and your newsletter.
One significant reason they want to sell off federal lands is to build their libertarian exit "freedom cities."
You're right that this isn't about "affordable housing"; it's more about extracting resources from the public domain into private pockets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCj_q8tw-mI
Writing from Upstate NY where we spend our time in the Adirondack Park! I’m so thankful the federal government can’t touch it!!! I watched your live talk with Heather Cox, Wes!! You both are truth tellers and so many are thankful for your knowledge and willingness to call Bullshit when you see it.
PLEASE KEEP YELLING IT FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS!!!
I will call our senators but I do live in a blue state so not sure how much it will help but I’ll fight!!
What's the deal w MABA and Nature is Non Partisan? Don't get me wrong, Ruckleshouse is one of the best EPA administrator's we've had, and one side of my family was deeply committed conservative...conservers of nature! I'm into the concept. But the Nature is NonPartisan website uses similar rhetoric to what's being employed to dismantle ESA ("modernize" it) and manage forests badly. Curious about your thoughts!
Here in Star Valley,, Wyoming opening up some BLM land for housing would help us out a lot. 73% of all land in Lincoln County is public and a one acre lot currently costs about $300k. Supply and demand is part of the equation.
Man, imagine if we had voted Harris and Walz in and they were actually taking action on housing supply rather than just lying about it!
Percent public is looking at this the wrong way. Star Valley itself is mostly private. The surrounding public lands are high elevation mountains.
Those mountains are public because no one wanted them. I highly doubt that selling off tracts of land at 7-8k feet in Wyoming will ignite a building boom. I found one BLM bit (160 acres) outside of Bedford that could theoretically be sold.