Sign in

Wes Siler

@wessiler.bsky.social
874 followers 14 following 76 posts

Your guide to leading a more exciting life outdoors.

PostsRepliesMedia
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 21h
Sure looks like the Secretary of the Interior is about to invoke emergency wartime powers to use taxpayer funds to build a bunch of data centers on public land, without any public input: wessiler.substack.com/p/whats-doug...
wessiler.substack.com
What’s Doug Burgum Doing With Defense Production Act Authority?
It sure looks like things are adding up for widespread data center construction on public lands, without public input
036
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Here's Trump's plan to politicize national parks: wessiler.substack.com/p/leaked-doc...
wessiler.substack.com
Leaked Documents Reveal Trump's Plan To Take Control Of Your National Parks
Exclusive: Department of Interior’s blueprint to establish political control over national parks
053
Reposted by Wes Siler
Melinda🗽🇺🇸 @melindajean.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Save our public lands, they are ours not theirs‼️ From @wessiler.bsky.social wessiler.substack.com/p/on-public-...
wessiler.substack.com
On Public Lands, Could Chaos Be A Ladder?
From Endangered Species to Antiquities to National Environmental Policy, the laws, rules and norms American nature relies on are being destroyed. What lies on the other side could be opportunity
033
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
This is really happening: Trump administration plan to force sale of national parks has leaked. wessiler.substack.com/p/frustrated...
wessiler.substack.com
Frustrated By Legalities, Interior Plans Re-Org To Eliminate More Employees
It’s a deliberate attempt to break the national park service, and create conditions that could force the sale of some national parks
034
Reposted by Wes Siler
FrecklesGirl (Ann) 🌱💙🇺🇦🇻🇪 @frecklesgirl.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Really great work here by @wessiler.bsky.social. I thank independent journalists for turning over rocks. Trump’s shit is rolling down, affecting strongholds, and I am here for it. I don’t know that Talarico can win, but I like that he’s on the attack. Paxton is straight scum.
083
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
This represents as close to a total victory for the park and the state as can reasonably be messaged as something other than a total surrender by the Trump administration. wessiler.substack.com/p/to-save-ke...
wessiler.substack.com
To Save Ken Paxton’s Candidacy, Republicans Are Cancelling Big Bend National Park Border Construction
Exclusive: No road or wall will follow Rio Grande river inside park
18510135
Reposted by Wes Siler
250 to 250 @250to250.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Wes Siler is an independent journalist who has spent the last 24 years writing about the intersection of public lands, conservation, and politics. He tells the story of the brief battle that forced Native American displacement from most of modern-day Ohio. #WeAreAmerica250
311145
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
The PAC plans to target 20 vulnerable incumbents in swing districts who have voted to destroy the National Park Service: wessiler.substack.com/p/finally-a-...
wessiler.substack.com
Finally, A PAC For National Parks
A political solution for a political problem
0103
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Tim Walz saves America's most popular Wilderness: wessiler.substack.com/p/tim-walz-b...
wessiler.substack.com
Tim Walz Blocks Boundary Waters Mine
Minnesota Governor takes executive action to save America’s most popular Wilderness
4741139
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
People have been speculating about what form the border “wall” will take in Big Bend National Park since February. For the first time anywhere, here’s actual details: wessiler.substack.com/p/big-bend-n...
wessiler.substack.com
Big Bend National Park Border Road Costing Taxpayers $7.3 Million-a-Mile
Project costs more than half National Park Service budget
031
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
The company most likely to benefit from the reduction to Bears Ears National Monument is also the company dumping radioactive waste into Indigenous communities there is also the company whose executives likely traded on foreknowledge of Trump’s order: wessiler.substack.com/p/national-m...
wessiler.substack.com
National Monument Reduction Was An Inside Job
Who benefited when Trump slashed the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments? The American CEO of a Canadian mining conglomerate is accused of insider trading
0118
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Is it the people who light them, or the systems that create severe fire conditions? wessiler.substack.com/p/whos-respo...
wessiler.substack.com
Who’s Responsible For Wildfire?
It’s time to stop thinking of wildfire only in terms of ignition source
010
Reposted by Wes Siler
Bruno J. Navarro @brunojnavarro.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
The trouble with setting out to perform journalism, is that if you don’t do it right, there’s no point in doing it at all. — @wessiler.bsky.social
open.substack.com
How Not To Interview A Politician
Outside’s interview with BLM Director Steve Pearce is really bad
1105
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Wildfire smoke is REALLY BAD FOR YOU. The most effective solution is also cheap, and so easy to make anyone can do it: wessiler.substack.com/p/the-cheape...
wessiler.substack.com
The Cheapest Wildfire Smoke Air Filter Is Also The Most Effective
It's called a Corsi-Rosenthal Box, and you can make one yourself using supplies you probably already own.
062
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Trump is re-shrinking Bears Ears and Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monuments. The move is designed to tee up a Supreme Court Case, and allow John Roberts to eliminate the Antiquities Act: open.substack.com/pub/wessiler...
open.substack.com
The Fight Over National Monuments Won’t Stop With Bears Ears
Trump plans to re-shrink Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. I fear it won't stop there.
043
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The Administration is failing to comply with a court order to restore censored history and science in national parks. And park rangers are PISSED: open.substack.com/pub/wessiler...
open.substack.com
An Open Letter To Doug Burgum From Resistance Rangers
"You say this is too hard to fix, but how about you let us try?"
0112
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
And it's already killed at least two national park visitors: wessiler.substack.com/p/interior-o...
wessiler.substack.com
Interior Orders Politicization Of Death, Injury Reporting In National Parks, Public Lands
Here’s leaked communications guidance DOI issued to all employees
043
Reposted by Wes Siler
Caw Yar Bluff @j-leslie3k.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Love this true description--"Doug Burgum, part-time tech billionaire/part-time Secretary of the Interior, full-time cookie lover" Should say something about his hostility to nature and love of fossil fuels.
0131
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
My theory? Department of the Interior is so embarrassed by the Reflecting Pool debacle that they're desperate to avoid any further scandal ahead of the big July 4 celebrations. wessiler.substack.com/p/national-p...
wessiler.substack.com
National Park Visitors Are Dying, And DOI Is Covering It Up
With the workforce in national parks down at least 15 percent, something had to give, and the administration doesn’t want you to know about it
7341143
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Mike Lee isn't going to succeed with his "trojan horse" amendment, but the Roadless Rule is about to be repealed anyways. Here's why that's actually a huge opportunity for a new era in Wilderness protections: wessiler.substack.com/p/the-roadle...
wessiler.substack.com
The Roadless Rule, Recommended Wilderness, And Budget Reconciliation
Or, what in the name of Heavenly Father does Mike Lee think he’s doing? And how we stop him for good.
031
Reposted by Wes Siler
Lyn Heideman @heidelyn.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
PSA#2: Always-insightful @wessiler.bsky.social on why bear spray is not effective and how to actually avoid a bear attack: wessiler.substack.com/p/bear-spray...? #bears 🌎
wessiler.substack.com
Bear Spray Is A Placebo
A hiker in Glacier National Park was just killed by disinformation. Here’s how to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to you.
1157
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
What feuding billionaires and 6,000 years old dinosaurs have to do with livestock permits on public land in Montana. And why that might help us overturn Citizens United. wessiler.substack.com/p/what-the-n...
wessiler.substack.com
What The New York Times Gets Wrong About Montana’s Bison
There’s more to the story, and it’s a desperately stupid tale about dinosaurs, tariffs, fake cowboys, and feudin’ billionaires
0115
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
RIP America's Most Popular Wildernesshttps://open.substack.com/pub/wessiler/p/republicans-vote-to-destroy-boundary?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=36iot
030
Reposted by Wes Siler
AltWatcher @altwatcher.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
AltNPS has been focused on the threat to the US Forest Service this week, and even launched a website in an effort to pressure brands to speak out. And that's great! There's just one problem. They plagiarized the whole thing.
217260
Reposted by Wes Siler
Melinda🗽🇺🇸 @melindajean.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
They just keep topping themselves with new evil‼️ Article by @wessiler.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/wessiler...
open.substack.com
Doug Burgum Plans To Kill National Park Visitors This Summer
National Parks are being set up to fail-by-design, in order to justify their sale
043
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
BREAKING: The Trump administration is removing Toni Morrison's "A Bench by the Road" project from South Carolina. The installation is based on the novel "Beloved" and serves as "historical markers that help remember the lives of Africans who were enslaved." wessiler.substack.com/p/heres-ever...
155
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
The administration is removing thousands of displays from national parks, covering everything from slavery to climate science. wessiler.substack.com/p/heres-ever...
wessiler.substack.com
Here's Every Instance Of Thoughtcrime Being Removed From National Parks
Huge database of material covers everything from founding fathers to slavery to climate science
021
Reposted by Wes Siler
Lyn Heideman @heidelyn.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Why are Trump and congressional Republicans destroying Boundary Waters—America’s most popular Wilderness area—with a copper mine that will leach sulfuric acid into its pristine waters? @wessiler.bsky.social follows the money: wessiler.substack.com/p/who-wins-i.... 🌎
wessiler.substack.com
Who Wins If Republicans Destroy The Boundary Waters? China
Why destroy America’s most popular Wilderness? Foreign profits, obviously.
11914
Reposted by Wes Siler
Buck Marblehead @stoicbeast.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
substack.com/@wessiler/no... a very interesting conversation about shared values and human rights
substack.com
Wes Siler (@wessiler)
Feeling depressed about the state of our country? It might come from an unexpected source, but here’s the pickmeup you need.
121
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
We can beat them. wessiler.substack.com/p/the-plan-f...
wessiler.substack.com
The Plan For Defeating ICE
Understanding what Trump’s secret paramilitary force is and what it’s trying to achieve defines a clear path to victory for the American people
022
Reposted by Wes Siler
Ryne Moen @rynemoen.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Look what just dropped in my inbox. More common sense from those of us who understand what's going on. @wessiler.bsky.social
041
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
We're about to lose the most popular Wilderness in the country to sulfuric acid pollution because two hunting bros won't hold their buddy accountable for his lies and corruption: wessiler.substack.com/p/boundary-w...
wessiler.substack.com
Boundary Waters Mine Vote Highlights Ryan Zinke’s Hypocrisy On Public Lands
Montana Congressperson whipping votes in support of toxic mine that threatens nation’s most popular Wilderness
284
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
2026 is going to be a hard year for public lands. The staff cuts from last year are starting to add up, even as Republican lawmakers prepare new threats. And the lawless administration looms over everything. open.substack.com/pub/wessiler...
open.substack.com
Where Public Lands Stand As We Enter 2026
A mass sell off? More lay offs? Privatized national parks? This isn’t about predicting the future, it’s the facts about where the war on America’s public lands stands right now.
041
Reposted by Wes Siler
Michael Parks @jurassicparks.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Worth mentioning that this political moment already resulted in an unprecedented cancellation of a proposed Refuge expansion that had been developed over a few admins www.texasmonthly.com/travel/texas...
texasmonthly.com
Texas Was Set to Create Its Largest Wildlife Refuge. Then the Feds Did What They’d Seemingly Never Done Before.
One of Texas’s most under the radar and remote parks was set for a massive expansion. In an unprecedented move, the federal government called it all off.
099
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
Over the holidays, the administration quietly initiated a review of all Wildlife Refuges, something that could preface yet another attempt to steal your land: open.substack.com/pub/wessiler...
open.substack.com
They’re Coming For Your Wildlife Refuges
The Fish and Wildlife Service’s over-holiday review, and what it means for 850 million acres of public land and water
13470291
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
This is step 5 on the Republican's 7 step plan to destroy National Parks: wessiler.substack.com/p/new-mike-l...
wessiler.substack.com
New Mike Lee Amendment Could ‘End The National Park Service’
Utah Senator at it again with new budget amendment
023
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Republicans in western states are pinning their hopes for reelection on worsened wildfires, ruined tourism, and defunded communities: wessiler.substack.com/p/trump-admi...
wessiler.substack.com
Trump Administration’s Public Lands Leadership Begins To Crumble
How an absent interior secretary, incompetence at the Forest Service, and proposed corruption for the BLM are colliding with low gas prices to throw public land management into chaos
042
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Some random guy on Substack should never be in a position to challenge essentially every fact presented on a 60 Minutes segment, and yet here we are... wessiler.substack.com/p/fact-check...
wessiler.substack.com
Fact Checking The 60 Minutes Public Lands Episode
Can TV journalism survive a rightwing takeover?
215755
Reposted by Wes Siler
Joseph Britt @zathras5.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Department of Everything is Related to Everything Else: @wessiler.bsky.social has some interesting thoughts about how some dumb Trump policies (like tariffs and cheap oil) may mitigate the damage from other dumb Trump policies (trying to gut the Clean Water & Endangered Species Acts).
043
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Or: How the invasion of Venezuela will save America's wetlands. wessiler.substack.com/p/what-moham...
wessiler.substack.com
What Mohammed Bin Salman’s White House Visit Means For The Endangered Species Act
Unintended consequences of completely predictable outcomes created by gross incompetence
117263
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Congress invoking CRA to declare public lands management plans "rules" it must approve happened due to Republican incompetence, and has far reaching implications that might render most current and future commercial operations on BLM and USFS land illegal. wessiler.substack.com/p/congress-b...
wessiler.substack.com
Congress Broke Public Lands. It’s About To Create Legal Chaos
Over 5,000 oil and gas leases across 4 million acres of BLM land are about to be challenged in court
021
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
In a rare instance of genuinely good news, there's a promising new plan to render Citizens United moot. Here's why you shouldn't be surprised it comes from Montana: open.substack.com/pub/wessiler...
open.substack.com
Citizens United Broke American Politics. This New Plan From Montana Aims To Fix That
By removing dark money from politics, The Montana Plan could restore American democracy
073
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Short term damage during the shutdown doesn't look that bad, but the result accelerates the timeline for Trump's plan to sell off national parks: open.substack.com/pub/wessiler...
open.substack.com
The Shutdown May Be Over, But Its Damage To National Parks Is Just Beginning
How much harm was caused by open, but understaffed parks?
140
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
The Fix Our Forests Act is being billed as a bipartisan solution to our wildfire crisis. I hate to rain on everyone's parade, but it'll only make fires worse. Here's why: wessiler.substack.com/p/why-the-fi...
wessiler.substack.com
Why The Fix Our Forests Act Won’t Fix Our Forests
A bipartisan group of lawmakers realize they need something to show voters in the mid-terms. The resulting bill achieves nothing beyond careless harm to our national forests.
311965
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Lee claims Homeland Security would only takeover Wilderness Areas with 100 miles of a border, but Conservation orgs are sounding the alarm that this could open all 112 million acres protected by the Wilderness Act to logging, road building and militarization. wessiler.substack.com/p/mike-lee-i...
wessiler.substack.com
Mike Lee Is Coming For Your Wilderness
Following his failed attempt to sell off public land, Utah Senator turns to militarizing it instead
17268155
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
You've probably read a bunch of doom and gloom about the Trump admin re-re- opening ANWR to drilling. In reality, it's the best chance we have to start winning America's battle for its natural heritage. Here's why the rebellion will be led by polar bears: wessiler.substack.com/p/tumps-perm...
wessiler.substack.com
Tump’s Permitting For Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Drilling Is A Test
If Americans can stop this administration’s pillage anywhere, it’s going to begin on the north slope
041
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
The timing of this shutdown couldn't be worse for bears. Close the parks. wessiler.substack.com/p/this-gover...
wessiler.substack.com
This Government Shutdown Is Going To Kill Bears
National Parks are open, Rangers are furloughed, and the bears are hungry
196
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Interior is eliminating thousands of furloughed employees, despite a court order intended to halt such. Includes National Park Service, BLM, USFWS and more: wessiler.substack.com/p/interior-t...
wessiler.substack.com
Interior To RIF 2,050 Employees During Shutdown
Furloughed employees suffer permanent termination as shutdown enters 20th day
010
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
The Senate just voted to invalidate every permit written on public land since 1996. wessiler.substack.com/p/the-senate...
wessiler.substack.com
The Senate Just Voted To Break Public Lands
Every permit written on public lands since 1996 may have be rendered invalid
22242167
Wes Siler @wessiler.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Here's everything you need to know about the impacts the government shutdown will have on National Parks: wessiler.substack.com/p/a-comprehe...
wessiler.substack.com
A Comprehensive Guide To National Parks During The Government Shutdown
Official insights from the updated NPS contingency plan, and the analysis you need to understand it
033