Why I'm Running: Public Lands

In the first episode of The Byrd Call, James Byrd sits down with KODI Radio's Dan Rasmussen to talk about the issue that inspired him to get into this race: public lands.

They dig into federal mismanagement of BLM and Forest Service lands, the economic case for keeping public lands in public hands, and why the push in Washington to permanently repeal the roadless rule looks a lot like a handout to private corporations. It's a conversation about what's at stake for Wyoming, and why this fight is personal for James.

In this episode:

(0:00) Introductions

(0:52) The issue that got James off the couch

(2:30) What public lands mean to Wyoming

(3:44) Federal mismanagement and wildfire

(4:57) Sage grouse and managing from 30,000 feet

(8:54) Tourism and the economic case

(9:21) The "selling the house" analogy

(10:00) Sleeping Giant and locked gates

(10:38) Growing up on public land

(15:17) The roadless rule and Hageman's repeal

(15:57) The problem with "permanence"

(18:59) Smoke jumpers and the wildfire myth

(23:38) A handout to private corporations

(24:50) Public lands as kitchen-table issues

Learn more about James and the campaign at byrdforsenate.com.