Governor Cox says the “right-sizing” of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments simply makes them more manageable. Conservation groups have condemned Trump’s order as a violation of the Antiquities Act and have vowed legal action. Questions about what can and can’t be protected under the act go back to its founding more than a century ago. KUER reporter David Condos joins us to explain what the changes mean for the vast areas once conserved as monuments. We’ll also hear from Kate Groetzinger, of the Center for Western Priorities, to examine the history of the Antiquities Act and its original purpose.
GUESTS
- David Condos is KUER’s Southern Utah reporter and is based in St. George.
- Kate Groetzinger is the communications director at the Center for Western Priorities and co-host of the podcast “The Landscape.” She's also a former reporter for KUER.
Airdate: Aug. 5, 2026