It’s hard for me to understand why we can’t look directly at the insurrection, or climate chaos, or the way technology has undermined social connections and democratic principles, and then have the hard, necessary conversations to get back to our common constitutional values. When you really listen to people, you hear the same claims of feeling left out, of feeling demeaned or without opportunities—and the same fears, resentments, anger, and other dangerous emotions—no matter their political perspectives.

There is common ground, even if it’s lost in the chaos and sound bites.… Read More

On day one of his presidency, President Biden signed an executive order committing to climate action. The order includes a 30 x 30 plan that sounds simple enough: Protect 30 percent of the nation’s lands and oceans by 2030 to confront the climate emergency and protect the health of people and animals. What does that look like on the ground and will it be enough? … Read More

It’s hard to believe it has been a year since we first hunkered down due to the pandemic.

The concept of time has been unreal—it dragged, it sped up, it stood still. And in the midst of it all, we faced an existential crisis to our democracy, an ongoing racial reckoning, and so much loss—the loss of so many lives to COVID and racist violence and injustice. The loss of connection to family, friends, coworkers, social gatherings, and even purpose and meaning. A year can change everything and nothing at all. The months from last March to this March certainly proves it.… Read More

The first anti-discrimination law in a U.S. state or territory passed in Alaska in 1945, and was signed into law on Feb. 16–or what we now know as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day in Alaska. She brought her experience, intelligence, and potent oratory skills to the legislative chamber on the day of the vote to cut through the palpable and overt racism. … Read More

We went to court in December to stop ConocoPhillips from doing road building, blasting, and gravel mining as part of its Willow project in the western Arctic’s National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. A lot has changed since then, but not the project’s … Read More

Right after the Inauguration, President Biden signed an executive order directing the incoming secretary of the Interior Department to review the entire Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil and gas leasing program and temporarily halt all activities related to it. This … Read More

Sharing the same space really matters. It helps us understand each other more fully, with compassion, and to better communicate the nuance when making a point, light heartedly ribbing a friend, sharing a favorite song by oversharing it, or dishing out another cinnamon roll–oh how I miss my mother’s homemade holiday cinnamon rolls! … Read More

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced today that it will issue a notice of lease sale of lands in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge next week, just one day after the 60th anniversary of establishment of the Arctic Refuge. … Read More

The U.S. Army Corps denied a permit for the proposed Pebble mine in late November 2020, pointing to the failure of Pebble’s mitigation plan to address the severe degradation and destruction that would be caused by the project. No mitigation … Read More