Building a Public-Lands Newsroom: Christopher Keyes on RE:PUBLIC

The National Land Podcast sits down with journalist Chris Kais—former Editor-in-Chief of Outside Magazine and founder of Republic, a new nonprofit newsroom dedicated to America’s public lands. We unpack why the outdoor recreation economy ($1.2–$1.3T) depends on access, how public-lands realities differ East vs. West, and what’s really at stake in debates over federal-to-state land transfers vs. outright sales. We examine recent proposals to open public land for housing, the role of BLM multi-use mandates (recreation, grazing, extraction), and why the recreation economy needs a louder seat at the table. Chris breaks down wilderness area rules, wildfire policy (staffing cuts, prescribed fire, and a push to unify wildland firefighting), and the ripple effects on gateway towns, ranching (millions of cattle on BLM allotments), outfitters, and everyday hunters and anglers. We also touch sustainable timber practices, old-growth forests, and the lived reality of Western access—dispersed camping, trail use, and why once access is lost, it rarely returns. If you own land, want to buy land, or just love being on it, this conversation delivers clear, nonpartisan insight into how policy choices impact recreation, agriculture, and rural economies. Learn more or support Republic at republic.land.

Episode takeaways:

• What Republic is and why a public-lands newsroom matters

• East vs. West access dynamics and why they shape policy debates

• Recreation’s economic weight vs. extraction and grazing interests

• Wildfire staffing, coordination, and forest management realities

• Practical implications for landowners, buyers, and outdoor users

RE:PUBLIC

https://www.republic.land/

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National Land Realty

https://www.nationalland.com