Here’s my latest as we watch yet another storm approach the Carolinas. Thinking about all the people devastated by Hurricane Helene one year ago today who are watching with considerable anxiety.

NEW: After one of Kristi Noem’s major financial supporters contacted her, the DHS chief quickly expedited more than $11 million of federal money to rebuild a historic pier in Naples, Florida, records obtained by ProPublica show.

Something good: a new, nonprofit newsroom run by some wonderful, experienced folks (core crew from Outside mag's glory days) dedicated to journalism about American public lands! Looks like the plan is to collaborate a fair bit with other outlets.

My latest…

NEW: The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is demanding an explanation on discrepancies between public statements about wildland firefighter staffing and a ProPublica report showing thousands of vacancies in the Forest Service’s workforce. By @abestreep.bsky.social

The Forest Service claims it’s fully staffed for fire season, saying it has reached 99% of its hiring goal. But internal data, which has not been previously reported, shows more than 4,500 Forest Service firefighting jobs — as many as 27% — remained vacant as of July 17. via @abestreep.bsky.social

SCOOP: The Forest Service Claims It’s Fully Staffed for a Worsening Fire Season. Data Shows Thousands of Unfilled Jobs. @abestreep.bsky.social

Utah senator Mike Lee says selling off public lands will solve the West’s housing crisis. Past public land sales show otherwise. By @abestreep.bsky.social

In January, ProPublica and @azcir.org reported on how former Arizona Medicaid officials had failed for years to stem a $2 billion fraud scheme targeting Native Americans, despite repeated warnings. A new law aims to add oversight. By @maryhudetz.bsky.social

NEW: When a firefighter dies, a small team of federal health workers helps pinpoint what went wrong and identify how to avoid similar accidents in the future. Trump laid off nearly all of them.

Thrilled to have @abestreep.bsky.social , a gifted reporter and writer, join the @propublica.org team covering the Southwest.

NEW: Trump said government cuts wouldn’t affect public safety. But staffing changes at the Forest Service have weakened an already strained firefighting force by hitting support staff who play crucial roles in preventing and battling blazes.

Yesterday, with much anger and sadness, and in solidarity with the handful of staff still hanging on there, I joined a large number of my colleagues - Outside's correspondents, contributing editors, and contributing photographers - in asking that our names be removed from the magazine's masthead.

📢 We're hiring a Design Director! HCN is looking for a creative leader to shape our visual storytelling across print & digital. If you're passionate about independent journalism and the Western U.S., this role is for you! 📍 Remote (Western U.S. preferred) 💰 $78K–$86K 📅 Apply: buff.ly/3ESHSoR

A ProPublica investigation spurred a criminal inquiry into the practice of oncologist Thomas C. Weiner. Still, his medical license has been renewed by the state of Montana.

As you may have heard, most (not all) of the people who produce Outside magazine (and the website) were laid off on Thursday. The ex-ME has a complete archive of issues going all the way back to the 1970s. If anybody knows of a library that might want to house these, lemme know.

"How can I put that back into the world?" For @nymag.com, an appreciation of Devin Oktar Yalkin's work from Los Angeles: nymag.com/intelligence...

Saddened to learn that Jaune Quick-to-See Smith has died. I was lucky enough to spend time with her a few years ago and write about her life and her art. We won't see the likes of her again. www.vulture.com/article/jaun...

Teachers and tycoons, city workers and celebrities talk about what they lost in the Los Angeles fires.

As #wildfires rage in #LA and we’re talking about #incarcerated and #immigrants on the front lines, we have to remember that the US has an attrition problem with wildland firefighters. Not only do they get paid really poorly, but their mental health and family lives suffer. youtu.be/cWVs3Kx0DjY?...

So excited that “Casualties of Truth” made the LitHub 2025 Most Anticipated Books List!! lithub.com/lit-hubs-mos...

I'm teaching an environmental writing class for Lighthouse Writers Workshop! Come workshop your stuff, stay for close readings of @meerasub.bsky.social, @bengoldfarb.bsky.social, @brookejarvis.bsky.social, @ferrisjabr.bsky.social, + Outside classics: lighthousewriters.org/workshop/8-w...

For @newyorker.com, I wrote about nuclear weapons and New Mexico: www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...

Los Alamos National Laboratory is once again rapidly expanding to supply the nation with nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., as fears about China reach a fever pitch, a sense of alarm is seeping into discussions about nuclear policy.

It’s a full @injusticewatch.org newsletter today with news updates, a job posting and my recommendation of a good book about high school basketball and life in general, “Brothers on Three” by @abestreep.bsky.social www.injusticewatch.org/subscribe/

harrowing read of the West from @abestreep.bsky.social

Highly skilled firefighters are the last line of defense against wildfires, but that line is fraying because the government decided long ago that they’re not worth very much. (Published March 2024)

"If somebody ever asks you, it wasn’t me." Great @bengoldfarb.bsky.social story on a great lizard mystery www.newyorker.com/news/the-wee...

An early reminder to apply for the Matthew Power award, which provides $12,500 to support a longform journalism project. Deadline is February 19: journalism.nyu.edu/about-us/awa...

Here's the audio version of my @nymag.com story on the dark side of the Nyack sports world I grew up in: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

This is an amazing, terrifying piece of reporting by @francescamari.bsky.social. Be sure to read it if you haven't already. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/26/m...

Glad to be back at the Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference this summer. Apply and join us! www.middlebury.edu/writers-conf...