Archive - Public Domain

The GOP Goes Scorched Earth in Boundary Waters Battle

House Republicans slash conservation protections for beloved wilderness while targeting green groups for investigation.

Feb 10 • Jimmy Tobias

Hunting YouTuber Had A Bear Violation Before Facing Felony Poaching Charges

Ryan Lampers built a following on social media and podcasts before criminal charges led to his downfall.

Feb 5 • Roque Planas

January 2026

The Flimsy Numbers Behind The GOP Push To Sell Off Federal Properties

House Republicans say they want to offload "underutilized" federal buildings. Their math isn’t mathing.

Jan 30 • Chris D'Angelo

House Public Lands Caucus Fails Test With Boundary Waters Vote

Partisanship trumped common ground on conservation in the long-simmering fight over a proposed mine in northern Minnesota.

Jan 21 • Chris D'Angelo and Roque Planas

House Dems Demand Probe Into Top Interior Official, Citing Public Domain’s Reporting

Lawmakers are calling for an internal investigation after Public Domain revealed that Karen Budd-Falen has financial ties to the massive Thacker Pass…

Jan 20 • Jimmy Tobias and Chris D'Angelo

Docs Detail Trump BLM Nominee’s Vast Wealth, Financial Entanglements

Last year, Steve Pearce raked in up to $1.1 million off of frac tank leases and water sales — to whom remains unclear.

Jan 15 • Chris D'Angelo

Republicans Move To Sell Off 'Federal Properties'

The Republican Study Committee says the policy proposal doesn’t target federal public land, but rather “underutilized” federal buildings.

Jan 14 • Chris D'Angelo

Public Domain Sues Trump Administration Again

Plus, our investigation cited in NYT and featured on Rachel Maddow.

Jan 7 • Public Domain

December 2025

Our Best Work of 2025

Public Domain's Top Ten Stories of the Year

Dec 22, 2025 • Public Domain

Trump’s Pick To Lead BLM: ‘A First Real Test’ For New Senate Public Lands Caucus

Will lawmakers put a man who has argued that “we do not even need” the vast majority of federal lands in charge of 250 million acres of them?

Dec 19, 2025 • Chris D'Angelo

SCOOP: A Top Trump Official Has Financial Ties To Controversial Nevada Lithium Project

Karen Budd-Falen’s family ranching operation agreed to sell water rights to the company developing the Thacker Pass lithium mine.

Dec 10, 2025 • Jimmy Tobias and Chris D'Angelo

Interior Department Finally Releases High-Ranking Official’s Financial Disclosure

Karen Budd-Falen, a self-described “cowboy lawyer," owns ranch operations and real estate rentals. Her family has also had sizable investments in oil…

Dec 4, 2025 • Jimmy Tobias and Chris D'Angelo

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