The Dirt Portfolio: Inside the Governor's Office with Kristin Sleeper

In this episode, Erik and Jack cover a packed week of news before sitting down with Kristin Sleeper, Governor Little's new Policy Director. On the news front: Erik recaps a productive National Trails Day outing, Jack reports on Big Water Blowout in Riggins; the guys dig into a new legislative working group on state lands management led by Representative Raybold; and they break down the implications of President Trump's executive order rescinding the Nixon- and Carter-era travel management executive orders — a move they describe as flying under the radar but potentially significant over the long term. They also cover Senator Mike Lee's last-minute amendment to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule (noting Idaho's own roadless rule insulates the state directly), the new Headwaters Economics report on Snake River dam removal economics from Idaho Rivers United, and the Public Lands Integrity Act — legislation that would close the budget reconciliation loophole that could be used to sell public lands without 60 Senate votes.The main interview with Kristin Sleeper covers her winding path from Detroit to DC to Montana to the Trump administration and finally to Governor Little's office, her vision for a coordinated statewide recreation strategy, Idaho's opportunity to expand Good Neighbor Authority and Shared Stewardship into recreation trail maintenance, the Make Forests Healthy Again executive order, wildfire preparedness for what could be a difficult fire season, and the thorny challenge of creating a sustainable funding mechanism for non-motorized trail maintenance.