What’s the Matter With Utah?

How a state trapped by its own history became Congress’ most aggressive threat to public lands—and suddenly out of step with a changing conservative West. Illustration by Noah Hickey/The Dispatch (Photos via Unsplash). Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. This story was copublished with RE:PUBLIC Lands Media, an independent, non-profit news organization. Sign up for RE:PUBLIC’s newsletter. The Pioneer Center in Salt Lake City sits at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, near the spot where, in 1847, Brigham Young saw the country before him and announced to his followers that they had found their new home. Christopher Solomon, a longtime freelance writer reporting on outdoor issues, was a 2025-2026 Ted Scripps Fellow in Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado-Boulder. More We Think You’d Like