# BWCA News Track: Politics and Mining in an Election Year

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/paddle-and-portage-podcast-6722316/bwca-news-track-politics-and-mining-in-an-election-year
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/paddle-and-portage-podcast-6722316/bwca-news-track-politics-and-mining-in-an-election-year.md
Podcast: [Paddle and Portage Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/paddle-and-portage-podcast-6722316)
Published: 2026-02-12T16:16:00+00:00
Episode link: https://paddleandportagepodcast.podbean.com/e/bwca-news-track-politics-and-mining-in-an-election-year/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/urqy7n9utfghfa7i/BWCA_News_Track_Update_Politics_and_Miningbht20.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/paddle-and-portage-podcast-6722316/episodes/bwca-news-track-politics-and-mining-in-an-election-year
Duration seconds: 1635

## Resource

The BWCA is making national headlines in early 2026, with a proposed mine near the edge of the wilderness being the primary news item drawing attention to the region. A vote to reverse a mining ban on Superior National Forest is likely happening soon in the U.S. Senate, though any such vote was delayed this week. The podcast duo of M Baxley and Joe Friedrichs discuss the latest and what it means for the Boundary Waters in this news track. Other topics discussed include the consumption of BWCA permits following "Go Live Day" in late January, a conversation with Forest Supervisor Tom Hall about management plans for the BWCA, and what the 2026 election year could mean for the Boundary Waters.

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## Transcript

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