Episode 178: The High Stakes of State Wildlife Governance and the Fight for Direct Democracy with Michelle Lute

Episode 178 is titled The High Stakes of State Wildlife Governance and the Fight for Direct Democracy with Michelle Lute. Michelle is the executive director of Wildlife for All and vice president of the Rewilding Institute. She has a PhD in wildlife management and has authored more than 30 publications across ecology and the social sciences.

2,300 endangered species: Controversial de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences joins U.S. effort to preserve their DNA

Colossal Biosciences and the Trump administration announce a partnership on June 25, 2026 to preserve cells, tissue and DNA from threatened and endangered species. Colossal and the Fish and Wildlife Service will collaborate to identify high-priority actions and the government will provide a list of which species it wants to prioritize.

What went right this week: the good news that matters

The latest edition of the Environmental Performance Index assesses 177 nations on their stewardship of the environment. Estonia tops the index, followed by Luxembourg and the UK. The only non-European nation in the top 20 is Japan, while Australia ranks 25th. Laos sits at the foot of the table, behind India and Bangladesh.

The 5 must-watch science shows of 2026 so far

Bethan Ackerley recommends five must-watch science documentaries of the year to date. They include AI Confidential with Hannah Fry, Cecil: The Lion and the dentist, Artemis: To the moon and back, Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s greatest adventure and Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare.

THE SHOW NOTES: Shocking Pardons, Iran Threats, and Sky-High Costs

Dan Mandis is filling in on the radio today. Marco Rubio steps in after Tim Walz pardoned illegal alien child rapist before deportation. Delta expects higher airfare to last, bringing 2026 profit goal in reach. Israel warned US of new Iranian plot to kill Trump. Facebook and Instagram’s ‘addictive design’ may violate European law. California drew 10 times more venture capital than any other state this year. Mitch McConnell is in hospital for 25 days.

Once endangered, Australia's numbat is making a hopeful recovery

IUCN has downlisted the numbat from endangered to near threatened. The numbat is the emblem of Western Australia. By the late 1970s, there were only 300 numbat in existence. Today, there are about 2,000-3,000 numbat living in southern Australia. Conservationists have worked hard to control introduced predators.

Episode 178: The High Stakes of State Wildlife Governance and the Fight for Direct Democracy with Michelle Lute
Episode 178: The High Stakes of State Wildlife Governance and the Fight for Direct Democracy with Michelle Lute

Episode 178 is titled The High Stakes of State Wildlife Governance and the Fight for Direct Democracy with Michelle Lute. Michelle is the executive director of Wildlife for All and vice president of the Rewilding Institute. She has a PhD in wildlife management and has authored more than 30 publications across ecology and the social sciences.

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2,300 endangered species: Controversial de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences joins U.S. effort to preserve their DNA
2,300 endangered species: Controversial de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences joins U.S. effort to preserve their DNA

Colossal Biosciences and the Trump administration announce a partnership on June 25, 2026 to preserve cells, tissue and DNA from threatened and endangered species. Colossal and the Fish and Wildlife Service will collaborate to identify high-priority actions and the government will provide a list of which species it wants to prioritize.

Genetic Literacy Project
science
What went right this week: the good news that matters
What went right this week: the good news that matters

The latest edition of the Environmental Performance Index assesses 177 nations on their stewardship of the environment. Estonia tops the index, followed by Luxembourg and the UK. The only non-European nation in the top 20 is Japan, while Australia ranks 25th. Laos sits at the foot of the table, behind India and Bangladesh.

Positive News
news
The 5 must-watch science shows of 2026 so far
The 5 must-watch science shows of 2026 so far

Bethan Ackerley recommends five must-watch science documentaries of the year to date. They include AI Confidential with Hannah Fry, Cecil: The Lion and the dentist, Artemis: To the moon and back, Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s greatest adventure and Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare.

New Scientist - Home
news
THE SHOW NOTES: Shocking Pardons, Iran Threats, and Sky-High Costs
THE SHOW NOTES: Shocking Pardons, Iran Threats, and Sky-High Costs

Dan Mandis is filling in on the radio today. Marco Rubio steps in after Tim Walz pardoned illegal alien child rapist before deportation. Delta expects higher airfare to last, bringing 2026 profit goal in reach. Israel warned US of new Iranian plot to kill Trump. Facebook and Instagram’s ‘addictive design’ may violate European law. California drew 10 times more venture capital than any other state this year. Mitch McConnell is in hospital for 25 days.

Unknown
Once endangered, Australia's numbat is making a hopeful recovery
Once endangered, Australia's numbat is making a hopeful recovery

IUCN has downlisted the numbat from endangered to near threatened. The numbat is the emblem of Western Australia. By the late 1970s, there were only 300 numbat in existence. Today, there are about 2,000-3,000 numbat living in southern Australia. Conservationists have worked hard to control introduced predators.

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