Most Utahns wanted to protect their history — but Trump had other plans

Systemic Error Podcast · Aug 21, 2026 · 4m

Utah’s Monuments Weren’t Cut for UtahnsPublic Opinion Was Already ClearTrump’s decision to slash Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante by roughly 90 percent each was dressed up as deference to “the people of Utah.” That framing collapses the moment you look at the polling. Multiple surveys showed Utahns favored keeping the monuments in place, and a large majority opposed shrinking them. The story is not that the public suddenly asked for this. The story is that elected officials kept claiming public backing they did not have.The Decision Belonged to Power, Not ResidentsThe people who…