Nick Engelfried

It's interesting to see "Trump blames voters for possible losses" as a trending topic. I mean, yeah, if Republicans lose it will indeed be because of voters. That's how elections work.

With yesterday's defeat of authoritarian, Trump/Putin aligned presidential candidates in both Brazil and Serbia, the future of democracy looks a little brighter today. Don't let anyone tell you elections don't matter.

I don't live in a swing district. But in these last few weeks I've done the following: -Voted early and filled out my whole ballot. -Gone door-belling in a nearby swing state legislative district. -Donated to voter turnout efforts. We can all play a part saving democracy in this election.

Could water shortages reminiscent of those on the Colorado happen in the Columbia River Basin? It's by no means inevitable, but we need to act now to prevent it. Learn more in my latest story: columbiainsight.org/could-the-co...

Autumn in the woods in Bellingham, WA.

Today's species: Sculptured puffball, Okanogan Mountain Range, WA, 2016. Often found in the mountains of the American West, these big mushrooms are saprophytes, feeding on dead matter. I'm highlighting a species every week as a reminder of Earth's fragile, beautiful biodiversity. Photos are mine.

While millions of ordinary Americans struggle to pay the bills, the president seems focused on vanity renovation projects and throwing parties for himself. The dissonance is astounding. www.baltimoresun.com/2026/10/19/t...

Yes, we do need to put solar panels on farmland in order to fight climate change--and lots of them. Here's why: nickengelfried.substack.com/p/why-we-act...

Mushroom mania is one of the most prominent nature appreciation movements to sweep the country in recent years. Here's a reflection on the phenomenon in honor of this year's mushroom season: medium.com/@nick-engelf...

Today's species: Porcupine, Glacier Bay National Park, 2026. These big, spiky rodents have one of the most distinctive defense systems in the animal world. I'm highlighting a species every week as a reminder of Earth's fragile, beautiful biodiversity. Photos are mine.

A few good ways to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day: -Buy from Indigenous-owned local businesses -Speak out against unwanted extraction on Indigenous land -Support the Land Back movement, financially or otherwise -Learn about this history of Indigenous nations near you -Have hard conversations

The fight over Washington's legacy forests will determine the fate of tens of thousands of acres--and what conservation groups need to do to win is now becoming clear. In this post, I break down two years of reporting on this issue: nickengelfried.substack.com/p/battle-lin...

Drax's plan for a wood-burning data center in Yorkshire just got dealt a big setback. This is a victory for climate organizing: www.planninggeek.co.uk/2026/drax-ai... Bonus: learn why wood biomass energy is bad for the climate in this piece I wrote a while back: therevelator.org/biomass-emis...

The fate of tens of thousands of acres of older forests in Washington depends on the state finding new ways to generate revenue without logging. Read all about it in this story, for which I spoke with State Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove: columbiainsight.org/does-washint...

South Korea is serious about leading the clean tech revolution and positioning itself as a major player in the new economy. It's yet another sign of how the US, with its embrace of fossil fuels under Trump, is falling behind in the clean energy race. www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/p...

Vote early this No Kings Day!

Fall day on Chuckanut Mountain near Bellingham, WA.

Oct 6 is the last day to comment in support of wild places protected by the Roadless Rule. Submit your comment today! act.sierraclub.org/actions/Nati...

Today's species: Matamata turtle, Peruvian Amazon, 2008. These turtles are almost perfectly camouflaged when at rest on a muddy river bottom, where they ambush fish and invertebrates. I'm highlighting a species every week as a reminder of Earth's fragile, beautiful biodiversity. Photos are mine.

The public backlash against AI and data centers is like nothing I've witnessed in my lifetime. The speed at which public opinion is shifting from ambivalence, to recognizing AI as an existential threat, is dizzying. I'm eager to see what comes next for this movement.

Congrats to California on becoming the 10th state to streamline balcony solar! www.yahoo.com/news/politic... PS - for the backstory on how the grassroots movement for balcony solar started, see my piece from last year on Simplify Solar: wagingnonviolence.org/2025/10/simp...

The view from Ptarmigan Ridge, Mount Baker Wilderness.

Today's species: Arrowleaf balsamroot, Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, MT, 2015. These plants' deep taproots are adapted to reach water deep underground in dry environments. I'm highlighting a species every week as a reminder of Earth's fragile, beautiful biodiversity. Photos are mine.

Who benefits most from tax cuts? The wealthy. Who loses when social programs get cut? Lower-income people. The "Big Beautiful" bill is a transfer of wealth to the rich. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...

More leaders like this, please.

Today's species: Imperial moth, San Ignacio, Belize, 2009. These insects are truly spectacular members of the giant silk moth family, with wingspans of up to 7 inches. I'm highlighting a species every week as a reminder of Earth's fragile, beautiful biodiversity. Photos are mine.

Price of gas and diesel in Bellingham, WA today. Trump owns this.

Porteau Cove Provincial Park, BC.

Alpine zone around Whistler, BC.

The Trail of Ancient Cedars in Whistler, BC. These trees would have been cut down in the 80s without a grassroots movement that saved them from logging. Never doubt organizing makes a difference.

Views from along BC's Sea to Sky Highway corridor. Canada is a beautiful country--that deserves to be left alone by the US.

Sitkana is doing amazing work to bring clean, tidal power to Alaska's coastal communities. More in my latest story, profiling Sitkana and founder Lance McMullan: thetyee.ca/WhatWorks/20...

Roadless and at risk: the Trump Forest Service wants to repeal the Roadless Rule, opening 45 million acres to logging. Affected area shown here: Tongass National Forest, Alaska. Submit a comment against the repeal by September 21: act.sierraclub.org/actions/Nati...

Roadless and at risk: the Trump Forest Service wants to repeal the Roadless Rule, opening 45 million acres to logging. Affected area shown here: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie Forest near Snoqualmie Pass, WA. Submit a comment against the repeal by September 21: act.sierraclub.org/actions/Nati...

Roadless and at risk: the Trump Forest Service wants to repeal the Roadless Rule, opening 45 million acres to logging. Affected areas include spots like the one shown here in Gallatin National Forest, Montana. Submit a comment against the repeal by September 21: act.sierraclub.org/actions/Nati...

Today's species: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, North Cascades National Park, 2026. These smallish, largely nocturnal pit vipers are found throughout the dry country of the Western US. I'm highlighting a species every week as a reminder of Earth's fragile, beautiful biodiversity. Photos are mine.

Turns out $2 million is the pricetag for getting a GOP governor to endorse data centers with their massive energy & water use. Fun fact: Nevada is home to what will likely be the first data center on US public lands. www.levernews.com/nevada-gover...

Seasonal changes in late summer are less celebrated than those of spring or fall, but no less a part of the cycle that keeps ecosystems functioning. Here are some signs of seasonal change from yesterday's walk in the woods.

Today's species: Lazuli Bunting, Lolo National Forest, Montana, 2015. One of the most exquisitely beautiful songbirds in North America, I feel lucky to have spotted this one. I'm highlighting a species every week as a reminder of Earth's fragile, beautiful biodiversity. Photos are mine.

Republicans, the party who uses "the debt" to justify cutting social programs, control all branches of the government. They can pass fiscal policy with a simple majority in Congress if they want to. They sat back as the debt reached $40 trillion, and now they own it. www.cnbc.com/2026/08/19/u...

Today's species: Vine Maple, Olympic National Park, 2026. While not as grand as larger maple species, this is one of our most beautiful and distinctive PNW forest shrubs. I'm highlighting a species every week as a reminder of Earth's fragile, beautiful biodiversity. Photos are mine.

Great coverage from @heatmap.news of the growing data center resistance. A key quote: "Earlier this year, a JPMorgan report warned that 60% of data center capacity slated to open in 2027 had yet to start construction as of early June." heatmap.news/politics/dat...

Glacier Bay National Park, July 2026. Three million acres of wilderness that are about as wild and beautiful as it gets.

Far from being pests, cicadas are fascinating insects worthy of celebrating. medium.com/@nick-engelf...

This week's species: moss campion, Juneau, AK, 2026. These flowers grow in beautiful pink mats in the PNW alpine areas. They are "nurse plants," creating habitat for many other species. I'm highlighting a species every week as a reminder of Earth's fragile, beautiful biodiversity. Photos are mine.

It's hot right now across much of the US. Here are some tips for how to stay safe: -Make fossil fuel companies pay for climate damages, and fund resilient communities. -Transition to clean energy so climate change stops getting worse. -Enact data center moratoriums to fight spiking energy demand.

The exquisite Salish Sea, as viewed from Mount Constitution, Orcas Island.

Last week in Glacier Peak Wilderness Area. The world is still a beautiful place.

The heat dome crushing Europe right now isn't a fluke or a "natural" disaster. It's climate change, and it's the result of decades of decisions by world leaders who sided with the fossil fuel industry. www.cnn.com/2026/06/22/c...

This week's species: western spotted orb weaver, Antelope Island, UT, 2025. Though found across much of the Southwest, these spiders reach peak abundance around Utah's Great Salt Lake. I'm highlighting a species every week as a reminder of Earth's fragile, beautiful biodiversity. Photos are mine.