Presidential words can turn the unthinkable into the thinkable − for better or for worse For years, Donald Trump’s rhetoric has relied on insult, ridicule, threat and contempt. But the scale of violence in his words during the first week of April 2026 was new – and had a purpose.

It matters how a president speaks.

Because their words don’t just persuade — they set the boundaries of what feels possible, acceptable… even inevitable.

That’s how the unthinkable starts to sound normal, according to a scholar of presidential rhetoric.

theconversation.com/presidential...

Congratulations to Dr. Seth Kannarr, who successfully defended his dissertation: “What’s in a Name? Reimagining the Geography of Naming Designations in the USA National Park System.”

You’re not going to be alone in national parks this summer – enjoy the company Being in public parks and natural environments with other visitors is a powerful opportunity to enhance enjoyment rather than detract from it.

theconversation.com/youre-not-go...

After all, a good professional sports team name not only should be catchy and convey a competitive edge, but also in some way reflect the energy, culture, or geography of that place.

What other NBA teams names for Las Vegas would you propose?

#NBA #LasVegas

Although I like the 'Las Vegas Oasis' idea, I would propose the following team names instead:
- Las Vegas Spades
- Las Vegas Scorpions
- Las Vegas Highrollers
- Sin City Sinners

If NBA expands to Las Vegas, what would the team be called? We have ideas It would be a shock if a Seattle team wasn't called the SuperSonics, but it's a different story for a (potential) team in Vegas.

NBA expansion team name ideas for Las Vegas included in this article:
- Las Vegas Jokers
- Blackjacks of Las Vegas
- Las Vegas Sharks
- Las Vegas Oasis
- Las Vegas Diamonds
- The Vegas, Babies
- Las Vegas Dealers

#LasVegas #NBA

Signs of the times: Removing stories of America's past from our national parks YouTube video by CBS Sunday Morning

“But don’t ruin it for the rest of us who have come to rely on National Parks as places where we can go for that learning, we want to maintain their ability - unimpaired - to be able to talk about the full scope of our history - wonder, warts, and all.”

youtu.be/3HSTalQnws0?...

PSF Student-Led Special Issue Solicitation Letter Greetings Fellow Students of the George Wright Society! I am writing to you all because I want to extend an invitation to participate in a special student-centered issue of the Parks Stewardship Foru...

Are you a student who is looking for a publication opportunity for research work related to parks and protected areas?

If so, click the following link to learn more about the Park Stewardship Forum's upcoming student-centered special issue for January 2027!

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Always a pleasure to collaborate with @derekgeographer.bsky.social and @katgeographic.bsky.social! We’ve enjoyed our time writing articles for @theconversation.com and have found them to be of immense value in the classroom.

The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) met today and recommended these design candidates for the 2027 Youth Sports Quarters and Paralympic Sports Half-Dollar programs.

View high-resolution images of all design candidates here: www.ccac.gov/portfolios

#USMint #CCAC #YouthSports #Coins

I asked students whether they’d want to be teachers? They quickly responded, ‘Why would I?’ Approximately 52% of teachers in 2024 said they would not advise young adults to enter the profession.

Kids don’t want to be teachers when they grow up anymore.

“Why would I?” high schoolers ask — pointing to low pay, burnout and lack of respect.

Teachers earn just 73¢ on the dollar compared to other college grads, and 1 in 8 open teaching positions remain unfilled.

The Gulf of What? Has Trump's name change caught on? It's been a year since President Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. We asked people along its shores what they actually call it.

"He was not simply changing the name. He was actually enacting a different worldview..."

Kudos to @derekgeographer.bsky.social for contributing remarks for another national news piece on place renaming!

www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

It was a pleasure to co-organize this special issue for The Geography Teacher on “U.S. Parks and Protected Areas” with Dr. Mayra Roman-Rivera. I was also proud to contribute authorship on an introductory essay, a lesson plan, and a book review for it. Check it out if interested!

www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Writing for The Conversation Adds to Scholarship ROI - College of Arts and Sciences Faculty from UT’s College of Arts and Sciences reach millions of people with their research by writing articles distributed through news organizations around the world. Faculty from the University of ...

Grateful to @derekgeographer.bsky.social for introducing me to @theconversation.com and providing me with valuable mentorship in writing articles. I’m five articles in and looking forward to writing many more in the coming years!

artsci.utk.edu/writing-for-...

Symbolism isn’t enough: What Tennessee’s MLK streets reveal about investment and power • Tennessee Lookout The naming of streets in Tennessee for Rev. Martin Luther King has come about through the activism of Black leaders.

tennesseelookout.com/2026/01/19/s...

Looking for an awesome park-specific academic conference to attend this year?

If so, consider submitting a proposal to GWS Park Forum 2026, happening in Knoxville, TN this year!

Read the full CFP at the following link:

www.georgewrightsociety.org/parkforum-2026

Ocmulgee Mounds preserves ancient earthworks in an area occupied by humans for 12,000 years. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Big news for #conservation and cultural heritage! Seth Kannarr, Ph.D. Candidate @utkgeography.bsky.social explains how the Ocmulgee Mounds in Georgia may soon earn the prestigious designation of National Park. buff.ly/Bm65LE4

📌 Should more historical and cultural sites receive national park status?

Trump administration replaces America 250 quarters honoring abolition and women’s suffrage with Mayflower and Gettysburg designs US coins showcase American identity and public memory through their designs. The America 250 coins just unveiled reflect the nation’s divided politics and history.

Trump administration replaces America 250 quarters honoring abolition and women’s suffrage with Mayflower and Gettysburg designs buff.ly/pctFoy7

Debate renewed over adding new national park to the American West Support for the distinction is mixed, and efforts have been underway for years.

www.sfgate.com/national-par...

Trump administration replaces America 250 quarters honoring abolition and women’s suffrage with Mayflower and Gettysburg designs US coins showcase American identity and public memory through their designs. The America 250 coins just unveiled reflect the nation’s divided politics and history.

theconversation.com/trump-admini...

New 'America the Beautiful' Pass Design and Categories Are Illegal, Lawsuit Says Center for Biological Diversity sues Trump administration over 2026 national parks passes

open.substack.com/pub/ourpubli...

What does it mean to be a new national park? Ocmulgee Mounds in Georgia may soon find out Ocmulgee Mounds may soon be redesignated by Congress as America’s 64th national park. But what does this actually mean, and why does it matter?

Ocmulgee Mounds in Georgia, which contains 12,000 years of Indigenous history, may become the newest U.S. national park. But here's the catch: the redesignation won't actually offer additional legal protection or funding for the site. buff.ly/3xXsR9p

What does it mean to be a new national park? Ocmulgee Mounds in Georgia may soon find out Ocmulgee Mounds may soon be redesignated by Congress as America’s 64th national park. But what does this actually mean, and why does it matter?

theconversation.com/what-does-it...

2025’s words of the year reflect a year of digital disillusionment From AI slop to rage bait, to the cryptic ‘6-7,’ this year’s slate captures a growing sense that online life is flooded with fakery, frustration and meaninglessness.

theconversation.com/2025s-words-...

Drones, physics and rats: Studies show how the people of Rapa Nui made and moved the giant statues – and what caused the island’s deforestation The mysteries of Easter Island, subjects of speculation for centuries, yield to scientific inquiry.

theconversation.com/drones-physi...

National Park Access and Fees Get Major Overhaul in 2026 Interior Department makes annual passes fully digital, increases fees for non-residents, and announces "patriotic fee-free days"

Today, the Interior Department rolled out one of the biggest changes to national park access and fees in years, if not decades, and it will reshape how people—both U.S. residents and international visitors—get into places like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon.

#nationalparks #parkchat