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Here & Now Anytime

Border wall fuels water fight

Jul 17, 2026 · 19 min · 11 segments

Emery, Utah, rancher Kirk Christiansen says the lack of water in his town is changing how he does his job raising cattle. He joins us. And, amid a blistering drought, the federal government is…

Speakers: Peter O'DowdChris BentleyHostKirk ChristiansenGuest

Top entities: Utah×9 New Mexico×18 Emery×5 Peter O'Dowd×12 Donald Trump×10

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EMOTIONAL2:38–3:24
Six Percent of Normal Water
“Utah rancher details dire family water struggle”
EMOTIONAL5:11–5:31
Brown Grass, Saved Bathwater
“Prayers, brown lawns, desperate moves for rain”
INSIGHTFUL4:24–5:10
Cattle Market Catch-22
“Selling cattle can't cover skyrocketing feed costs”
CONTROVERSIAL14:38–15:14
Feds Will Pump Regardless
“Federal letter admits border wells will continue”
INSIGHTFUL16:52–17:40
Groundwater Wild West
“Pumping rules resemble an Old West free-for-all”

UtahAdministrative AreaUS state
98%9 mentions
New MexicoAdministrative AreaUS state
95%18 mentions
EmeryCityTown in Utah
91%5 mentions
Peter O'DowdPerson
88%12 mentions
Donald TrumpPerson45th and 47th U.S. President
84%10 mentions
Western United StatesPlaceRegion in the United States of America
81%7 mentions
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionGovernment OrganizationFederal agency
78%11 mentions
ArizonaAdministrative AreaUS state
74%5 mentions
MathWorksCompanyComputer software corporation
71%4 mentions
SimulinkSoftware ApplicationSoftware
67%3 mentions
MATLABEntityProgramming language
64%3 mentions
National Public RadioCompanyRadio network
60%3 mentions
InstagramSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
57%1 mention
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
53%2 mentions
WBUR-FMRadio StationRadio station
50%2 mentions
Social mediaEntity
47%1 mention
BostonCityCity in Massachusetts
43%2 mentions
Joel FerryPersonExecutive Director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources
40%2 mentions
U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityGovernment OrganizationFederal agency
36%2 mentions
Roosevelt ReservationPlace
33%1 mention
BettermentCompanyInvestment company
29%1 mention
San Bernardino National Wildlife RefugePlaceWildlife refuge in Cochise County, Arizona
26%1 mention
TexasAdministrative AreaUS state
22%2 mentions
CaliforniaAdministrative AreaUS state
19%1 mention
Here and NowEntityNews podcast
16%2 mentions
Michael ScottoPerson
12%1 mention
Viking CruisesCompanyTravel company
9%1 mention
United States Border PatrolGovernment OrganizationFederal agency
5%1 mention
DemingCityCity in New Mexico
2%1 mention

Government PolicyPolitics
Society
United StatesGeography
Water RightsPolitics > Government Policy
DroughtEnvironment > Water Resources
AgricultureEnvironment > Water Resources > Drought
Water Supply EconomicsEconomics > Agricultural Economics
Western United StatesGeography > United States
UtahGeography > United States > Western United States
Community ImpactSociety
Water ResourcesEnvironment
Agricultural EconomicsEconomics
Politics
Environment
Economics
Geography
RanchingEnvironment > Water Resources > Drought > Agriculture
Federal vs State LawPolitics > Government Policy > Water Rights
Border SecurityPolitics > Government Policy > Water Rights > Federal vs State Law
RanchersSociety > Community Impact > Agricultural Communities
Local ResponsesSociety > Community Impact > Agricultural Communities > Ranchers
Cost of FarmingEconomics > Agricultural Economics > Water Supply Economics
Market PricesEconomics > Agricultural Economics > Water Supply Economics > Cost of Farming
New MexicoGeography > United States > Western United States > Utah
Agricultural CommunitiesSociety > Community Impact