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News & Current Events Mar 27, 2026 at 4:00 PM

How the world's largest wildlife crossing became the target of right-wing hate

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Pump_and_Magdump Mar 27, 2026 +938
That's f****** obvious. Republicans are God damn monsters who hate it when anyone shows any compassion for anyone or anything other than them.
938
absentmindedjwc Mar 27, 2026 +365
Even without compassion.. hitting an animal can f*** up your car. You could give literally zero fucks about wildlife *and still support shit like this*...
365
Pump_and_Magdump Mar 27, 2026 +143
Yeah, similar logic applies to a hell of a lot of other things Republicans push. But the hate is just too goddamn strong. Makes it impossible for them to do an honest evaluation of what is in their best interest.
143
jrob321 Mar 27, 2026 +74
The Republican party under Richard Nixon passed the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act because a core principle of conservatism is "conservation". (It's literally in the word lol. The Cuyahoga River would regularly be on fire before those acts passed. The American Bald Eagle was nearly extinct.) But then Ronald Reagan and his cronies rolled into town and began the dismantling process which has been ongoing for the past 46 years. Our nation has been torn down at our own peril, and all so a very select group of individuals can sit upon a higher pile of gold as part of a pathologically sinister d*** measuring contest among themselves. Donald Trump is just the useful idiot the Republicans were looking for with each passing day our society becomes more isolated, alienated, self-centered, and less intelligent. He is doing the bidding for the Republican party. And they have NEVER been shy about their message nor their intents. The Republicans could stop every last bit of this today - in an instant - but they won't because they are NOT American patriots. They are sleezy opportunists who co-opted our government to serve their own interests. They don't give a f*** about anybody but themselves. As bad as the Democrats are, I'm not going to be the enlightened centrist who reminds everyone, "bOtH siDeS..." As bad as they are, and as beholden to corporate interests they become to ensure their own survival, they are nowhere near as sociopathic as the Republicans and all that disgraceful party's followers.
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Truth_ Mar 27, 2026 +33
Good points, but I'll point out Nixon actually vetoed the Clean Water Act, and then when Congress overrode it, he refused to fund it which got brought to the Supreme Court and they forced him to.
33
jrob321 Mar 27, 2026 +11
Agree, but it does go to show the Republican party was willing to do what benefitted the nation in a purely "conservative" manner back then. Since 1980, the wheels are off the bus, the bus is on fire, it's broken through the guardrails, and it's plunging into a ravine for no other reason than acquiescing to the whims of billionaires. I guess "democracy" was fun while it lasted.
11
The_Lost_Jedi Mar 27, 2026 +7
A fair bit of that was because for a long time they thought the public would turn on them if they openly admitted what they were after. They'd support lesser measures, or weaker solutions and such, instead. Today they don't even bother to acknowledge the problems at all, and insist that the "real" problem is the attempts to do something about it in the first place, if anything.
7
degeneration Mar 28, 2026 +3
And that’s because conservatives conspired to co-opt the media to become essentially a conservative echo chamber, where they can prime their outraged audience with more and more outrage, outraged icing on the outrage cake. So there is no public to hold them accountable because they’ve socially engineered their “public” to accept the lies and manipulation that they sling.
3
The_Lost_Jedi Mar 28, 2026 +1
Yes. It's not just Fox and other Right-wing media, but also the way they've continually browbeaten traditional news outlets into never calling them out, or softballing it when they (rarely) do. Even before the more recent billionaire oligarch buyouts, they were already reflexively cowed, and prone to blaming Democrats for shit the Republicans were doing, because it was the Democrats' fault if Republicans did something bad, etc.
1
MRSN4P Mar 27, 2026 +10
• Clean Water Act: proposed by a democrat Edmund Muskie. Vetoed by Nixon. Veto overridden by Congress. • Clean Air Act: Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1963. • Endangered Species Act: proposed by democrat Harrison A. Williams, passed with overwhelming popularity through Congress. • EPA: proposed by two democratic congresscritters after the Cuyahoga River Fire. The public was outraged and demanding action. Nixon attempted to get free PR by signing these laws after understanding that he could not oppose or redirect the public outcry. In every case as far as I can see, each law was a very popular initiative put forward by democrats and Nixon did not have enough leverage to fight against them. Nixon gets zero credit for these laws.
10
jrob321 Mar 27, 2026 +5
The point being made was not about Nixon, but rather the Republicans needed to override his veto. They passed during his administration. I had misremebered Johnson passing the CAA in '63. The Republican party dissent was necessary to get the 2/3 override. That will never happen under the present circumstances, despite the Republicans' ability to stop this madness right now. Trump is doing *their* bidding. It's not - despite all appearances - the other way around. They're letting him grift the f*** out of the Presidency as long as they get to dismantle the country.
5
MRSN4P Mar 27, 2026 +3
No disagreements there, but I suspect that the Republican part dissent was driven by public outrage.
3
wittymcusername Mar 28, 2026 +1
I really thought I was about to read “similar logic applies to republicans… hitting one can really f*** up your car.”
1
OkRush9563 Mar 27, 2026 +68
Same with climate change. Even if you don't give a f*** about animals and plants, it just makes sense to not f*** up the planet so we can live comfortably instead of fighting a war over water. For fucks sake even if one doesn't give a f*** about the bees they should still support preventing them from going extinct so we can still have things like honey.
68
Sensitive-Deal3605 Mar 27, 2026 +33
We willingly breathe in this air pollution to appease billionaire oil execs. Like even if you think climate change is fake there’s so many reasons to clean the environment
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absentmindedjwc Mar 27, 2026 +28
F****** this. "Climate change is fake, we need more c**** power - open more coal power plants!!" Yeah.. even if it were fake, coal power plants smell like shit and fucks with general air quality for the entire f****** region.. even if its fake.. why the f*** would you want to breathe that shit in??
28
ThingCalledLight Mar 27, 2026 +10
It’s always been mind-boggling to me: “Even if climate change is 100% natural and not man made…wouldn’t you still want to do things to stop it? Wouldn’t you still want better air? Better water?”
10
KnowAllSeeAll21 Mar 27, 2026 +3
Well it's not like anyone will build them in their backyard. As long as it's happening to people they dislike, they're cool with it.
3
OkRush9563 Mar 27, 2026 +14
OMG that too. I can at least understand why someone doesn't believe in climate change for the simple fact that people have short attention spans and probably can't remember what the weather was like a week ago, but when someone says smog is not dangerous they have lost the goddamn plot and are a lost cause.
14
imaveryniceKaren Mar 27, 2026 +6
And they have children and grandchildren ... they seriously give NO thought to cancer causing chemicals, horrific storms?
6
OkRush9563 Mar 27, 2026 +6
"That's your generations problem" Something a Listnookor said his own dad said to him/her. I believe him/her, there's a lot of shitty people who have kids and don't give a damn about their future.
6
InsertNonsenseHere Mar 27, 2026 +2
Jesus is coming back any day now so why plan ahead? Seriously that's one of their arguments. Armageddon is their get out of giving a f*** free card.
2
SailingSpark Mar 27, 2026 +4
https://www.thepoke.com/2026/03/26/a-republican-lawmaker-said-she-doesnt-believe-in-climate-change-because-its-not-in-the-bible-14-heaven-sent-clapbacks/
4
b_tight Mar 27, 2026 +3
Because that would require them to make even the slightest sacrifice. And that is completely unacceptable to them.
3
theroguex Mar 28, 2026 +1
It is so bizarre to me.. like, even if climate change isn't real, wouldn't it still be better to limit pollution, make our energy sources more efficient, cleaner, and more sustainable, and just try to take better care of our planet anyway?
1
mmf9194 Mar 27, 2026 +10
Literally nothing matters to them besides opposing things they think "liberals" like. That's it.
10
beefyzac Mar 27, 2026 +7
If you’ve heard them talk about protesters then you know that they’re fans of hitting things with their cars.
7
Kryptosis Mar 27, 2026 +3
These are the same idiots who argue that self driving cars would eventually eliminate all auto accidents. As if weather, wildlife and mechanical failures don’t exist.
3
sack-o-matic Mar 27, 2026 +3
Even if you don’t take the bus it’s better for you if they exist because it takes others off the road and out of your way.
3
kerthard Mar 27, 2026 +7
Deer can total the car, as well as maybe kill the driver/shotgun passenger. Plus, deer are f****** stupid.
7
Drakan47 Mar 27, 2026 +2
Their solution would be hunting the animals to extinction
2
StrigiStockBacking Mar 27, 2026 +52
Their whole agenda is centered on "does this piss off someone else?" That's it. It explains *all of it*, bar none.
52
dogsledonice Mar 27, 2026 +8
Anything that will distract their followers from what they're actually doing. They've got nothing for the little guy except culture wars. So, it's all culture wars
8
Desperate-Till-9228 Mar 27, 2026 +4
This is where the golden rule is so powerful lol
4
jemappellejimbo Mar 27, 2026 +3
A good majority does it hurt non whites?
3
WickedTemp Mar 27, 2026 +49
And to add onto this, I got curious and looked it up. Evidently these bridges do actually work. Collisions go down, animals actually use them and even have preferences on what terrains they are more likely to use. We have data on this and they've been shown to work.  This is a net benefit to literally everyone and the ecosystem itself and not only do conservatives not care, many of them have been directly threatening the lives of people involved in this project. 
49
silicondali Mar 27, 2026 +10
We've had them in Banff National Park for as long as I can remember and I'm in my 40s. The monitoring data suggests higher predator activity because it creates a bottleneck, but the impact is less severe than the uptick in predation seen in cleared corridors for linear infrastructure or (outside of parks) seismic lines. There's a net benefit from both an environmental and economic perspective. Tourists don't usually recommend a vacation after an elk totals the rental car and they have to deal with a rural Alberta emergency room.
10
Bahamabanana Mar 27, 2026 +15
It's more devious though: Most of these stories are brigaded by bots and paid shills with no other agenda than spread hate or ruin any signs of innovation in favor of an established elite. Republicans aren't wolves in sheep's clothing, they're just sheep.
15
Character-Parfait-42 Mar 27, 2026 +9
It’s weird to me that they also complain about deer populations being smaller and making the hunting less good. Same for fish populations and fishing. Lots of stories of “when I was a kid the fish were 3x as big and you could catch 5 a day. Now you’re struggling to catch a single keeper. My grandkids likely won’t have fish to catch at all” they’ll say with a frown and a sad shake of the head. And then in the same breath hate on environmental policies that would increase the deer and fish populations.
9
TransitJohn Mar 27, 2026 +5
They prefer suffering. Any decision to be made, they will invariably be on the side of the decision that increases suffering. They're demonic.
5
tommytwolegs Mar 27, 2026 +4
It also importantly has absolutely nothing to do with them or their lives. It's in LA county, how many of them are paying a cent towards this or will even ever see it in their lives. They just get worked up by their hatred because it gives them meaning in life and a sense of identity they for some reason are entirely lacking.
4
SailingSpark Mar 27, 2026 +2
Its more than that, it's money the .0001% won't get.
2
Aggravating_Rise_179 Mar 27, 2026 +312
I swear to God, do they have to hate everything
312
OkRush9563 Mar 27, 2026 +126
Their amygdala (part of the brain responsible for strong emotions) is bigger than normal, so yes. They literally have to have a strong feeling about everything, usually negative. It's also why they say "wOmEn aRe ToO eMoTiOnAl", they're f****** projecting. My mom projects onto other women all the time. It doesn't excuse the shitty behavior though, as a lot of people were formally conservative and developed enough self-awareness to realize they were being too irrational in the face of facts.
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root_fifth_octave Mar 27, 2026 +50
Fear is the mind killer.
50
buck70 Mar 27, 2026 +20
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
20
TheGreatLuck Mar 27, 2026 +12
Yes but the little death in French is quite different
12
Celloer Mar 27, 2026 +2
Just need a good panic attack for some post-fear clarity.
2
Married_iguanas Mar 27, 2026 +4
La peur es la petite mort
4
cooldash Mar 27, 2026 +5
I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
5
DubiyaBhee Mar 27, 2026 +4
When the fear has gone, I will turn the inner eye and see fear's path.
4
Ok-Opposite2309 Mar 27, 2026 +4
They also, somehow, don’t consider ‘anger’ as an emotion. 
4
zombie_79_94 Mar 27, 2026 +13
Post-covid anything is fair game for the culture wars, I knew it when they started going after energy saver appliances and battery saver mode a few years ago.
13
mr_evilweed Mar 27, 2026 +7
You have to process first that Conservative politicians cannot solve the problems actual americans face because those problems are caused by conservative donors. So how do you convince people yo keep voting for you if you cant do anything to help them? You convince them to fixate on minor nonsense that isnt actually a problem. Trans people in sports. Bibles in classrooms. Pronouns. Animal crossings. Then you spend all your time campaigning against these meaningless non-problems and your base keeps supporting you.
7
Abhoth52 Mar 27, 2026 +4
Yes, the answer is yes
4
iFuckingLoveBoston Mar 27, 2026 +2
They really really like 12 year old girls.
2
AdventurousNecessary Mar 27, 2026 +76
So building a land bridge over a busy highway that will reduce animal related car accidents which would in theory make insurance cheaper is a bad thing?
76
Uncreative-Name Mar 27, 2026 +36
Buying appliances that save you money by using less power, higher mileage cars that reduce the demand for gas they love to complain about the prices of, and making cheaper electricity without burning anything are also bad.
36
nlewis4 Mar 27, 2026 +8
yes because libruls bad
8
Familiar-Complex-697 Mar 28, 2026 +1
they got their orders, don’t expect any thoughts behind those eyes
1
Gooser3000 Mar 27, 2026 +165
I really don’t understand republicans that are hunters, fisherman, outdoorsman that don’t appreciate or respect conservation of their own recreation. I met a guy that hunts and shoots coyotes and bobcats for sport. Unfortunately I guess the regs are pretty loose and there are no limits especially; he showed me pictures of just dozens of coyotes and bobcats he killed all lined up in a single hunt, and he had been doing for years. He then complained that his hunts weren’t as productive as in past years . I said do you think you are reducing their breeder population with over culling? He just laughed and said no
165
HentaiVictim Mar 27, 2026 +38
There's a show called Alone and the amount of men who go on with the mentality of "I will dominate nature" and lose early is wild. The ones who do well have more of a harmonious view of nature. There's also a cross over of "dominate nature" and Christian beliefs.
38
RaspberryCommie Mar 27, 2026 +15
Which is stupid. Sure in the Bible, man was given dominion over nature but we're meant to steward it, not wreck it for fun. It's like your dad asking you to keep his garden while he's away and you just stamp all over it because its "yours" now.
15
Fifth-Crusader Mar 28, 2026 +1
Thank you. To be "good stewards of the Earth" means to care about its health. This used to be something conservatives cared about strongly. Strongly enough that NIXON created the EPA, in fact.
1
BillieBlanus Mar 27, 2026 +94
Because all of that was a ruse. They like to kill (and dominate) things. The end. There are exceptions, but there are exceptions to all things. They just don't care, and we can talk about empathy etc as far as why. That's just who they are. However. Rightwing billionaires control the narrative, and they will create false narratives about *anything* that takes money out of their pocket, including even this bridge. Because imagine, if we build one bridge, there will be more!
94
OkRush9563 Mar 27, 2026 +43
They never take responsibility. It's like my former friend who complained how all his exs were bitches. I asked him did it ever cross his mind that maybe he was the problem and he said no, they were all just bitches. Another friend summed it up pretty well when he said "either he's turning them into bitches or he's attracting/going for bitches."
43
TheGreatLuck Mar 27, 2026 +18
I think he's just a b****
18
kn0wph33r Mar 27, 2026 +9
Man I hate hunters like that. I hunt, but I feel genuinely saddened at taking a life, and consider very carefully if it’s worth it. I don’t like factory farming, and I find harvesting my own meat more ethical, but I don’t at all enjoy killing. People like the guy in your example strike me as unbalanced in some fundamental way.
9
Gooser3000 Mar 27, 2026 +8
Yes seeing dozens of those beautiful bobcats and even coyotes just lined up was gut wrenching. 
8
DistractedPhoenix Mar 27, 2026 +8
It’s cover for their bloodlust. They love the feeling of taking or controlling a life.
8
fresh_dyl Mar 27, 2026 +6
Tbf there are many conservatives around me (Midwest/Great Lakes region) that are pretty environmentally conscious. If only because they know they have to be if they want to continue hunting/fishing, and because our local economy is dependent on tourism. They might have selfish reasons, but they’re essentially doing the right thing.
6
Baconaise Mar 27, 2026 +1
God but these animals here and if God wants to let them die off then it's God's will God dammit. - Avg Republican
1
RedditReader4031 Mar 27, 2026 +70
The real takeaway is that this form of organized, coordinated and polished propaganda has been streamlined and adapted in a way that works well. That has expanded its use.
70
Own-Run8201 Mar 27, 2026 +29
In other words, social media has destroyed our democracy.
29
turb0_encapsulator Mar 27, 2026 +11
it wouldn't work if people weren't so poorly educated to begin with.
11
Fiveofthem Mar 27, 2026 +10
Pretty much yea
10
IMistah_S Mar 27, 2026 +79
> Right-wing influencers and conservative social media accounts like End Wokeness and Libs of TikTok reshared misinformation about the bridge, with some accusing the state of trying to bring more mountain lions into residential areas. Lmao
79
Modo_Autorator Mar 27, 2026 +31
“The libs are building bridges so the leopards can come eat our faces”
31
ScoobyDone Mar 27, 2026 +6
Nothing worse than a neighborhood overrun with cougars.
6
kennedye2112 Mar 27, 2026 +2
Unless they're hot and in my area, that is!
2
Celloer Mar 27, 2026 +2
No, I mean [***mountain cats.***](https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/08/29/the-woods-part-three)
2
soupaman Mar 27, 2026 +2
I heard something once about how more cougars results in fewer human deaths. Because they eat deer and other animals which can cause deadly car accidents. No idea if it’s true but it passes my sniff test. Don’t really hear about many people being killed by cougar.
2
OMalleyOrOblivion Mar 27, 2026 +1
Replace the first three letters of that and you'd have what they consider "worse".
1
Novel_Quote8017 Mar 27, 2026 +102
Evilness out of f****** principle. And people tell me I should empathize with this shit.
102
Ill-Language-9178 Mar 27, 2026 +29
I’ve never, once, told people to empathize with this. We don’t negotiate with terrorists and we don’t break bread with Nazis
29
Then_Owl_3613 Mar 27, 2026 +7
Damn, taking that line for next time 💪
7
bane_undone Mar 27, 2026
Republicans don't belong in government. They should be replaced by Libertarians or some other rational group.
0
um--no Mar 27, 2026 +3
These are just closeted republicans. They just don't like to admit it.
3
bilbobadcat Mar 27, 2026 +21
It'd be cool if the right wing knew that not everything has to be a culture war fight. Buncha obnoxious pricks.
21
Taurpion Mar 27, 2026 +3
You expect them to care about policy that affects their everyday lives? Must be crazy
3
Back_at_it_agains Mar 27, 2026 +18
I mean, the amount of wasted tax payer dollars and fraud by the current Trump regime without a peep from MAGAts tells you they don’t genuinely care about this from a fiscal perspective and are just looking for liberal coded things to be outraged about. 
18
Gleemonex4Pets Mar 27, 2026 +27
because they're a death cult
27
Leucippus1 Mar 27, 2026 +12
It is the same cycle with the high speed rail, that narrative seeding is obviously pushed by airlines. They saw what happened to domestic European airlines. That is what American businesses have come to in 2026, working hard against the welfare of Americans every day.
12
limbodog Mar 27, 2026 +12
One of the defining characteristics of the right-wing is apoplexy at the idea of someone else receiving something while they themselves do not. Especially if they feel that someone else is undeserving like, say, an animal.
12
Sea_Green7967 Mar 27, 2026 +9
Because it's a good and decent thing to do. They're not into that.
9
turb0_encapsulator Mar 27, 2026 +11
the way giant freeways cut up the land can result in huge changes to the natural environment by separating populations over generations. you'll end up with species that diverge and populations cutoff from their natural predators and prey.
11
UrineArtist Mar 27, 2026 +11
Quick reminder that the Republican's 'war to nowhere' in Iran is currently costing $1.5bn a day and has no completion date.
11
WaitUntilTheHighway Mar 27, 2026 +8
Why do republicans just insist on being the worst kind of people? Like you'd think they'd get tired of the soulless, empathy-free existence they live.
8
Upstairs-Egg Mar 27, 2026 +7
They have pitiful lives, living solely just to hate and destroy. Depressed f****** losers. They need help and medication.
7
DistractedPhoenix Mar 27, 2026 +7
I thought conservatives were supposed to be wildlife conservationists? Or is that just an excuse to shoot animals in the face?
7
Alternative_Rate7474 Mar 27, 2026 +13
>most of the public money used on the project came from funds that were required to be spent on conservation specifically.
13
makina323 Mar 27, 2026 +15
They see no hypocrisy blowing10 billion a week on another stupid pointless war while frothing at the mouth over a bridge that is a net positive and will outlast their miserable lives on earth
15
TheGreatLuck Mar 27, 2026 +9
There you go you solved it. It's a net positive that will Outlast their miserable lives. There it is. That's why they hate conservation so much. Because it reminds them that the world will be here after they're dead. And if they have anything to do with it there won't be a world here after they're gone. They're taking their toys and going home. And they're taking us all with them.
9
Beneficial-Finger353 Mar 27, 2026 +7
Wow, conservatives don't like conservation... that's odd
7
superanth Mar 27, 2026 +6
>Within 24 hours, the wildlife crossing — the result of a yearslong, bipartisan effort to protect endangered mountain lions and restore habitat connectivity in California — had become a flash point in America’s ongoing political and cultural divide, fomenting online rage across social media. Is this really the best they could do? Attack a wildlife crossing?
6
Fr05t_B1t Mar 27, 2026 +4
It’s obviously a woke wildlife crossing /j
4
mom0nga Mar 27, 2026 +2
Well, if it was bipartisan, that means Democrats supported it, and if Democrats supported it, MAGA trolls need to be against it. This is why there's right-wing backlash against things that are commonsense good ideas, like scientific research and vaccines. It's oppositional-defiant disorder on a societal scale.
2
bee-cee Mar 27, 2026 +7
Interesting article and convos. A large wildlife crossing was just completed over 6 lanes of I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs. It connects two large open space/conservation easements. Public response has been similar, even though it was completed on time and on budget, afaik. But boyohboy, some folks can't wait to complain, and say hateful and ignorant things, seemingly for the fun of it. Every few days, it pops up on social media again, with no new data or insight, just more inflamatory anger. Sigh.....
7
JupiterInTheSky Mar 27, 2026 +6
Jesus anything good or positive is offensive to these creatures. What makes a person so desperate to be hurtful
6
halfcaff Mar 28, 2026 +7
If it's good for the environment or people Republicans hate it. Glad I'm not one of those miserable sods.
7
DARKlevels Mar 27, 2026 +11
these people are f****** unbearable holy shit.
11
plowingthrougsanity Mar 27, 2026 +6
Not very conservatory of "conservatives" I would say.
6
KimmyT1436 Mar 27, 2026 +3
The only thing conservatives want to "conserve" is some golden, by-gone, right-wing age that never was where everybody thought like them, acted like them, dressed like them, and looked like them. The problem is that right-wing media, politicians, and religious leaders have convinced a large chunk of the populous that this false golden right-wing era was real and turned them into religious zealots determined to forcefully recreate something that never existed in the first place.
3
inthedollarbin Mar 27, 2026 +5
Cause they're dumb.
5
AlarmedCartoonist602 Mar 27, 2026 +6
I was in Canada years ago and seen a crossing in Canadian Rockies west of Calgary you guys rock! 
6
Hoogs Mar 27, 2026 +5
God forbid we take even the smallest action to remedy our absolute domination over the natural world.
5
kmoonster Mar 27, 2026 +4
Would they rather hit all those animals with their cars? At some point I just shake my head, confused. edit: I'd have no issues if their argument was "identify the delay/cost issues before we build the next one", but... that's not the fight they're fixing for
4
ddark4 Mar 27, 2026 +4
Remember when Hillary said that half of Trump’s supporters are a ‘basket of deplorables’ and everyone was all “you can’t say that!!!” Then years later, she suggested they may need ‘formal deprogramming’ and again everyone was all “you can’t say that!!!” Then a year later Biden said ‘the only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters…his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American’ and yet again everyone was all “you can’t say that!!!” When will it be ok to start saying the truth out loud? Also why is it required that we only say nice stuff about neo-Nazis when they can say whatever the hell they want about the rest of us and no one (especially not the media) bats an eye?
4
No_Fix_329 Mar 27, 2026 +4
Imagine being such a hate filled idiot that less animal strike deaths of both drivers and animals is upsetting.  You have to be a complete moron to be agaist animal crossing that bypass highways.
4
Zen_Badger Mar 27, 2026 +3
Weren’t these the same people who were getting outraged by windmills killing birds? It’s almost like it’s not about wildlife after all
3
LadyChatterteeth Mar 28, 2026 +3
Christopher Rufo from the lame “California Post” (who, along with his “co-author,” wrote the “article” that is rife with disinformation and disingenuousness) sounds like a complete a******, an idiot, and a woman-hater.
3
ctdfalconer Mar 27, 2026 +4
In being so reactionary against every single thing that happens in the public realm, they take ever decreasingly popular positions simply because everything that happens in the public sphere happens because it has a coalition behind it and a constituency it supports. I wonder, is there any concern within right-wing circles that they may be risking irrelevancy by abandoning any affirmative platform in favor reactionary opposition to everything?
4
mom0nga Mar 27, 2026 +3
Opposition to everything has worked pretty well so far, so I don't see why they would quit unless and until it becomes a political handicap.
3
ctdfalconer Mar 27, 2026 +2
There is always at least a slice of political support for spite.
2
cajuntech Mar 27, 2026 +2
Should have shaped it like Noah's ark to really confuse them
2
DT-Sodium Mar 27, 2026 +2
There is not an ounce of good in right-wing people's brain. No matter the subject, they consistently adopt the position that will give the worst result for the whole planet. If they were not so dumb, we'd call them sociopaths.
2
personofshadow Mar 28, 2026 +1
Reading about all the hate and vitriol the person organizing the project got, I can't help but feel a little bit confused. Have people always gotten this crazy over this sorta thing? I mean, its a pretty expensive project, but it has literally zero impact on any human's day to day life. People have always complained about government spending, be it state or federal, but I feel like them getting so worked up and making violent threats over basically nothing is a relatively recent phenomenon.
1
kummer5peck Mar 27, 2026 +4
Tell them to eat 🦌💩
4
Raphiki415 Mar 28, 2026 +2
How else are they gonna feed themselves without the roadkill? /s (kinda)
2
SpenFen Mar 27, 2026 +1
We don’t need to report on these man children
1
Dorkseid1687 Mar 27, 2026 +1
I hate them so much
1
Familiar-Complex-697 Mar 28, 2026 +1
According to the article, they seem to get their marching orders and immediately spring to violence and threats without thinking much at all. Is anyone surprised?
1
BigJordi10 Mar 27, 2026 -8
I think this crossing is needed, however it really shouldn’t cost THIS much to build a crossing. I think we honestly need to discuss how these contracts are given out and the due diligence behind these contracts. California just has too many programs that are over inflated in cost and take a long time to make for absolutely no reason. I get paying that much for something that will be built well and quick.
-8
Knees0ck Mar 27, 2026 +9
The US Government paid $1 Billion to NOT build wind turbines, $10 Billions to the Board of Piss, etc. Neither of these payments benefits anyone but the billionaires. There are worst ways to waste money.
9
Vercentorix Mar 27, 2026 +13
Someone didn't read the article. Good for you.
13
antonimbus Mar 27, 2026 -10
According to the article: When the project was first announced in 2021, it had an estimated completion date of 2025. But construction was delayed by record rain and flooding in 2022 and 2023, and in 2024, a new 2026 completion date was estimated. “We announced [the delay] in 2024 and there has not been any delay since,” Pratt said. Personally, I think it's okay to critique a project that has gone over budget and over schedule. That's actually pretty old-school GOP and kinda refreshing to see them come off the culture war for a minute. Does the project still merit the effort and cost? I'm not local to the area and cannot say.
-10
TouchGraceMaidenless Mar 27, 2026 +21
What's the critique? "You should have worked in unsafe conditions where cement couldn't have set!" is that it?
21
antonimbus Mar 27, 2026 +3
My guess is the delay has less to do with dry weather to set cement and concrete but more the contractor determining it wasn't worth getting equipment and materials to the area and then moving it all again if the ground got unstable.
3
mojitz Mar 27, 2026 -5
I mean... I'm no fan of the right wing and am under no illusions about their level of good faith, here, but surely something like this could be built safely for a lot less than *a hundred million* dollars. That speaks to exactly the sort of bureaucratic morass that liberals and leftists should be working to fix rather than dismissing as non-issues.
-5
simplebirds Mar 27, 2026 +6
It was launched with private donations exceeding full costs of typical wildlife crossings elsewhere because they knew this was going to be a much more expensive project due to its distinct nature. Outside of extremely severe weather and unforeseen variables like tariffs, there are no surprises here in either time or cost overruns that are completely accounted for.
6
rasa2013 Mar 27, 2026 +7
"Surely" says someone with absolutely no qualifications to even begin to estimate the costs of even just the cement required for the project.
7
sxyaustincpl Mar 27, 2026 +7
We're spending $1.5B a day to bomb another country because a 3rd party wanted us to. $100M seems like pocket change in comparison.
7
mojitz Mar 27, 2026 -2
Of course, but it doesn't mean it isn't a legitimate point of concern — especially when you consider that this is just one of an enormous number of infrastructure projects ongoing at any given moment.
-2
raptorbpw Mar 27, 2026 +4
Except that -- based on this piece, anyway -- it seems the critique of delays and cost overruns is really just a gateway into the culture war bullshit.
4
BringOutYDead Mar 27, 2026 -4
$100million is pretty expensive. 
-4
cgentry02 Mar 27, 2026
[ Removed by Listnook ]
0
Low-Door-1568 Mar 27, 2026 -8
the bridge was supposed to cost taxpayers 64 million to build,its now costing taxpayers 114 million and is still not done,just like the train has cost millions and is no where completed, this just shows how much corruption there is in the government, its not a blue or red issue,it dosen't matter who's in office ...they are all corrupt
-8
lred1 Mar 28, 2026 +2
And how imis this different than any other large-scale project? And what is your alternative proposal, privatization? That would involve massive profits to three people instead of the waste that most large projects involve.
2
jelasher Mar 27, 2026 -16
I am super liberal and I love animals, but I drive by this thing every day and I also hate it. It has been under construction for well over a year and has been causing major traffic issues for much of the time. It also seems crazy expensive for what is basically a freeway overpass. The $120 million probably could have been put to better use by wildlife causes or, you know, educating our kids or feeding the poor.
-16
Vercentorix Mar 27, 2026 +2
Did you read the article? No.
2
jelasher Mar 27, 2026 -3
Yes, I did. I also live a few miles from it. I know it is mostly privately funded—but that doesn’t mean it is either a good use of money that could have gone to more effective programs for supporting wildlife, or better charitable uses. Just because the conservative chuds think this is bad doesn’t make it good.
-3
simplebirds Mar 27, 2026 +5
You could familiarize yourself with the importance and success of wildlife corridors in conservation, this one being critical for maintaining populations in otherwise small unsustainable islands of habitat like what Griffith Park has become. This project is about preserving wildlife. One can argue that’s not important, but assuming it is, this project is necessary.
5
Vercentorix Mar 27, 2026 +6
Do mountain lions need jobs programs or a way not to get hit by your SUV on the drive home? I just don't understand this line of argument when it comes to conservation work
6
jelasher Mar 27, 2026 -3
You don’t understand that money is fungible and can be put to a more effective use than a bridge that lions might not even use? There is only one bridge for dozens of miles of freeway. A fence or wall would have been more effective and cheaper. Also, exactly 2 lions have been killed in the approximate vicinity of the bridge in the last 5-10 years. It is. It an endemic problem that requires spending this much money.
-3
dancefan2019 Mar 27, 2026 -11
There are no ramps for this bridge. How are wildlife supposed to cross over this? I realize it's not yet finished, but it seems odd that they are landscaping the bridge before they even build the ramps to get on and off the bridge.
-11
fireeight Mar 27, 2026 +29
Building the ramps last helps to ensure that wildlife won't get stuck on an unfinished bridge/active construction site.
29
S_A_R_K Mar 27, 2026 +14
Who are you who is wise in the ways of science?
14
dancefan2019 Mar 27, 2026 -10
I see. I'm wondering why they're building it right up next to a very steep hill. It seems that would make it unlikely wildlife would be accessing it from there. Not the right place to build it. Would have made sense to build it where the terrain is lower, so wildlife is better able to access it.
-10
Mylaptopisburningme Mar 27, 2026 +8
Steep for you and me, not for a wild animal. I live near the base of the San Gabriel mountains, deer, bobcats, mountain lions and bears traverse it just fine to get into neighborhoods.
8
BusyBugg Mar 27, 2026 +9
Their called mountain lions not sidewalk lions lol they will be fine with a hill.
9
dancefan2019 Mar 27, 2026 -11
Well, we'll see how much traffic that bridge actually gets. I'm guessing next to none.
-11
winterharvest Mar 27, 2026 +4
They've been putting these up in other states, and the wildlife c*** show that they're being used quite a bit. Animals want to cross highways for many reasons (breeding, feeding, migration). There are also other design features that help funnel/guide them to these crossings. It's a win-win because people get killed hitting large animals at highway speeds.
4
dancefan2019 Mar 27, 2026 -1
Thank you for your respectful response.
-1
Alternative_Rate7474 Mar 27, 2026 +6
well, they're also trying to build it between less-developed parcels of land. Look at all those buildings further up in the picture.
6
HermanGulch Mar 27, 2026 +5
There was at least one scientific study (probably several) that pointed to this location as a good spot. It's not like these kinds of things happen in a vacuum. And since it's mainly for mountain lions, they actually like steep, rugged terrain. But yeah, if you look at the area on Google Maps, there really aren't very many other places to put it.
5
dancefan2019 Mar 27, 2026 -8
There are no buildings further up in this picture. It seems they could have moved the bridge construction a bit farther west or east to be adjacent to land that would have more accessibility. I drive under this bridge multiple times per week.
-8
Alternative_Rate7474 Mar 27, 2026 +6
well, then I'm sure they built it where it is just to piss you off.
6
dancefan2019 Mar 27, 2026 -9
Seems like an incredibly expensive project for very little (if any) benefit. Meanwhile, there are homeless people living on the street in record numbers in L.A. I'd rather that money be spent on them.
-9
ARCoati Mar 27, 2026 +10
You know actual experts and wildlife biologists were involved in the planning of this project, but you’re right they should’ve consulted you dancefan2019, since you seem to have it all figured out.
10
dancefan2019 Mar 27, 2026 -6
No need to get snarky, dear. I'm stating my opinion as a concerned citizen.
-6
ARCoati Mar 27, 2026 +5
Well the time and place for your opinion to actual matter or be listened to would’ve been the many public comment periods that surely took place in the planning stages of this project. Instead you’re complaining about it now years later, when the money has been spent and the construction is almost complete.
5
jockfist5000 Mar 27, 2026 +3
A concerned citizen not from the area and who doesn’t know what they’re talking about? Cool, we need a lot more of those. 🙄
3
simplebirds Mar 27, 2026 +2
The tax dollars spent are dedicated conservation funds. Much of total funding came from private donations. There’s was no using that money for anything else. Far, far more is spent on homeless people if that helps you to feel better.
2
dancefan2019 Mar 28, 2026 +2
That's good to hear.
2
simplebirds Mar 27, 2026 +3
Wildlife are killed regularly in this area attempting to cross the freeway. Wildlife activity is a big part of the reason the crossing is located where it is.
3
MilsYatsFeebTae Mar 27, 2026 +8
It’s almost like plants take a while to establish themselves and have a better chance of living if you don’t let deer eat them all before they can grow. Why can’t you trust that this thing is being built by people who know what they’re doing?
8
dancefan2019 Mar 27, 2026 -1
I have a hard time trusting in government projects. Too much waste and mismanagement.
-1
simplebirds Mar 27, 2026 +6
It’s a private-public project with a lot of oversight. People aren’t donating tens of millions without accountability.
6
dancefan2019 Mar 28, 2026 +1
I didn't realize it was being funded from donations. I thought it was from strictly taxpayer dollars.
1
simplebirds Mar 28, 2026 +1
Yes, and the person they are attacking isn’t a government employee either.
1
Awakeanxiety Mar 27, 2026 +2
MAGA has entered the conversation.
2
dancefan2019 Mar 27, 2026 +1
I'm an Independent voter. I voted for Democratic presidents in the last several elections. I still believe in responsible government spending.
1
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