The Wide Open
4 February 2025 - 1 hour 1 minLast week, we delved into story of how the Tennessee Valley Authority, which started out as a public institution, ended up acting like a private for-profit company, and the lawsuit that attempted to finally bring the TVA to its heel. Today, Montana Public Radio’s podcast The Wide Open tells the story of a different lawsuit against the TVA that had even bigger consequences. In the 1970s, the fight to save a tiny fish called the snail darter turned the Endangered Species Act from a minor bit of federal law into the most powerful and controversial piece of environmental legislation of the past 50 years.
The Wide Open
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Series Episodes
Mini-Stories: Volume 22
Performance changing gear, a Titanic era nurse with unbelievable resilience, and an ingenious art vending project reveal how innovation and endurance shape unexpected worlds.
33 mins
6 January Finished
Beyond the 99% Invisible City
From rogue stop signs to rooftop mini golf, discover how chaos and creativity quietly shape the urban world.
39 mins
30 December 2025 Finished
Constitution Breakdown #5: Dr. Tom Frieden
This month, Roman and Elizabeth turn to the remainder of Article Two, which defines the scope and limits of presidential power, alongside former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden.
1 hour 19 mins
26 December 2025 Finished
Mini-Stories: Volume 21
A glowing Vegas pyramid, a famously mistyped domain, and a long-delayed miracle investigation unfold in three unexpected tales.
29 mins
23 December 2025 Finished
Sax Appeal
From military parades to smoky clubs, one invention’s wild journey reveals how an instrument can become a symbol of rebellion and reinvention.
43 mins
16 December 2025 Finished
The Checkerboard
A single diagonal step on a map sparks a legal war with huge consequences.
38 mins
9 December 2025 Finished
