SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, news about Montana’s cattle population.  (See the Montana section.) Idaho This 42-inch lake trout just broke a state record. o  o  o Inside Idaho’s only maximum security prison where Bryan Kohberger may spend the rest of his life. o  o  o Rexburg man convicted for …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 21, 2025

July 21, 1404:  The Battle of Shrewsbury: The Army led by the Lancastrian King of England, Henry IV defeated a rebel army led by Henry “Harry Hotspur” Percy of Northumberland. This ended Percy’s challenge to the throne. This was the first battle in which English archers fought each other on English soil. — July 21,1904: After 13 years of construction, the 4,607-mile Trans-Siberian railway was completed. — In honor of the birthday week of Samuel Colt, we are running a special sale at Elk Creek Company. Many antique and percussion replica gun prices have been reduced — including all of …


Recipe of the Week:  Baked Hamburger Zucchini

The following recipe for Baked Hamburger Zucchini is from SurvivalBlog reader Ellen H. Ellen’s Preparation Notes A.) Be sure that the zucchini is well-drained. I press mine through a sieve, to remove moisture. Skipping this step will probably make it soggy. B.) The required baking time may vary. If you have a wide and shallow baking time, then the baking time may be less. C.) This is a main course that recipe serves six adults. Ingredients ½ lb. lean ground beef ½ of a 2″ diameter onion, finely diced 3 ½ c. shredded zucchini, drained 1 c. Bisquick (or homemade …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic: Map of Lead Service Lines per Public Water System. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) The thumbnail below is click-expandable.         Reader Robert W. had these comments: “Pretty good fit, eh? This needs a real scientific study. The correlation is just too strong to be coincidence. It’s been long asserted that Romes decline was due in part to its lead pipes, so there’s considerable precedent. Could lead poisoning/brain damage lead to half the voters being disqualified for medical cause? Maybe the real reason cities lean democrat is because of lead poisoning.” Also see this map: The Real Reason …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — July 20, 2025

On July 20, 1793, Scottish explorer Alexander Mackenzie completed the first European east-to-west crossing of America north of Mexico. Here is a quote from his biography: “Emigrating at a young age from his native Scotland, Mackenzie began working for a trading company aligned with the North West Company, the big rival to the Hudson Bay Company. In 1788 Mackenzie travelled to and later took charge of a trading port at Lake Athabasca (in modern Alberta). Tasked with discovering a river route to the Pacific Ocean, Mackenzie set out in 1789 and became the first to traverse what is now called …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Now We Are Told That There Are Indeed Epstein Files, But We Will Only Get To See The “Relevant” Ones So… Will “Relevant” Mean Seeing Any Trump Kompromat Revelations? News Links: From the Left-biased Snopes: Fact Check: Here’s What We Learned About This Photo of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. FBI agents used a saw to open a safe in Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan mansion that held hard drives and diamonds. Who could verify Epstein’s client list? Ghislaine Maxwell, who’s serving time in Florida. Jeffrey Epstein Rumored Mossad Connection Explained. Notes From JWR: Do …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — July 19, 2025

On July 19, 1881, Lakota Sloux Indian Chief Sitting Bull surrendered to US federal troops at Fort Buford in the Montana Territory. — July 19th is coincidentally the birthday of handgun designers Samuel Colt (born 1814) and Gaston Glock. (Glock was born in 1929 and passed away in December, 2023.) In honor of the birthday week of Samuel Colt, we just started a one-week sale at Elk Creek Company. Many antique and percussion replica gun prices have been reduced — including all of our Colts — and I’ll include the bonus of an autographed hardback copy of my novel Expatriates …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — July 18, 2025

On July 18th, 1914 the US Army Air Service was established, as part of the Signal Corps. Pictured are four U.S. Army Vought VE-7 test planes undergoing NACA tests, in 1921. — July 18th, 1954 was the birthdate of Ricky Skaggs, an American country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, mandocaster, and banjo. — Today, we present a guest piece by our friend Patrice Lewis. It first appeared in her excellent Rural Revolution blog. Patrice is also the author of The Simplicity Primer. — We are in need of …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the LMBA’s nascent silver short squeeze. (See the Precious Metals section.) Precious Metals The Comex shorts did their best to hold down the price of silver again this week. But the Asian traders kept bidding it back up into the $38.20 to $38.50 USD range. The word is out that the LBMA …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites. … Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere, and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.” – Edmund Burke


Preparedness Notes for Thursday — July 17, 2025

On July 17, 1930, construction began on the Empire State Building. It was the world’s first skyscraper of 100+ stories. It was built on 5th Avenue in New York City. — July 17, 1938: The Italian Air Force, in support of Francisco Franco, bombed Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War. — Today’s feature article is a guest piece that was written by Mrs. Alaska.  Because it will eventually be re-posted in her blog, it is not part of the writing contest judging. — We are seeking entries for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth …