Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media
Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at lruskin@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Liz here.
Challenger raises substantial sum in bid to unseat Don Young
Federal campaign finance reports show a well-funded challenger is trying to unseat Congressman Don Young in November. Listen now
Murkowski: Mueller investigation must continue
"I think it is so important, it is so imperative, that this investigation be allowed to go forward," Murkowski said. "And it will take the course that it will take."Â She didn't commit to supporting a bill to protect Mueller from dismissal. Listen now
Trump picks Anchorage attorney for District Court
President Trump has nominated Jonathan Katchen to serve as a U.S. District Court judge in Alaska. Listen now
Facebook CEO dodges Sullivan’s softball
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was contrite in a U.S. Senate hearing. But he wouldn't play along when Sen. Dan Sullivan wanted to make a point about regulation. Listen now
Political operative accused of battery in Vegas
Sen. Dan Sullivan’s former campaign manager Ben Sparks may be facing arrest following a bizarre report of domestic violence in Las Vegas. Listen now
Sullivan backs Trump on China import taxes
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan praised President Trump's trade strategy toward China as a "positive and needed course correction." Listen now
Gasline signs a DC insider
Former White House communications director Mike Dubke is now helping promote the Alaska gasline project. Listen now
Walker admin says Corps moving too fast on Pebble
The proposed gold and copper mine would sit upstream from Bristol Bay. Gov. Bill Walker has said he doesn’t support the mine and believes the priority should be on the region’s salmon.
BOEM seeks input on Beaufort leasing; plan still pending
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is beginning work on a lease sale next year in Arctic waters, even though the larger plan for offshore leasing is still a draft proposal. Listen now
Hill visits: It’s all about access in DC
Conventional wisdom has it that politicians only grant access to donors or lobbyists. Does the phenomenon of the "Hill visit" prove the cynics wrong? Listen now
Why Sullivan voted ‘no’ on $1.3T bill
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan typically votes with the Republican leadership in the Senate. But in the wee hours of Friday morning, Congress passed a $1.3 trillion spending bill and Sullivan voted "no."Â Listen now
What’s in it for Alaska? Here are 6 things in the federal spending bill
The $1.3 trillion bill has many items of Alaska interest. But two things not in this bill are also of note. Listen now
Boom: Gun tax sends $33M to Alaska
Americans have spent a lot of money on guns and ammunition in recent years, and that has sent revenues pouring into Alaska's budget for wildlife conservation. This year's allocation is more than double what it was in 2012. Listen now
Feds to drop new habitat rules, ending state’s legal challenge
The Trump administration has agreed to rewrite rules that would have made it easier for the government to designate areas as "critical habitat" for endangered species. Listen now
Riled: Young keeps true to form
At the U.S. Capitol, Rep. Don Young has a reputation for having a short fuse. He did nothing to dispel that notoriety at a hearing Thursday, where he seemed to let Democrats get under his skin. Listen now
Even in corridors of power, the Iditarod intrigues
As the mushers race to Nome, their progress is tracked in the halls of the U.S. Senate. One hallway, to be specific. Here's the scene from just outside Sen. Lisa Murkowski's door in the Hart Office Building. Listen now
Sweeney Interior nomination in limbo
President Trump nominated Tara Sweeney for high office at the Interior Department. But Alaska's U.S. senators say the nomination seems to be held up over her ownership of stock in an Alaska Native corporation. Listen now
Sullivan knocks Trump tariff as bad for Alaska
Sen. Dan Sullivan says a steel import tax and a trade war could hurt Alaska's fish exports and energy projects. Listen now
USGS nominee inclined to show data to Interior bosses
If confirmed as USGS director, James Reilly says he'd likely share sensitive data with his higher-ups at the Interior Department if they ask to see it. A demand to release data about the NPR-A led two USGS staffers to quit this winter. Listen now
Murkowski backs bill to ID school threats
Sen. Lisa Murkowski is co-sponsoring a school safety bill, one of the first to emerge in the Senate after the Valentine's Day shooting at a Florida high school. It does not impose gun control. Listen now