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.
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
Rep. Young suggests guns could’ve saved Jews during Holocaust
Alaska Congressman Don Young uses the Holocaust to help make the case against gun control: "How many Jews were put in the ovens because they were unarmed?” Listen now
Tweets aside, Sullivan says Trump good for Alaska
Sen. Dan Sullivan said he doesn't like all of President Trump's tweets, but he does like what the Trump administration is doing for Alaska. There's not a lot of daylight between them when you look at the senator's voting record. Listen now
Walker among governors prodding Congress on health care
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker stood with his Colorado and Ohio counterparts to announce a new "blueprint" for health care, and they want Congress to get a move on. Listen now
On mass shootings, Murkowski leaves a word unspoken
Sen. Lisa Murkowski spoke passionately about the Florida school shooting. Congress must take action, she said, and no issue should be off-limits in the discussion. But she left an obvious word unsaid: "gun." Listen now
USGS scientist resigns in tussle over release of NPR-A data
A top scientist resigned late last year to protest what he saw as a threat to the agency’s scientific integrity. The deputy secretary of Interior was pressing the USGS to allow a preview of its findings on the oil potential in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Listen now
Young, Murkowski hold fast on gun rights
Alaska's members of Congress remain unapologetic supporters of gun rights. They have top ratings from the National Rifle Association. But Sen. Murkowski and Rep. Don Young say the mass shootings reveal something is wrong in America. Listen now
Murkowski, Sullivan split as immigration reform mires in Senate
The future of immigration reform was in doubt Thursday, after two proposals failed to win 60 votes in the U.S. Senate. Alaska's U.S. senators split their votes, on both measures. Listen now
Ouch! 5 ways Trump’s budget could pinch Alaska
President Trump's 2019 budget would cut a lot of line-items that benefit Alaska. Ultimately, it's up to Congress, but here are some of the ways the White House plan could sting. Listen now
Gold Star in the Chugach: Iraq vet honors survivors
A mountain on the edge of Anchorage has a new name, Gold Star Peak, thanks to Army vet Kirk Alkire. Talking to Gold Star families "means the world to me," he said. Listen now
Trump infrastructure plan has rural money, but can Alaska have some?
The White House has presented its long promised infrastructure plan. It’s getting mixed reviews from Alaska's U.S. senators. Listen now
Murkowski says Pruitt’s Pebble decision surprised her
Sen. Murkowski says the EPA administrator's move to keep alive proposed limits on the mine seemed out of character. Listen now
China seeks bigger role in Arctic
China issued its first national policy on the Arctic, and it reveals expansive ambitions in the far North. "China is stepping into the power vacuum of global leadership since the Trump administration came to power." Listen now
Two lawsuits challenge NPR-A lease sale
Environmental groups filed separate lawsuits Friday challenging the federal government’s December lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Listen now
Trump ‘really didn’t care’ about ANWR. Then a friend called.
President Trump says he didn't care much about opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling - until a friend told him other presidents had tried to and failed. Listen now