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.
Alaska U.S. senators quiet on colleagues’ critique of Trump
Two Republicans rocked the U.S. Senate Tuesday with harsh criticism of President Trump, for what they call flagrant disregard for truth and debasing the nation. So far, the two senators aren't discussing it. Listen now
ACA enrollment: Better rates for Alaskans but less time to find them
President Trump says "Obamacare is dead." That negative advertising from the White House is just one of the obstacles Alaska's navigators have to overcome ahead of the enrollment period that starts Nov. 1. Listen now
U.S. Senate passes budget that could open ANWR
The prospect of drilling rigs in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge just got a little more realistic. Listen now
Alaskan selected for Indian Affairs post at Interior
President Trump has nominated ASRC vice president Tara MacLean Sweeney to be assistant secretary of Interior for Indian Affairs. Listen now
Senator Sullivan hires a new chief of staff
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan has hired Larry Burton as chief of staff. Burton worked at BP for 17 years. This isn't his first stint working for Alaska's congressional delegation. Listen now
Pull out of Iran deal? Sullivan says no
Sen. Dan Sullivan was harshly critical of the Iran nuclear agreement in 2015. Now, though, he says the U.S. shouldn't pull out. He says enforcement is a better idea. Listen now
Premera to bump up premium to cover Trump cut
Last month Premera announced it would lowers rates 26 percent. But the drop may quite so steep for silver plans. The new factor: President Trump says he's cutting Cost Sharing Reductions. Listen now
New bill aims to reverse Obama restrictions on offshore drilling
The House measure would, among other things, allow lease sales in more Arctic waters and block new environmental standards for the Arctic. Listen now
Democrats in Congress join fight against Pebble Mine
42 members of the U.S. House and Senate are asking President Trump to leave in place Clean Water Act restrictions to protect Bristol Bay. A CNN report asks why the EPA moved so quickly to remove the administrative hurdle. Listen now
How Trump nominees talk about climate; what it means for Alaska
'Man has an influence' is the refrain. Listen now
ANWR advances with GOP budget
The U.S. House has passed a budget plan that could open the door to drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Listen now
ANWR takes tiny step down rocky Senate road
You know how members of Congress sometimes try to pass legislation by attaching it to a fast-moving bill everyone loves? That's not the case here. ANWR is controversial, and the budget plan it's hitching a ride on isn't entirely popular, either. Listen now
How Trump’s tax plan would affect Alaskans
If President Trump's tax agenda goes into effect, taxes for people of all income groups would go down next year, on average. But only a few Alaskans would get the big tax breaks. Listen now
Enviros sound the alarm on ANWR
Environmentalists are warning that the Republican plan to cut taxes could include a move that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. Listen now
Even with repeal bill dead, Murkowski still not a firm ‘yes’ or ‘no’
The latest Senate effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act is dead after too many Republicans declared they would not support the Graham-Cassidy bill. But, as of Tuesday evening, Sen. Lisa Murkowski still was not clearly saying how she would have voted on Graham-Cassidy. Listen now
ACA repeal bill now peppered with Alaska money to draw Murkowski
"There is a lot of special treatment for Alaska," says one professor who has studied the bill. Murkowski says she can't be "bought off." Listen now
The Alaska impact of ACA repeal bill? Depends where you look
Sen. Murkowski says her position on Graham-Cassidy will hinge on data showing how Alaska would fare. Consultants' reports vary wildly, but they all show a loss. And now it's not clear senators will vote on. Listen now
VP Pence calls in to Anchorage talk radio
The future of the Affordable Care Act appears to rest on how Sen. Lisa Murkowski will vote next week. Alaska is getting some extra attention for it, including a special caller to a local conservative talk show Thursday. Listen now
‘Vote no’: Left takes to TV and sky to reach Murkowski
Advocates are cranking up the pressure on Sen. Murkowski to vote against the latest health care repeal. A Palmer conservative urging a "yes" vote calls Murkowski "untouchable." Listen now
Murkowski could swing Senate for latest ACA repeal
Defenders of the Obama health care law are applying as much pressure as they can to get Sen. Murkowski to vote no on the latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. All eyes were on her at the Capitol Tuesday. Listen now