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.
Interior starts process for new offshore leasing plan
The Trump administration announced an initial step toward a new offshore leasing plan that could mean new drilling rights in federal waters of the Arctic. Listen now
Report: Senate health reform cuts $3.1b from Alaska’s Medicaid
Alaska would lose $3.1 billion in Medicaid funds if the U.S. Senate bill became law, according to a state-funded reporter. That's an even bigger cut than in the bill the House passed. Listen now
Cancer patient to senators: Dump this bill
U.S. Senate leaders postponed a vote on their health care reform bill, but Alaskans opposed to the bill aren't letting up. One Alaskan, a three-time cancer survivor, went to Washington to make his pitch directly. Listen now
CBO sees peril in Senate bill for uncrowded regions
The Congressional Budget Office has what amounts to a warning for "sparsely populated areas" in its analysis of the Senate's draft health care reform bill: The bill could drive out insurers. Listen now
Murkowski’s take on health bill? Stay tuned
Sen. Lisa Murkowski wouldn't say how she'll vote on the health care reform bill Senate leaders released Thursday, but it does things she has said she's against, like shrinking Medicaid expansion and defunding Planned Parenthood. Listen now
As swing vote on ACA repeal, Murkowski draws attention
Sen. Lisa Murkowski is the target of a new TV ad urging her to vote against Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Listen now
Sober day at Capitol; Alaska delegation not directly affected by shooting
As you've probably heard by now, five people were shot Tuesday morning in Virginia, where the Republican team was practicing for the annual congressional baseball game. Alaska Public Media News Director Lori Townsend spoke to Washington correspondent Liz Ruskin about the mood at the Capitol.
What’s the feds’ cannabis enforcement policy? ‘Confusing’
Whether the Trump administration will enforce the federal ban on marijuana in Alaska remains ambiguous. Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein suggests DOJ may adopt tougher stance.
No hearing for Senate health bill and, says Murkowski, no sighting, either
Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she's not happy with the fast-track process the Senate Majority leader is using to bring a health care bill to the floor without any hearings.
Alaska’s Don Young applauds Puerto Rico statehood vote
Alaska Congressman Don Young went there with other U.S. lawmakers as an election observer. His spokesman Matt Shuckerow says Young favors self-determination for Puerto Rico and personally believes statehood is a good idea.
Coast Guard willing to give 2nd look at Aivik as icebreaker
The Coast Guard has apparently reconsidered its refusal to rent the Aivik, a ship belonging to Edison Chouest Offshore, to use as an icebreaker.
Kodiak to host Israeli missile test
Israel is improving its Arrow 3 missile to counter the threat of an Iranian launch. But Israel lives in a crowded neighborhood, so it wants to test the interceptor in Kodiak, MDA director says.
Why general aviation isn’t cheering Trump’s air traffic control plan
The president wants to privatize air traffic control to improve a system he calls "broken, antiquated, horrible." Most major airlines are on board. But among small-plane pilots and general aviation, skepticism abounds.
Former Murkowski campign manager selected for Interior job
Sen. Lisa Murkowski's former campaign manager has a new job in the Trump administration. Steve Wackowski will be the new senior advisor for Alaska Affairs in the Interior Department. Listen now
This weekend, Ryan Zinke makes inaugural Alaska visit as Interior Secretary
Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke is visiting Alaska this weekend. Listen now
Young joins Afghanistan war skeptics in Congress
Rep. Don Young wants to know why Americans are still fighting in Afghanistan. He has co-sponsored a bill that would end funding for the war in a year, unless the president and Congress affirm the need for it. Listen now
3 things for Alaskans to know about Trump’s budget
President Trump is proposing to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. He's also proposing cuts that will fall hard, particularly on rural Alaska. Listen now
Progressives make voices heard at Sullivan town hall
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan held a town hall meeting in Anchorage Saturday. The event drew hundreds of left-leaning constituents and they were not quiet. Listen now
Interior nominee sees ‘clean slate’ on land in trust
Tribes that want to place land in federal trust are still waiting to see how the Trump administration will treat their applications. The nominee for deputy Interior secretary suggests history won't be any guide. Listen now
Young OK with special counsel, rues ‘media hype’
Alaska Congress Don Young says it's fine with him that the Justice Department appointed a special counsel to investigate Russia's role in the 2016 election. "This is all media hype," Young said. Listen now