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.
Young pulls punches for this road foe
Rep. Don Young is known to berate Democrats and environmentalists who oppose his efforts to get a road for King Cove. Young accuses them of being indifferent to the lives of his constituents, the Alaska Natives who reside in a remote, isolated community. But at a hearing Wednesday, the witness who spoke against the road was also an Alaska Native from a remote, isolated community. And this wasn’t just about the road. Listen now
Predator hunting limits repealed for refuges
President Donald Trump on Monday signed a measure repealing federal limits on predator hunting on Alaska’s national wildlife refuges. Listen now
Schlepping bronze, a Ketchikan artist retraces Seward’s route
A Ketchikan artist went on a mission in Washington, D.C.: to find the spot where William Seward signed the treaty to buy Alaska from Russia. He was searching for a thread of history and he didn't come empty-handed. Listen now
Searching for signs of Seward in DC
Exactly 150 years ago, on March 30, 1867, the United States signed a treaty to buy Alaska from Russia. The treaty changed the course of Alaska history, but did it leave any mark on the city where it was signed? Listen now
Young gives Trump a hand at bill signing
U.S. Rep. Don Young was at the White House to see President Trump sign a bill that repeals an Obama administration rule known as “BLM Planning 2.0.” Young's an old hand at White House visits but this was his first time with Trump in office. Listen now
ACA repeal bill is dead; Rep. Young likes it that way
President Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the plug on their bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Ryan declared it a disappointing day for Republicans. But Alaska’s Republican congressman says he’s celebrating the bill’s defeat. Listen now
From left and right, Young finds fault with ACA replacement bill
To repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, U.S. House leaders are straining to overcome dissension in the Republican ranks. As many as two dozen conservatives oppose the bill on grounds that it doesn’t repeal enough of the ACA. A smaller number of Republican moderates say it doesn’t replace enough. Alaska Congressman Don Young is a little in both camps. Listen now
Senate lifts ban on predator killing in Alaska refuges
The U.S. Senate today voted to overturn an Obama Administration rule that banned certain methods of killing predators on national wildlife refuges in Alaska. The repeal resolution now goes to the White House for signature. Listen now
Murkowski at odds with Trump’s call to end NEA funding
President Trump’s budget calls for ending funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA has been a frequent target of Republicans, but U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski supports the endowment, and Tuesday she won an award for it. Listen now
Don’t panic over Trump’s budget, Murkowski says
President Trump’s first budget shows zeroes for several programs important to Alaska. Sen. Lisa Murkowski says there's a lot for an Alaskan to be upset about in this document, but she says Congress isn't going to adopt it. Listen now
GOP health bill won’t cure what ails Alaska market, say 2 industry pros
The bill to replace the Affordable Care Act is on shaky ground in Congress, drawing criticism from left, right and center in the U.S. House. Guests on “Talk of Alaska” Tuesday said the bill would do more harm than good. “One of the criticisms of the original Affordable Care act is that it addressed coverage but it didn't address cost," said one. "But this bill really is not addressing the cost side either. It's just rolling back some of the coverage.” Listen now
Young’s idea: ‘Wall bonds’
Rep. Don Young is no fan of President Trump’s plan to build a border wall. But if you like it, Young says he knows a way you could pay for it. Listen now
3 things to know about the GOP health care bill in Congress
A Republican bill to repeal and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act is advancing in the U.S. House. Its effects across the country are uneven. Here are three things an Alaskan should know about the proposed American Health Care Act. Listen now
Trump takes in ‘all things Alaska’
Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan brought their case for developing Alaska’s resources to the Oval Office. Murkowski said they met with President Trump Wednesday for nearly an hour. Listen now
Senators make budget plea for Coast Guard
Both of Alaska’s U.S. senators wrote the White House budget director Wednesday asking him to spare the Coast Guard from the budget ax. Listen now
Amid buzz on health bill, Murkowski keeps quiet
Two U.S. House committees are about to take up a Republican replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act. Sen. Lisa Murkowski could turn out to be a swing vote, willing to break with her party to keep Medicaid expansion and funding for Planned Parenthood. What does she make of the House bill? She's not saying. Listen now
ACA replacement bill has skimpier tax credits for Alaskans
U.S. House Republicans have released their plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Their plan would defund Planned Parenthood and phase out Medicaid expansion. It offers tax credits to help people buy insurance, but the credits are far less generous to Alaskans than the subsidies in existing law. Listen now
Murkowski, Sullivan diverge on Sessions
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Thursday he will not involve himself in any investigation of foreign interference in last year’s election. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was among several Republicans who called on him to recuse himself. Listen now
With new Interior secretary, renewed hopes for King Cove road
Former Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke rode a horse to his first day of work in Washington, D.C. today. He’s the new secretary of the Interior. The position is an important one for Alaska, where more than 60 percent of the land is owned by the federal government. Listen now
EPA funds for Native water projects could disappear under Trump administration
The White House wants to eliminate Environmental Protection Agency funds for water projects in Alaska Native villages. That’s according to a story in the Washington Post Wednesday (March. 1). It said the Trump administration’s plans for the EPA budget also include trimming grants to states by 30 percent and eliminating climate-change initiatives. Listen now