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.
In throng on Capitol grounds, hundreds of Alaskans celebrate Trump
Hundreds of Alaskans are in Washington, D.C. today to celebrate Donald Trump’s inauguration as president. For some, Trump's election was the fulfillment of their grandest wishes. Others, not so much. Listen now
For US senators, it’s all in the question
U.S. senators take a variety of postures as they question cabinet nominees at confirmation hearings. Some interrogate. Some toss softballs. Many grandstand. Alaska’s two senators stuck to a few time-honored tactics as the engaged with nominees. Listen now
Young to have front-row seat as Trump takes oath
If you plan to watch Donald Trump get sworn in, look for Alaska Congressman Don Young on your screen. The Congressman said he’ll likely have a high-profile seat. Listen now
Interior pick firmly against fed land transfer, with wiggle room for Alaska
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Interior Department sat for a confirmation hearing today. Sen. Lisa Murkowski used the opportunity to condemn the Obama administration, which she says has treated Alaska like a park and tried to safeguard it from Alaskans. She pressed Rep. Ryan Zinke to review Obama's environmental decisions in Alaska. Listen now
‘What’s the plan?’ Senators say ACA replacement in the works
As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump repeatedly promised to “repeal Obamacare and replace it with something great.” Early this morning the U.S. Senate took an initial step toward repeal. As for the replacement, Alaska’s two senators describe something still in the formative stages. Listen now
Arizona senator on a pork hunt targets Kodiak
Alaska’s congressional delegation cheered last year when the Missile Defense Agency awarded an $80 million contract to the Kodiak missile launch facility. But in the U.S. Senate this week, the contract was at the top of one Republican senator’s pork list. Listen now
Murkowski says repeal, replace should coincide
President-elect Donald Trump today leaned on Congress to quickly get rid of President Obama’s signature heath care law. But Lisa Murkowski is among five Republicans in the U.S. Senate sponsoring an amendment to slow the repeal. Listen now
How Alaska had this Trump nominee shaking
Wilbur Ross, the nominee for Commerce secretary, is a billionaire investor, a specialist in distressed industries. But does this New Jersey–born Floridian know anything about Alaska? Sen. Dan Sullivan says he's learned Ross was in the state on one fateful afternoon in 1964. Listen now
Miners dislike BLM’s ‘balanced’ plan for Eastern Interior
You could consider it a zoning decision of landscape proportions: The U.S. Bureau of Land Management completed a planning document for Alaska’s Eastern Interior. The most contentious part of the plan is the Forty Mile Mining District, which includes the towns of Eagle and Chicken. Listen now
At hacking hearing, Sullivan steers clear of Russia
Sen. Dan Sullivan often warns colleagues about Russia's military threat. But at a hearing on Russia's pre-election hacking, Sullivan didn’t discuss Russia at all. Listen now
While GOP runs from House ethics flap, Young argues watchdog needs tighter rules
Republicans have dropped their plan to diminish the independence of the Office of Congressional Ethics. But not everyone agrees the House majority should have backed down. Alaska Congressman Don Young is among those who want the ethics office reined in. Listen now
Young, Murkowski swear in, move up amid Congressional pomp
The 115th Congress began with a lot of pomp and circumstance. Here's what an Alaskan might want to know about the day. Listen now
Young, striking Trump-like note, reflects on 2016
Congressman Don Young showed no enthusiasm for Donald Trump during the presidential campaign. But with President-elect Trump three weeks from his swearing-in, and a new Democratic minority leader in the Senate, Young looks at the big picture and sees the upside. Listen Now
Sullivan finds traction, moves up in Senate
When new members of Congress take the oath of office on Jan. 3, Sen. Dan Sullivan will give up an unsought distinction: The Alaska Republican will no longer be last in Senate seniority, No. 100 out of 100. Sullivan, counting his gains, says being on the bottom rung didn’t bother him. Listen Now
ASRC: Obama acts in our name, ignores our needs
President Obama cited subsistence and the needs of Alaska Natives yesterday in explaining why he decided to block future oil and gas lease sales in Arctic waters. Some Native people welcome the resource protection. But the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation says the president didn’t consult with its members and is ignoring the real needs of the Inupiat people. Listen Now
Obama ‘indefinitely’ bars drilling in Arctic waters
President Obama has issued an order blocking future oil and gas development in the entire Chukchi Sea and nearly all of the Beaufort. Listen Now
State irked at feds’ new GPS survey method
At statehood, Alaska was promised more than 100 million acres of land. So far, the federal government has transferred just 65 percent of it. At the current pace, it will take another 20 years. Today, the federal Bureau of Land Management announced it’s imposing a new surveying method to speed things up. But the state is not happy about it. Listen Now
Why Trump’s pick for Interior wants land to stay federal
Trump chose Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke. Alaska’s congressional delegation likes a lot of what he stands for. There’s just one big exception. Listen Now
Environmentalists ready for ANWR fight, with vets in their camp
Alaska’s congressional delegation sees a chance to finally open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. The environmental lobby is ready for the fight. And they’ve got some new, patriotic allies on their side: military veterans.
Obama draws fury and joy with Bering Sea protection
President Obama today issued an executive order creating the "Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area." Alaska's congressional delegation says Obama is acting with unilateral authority. But Bering Sea elders say the president has answered their request. Listen Now