Dear readers,
Thank you to all who tuned in to our X Space debut last Wednesday!
Please join us for What’s Happening in Alaska every Wednesday night at 7pm.
In this X Space, we will give you a quick list and summary of the past week’s news and commentary published on Must Read Alaska. Then, it is your turn to share your thoughts on recent topics and news. This a time for us to think out loud together!
The MRAK Team
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Visit our website at www.mustreadalaska.com. Also find us on X and Facebook.
Table of Contents
Alaskans’ PFD
Alaska’s Permanent Fund: The Great Debate Part XII (Last in Series)
The People of Alaska vs. The Legislature
Part XII: The Path Forward
By Jon Faulkner
It is time to bring the PFD matter to a vote of the people; failing that, to replace the representatives who are blocking a vote; failing that, pursue every available remedy.
The PFD program has been a blessing to Alaskans for a generation. The legal, philosophical, economic, and social impacts of the PFD are profoundly favorable to the people, and yet our legislature is destroying it.
Building Our Case
Must Read Alaska is collecting testimony from around the state: How do citizens use or rely on the PFD for their essential needs? How long have you relied on the PFD?
While our courts work hard to “get the law right”, they have gotten it wrong when it comes to the PFD. State law should comport with modern Federal equal protection cases, protect the people against private interests and plunder, and be based on evidence, not mere opinions…
Alaska Industry
Sullivan Speaks on “Really Significant Progress” for Alaska LNG Project
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan speaks on Alaska LNG project progress in this excerpt from a press release, Jan 13:
Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL Kenai Public Radio: Pivoting slightly, but sticking with resource development: The last that I’d heard from your office regarding the Alaska LNG Project was earlier in the summer. You’d mentioned that you were kind of shopping it around the Pentagon to see if there was any interest in federal capital investment. What were the results of those conversations? Did anything come of those talks?
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan: …
Keep Alaska Competitive Coalition Co-Chairs: Alaska’s Winning Formula
By Jim Jansen and Joe Schiernhorn
Alaska is experiencing an energy renaissance, thanks to a stable fiscal framework that gives businesses and investors the certainty they need to put down roots, create jobs and build a future here.
We have called Alaska home for more than half a century and have seen firsthand how its prosperity rises and falls with the health of our resource-related industries.
From the early days of the pipeline to today’s dynamic economy, one lesson stands out: stability and predictability are the bedrock of success.
News: Alaska Elections
Alaska Young Republicans State Convention: Full Series
By Natalie Spaulding
On Saturday, Jan 10, the Alaska Young Republicans hosted their State Convention featuring a panel of ten of the twelve Republican gubernatorial candidates for this year’s election: Bernadette Wilson, Adam Crum, Edna DeVries, Matt Heilala, Shelley Hughes, Click Bishop, Treg Taylor, Dave Bronson, James Parkin IV, and Bruce Walden. Candidates for Governor Nancy Dahlstrom and Hank Henry Kroll did not participate in the event.
Read MRAK’s coverage of Begich’s and Sullivan’s speeches and introductions from the 10 gubernatorial candidates: Alaska Young Republican State Convention Part I: Who Are the 2026 Gubernatorial Candidates?
Hear from Hughes, Crum, Taylor, and Wilson: AKYR State Convention Part II: What Is the Biggest Challenge Alaska Faces in the Next 5 Years?
Hear from Bishop, Walden, Bronson, and Heilala: AKYR State Convention Part III: What Is Current Leadership Getting Right and Where Is It Falling Short?
Hear from DeVries and Parkin: AKYR State Convention Part IV: What Issues Do We Face That We Aren’t Talking About Enough?
All ten candidates answer these hard-hitting questions: AKYR State Convention Part V: What Is Something Unpopular You Support? / Where Do Republicans Disagree and It Is Healthy Disagreement?
The candidates respond to audience’s questions about veterans and entrepreneurs: AKYR State Convention Part VI: Audience Questions
The candidates give their closing remarks: AKYR State Convention: Gubernatorial Candidates’ Closing Remarks
News: Alaska Statewide Politics
50,000 Signatures Supporting Citizen-Only Voting Submitted to Alaska Division of Elections
By Natalie Spaulding
Today, Alaskans for Citizen Voting announced the submission of nearly 50,000 signatures in support of its citizen-led ballot petition to the Alaska Division of Elections. The petition asks for a voter qualification law that requires every voter to be a citizen of the United States. It also reaffirms previous Alaska law requirements for voting.
The full proposal states: …
House Republican Caucus Announces New Committee Assignments
By Natalie Spaulding
With the second regular session of the 34th Alaska Legislature starting next Tuesday, Jan 20, the House Republican Caucus has finalized its committee assignments.
Minority Leader DeLena Johnson (R-Palmer) and Minority Whip Justin Ruffridge (R-Soldotna) will serve on the House Energy Committee. Rep. Johnson will also join the House Rules Committee. Rep. Ruffridge will also serve on the House Tribal Affairs Committee….
News: Alaska Local Politics
Anchorage Assembly Postpones 3% Sales Tax; Passes ASD Funding Proposal onto Voters
By Natalie Spaulding
Tuesday, Jan 13, the Anchorage Assembly postponed Mayor LaFrance’s 3% sales tax proposal after LaFrance motioned for the postponement, claiming the Assembly needed to focus on a funding proposal for the Anchorage School District instead.
The Assembly postponed the sales tax proposal, AO-2025-133, indefinitely with a vote of 12-0.
Then, the Assembly heard public testimony and voted on AO-2025-136, a proposal intending to provide the Anchorage School District with $79,460,000 for capital improvements. The ordinance asks voters to consider an issuance of general obligation bonds to fund ASD’s capital improvements. If passed, Anchorage property owners will see a property tax increase to help ASD pay back the bonds.
News: National Politics Impacting Alaska
Senate Passes Appropriations Package: What Did Alaska Get?
By Natalie Spaulding
Last week, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bills. The appropriations package funds the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and Interior; the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a variety of programs and infrastructure projects for Alaska.
Senator Dan Sullivan played a key role in passing the legislation. It is now on its way to the President to be signed into law.
Alaska’s Seas and Skies
According to a press release from Sen. Sullivan’s office, the package provides $6.1 billion nationwide for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) programs. This includes: …
Opinions: Alaska Politics
When Experience Hoards Power: A View from Alaska’s Middle Generation
By Marcus Moore
Paul Bauer is right about one thing: Alaska needs energy and competence. Where I disagree is in the diagnosis of the problem, and who bears responsibility for fixing it.
I am not a 21-year-old activist shouting from the cheap seats, nor am I a 65-year-old gatekeeper guarding institutional memory like a family heirloom. I am 40 years old. I sit squarely in the middle, old enough to have watched multiple political cycles fail, young enough to still feel the consequences coming next.
Opinion: Peltola, A Prime Example of Political Deception
By Natalie Spaulding
On Jan 12, Mary Peltola announced her campaign for Senate, challenging Senator Dan Sullivan, who has been serving Alaska in the Senate for 10 years.
Peltola’s campaign video showcases political deception at its finest. The video is warm, appealing, and has a “homey” Alaskan feel. Peltola speaks to the average Alaskan by highlighting “the rigged system in DC” and her priorities of “fish, family, freedom.” In fact, the video almost has a conservative feel. Her campaign slogan “To hell with politics… Put Alaska first” seems to harken to Republicans’ “America First” focus.
By Paul A. Bauer, Jr.:
By Michael Tavoliero:
By Edward Martin, Jr.:
Facts and Figures
Convocation of Eagles Spotted at Muldoon and DeBarr Intersection
Approximately a dozen eagles have been hanging out at the intersection of Muldoon and DeBarr in Anchorage for over a week.
Take a break from your busy day and go say “hello” to the eagles!
Key Industry Numbers
Alaska Oil: ~$64.84 per barrel
Henry Hub Gas: ~$3.12 per mmBTU
Alaska North Slope Production: ~479,560 barrels per day
Permanent Fund (Principal + Earnings Reserve): ~$88.5 billion
Community Meetings
Do you want to know more about what is going on in your local community? Consider showing up to a local political or utilities meeting, learn the details for yourself, and add your own voice to the conversation.
Download the pdf below to see upcoming community meetings happening this week in Alaska!
In Pursuit of Wisdom
Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be banned from thinking so as not to offend the imbeciles.
Must Read Alaska Show
We hope to get our podcast back up and running in the near future. Plus, we are continuing to develop our sortable audio-files for easy listening of our stories.
Submit Your Feedback
Do you have story ideas? Do you want to submit an op-ed for consideration? Or perhaps you have feedback for us on how we can improve your experience. If that’s you, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We love to hear from our readers!
Thank you for reading! Until next time,
The MRAK Team
A Force for Good