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Last week we asked, “How would you rate the Alaska Republican Party?” Check out the Nifty Numbers section for results!

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Table of Contents

Alaska Industry

North Slope Pikka Project Strikes First Oil

The following is a reprint of a press release from Santos, approved and authorized for release by Kevin Gallagher, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Santos today announced first oil from the Pikka phase 1 development on Alaska’s North Slope, with oil flow established through the Lease Automated Custody Transfer (LACT) meter into the Pikka […]

Must Read Alaska • Natalie Spaulding

Update: SB 280 version L Hits Oil & Gas with 4 New Taxes

With 5 days left in the legislative session, the Alaska State Senate Resources Committee is investing much of their time on Senate Bill 280, a 7-page bill originally introduced to provide the Oil & Gas industry with tax breaks in order to encourage investment in the Alaska LNG project. After a string of amendments and […]

Must Read Alaska • Natalie Spaulding

Alaska Law and Justice

Opinion: Repeal of Biden-era Public Land Rule Restores Essential Alaskan Right

By Sarah Montalbano On May 11, the Department of the Interior finalized the repeal of the Bureau of Land Management’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, better known as the Public Lands Rule. In 2023, when the Biden administration’s BLM first proposed the rule, my colleague at Independent Women, Gabriella Hoffman, and I argued in the […]

Must Read Alaska • GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

Alaska Legislative Session

President of ANSCA Regional Association Issues Statement After Legislature Unanimously Passes 8a Program Resolution

President of the ANCSA Regional Association, Nicole Borromeo, issued the following statement after Monday’s unanimous passage of House Joint Resolution 44 which declares the State’s support for the continued participation of Alaska Native Corporations (ANC) in the Small Business Administration’s 8a program. The joint resolution also urges President Donald Trump, the U.S. Congress, and the […]

Must Read Alaska • Natalie Spaulding

Stephen Cox Not Confirmed as Attorney General

Today, May 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., the Alaska State Legislature voted on the confirmation of Attorney General Stephen Cox. Cox was not confirmed, receiving 31 nays to 29 yeas. Stephen Cox was appointed by Governor Dunleavy to fill the vacancy left by Candidate for Governor Treg Taylor. The Legislature was originally scheduled to vote […]

Must Read Alaska • Natalie Spaulding

Dunleavy Appoints Stephen Cox as Counsel to the Governor

Governor Dunleavy appointed Stephen Cox as his Counsel to the Governor today, May 14, 2026, after the Legislature voted against his confirmation as Attorney General. Arguments in support of Cox’s confirmation as Attorney General focused mainly on his qualifications. Arguments in opposition focused mainly on political and ethical disagreements. A press release from Dunleavy’s office […]

Must Read Alaska • Natalie Spaulding

Alaska Events

Governor Forum This Thursday, Moderated by Joel Davidson, Hosted by Alaska Family Action

This Thursday, May 21, 2026, several of the gubernatorial candidates will participate in Alaska Family Action’s Governor Forum, moderated by Editor of Alaska Watchman Joel Davidson. Confirmed candidates include Dave Bronson, Adam Crum, Edna DeVries, Matt Heilala, Shelley Hughes and Bernadette Wilson. Questions will focus on issues such as school choice and parental rights, protecting the unborn, gender ideology and how to […]

Must Read Alaska • Natalie Spaulding

AMAC Action Hosts "Truth About Trawling" and "Update on Healthcare" Thurs May 21

Next Thursday, May 21, 2026, the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) Action will be hosting Strategic Director Adam Trombley to present “The Truth About Trawling” and former State Representative Ken McCarty to present “An Update on Healthcare in Alaska.” The presentations will begin at 7:00 p.m. Location is 2511 Sentry Dr. Anchorage, AK 99507.

Must Read Alaska • Natalie Spaulding

While Juneau Debates, Big Lake Builds: The Alaska Homestead Expo Returns Memorial Day Weekend 

By Sonia Laughland While the legislature burns through another session arguing about the budget, a few thousand Alaskans will spend Memorial Day weekend doing something more useful. They will be learning to feed themselves.  The 3rd Annual Alaska Homestead Expo & Marketplace runs May 22–23 at the Big Lake Lions Club, organized by Common Ground […]

Must Read Alaska • GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

More Must Reads

  • “Legislature Transforms SB 280 from Investment Driver to State Revenue Driver” by Natalie Spaulding, May 12

  • “Senate Passes Consumer Bill of Rights to Protect Alaskans from Crypto ATM Scams” by Natalie Spaulding, May 12

  • “Opinion: Major Deficiencies in Anchorage Plan to Reduce Vehicle Lanes to Develop Multimodal Corridor” by John Haxby, May 12

  • “Alaska Fish & Game Announces NMFS Decision to Not List Chinook Under Endangered Species Act” by Natalie Spaulding, May 13

  • “Opinion: Tech Addiction Corrodes Alaskan Culture” by Dr. Michael Hanifen, May 13

  • “Opinion: Why I Am Running for Chugach Electric Board of Directors” by Todd Lindley, May 13

  • “Alaska Oil & Gas Association Calls Legislature Out on SB 280 Hijack” by Natalie Spaulding, May 15

  • Industry Leaders React to SB 280 version L: “Investors across the nation and around the world are watching” by Natalie Spaulding, May 15

  • “Biblical Masculinity: A Call to Christ-Like Manhood in an Age of Confusion” by Dr. Cindy Sena-Martinez, May 17

  • “Foodies and Foragers: Food is Life, Food is Health” by Brenda Josephson, May 18

  • “All Major North Slope Producers Agree to Provide Gas for Alaska LNG Phase One” by Natalie Spaulding, May 18

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Nifty Numbers

How would you rate the Alaska Republican Party

1: Excellent, well-organized, reliable, transparent: 51 votes

2: Ok, decently organized, somewhat reliable, mostly transparent: 46 votes

3: Neutral: 35 votes

4: Not good, mostly disorganized, mostly unreliable, only sometimes transparent: 62 votes

5: Terrible, disorganized, unreliable, not transparent: 32 votes

Total Votes: 226 votes

Key Industry Numbers

Alaska Oil: $116.17 per barrel

Alaska Residential Gas Price: $13.12/kcf

Henry Hub Weekly Spot: $2.89/mmBTU

Alaska North Slope Production: ~454,055 barrels per day

Permanent Fund (Principal + Earnings Reserve): ~$88.7 billion

Research conducted by Grok AI, using the following sources: Alaska Oil & Gas Association, U.S. Energy Information Association, and the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.

Must Read Alaska Show: NEW EPISODE

NEW EPISODE: From the Land Up: Alaska's Homestead Revival with Tandy Hogate

Join Sonia on The Social from the Must Read Alaska Show as she sits down with Tandy Hogate — host of the Sustainable Alaska podcast and co-founder of Common Ground Alaska — for a timely conversation on Alaska’s growing homestead revival.

In “From the Land Up: Alaska’s Homestead Revival,” Tandy shares how more Alaskans are reclaiming self-reliance through gardening, animal husbandry, food preservation, and off-grid living. With Alaska importing nearly all its groceries and facing real supply chain risks, this movement isn’t just a lifestyle — it’s a practical response to food security and resilience.

Tandy previews the third annual Alaska Homestead Expo and Marketplace happening Memorial Day Weekend, May 22–23, 2026, at the Big Lake Lions Club. This year’s event expands to a hybrid format with livestreamed sessions, full recordings, and an entire summer series of 65+ additional classes included with your ticket.

From the Land Up: Alaska's Homestead Revival with Tandy Hogate

Podcast Episode · The Must Read Alaska Show · May 18 · 39m

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