Alaska's Political Pipeline

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Conversations about the people, issues and controversies getting political attention in Anchorage and  Alaska.  We'll go beyond the daily news to explore what issues are generating heat, why and how political decisions are made, what strategies campaigns are using, where the money is flowing and how the city and state are governed. 

Alaska's News Source


    • Nov 14, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 20m AVG DURATION
    • 48 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Alaska's Political Pipeline

    Trump appointments, a new Senate leader and an Alaska election update

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 10:43


    Tracy Sinclare speaks with our Washington D. C. Correspondent about the appointments of Pres-Elect Trump and what the House and Senate will look like in January. Plus we look at some key races in Alaska's election.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Debate for the State: U.S. House

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 56:08


    Rebecca Palsha and Lori Townsend moderate Debate for the State between Rep. Mary Peltola and challenger Nick Begich.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Alaska's Political Pipeline: Democratic response to Biden's withdrawal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2024 8:51


    In this edition of Alaska's Political Pipeline, Joe Cadotte spoke with Mike Wenstrup, chair of the Alaska Democratic Party, about his reaction to the announcement from President Joe Biden that he was withdrawing from the 2024 Presidential race. This is the extended version of that conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    A conversation with Mayor-Elect Suzanne LaFrance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 10:39


    Rebecca Palsha talks with Anchorage Mayor-Elect Suzanne LaFrance a little more than 2 weeks from her inauguration. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Alaska's Political Pipeline: Mayor Dave Bronson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 32:43


    As Mayor Dave Bronson prepares to leave office, Rebecca Palsha sits down with him to talk about his tenure and his legacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    A deep mayoral runoff discussion between Bronson and LaFrance

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 17:16


    Rebecca Palsha moderated the Alaska's News Source discussion between Mayor Dave Bronson and Suzanne LaFrance.   She and David Bernknopf recap the debate, which was long on specific plans about homelessness, crime, snow removal and his calling her "woke" and her calling him "incompetent."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    ANCHORAGE'S MAYORAL CANDIDATES ANSWER COMMUNITY QUESTIONS.mp3

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2024 11:43


    ALASKA'S NEWS SOURCE ASKED THE COMMUNITY COUNCILS OF ANCHORAGE TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS OF MAYOR DAVE BRONSON AND CHALLENGER SUZANNE LAFRANCE.  HERE ARE THEIR ANSWERS ON A WIDE RANGE OF CONCERNS TO ANCHORAGE RESIDENTSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Votes: Mayoral Runoff Debate

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2024 56:28


    Moderator Rebecca Palsha sits down with Mayor Dave Bronson and former-Assembly Chair Suzanne LaFrance to discuss the topics important to Anchorage residents: the homeless crisis, snow removal, re-zoning efforts and what it takes to make Anchorage a place to attract new residents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage election results special. Mayor, propositions and school board

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 21:21


    Rebecca Palsha and David Bernknopf detail the initial results and preview the coming Anchorage mayoral runoff, almost surely between incumbent Dave Bronson and challenger Suzanne LaFrance. Plus, why did the public bathroom prop fail so badly?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Homelessness, Snow Removal, Crime, Housing Costs...recapping the Anchorage Mayoral Candidates debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 21:20


    Mayor Dave Bronson, challengers Chris Tuck, Bill Popp, Suzanne LaFrance debate the issues in the 2024 Alaska's News Source Anchorage Mayoral Debate. We recap and analyze what the candidates said and what their answers say about their campaign strategies..See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Alaska's U.S. Senators react to President Biden's State of the Union

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2024 15:42


    Both Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan criticized President Biden's State of the Union Thursday night for being much too political.  A special edition of the Political PipelineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Enough state money for education and the PFD? A new Anchorage proposal to close homeless camps

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 29:03


    Is there enough money in Alaska to fix education and fund the PFD? The latest episode of Alaska's political pipeline explores those issues from Juneau and also looks into Mayor Bronson's newest plan to shut down large homeless camps in Anchorage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Alaska State Legislature is back legislating...or trying to.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2024 12:54


    Education and energy are the top issues in Juneau at the start of the Alaska legislative session.  The new edition of Alaska's political pipeline goes in depth with our legislative correspondent Steve Kirch to hear possible solutions on  school spending  and critical energy issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Myth or History and is Alaska really "The Last Frontier?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2024 29:10


    From Governor Dunleavy to Mary Peltola, Alaska's politicians seek to claim a share of the frontier.  But how much of the frontier is myth and how much is real?  And how does mythology affect the way we look at land use, mineral extraction, environmental issues and even place names?  Guest Kaitlin Armstrong from the podcast "The Alaska Myth" joins us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Agreement on an Anchorage pilot program to provide permanent housing for homeless people, Bronson team onboard

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023 30:00


    With virtually every major stakeholder in the room and apparently on the same page, the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness unveiled a pilot program to move 150 people from emergency winter shelters into permanent housing in April.  The money is there, the Assembly and Mayor Bronson are supportive and a team from Houston, Texas is in town to advise.   That's because Houston is seen by many as a shining example of how to create a collaborative approach to moving people from the streets to housing with a laser focus on that single issue.  We talk about the challenges still facing the Anchorage version of the Houston model.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    A new candidate for Congress, the political fallout from the snow emergency and Ice Towers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2023 17:10


    The Lt Governor joins the race for Mary Peltola's at-large Alaska Congressional seat, Mayor Bronson says he made the right choice on what streets to clean, but the head of Anchorage Schools begs to differ.  The world's news organizations cover the Anchorage homeless situation, but many stories get a key fact wrong. And how colorful ice towers might brighten your winter outlookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The MIScounting of Anchorage's homeless population and what's up with PFD money?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 21:22


    How did Anchorage so badly miscalculate the number of homeless people wanting winter shelter and what will be done about the crisis?  Plus, calls for a constitutional amendment to deal with PFD funds.  And, the legacy of Alaska's Vic Fischer, the last surviving signer of the state's Constitution.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Bronson winter shelter plan is almost here, and so is a new snow removal plan and indictments for misusing Covid $

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2023 23:31


    Just days before Anchorage residents learn the details of the winter shelter plan, but the Bronson administration promises more than 500 beds in 3 locations PLUS a new snow removal plan is coming with $1.5 million in proposed new snow spending.   Details on the alleged $1.6 million dollar fraud allegedly perpetrated by a supporter of the mayor's who sits on two Anchorage commissions.  But it wasn't the mayor who gave her and partner the federal money. It was the Anchorage assembly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The tragic death of Eugene Peltola Jr and the sad irony of Mary Peltola's 9/11 speech during Biden visit

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 21:26


    Rep. Mary Peltola spoke about small planes during the Anchorage commemoration of 9/11 with President Biden. Just over a day later, her husband died tragically in the crash of his small plane. President Biden attended that ceremony on his way back from Vietnam and Governor Dunleavy got a few moments with the President to discuss his opposition to the President's decision to cancel oil drilling leases in the state.   Hear our interview with the Governor about what he intended to tell the President. The pipeline also examines the Mayoral candidacy of Bill Popp and fellow candidate Suzanne LaFrance's response.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Vandalism hits KTUU and turns the Pipeline into the POOPline

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2023 19:49


    But seriously, we talk about how and why Alaska's News Source covered vandalism at our offices involving human feces.   It involves our ongoing coverage of the homeless issue and our series on what works to alleviate homelessness here and around the country.    Also, we tell you what we know now about President Biden's scheduled visit to Anchorage on 9/11See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Homelessness in Anchorage: The Navigation Center WON'T be built, but what solutions might be in the muni's future?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2023 19:03


    We went to Houston, Texas, to see why so many think that city's homeless response is a model for the rest of the country. We hear from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and those in Houston moving thousands of people into permanent homes. Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson tells us Houston's model isn't something he's interested in and also why he fought so hard to finish his navigation center. And, there is at least one homeless project in Anchorage that is bearing fruit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    texas built homelessness anchorage muni navigation center anchorage mayor dave bronson
    Putting homeless people on planes out of town and the mayor's race is ON

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2023 17:53


    Mayor Bronson gets national attention for offering one way plane tickets to homeless people as the city's mayoral race gets fully underway.    Are LaFrance supporters trying to get Chris Tuck to leave the race already?  And who else might join the mayor's race?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Is the PFD drying up? Sen. Sullivan talks about Ukraine....and President Biden's handling of the crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2023 13:18


    The people running the Permanent Fund say we could run out of spendable money in three years.  Will it force the Governor and the legislature to act? Alaska Senator Sullivan has both praise and criticism for President Biden's handling of the Ukraine crisis and NATO. And what is in a word, when it comes to outdoor homeless camps in Anchorage?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Jeremy Cubas and the Governor and signs of improving relations between the Anchorage Mayor and the Assembly

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2023 15:45


    What does Governor Dunleavy have to say about his former "family" aide Jeremy Cubas and how does Mr. Cubas view his critics?  We hear from one of them.  Also, a new candidate jumps in the Anchorage Mayor's race to oppose Mayor Dave Bronson.  And, are relations really thawing between the Mayor and the Assembly?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Juneau, we have a problem — and Anchorage City Hall may have some solutions

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2023 21:38


    The regular session of the Alaska legislature is in its final days and we examine the wide agreement that significant changes are coming to the way the state pays its' bills. But exactly what those changes are remain a bit of a mystery. Plus ranked choice voting and parental rights measures take up committee time and Mayor Bronson's administration says it has reached "settlements" over some contentious issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Mayor Bronson fills some open positions, Alaska legislators try to settle on a PFD $ amount and what's going on in Albania (really)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2023 30:28


    Mayor Bronson lost a key employee, but gained a couple as well. Plus his spokesman says progress is being made on filling other positions. Plus, there's just about a month left in the legislative session in Juneau. What's up with the PFD, education spending and 'parental rights?' And yes, we really do discuss Albania this week.  EnjoySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Votes: School Board Candidates Seat D

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 5:07


    In this edition of Alaska's Political Pipeline, we speak with the two candidates for the Anchorage School Board, Seat D. We asked all of the candidates the same three questions. The candidates for this seat are Mark Anthony Cox and incumbent Andy Holleman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Votes: School Board Seat C

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 6:54


    In this edition of Alaska's Political Pipeline, we speak with the two candidates for the Anchorage School Board, Seat C. We asked all of the candidates the same three questions. The candidates for this seat are Irene Boll and incumbent Dave Donley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Votes: Assembly District 6, Seat K

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2023 18:56


    On Alaska's Political Pipeline, we're sharing some of the extended interviews we did with the candidates for the Anchorage Assembly. In this edition, we talk to the candidates for District 6, Seat K, Rachel Ries, Zac Johnson and Mikel Insalaco. The Anchorage Municipal Election is April 4, 2023. Follow Alaska's News Source for all the latest results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Votes: Assembly District 5, Seat I

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2023 14:05


    On Alaska's Political Pipeline, we're sharing some of the extended interviews we did with the candidates for the Anchorage Assembly. In this edition, we talk to the candidates for District 5, Seat I, George Martinez and Spencer Moore. The Anchorage Municipal Election is April 4, 2023. Follow Alaska's News Source for all the latest results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Votes: Assembly District 5, Seat H

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2023 12:34


    On Alaska's Political Pipeline, we're sharing some of the extended interviews we did with the candidates for the Anchorage Assembly. In this edition, we talk to the candidates for District 5, Seat H, Leigh Sloan and Karen Bronga. The Anchorage Municipal Election is April 4, 2023. Follow Alaska's News Source for all the latest results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Votes: Assembly District 4, Seat G

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2023 12:18


    On Alaska's Political Pipeline, we're sharing some of the extended interviews we did with the candidates for the Anchorage Assembly. In this edition, we talk to the candidates for District 4, Seat G, Travis Szanto and incumbent Felix Rivera. The Anchorage Municipal Election is April 4, 2023. Follow Alaska's News Source for all the latest results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Votes: Assembly District 3, Seat E

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2023 18:35


    On Alaska's Political Pipeline, we're sharing some of the extended interviews we did with the candidates for the Anchorage Assembly. In this edition, we talk to the candidates for District 3, Seat E, Dustin Darden, Anna Brawley, and Brian Flynn. The Anchorage Municipal Election is April 4, 2023. Follow Alaska's News Source for all the latest results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Votes: Assembly District 2, Seat C

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 16:30


    On Alaska's Political Pipeline, we're sharing some of the extended interviews we did with the candidates for the Anchorage Assembly. In this edition, we talk to the candidates for District 2, Seat C, Jim Arlington and Scott Myers. There is no incumbent in this race. The Anchorage Municipal Election is April 4, 2023. Follow Alaska's News Source for all the latest results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Votes: Assembly District 1, Seat B

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 13:01


    On Alaska's Political Pipeline, we're sharing some of the extended interviews we did with the candidates for the Anchorage Assembly. In this edition, we talk to the candidates for District 1, Seat B, Christopher Constant and Nicholas Danger. Candidate John Trueblood declined our request for an on camera interview.  The Anchorage Municipal Election is April 4, 2023. Follow Alaska's News Source for all the latest results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Assembly goes to court against Mayor, Alaska's Governor says he isn't targeting LGBTQ community and more

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2023 24:40


    This just in. Anchorage Assembly goes to court to force Mayor Bronson to reveal Joe Gerace documents.  Governor Dunleavy proposes a "parental rights" bill that some say targets the LGBTQ community.  Dunleavy also proposes a teacher bonus.  And we go in-depth into the political fallout from the Willow oil project decision and look at when construction might actually begin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Anchorage Mayor and Assembly still fighting, Alaska trying to understand carbon politics and revenue

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2023 31:40


    The Anchorage Assembly and Mayor Bronson continue to talk past each other, a new lawsuit against the Mayor is filed, Rep. David Eastman wonders out loud if an abused child who dies saves the state money and we dig deeply into the politics and financial promise of carbon capture and carbon offsets here in Alaska.  Could it really mean billions of dollars of revenue for the state?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Niki Tshibaka joins departures at City Hall & Alaska's spending on schools might rise

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 28:30


    Just before recording this episode of the Pipeline podcast, another top Bronson administration official left City Hall. We have some inside details. Meanwhile, the mayor's staff is upset at our persistent attempts to question Mayor Bronson. We also look at a new proposal to increase Alaska's spending on schools. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Mayor Bronson, Amy Demboski, Brice Wilbanks, Gov. Dunleavy. They are all in this week's Pipeline

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2023 24:06


    What is going on in Anchorage City Hall?  Demboski and Wilbanks are both gone.  The D.A. is reviewing claims that a top city hall executive tried to intimidate employees from going to the ombudsman.  Investigative reporter Mike Mason shares his insights. And what is going on in Juneau?  Did Governor Dunleavy provide any more detail about the next state budget and what do we know about legislative priorities, budget crunches, ranked choice voting and education spending now that the legislative session is underway? Rebecca Palsha just returned and tells us what she learned in Juneau.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    More of the Demboski and the Mayor saga & we're still talking snow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2023 17:26


    Will Anchorage's snowpocalypse hurt the political careers of our municipal leaders? Will Amy Demboski's lawyer letter to Mayor Bronson hurt the Mayor's political career? Will we vote again on ranked choice voting? And will the Alaska State House figure out how to organize?  All those questions are tackled in our latest podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    mayors snow saga mayor bronson
    Municipal Mgr. Amy Demboski is fired by Mayor Bronson and we talk about why.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 17:44


    More information on the dismissal of Anchorage Municipal Manager Amy Demboski, how Alaska's News Source covered the story and why you don't hear from Mayor Bronson in our piece. Also a quick recap of Governor Dunleavy's budget proposal and a look at when the Alaska state legislature will get to work on that document.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Governor Dunleavy is sworn in and Alaska's Legislature readies for its session

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 28:36


    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy prepares his next budget, the Alaska Legislature figures out power structures for the Senate and the House, a look back at polling success in the state and we consider whether appointed or elected judges make more sense. Also, please stick around until the end of this episode for our own Pipeline Christmas music mix.   Co-hosts Rebecca Palsha and David Bernknopf welcome state political reporter Elena Symmes to the podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ranked Voting is tabulated in Alaska and the major races are settled

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2022 15:54


    Mary Peltola, Lisa Murkowski and Mike Dunleavey all win re-election.  Rank the Red worked, sort of and if you think election season is over, stand by for yet another ballot fight, this time over ranked voting. Plus our AI expert got the election exactly right and rejoins the podcast to explain why her methods work better than traditional polling.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    We've got the political math. Where do Alaska's elections stand after election day?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2022 18:41


    We delve into the numbers and examine what it takes for the Congressional and Senate candidates to keep their current leads or catch up. And has Governor Dunleavy locked his re-election up? Peltola, Palin, Begich, Tshibaka, Murkowski, Dunleavy, Gara and Walker all still in it for now. Plus, how did the NO forces sweep to such a blowout on the ballot question of a Constitutional Convention?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Election Day is almost here. A debate review and a look at what issues are resonating on social media

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 30:00


    We review the Senate and Congressional debates, look forward to how election day will be covered, when votes will be counted and we have a special guest, a marketing and political expert who uses Artificial Intelligence to study how candidates are perceived and what issues are working for and against them. She did a special study of the Alaska races for Alaska's News Source.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Alaska's Political Pipeline: Debates, the Constitutional Convention Vote and what Americans think about the news media and democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2022 23:32


    The Alaska Governor's Debate is done.  We review that gathering and preview the Senate and Congressional Debates coming next week.  What issues do voters want to hear about?  And what about the vote on whether to hold a Constitutional Convention? We also tackle the difficult issue of what Americans and Alaskans think about the job the news media does.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Alaska's Political Pipeline: Races for Governor and Senator

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 19:28


    This episode, we examine the Alaska Senate and Gubernatorial races, look ahead to the October debates and talk about out of state money going into TV and social media ads. Rebecca Palsha and David Bernknopf co-host.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Alaska's Political Pipeline: The Congressional Race

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 19:10


    The latest episode of the Alaska's Political Pipeline podcast looks at the next round of the Peltola-Palin-Begich congressional race. Rebecca Palsha and Producer David Bernknopf also discuss how folks in the lower 48 seem to have trouble taking salmon seriously and how families are taking a central role in the campaign. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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