Hi! The Alaska Memo is a political newsletter by me, Matt Acuña Buxton, focused on Alaska politics with a dash of Anchorage and a smattering of everywhere else. At the heart of it, my mission is to explain not just what happened but why it matters, bringing in the context and background that I’ve amassed in more than a decade of reporting in Alaska.
Trump's mass firing of federal probationary workers is underway, and it's gonna be bad
"Alaska's economy has two parts: oil and federal employees."
New Year, New Platform and a New Session of Hope
A new home for a new year.
Trump's mass firings will bring 'a whole lot of hurt' to Alaska
The continued fallout of Trump's mass firings has many worrying about fires and tourism this summer.
Senators: It's 'high time' for new revenue
The Senate Majority is considering new oil revenue as the state faces hard choices elsewhere.
Dunleavy administration manipulated wage study to keep underpaying workers, lawsuit alleges
He's never beating the "abundant evidence of anti-union animus" finding.
Day 15: Do we have common ground?
It’s Tuesday, Alaska — Day 15 of the Alaska Legislative session. In this edition: Talks on some kind of education deal are underway between the governor and the Legislature’s coalition majorities, but just how much common ground there really can be between the governor’s “Give me everything I
Day 11: 'Dunleavy says they put money in and will continue to do so.'
At his news conference focused on charters and homeschools, Dunleavy insists he cares about all schools.
Day 9: 'Vague and confusing'
Dunleavy delivers his State of the State, painting a rosy picture of a not-so-pretty situation.
Day 8: ‘A five-alarm fire’
Trump's halt threw Alaska, which receives the most federal funding per capita, into chaos and is a timely reminder of the state's budget challenges.
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