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.
What does Trump's vow to 'indefinitely' run Venezuela's oil fields mean for Alaska? Not much, at least for now
Even setting aside the geopolitical implications of Trump's regime change in Venezuela, the economic and logistical challenges don't make it a particularly attractive investment.
A definitive look at the best places for Trump to host Putin during their trip to Alaska
From quintessential date spots to historic hideouts of corrupt politicians, there's plenty to choose from.
Dunleavy’s fiscal plan: Sales tax for you, tax cuts for corporations
It's not just a plan to branch the state's finances until the next great oil boom, but a plan to shift the state's tax burden from the well-connected to everyone else.
Light on specifics, Dunleavy says his yet-to-be-introduced fiscal plan 'could work'
In what could have been an opportunity to change the course of how his time in office will be remembered, the governor offered no concrete details and doesn't even seem all that convinced it'll work.
Day 3: With Dunleavy's sales tax looming, GOP votes down corporate tax bill
The fact that the governor is leading with a broad-based tax that would definitely raise costs for Alaskans was a point many supporters of the bill didn't let slide.
Day 2: 'At some point, the dam's gonna break'
The budget is front and center as the 2026 legislative session got underway on Tuesday, and legislators aren't thrilled with Gov. Dunleavy's proposed budget or what it means for the state's future.
Day 1: Lame-duck Dunleavy
Legislators are also increasingly frustrated with the state's languishing public services under the governor, with everything from social safety net programs to business licensing taking a hit due to understaffed state offices.
The Enshittification Year
On the state level, the enshittification formula is all too familiar over the last seven years under Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
'Many may not have homes to go back to.'
The long road ahead for victims of Typhoon Halong highlights just how far the state needs to come in its treatment of rural Alaska
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