Skip to content

Matt Acuña Buxton

Matt is a longtime journalist and longtime nerd for Alaska politics and policy. Alaska became his home in 2011, and he's covered the Legislature and more in newspapers, live threads and blogs.

Members Public

Bronson administration meets the consequences of their anti-science, pro-covid actions

It’s been a utterly wild day for Alaska news.

Bronson administration meets the consequences of their anti-science, pro-covid actions
Members Public

'The pilot here doesn't understand our plane is crashing.'

The story about the most head-turning testimony from the misery that is the Anchorage Assembly's hearing on the proposed mask mandate. The session gets going... kind of. And local elections!

'The pilot here doesn't understand our plane is crashing.'
Members Public

From covid-19 to elections, the Bronson administration isn't acting in good faith

It's all part of the plan.

From covid-19 to elections, the Bronson administration isn't acting in good faith
Members Public

After wave of antisemitism and hate, it’s clear why Bronson doesn’t want the pandemic to end

Bronson may preach freedom, but he’s meeting these suppressive anti-democratic tactics with, at best, a wink and a nod.

After wave of antisemitism and hate, it’s clear why Bronson doesn’t want the pandemic to end
Members Public

Hate-filled backlash is making it harder to want to run for office. And that's the point.

Good afternoon, Alaska. In this edition: Woof. Who’d run for office with a public like this? The Anchorage Assembly is, as I’m writing this, settling in for what looks to be several days of petulant and hate-filled testimony from a carefully cultivated base who can most charitably be

Hate-filled backlash is making it harder to want to run for office. And that's the point.
Members Public

The Anchorage Assembly's pending mask mandate is a big deal.

The stage is set for the Anchorage Assembly to make a push on masking, which sets the stage for a major showdown with hands-off Mayor Dave Bronson, which all has some other interesting twists.

The Anchorage Assembly's pending mask mandate is a big deal.
Members Public

'Low-risk doesn't mean no risk.' The problem with playing the odds with covid-19.

“If we have 1,000 people test positive," said Dr. Zink. "We would expect 260 of them to be children, 23 of them to be hospitalized, five of them to die."

'Low-risk doesn't mean no risk.' The problem with playing the odds with covid-19.
Members Public

If Bronson and Dunleavy won’t step up on covid-19, they should at least stop making it worse

At worst they've actively fueled the vitriol that has made the entire situation that much worse and at best have refused to confront disinformation in any meaningful way.

If Bronson and Dunleavy won’t step up on covid-19, they should at least stop making it worse
Members Public

'We are the worst place in the pandemic.' Alaska begins rationing care statewide

Meanwhile, Gov. Dunleavy downplayed the severity of the pandemic and argued enhanced prevention isn't needed. “We’re on top of this. We’ve always been on top of this."

'We are the worst place in the pandemic.' Alaska begins rationing care statewide
Members Public

Political opportunism is dragging out the pandemic and state's fiscal uncertainty

Oh, God. Not another special session.

Political opportunism is dragging out the pandemic and state's fiscal uncertainty