Jeff was joined by Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Federation for Children and a visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. They discuss his new book "The Parent Revolution: Rescuing Your Kids from the Radicals Ruining Our Schools," why he supports school choice, the reasons education scores and outcomes are declining in America, some of the arguments against school choice, what happened to schools during Covid, and his upcoming trip to Anchorage.
Jul 04, 2024•39 min•Ep. 354
Jeff was joined by Republican House candidate Lee Ellis, who is running for the South Anchorage seat being vacated by Representative Laddie Shaw (R - Anchorage). They discuss how he got into the brewing business, the story of how he met his wife at the Haines Brew Fest, how he ended up moving to Alaska in 2007, the growing homelessness issue, the lack of big projects in Alaska, why he decided to run for the Legislature, how his campaign is going, and the dynamics of his race with four candidates...
Jun 28, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 353
Jeff was joined by Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom (R - Alaska), who is one of several candidates challenging Representative Mary Peltola (D - Alaska). They discuss the end of the legislative session, the importance of Alaska's resources, why she is supporting Donald Trump for president, her time as Corrections commissioner, the crisis at the border, and the national debt.
Jun 20, 2024•37 min•Ep. 352
Jeff was joined by Heeze-Leende (town in Holland) Mayor Teun Heldens. Jeff met Teun in the Alaska State Capitol while he was in town on a cruise ship. They discuss how mayors are chosen in Holland, which involves being appointed by King of the Netherlands, his time serving as the equivalent of a state legislator in Holland, his role as mayor, the politics in Holland including the swing to the right in last November's election, the differences in politics between the United States and Europe, and...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 351
Jeff was joined by Nick Tomboulides and Constantine Querard from U.S. Term Limits. They discuss why their group supports congressional term limits, the different ways term limits could be implemented, the arguments for and against term limits, why so many incumbents get re-elected in our system, and why it takes so long to get power in Congress.
May 07, 2024•37 min•Ep. 350
Jeff was joined by Representative Jennie Armstrong (D - Anchorage). They discuss a recent joke she told on the House floor, a bill she has to form a task force for psychedelics, the benefits of psychedelic medical treatment for addiction, how her time has been this session compared to her first one last year, a recent House Resources Committee hearing that went off the rails, her thoughts on how the state can support more energy, and why she decided not to run for re-election.
Apr 30, 2024•45 min•Ep. 349
Jeff was joined by Michael Parker from the independent oil company Narwhal. They discuss an explosive House Resources Committee hearing that he and his co-worker presented at about some leases they hold in West Harrison Bay on the North Slope, his background and how he got into the oil business, the issues they are having with Shell and the Department of Natural Resources in the West Harrison Bay Unit, why he thinks Shell is not holding up to the terms of their leases, why he believes the area h...
Apr 18, 2024•39 min•Ep. 348
Jeff was joined by John-Henry Heckendorn from Ship Creek Group. They discuss his trip to Juneau to ski and attend Folk Fest, his wedding last summer, how his wife, Katie Scovic, is now the campaign manager for Suzanne LaFrance's mayoral campaign, his thoughts on the upcoming Anchorage mayoral run-off, some of the problems facing Anchorage and Alaska, the upcoming legislative races later this year, the ranked choice voting ballot repeal, and the chances Representative Mary Peltola (R - Alaska) ha...
Apr 16, 2024•34 min•Ep. 347
Jeff was joined by Representative Andrew Gray (D - Anchorage). They discuss the operating budget process in the House, how this session has gone compared to his first session last year, a recent hearing on a bill that aims to ban biological boys from competing against girls in sports, and how an interaction in that hearing between Gray and Riley Gaines went viral on Twitter, the transgender issue and how it has has become part of the culture wars, and an amendment he was able to pass to raise th...
Apr 13, 2024•32 min•Ep. 346
Jeff was joined by Juneau attorney Joe Geldhof. They discuss what is happening in the Capitol more than halfway through the legislative session, how the Legislature has changed since the 2022 election, many of the problems Alaska is currently facing including energy and infrastructure, how oil prices affect the state budget, their differences of opinion on how to solve Alaska's energy problems, some Alaska political history, and a big case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 345
Jeff was joined by Neil Steininger. They discuss his time as director of the Office of Management and Budget, his time working for a defense contractor in Nevada, why he decided to move back to Alaska, some of the state jobs he had before he became OMD director, working as the OMB director during Covid, the uniqueness of Alaska's budget and revenues, his current perspective now that he's no longer a state employee, and how the session may play out.
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 344
Jeff was joined by Keith McGee, Alaska's only professional NASCAR driver. They discuss how Olympians qualify for the PFD but not professional athletes, his time in the military and how they brought him to Alaska in 2005, how he got into racecar driving, how he became a NASCAR driver, what it's like being a professional racecar driver, and the wild story of how we woke up in 2021 with $181 million dollars in his crypto account.
Jan 11, 2024•45 min•Ep. 343
Jeff was joined by Dr. Jermoe List, an ear, nose, and throat doctor practicing in Anchorage. They discuss his ecent decision to close down his practice after 32 years of being in business, some of the issues healthcare providers are dealing with, how Covid impacted the healthcare industry, growing up in Costa Rica, his dental training in the Soviet Union, and some of the reasons people see ENT doctors.
Jan 03, 2024•49 min•Ep. 342
Jeff was joined by Mark Begich. They discuss his company, Northern Compass Group, some of the work he is doing with homelessness, his wife Deborah's businesses in the Anchorage airport, his take on building in Anchorage, why he supports a sales tax, why snow plowing has been such a challenge in recent years and his ideas to improve it, the challenges of finding workers, his ideas on solving the homeless crisis, and the upcoming Anchorage mayoral election.
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 341
Jeff was joined by Jacob Hersh. They discuss his first semester of law school at the University of Idaho, the craziness that is happening at many American universities, the war in Gaza, why vaccine rates are down, his uncle John Faulkner's purchase of Must Read Alaska, his time in Juneau last session for the Landmine, some ideas for Jeff's 40th birthday next December, the upcoming legislative session, and the chaos surrounding next year's precedential election.
Dec 25, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 340
Jeff was joined by Anchorage Assembly member Anna Brawley Eric Visser, owner of Visser Construction. They discuss a recent Anchorage housing summit, some reasons for the housing crisis in Anchorage, the regulatory barriers to building in Anchorage, the Knik Arm crossing, their ideas for how to improve housing, and the upcoming Anchorage mayoral race.
Dec 16, 2023•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 339
Jeff was joined by Bethany Marcum and Sarah Hetemi from Americans for Prosperity Alaska. They discuss the mission of Americans for Prosperity, the role they have played in Alaska since 2014, how they each got involved in AFP, what happens in Juneau during the legislative session, Bethany's recent trip to Iowa, the upcoming presidential election, and the lunacy during Covid.
Dec 02, 2023•55 min•Ep. 338
Jeff was joined via Zoom by former NCAA swimmer turned women's activist Riley Gaines. They discuss her upcoming trip to Anchorage to speak at an event hosted by Alaska Family Council, the swimming race she was in with Lia Thomas, a transgender man (biological male), how she and other women had to share a locker room with Thomas, why she decided to speak up for women, some of the backlash she has faces, and her rise to national prominence after she started publicly speaking against transgender wo...
Nov 17, 2023•16 min•Ep. 337
Jeff was joined by Representative Will Stapp (R - Fairbanks). They discuss an attempt by the Harding Lake Mafia to stop a gold mining project in Fairbanks, how building an in-state gasline would reduce the high cost of energy in Alaska, issues facing Alaska schools, some of his ideas for the next legislative session, and his wife's connection to the late Vic Fischer.
Nov 16, 2023•43 min•Ep. 336
Jeff was joined by Alaska politico Miles Baker. They talk about his background working in Alaska politics, his time growing up in Alaska, how he ended up attending the United States Naval Academy, his time serving as an officer in the Marines, why he decided to move to Los Angeles after he got out of the Marines, how he got into the music business in LA, and why he ended up moving back to Alaska after being in LA for over a decade.
Nov 12, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 335
Jeff was joined by Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman. They discuss his upbringing in Alaska, how he was the first member of his family born in the United States, why he decided to switch majors and eventually decide to go to law school, his time practicing as a lawyer in Anchorage, why he decided to apply to be a judge, being appointed during the Covid pandemic, and what it's like being a judge.
Nov 07, 2023•54 min•Ep. 334
Jeff was joined by Jenna Wright, president and CEO of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC). They discuss her recent selection as president and CEO of AEDC, her background working at the Alaska DMV, her time working in telecom, why she came to work at AEDC, the housing problem in Anchorage, how she met her husband, some upcoming projects in Anchorage, and the economic impact the Ted Stevens International Airport has on Anchorage.
Nov 03, 2023•57 min•Ep. 333
Jeff was joined by Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom (R - Alaska). They discuss her narrow loss to Senator Lisa Murkowski (R - Alaska) in the 2002 Republican primary when Murkowski was serving in the Alaska State House, and how she was the appointed to the seat when then-Governor Frank Murkowski appointed Lisa to his U.S. Senate seat, how Juneau functions, some potential ballot initiatives on next year's ballot, and her time serving as lieutenant governor since December.
Oct 26, 2023•46 min•Ep. 332
Jeff was joined by Anchorage politico and podcaster Andrew Halcro. They discuss Jeff's recent appendectomy and Andrew's appendectomy in 1995, a recent letter he received from attorney Kevin Clarkson - Alaska's former disgraced attorney general - on behalf of Art Mathias accusing Halcro of defamation and slander as well as making bizarre demands, how he is dealing with it, the problems facing Anchorage and the state, and some ideas on how things can be turned around.
Oct 22, 2023•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 331
Jeff was joined by Scott Habberstad from Alaska Airlines. They discuss his 23 year career with Alaska Airlines, what his job entails, his previous career as a pilot, the impact Covid had on the airline industry, some of Alaska Air's new destinations, the big PFD sale they are currently running, Alaska Air's mileage plan, and some of Jeff's issues with bad airlines travelers.
Oct 10, 2023•36 min•Ep. 330
Jeff was joined by Anchorage attorney Christine Williams. They discuss her upbringing in Anchorage with seven siblings, attending UAA and then going to law school in California, how she met her husband at an Alaska Airlines party, the history of Alaska Native Corporations and government contracting advantages, the lawsuit that tried to block ANCs from getting Covid money for tribes, and how the recent Supreme Court decision banning racial preference for college admissions may affect government c...
Oct 08, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 329
Jeff was joined by Anchorage mayoral candidate Bill Popp. They discuss how he moved to Anchorage as a kid, some Alaska political history, why he and his wife moved to the Kenai Peninsula, his time serving on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and in the mayor's office, why he came back to lead the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, why he decided to run for mayor, and the major issues facing Anchorage.
Oct 06, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 328
Jeff was joined by Rick Green, special assistant to Fish and Game Commissioner Doug-Vincent Lang. They discuss his time on talk radio (where he went by Rick Rydell) why he moved to Alaska from Montana after getting kicked out of high school, his style when he was on the radio, how talk radio has changed over the years, why he decided to go work for Fish and Game, his time working as a hunting and fishing guide in Alaska, different fishing and hunting issues in Alaska, some stories about his time...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 327
Jeff was joined by Anchorage Assembly member Dr. Daniel Volland. They discuss why he became an optometrist, some common problems with the eyes, why he decided to move to Alaska and buy a practice, why he decided to run for the Anchorage Assembly, the complexities of the special election for the new Assembly seat he won, the snow plowing mess that happened last winter, the growing homelessness problem in Anchorage, and his thoughts on making homebuilding easier in Anchorage.
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 326
Jeff was joined by Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich. They discuss last year's packed special election after Don Young passed way, the main race with fellow Republican Sarah Palin and now-Representative Mary Peltola (D - Alaska), U.S monetary policy, how inflation is affecting working people, next year's presidential election, why he thinks next year's House race for Alaska's sole congressional seat will be different, and other issues currently facing the country.
Sep 16, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 325
