HTR #28: SNAP Chaos and more
What’s been landing in Alaska? SNAP chaos, shortened public comment periods, and ICE enforcement. We also discuss the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and play public policy pursuit.
Nov 16, 2025•30 min•Ep. 28
Home To Roost
Rachel Levitt and John Robertson provide timely researched commentary on Home to Roost, a weekly take on the effect of national policies on Alaska.
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Episodes
HTR #27: Food Stamps, Heating Subsidies, Staggered Terms for US Senate
John and Rachel review how the shutdown is affecting food stamps and heating subsidies, why the Constitution staggers the terms for Senators, and what bizarre statements federal officials now consider appropriate.
Nov 10, 2025•30 min•Ep. 27
HTR #26 Weakening vaccine requirements, the legal arguments surrounding national guard deployments
This week, we review weakening vaccine requirements, the legal arguments surrounding national guard deployments, RFK Jr.’s continued fascination with chemtrails, presidential term limits, and much more.
Nov 04, 2025•30 min•Ep. 26
HTR # 25 Free speech case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.They also revisit the 10th Amendment
On this week’s show, John and Rachel discuss the implications of a free speech case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court and the global strategic importance of Alaska. They also revisit the 10th Amendment in light of recent National Guard deployments.
Oct 17, 2025•30 min•Ep. 25
HTR # 24 ICE enforcement and contracts in Alaska.
On Home to Roost, Rachel Levitt and John Robertson review ICE enforcement and contracts in Alaska, uncertainties regarding rural air subsidies, and the significance of having a separate judicial branch. John also tries to win at Rachel’s Public Policy Pursuit.
Oct 13, 2025•30 min•Ep. 24
HTR #23 Federal cuts to technical education, the implications for an Alaska LNG line, and growing South Korean doubts about investing in the US
This week, we review federal cuts to technical education, the implications for an Alaska LNG line, and growing South Korean doubts about investing in the US, as well as the concerns that the Founding Fathers had about irresponsible monetary policies. John also tries to answer another of Rachel’s news quizzes.
Oct 13, 2025•30 min•Ep. 23
HTR #22: Vanishing Appropriations, H1B Visas for AK Teachers and More
John and Rachel discuss vanishing appropriations, the significance of H1B visas for Alaska’s school districts, the big military meeting, and the Oath Clause of Article VI.
Oct 07, 2025•29 min•Ep. 22
HTR #21: Federal cuts to technical education
This week, we review federal cuts to technical education, the implications for an Alaska LNG line of growing South Korean doubts about investing in the US, and the concerns that the Founding Fathers had about irresponsible monetary policies. John also tries to answer another of Rachel’s news quizzes.
Sep 29, 2025•29 min•Ep. 21
HTR #20: Federal grant cuts to University of Alaska
Rachel Levitt and John Robertson review federal grant cuts to University of Alaska, how a heavy-handed ICE raid in Georgia undermines federal encouragement of South Korean support for an Alaska LNG line, and what the US Constitution says about scientific progress. Rachel also tries to stump John in Public Policy Pursuit.
Sep 21, 2025•29 min•Ep. 20
HTR #19: CDC, Coast Guard Icebreakers, and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
Rachel and John review changes at the CDC, an increase in the number of Coast Guard icebreakers, and how reaction to enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 might parallel reaction to current immigration enforcement.
Sep 14, 2025•29 min•Ep. 19
HTR #18: Railbelt's looming energy crisis and grand jury clause of the 5th Amendment.
John and Rachel discuss the Railbelt's looming energy crisis, play public policy pursuit, and contemplate the grand jury clause of the 5th Amendment.
Sep 08, 2025•30 min•Ep. 18
HTR #17: Solar Power, Alaska Tourism and more
This week John and Rachel review cuts to solar power, a drop in Alaska tourism, and the fears that some Anti-Federalists had about presidential power. Rachel also introduces a new quiz game for John to play.
Sep 04, 2025•30 min•Ep. 17
HTR #16: National Guard in DC and Census Clause of the 14th Amendment
Rachel and John discuss National Guard deployments to Washington, DC, play two truths and a lie, and review the Census Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Sep 03, 2025•29 min•Ep. 16
HTR #15: Gerrymandering; Trump-Putin Summit; 19th Amendment
Join John and Rachel this week as they discuss gerrymandering, the Trump-Putin summit, play two truths and a lie, and discuss recent controversies about the 19th Amendment.
Aug 17, 2025•30 min•Ep. 15
HTR #14:Vaccine Research, Firing a Top Federal Statistician, and the Constitution’s State of the Union Clause
Rachel and John discuss the termination of grants for some vaccine research, the firing of a top federal statistician, and the significance of the Constitution’s State of the Union Clause. Also, John wins Rachel’s challenge in Two Truths and a Lie.
Aug 11, 2025•30 min•Ep. 14
HTR #13: Impact of Federal Changes on Mental Health and More
Please join John and Rachel this week as they discuss how federal changes are likely to impact drug treatment, rural radio, local schools, and the power of Congress.
Jul 29, 2025•30 min•Ep. 13
HTR #12: Big Beautiful Bill and Shift to Private Education
Rachel Levitt and John Robertson discuss Federal actions that impact Alaska on Home to Roost. This week on Home to Roost, Rachel and John discuss the July 14th headline from the PBS News Hour titled "Big Beautiful Bill Could Accelerate the Private Education Shift." Every week in the Plain Reading section, they review a portion of the Constitution. This week's topic is the First Amendment Clauses 1 &2: The Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause.
Jul 25, 2025•30 min•Ep. 12
HTR #11: The new federal school voucher, the disappearance of federal reports, and the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment.
This week Rachel and John discuss the new federal school voucher and tax credit program, the disappearance of federal reports, and the meaning of the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment.
Jul 20, 2025•30 min•Ep. 11
HTR #10: Federal education funding, ICE, Justice Brown's dissent, and the 10th Amendment
Join John and Rachel as they review federal education funding chaos, the unprecedented growth in ICE, a dissenting opinion by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and the relevance of the 10th Amendment.
Jul 14, 2025•30 min•Ep. 10
HTR #9: One Big Beautiful Bill
John and Rachel discuss new limits on federal injunctions, the details of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the significance of the Constitution’s public debt clause.
Jul 06, 2025•30 min•Ep. 9
HTR #8: The Senate’s Parliamentarian and how the Constitution Divides War Powers
John and Rachel discuss recent rulings by the Senate’s parliamentarian and how the Constitution divides war powers between Congress and the president.
Jul 02, 2025•28 min•Ep. 8
HTR #7: Palmer’s Job Corps Center
This week on Home to Roost, John and Rachel talk about Palmer’s Job Corps Center, the right to peaceful assembly, and announce the latest the Whiplash Award.
Jun 22, 2025•29 min•Ep. 7
HTR #6: Fisheries, Vaccinations and More
In this week’s show, Rachel and John discuss how federal changes might effect fisheries and vaccinations and what the Constitution says about Congress’s authority over federal and state armed forces.
Jun 14, 2025•29 min•Ep. 6
HTR #5: weather balloons, national parks, and the child tax credit
Join John and Rachel for a discussion of weather balloons, national parks, the child tax credit, and James Madison’s take on factionalism.
Jun 09, 2025•28 min•Ep. 5
HTR #4: Effects of The One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the history of America’s birthright citizenship.
In this week’s episode, John and Rachel review the possible effects of The One Big Beautiful Bill Act and discuss the history of America’s birthright citizenship.
May 30, 2025•29 min•Ep. 4
HTR #3 Travel advisories for the United States/abortion pill
On this week's Home to Roost, John and Rachel highlight stories about weather forecasting and tourism and discuss whether federal office holders can accept gifts from foreign governments.
May 24, 2025•27 min•Ep. 3
HTR #2: Ukranian refugees and impacts of tariffs on local businesses
This week’s episode of Home to Roost features discussion of the Valley's Ukrainian refugees, how tariff uncertainly is affecting local businesses, and the origin and importance of habeas corpus.
May 17, 2025•29 min•Ep. 2
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