The Must Read Alaska Show

The Must Read Alaska Show is an award-winning podcast celebrated for its exceptional commentary on Alaska politics from a conservative perspective. With a unique approach that views each episode as a human interest piece, the show features a diverse array of guests, including politicians from both sides of the aisle, CEOs of publicly traded companies, New York Times bestselling authors, mayors of small towns in Alaska, and even presidents of countries. Hosted by Ben Carpenter This award-winning show offers listeners fresh and candid discussions about what’s happening behind the scenes in Alaska politics, blending in-depth analysis, engaging storytelling, and expert interviews to provide an unparalleled listening experience.

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Episodes

100 Days of Impact: Congressman Nick Begich on Alaska’s Role in a New Era

In this engaging episode of the Must Read Alaska Show, Congressman Nick Begich takes center stage to discuss the whirlwind first 100 days of the new Congress, offering a deep dive into the priorities shaping Alaska and the nation. Begich highlights the unprecedented pace of legislative action under Republican leadership, focusing on key achievements like the Lake and Riley Act, which strengthens immigration enforcement and empowers states to hold the federal government accountable. He outlines e...

Apr 14, 2025•53 min•Ep. 442

AIDEA’s Court Victory Over ANWR Leases: Alaska’s Economic Path Forward

In this episode of the Must Read Alaska Show, host Ben Carpenter and guest Randy Ruaro focus on the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority’s (AIDEA) landmark court win in Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority v. Department of Interior, which declared the Biden administration’s cancellation of oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) illegal, reinstating AIDEA’s leases and opening the door for development under the Trump administration. They discus...

Apr 12, 2025•25 min•Ep. 441

Alaska's Pension Crisis: The High Cost of Senate Bill 78 and Smarter Solutions

In this exciting episode of the "Must Read Alaska Show" podcast, host Ben Carpenter dives deep into Alaska's pension debate with Ryan Frost and Mariana Trujillo from the Reason Foundation. They break down the major issues surrounding Senate Bill 78 (SB 78), which proposes returning Alaska’s public pension system to a costly defined benefit plan. The discussion kicks off with a fast-paced explanation of the differences between defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) systems. While DB p...

Apr 07, 2025•57 min•Ep. 440