Jeff was joined by Senator Bill Wielechowski (D - Anchorage). They discuss the transgender girls in sports bill being debated in the Senate, the organizational problems in the Senate, his time in the old bipartisan Senate majority, the chaos with the budget on the Senate floor, the possibility of the House concurring with the Senate's colossal budget, how things have changed during his 16 years in the Senate, the redistricting process, and his upcoming re-election.
May 12, 2022•59 min•Ep 258•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Lael Oldmixon, the program director Alaska 529. They discuss how Alaska 529 - a savings plan that lets people save for their education - works, how and what the money can be used for, how they were established, the ability to use part of your dividend for Alaska 529, the rising cost of tuition and the student loan problem in the United States, some of the incentives they are currently offering, and how they are trying to get more people to open 529 accounts for themselves and ...
May 11, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep 257•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R - Alaska) and Senator Joe Manchin (D - West Virginia). They discuss the recent confirmation vote of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, their role in getting the infrastructure bill passed, the media attention he got when he came out against the Build Back Better bill, the Senate voting to ban Russian energy imports, increasing American energy production, and what Manchin likes about Alaska.
Apr 09, 2022•19 min•Ep 256•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by former KTVA employees Trent McNelly and Jason Sear. They discuss the story of when Charlo Greene infamously said "Fuck it, I quit" live on air in 2014 when she was a KTVA reporter, the roles Trent and Jason played in the immediate aftermath, how the situation quickly went global, their background in news and at KTVA, and the challenges the news media is facing.
Apr 08, 2022•34 min•Ep 255•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Jacqueline Tinetti from Council of State Governments (CSG) West. They discuss the history and role of CSG, how she got the job with CSG West, her background in California state government, some of the unique issues facing western states, how state governments handled COVID-19, and her thoughts about Alaska.
Mar 17, 2022•42 min•Ep 254•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Dr. Cathy Cahill and James Parish from the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. They discuss their group's work on drones, how the drone industry has changed over the last several years, the applications of expanded drone use in Alaska, how they are working with the state and federal government, and the future of their program.
Mar 16, 2022•36 min•Ep 253•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Representative James Kaufman (R - Anchorage). They discuss his background working in oil and gas, why he decided to run for the House, how it was running against the co-chair of the House Finance Committee, some of the bills he has been working on, his idea about a strategic management plan for the state, his time in the Capitol since being elected in 2020 including how COVID-19 impacted his first session, and his upcoming re-election.
Mar 14, 2022•57 min•Ep 252•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jim Cockrell. They discuss his background as an Alaska State Trooper, his time as head of the State Troopers and the Wildlife Troopers, why he decided to cancel the Alaska State Troopers TV show, public safety issues in Alaska, recruitment challenges in Alaska, this history of the State Troopers, how he became commissioner, and his goals with the Department of Public Safety.
Mar 12, 2022•54 min•Ep 251•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Representative Calvin Schrage (I - Anchorage). They talk about why he decided to run for the Legislature in 2020, how COVID-19 impacted his race, how things are different in the Capitol this year now that it's open to the public, the challenges of having a job and being in the Legislature, what it's like being in a narrow majority, Alaska's fiscal challenges, unlimited campaign contributions and his bill to fix that, his upcoming re-election, and how Jeff and Calvin were on di...
Mar 11, 2022•56 min•Ep 250•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly member Mindy O'Neall. They discuss why she decided to move to Alaska from Iowa, some jobs she worked when she first moved to Anchorage, how she got a job working as a staffer in the Alaska Legislature, why she moved to Fairbanks, how she got on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and became presiding officer, politics in Fairbanks, Alaska's new voting system, and the upcoming primary and general elections.
Mar 01, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep 249•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Juneau KTOO reporter Rashah McChesney. They discuss her work in journalism in Alaska, her time at KTOO in Juneau, how the media landscape has changed over the decades, the challenges facing the media, the different approaches to journalism and getting stories, the relationship between the press and the government, COVID mandates, and a new job she just accepted.
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep 248•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Kara Moriarty from the Alaska Oil & Gas Association (AOGA) and Sarah Erkmann Ward from Blueprint Alaska. They discuss how things are in Juneau now that the Capitol is reopen, a reality show Kara's husband - an Alaska Airlines pilot - appeared in, Sarah leaving AOGA and staring her own PR firm, how Juneau has changed over the years, and Alaska's new voting system.
Feb 22, 2022•49 min•Ep 247•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Juneau attorney Libby Bakalar. They discuss the recent decision in her case against Governor Mike Dunleavy (R - Alaska), how her case has been going the last three years, the press and the First Amendment, the situation involving Representative David Eastman (R - Wasilla), Alaska's new voting system, how contemporary life has changed since the early 20th century, and how technology is affecting children.
Feb 20, 2022•55 min•Ep 246•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R - Alaska). This was first recorded as a video interview . They discuss the one-year anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot, former President Donald Trump's odd conditional endorsement of Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy (R - Alaska), the federal infrastructure bill, and what's happening in D.C.
Jan 10, 2022•44 min•Ep 245•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by former Representative Lance Pruitt, who served in the Alaska House from 2011-2021. They discuss what he's bee up to since losing his seat in 2020, what it was like serving in the Legislature for ten years, his 13 vote loss in 2020 to now-Representative Liz Snyder (D - Anchorage), how makeup of the Legislature has changed since 2016, the differences being in the minority and the majority, how the fiscal situation has negatively impacted the ability of the Legislature to functio...
Jan 06, 2022•2 hr 3 min•Ep 244•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by UAA Economics Professor Paul Johnson. They discuss his background in economics, the causes of inflation and how it is impacting the economy, the difference between the Treasury and the Federal Reserve, what is happening with interest rates, the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy, the challenges of COVID-19 on teaching classes, and a discussion about what is happening in China.
Jan 05, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep 243•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined in studio by former Representative Andrew Halcro. They discuss the history of the Alaska Landmine, Halcro's newest podcast "With All Due Respect," some of the big stories of 2021, next year's upcoming election, the relationship between the Anchorage Assembly and Mayor Dave Bronson, some stories about Halcro's time in the Legislature, and the cannabis industry in Alaska.
Dec 25, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep 242•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Senator Josh Revak (R - Anchorage) and his wife Marta. They discuss Marta growing up in Poland and then moving to Germany, how Josh and Marta met in Germany when Josh was stationed there, Josh's battle injury in Iraq after they got married, moving back to the United States, why Josh decided to run for the Legislature and how that was not an easy decision, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the upcoming legislative session.
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep 241•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Lorali Simon, Vice President of External Affairs for Usibelli Coal Mine. They discuss her role at Usibelli Coal Mine, how she and Jeff were both in Las Vegas for the opening Monday Night Football Raiders game, her family's history in Palmer, her time working in the Alaska Legislature, and the mining industry in Alaska.
Dec 10, 2021•47 min•Ep 240•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by former State Senator John Binkley. They talk about the history of his family's tug and barge business, how that business resulted in him moving to Western Alaska, how he was elected to a rural seat as a Republican, his time in the Legislature in the 1980s, why he decided to leave the Legislature move back to Fairbanks with his family, his time on the board of the Alaska Railroad, how he was appointed to the Redistricting Board, and a discussion about the redistricting process....
Dec 04, 2021•55 min•Ep 239•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company President Brigham McCown. They discuss his upbringing in Ohio, his career as a Naval aviator, his career in Washington D.C. working for the Department of Transportation, infrastructure in the United States, his role in the Trump transition team, how he became the president of Alyeska Pipeline, the history and structure of Alyeska Pipeline, and some of the challenges facing our country.
Dec 02, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Ep 238•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Anchorage Dr. Brian Sweeney. They discuss his educational background, why he decided to become a doctor, how the military brought him to Alaska, the cost of drugs, his views on the COVID-19 vaccine, wearing masks, medical misinformation, how medical boards are starting to look at doctors who are prescribing certain medicines for COVID-19, and the cost of healthcare in the United States.
Nov 19, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep 237•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Alaska AFL-CIO President Joelle Hall. They discuss the final map adopted by the Alaska Redistricting Board, the impacts it will have on Alaska's political landscape, the history of redistricting in Alaska, the redistricting process that occurs every ten years, the controversy surrounding Senate pairings, potential legal challenges, and ranked-choice voting.
Nov 13, 2021•1 hr•Ep 236•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by photojournalist Ash Adams. They discuss how she met Jeff during the infamous Speedogate scandal, why she decided to become a photojournalist, the growing political divide in the United States, cancel culture, the recent chaos at the Anchorage Assembly meetings over the mask mandate, the role of the media, the problems associated with social media, and her work as a photojournalist.
Nov 02, 2021•2 hr 32 min•Ep 235•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Mac McHale and Ariel Burr from Quintillion. They discuss the impacts of the recent infrastructure bill on broadband, the history of Quintillion, what the company is doing now, their plans for growth, how they overcame their former CEO being indicated and convicted of fraud, and their recent addition of a ground station on the North Slope to retrieve satellite data.
Oct 29, 2021•41 min•Ep 234•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Anchorage Superior Court Judge Greg Miller. They discuss his aviation and firefighting career before becoming a lawyer, how that affected attending college and law school, why he moved to Alaska to practice law, the process of applying to be a judge, being appointed by former Governor Sean Parnell in 2011, how COVID has affected the judicial system, and his recently announced retirement.
Oct 28, 2021•37 min•Ep 233•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was again joined by travel guru Scott McMurren from Alaska Travelgram. They discuss how COVID is still impacting air travel and the tourism industry, the reward and mileage programs for different airlines, the best way to use miles, and some amazing upcoming deals on airline tickets.
Oct 14, 2021•33 min•Ep 232•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Kai Binkley Sims. They discuss how she grew up in Alaska, working for her family company, including obtaining her boat captain license at the age of 18, attending the Colorado School of Mines, how she met her husband, how she got involved with the Anchorage Wolverines hockey team, how they got into the league, how COVID-19 affected the team, and the ongoing challenges with the hockey team and the Sullivan Arena.
Sep 11, 2021•43 min•Ep 231•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Chief Justice Daniel Winfree. They discuss how he grew up in Fairbanks, his time working on the pipeline when he was in college, why he decided to become a lawyer, how he came to be appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court by former Governor Sarah Palin, how the Supreme Court works, the role of the chief justice, how COVID-19 has impacted the court system, the increasing politicization of the judicial branch, and how hard work can pay off.
Aug 20, 2021•41 min•Ep 230•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined via Zoom by author Ben Sheehan. They discuss his recent book, "OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say?: A Non-Boring Guide to How Our Democracy is Supposed to Work," why civics education has declined in the United States, some history of the Constitution, statehood for Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., why history forgot about James Madison, and some interesting constitutional trivia.
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep 229•Transcript available on Metacast 
