Trump's Easter message--'Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards'

Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Nick Begich the Third will not condemn Donald Trump’s plan for massive war crimes.

Dermot ColeApril 5, 2026 Comments

Sullivan backs Trump’s 40 percent military increase, with no taxes to pay for it

What we haven’t heard from Sullivan, a charter member of the Senate DOGE Caucus, is what taxes he supports to pay for the largest military budget in U.S. history, which features an increase of more than 40 percent. Trump introduced the proposal Friday.

The Trump plan endorsed by Sullivan would add $7 trillion to the national debt by 2036, according to this analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Dermot ColeApril 4, 2026 Comments

PFD posturers, with an eye on election, propose giant deficit

Six members of the finance committee earned honors as PFD Posturers this week by claiming the state can afford to spend $2.4 billion on dividends and burn through half of the Constitutional Budget Reserve, which would make it impossible to deal with future state emergencies without going into the Permanent Fund.

Dermot ColeApril 2, 2026 Comments

As offensive as anything Trump has ever said

Donald Trump told Republicans they should remain in Washington, D.C. this week to pass the so-called SAVE act, which is about saving himself. Do it for Jesus, Trump said.

Dermot ColeApril 2, 2026 Comments

The Permanent Fund at 50

All the expectations for the Permanent Fund were based on conditions that prevailed before the 1979 Iranian revolution when Ayatollah Khomeini became the first supreme leader. Oil prices rose by 250 percent from 1978-1980, changing every calculation about Alaska’s finances and the vision for the Permanent Fund.

Dermot ColeApril 1, 2026 Comments

One of Permament Fund founders calls for 'continuous improvement'

“Now the Permanent Fund is more critical than ever to the economy and people of Alaska. Alaska cannot afford any mistakes,” said former Rep. Terry Gardiner, one of the few founders of the Alaska Permanent Fund still alive 50 years after its creation.

Dermot ColeMarch 31, 2026 Comments

Alaska signs onto amicus brief echoing racist claims about birthright citizenship

Temporary Attorney General Stephen Cox has inserted himself into the national debate over birthright citizenship, saying that babies born to people in the U.S. illegally are damaging Alaska.

Dermot ColeMarch 30, 2026 Comments

Republican legislators wanted to ban stock market investments by the Permanent Fund

The biggest argument 50 years ago about creating the Permanent Fund concerned a plan by House Republicans to ban the fund from investing in the stock market.

The stock market decline in 1973-74 of nearly 50 percent, triggered in part by the OPEC oil embargo, was the worst since the Great Depression. The GOP wanted to ban any investment without a guaranteed return. The idea would have cost tens of billions over time.

Dermot ColeMarch 28, 2026 Comments

Should a man convicted of not paying his taxes be allowed to evaluate Alaska judge candidates? No.

The most important issue regarding John W. Wood’s fitness to evaluate judge candidates is his 1993 conviction in federal court for failing to file his federal taxes in 1987. The Legislature should reject his appointment to the Alaska Judicial Council.

Dermot ColeMarch 26, 2026 Comments

Closing $100 million Hilcorp loophole will save jobs and the PFD

The Alaska Senate took a step toward eliminating a $100 million loophole in state tax law that allows Hilcorp to avoid an income tax paid by ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and others.

The Senate adopted an amendment to HB 194 on an 11-8 vote to extend the state corporate income tax to Hilcorp and other oil and gas companies that earn more than $1 million net profit.

Dermot ColeMarch 25, 2026 Comments