Alaska Landmine Radio

Dave Bronson - Episode 250

Jeff was joined by Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson. They discuss his first year in office, his contentious relationship with the Anchorage Assembly, moving on from COVID-19, the ongoing homelessness problem in Anchorage, his plans to solve it, the housing crisis in the city, and the Assembly's recent approval of an ordinance that allows them to remove the mayor. 

Tara Sweeney and Karina Waller - Episode 249

Jeff was joined by Republican U.S House candidate Tara Sweeney and her campaign manager Karina Waller. They discuss Al Gross' withdrawal from the special election and how the Supreme Court ruled that Sweeney would not be on the ballot, why she decided to run for the late Don Young's seat, her time working as an assistant secretary of Interior for the Trump administration, oil and gas production in Alaska, her mom's time serving in the Alaska Legislature, and how she plans on campaigning for the regular general election. 

Brett Frazer - Episode 248

Jeff was joined by attorney Brett Frazer. They discuss the history of the Alaska Judicial Council, why it's unique from most other states for how judges are selected, the federal system to select judges, the history of the judicial system in the United States, the role the judiciary plays, why some people don't like the Alaska Judicial Council, why Brett thinks it's the best possible system, and some well-known Supreme Court cases. 

Mary Peltola and Kim Jones - Episode 247

Jeff was joined by Democratic U.S. House candidate Mary Peltola and her campaign manager, Kim Jones. They discuss Peltoa's time serving in the Alaska Legislature, growing up in rural Alaska, her dad's longtime friendship with the late Congressman Don Young, how her campaign got her into the top-four in a 48 person race, Al Gross' withdrawal from the race, some of the issues facing Alaska, her strategy for the special general election, and why she decided to run for Congress. 

Rob Forbes - Episode 246

Jeff was joined by Rob Forbes, who is running in the special election for the Downtown Anchorage Assembly seat. They discuss his former business Shred Alaska, his new business the Eureka Space, the challenges of running a small business, why he decided to run for the Anchorage Assembly, some of the issues facing Anchorage and the state, and the acrimony between the Assembly and Mayor Dave Bronson. 

Scott McMurren - Episode 245

Jeff was again joined by Scott McMurren from Alaska Travelgram. They discuss the high airfare prices that are still on the rise, some deals that are out there within the United States and abroad, the new airline flying direct from Anchorage to Frankfurt, some of the ways to use credit cards for travel benefits, and some clever ways to earn more elite qualifying miles. 

Mike Craig - Episode 244

Jeff was joined by Mike Craig from Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. They discuss how he grew up in Valdez and Glenallen, how he turned a temporary one month job at Alyeska into a career that has lasted 39 years, his work at Alyeska since the early 1980s, keeping the Trans-Alaska Pipeline safe, and the upcoming 45th anniversary of the pipeline being in service. 

Jodi Taylor - Episode 243

Jeff was joined by Jodi Taylor, board chair of the Alaska Policy Forum. They discuss why her family moved to Alaska, how she met her husband Treg Taylor (the current attorney general), a recent article about the state reimbursing parents for some private school classes, how this has been going on for several years, the benefits of the program, and how education can be improved in our country. 

John Morris - Episode 242

Jeff was joined by former Anchorage Homeless Coordinator Dr. John Morris. They discuss the rules when drinking moonshine, his upbringing in West Virginia, why he decided to move to Alaska, why he decided to become an anesthesiologist, some of the science and history behind anesthesia, his time as homeless coordinator under Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, some of his thoughts on solving homelessness, and why the homelessness continues to be in issue in Anchorage. 

Bill Wielechowski - Episode 241

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.