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Matt Buxton

@matt.akmemo.com

1.4K followers 150 following 2.3K posts

Alaska wonk. Husker. Roller coaster, Magic card and staying in enthusiast. Writes akmemo.com Hanging out and hanging on.

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · Jan 21

And I'll be at it here throughout session.

Follow my newsletter for even more #akleg wonkery at www.akmemo.com

The Alaska Memo

The What and Why it Matters of Alaska Politics by Matt Acuña Buxton.

www.akmemo.com

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Reposted by Matt Buxton

Alaska Beacon @alaskabeacon.com · 1d

Amid tight budget picture, $50 million investment draws scrutiny from legislators and governor, reports James Brooks for the @alaskabeacon.com

Amid tight budget picture, $50 million investment draws scrutiny from legislators and governor | Alaska Beacon

State lawmakers are expecting to spend hundreds of millions of dollars from the Constitutional Budget Reserve next year.

alaskabeacon.com

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Reposted by Matt Buxton

Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · 1d

In other Alaska-ICE news, an Anchorage restaurant worker who was arrested by ICE in August was released Tuesday from detention following a judge's ruling in a class action lawsuit.

The judge ruled that Santiago Martinez, 30, couldn’t be held without bond.

alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

Anchorage restaurant worker released from ICE custody following class action lawsuit

ICE arrested Santiago Martinez, a Mexican national seeking asylum in the U.S., on Aug. 11. A judge ruled this week that Martinez couldn’t be held indefinitely without bond.

alaskapublic.org

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Reposted by Matt Buxton

The Alaska Current @thealaskacurrent.com · 1d

Uncle Herb’s plans to open a pot-friendly coffee shop in early 2026 — the first public place in the city where consuming THC edibles and drinks will be legal.

Anchorage cannabis cafe moves forward despite Assembly voting down smoking - The Alaska Current

Anchorage is set to get its first pot cafe early next year, marking the first place in the city outside your home where it will be legal to use marijuana.

buff.ly

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Reposted by Matt Buxton

Rodger Sherman @rodger.bsky.social · 1d

Lisa wheeling in a lifeless Bart saying MOM, DAD, BART’S DEAD!

BART popping to life and saying DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT GOING TO ITCHY AND SCRATCHYLAND

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Reposted by Matt Buxton

Don @wormeguy.bsky.social · 1d

Here's the News-Miner's coverage of the Pearl Creek Charter

Some highlights:
No transportation plan
No building lease secured
No meal plan
No school nurse
No janitor
$30K for maintenance

The PSC solution:
Families volunteer 20 h

www.newsminer.com/news/educati...

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Reposted by Matt Buxton

Colleen Mondor @chasingray.bsky.social · 3d

Attention, Alaska.....

Will Guisbond @willguisbond.com · 3d

Inbox: DOT secures $41 million to fund the Essential Air Service through early November, a program that was expected to lapse during the shutdown as soon as Oct. 12.

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Reposted by Matt Buxton

Pat Race @pat.alaskarobotics.com · 4d

Municipal elections day in Alaska!

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Hey, thanks for following along! If you like livethreads and stuff like that, I've also got a newsletter that I write when the crushing horror of our current political situation isn't totally overwhelming.

www.akmemo.com

The Alaska Memo

The What and Why it Matters of Alaska Politics by Matt Acuña Buxton.

www.akmemo.com

Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

and that's.... it?

a woman with long red hair is sitting in a chair with a man .

ALT: a woman with long red hair is sitting in a chair with a man .

media.tenor.com

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Asked about Trump's efforts to also influence the Federal Reserve Board.

Murkowski: "I think we should be concerned about that."

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Murkowski on Trump's indictment of Comey: "That's not how due process, that's not how justice for all works around this country."

Neat.

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Townsend: "What do you think about him using the power of the state against political opponents?"

Murkowski: "I think it's wrong, just plain and simple."

She says her comment on James Comey "got a little attention back here in Washington, DC"

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Murkowski says they have confirmed that NOAA will be able to issue permits for the crab season ahead of Oct. 15.

"We're being told that we shouldn't have to worry."

Sounds convincing.

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Murkowski says that maybe what Kennedy and she were thinking about, actually, was moving the program to another agency that is already doing health and safety training.

So.... nothing really.

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Asked about Kennedy's plan to kill the Commercial Fishing Safety Program at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and how he committed to continuing with some safety and health training. Any update?

Murkowski: "I don't have an update."

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Murkowski: "Our reality is Essential Air Service is essential."

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Murkowski says Essential Air Service will stop as early as October 12 due to the federal government running out of funding because of the shutdown.

cc @chasingray.bsky.social

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Then Murkowski basically just gives an overview of the Trump administration's ouster of CDC Director Susan Monarez over her refusal to rubberstamp vaccine skepticism.

Finally adds: "We should all be worried about that."

To be clear, this was a Q about how senators can push back.

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Reposted by Matt Buxton

A #0000FF Alaskan 👈🏽 @slyride.bsky.social · 4d

No, there is not. www.aha.org/news/blog/20...

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Murkowski: "Am I disappointed with the direction that he has taken with this? Do I think that he didn't keep his commitment to me?"

She doesn't ever actually say.

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Murkowski says that RFK Jr. said he was going to focus on "chronic diseases" during the confirmation process, which she says sounded great to her.

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Townsend asks Murkowski if she felt she had been misled by RFK Jr. during his confirmation process.

Murkowski: "I disagree with the approach that he is taking with vaccines."

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Reposted by Matt Buxton

Don @wormeguy.bsky.social · 4d

Ralph Seekins & Craig Compeau organized a rally in 2011 about armed government thugs harassing Alaskans. Murkowski attended and spoke at that rally.

Murkowski even signed a shit that with a National Park Service logo and read “Nazi Police State.”

www.newsminer.com/fed-up-fairb...

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

Murkowski notes that the work requirements DON'T apply to seniors, children, pregnant mothers and the disabled.

She says it's only low-income adults ages 19-64 who will have to find a job to qualify for the social safety net programs.

"there's a lot of confusion."

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Matt Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 4d

She says it's now on the state to fix its food stamp and Medicaid system (which have both been decimated under Dunleavy) during the extension.

Basically, that extension goes past the 2026 election so Begich and Sullivan get to run without the worst of it.

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