Matt Buxton
@matt.akmemo.com
Alaska wonk. Husker. Roller coaster, Magic card and staying in enthusiast. Writes akmemo.com
Hanging out and hanging on.
Hanging out and hanging on.
Pinned
Matt Buxton
@matt.akmemo.com
· Jan 21
The Alaska Memo
The What and Why it Matters of Alaska Politics by Matt Acuña Buxton.
www.akmemo.com
And I'll be at it here throughout session.
Follow my newsletter for even more #akleg wonkery at www.akmemo.com
Follow my newsletter for even more #akleg wonkery at www.akmemo.com
Reposted by Matt Buxton
n other Alaska news…SCOTUS is NOT taking up state’s appeal of subsistence case
January 12, 2026 at 3:55 PM
n other Alaska news…SCOTUS is NOT taking up state’s appeal of subsistence case
Reposted by Matt Buxton
Reposted by Matt Buxton
Appreciate not only the display of humanity here, but also @pbump.com taking a second to note that there have been many other instances this year where other families probably felt the same way he does now.
"This was a family that could've been like mine" -- Philip Bump breaks down crying on MS NOW when talking about the stuffed animals in Renee Good's car when she was killed
January 8, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Appreciate not only the display of humanity here, but also @pbump.com taking a second to note that there have been many other instances this year where other families probably felt the same way he does now.
Reposted by Matt Buxton
#akleg Ten years of Hello Alaska with my buddy @matt.akmemo.com.
Episode recorded back in October.
helloalaska.pizza/podcast/093-...
Episode recorded back in October.
helloalaska.pizza/podcast/093-...
093 – Ten Years – Hello Alaska!
helloalaska.pizza
December 29, 2025 at 8:56 AM
#akleg Ten years of Hello Alaska with my buddy @matt.akmemo.com.
Episode recorded back in October.
helloalaska.pizza/podcast/093-...
Episode recorded back in October.
helloalaska.pizza/podcast/093-...
The past few months have been a hard, dark and chilly way to cap off the year, and that's before we factor in Alaska's colder-than-usual winter. But the days are getting longer, and the #akleg is right around the corner, so let's get back to the newsletter game.
My latest:
My latest:
The Enshittification Year
On the state level, the enshittification formula is all too familiar over the last seven years under Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
www.akmemo.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:42 AM
The past few months have been a hard, dark and chilly way to cap off the year, and that's before we factor in Alaska's colder-than-usual winter. But the days are getting longer, and the #akleg is right around the corner, so let's get back to the newsletter game.
My latest:
My latest:
me: i think i kinda want a rat, look at this guy!
me: … oh, no! he’s dead, too!
me: … oh, no! he’s dead, too!
December 21, 2025 at 7:35 PM
me: i think i kinda want a rat, look at this guy!
me: … oh, no! he’s dead, too!
me: … oh, no! he’s dead, too!
without fail every single cute animal picture I show my partner is a memorial for a dead pet…
December 21, 2025 at 7:32 PM
without fail every single cute animal picture I show my partner is a memorial for a dead pet…
Reposted by Matt Buxton
Skipping the usual press conference, Gov. Dunleavy rolled out a final-year budget that’s mostly status quo — and wildly unrealistic. A $3,650 PFD, a $1.8B deficit, no new revenue and no real plan. thealaskacurrent.com/2025/12/17/d...
Dunleavy’s latest budget proposal is more cheap fiscal fantasy - The Alaska Current
Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy rolled out his budget proposal last week, unveiling a visionless spending plan for his final year in office.
thealaskacurrent.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Skipping the usual press conference, Gov. Dunleavy rolled out a final-year budget that’s mostly status quo — and wildly unrealistic. A $3,650 PFD, a $1.8B deficit, no new revenue and no real plan. thealaskacurrent.com/2025/12/17/d...
Reposted by Matt Buxton
Hidden in a must-pass funding bill: the beginning of the end for “Temu weed.” Intoxicating hemp products that dodged cannabis rules will be banned nationwide in 2026. thealaskacurrent.com/2025/12/15/f...
Federal law set to end the ‘Temu weed’ harshing out Alaska’s marijuana industry - The Alaska Current
The legislation that reopened the federal government in November snuck through a provision that will bring an end to what those in Alaska’s recreational marijuana industry have dubbed “Temu weed.”
thealaskacurrent.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Hidden in a must-pass funding bill: the beginning of the end for “Temu weed.” Intoxicating hemp products that dodged cannabis rules will be banned nationwide in 2026. thealaskacurrent.com/2025/12/15/f...
It’s the second tree we’ve lost in the five years we’ve been here. 😭
December 14, 2025 at 10:52 PM
It’s the second tree we’ve lost in the five years we’ve been here. 😭
It’s a little windy today.
December 14, 2025 at 10:49 PM
It’s a little windy today.
Reposted by Matt Buxton
From doodling and DIY cardboard dolls to apprenticing at Anchorage’s women-run tattoo collective The Coven, artist Lou Donnellan is honing her craft in realism and fine-line work — and finding inspiration in a community of supportive, skilled tattooers. thealaskacurrent.com/2025/12/02/c...
Creative Currents: Lou Donnellan - The Alaska Current
From an early age, tattoo apprentice and artist Lou Donnellan says that she was making art.
thealaskacurrent.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:43 PM
From doodling and DIY cardboard dolls to apprenticing at Anchorage’s women-run tattoo collective The Coven, artist Lou Donnellan is honing her craft in realism and fine-line work — and finding inspiration in a community of supportive, skilled tattooers. thealaskacurrent.com/2025/12/02/c...
Reposted by Matt Buxton
clarence thomas has no jurisprudential argument, he just hates women and thinks the constitution doesn’t protect a varia suit
November 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
clarence thomas has no jurisprudential argument, he just hates women and thinks the constitution doesn’t protect a varia suit
🔫
In this week's Great Indoors column: Battlefield 6 brings bigger battles, smarter gameplay all the chaos you remember — leveled up. 🎮
thealaskacurrent.com/2025/11/20/b...
thealaskacurrent.com/2025/11/20/b...
Battlefield 6 is not just a return to form; it’s a big splashy step forward - The Alaska Current
There are far fewer lulls in the action or moments where you hit your head against the latest gimmicky innovation.
thealaskacurrent.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:46 PM
🔫
Reposted by Matt Buxton
New — I wrote about the myriad ways journalism’s moral rot manifests, and how our crumbling institutions have created the conditions for it to fester:
Moral rot in elite journalism is killing the whole field
The Nuzzi/RFK Jr. mess and the revelation of Esptein's journo pals lay bare a profound moral absence at the heart of our free press.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 18, 2025 at 10:03 PM
New — I wrote about the myriad ways journalism’s moral rot manifests, and how our crumbling institutions have created the conditions for it to fester:
Reposted by Matt Buxton
the verge's follow up reporting on the nonexistence of the trump phone is excellent commitment to the bit www.theverge.com/news/820887/...
Why we’re going to keep talking about the Trump phone
It’s not because we’re fans.
www.theverge.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
the verge's follow up reporting on the nonexistence of the trump phone is excellent commitment to the bit www.theverge.com/news/820887/...
Like with Shower, the local Republicans will have an opportunity to nominate a slate of replacements that will go to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who will send the name onto the Legislature.
The final decision will rest with the Senate Republicans, who will have to vote to accept the appointment.
The final decision will rest with the Senate Republicans, who will have to vote to accept the appointment.
November 13, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Like with Shower, the local Republicans will have an opportunity to nominate a slate of replacements that will go to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who will send the name onto the Legislature.
The final decision will rest with the Senate Republicans, who will have to vote to accept the appointment.
The final decision will rest with the Senate Republicans, who will have to vote to accept the appointment.
Hughes also rolls out "her incredibly capable 'A-Team."
Hughes: “We’re not relying on people who’ve never set foot in Alaska, national consultants, DC insiders, and Wall Street. Our team is made up of real—and very smart and competent—Alaskans. We are ready to rock and roll.”
Hughes: “We’re not relying on people who’ve never set foot in Alaska, national consultants, DC insiders, and Wall Street. Our team is made up of real—and very smart and competent—Alaskans. We are ready to rock and roll.”
November 13, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Hughes also rolls out "her incredibly capable 'A-Team."
Hughes: “We’re not relying on people who’ve never set foot in Alaska, national consultants, DC insiders, and Wall Street. Our team is made up of real—and very smart and competent—Alaskans. We are ready to rock and roll.”
Hughes: “We’re not relying on people who’ve never set foot in Alaska, national consultants, DC insiders, and Wall Street. Our team is made up of real—and very smart and competent—Alaskans. We are ready to rock and roll.”
Palmer Republican Sen. Shelley Hughes, one of the preeminent purveyors of trans panic in the #akleg, is resigning effective tomorrow at 5 p.m. so she can focus on her run for governor.
Her resignation follows GOP Wasilla Sen. Shower, who left the job to run with Republican Bernadette Wilson.
Her resignation follows GOP Wasilla Sen. Shower, who left the job to run with Republican Bernadette Wilson.
November 13, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Palmer Republican Sen. Shelley Hughes, one of the preeminent purveyors of trans panic in the #akleg, is resigning effective tomorrow at 5 p.m. so she can focus on her run for governor.
Her resignation follows GOP Wasilla Sen. Shower, who left the job to run with Republican Bernadette Wilson.
Her resignation follows GOP Wasilla Sen. Shower, who left the job to run with Republican Bernadette Wilson.
Reposted by Matt Buxton
"Division of Public Assistance Director Deb Etheridge said Tuesday that no state funds had been issued to SNAP recipients through the EBT cards due to constantly shifting federal guidance."
She said ~$2.5 million in state funds for food banks is set to go out later this week.
She said ~$2.5 million in state funds for food banks is set to go out later this week.
Alaska has not spent state funds to replace lost federal food assistance, state officials said Tuesday, despite Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s promise to do so.
A week after declaring emergency, Alaska has not yet spent state funds on food assistance
Gov. Dunleavy promised to replace lost federal food assistance with state aid to 66,000 Alaskans. That hasn’t happened yet due to constantly shifting federal guidance, the state’s public assistance di...
www.adn.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:12 PM
"Division of Public Assistance Director Deb Etheridge said Tuesday that no state funds had been issued to SNAP recipients through the EBT cards due to constantly shifting federal guidance."
She said ~$2.5 million in state funds for food banks is set to go out later this week.
She said ~$2.5 million in state funds for food banks is set to go out later this week.
Reposted by Matt Buxton
They were already working mandatory overtime & using outdated equipment in one of the most stressful jobs in the country.
This sort of response is amateurish and unacceptable.
I am so sick of this sort of language from DOT.
This sort of response is amateurish and unacceptable.
I am so sick of this sort of language from DOT.
Sean Duffy threatens "action" against air traffic controllers who didn't come to work during the shutdown: "I'm concerned about their patriotism."
November 11, 2025 at 9:40 PM
They were already working mandatory overtime & using outdated equipment in one of the most stressful jobs in the country.
This sort of response is amateurish and unacceptable.
I am so sick of this sort of language from DOT.
This sort of response is amateurish and unacceptable.
I am so sick of this sort of language from DOT.
Reposted by Matt Buxton
November 10, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Reposted by Matt Buxton
If you die in sudoku you die in real life
November 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
If you die in sudoku you die in real life
Reposted by Matt Buxton
Until the sun burns out
November 10, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Until the sun burns out