It has been an odd week in Alaska politics. Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg came to the Last Frontier, learned our savage ways, and decided to educate the world about them (only to get a few details wrong). Then, with our endless legislative special session now set to focus on oil industry tax policy (HB 111), the Republican State Senate Majority, including Sen. Pete Kelly and Sen. Cathy Giessel, seemingly held a press conference to rail against cushy cash subsidies state government gives to oil companies. Wait, it was Republicans complaining about what a sweet, sweet deal the resource industry gets in Alaska? Democrats in the House Majority responded by holding a press conference of their own to point out some fine print in the GOP theater that makes the Senate plan much more oil friendly than they let on.  Casey Reynolds and Forrest Dunbar sort through all of those political shenanigans, talk some healthcare and weed policy, and even bring in Alaska Tax Division Director Ken Alper to explain the fine points of oil tax policy at play in the HB 111 fight.

The Midnight Sun Podcast for July 9, 2017

Each week The Midnight Sun's Casey Reynolds is joined by an ever-changing line-up of Alaska political insiders to discuss the most interesting political and campaign issues at play in the Last Frontier.

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Alaska campaigns are getting started early. This week hosts Casey Reynolds and Forrest Dunbar dig into Gov. Walker's first fundraiser, all the entrants into the GOP Lt. Gov. primary, and how that can impact the Anchorage mayoral race. Then our man in Fairbanks, Matt Buxton sits down with Rep. Scott Kawasaki about his run for state senate.

The Midnight Sun Podcast (Sept. 10, 2017): Walker campaign, GOP Lt. Gov primary, and Anchorage mayoral race

What is Alaska politics without a special session to talk about? This week hosts Casey Reynolds and Forrest Dunbar dig into Gov. Walker's announcement that he will call legislators back into yet another special session in late October. What will the call include and will legislators actually pass anything? Casey and Forrest will tell you. Then the discussion turns to campaign season as several state senate races appear to be shaping up and Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz officially filed his campaign finance paperwork this week, so we know he is running. Who will run against him and what are their chances? You have to listen to find out. We also talk with newly announced candidate for Lt. Governor, former Rep. Lynn Gattis about her campaign and whether she thinks legislators will get anything done in October.

The Midnight Sun Podcast (Sept. 3, 2017): Special session call, state senate and Anchorage mayoral races

This week it seemed like everyone wants to run for governor, or at least wanted us to believe that they do. Hosts Casey Reynolds and Forrest Dunbar dig into all the gubernatorial race posturing as well as the fall out from the Alaska Supreme Court's decision on Gov. Walker's veto of PFD spending, the continued attacks on transgender folks at both the national and local level, and, of course, the Trump administration's monumental Friday night news dump. Then we talk with former celebrity Alaska weatherman and current Alaska Marijuana Industry Association Executive Director Cary Carrigan about the state of the marijuana industry in Alaska. We may also get his expert take on Hurricane Harvey, and boy does he have a good one.

The Midnight Sun Podcast for August 27, 2017

Wow, what a week in politics, both nationally and here at home. Hosts Casey Reynolds and Forrest Dunbar discuss the political fallout from the financial quagmire of Alaska's paper of record and share our thoughts on the Steve Bannon firing (or was it a resignation?) before getting to our comprehensive discussion of the events in Charlottesville with former local NAACP leader and current Anchorage Human Rights Commission President Wanda Green, Juneau lawyer and ACLU of Alaska board member Paul Grant, and Democrat candidate for Virginia's 5th congressional district Roger Huffstetler.

The Midnight Sun Podcast for August 20, 2017

Hosts Casey Reynolds and Forrest Dunbar are both back after a short summer break and boy do they have a lot to cover. There is, of course, the failure of the Trumpcare and its impact on how Sen. Lisa Murkowski's is viewed by Americans and her own constituents here in Alaska. We also delve into the Legislature's many, many special sessions, how the Governor and Lt. Governor primaries are already shaping up, and the unfortunate events in Chancellorsville, Virginia over the weekend. And don't worry, Anthony Scaramucci (The MOOOOCH!) even gets some time on this week's podcast.

The Midnight Sun Podcast for July 9, 2017

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