Hello Alaska with Matt and Pat

Roll out the red carpet, the 2026 Noble and Not-so-Noble Legislative Session Awards show is here! 

Who’s the Best Senator in a Leading Role? The bill Most Likely to Succeed? The legislator Most Likely to Secede? The Biggest Pipeline Pig? 

But first, we gotta talk more about this whole fast-evolving Dans Sullivan situation — and bring in a special guest who knows a thing or two about history repeating itself, Alaska historian David Reamer. 

Related Links 

Challenger with same name as Alaska US Sen. Dan Sullivan sues to stay on ballot

Matt's Dans Sullivan explainer

David Reamer's socials 

Contact Info

If you've got something you want to share, you can leave us a message by dialing FIND-A-PIZZA (that's 346-327-4992) or you can email us at [email protected]

Credits

Hello Alaska with Matt & Pat is an Alaska Current podcast. This show was edited by Dave Waldron and our theme music is from I Wish I Were a Real Alaskan Girl by Marian Call.

Thanks for listening!

The filing deadline for governor has passed, and a sprawling slate of 17 candidates is off in the race to be Alaska's next governor.

Never one to do things by the book, Matt shares a very video game-y primer on the field based on his very scientific system of the Votable Index Based Entirely on Science (AKA VIBES).

Pat has thoughts, but luckily the VIBES tiers list is a living document.

The guys also talk about the Dan Sullivan dust-up and set up a proper way to cap off the legislative session. 

(4:31) Intro to Matt’s Votable Index Based Entirely on Science (VIBES) 

(8:04) Did Not Finish: Nancy Dahlstrom (R)

(8:39) D-Tier: Destry Payne (I), James Parkin (R), and Hank Kroll (R)  

(10:32) C-Tier: Bill Walker (I), Lesil McGuire (R), Matt Claman (D), Shelley Hughes (R), Adam Crum (R), Edna Devries (R)   

(20:37) B-Tier: Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D), Treg Taylor (R), Meda Dewitt (I), Matt Heilala (R) 

(31:25) A-Tier: Click Bishop (R), Dave Bronson (R)

(36:45) S-Tier: Tom Begich (D), Bernadette Wilson (R) 

(50:10) Other Election Updates: Two Dan Sullivans

VOTE! 

Click here to vote on the 2026 Noble and Not-so-Noble Legislative Session Awards. Voting closes midnight June 18! 

Related Links

Governor VIBES: Matt Buxton’s definitive way-too-early tier list of Alaska’s candidates for governor

AKLNG update: AKLNG’s proposed gas contract highlights the project’s underlying challenge: There just aren’t that many Alaskans

Tier Zoo: The Dog Tier List 

Surfing on St. Paul and St. George: A Surf Trip to a Remote Island in Alaska's Deadly Bering Sea  

Contact Info

If you've got something you want to share, you can leave us a message by dialing FIND-A-PIZZA (that's 346-327-4992) or you can email us at [email protected]

Credits

Hello Alaska with Matt & Pat is an Alaska Current podcast. This show was edited by Dave Waldron and our theme music is from I Wish I Were a Real Alaskan Girl by Marian Call.

Thanks for listening!

The session wrapped up last week, but what really happened? What passed? What failed?

Matt and Pat explore the tricky task of following the final sprint through the lens of Matt's favorite time-waster: fantasy football.

Meanwhile, the special session on the AKLNG pipeline is underway, and now that legislators are getting a better look at the project, they're not thrilled with what they're finding.

Related Articles

Solar power could soon be cheaper than natural gas power in Anchorage

Dunleavy's latest vetoes are a reminder that a lot will have to wait for a new governor

Following bruising last-minute push for AKLNG subsidy, legislators slow it down for the special session

Contact Info

If you've got something you want to share, you can leave us a message by dialing FIND-A-PIZZA (that's 346-327-4992) or you can email us at [email protected]

Credits

Hello Alaska with Matt & Pat is an Alaska Current podcast. This show was edited by Dave Waldron and our theme music is from I Wish I Were a Real Alaskan Girl by Marian Call.

Thanks for listening!

Description

The final days of Alaska's legislative session -- the time when things are most critical -- also happen to be when everyone is emerging from hibernation to recreate ... and host comic conventions.

In this episode, Matt has an update for Pat on what's been happening with the session's final sprint, as well as an explainer on the AKLNG project that the governor is trying to get through under the buzzer. 

Related Articles

‘We’re trying.’ Legislators warn AKLNG project may be too large a lift for session’s final days

Amid shifting enrollment, House OKs bill to smooth funding roller coaster

Contact Info

If you've got something you want to share, you can leave us a message by dialing FIND-A-PIZZA (that's 346-327-4992) or you can email us at [email protected]

Credits

Hello Alaska with Matt & Pat is an Alaska Current podcast. This show was edited by Dave Waldron and our theme music is from I Wish I Were a Real Alaskan Girl by Marian Call.

Thanks for listening!

Description

How often have you heard that the state's budget problems are simple? Just treat it like a household budget and tighten your belt! Run it like a business! In this episode, Matt and Pat get into the nitty-gritty of budget metaphors to understand where they're helpful and where they're not. 

Articles we mentioned

Alaska House votes to ban Styrofoam food containers as most Republicans flip their lid

Former Alaska legislator tries to revive lawsuit against airline for pandemic-era banning Public pension bill clears Senate, marking the first time it’s cleared both chambers

The Citizen's Guide to the Alaska Constitution

Matt's award-winning column on education systems

Contact Info

If you've got something you want to share, you can leave us a message by dialing FIND-A-PIZZA (that's 346-327-4992) or you can email us at [email protected]

Credits

Hello Alaska with Matt & Pat is an Alaska Current podcast. This show was edited by Dave Waldron and our theme music is from I Wish I Were a Real Alaskan Girl by Marian Call.

Thanks for listening!

Description

Matt and Pat dive into budget amendments and peek over the edge of the fiscal cliff. 

Related Article 

⁠SNAP work requirements don’t boost jobs, but drop participation, research finds

Pat’s Video 

⁠The Alaska Permanent Fund & State Fiscal Crisis

Contact Info

If you've got something you want to share, you can leave us a message by dialing FIND-A-PIZZA (that's 346-327-4992) or you can email us at [email protected]

Credits

Hello Alaska with Matt & Pat is an Alaska Current podcast. This show was edited by Dave Waldron and our theme music is from I Wish I Were a Real Alaskan Girl by Marian Call.

Thanks for listening!

Matt and Pat talk about their connections to Alaska and why they stick around.

Related Articles

Opinion: We were honored as Alaska Teachers of the Year. Now we can no longer stay

Murkowski’s thrilled about drilling under Trump, everything else not so much

Here’s that Scranton article and Dave Reamer's post about it

Contact Info

If you've got something you want to share, you can leave us a message by dialing FIND-A-PIZZA (that's 346-327-4992) or you can email us at [email protected]

Credits

Hello Alaska with Matt & Pat is an Alaska Current podcast. This show was edited by Dave Waldron and our theme music is from I Wish I Were a Real Alaskan Girl by Marian Call.

Thanks for listening!

This is a podcast about Alaska, brought to you by two guys who love it. We'll talk about what's working, what isn't, and a whole lot of other things. Thanks for listening!