How do political campaigns know what issues resonate with the public? How do researchers learn about social and political beliefs? Often, that work is done through surveys or polling. What goes into building a poll to ensure a good reflection of differing beliefs? Well hear from people who create polls and those who use them in different campaigns, on this Talk of Alaska.

As state lawmakers begin the last two months of the session, there is a lot of work to get done. Lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan education bill, but failed to override the Governor’s veto of it, and now there is growing tension around trying to pass another bill that the Governor would accept. The perennial fight over the size of the Permanent Fund Dividend has yet to be settled, as has the state's budget. What is the current tone of debate at the capitol? We talk with reporters covering the legislative session on this Talk of Alaska.

Alaskans along the railbelt have relied on Cook Inlet gas for heat and power for decades, but the wells in the Cook Inlet basin, a long reliable source of natural gas for homes and businesses, are no longer so reliable with potential shortages looming in the next few years. Why isn’t more gas being developed in Cook Inlet, what’s the potential for renewable energy replacing gas, and what will it all mean for ratepayers if gas needs to be imported? We discuss the future energy needs for Southcentral Alaskans against diminishing supply on this Talk of Alaska.

The use of Artificial Intelligence or AI has been around since the 50s, but even with rapid growth in the technology for a wide range of applications, there’s still a lot that many of us don’t understand about AI’s benefits, its potential to help businesses, as well as the risks. How can computer learning technology help streamline work and create efficiencies for small businesses and what are the red flags? We learn about a new AI business center for Alaska on this Talk of Alaska.

In the past, Indigenous people were misrepresented in movies and other media when harmful stereotypes and racist tropes were too often the norm. Indigenous Americans were presented as one-dimensional characters, or played by non-native actors. But things are changing and the recent HBO season of the series True Detective is a good example. It employed Alaska Native actors, writers and casting directors. What changes when Indigenous people have influence over popular television content? We talk with actors from the Alaska-focused series True Detective: Night Country, on this Talk of Alaska.

There is plenty of research that backs up the importance of childcare. In order to work, parents need quality and affordable child care that is as much about learning as it is about keeping kids safe, but Alaska families are struggling to find and afford that type of care for their kids. What are elected leaders and businesses doing to address the need? We ask advocates on this Talk of Alaska.

What is the best way to support students, teachers and schools for Alaska’s future? There are many competing ideas for how to get the most impact out of education funding and how that funding should be prioritized. What do education leaders say is most needed and how can Alaskan families support their local schools when budgets are tight? We discuss best practices for educational outcomes on this Talk of Alaska. NOTE: Due to technical issue, this episode of Talk of Alaska is shorter than a typical program.

It’s been an especially snowy winter in many Alaska communities, and with heavy snowfall comes the yearly question, should I shovel my roof? And the follow-up question, how do I do that without getting injured or breaking the bank? We talk with engineers about what to look at when considering those questions, and whether you should do it yourself or hire someone else on this Talk of Alaska.

Rejoining the community after incarceration can be challenging. People have to rebuild connections, earn people’s trust, and secure basic needs, like housing and employment. They also have to be mentally ready for life outside of prison. On this Talk of Alaska, we’ll discuss how organizations and individuals can best support people as they reenter the community.

These are tense times for the U.S. military, with Middle East conflicts threatening to erupt in a regional war and Russia stepping up its assault on Ukraine. What could this mean for Alaska-based troops and defense installations? U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and retired Maj. Gen. Randy Kee, from the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies discuss rising global tensions, on this Talk of Alaska.