Is Alaska’s grand jury still the people’s tool for oversight, or has it become another lever of government control? In this episode of the Must Read Alaska Show, host Ben Carpenter presses Attorney General Treg Taylor on the Supreme Court’s controversial move to make him the “gatekeeper” for public access to grand juries.

Taylor defends new procedures, acknowledges constitutional concerns, and reveals why he intends to be a “poor gatekeeper” in order to restore public trust. Together, Carpenter and Taylor debate the balance between secrecy and transparency, the risk of runaway grand juries versus weaponized complaints, and whether only a constitutional amendment can guarantee Alaskans’ right to use the grand jury to root out corruption.

This hard-hitting conversation digs into whether the state’s justice system protects the people — or itself.

Alaska State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Shelley Hughes joins Ben Carpenter to share her remarkable journey from rural Alaska in the ’70s to the state legislature. She outlines her vision for fiscal reform, energy development, and protecting the PFD, while drawing on decades of experience across Alaska’s regions. Known for working across party lines without compromising her conservative principles, Hughes offers a grassroots, no-nonsense approach to leadership and governance.

In this eye-opening episode of the Must Read Alaska Show, host Ben Carpenter sits down with forensic journalist and author David Ignell for a deep dive into the constitutional role of grand juries in Alaska—and how that role is being undermined by the Department of Law and the judiciary.

At the heart of their conversation is the case of former Ketchikan Police Chief Jeffrey Walls, who was targeted with felony charges by three different prosecutors across three grand juries in two different jurisdictions. Each attempt was thrown out by the court, culminating in a judge dismissing the third indictment with prejudice and expressing a loss of confidence in the Department of Law's integrity.

Ignell draws on historical and legal precedent—from the English roots of grand juries to U.S. Supreme Court rulings—to argue that today’s grand juries are being deliberately disempowered. He shares insights from his 131-page book and first-hand accounts of how grand jurors, witnesses, and even foremen have been silenced or threatened when attempting to investigate government misconduct.

This episode explores troubling patterns of institutional resistance to transparency, including a sealed grand jury report currently locked away in a judge’s desk and the state’s redefinition of "investigative grand juries" as a means to control outcomes. Carpenter and Ignell make the case for urgent reform—and potentially federal intervention—to restore the public’s trust in Alaska’s justice system.

In this episode of the Must Read Alaska Show podcast, host Ben Carpenter sits down with Adam Hendrix, Anchorage native and world-renowned poker professional, to unpack his extraordinary journey to a sixth-place finish at the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event—netting him a $1.9 million prize and recognition as Alaska’s all-time top tournament earner.

Adam shares the intense mental and physical preparation behind the nine-day tournament, the evolving nature of professional poker—from napkin math to AI-based solvers—and how success in the game depends not just on theory, but also on reading people and adapting to unpredictable stress. He reveals how growing up in Alaska and early exposure to poker on ESPN sparked his passion, and discusses the role of family, discipline, and lifestyle in sustaining a career built on calculated risk.

The conversation also explores his aspirations beyond the poker table, including a potential foray into fashion and entrepreneurship. Adam offers candid advice to aspiring players and voices concern over a pending federal tax policy that could undermine the future of professional poker.

This wide-ranging conversation offers insight not just into the world of high-stakes competition, but into resilience, character, and the American entrepreneurial spirit.

In this compelling episode of the Must Read Alaska Show, host Ben Carpenter sits down with Phil Izon, the driving force behind the effort to repeal ranked choice voting (RCV) in Alaska during the 2024 election. Izon recounts the intensive grassroots campaign that gathered far more than the required signatures across 33 of Alaska’s 40 House districts, relying entirely on volunteers and innovative technology—without the use of paid signature gathering firms. He details the legal challenges that followed, including aggressive lawsuits led by political operatives that accused him and his campaign of fraud. These efforts resulted in significant financial and emotional strain, including six hours of deposition and substantial legal fees, although Izon ultimately prevailed in both Superior and Supreme Court decisions.

The conversation exposes the intense opposition Izon faced from well-funded, out-of-state interests allegedly aligned with maintaining RCV, and highlights what he describes as political lawfare—legal intimidation designed to suppress citizen-led reform. Izon also critiques the lack of support from Alaska's Republican Party leadership and state officials, despite acknowledgment from national conservative circles. With $15 million spent to defend RCV and millions more invested in promoting it nationwide, Izon raises critical questions about who benefits from Alaska's election system and why. He closes by cautioning the new "Repeal Now" effort and emphasizing the importance of strategic collaboration, insider knowledge, and persistence in future repeal attempts.

This episode offers a rare insider’s view into the mechanics of election reform efforts, the high stakes of ballot initiatives, and the personal toll such battles can exact.

In this episode of the Must Read Alaska Show, host Ben Carpenter sits down with Lynn McCabe and Mikaela Emswiler, of the Repeal Now initiative, to explore the close, contentious fight to roll back ranked choice voting in Alaska. Together, they share firsthand accounts of signature-gathering on the ground, the fierce lawfare tactics deployed by outside interests, and the surprising challenges volunteers face—from strict chain-of-custody rules to ensuring every signer’s information matches the voter database.

Lynn recounts the overwhelming public frustration with ranked choice voting and how just 743 votes decided Alaska’s fate last November. Michaela lays out why she sees RCV as a threat to election integrity, empowering dark-money groups and confusing everyday voters. You’ll learn:

If you’re ready to make your voice heard, visit RepealNowAK.com, email [email protected], or follow Repeal Now AK on Facebook and X. Every signature counts—help bring transparency back to Alaska’s elections.

In this in-depth episode, host Ben Carpenter tackles the long-anticipated and often controversial Alaska LNG pipeline project—offering listeners an insider’s look at recent developments and reasons for renewed optimism. Drawing from his attendance at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, Carpenter presents a compelling overview of a conversation between Governor Mike Dunleavy and Brendan Duvall, CEO of Glenfarne, the private company now spearheading the project.

The episode outlines Glenfarne's phased development plan for the pipeline, which includes:

Duvall explains why the project is now seen as financially viable, citing advantages like lower shipping costs to Asia, abundant and cheap feed gas, engineering preparedness, and strong bipartisan political support. He also addresses concerns about cost overruns, emphasizing project finance discipline and extensive pre-construction planning to keep expenses under control.

Listeners will hear insights into the project’s ambitious timeline, with a final investment decision (FID) on the pipeline expected by the end of 2025 and on the liquefaction plant by the end of 2026. Full construction is projected to begin in 2027, with gas delivery targeted for 2029 and LNG exports by 2031.

Governor Dunleavy and Duvall also highlight the economic benefits for Alaska, including thousands of construction jobs and long-term energy security. Duvall closes with a high level of confidence in the project’s feasibility, backed by Glenfarne’s private capital commitment and global LNG experience.

The show offers a mix of technical detail, political context, and economic promise, painting a picture of a transformative infrastructure project finally nearing reality after decades of stalled dreams.

In this episode, Must Read Alaska Show host Ben Carpenter delivers a robust, real-time debrief from the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, hosted by Governor Mike Dunleavy in Anchorage. Carpenter walks the audience through the key takeaways, the tone of the event, and the overarching vision shared by political and industry leaders, particularly from the Trump administration, about Alaska’s pivotal role in national energy policy, security, and economic revival.

With hundreds of attendees from around the globe, the conference presented Alaska not as a remote outpost, but as a strategic energy powerhouse whose development is critical not only for the state but for national and global security.

Carpenter closes the episode with a rallying cry for Alaskans to take ownership of their future:

In this episode of the Must Read Alaska Show, host Ben Carpenter welcomes Bernadette Wilson of Repeal Now Alaska to discuss the second effort to overturn Alaska’s ranked choice voting (RCV) system. They begin by defining RCV—how it replaced traditional closed primaries with an open “jungle primary” advancing the top four candidates and then allowing voters to rank their top four choices in a multi-round count—and critiquing its complexity and disenfranchisement of voters.

Wilson explains the legal and logistical steps required for repeal: gathering just under 35,000 valid signatures from at least 35 of Alaska’s 40 house districts and submitting them by mid-January 2026 to qualify for the 2026 election. She outlines the statewide network of regional signature gatherers, the need for financial contributions to cover mailing and reporting costs, and the importance of correctly matching petition signatures and addresses to voter registration records.

The conversation closes with a call to action for listeners to visit Repeal Now Alaska’s website: repealnowak.com or Facebook page to sign the petition, volunteer as signature gatherers, and donate—even small amounts help cover the cost of mailing petition books.

The episode underscores the coalition’s commitment to a clear, straightforward voting process and encourages Alaskans—and interested non-residents—to get involved.

In this engaging episode of the Must Read Alaska Show, Congressman Nick Begich takes center stage to discuss the whirlwind first 100 days of the new Congress, offering a deep dive into the priorities shaping Alaska and the nation. Begich highlights the unprecedented pace of legislative action under Republican leadership, focusing on key achievements like the Lake and Riley Act, which strengthens immigration enforcement and empowers states to hold the federal government accountable. He outlines efforts to secure the southern border, curb the flow of illegal drugs, and prioritize American interests in trade and spending, all while exposing wasteful programs that have long burdened taxpayers.

A significant portion of the conversation centers on the budget reconciliation process, which Begich sees as a golden opportunity for Alaska. He details plans to advance resource development, including expanding leasing in ANWR, unlocking potential in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, and revitalizing the state’s mining and timber industries. These initiatives, he explains, are designed to generate revenue for both Alaska and the federal government, fostering economic growth and reducing reliance on federal dollars. Begich also addresses the contentious issue of Alaska’s revenue split with the federal government, advocating for a return to the promised 90-10 split on new leases to bolster the state’s financial independence.

Beyond Alaska-specific issues, Begich tackles broader national challenges, such as the ballooning $36 trillion national debt and the trillion-dollar annual interest payments that threaten fiscal stability. He emphasizes Republican resistance to tax hikes, instead favoring cuts to waste, fraud, and abuse, supported by the Department of Government Efficiency and the DOGE caucus. Begich also discusses Medicaid reform, proposing eligibility checks and work requirements to ensure the program serves those truly in need, while addressing the misuse of benefits by non-citizens. On healthcare costs, he points to long-term solutions like healthier food regulations and curbing pharmaceutical advertising to ease the burden on consumers.

A particularly striking moment comes as Begich raises concerns about federal funds potentially looping back into the political sphere, citing examples of NGOs, straw donors, and dark money influencing elections. He stresses ongoing investigations to ensure transparency and legality in campaign financing, warning that unchecked interference could undermine democratic integrity. Throughout, Begich’s passion for Alaska shines through, as he champions policies to create jobs, ensure economic predictability, and empower young Alaskans to build their futures in the state. This episode captures a pivotal moment in national and Alaskan politics, with Begich working hard for Alaskans.