We're back with three fun topics on Alaska politics, including a surprise (spoilers for that in the article sources below). Our audio got a little messed up in our opening segment, but it gets better.

We cover the ongoing flood prevention issue from the melting Mendenhall Glacier. The Army Corps of Engineers is spending $4.45 million not on a feasibility study, but on a technical report to inform a later feasibility study all to prevent flooding Derik's house. We also discuss the Governor's proposed changes to how Alaska judges are selected, and we compare that to other selection processes. But first, a surprise segment as one of us reacts live on air to a proposal put before the Alaska House of Representatives.

Resources used in this episode:

Money for a Study to Study Flooding:

https://www.ktoo.org/2025/03/19/army-corps-secures-funding-to-find-a-long-term-flood-solution-in-mendenhall-valley/

https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll6/id/2544

Proposed Change in Appointing Judges:

https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/03/03/alaska-governor-proposes-new-method-for-picking-state-judges/?emci=c65be3e3-b5f8-ef11-90cb-0022482a9447&emdi=6a7f245c-09f9-ef11-90cd-0022482a9fb7&ceid=148052https://alaskapublic.org/news/2024-05-29/judicial-council-recommends-alaskans-keep-all-judges-including-jurist-behind-correspondence-ruling

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2018/11/06/anchorage-judge-targeted-for-role-in-controversial-plea-agreement-trailing/

https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/retention/retent06/landry06.pdfhttps://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-debate-musk-trump-30b8b9cacb02c8bc9c7c9a26e7fe376cSurprise Topic (spoilers):

https://www.juneauempire.com/news/turning-governors-house-into-a-short-term-rental-proposed-by-alaska-lawmaker/

The news from Alaska is starting to make us sound like Florida. We give our takes on some local issues, such as some exotic pets, a crocodile and an alligator, being tossed out in the snow up in the Mat-Su, someone in Juneau taking a dump truck for a joyride, and the governor using AI to make pictures of Alaska rather than, well, a picture of Alaska. Then we discuss the governor's proposal to ban one party consent to record a conversation. We do our best to explain why Anchorage prosecutors keep delaying charges in criminal trials. Finally, we catch up with each other about our personal lives and discuss some Facebook drama that happened recently.

Sources used in this episode:

Governor uses AI:https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/12/19/loch-ness-ducks-or-vampire-grebes-alaska-governor-report-for-trump-comes-with-ai-hallucinations/?emci=dc95e865-84be-ef11-88ce-0022482a93af&emdi=adb93712-e3be-ef11-88ce-0022482a93af&ceid=148052Crocodile Lost in the Snow:https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/12/06/pet-croc-dead-after-being-tossed-into-snow-2-brothers-behind-bars/Dump Truck Joyride:https://www.juneauempire.com/news/stolen-dump-truck-hits-power-lines-knocks-out-electricity-on-industrial-boulevard-driver-arrested-for-dui/Proposed End to One Party Recording:https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/gov-dunleavy-proposes-new-limits-on-alaskans-ability-to-record-conversations/?emci=85af6fc5-3fe4-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&emdi=8a61780c-9be4-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&ceid=148052Issues with Anchorage Prosocuters:https://www.propublica.org/article/anchorage-alaska-pretrial-delays-sexual-assault?utm_content=buffer8c050&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_campaign=propublica-bskyandhttps://www.adn.com/opinions/2025/01/18/opinion-alaskas-criminal-legal-system-is-drowning-but-theres-another-side-to-the-story-on-trial-delays/Facebook drama:https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10235441734733345&set=a.10201958746439564andhttps://akasks.blogspot.com/2025/01/on-maga-thought-terminating-cliches.html

We're back and this time, we're in the news! We've got a quick update on the PFAS firefighting foam issue and then we give you the inside scoop about the glacial flooding that swept through Juneau. Your intrepid co-hosts even made the local paper over it. Next, we discuss the announced plans for new cruise ship docks in Juneau. Our next story takes us to Anchorage, where hundreds of criminal cases have been thrown out due to a lack of prosecutors.

We catch up on each other's lives, one of us had a kid and one of us backpacked around Europe for two months. After that, we discuss the latest antics of pastor Mark Driscoll and his illegal street signage. Finally, we discuss AI's effect on Alaska, our governor's obsession with it, its use in writing state policy, the possibility of AI data centers, the proposals for powering them, and the recent announcement of a Bitcoin mining facility on the North Slope.

There's a lot of wild things happening in Alaska. Give us a listen to catch up on life in the last frontier.

Sources Used in this Episode:

PFAS Bill:

https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/08/06/juneau-flood-inundates-at-least-100-homes-triggers-state-and-federal-response/

https://www.ktoo.org/2024/11/19/juneaus-proposed-flood-fighting-plan-would-cost-flood-zone-homeowners-8000-each-some-say-they-dont-want-it/

Anchorage Dismisses Criminal Cases:

Pastor Refuses Sign from Higher Authority:

https://www.christianpost.com/news/mark-driscoll-refuses-city-order-to-take-down-jesus-christ-sign.html

AI In Alaska:

We're on a break, but that doesn't mean we can't get you one more surprise episode while you wait for our triumphant return. We cover a devious plot by Alaskans to smuggle snow machines to Russia, China editing the Holy Bible to their liking, the funeral industry faces scrutiny for their lack of regulation, and the Supreme Court narrows the ability to prosecute corruption.

Sources used in this episode:

Snow Machine Smuggling:

https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/feds-accuse-two-men-of-smuggling-snowmachines-to-russia-via-alaska-tour-company/

China Editing the Bible:

https://www.christianpost.com/news/china-trying-to-rewrite-the-bible-force-churches-sing-communist-anthems.html

https://www.frc.org/op-eds/china-to-christians-were-rewriting-the-bible-and-youll-use-it-or-else

Funeral Home Regulations:

https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/07/06/mishandled-bodies-mixed-up-remains-prompt-tougher-funeral-home-regulations/

Supreme Court Corruption:

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-06-26/supreme-court-anti-corruption-law

We discuss a list of new state laws taking effect across the country: California requires drink test kits. Kansas abortion providers must ask why. Iowa restricts hemp consumables. Georgia increases swatting penalties. Florida allows killing bears. California dumps junk fees. Tennessee protects musicians from AI.

Sources used in this episode:

https://www.npr.org/2024/07/01/nx-s1-5025098/laws-july-california-florida-abortion-bears

We catch up on our lives and discuss our travels both past and planned, as well as other things happening in our lives. We touch on everything from nationalism to ordering a pair of headphones.

We're back with another enticing episode of the Sam and Derik Show. We start with an update on the 1882 shelling of the village of Angoon, Alaska. Next, we cover a rare win for environmentalists given by... Ron DeSantis? Then it's a discussion on whether "Influencers" should be treated like media which somehow strays into AI bullet vending machines. What a ride.

Sources used in this episode:

US Navy apology for the bombardment of Angoon:

https://www.juneauempire.com/news/long-awaited-u-s-navy-apology-for-1882-bombardment-will-bring-healing-to-angoon/

Florida Ban on Balloon Releases and Satirical Image:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/desantis-bible-day-gender-hospitals/

https://apnews.com/article/balloon-ban-environment-florida-sea-turtle-10c6e21aaf3baa9c340052d3f3b34dbd

DNC Treating Influencers Like Press:

https://gizmodo.com/democratic-national-convention-influencer-credentials-1851555271

AI Bullet Vending Machines:

https://gizmodo.com/oklahoma-alabama-now-have-ai-powered-vending-machines-that-sell-bullets-2000377093

In part 3 of this episode, we do a deep dive into the history and politics surrounding the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. This episode was recorded across two days, April 21st and 24th, 2024, so any events beyond those dates in the evolving conflict are not factored into the discussion. This episode is intended to provide context about the conflict for anyone unfamiliar with its history, but it is by no means exhaustive of everything about the issue. We discuss wars fought between Israel and Arabs, Israeli policy in dealing with the West Bank and Gaza, the October 7th attack, the Israeli invasion of Gaza, as well as other important factions, people, events, and math textbooks that all play into the conflict.

Sources used in this episode:

Articles, maps, and resources:

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/palestinian-rocket-and-mortar-attacks-against-israel

https://www.anera.org/what-are-area-a-area-b-and-area-c-in-the-west-bank/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-gaza-world-central-kitchen-strike-jose-andres-direct-attack-aid-workers/

https://allisrael.com/european-parliament-demands-palestinian-authority-removes-antisemitism-from-curriculum

https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/1c65vyx/european_parliament_demands_palestinian_authority/

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/PA-Reports_-Selected-Examples_Update_Sept-2020.pdf

https://www.ktoo.org/2024/03/06/juneau-assembly-unlikely-to-move-forward-with-gaza-ceasefire-resolution/

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/19/politics/us-west-bank-sanctions/index.html

https://twitter.com/TVietor08/status/1781464539546210774

https://apnews.com/article/schumer-netanyahu-israel-palestinians-elections-1ebf21e4c9c0f6f42478bb26e1db7a9b

Wikipedia articles used as sources for topics discussed:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Jerusalem

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Lausanne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_Declaration

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_War

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_War

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_September

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_outpost

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_occupation_of_the_West_Bank

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_I_Accord

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_II_Accord

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Palestinian_legislative_election

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Gaza_cross-border_raid

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilad_Shalit_prisoner_exchange

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Hamas-led_attack_on_Israel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Hamas_war_hostage_crisis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Central_Kitchen_drone_strikes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip_famine

It's part 2 of episode 12, and we do a deep dive into an incident that happened at an event called the "Stronger Men's Christian Conference." The event was criticized by a pastor, who was then kicked out. We also discuss masculinity, LGBTQ+ issues, and Chuck Norris riding on a tank crushing cars.

Sources used in this episode:

The main one discussed:

https://baptistnews.com/article/what-happened-when-mark-driscoll-and-josh-howerton-showed-up-at-the-stronger-mens-conference-this-weekend/

Other articles on the incident:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/15/pastor-mark-driscoll-kicked-off-state-christian-conference/73331462007/

https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-john-lindell-says-mark-driscoll-tried-to-divide-his-church.html

We're back with a three-part episode 12, releasing weekly. In this part, we cover a few fun stories, with deeper conversations on more personal topics in the next two parts to come.

First in part 1, we do a quick follow-up to an early segment we did on our show about the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine a year ago, and their agreed settlement. Then it's a discussion on a proposed Rhode Island law to require in-person checkout options at stores. Next, we dive into a study showing video game players are sticking with older video games over new ones. Finally, we catch up with each other and see how things have been going.

Sources used in this episode:

East Palestine Train Derailment:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/norfolk-southern-agrees-600-million-settlement-east-palestine/story?id=109034578

Rhode Island Self-Checkouts:

https://progressivegrocer.com/rhode-island-wants-limit-self-checkouts-grocery-stores

Older Video Games Getting More Playtime:

https://kotaku.com/old-games-2023-playtime-data-fortnite-roblox-minecraft-1851382474