Column

Opinion: Sen. McConnell, not God, made Trump’s retribution presidency possible

I suspect McConnell regrets his acquittal vote.

 

Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: Trouble brews with Super Bowl approach

This annual dementia is preceded by enough warning signals that some spouses have been known to charter weekend flights to remote Peruvian temples.

 

Congress holds a joint session to certify the election results of 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 6, 2025. President-elect Donald J. Trump has waffled on his preferences for how his party tackles his agenda, adding to the uncertainty for Republicans. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)

Opinion: The moral imperative of our time

Trump has made it very clear that he wants to control what the news media publishes.

 

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, addresses a crowd with President-elect Donald Trump present. (Photo from U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan’s office)

Opinion: Sen. Sullivan’s Orwellian style of transparency

But even if he thinks it’s wrong, his commitment to self-censoring all criticism of Trump will prevent him from telling us

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, addresses a crowd with President-elect Donald Trump present. (Photo from U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan’s office)
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: The Beast

Then it went all Darth Vader.

Nick Varney
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks to supporters during a campaign event at Louie’s Douglas Inn on Oct. 12, 2022.

Opinion: Murkowski must get off the ‘none of the above’ fence

She needs to follow Cheney’s lead and endorse Harris

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks to supporters during a campaign event at Louie’s Douglas Inn on Oct. 12, 2022.
The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Oct. 4, 2023, is among those in Alaska scheduled to be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Alaska’s attorney general flunks math test

One supermarket owner is less competitive than two, and more competition is good for shoppers

The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Oct. 4, 2023, is among those in Alaska scheduled to be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Library of Congress image
A painting of George Washington at Valley Forge, circa 1911 by Edward Percy Moran.

Opinion: Washington’s selfless example is lost on too many public servants

Biden isn’t the only national politician who struggled emotionally against the currents of aging.

Library of Congress image
A painting of George Washington at Valley Forge, circa 1911 by Edward Percy Moran.
An array of stickers awaits voters on Election Day 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: The case for keeping the parties from controlling our elections

Neither party is about to admit that the primary system they control serves the country poorly

An array of stickers awaits voters on Election Day 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board members, staff and advisors meet Oct. 30, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: The concerns of reasonable Alaskans isn’t ‘noise’

During a legislative hearing on Monday, CEO Deven Mitchell referred to controversy it’s created as “noise.”

Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board members, staff and advisors meet Oct. 30, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom addresses the crowd during an inaugural celebration for her and Gov. Mike Dunleavy at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Jan. 20, 2023.

Opinion: The many truths Dahlstrom will deny

Real conservatives wouldn’t be trashing the rule of law

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom addresses the crowd during an inaugural celebration for her and Gov. Mike Dunleavy at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Jan. 20, 2023.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy discusses his veto of a wide-ranging education bill during a press conference March 16 at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Governor, please pay more attention to Alaskans

Our governor has been a busy guy on big issues.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy discusses his veto of a wide-ranging education bill during a press conference March 16 at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower after he was found guilty of all counts in his criminal trial in New York on May 30.

Opinion: Trump’s new fixers

Fixers from Alaska and elsewhere step in after guilty verdict

Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower after he was found guilty of all counts in his criminal trial in New York on May 30.
Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30, 2023, why she opposes a bill restricting transgender rights. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: The imaginary transgender sports crisis

House Bill 183 is a right-wing solution to a problem that doesn’t exist now and never will.

Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30, 2023, why she opposes a bill restricting transgender rights. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau Empire file photo
Larry Persily.

Opinion: Alaska might as well embrace the past

The governor, legislators, municipal officials and business leaders are worried that the Railbelt will run short of natural gas before the end of the decade

Juneau Empire file photo
Larry Persily.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski addresses the Alaska State Legislature on Feb. 22, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Set ANWR aside and President Biden is pro-Alaska

Could it be that President Biden is more pro-Alaska than Donald Trump?

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski addresses the Alaska State Legislature on Feb. 22, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Alaska House makes the right decision on constitutionally guaranteed PFD

The proposed amendment would have elevated the PFD to a higher status than any other need in the state

(Juneau Empire file photo)
The Alaska Legislature meets in a joint session Jan. 18 in a failed attempt to override a veto by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to education funding. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Republican legislators are surrendering their constitutional power

Checks and balances of power are central to our system of government

The Alaska Legislature meets in a joint session Jan. 18 in a failed attempt to override a veto by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to education funding. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Point of View: Some state lawmakers need to embrace reality, not PFD political theater

State revenues minus public services do not leave enough in the checkbook to pay an oversized dividend

Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to a joint meeting of the Juneau and Alaska chambers of commerce Thursday at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Efficient administration in governance according to Dunleavy

There’s been a lot of taxpayer money wasted chasing the canard of inefficient government

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to a joint meeting of the Juneau and Alaska chambers of commerce Thursday at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)