Hello Alaska! Our rebooted podcast has a new episode out. We talk #akleg budget amendments and take a little peek over the fiscal cliff. (w/ @matt.akmemo.com)

Poster: A Comic Convention for Juneau - Alaska Robotics Mini-Con - May 9th 2026 - Free Admission - 10am-5pm at the Alaska State Libraries Archives and Museums 395 Whittier Street - Minicon.Alaskarobotics.com

May 9th! It's Alaska Robotics Mini-Con!
minicon.alaskarobotics.com

Wait, I have a "rate limit"?

Snowing. Again. To reiterate. The next time I leave Alaska for an extended trip, I'm going in April, not January. Even at -40, January has redeeming qualities.

I gave up on favorite dinosaurs when I found out Dimetrodon isn't a dinosaur. Now I just have a favorite primitive synapsid.

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A TUGBOAT DIVIDED only $12,000.

House approves key social spending boosts in operating budget as Republicans cry foul For their part, the 19 House Republicans seemed to have about 19 different ideas for what the budget needed to look like to garner their support.

My latest from The Memo: House approves key social spending boosts in operating budget as Republicans cry foul

#akleg

These long afternoons
And the snow slowly melting
April in Juneau

#haiku

Basically, it seems like states are rushing to try to rein in the super terrible first stabs at making money off AI.

Arizona, for example, banned the use of AI to deny medical claims.

New Mexico directed its board of nursing to create rules for AI.

An overview of the various laws that other states have shown is that Republicans are not actually universally in favor of unchecked AI businesses.

Several conservative states have enacted rules on stuff like chatbots, education, medical use and deepfakes.

Here's a snapshot of the various AI-regulating bills being considered around the country.

Some of the things pulled out include rules for AI chat bots, AI disclosure requirements and rules for algorithmic pricing, where AI is used to maximize profit (on things like rent)

The hearing on AI regulation starts out with an explanation that there are a lot of different things that we talk about when we say AI, ranging from generative AI to machine learning to agentic AI.

The absence of Republican Reps. Vance, McCabe and St. Clair, along with majority Rep. Story means the committee doesn't have quorum, so they can't take any action on legislation.

Meaning, SB 237 -- which would allow people to apply online to replace a lost Social Security card -- won't get heard.

🧵 The House State Affairs Committee is underway with a hearing from the National Conference of State Legislatures on what other states are doing to regulate AI use.

Curiously, none of the Republicans are there.

📺: www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...
📄: www.akleg.gov/basis/get_do...

#akleg

House approves key social spending boosts in operating budget as Republicans cry foul - The Alaska Current The Alaska House approved its version of the state operating budget on Monday.

The budget includes $147 million in additional funding for schools, $11 million for student transportation, $17.5 million to restart the state’s heating assistance program, $15 million for rate increases for health care workers, $7.5 million for child care and $4 million for early education grants.

Read this.

For a century, drinking Rainier was an entrenched part of Alaska culture, passed from generation to generation as seen in this 1988 West High yearbook photo. Learn more this Friday when I host a Rainier documentary at the Anchorage Museum (www.anchoragemuseum.org/visit/calend...).

😔

Yeah, as long as I don’t have to listen to myself

Whistleblower says Trump officials thought USAID did 'just abortions,' asked for 'Barney-style' slides before gutting agency, per new book Read an exclusive excerpt from Nicholas Enrich's "Into the Wood Chipper"

NEW—I got an exclusive excerpt from a USAID whistleblower's new book that made me gasp multiple times. It details Trump's dismantling of the humanitarian aid agency & his team/DOGE's shocking ignorance to public health.

'Into the Wood Chipper' by Nicholas Enrich is out tomorrow. Read excerpt here:

I suspect the Pope sounds "woke" to many Christian conservatives because the US is steeped in prosperity theology, where the point of worship is to deliver health and wealth to believers. Thus, "feed the hungry" and "show mercy for the poor" sounds needlessly political and "woke."

A telephoto shot of tuco the cattle dog's face. the background is blurred out. his face is dusted with snow while his eyes kinda squint in the warm afternoon sunshine.

Alright, they're onto the mental health budget.

Thanks for following along!

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And a podcast! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...

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And, as always, LOOK AT THIS DOG!

And the effective date clause, which the Republicans once weaponized as part of Rep. David Eastman's "Be Difficult to Deal With" strategy, passes with little issue.

And the House has passed the operating budget along a 21-19 caucus-line vote... nearly SIX HOURS after they started.

#akleg

Rep Josephson, on the social spending derided by the Republicans, talks about one of the families that came to him about in-home nursing rates:

"Shame on me if there's compassion in this budget."

Rep. Josephson notes that all these accusations that Alaska spends too much on government neglect the point that Alaska is REALLY different than all the other states.

"You can't compare Alaska to everything else because we're just not the same kind of fruit. We're just not easily comparable."

Rep. Josephson on the Republicans' angst over maintenance: "A lot of members of the majority were all for fixing leaks, but we need to have a teacher in the room when the carpenter and the tradesman walk out."

He says that's why they're going with the k12 boost, which has been easier in the past.

Rep. Josephson then proceeds to basically lay down the wonkiest diss track, pointing out the logical fallacies and light hypocrisy of the minority.

Ah, and now we're done with the debate!

House Speaker Edgmon says that they have 27-40 people who've talked.

Into wrap-up from Rep. Josephson.