Shows
St. John's College (Santa Fe) LecturesJournalism, Democratic Citizenship, and the Public Interest (Danny Hakim, Elizabeth Harball, Jane McManus, Walter Sterling, Nani Detti, Abdullah Mirza, and Mario Moreno)
Audio recording of an online panel discussion with alumni Danny Hakim, Elizabeth Harball, and Jane McManus held on April 18, 2020 as part of the Dean's Lecture and Concert Series. Moderated by Dean Walter Sterling and current seniors Nani Detti, Abdullah Mirza, and Mario Moreno.
2024-12-111h 39
ADN PoliticsWhat to know about the Anchorage mayor’s raceAnchorage voters will soon decide a hugely consequential mayor’s race. Unlike the last mayoral election, the city is no longer in the middle of a pandemic, but Anchorage is still dealing with significant challenges. After three tumultuous years, incumbent Mayor Dave Bronson faces nine opponents who promise to lead the city in very different ways.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to Daily News reporters Emily Goodykoontz and Zachariah Hughes about what they’re paying attention to ahead of election day.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily...
2024-03-2938 minADN PoliticsThe education bill failed. Now what?Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy made good on his threat last week, vetoing a $200 million education bill that had passed the Legislature on a bipartisan vote.This week — amid immense pressure on all sides — lawmakers fell one vote short of overriding that veto.Now the future of state education funding for Alaska schools this year is murky, at best. In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to reporters Iris Samuels and Sean Maguire to discuss what happened, and the coming political fallout.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily...
2024-03-2229 minADN PoliticsHow Alaska’s education funding bill ended up in limboAlaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy this week threatened to veto a hard-fought bill to increase funding for Alaska’s public schools, unless the Legislature agrees to back some of his own education priorities.Now, lawmakers in Juneau and school districts across the state are scrambling to sort out what to do next.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to reporters Sean Maguire and Iris Samuels to discuss what is and isn’t in the bill, and what might happen next.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.
2024-03-0122 minADN PoliticsHow serious is Alaska’s natural gas crisis, really?A recent cold snap in Southcentral Alaska raised the profile of a looming problem for the region: Natural gas from Cook Inlet powers a big chunk of Alaska, including Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula and the Mat-Su – but energy companies say that gas won’t be available for much longer. How is that possible, in a state that has enormous gas reserves? And what does that mean for future energy bills?Anchorage Daily News reporter Alex DeMarban has been covering this issue, and speaks with host Elizabeth Harball to answer these and other burning questions. For more...
2024-02-0923 minADN PoliticsThe Alaska political stories we’re watching in 2024The New Year has arrived, bringing with it an election year and the next Alaska legislative session. In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to Daily News reporters Iris Samuels and Sean Maguire about the top storylines they are tracking in 2024 — from continued battles over education funding and ranked choice voting to notable people and issues on the ballot in November.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.This episode of ADN Politics is sponsored by SteamDot Coffee.
2024-01-0528 minADN PoliticsA crisis at Alaska’s Office of Public AdvocacyPart of a little-known state agency is near collapse, and it’s not clear what will happen to the vulnerable people it serves.Daily News reporter Iris Samuels recently dug into issues at Alaska’s Office of Public Advocacy. Facing severe staffing issues, it turned to a private nonprofit to help it provide guardianship services for over 100 people. But that nonprofit ran into issues of its own, leaving the Alaskans it served at risk of going into debt, losing public benefits, or becoming homeless.Host Elizabeth Harball talks to Samuels about what happened to the Offi...
2023-12-1529 minADN PoliticsSnow plow politics, revisitedIn this episode, we return to the topic of snow plow politics in Anchorage. In November, once again, the city was hit with back-to-back snowstorms. And once again, the roads were a huge mess.For a winter city that relies on plowing so residents can get to work and schools can open, snow plowing quickly becomes a political issue — especially with a mayoral race coming up.Host Elizabeth Harball talks to Daily News reporter Zachariah Hughes about why so many Anchorage roads went unplowed for days and the political fallout as Mayor Dave Bronson vies fo...
2023-12-0124 minADN PoliticsTwo Deaths in KotzebueIn 2018 and then in 2020, two women were found dead on the same property in the Northwest Alaska community of Kotzebue.The women were 25-year-old Jennifer Kirk and 30-year-old Susanna, or “Sue Sue,” Norton. They both had been in relationships with sons of Kotzebue’s now-former mayor, who owns the property where they were found. Kirk’s death was declared a suicide, and Norton’s, a homicide. No charges have ever been filed in connection to the deaths.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball speaks with Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica reporter Kyle Hopkins, who spent y...
2023-11-1735 minADN PoliticsLet’s talk trawlersAs Western Alaska communities face a shocking decline in the salmon runs they depend on, fishing operations called factory trawlers are drawing more scrutiny than ever before — the vessels are not going after salmon, but they can still scoop some up in their nets.With support from the Pulitzer Center, the Daily News recently published a two-part series diving into factory trawling in the Bering Sea, the industry’s impact on Alaska’s salmon runs, and Community Development Quota groups, which have become powerful players in fishery politics.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to lon...
2023-11-0334 minADN PoliticsHow one Assembly member sees Anchorage’s housing crisisAnyone who has tried to buy or rent a home in Anchorage recently has been faced with the realities of the city’s housing crisis. Costs have shot up, while at the same time, there isn’t a lot of inventory to choose from. The issue has wide-ranging implications for the city, impacting everything from attracting and retaining workers to efforts to address homelessness.Host Elizabeth Harball talks to Anna Brawley, an Anchorage Assembly member with a background in city planning, about efforts to address the city’s housing crisis, and challenges that are coming up along the wa...
2023-10-2033 minADN PoliticsAnchorage’s election interference investigation, explainedA top official in Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration resigned this month after being accused of breaking election laws.It’s a complicated saga that has unfolded over months – an investigation into the mayor’s IT director involving a challenge to this year’s city election results. In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball speaks with ADN reporter Emily Goodykoontz, who broke the news about the allegations in May.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.This episode of ADN Politics is sponsored by SteamDot Coffee.
2023-09-2922 minADN PoliticsDunleavy's education vetoThis week, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed $87 million in education funding passed by the Legislature — half of a one-time funding increase for public schools that education advocates said was badly needed. Almost immediately, some lawmakers were calling to override the veto. Host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN reporter Iris Samuels about the likelihood of a veto override, what it would take to get there, and more.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.This episode of ADN Politics is sponsored by SteamDot Coffee.
2023-06-2323 minADN PoliticsHow the legislature got to a budget dealIt took marathon negotiations behind closed doors, strained relationships between lawmakers, tens of millions in additional capital spending and a one-day special session, but this week, the Alaska Legislature managed to pass a budget.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN reporters Sean Maguire and Iris Samuels in Juneau for the inside story on how Alaska lawmakers got to a deal.Note: ADN Politics is taking a break after this episode, and will return in June.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today....
2023-05-2036 minADN PoliticsWhat's happening in Juneau? What isn't happening?The Alaska Legislative session is entering its final days – at least, officially. Meanwhile, lawmakers still haven’t passed a budget, figured out the size of this year’s Permanent Fund dividend or agreed on whether to permanently increase funding for public schools. Can they? In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN reporters Sean Maguire and Iris Samuels, who are in Juneau tracking last-minute negotiations as they unfold. For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.This episode of ADN Politics is sponsored by SteamDot Coffee.
2023-05-1222 minADN PoliticsThe Sullivan Arena homeless shelter is shutting down. Where do people go?Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena is entering its final days as a mass homeless shelter. This week, many of the people staying there were forced to leave. And for many of them, there isn’t anywhere to go. ADN reporters and photographers were on the ground talking to people as they made their way out of the Sullivan.Host Elizabeth Harball speaks with ADN reporters Michelle Theriault Boots and Emily Goodykoontz to explain why this is happening and what it means for Anchorage in the months ahead.For more local and state news...
2023-05-0526 minADN PoliticsThe Judy Eledge tapesLast week, the Daily News and ProPublica published a report that included secret recordings of a top Anchorage Library official, in which she calls Alaska Natives “woke” and “racists” and bemoans “the left’s” influence on libraries. That official is Judy Eledge — a longtime conservative stalwart in Alaska and the Anchorage Library’s deputy director under Mayor Dave Bronson. Eledge is now the subject of several lawsuits filed against the city. In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN and ProPublica reporter Kyle Hopkins about the reporting process and what he has learned since it was published.Fo...
2023-04-2819 minADN PoliticsWhat Anchorage’s election means for the future of city politicsCampaigning in this year’s Anchorage election was defined by voter fatigue with bitterness and drama in city politics. Ballots are still being counted, but so far, results show definitive leads for most candidates aligned with the current Assembly majority — a group that has consistently been at odds with conservative Mayor Dave Bronson. In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks with reporters about the potential factors behind those results, and what they could mean for the future of Anchorage city politics. Correction: An earlier version of this podcast incorrectly said Anchorage Mayor David Bronson has not sa...
2023-04-0722 minADN PoliticsThe German Ambassador’s visit to AlaskaThe German Ambassador to the United States, Emily Haber, is in Alaska for the first time this week, while participating in the Arctic Encounter Symposium in Anchorage.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to Ambassador Haber about her visit, changing dynamics in the Arctic, energy development, climate change, and how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is affecting those issues.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.This episode of ADN Politics is sponsored by SteamDot Coffee.
2023-04-0211 minADN PoliticsThe story behind why Alaska leaders could get big raisesThis month, a commission that decides salaries for the Alaska Legislature, the governor and top state officials voted to give all of them a significant raise. If the proposal goes through, state lawmakers could receive a 67% pay raise, alongside a roughly 20% raise for the governor and his cabinet. It happened in a 15-minute meeting – with a commission that had been entirely replaced by the governor just days before.Now, some members of the public — and lawmakers themselves — are raising questions about that process.Host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN reporters Iris Samuels and Sean Maguire to hel...
2023-03-2626 minADN PoliticsThe battle over the Willow projectPresident Joe Biden this week approved ConocoPhillips’ Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope. The approval came despite massive pressure from environmental groups to kill the project, who see it as a black mark on Biden’s broader efforts to deal with climate change.Meanwhile, Alaska political leaders — especially the state’s bipartisan congressional delegation — are celebrating Willow’s approval as a huge win.Host Elizabeth Harball talks with ADN reporters Alex DeMarban and Riley Rogerson about how the Willow project became a national-level controversy, and what may have led Biden to approve it.For more...
2023-03-1720 minADN PoliticsAlaska’s governor enters the education culture warThis week, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy rolled out a “parental rights” bill that would put new limits on sex education in schools and prevent transgender students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity, among other measures. Christian conservatives are welcoming the bill, while a Democratic lawmaker immediately branded it “the most divisive piece of legislation” the Legislature could hear this year. It swiftly drew comparisons to so-called “bathroom bills” being debated in other states. In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball speaks to ADN reporters Iris Samuels and Sean Maguire about the details of the governor’s...
2023-03-1029 minADN PoliticsAn interview with the man investigating Anchorage city government from the insideThe Anchorage municipal ombudsman has been at the center of several recent news stories about turmoil within city government. That includes a recent incident when municipal employees accused someone in Mayor Dave Bronson’s office of saying they were checking surveillance videos to see who was going to the ombudsman’s office.But what exactly is an ombudsman? And how does the position fit into what’s happening these days in Anchorage city government?In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball speaks with Anchorage Ombudsman Darrel Hess to answer those questions and more.For more l...
2023-03-0325 minADN PoliticsA record string of deaths behind bars in AlaskaLast year, a record 18 people died while in custody of the Alaska Department of Corrections. Seven of those deaths were suicides – also a record. To better understand the circumstances behind the deaths, Daily News reporters obtained Alaska State Troopers investigation reports and medical examiner records, and spoke with family members, advocates and prison officials. In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks with reporter Michelle Theriault Boots about what they learned.Note: This episode deals with the topic of suicide. If you or someone you know are dealing with a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts, you...
2023-02-2422 minADN PoliticsIs this the end of the Pebble mine?After decades of protests, lobbying, lawsuits and bureaucratic twists and turns, the federal government has killed the Pebble mine.Well, maybe. At the very least, this week’s decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency marks a major turning point for the controversial mine proposal.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball discusses what’s ahead for the mine and the Bristol Bay salmon fishery with ADN reporter Alex DeMarban.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.This episode of ADN Politics is sponsored by Stea...
2023-02-0325 minADN PoliticsInside the new Alaska LegislatureGears have started to turn in the Alaska Legislature. A Republican-led majority came together in the House after a small group of independent and Democratic lawmakers from rural Alaska agreed to cross the aisle. In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN reporters Sean Maguire and Iris Samuels about what the Republican-led House means for this year’s legislative agenda, a surprise in the governor’s State of the State speech, and more.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.This episode of ADN Politics is spons...
2023-01-2731 minADN PoliticsThe story behind the Demboski letterAnchorage Mayor Dave Bronson has been no stranger to controversy in the year-and-a-half since he took office. But last week, the former municipal manager sent a letter to the mayor and other city officials that landed like a bomb in the middle of city politics. It contained a list of accusations against the mayor and his close associates, ranging from unethical behavior to outright illegal acts.Host Elizabeth Harball talks with ADN reporter Emily Goodykoontz and Kyle Hopkins with ADN and ProPublica, who have been reporting on the accusations laid out in the letter.For...
2023-01-2026 minADN PoliticsThe Legislature is ready to get to work – almostThe Alaska Legislature gavels in next week, and we’re beginning to get a picture of what the upcoming session in Juneau will be like. Some issues — like who’s in charge in the Senate — have been largely resolved. Other questions — like organization in the House and what the Legislature will be able to accomplish this session — remain unsettled. In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN reporter Sean Maguire about what Alaskans should be watching for as the legislative session kicks off.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Dail...
2023-01-1325 minADN PoliticsAnchorage streets have been a snowy mess. Does it have to be like this?To state the obvious, it snowed a lot over the past week or so in Anchorage. Yes, it’s Alaska, and yes, it’s December. But many of the city’s roads have been a mess, and Anchorage residents have been asking: Does it have to be this bad?Host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN reporter Zachariah Hughes about how snow plowing gets done in Anchorage, how city leaders are handling the latest series of storms and why snow plowing is a politics story.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News t...
2022-12-1728 minADN PoliticsThe red wave didn’t reach Alaska, eitherNationally, in the midterm elections, a predicted “red wave” of GOP victories didn’t materialize. Results aren’t yet finalized in Alaska, but with some notable exceptions, it’s fair to say Republicans aren’t in a position to win all the races they’d hoped to win. Host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN reporters Iris Samuels and Sean Maguire about where election results stand and how GOP leaders are thinking about their path ahead.Episode Summary:Host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN politics reporters Iris Samuels and Sean Maguire about For more local an...
2022-11-1836 minADN PoliticsElection Day in Alaska is over. Who's winning? And what might change?Much remains up in the air after election day in Alaska. But as vote counts started to roll in, some clear storylines emerged — a ballot measure to hold a constitutional convention was soundly defeated, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy appeared to have the votes to retain office, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski was in a good position to fend off her Trump-backed challenger and Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat and the first Alaska Native elected to Congress, benefitted from the wave of support that followed her victory in the special election.Host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN politics reporters Iri...
2022-11-1027 minADN PoliticsHurtling toward election day in Alaska: What to know about statewide racesElection day is Nov. 8, Alaskans have started casting ballots, and things are moving fast in the races for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and the governor’s office. The last week has seen cross-party endorsements, in-party rebukes, a series of debates, rulings on campaign finance complaints, a lightsaber snafu and much more.Anchorage Daily News politics reporter Iris Samuels joins host Elizabeth Harball for a catchup on the latest in Alaska’s statewide races, less than two weeks out from election day. For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today...
2022-10-2827 minADN PoliticsWhy Anchorage might close six elementary schoolsThe Anchorage School District announced this week it is considering shutting down six elementary schools — the result of a budget crisis hitting not just Anchorage, but school districts across the state.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to Daily News education reporter Morgan Krakow and politics reporter Sean Maguire about decisions behind Anchorage’s school closure proposal, and the announcement’s political fallout.For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.This episode of ADN Politics is sponsored by SteamDot Coffee.
2022-10-2124 minADN PoliticsWhat happened to Trump’s candidates in Alaska?Former President Donald Trump wants to exert his influence in Alaska this November, with endorsements for several Republican candidates: U.S. House candidate and former Gov. Sarah Palin, U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka and Gov. Mike Dunleavy. But with just weeks to go before the November election day, Tshibaka is facing a multimillion-dollar ad campaign against her from a major GOP group, and Sarah Palin is trying to gain back ground after losing to a Democrat in the special election.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN politics reporter Iris Samuels about wh...
2022-10-1425 minADN PoliticsBack to the Sullivan Arena — the latest on Anchorage’s homelessness crisisThe ongoing homelessness crisis in Alaska’s biggest city has hit another turning point — or a U-turn. In a highly controversial move this summer, Anchorage’s mayor shut down the sports arena the city had been using as a mass homeless shelter since the start of the pandemic, and bused people there to a campground with very limited services. But on Oct. 1, with temperatures dropping and winter approaching, city buses arrived at that same city campground to bring unhoused people who had been living there back to Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena. What happened? In this epi...
2022-10-0733 minADN PoliticsAbortion, the PFD, education and more: Why Alaskans are battling over a constitutional conventionThere’s a yes-no question on the November ballot that has the potential to make big changes in Alaska. It could change how judges are appointed, how education is funded and how the state decides the amount of the Permanent Fund dividend. And it could lead to an abortion ban in Alaska.The question: “Shall there be a constitutional convention?”In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN reporter Sean Maguire about why some Alaskans want to change the state’s constitution, and why others are pushing back at that effort.For more loc...
2022-09-3024 minADN PoliticsWhy federal climate action could mean more mines in AlaskaThe Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law this summer by President Joe Biden, is one of the most significant actions the U.S. government has ever taken to address climate change. It could also lead to more mining in Alaska.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball is joined by ADN reporter Alex DeMarban, who dug into how the Inflation Reduction Act incentivizes mining for so-called critical minerals, essential to building the wind turbines, solar panels, batteries and other technology needed for the world to cut carbon emissions. It turns out Alaska has many of the critical minerals...
2022-09-2322 minADN PoliticsWhat’s at stake in this year’s Alaska legislative electionsNearly every seat in the Alaska Legislature is up for election in November, and there’s a lot at stake.On this episode, host Elizabeth Harball is joined by ADN politics reporter Sean Maguire to talk about how legislative races are shaping up so far, and what that could mean as the state continues to grapple with issues including the budget, abortion, education funding and the future of ranked choice votingFor more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.This episode of ADN Politics is sponsored by SteamDot Co...
2022-09-1629 minADN PoliticsA conversation with Mary PeltolaOn this episode, host Elizabeth Harball is joined by Mary Peltola, recently elected as Alaska’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives.Peltola talked from her hometown of Bethel, during a brief visit before heading to Washington, D.C. to be sworn in to fill the term of the late Rep. Don Young.In this interview, Peltola discusses her background, bipartisanship, issues including abortion, gun control and resource development, and what lies ahead for her in Washington during the coming months. For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anc...
2022-09-0933 minADN PoliticsHow Mary Peltola won Alaska's special U.S. House electionIn a major political upset, Democrat Mary Peltola this week beat Republican former Gov. Sarah Palin to be Alaska’s next representative in the U.S. House.Who is Mary Peltola? How did she win? How did the Republican candidates lose? And what does Peltola’s victory mean in the lead-up to the general election in November? On this episode, host Elizabeth Harball is joined by Anchorage Daily News reporter Iris Samuels to discuss all these questions and more about Alaska’s unique, high-profile special election for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House.
2022-09-0227 min
Midnight OilComing Soon: Bonus EpisodeMidnight Oil is back! Alaska is on the verge of a new oil boom -- and the village of Nuiqsut is right in the middle. Oil development is affecting Nuiqsut more than any other indigenous community in Alaska. And the village faces tough choices. How do you maintain a way of life when the oil industry is knocking on your door? Reporter Elizabeth Harball tells the story in a bonus episode of Midnight Oil coming May 9, 2019.
2019-05-0400 min
Midnight OilComing Soon: Bonus EpisodeMidnight Oil is back! Alaska is on the verge of a new oil boom -- and the village of Nuiqsut is right in the middle. Oil development is affecting Nuiqsut more than any other indigenous community in Alaska. And the village faces tough choices. How do you maintain a way of life when the oil industry is knocking on your door? Reporter Elizabeth Harball tells the story in a bonus episode of Midnight Oil coming May 9, 2019.
2019-05-0400 min
Trump on EarthAlaska: Open for BusinessMore than 60 percent of Alaska is owned by the federal government. That's 225 million acres; a plot of land bigger than Texas. So if any state is going to be impacted by environmental decisions made in Washington D.C., it's Alaska. On this episode, we talk about those decisions being made in D.C. and their impacts on the 49th state with two of its experts. Elizabeth Harball is a public radio reporter with Alaska's energy desk in Anchorage, and Liz Ruskin is the D.C. correspondent for Alaska Public Media.
2018-03-2130 min
Third Coast Audio Library :: AllThe Tyranny of the Orange TicketTwice a week, New York City car owners participate in a bizarre ritual that pits neighbor against neighbor in a competitive fight for parking spaces.Year: 2012Producers:Elizabeth Harball
2012-06-2702 min