U.S. Democrats Stockpile Lawyers, Money to Fight Republican Voting Laws
February 27 By Trevor Hunnicutt Democrats are gearing up to spend record sums on lawyers, advertising and other protect-the-vote efforts before the 2022 midterm elections, hoping to stave off Republican efforts they believe will choke off access to the ballot box. Worried that a spate…
How a rise in oil prices could impact this year’s PFD
February 26 By Kavitha George This year’s budget talks are getting underway in Juneau. With the recent rise in oil prices, Gov. Mike Dunleavy is once again pushing for a higher Permanent Fund dividend for Alaskans. We spoke to Alaska Public Media and KTOO’s state…
Iranian President Tells Putin That NATO’s Expansion Is ‘Serious Threat’ to Region’s Security and Stability
February 26 By Eva Stone Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Thursday that NATO’s expansion was a “serious threat” to the region’s security and stability, the semi-official Nour News reported. “NATO’s expansion eastward creates tension and is…
Alaska lawmaker retaliates after Washington proposes tax on fuel exports
February 25 By Andrew Kitchenman The Washington State Legislature is considering a tax on fuel that’s refined there and shipped to other states, including Alaska. In response, an Alaska House member has proposed two taxes that would hit Washington. The Washington legislation would increase the…
Biden Hits Russia With Sanctions, Shifts Troops to Germany
February 25 By Zeke Miller President Joe Biden hit back Thursday against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, unleashing robust new sanctions, ordering the deployment of thousands of additional troops to NATO ally Germany and declaring that America would stand up to Russia’s Vladimir Putin. He also…
World Leaders Respond to Russian Attack on Ukraine
February 24 By Kaia Hubbard President Joe Biden in a statement released late Wednesday as blasts and explosions shook Ukraine said Russian President Vladimir Putin had “chosen a premeditated war” that “will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” vowing to respond with…
Majority in U.S. oppose major role in Russia-Ukraine conflict, says AP-NORC poll
February 23 By Tom Brown There’s little support among Americans for a major U.S. role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to a new poll, even as President Joe Biden imposes new sanctions and threatens a stronger response that could provoke retaliation from Moscow. Biden has…
Bond Between China and Russia Alarms U.S. and Europe Amid Ukraine Crisis
February 20 By Edward Wong When Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, called on Saturday for talks to resolve the crisis in Europe, he said Ukraine’s sovereignty should be “respected and safeguarded” — but also sided with Russia in saying that NATO enlargement was destabilizing the…
US says Russia plans to manufacture justification for war
February 18 By Jeremy Herb US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia was laying the groundwork to justify starting a war and preparing to launch an attack on Ukraine in the coming days, urging Moscow to change course at a tense United Nations Security…
Republicans champion Alaska drilling project that poses major climate test for Biden
February 17 By Maxine Joselow House Republicans on Tuesday urged the Biden administration to move forward with a controversial drilling project proposed in Alaska, saying it would bring enormous economic benefits to the region. Their comments referred to ConocoPhillips’s Willow project in the National Petroleum…
China Slams US’ Indo-Pacific Strategy as ‘Cold War Mentality’, ‘Bloc Politics’
February 16 By James Brook China has slammed the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy, saying that it has no future and resurrects the “Cold War mentality” and “bloc politics” besides bringing divisions and turbulence to the region. “I want to point out that ill intentions underlie the…
Iran says outcome of Vienna talks hinges on Western decisions
February 15 By Maziar Motamedi Iran has said any potential breakthrough in Vienna talks aimed at restoring its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers rests on political decisions by Western nations, after handing in its own final proposals. “It’s better for Iran if there’s an…