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President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia at a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. (Doug Mills/The New York Times file photo)

Opinion

Opinion: Mistaking flattery for respect

Flattery played a role in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) delivers his annual speech to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

Opinion: Sullivan, Trump and the rule of lawlessness

In September 2023, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan established his own Alaska Federal Judiciary Council. Its purpose is to…

Dick Maitland, a foley artist, works on the 46th season of “Sesame Street” at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York, Dec. 15, 2025. (Ariana McLaughlin/The New York Times)

Opinion

Opinion: Trump’s embarrassing immaturity Republicans won’t acknowledge

Sullivan should be embarrassed by the ignorance and immaturity the president is putting on display for the world…

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Life

Off the shelf: Time and space and the human heart

Contemporary novel combines historical and science fiction for a gripping, emotional journey.

Opinion

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

I suspect McConnell regrets his acquittal vote.

Nick Varney

Life

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…

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

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

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…

Nick Varney

Life

Unhinged Alaska: The Beast

Then it went all Darth Vader.

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

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

She needs to follow Cheney’s lead and endorse Harris

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

Opinion: Alaska’s attorney general flunks math test

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

Library of Congress image
A painting of George Washington at Valley Forge, circa 1911 by Edward Percy Moran.

Opinion

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.

An array of stickers awaits voters on Election Day 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

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

Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board members, staff and advisors meet Oct. 30, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

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.”

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

Opinion: The many truths Dahlstrom will deny

Real conservatives wouldn’t be trashing the rule of law

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)

Opinion

Governor, please pay more attention to Alaskans

Our governor has been a busy guy on big issues.

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

Opinion: Trump’s new fixers

Fixers from Alaska and elsewhere step in after guilty verdict

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

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.

Juneau Empire file photo
Larry Persily.

Opinion

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…

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

Opinion

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

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