https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/05/15/alaska-gives-food-stamp-recipients-personal-information-to-federal-officials/ Article in today's Alaska Beacon says the state gave the Trump administration personal data for 70,000 SNAP recipients without notification to those impacted. The new request goes beyond the data for numbers of recipients and now includes name, date of birth, address, contact information, Social Security number, citizenship status and information about people living in a recipient’s household. It affects nearly 1 in 10 Alaska residents, who participate in the program. the article states: "“Alaska is complying with the federal government’s requirement to share the information as requested,” said Alex Huseman, a public information officer for the Alaska Department of Health. “Per the USDA guidance on May 6, 2025 … all data related to SNAP is being shared with the federal government,” she said. “This includes any information on a client’s application or renewal, any documentation sent in as part of their application or renewal, or other data acquired by DPA staff while processing applications and renewals.” The USDA is specifically requesting “records sufficient to identify individuals as applicants for, or recipients of, SNAP benefits, including but not limited to personally identifiable information in the form of names, dates of birth, personal addresses used, and Social Security numbers.” Huseman said the federal government has not requested that information before. end quotes This request states that this data is being collected by the team at DOGE and is combined with personal data collected through other agencies, as well. Information provided to the state in the SNAP certification process includes bank account information, vehicle data, health and Rx receipts, names of friends or family to authenticate the data and other personal information that is normally not shared outside of the SNAP officials.

The JFK Library hosts a black tie gala each year to honor those who demonstrate true courage in Leadership. This year the award goes to former Vice President Michael Pence for saving our democracy and the rule of law during the Jan. 6, 2021 hostile assault on the Capitol. Hear his speech and the comments of Caroline Kennedy and her son, Jack. Vice President Pence was under great intimidation from then President Donald Trump to throw the election results, and despite the threats to his own life that night, the Vice President did his duties as the official in charge of certifying the vote and saved our democracy in that moment. 50 min. video https://www.youtube.com/live/7PtAvIVxTZM?si=oMQW7KSPRIOt5pcR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyL8rWE_ri8&list=TLPQMTAwNDIwMjWWAPTDBBzOPw&index=10 Forbes Breaking News Above is the link to hear her speech today...she is signing on to support a bill that will reaffirm Congresses' role in overseeing any actions taken for tariffs. It will include an analysis of impact and restrict the President's authority to unilaterally impose tariffs. Let her know that this matters and that we support her. The damage done so far includes huge losses to the investment accounts of our PFD, so we are not insulated from these actions, even if you do not have money in the market..this investment fund generates income as investment dividends for the PFD and is part of the budget for our state as well, as a bonus to qualifying Alaskans.

A modern version of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" is happening today..and last night, all night...right now! Watch Sen. Cory Booker live on PBS : https://www.youtube.com/live/v2utlMxAwtE?si=hDctPfUodtJH6aCC It takes courage to speak out. He has decided he will speak until he is not physically able to, but our stories need telling.

From the Anchorage Daily News with video of her 1 1/2 hour speech and Q&A. US Sen. Lisa Murkowski highlights ‘traumatizing’ mass federal firings in legislative address

I found a great overview video that addresses this question, and this could be a very big deal for those of us living here. One very interesting slant would be the "HUB" for global air cargo in Anchorage used by several of those who are supporting this administration: Amazon, Fed Ex, UPS, but also impacting foreign cargo carriers. Air space might be restricted over Canada and longer routes would mean higher shipping costs, too. Tourism and cruise ships, even our ferry system would be impacted. Take a look. What do you think? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJsngculfKo&list=TLPQMTgwMzIwMjW5a8tl3Z7NjA&index=23

We can make a difference by assisting volunteers with an election in Wisconsin....yup! "How" you may be asking and "why", after all it is a state election, and it's in Wisconsin. So, let's look at "why": this is well laid out through an interview with Heather Cox Richardson, historian of "letters from an American" fame and Ben Wikler, the head of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin. Watch and listen below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyXba-vx1sw&list=TLPQMTgwMzIwMjXPOJ2f98kbdQ&index=2 To recap: This is a state election for a Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice, who will serve for 10 years. It's the most highly funded election EVER...it is that important. It's also a highly funded and gerrymandered election, but more than that...it is the most highly funded, to the tune of millions of dollars, by Elon Musk! Elon Musk is funding opposing sides as he tries to use marketing to get voters to believe falsehoods about the one candidate while he is also financing the other candidate he wants to win...a candidate who is pretty MAGA. He is doing all this while working to destroy our government as the head (or whatever he is called) of DOGE, and bending the ear of Trump on a daily basis. One very rich man is literally buying the U.S. government he wants for states and at the federal level, while receiving contracts from our government for his own gains and ripping up the very fabric of our everyday lives, too...WOW! This race is the first which can offer us a chance to keep a big Trump MAGA supporter from becoming a Justice and to cement that seat, and the tone of that state supreme court, for almost 17 years in our future. Think of one generation of voters during which abortion, immigration, free speech and so much more will be decided. Now, to look at "how" can we support them. Ben Wikler says, in this video, that you can volunteer to do phone calls with their virtual phone banks from anywhere in the U.S. That offers a chance for you to speak with Wisconsin voters, many of whom think this is not a big-deal election, or to fully understand just what can happen with just this particular seat... in this particular moment... to offer us a chance to fight back. These Wisconsin ballots will keep fighting for all the cases on the topics we want to keep during a full decade going forward. It's a great way to achieve a big bang for your volunteer efforts, and it will be a huge win for everyone and every state. As Ben Wikler says in the video, it's one way to spread a little HOPE right now. Free training to make calls to Wisconsin voters from Alaska. The election is April 1st... it brings HOPE.

This morning Sen. Bernie Sanders reviewed the CR (continuing resolution) bill on the floor of the Senate, a bill which would keep the Country open while serious issues can then be debated by both parties for clarity to be included in the actual budget bill. It is shocking what this CR lays out. VP Vance's statement in committee to the GOP this week is that they should just vote on the CR, and the President will just ignore things that he does not support, no matter what, means that the power of the Congress (Senate and House) means nothing to this administration. We must not let these cuts remain, and we must not let the president ignore a final bill just because he does not like what is in it. When the President ignores the Congress, that makes him a dictator. Take a listen to Sen. Sanders: https://www.facebook.com/senatorsanders/videos/1612680249452

Murkowski is one of two GOP holdouts as Senate confirms Trump loyalist Kash Patel to lead FBI

‘We have to stand up’: Murkowski calls on Congress to resist mass firings by Trump administration. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the recent mass firing of probationary federal employees violated the law and lacked “respect and dignity” toward the workers who have lost their jobs, which in Alaska include dozens of scientists and park rangers. more: https://www.adn.com/politics/2025/02/19/we-have-to-stand-up-murkowski-calls-for-congress-to-resist-trump-policies/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Murkowski%20calls%20on%20Congress%20to%20resist%20Trump%20administration%20s%20mass%20firings&utm_campaign=2025-2-20%20Thursday%20Daily%20Newsletter