We're back with three fun topics on Alaska politics, including a surprise (spoilers for that in the article sources below). Our audio got a little messed up in our opening segment, but it gets better.

We cover the ongoing flood prevention issue from the melting Mendenhall Glacier. The Army Corps of Engineers is spending $4.45 million not on a feasibility study, but on a technical report to inform a later feasibility study all to prevent flooding Derik's house. We also discuss the Governor's proposed changes to how Alaska judges are selected, and we compare that to other selection processes. But first, a surprise segment as one of us reacts live on air to a proposal put before the Alaska House of Representatives.

Resources used in this episode:

Money for a Study to Study Flooding:

https://www.ktoo.org/2025/03/19/army-corps-secures-funding-to-find-a-long-term-flood-solution-in-mendenhall-valley/

https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll6/id/2544

Proposed Change in Appointing Judges:

https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/03/03/alaska-governor-proposes-new-method-for-picking-state-judges/?emci=c65be3e3-b5f8-ef11-90cb-0022482a9447&emdi=6a7f245c-09f9-ef11-90cd-0022482a9fb7&ceid=148052https://alaskapublic.org/news/2024-05-29/judicial-council-recommends-alaskans-keep-all-judges-including-jurist-behind-correspondence-ruling

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2018/11/06/anchorage-judge-targeted-for-role-in-controversial-plea-agreement-trailing/

https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/retention/retent06/landry06.pdfhttps://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-debate-musk-trump-30b8b9cacb02c8bc9c7c9a26e7fe376cSurprise Topic (spoilers):

https://www.juneauempire.com/news/turning-governors-house-into-a-short-term-rental-proposed-by-alaska-lawmaker/

The news from Alaska is starting to make us sound like Florida. We give our takes on some local issues, such as some exotic pets, a crocodile and an alligator, being tossed out in the snow up in the Mat-Su, someone in Juneau taking a dump truck for a joyride, and the governor using AI to make pictures of Alaska rather than, well, a picture of Alaska. Then we discuss the governor's proposal to ban one party consent to record a conversation. We do our best to explain why Anchorage prosecutors keep delaying charges in criminal trials. Finally, we catch up with each other about our personal lives and discuss some Facebook drama that happened recently.

Sources used in this episode:

Governor uses AI:https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/12/19/loch-ness-ducks-or-vampire-grebes-alaska-governor-report-for-trump-comes-with-ai-hallucinations/?emci=dc95e865-84be-ef11-88ce-0022482a93af&emdi=adb93712-e3be-ef11-88ce-0022482a93af&ceid=148052Crocodile Lost in the Snow:https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/12/06/pet-croc-dead-after-being-tossed-into-snow-2-brothers-behind-bars/Dump Truck Joyride:https://www.juneauempire.com/news/stolen-dump-truck-hits-power-lines-knocks-out-electricity-on-industrial-boulevard-driver-arrested-for-dui/Proposed End to One Party Recording:https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/gov-dunleavy-proposes-new-limits-on-alaskans-ability-to-record-conversations/?emci=85af6fc5-3fe4-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&emdi=8a61780c-9be4-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&ceid=148052Issues with Anchorage Prosocuters:https://www.propublica.org/article/anchorage-alaska-pretrial-delays-sexual-assault?utm_content=buffer8c050&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_campaign=propublica-bskyandhttps://www.adn.com/opinions/2025/01/18/opinion-alaskas-criminal-legal-system-is-drowning-but-theres-another-side-to-the-story-on-trial-delays/Facebook drama:https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10235441734733345&set=a.10201958746439564andhttps://akasks.blogspot.com/2025/01/on-maga-thought-terminating-cliches.html

We're on a break, but that doesn't mean we can't get you one more surprise episode while you wait for our triumphant return. We cover a devious plot by Alaskans to smuggle snow machines to Russia, China editing the Holy Bible to their liking, the funeral industry faces scrutiny for their lack of regulation, and the Supreme Court narrows the ability to prosecute corruption.

Sources used in this episode:

Snow Machine Smuggling:

https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/feds-accuse-two-men-of-smuggling-snowmachines-to-russia-via-alaska-tour-company/

China Editing the Bible:

https://www.christianpost.com/news/china-trying-to-rewrite-the-bible-force-churches-sing-communist-anthems.html

https://www.frc.org/op-eds/china-to-christians-were-rewriting-the-bible-and-youll-use-it-or-else

Funeral Home Regulations:

https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/07/06/mishandled-bodies-mixed-up-remains-prompt-tougher-funeral-home-regulations/

Supreme Court Corruption:

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-06-26/supreme-court-anti-corruption-law

We discuss a list of new state laws taking effect across the country: California requires drink test kits. Kansas abortion providers must ask why. Iowa restricts hemp consumables. Georgia increases swatting penalties. Florida allows killing bears. California dumps junk fees. Tennessee protects musicians from AI.

Sources used in this episode:

https://www.npr.org/2024/07/01/nx-s1-5025098/laws-july-california-florida-abortion-bears

We catch up on our lives and discuss our travels both past and planned, as well as other things happening in our lives. We touch on everything from nationalism to ordering a pair of headphones.

We're back with another enticing episode of the Sam and Derik Show. We start with an update on the 1882 shelling of the village of Angoon, Alaska. Next, we cover a rare win for environmentalists given by... Ron DeSantis? Then it's a discussion on whether "Influencers" should be treated like media which somehow strays into AI bullet vending machines. What a ride.

Sources used in this episode:

US Navy apology for the bombardment of Angoon:

https://www.juneauempire.com/news/long-awaited-u-s-navy-apology-for-1882-bombardment-will-bring-healing-to-angoon/

Florida Ban on Balloon Releases and Satirical Image:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/desantis-bible-day-gender-hospitals/

https://apnews.com/article/balloon-ban-environment-florida-sea-turtle-10c6e21aaf3baa9c340052d3f3b34dbd

DNC Treating Influencers Like Press:

https://gizmodo.com/democratic-national-convention-influencer-credentials-1851555271

AI Bullet Vending Machines:

https://gizmodo.com/oklahoma-alabama-now-have-ai-powered-vending-machines-that-sell-bullets-2000377093