A group of fans of Dan Fagan, host of the Dan Fagan Show, gathered a Guido’s Pizza on Wednesday to have a farewell party for the morning talk-show host, who hung up the mic for the last time on Thursday at 9 am.
The Dan Fagan Show aired weekday mornings between 5:30 and 9 am on Newsradio 650 KENI. After four years, Fagan said it was time for him to retire. His phone lines were lit up on his last day on the air in Alaska, and he received call after call from listeners all over the state who wished him well and told him how much his news analysis had meant to them over the years. Fagan moved to New Orleans a few years ago and has broadcast the show from his home studio there, where he also has written columns for Must Read Alaska, although less regularly in recent years.
Fagan is a conservative icon in Alaska who pioneered conservative news blogging with The Alaska Standard. He had the highest-rated morning drive-time radio show in Alaska. He also had hosted a highly rated talk show on KFQD, and been a political reporter for KTUU. On his KENI show, he was a harsh critic of former Gov. Sarah Palin, whom he regarded as nearly a socialist, due to her signing of the ACES tax policy that jacked up taxes on oil producers. He also was a critic of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and in recent months became critical of Sen. Dan Sullivan and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who he often described as not having the courage of their convictions.
During the farewell party at Guido’s, which has been an advertiser on the show for years, a vote was taken for who should replace Fagan in his morning, with Suzanne Downing of Must Read Alaska receiving the most votes, followed by Rep.-elect Jamie Allard, according to people who attended the party.
