Former President Joe Biden has an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office announced on Sunday.
After experiencing urinary symptoms last week, he went for a checkup and on Friday his office announced a nodule had been found and it’s cancerous.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” his personal office said. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians, the statement said.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 12.8% of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, with the majority of diagnoses occurring after age 65.
Biden is 82.5 years old and has been suffering from cognitive decline, which has been evident to the world, although his family has not acknowledged that publicly.
Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads the US Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Marty Makary heads up the Food and Drug Administration. They are reforming the drug/vaccine approval process to ensure gold-standard research is followed.
Dr. Makary, a Johns Hopkins University surgeon and researcher, practices surgical oncology and gastrointestinal laparoscopic surgery.
Just recently, Dr. Makary raised doubts about all Americans needing that seventh Covid booster and questioned the “success of past clinical trials.” Makary stated better data are needed.
“We can’t just extrapolate from a clinical trial from four or five years ago,” he said. “Americans have a very low uptake and a very low confidence of the Covid boosters right now.”
Some 85% of healthcare workers didn’t take that last booster jab, Makary said, and he acknowledged that asking drug companies to change their approach to Covid jabs may mean there will not be a new booster in the fall.
The FDA also is considering whether Covid boosters should only be given primarily to high-risk groups, rather than to all people. It is expected within the next few days the FDA will come out with a statement that Covid jabs will no longer be recommended for children, teens, and pregnant women. This is a huge change.
Using risk assessment, recommendations may be made that only those older than 65 would still need at least two doses a year along with those people who have an underlying health condition that increases their risk.
To satisfy those who may be wanting to still get the seventh booster, they will still have that option.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice is expected to vote on this potentially new guidance in June. The panel’s decision will influence how the federal government supports immunizations, including how insurance companies are required to cover vaccines and how doctors talk about the shots to their patients.
In discussing changes to the approval process, Dr. Makary wants to make the rules clear and transparent. There is the expectation that the Emergency Use Authorization, which has been used for the Covid jabs since 2020, will no longer apply to future Covid jabs.
I have often wondered why that rule was still in effect, concerning the fact that then President Biden had declared the pandemic over on May 11, 2023. Why was EUA still used? Oh wait. Best course of action for Big Pharma.
Makary’s approach to Covid-19 jabs certainly is different from the FDA under Biden. During those years, the FDA routinely just rubber stamped the jab’s annual booster.
Makary said that it is his job to “upholding gold standard science and rebuilding public trust, not to save pharma companies tens of millions of dollars.”
Dr. Vinay Prasad was recently appointed director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. His background is in hematology-oncology, and he is professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco.
Prasad is currently meeting with the industry and agency staffers as he prepares to unveil a “massive framework,” that will incorporate the agency’s regulatory stance on vaccines, according to Makary.
There is a lot going on to change the vaccine approval process, to provide the public valuable information to have real informed consent, and to gain public trust. I don’t expect Big Pharma to be too happy. The gravy train is coming to a halt.
Maybe now more legal action will ensue as we learn more about what these vaccine manufacturers hid from Americans.
Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense, has been actively “working to protect individual liberties, including the right to bodily autonomy, informed consent and parental rights.”
I am pleased to announce Mary Holland will be one of the speakers at our upcoming Alaskans 4 Personal Freedom (www.AK4PF.org) conference on Oct. 11, 2025, in Anchorage. Stay tuned for more information and save the date!
Linda Boyle, RN, MSN, DM, was formerly the chief nurse for the 3rd Medical Group, JBER, and was the interim director of the Alaska VA. Most recently, she served as Director for Central Alabama VA Healthcare System. She is the director of the Alaska Covid Alliance/Alaskans 4 Personal Freedom.
Some of the items of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which is thefederal budget reconciliationpackage, that are of interest to Alaskans:
Reducing entitlement fraud
Aligns SNAP with other state-administered entitlement programs by requiring states to shoulder a share of the benefit costs, incentivizing states like Alaska, where 15% of Alaskans are enrolled in SNAP, to administer SNAP more efficiently and effectively. The national overpayment rate of SNAP benefits is 10.03%.
Prevents states from manipulating SNAP eligibility and benefit calculations to inflate enrollment. Alaska has a high error rate in benefit calculations with overpayment rates reported to be at 59.59%, compared to 11.7% nationally.
Restores SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults without young dependents.
Advances eligible reinvestments improvements to farm policy and other priorities in rural America.
Armed Services
$9 billion for “Servicemember Quality of Life,” including increases in allowances and special pays, as well as improvements to housing, healthcare, and assistance to military families.
$34 billion for Shipbuilding and the Maritime Industrial Base to expand the size and enhance the capability of our naval fleet.
$12 billion to expand stocks of spares, improve infrastructure at military depots and shipyards, and enhance the capability of Special Forces.
$5 billion to help carry out President Trump’s border, immigration, and counterdrug enforcement agenda.
Education
Reduces deficit by $351 billion.
Caps total amount of federal student aid to the “median cost of college,” which is $50,000 for undergraduate students, $100,000 for graduate students, and $150,000 for students in graduate professional programs, with a lifetime limit for every student capped at $200,000.
Establishes a performance-based grant program for grants that will be awarded based on strong earning potential programs, low tuitions and other sideboards.
Prevents future presidents from being able to forgive student loans that were made by the government or that are government-backed.
Energy and Commerce
Reduces the deficit by $912 million.
Unleashes American energy.
Reforms Medicaid to establish work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents.
Closes loopholes that allow illegal immigrants to enroll in Medicaid. Reduces funding to states that prioritize Medicaid coverage of illegal immigrants.
Rescinds Green New Deal-style projects, streamlines process for developing American energy infrastructure.
Reverses Biden EV mandates and CAFE standards for passenger cars and light trucks.
Modernizes the Department of Commerce by updating IT systems and using beneficial artificial intelligence tools.
Homeland Security
Provides $980 billion for border security, increases federal spending by $67 billion.
Provides $5 billion of Customs and Border Protection facilities to support staffing and evolving security challenges.
$4.1 billion for hiring and training 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, 5,000 new Office of Field Operations customs officers, and other personnel.
$2 billion in sighing bonuses and annual retention.
$1.076 billion for CPB’s non-intrusive inspection technology to detect and interdict illegal drugs like fentanyl.
$2.7 billion for border technology, such as ground detection sensors that can detect tunnels.
Judiciary
$110 billion for border security, increases spending by $4 billion.
Reinforces Trump efforts to secure southern border
Provides funding for at least one million removals annually of illegal immigants.
Natural Resources
Reinstates quarterly onshore oil and gas leases and requires geothermal lease sales.
Mandates at least 30 lease sales in Gulf of America over 15 years and six in Cook Inlet.
Gives Alaska 90-10 split in oil royalties starting in 2035.
Resumes energy production in NPRA and ANWR.
Resumes coal leasing on federal lands.
Increases timber sales on federal lands, requires long-term timber contracts.
Rescinds slush funds created by Biden to advance radical environmental agenda and that lined the pockets of environmental litigation groups at the expense of taxpayers.
Historic investment of $212 billion to recapitalize the Coast Guard, including acquisition of cutters, aircraft, and icebreakers.
Construction of facilities to secure the border.
Invests $12.5 billion in overhaul and modernization of failing air traffic control systems.
Increase federal revenues up to $38 billion by adding a $250 fee on electric vehicles, a $100 fee on hybrids. The money will go into the Highway Trust Fund and creates parity with gas-powered vehicles that already pay these fees at the pump.
Rescinds nearly $4 billion from seven Green New Deal programs created by Democrats with the Inflation eduction Act.
Ways and Means
Makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, protecting the average taxpayer rom a 22% tax hike.
Delivers President Trump’s “no tax on tips, overtime pay,” and no tax on car interest loans.
Provides addition tax relief for seniors.
Holds woke universities accountable by increasing the tax on their university endowments and subjecting the largest endowments to the corporate tax rate.
Ends over $500 billion in Inflation Reduction Act subsidies.
Prevents taxpayer benefits from going to illegal immigrants by requiring a Social Security number for individuals claiming tax credits and deductions, closing the loophole that allow Obamacare premium tax credits and Medicare tax creates going to illegal immigrants.
Energy policies included in the US House budget reconciliation package represent a big departure from the federal energy strategy under the Biden Administration, with a return to fossil fuel development that could provide a financial boost to states like Alaska in the coming years.
The legislation, supported by House Republicans and endorsed by President Donald Trump, includes a wide range of pro-energy provisions designed to expand oil and gas production while rolling back Biden’s so-called “clean energy” incentives that depend on dirty mining in China.
The House reconciliation package has yet to pass out of the House Budget Committee, which stalled the bill on Friday.
However, energy-related sections advanced by the House Ways and Means and Natural Resources Committees outline sweeping changes. These include mandates to expand federal fossil fuel leasing, streamline the permitting process, lower royalty rates for oil and gas producers, refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and delay implementation of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
A centerpiece of the proposal is a requirement for at least 30 oil and natural gas lease sales on federal lands and in the Gulf of Mexico over the next 15 years.
For Alaska, the bill mandates six lease sales in Cook Inlet and authorizes new leasing in the National Petroleum Reserve and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Additionally, it reinstates quarterly onshore lease sales, with projected federal revenue gains of roughly $12 billion.
Alaska Congressman Nick Begich, a Republican, played the key role in ensuring the inclusion of measures favorable to the state, particularly those enabling development in Cook Inlet, NPRA, and ANWR.
In addition, Begich has thrown a life ring to future Alaska legislators struggling to balance the state budget. In what could be one of the most important developments for Alaska’s economy and ailing state budget, Begich has inserted in the budget an increase Alaska’s share of federal leasing revenues from 50% to 90% starting in 2035. This could dramatically strengthen the state’s long-term fiscal outlook at a time when state lawmakers are looking to tax Alaskans and to even dissolve their Permanent Fund dividends altogether.
While the bill has strong backing from Republicans and fossil fuel advocates, it faces resistance from Democrat lawmakers and strong opposition from environmental groups.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has had mercurial stances energy issues, expressed concerns about the scope of the legislation because she wants the Biden “green energy” measures preserved.
“I’m not investing anything in it until we see it,” Murkowski told reporters last week. “I’m not going to get too excited about what’s happening there until you see the final.”
Although the budget reconciliation failed to pass the House Budget Committee on Friday due to opposition from four conservative members of the Freedom Caucus (Chip Roy, Josh Brecheen, Andrew Clyde, and Ralph Norman), who joined Democrats to block it, the committee plans to reconvene on Sunday. The four members who blocked it argue that the bill needs more cuts to federal spending.
Once out of committee, the “Big Beautiful Bill” will be sent to the House floor for debate under rules set forth by the Rules Committee. Representatives then debate the bill, and a floor vote will be held. With the GOP’s slim majority, the bill needs nearly unanimous Republican support, as Democrats are expected to oppose it unanimously. If it passes, the bill moves to the Senate, where Murkowski is expected to hold it hostage in order to get the green energy programs back into the bill, as well as funding for Planned Parenthood.
As the Alaska Legislature approaches the final stretch of budget negotiations, global oil market dynamics cast a long shadow over fiscal deliberations. With just four days remaining in the session, the latest report from the International Energy Agency offers a mixed outlook for Alaska’s state budget.
The price of Alaska North Slope crude oil has dropped from approximately $89 per barrel in April, 2024 to under $68 per barrel by April of this year. The $21 per barrel decrease is a 24% drop.
According to the IEA’s May 2025 report, global oil demand growth is expected to slow even more in the months ahead. After rising by 990,000 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2025, demand is forecast to increase by just 650,000 barrels per day for the remainder of the year.
The moderation is attributed to a combination of macroeconomic headwinds and record electric vehicle sales that cut into traditional fuel use, according to the IEA. Demand growth is projected to average 740,000 barrels per day in 2025 and 760,000 in 2026.
The flattening of demand comes at a time when global supply is set to expand.
World oil supply is forecast to rise by 1.6 million barrels per day, reaching 104.6 million barrels per day in 2025, and by an additional 970,000 barrels per day in 2026. Non-OPEC+ producers are expected to account for most of this increase, even as US. light tight oil production slows amid capital expenditure cutbacks by independent producers. The IEA has downgraded US LTO growth by 40,000 barrels per day for 2025 and 190,000 per day for 2026, due to reduced drilling activity.
OPEC+ has also surprised markets by moving up production increases that were originally scheduled for later. The bloc announced a second consecutive monthly output hike in early May, adding 411,000 for June. Despite some overproduction by member countries, the oil bloc is on track to contribute 310,000 in additional supply this year and another 150,000 in 2026.
The supply-demand imbalance is creating volatility in oil prices. Benchmark Brent crude fell by $14 per barrel in April to a four-year low of just above $60 before rebounding slightly to around $66 by mid-May. Trade tensions between the United States and China initially dragged prices down, although temporary trade agreements have since stabilized the market.
These trends have implications for budget negotiators in Juneau, where petroleum revenues remain a cornerstone of the state budget.
Alaska’s oil royalties are estimated at $800 million to $1 billion for FY 2025, accounting for about 11% to 14% of the Undesignated General Fund budget. With production taxes, property taxes and corporate income taxes, oil contributes about $2.38-$3 billion dollars per year to the Alaska state operating budget, (about 33-44% of last year’s UGF budget).
The price of Alaska North Slope oil is now $67.78 and not expected to rise.
The conference committee on HB 53(operating budget) and HB 55 (mental health budget) meet on Sunday at 1 pm in the Capitol to negotiate the final package that will be sent to Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
The budget passed by the House included:
$6.167 billion in Unrestricted General Funds, while last year’s budget had $5.0 billion in UGF spending
$1.004 billion in Designated General Funds
$1.976 billion from other state funds
$3.832 billion in federal receipts
Total: $12.979 billion
On May 8, the Alaska Senate passed an operating budget of approximately $6.25 billion. The conference committee is in charge of negotiating the differences between the budgets from the House and Senate.
Watch Friday’s conference committee negotiations at this Gavel Alaska link. Today’s conference committee video can also be watched at Gavel Alaska.
As the Alaska Legislature approaches its adjournment on Wednesday, May 21 at midnight, several bills are poised for final consideration. Here are some that are currently under deliberation and may pass:
In Senate Rules
HB 16 – Campaign Finance Reform HB 16 proposes to limit individual contributions to $2,000 per candidate per two-year election cycle and mandates that political groups maintain an in-state address. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Cal Schrage, aligns with a 2026 ballot measure, which would be nullified if HB 16 is enacted. The governor has not publicly commented on the bill, though he has previously expressed a preference for no contribution limits. This bill may see other election items shoved into it at the last minute.
HB 58 – Office of Public Advocacy Appointment This bill changes the appointment process for the head of the Office of Public Advocacy, requiring selection by the Judicial Council and confirmation by the Legislature. While intended to enhance oversight, concerns have been raised about its constitutionality and necessity. Some see it as a middle finger to the governor, as the only point seems to be to remove power from the governor.
HB 123 – Vehicle Rental Tax HB 123, by Rep. Kevin McCabe, addresses vehicle rental taxes, including those for peer-to-peer platforms like Turo.
SB 92 – “Yundt Tax” SB 92 establishes a corporate income tax on certain oil and gas entities operating in Alaska, targeting Hilcorp. The bill was originally sponsored by Sen. Rob Yundt, who collapsed under criticism and passed the bill over to the Senate Resources Committee to sponsor as a committee bill.
SB 184 – School Bond Debt Reimbursement Moratorium SB 184 extends the moratorium on new school bond debt reimbursement from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2027. The bill’s education-related subject line may allow for additional education provisions to be shoved into it before final passage.
In Senate Finance
HB 36 / SB 90 – Foster Care and Mental Health Consent HB 36 focuses on the placement of foster children in psychiatric hospitals and the care of children in state custody placed in out-of-state residential facilities. SB 90 allows minors aged 16 and older to consent to behavioral and mental health treatment, excluding medication.
Both bills have been combined, raising concerns about the adequacy of vetting for the therapeutic foster care license provisions.
HB 10 – University of Alaska Board of Regents Faculty Member HB 10, sponsored by Rep. Ashley Carrick, adds a faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents, increasing the board from 11 to 12 members.The bill’s education title may make it a vehicle for additional education-related amendments.
HB 194 – State Royalty Oil Sale to Marathon HB 194 approves the sale of state royalty oil to Marathon Petroleum Supply and Trading Company LLC. While considered routine, the bill’s must-pass status makes it susceptible to amendments, such as incorporating the Hilcorp tax provisions from SB 92.
In House Finance
HB 101 – Age of Consent Adjustment HB 101, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Gray, proposes raising the age of consent from 16 to 18, aiming to close legal loopholes affecting 16- and 17-year-olds.
SB 24 – E-Cigarette Regulation SB 24, sponsored by Sen. Gary Stevens, seeks to raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco and nicotine products, including electronic smoking devices, and introduces taxation on these products.
SB 54 – Professional Board Extensions and Interior Design Registration SB 54, sponsored by Sen. Matt Claman, extends the termination date of the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors and establishes requirements for the practice of registered interior design. The bill has faced scrutiny for combining unrelated professional regulations.
Last week, Sen. Rob Yundt of Wasilla was spotted taping a harassing meme to the door of Rep. Jamie Allard of Eagle River. The meme referred to a legislative citation that failed to pass in the House regarding the founder and editor of Must Read Alaska. The citation passed in the Senate, but the Democrats who control the House refused to pass it.
Many in the building found it to be wildly inappropriate for the senator from Wasilla to harass another member, essentially defacing her office doorway with political commentary.
Sen. Rob Yundt harassed Rep. Jamie Allard by defacing her doorway with this meme.
Then over the weekend, a legislative staffer for Rep. Alyse Galvin was caught slipping a harassing meme under the office door of Rep. Kevin McCabe. The staffer was identified, but no action has been taken to fire him.
Whether this is a becoming pattern of behavior by lawmakers and their staff members is unclear, as it’s just two instances in one week. But other staff members in the Capitol are reportedly offended that a fellow staffer could get away with such behavior without punishment or dismissal, and in the process making all staffers look bad.
Sen. Dan Sullivan won a commitment from Adam Telle, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the US Army Corps of Engineers, to accelerate federal efforts to mitigate the growing threat of glacial lake outburst flooding in Juneau.
During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee confirmation hearing, Sullivan emphasized the urgent need for federal assistance to mitigate the recurring summer floods caused by the Mendenhall Glacier.
The glacial outbursts, which have become increasingly destructive in recent years, damaged over 200 homes in 2024 and caused millions in property and infrastructure losses.
“This is a unique challenge,” Sullivan said, noting that the Corps is uniquely qualified to help. He recalled initial Corps estimates that a solution might take up to 10 years to develop, a timeline he characterized as unacceptable.
“Can you commit to me, and really importantly, the citizens of Juneau, Alaska, that the Corps is going to bring its best minds in a very rapid way to help address this unique challenge?” Sullivan asked.
Telle responded by acknowledging the complexity of glacial outburst floods and committed to addressing the issue promptly.
“The Corps of Engineers was made to solve tough problems,” Telle said, pledging to work with Sullivan and Juneau “in an expedited manner.”
Telle also affirmed his intention to carry out President Trump’s executive order, Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential, which directs federal agencies to accelerate critical infrastructure and permitting projects in the state, including the port in Nome.
Sen. Sullivan’s engagement with the Corps and federal agencies on the Juneau flooding issue spans several months and includes efforts ranging from emergency response coordination to securing funding and pushing legislative action:
In August, Sullivan visited flood-affected areas in Juneau and initiated emergency response coordination with FEMA. From September through November, the Corps visited Juneau multiple times to assess damage and provide technical insight.
In October, President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration following advocacy from the Alaska delegation. In December, Sullivan secured a provision in the American Relief Act to fund a Corps study on glacial flooding. And in March, the Corps allocated $4.75 million toward a feasibility study to develop long-term solutions.
Sullivan has also written several times to the Office of Management and Budget requesting additional funding and prioritization of permitting resources to address the challenges specific to Alaska’s geography and climate.
The Mendenhall River floods, triggered by sudden releases of water from a glacially dammed lake, represent a relatively new threat to valley neighborhoods in Juneau.
Senate Bill 64, a contentious piece of legislation aimed at eroding the integrity of Alaska’s election laws, failed to advance out of the House Finance Committee this session following strong public outcry and unified resistance from House Republicans.
The bill, championed by Senate Democrats, faced intense scrutiny during a flurry of legislative activity in recent weeks. Alaskans from across the state submitted public testimony, written comments, and direct appeals to lawmakers, expressing concerns that the bill’s provisions would diminish — not enhance — election security in a state that already has a reputation for lax election security.
Among the most debated elements of SB 64 were proposals to eliminate the witness signature requirement for absentee ballots, create a permanent absentee voter list, expand ballot collection and harvesting practices, and authorize widespread use of unsecured ballot drop boxes.
House Republicans argued that these measures would significantly weaken existing safeguards designed to ensure voter identity and ballot integrity.
“Election integrity is a very real issue,” said Rep. DeLena Johnson of Palmer. “Judging from the number of Alaskans making their voices heard over the past several days, this issue needs much further assessment and better solutions than SB 64 can provide.”
Rep. Jamie Allard of Eagle River offered a sharp rebuke of the bill: “This bill greases the skids for all mail-in elections like Anchorage has. SB 64 is the biggest hoax that the Democrats have promulgated so far this year — and that is saying a lot since there are some other bills that are contenders.”
Critics also emphasized the rushed timeline of the legislation.
“Rushing a nonpartisan bill through at the last minute isn’t how the legislative process is meant to work,” said Rep. Frank Tomaszewski of Fairbanks. “I’m glad we’ll have the chance to take a closer look at SB 64 next year.”
Beyond procedural concerns, opponents also saw the bill as a partisan attempt to institutionalize policies that would benefit one side of the aisle.
“Instead of focusing on commonsense improvements that both sides could support, Democrats insisted on packing the bill with their full wish list—including permanent vote-by-mail, unlimited ballot drop boxes, and the elimination of witness signatures,” said Rep. Sarah Vance of Homer.
Longtime political figure and election expert Randy Ruedrich also submitted a formal statement to the House Finance Committee on May 15, warning that SB 64 lays the groundwork for statewide mail-in voting systems similar to those already adopted by the Municipality of Anchorage, a point made by Rep. Allard as well.
“Mail-in voting has been found to create significant voter fraud in other states,” Ruedrich stated. “The bill would establish permanent absentee-by-mail ballot distribution, which sends an absentee ballot to a voter’s old temporary address. As long as these ballots are returned, the state must continue sending ballots to that address — potentially to unauthorized agents.”
He also highlighted the removal of the witness signature requirement as a dangerous step.
“The witness signature affirms the identity of the voter,” he said. “Democrats say the witness signature is inconvenient. Well, so are voter ID, voter registration, and voting itself.”
Ruedrich further criticized the bill’s impact on military voters and other Alaskans temporarily out of state, arguing that SB 64 would “destroy the Alaska right to vote” for those who can’t return to their prior physical residences, such as military personnel or students.
“This Democrat ploy will eliminate our registered enlisted personnel who have viewed Alaska as their only home during decades-long military careers,” he said.
While the bill is now effectively on hold, House Republicans have emphasized their commitment to secure and transparent elections. The Republican caucus pledged to continue working on election reform measures that have broad public support and that maintain voter trust.
The bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Bill Wielechowski of Anchorage, will push the bill forward in 2026, but has lost his quest to enact the fraud-enhancement changes to Alaska’s election laws prior to the 2026 election.
