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Linda Boyle: Fungus among us, straight from China

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Linda Boyle: Fungus among us, straight from China

By LINDA BOYLE

The US Department of Justice has announced charges against two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous biological agent into the United States. The agent in question is Fusarium graminearum, a toxic fungus considered a potential agroterrorism weapon.

Authorities say the fungus was discovered in luggage at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. According to the DOJ, Fusarium graminearum causes “head blight,” a disease that devastates crops like wheat, barley, maize, and rice. It is responsible for billions of dollars in agricultural losses globally each year. Its toxins are also dangerous to humans and livestock, potentially causing vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive issues.

Who are the individuals charged? A boyfriend-girlfriend pair — Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34 — both citizens of the People’s Republic of China and, according to prosecutors, loyal to the Chinese Communist Party. Jian, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan, received funding from the Chinese government to conduct her research. Liu was conducting similar work at a lab in China.

Notably, the University of Michigan does not hold federal permits to possess or study Fusarium graminearum, the FBI reports.

The pair now face charges of conspiracy, smuggling goods into the U.S., making false statements, and visa fraud. While Jian has been apprehended, Liu remains in China. The US does not have an extradition treaty with the Chinese government, making his arrest unlikely unless he returns to US soil.

FBI Director Kash Patel described the case as “a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply.” He warned that such actions put American lives and the economy at serious risk.

It’s important to note that a complaint is merely an allegation. The individuals charged are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are continuing their investigation.

When asked for comment, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said he was not familiar with the specifics of the case but emphasized that the Chinese government expects its citizens abroad to follow local laws while also pledging to defend their legitimate rights.

This is a developing story, and more details are likely to emerge.

But the bottom line is clear: The CCP is showing an alarming interest in actions that could harm the American people.

From buying up American farmland to attempting to smuggle a crop-destroying fungus into the country, the signs are hard to ignore. China is not our friend.

Sure, we can trade with them, and many Americans enjoy inexpensive goods imported from China, especially around the holidays. But we must not confuse economic partnership with trust.

Is the CCP’s endgame to weaken our food supply? To cripple us from within?

It’s a question worth asking. And it should concern us all.

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.

Linda Boyle: MAHA report on childhood health crisis in America is a ‘Must Read’
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Linda Boyle: Medical establishment melts down after RFK Jr. limits Covid jab guidance

Kassie Andrews: Financing the future of sustainable energy

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Kassie Andrews: Financing the future of sustainable energy

By KASSIE ANDREWS

The Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference continued this week with a panel called “Financing the Future of Sustainable Energy.” 

The affair was marketed as a technical conversation about capital deployment and community resilience. In reality, it was a tightly scripted showcase for dark money networks, federally entangled “green banks,” and billionaire-backed influence peddlers laying the groundwork to control Alaska’s energy future, all without public consent and under the pretense of grassroots support.

Former Alaska legislator Lesil McGuire—who served in the House and Senate from 2000 to 2016-moderated the panel on behalf of New Energy Alaska, a group funded by the New Venture Fund, one of several nonprofits managed by Arabella Advisors and backed by billionaires like George Soros and Swiss national Hansjörg Wyss. 

In 2023, the House Natural Resources Committee launched an investigation into Wyss’s influence, citing concerns that foreign nationals are steering U.S. energy and environmental agendas. Wyss has funneled hundreds of millions into Arabella’s political network, which plays a central role in shaping national climate policy. McGuire opened by boasting about a poll claiming 82 percent of Alaskans support renewable infrastructure, 86 percent believe it will create jobs, and 74 percent think it will diversify the economy. What wasn’t mentioned? How much are Alaskans, as federal taxpayers and ratepayers, actually willing to pay for this in dollars and lost reliability? 

McGuire’s panel included representatives from Meridiam, Ameresco, Sustainability Partners, and Banyan Infrastructure. These four companies have polished credentials in ESG finance, infrastructure-as-a-service models, and public-private partnerships. This was far from a conversation about free markets. It was about financializing Alaska’s energy sector under a new regime of climate capitalists who frame their profit models as philanthropy while leaning on public dollars, federal loan guarantees, and regulatory capture.

Case in point: The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC), the Biden administration’s designated national green bank, received $5 billion from the Environmental Protection Agency in August 2024 under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. 

Days before the Trump administration took office, a former EPA staffer was caught on hidden video referring to this disbursement spree as “throwing gold bars off the Titanic”—a desperate rush to get billions into friendly hands before oversight could kick in.

Panelist Ileana Riverón referenced a $10 million investment in Spruce Root, a native Community Development Financial Institution in Southeast Alaska—formally announced in October 2024 through a partnership agreement with the CGC. On June 3, 2025, the same day the energy cabinet visited Alaska to speak at the Sustainable Energy Conference, CGC placed a full-page ad in the Anchorage Daily News, seemingly as a public plea to the Biden administration to unfreeze EPA funds. 

The $10 million commitment is part of CGC’s $5 billion award under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is now tied up in litigation after the EPA moved to revoke the grant.

Ameresco has been involved in energy system upgrades in Alaska, including work at Elmendorf Air Force Base, the installation of LED street lighting in Anchorage, and energy audits for the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). Meridiam is involved in a project pitched as a solution for wind integration—at an estimated $330 million, a “long-duration” energy storage facility at the site of the soon-to-be-retired Healy coal plant. It doesn’t generate a single kilowatt of power on its own. The justification? By their own admission, only 10 percent of wind disruptions last less than four hours. 

This means that expensive, multi-day storage is a requirement for something that is constantly sold to the public as inexpensive. During the keynote lunch presentation on Tuesday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright stressed the consideration of total system cost—highlighting how projects like this reveal the real price of integrating unreliable energy sources. The project is also part of Golden Valley Electric Association’s plan to meet its CO₂ reduction goals, replacing baseload coal with intermittent energy, which is often backed by costly storage that is often overlooked when promoting the renewable narrative.

As this conversation was about financing the transition, equally troubling is what was left out of the discussion. Curtis Thayer of the Alaska Energy Authority, during the lunch presentation, later pointed out that the Renewable Energy Fund has already spent $325 million, including $47 million on renewable energy projects in the last five years alone. Additionally, under a 2014 law, 20 percent of Alaska LNG project revenues (after paying into the Permanent Fund) are set to be allocated to the Renewable Energy Fund, potentially resulting in significant funding for renewable energy.

With key tax credits set to sunset under the current version of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” the future of these projects is anything but certain. Now is not the time to keep heads buried in climate slogans, ESG spreadsheets, or the rebranding of old climate policy as “resilience” or “energy equity.” It’s time to return to energy reality. The frozen funds and growing reliance on government guarantees are exactly what you get when we embrace the delusion of “all of the above.” 

The government was never meant to serve as the backstop for risky investments disguised as climate virtue. That mindset has steered us into uncertainty and chaos—and it’s high time to course correct.

Kassie Andrews: Day One conference notes
Kassie Andrews: Pre-conference workshop notes

New Bureau of Land Management director for Alaska is UAA graduate and veteran of oil, gas, mining work

Suzanne Downing
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New Bureau of Land Management director for Alaska is UAA graduate and veteran of oil, gas, mining work

The Bureau of Land Management has appointed Kevin Pendergast as the new director of its Alaska State office, placing a seasoned expert at the helm of managing more than 70 million acres of surface land and 220 million acres of federal subsurface estate across the state.

Pendergast, who officially begins the role on June 29, will be responsible for advancing the Department of the Interior’s priorities in Alaska, including expanding resource development, overseeing energy and mineral programs, and managing multiple-use public lands in a state known for its vast natural wealth.

The announcement came from Jon Raby, who has been serving the function of director.

“Kevin brings decades of Interior Department and private sector experience and is a proven leader,” Raby said. “He has spent many years in Alaska working with policy makers, industry leaders, and communities across the state. His expertise will ensure we continue to unleash the resource potential in Alaska.”

As Alaska state director, Pendergast will guide key initiatives such as advancing exploration and development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He will also lead the BLM’s efforts to revoke certain public land withdrawals, a move that supports major infrastructure projects like the proposed Ambler Road and the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas Pipeline.

Pendergast has served as BLM Alaska’s deputy state director for resources since 2019, where he led a critical mining program and directed oil and gas leasing efforts, as well as recreational and other land-use programs. In Fiscal Year 2023, public lands managed by BLM Alaska contributed more than $1.7 billion to the economy and supported over 4,000 jobs.

In addition to his work with BLM, Pendergast has held leadership roles at the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the Interior Department’s Office of Budget, and Grand Teton National Park. His early career was spent as a consultant and project manager throughout Alaska, giving him extensive familiarity with the state’s geography and communities.

Pendergast holds dual bachelor’s degrees in geology from Oregon State University and in civil engineering from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Alaska and a certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists.

He resides in Anchorage with his wife and family.

The BLM manages 245 million acres of public land across the U.S., primarily in 12 western states, and administers 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate. Its mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for current and future generations.

Energy conference speaker Alex Epstein urges Alaska to lead nation in ‘energy freedom’ revolution

Suzanne Downing
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Energy conference speaker Alex Epstein urges Alaska to lead nation in ‘energy freedom’ revolution

Author and energy advocate Alex Epstein delivered a provocative keynote at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, challenging dominant environmental narratives and making the case for energy freedom, a framework rooted in human flourishing, autonomy, and the unapologetic development of natural resources.

Epstein, best known for his book The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, argued that Alaska’s history has unfolded in parallel with the rise of the modern environmental movement, a movement he described as fundamentally opposed to human impact on nature. He contended that this ideology views human impact as intrinsically immoral and inevitably self-destructive, an assumption he urged Alaskans to reject. In essence, he said, they are fundamentally opposed to human existence.

According to Epstein, the net-zero movement is the most powerful expression of this anti-impact worldview, demanding “limitless sacrifice” to avoid affecting the climate, often at the cost of human prosperity and innovation. He grouped fossil fuels and nuclear energy, two industries he described as “high-impact, complex, and revolutionary,” as early targets of this ideology.

We must confidently reject anti-humanism, Epstein said, underscoring his call for Alaskans and all Americans to embrace responsible development as a moral imperative. Americans must demand the right to develop and prosper, he said, asserting that energy has been the engine of American progress.

Epstein challenged the conventional meaning of the word impact, encouraging a redefinition rooted in purpose and progress. Does a bird think about impact when it builds a nest? Does a beaver calculate the environmental cost of its dam? He argued that humans, too, are a part of nature and should stop behaving like a self-hating species.

One third of the world — 3 billion people — still use wood and animal dung to cook their food and heat their shelters, he said. There is a direct correlation between reliable, affordable energy and human quality of life. As for air quality, Epstein said if the Clean Air Act existed while early humans were discovering fire, they would not have been allowed to use it.

Rather than minimizing impact, Epstein advocated for environmental improvement, enhancing nature in ways that expand human opportunity. He emphasized that fossil fuels remain uniquely cost-effective and essential to human flourishing, offering what he called “incredible climate mastery” and reliability.

Epstein also issued a policy challenge: to fight for energy freedom, permitting reform, and local control. He highlighted the opportunity provided by what he called an “incredibly supportive” federal administration and recent Supreme Court decisions that open the door for greater state autonomy in energy policy. He called on Alaska to seize that moment, push for bipartisan permitting reform, and insist that the federal government defer to the state on permitting decisions.

Epstein’s remarks were a direct appeal to Alaskan lawmakers, industry leaders, and citizens to resist external pressure from those who, he said, benefit from past development but now seek to restrict others from doing the same.

Alaska has the resources, the ingenuity, and now, the momentum, he told the audience in Anchorage. It’s time to embrace energy freedom, not just for Alaska, but as a model for the nation.

Check links below for our complete coverage of the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference:

Nick Begich: Alaska rises as the Last Frontier becomes first in America’s energy comeback
Brendan Duval brings bold LNG vision to Anchorage: ‘Get ready to be overwhelmed’
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum tours Katmai National Park and Kenai Cook Inlet energy sites
Conference gold: NOVAGOLD boosts stake as Paulson completes $1 billion Donlin Gold deal
Alaska’s reputation soars as nation backs resource development and energy future, new survey shows
Big conference news: Lucid Motors locks in Alaska graphite to power EVs, aligns with Trump’s critical minerals drive for non-China sourcing
Two South Korea companies enter partnership selecting stage for Alaska LNG project
Standing room only: Dunleavy leads powerhouse panel in defending oil and gas at energy conference
Video: On Fox, Congressman Begich calls out hard left for opposing Alaska resource development
Video: Protesters skipped first three years of Sustainable Energy Conference, but finally show up to say ‘no’ to economic hope in Alaska
Breaking: Alaska LNG draws $115 billion in formal global interest as Glenfarne taps strategic partners
Alaska’s first: Graphite One mining project lands on White House fast-track dashboard
From eelgrass to energy: Two secretaries, two different visions for Alaska’s future
Alaska’s Sullivan, Murkowski, Begich applaud Interior’s rollback of NPR-A lockup
Kassie Andrews: Pre-conference workshop notes
Begich promotes Alaska gas in Japan, Taiwan, Korea
In Utqiagvik, Burgum announces rollback of NPR-A rule, pledges to unleash Alaska’s energy potential
Gold rush: Tectonic Metals launches largest-ever drill program at Flat Gold Project in Alaska
Top Trump officials visit Alaska to push energy projects; Murkowski ducks press questions
Suzanne Downing: Conference observation — Alaska deserves legislators who want to build, not just spend
Kevin McCabe: Missing link in Alaska’s resource strategy is Port MacKenzie rail spur to unlock supply chain
Kassie Andrews: Day One conference notes

Nick Begich: Alaska rises as the Last Frontier becomes first in America’s energy comeback

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Nick Begich: Alaska rises as the Last Frontier becomes first in America’s energy comeback

By CONGRESSMAN NICK BEGICH

When we talk about Alaska’s energy potential – we are talking about more than molecules in the ground or development projects. We’re talking about a true cornerstone of American prosperity and a valuable tool for national security. 

I recently joined a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Asia, where I met with key leaders in business and government in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Our message was simple but powerful: Alaska is ready to provide the resources the world needs. 

This week, Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are in our state championing Alaska’s energy potential because the timing has never been more critical to develop our resources. 

Right now, as many as 50 companies from across the globe – including allies in Asia, Europe, and India, have expressed interest in liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Alaska. This is not mere speculation. It’s serious demand backed by serious capital that is aligned to unlock and export clean, reliable energy.

The Alaska LNG project, backed by Glenfarne Group and now prioritized as a national energy and trade asset, represents a turning point. With a planned 800-mile pipeline from the North Slope to Cook Inlet, this project will not only provide domestic gas to Alaskans, but also 20 million tons of LNG annually to our allies abroad. For places like Taiwan and Japan, the project is a no-brainer. Alaska LNG means shorter shipping routes, bypassing the Panama Canal, and energy from a trusted partner.

It’s no coincidence that this momentum is building under the renewed leadership of the Trump Administration, which wasted no time in deleting harmful Biden-era obstructions that had locked up Alaska’s potential. 

Under President Biden, critical projects like Alaska LNG were subjected to political uncertainty, bureaucratic paralysis, and unjustified permitting delays. That’s no way to treat a state with the largest untapped reserves of oil and gas in the country  – and it’s certainly no way to ensure long-term American energy security.

Thankfully, the tide is turning. On Day One, President Trump signed executive orders to roll back restrictions on energy exports, streamline permitting, and return Alaska to its rightful place as a cornerstone of national energy strategy.

For the first time in years, Alaska has a seat at the table. We are no longer locked up by burdensome regulations or unlawful restrictions. 

Energy development in Alaska is no longer a domestic issue. It’s a powerful negotiating tool and one that we must wield wisely. By exporting LNG to our allies, we reduce their dependence on authoritarian regimes. By investing in projects like Alaska LNG, we create good-paying jobs at home and balance our trade relationships abroad. By reminding the world that Alaska is ready to lead, we send a clear message: American energy is back and it starts in the Last Frontier.

But this opportunity is not self-executing; we must deliver on competitive pricing; we must build the infrastructure; and we must continue to fight back against the radical, shortsighted efforts that would rather keep our resources in the ground than empower working Americans to benefit from them.

For Alaska, this is a defining moment. We are the gateway to American prosperity, both economically and strategically. From LNG exports to critical mineral production including gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite, all of which are needed to power our tech and defense sectors – Alaska is positioned to meet the demands of the 21st century.

Standing room only: Dunleavy leads powerhouse panel in defending oil and gas at energy conference
Brendan Duval brings bold LNG vision to Anchorage: ‘Get ready to be overwhelmed’
Breaking: Alaska LNG draws $115 billion in formal global interest as Glenfarne taps strategic partners
Graphite One mine gets investment from major Native corporation
Big conference news: Lucid Motors locks in Alaska graphite to power EVs, aligns with Trump’s critical minerals drive for non-China sourcing

Brendan Duval brings bold LNG vision to Anchorage: ‘Get ready to be overwhelmed’

Suzanne Downing
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Brendan Duval brings bold LNG vision to Anchorage: ‘Get ready to be overwhelmed’

Brendan Duval, founder and CEO of Glenfarne Group, took the main stage at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference on Thursday, delivering a dynamic presentation that blended personal history with ambitious projections for Alaska’s natural gas future.

Duval, who now leads the company working with the state to develop the Alaska LNG project, began by introducing himself to the crowd of about 1,000 attendees at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, saying they may as well get to know him because he will be working with a lot of them. He shared that he holds dual citizenship in the United States and Australia, and that he worked his way through college as a welder before eventually launching Glenfarne, a global energy infrastructure firm.

“I understand what it takes to build something from the ground up,” Duval said, emphasizing the importance of workforce development in Alaska.

“We are going to overwhelm the local workforce, so you guys better get ready,” he warned, signaling the scale and urgency of the project’s labor demands.

The presentation turned into a high-energy exchange as Duval was joined on stage by Gov. Mike Dunleavy for a public discussion on the project’s viability and potential economic impact.

“Alaska is facing an energy emergency in the Southcentral region and along the Railbelt, one that could undermine the operational integrity of our military bases,” said Gov. Mike Dunleavy to Must Read Alaska after the two left the stage. “This makes it critical to swiftly address the crisis by bringing natural gas from the North Slope through the 42-inch pipeline, with a target date of 2028. The project is economically sound, enjoys support from both Washington and Alaska, has all necessary permits in place, and is backed by known gas reserves and commitments from Asian allies. At this point, all we’re waiting on is an expedited FEED (front-end engineering and design) and a final investment decision to move forward.”

Key takeaways from Duval’s remarks included:

  • Workforce surge expected: Duval’s comment about overwhelming the workforce underscored the need to rapidly scale up local training and hiring. The in-state component of the project alone is expected to require thousands of skilled laborers and support personnel.
  • In-state phase is economically sound: Duval referenced a recent analysis by energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie, saying the report confirms that even the in-state portion of the Alaska LNG pipeline is economically viable. That phase would deliver natural gas to Alaskans along the route before reaching international markets.
  • Global price advantage: According to Duval, Alaska is well-positioned to outcompete Henry Hub prices — the U.S. benchmark for natural gas — in Asian markets by as much as 150% in some pricing scenarios. The projection reflects both shorter shipping routes and high Asian demand for U.S. LNG.

This kind of effort is not new to Duval and his company. But he noted that he has never had an opportunity where so much groundwork had already been laid — including permits, rights-of-way, and engineering studies. In contrast to starting from scratch, much of the heavy lifting has already been completed for this project. He also emphasized the phased structure of the project, which allows tranches of funding to be leveraged upon the successful completion of each phase.

“Never has this project had more tailwind, more support, more advantage, and more need — both in-state and globally — for Alaska’s energy,” said Brett Huber of Power the Future, which represents the interests of energy workers. “Power the Future is bullish on the success of AKLNG.”

Duval’s appearance was a highly anticipated moment at the conference. Earlier in the week, his company announced it had received over $115 billion in investment interest in the project.

Breaking: Alaska LNG draws $115 billion in formal global interest as Glenfarne taps strategic partners

The Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference continues through the week, drawing government officials, investors, and innovators from around the world.

Alaska’s reputation soars as nation backs resource development and energy future, new survey shows
JERA signals interest in Alaska LNG as global buyers head north for talks in Anchorage
Glenfarne taps Worley for final engineering and cost estimate on Alaska LNG Pipeline
Agreement approved: AGDC board says OK to a deal with Glenfarne to build Alaska Gasline
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum tours Katmai National Park and Kenai Cook Inlet energy sites
Conference gold: NOVAGOLD boosts stake as Paulson completes $1 billion Donlin Gold deal
Big conference news: Lucid Motors locks in Alaska graphite to power EVs, aligns with Trump’s critical minerals drive for non-China sourcing

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum tours Katmai National Park and Kenai Cook Inlet energy sites

Suzanne Downing
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum tours Katmai National Park and Kenai Cook Inlet energy sites

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Katmai National Park in on June 4, two days before the 113th anniversary of the 1912 eruption of Novarupta, the largest explosive volcanic event in the 20th Century.

From there, Burgum travels to the Kenai Peninsula on Thursday morning, where the proposed terminus of the Alaska LNG pipeline is planned, and he is scheduled to visit Hilcorp’s natural gas drilling operations in Cook Inlet.

Harvest Alaska, a Hilcorp affiliate, has plans to convert a shuttered LNG export facility into an import terminal in Nikiski until more natural gas can come online that is sourced in Alaska. Oil was first discovered in the Kenai Peninsula in 1957 by the Richfield Oil Corporation at the Swanson River field, about 20 miles northeast of Kenai. This marked the first significant commercial oil discovery in Alaska, leading to the development of the state’s modern oil industry.

Chugach Electric Association, the state’s largest electric utility, is in discussions to purchase imported gas from the facility, which could help stabilize regional energy supplies. Hilcorp, the primary gas producer in the Cook Inlet, has said it cannot meet future demand beyond existing contracts, and delays of permits during the Biden Administration has put the greater population of Alaska at risk of freezing or burning wood to stay warm in winters. The proposed import facility in Nikiski is one near-term solution to bridge the impending supply gap. The Alaska LNG project is another solution, but is at least a few years away from producing natural gas for Alaskans.

Secretary Burgum’s visit aligns with the Trump Administration’s broader strategy of enhancing energy development on federal lands. On President Donald Trump’s first day in office, he signed an Alaska-specific executive order to get energy going again from Alaska’s resource-rich oil and gas areas.

Burgum has spent the entire week in Alaska, including meetings in Anchorage, a rally with oil workers on the North Slope, a sit-down with anti-Trump leaders from the Alaska Federation of Natives, and being a keynote guest at Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference.

Burgum’s visit has touched the major energy regions in Alaska, from the North Slope to the Kenai, while also reinforcing the federal role in preserving Alaska’s parks and natural history.

While in Utqiagvik, Burgum announced the rollback of punishing regulatory decisions by the Biden Administration, opening up the petroleum reserve for leases, a huge announcement for Alaska that was welcomed by Gov. Dunleavy, Sen. Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Nick Begich.

“For the last four years, Alaska has been punished by the Biden administration’s radical, America-last energy agenda. Under [President Trump], we’re changing course and bringing in an energy renaissance that utilizes Alaska’s resources instead of burying them under red tape – that includes reversing Biden’s reckless rule that closed oil and gas development in the Reserve,” he said.

This was Burgum’s first major trip to Alaska since being confirmed as Interior Secretary earlier this year.

In Utqiagvik, Burgum announces rollback of NPR-A rule, pledges to unleash Alaska’s energy potential
From eelgrass to energy: Two secretaries, two different visions for Alaska’s future
Alaska’s reputation soars as nation backs resource development and energy future, new survey shows
Power the Future: Trump unleashes Alaska’s power, after Biden tried to deep six it
Trump’s new permitting overhaul could get Alaska energy and infrastructure projects back on track

Peltola once called Biden ‘sharpest in DC’ but House probe now targets massive White House cover-up

Suzanne Downing
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Peltola once called Biden ‘sharpest in DC’ but House probe now targets massive White House cover-up

Another step in the investigation into former President Joe Biden’s fitness for office and the handling of executive power within his administration was taken this week when House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky sent letters to five former senior White House officials, demanding their participation in transcribed interviews.

The move is part of a widening investigation into the possible cover-up of Biden’s mental decline and the questions about of who had been directing key decisions from within the West Wing during his presidency.

“The American people deserve full transparency, and the House Oversight Committee is conducting a thorough investigation to provide answers and accountability,” Comer said. “The cover-up of President Biden’s mental decline is one of the greatest scandals in our nation’s history. These five former senior advisors were eyewitnesses to President Biden’s condition and operations within the Biden White House. They must appear before the House Oversight Committee and provide truthful answers about President Biden’s cognitive state and who was calling the shots.”

The five individuals newly contacted by the committee include:

  • Michael Donilon, former senior advisor to the president
  • Anita Dunn, former senior advisor for communications and former adviser to Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles
  • Ronald Klain, former White House chief of staff
  • Bruce Reed, former deputy chief of staff for policy
  • Steve Ricchetti, former counselor to the president and Biden’s point person on the Willow project in Alaska
Biden adviser Anita Dunn’s Alaska ties surface amid autopen pardon investigation

The committee is requesting that the former aides appear for transcribed interviews voluntarily. If they do not comply, subpoenas will be issued later this week to compel their testimony.

This follows an earlier round of requests and subpoenas last Congress for White House aides Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, and Ashley Williams, as well as Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the former president’s personal physician. The White House refused to make those individuals available for interviews at the time, drawing accusations of obstruction from House lawmakers. Additionally, the Department of Justice under Biden defied a subpoena for audio recordings related to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents, leading to Attorney General Merrick Garland being held in contempt of Congress.

The investigation draws support from a forthcoming book, Original Sin, which alleges that “Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board,” according to an unnamed source familiar with the White House inner workings.

Not on the list for questioning is former Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola, who in February of 2024 described Biden in glowing terms. “He’s one of the smartest, sharpest people I’ve met in D.C.,” she said, keeping up the narrative while concerns about his mental decline were swirling. Peltola is widely discussed in Alaska as a possible Democrat candidate for governor; thus, her participation in the cover-up is of interest to Alaskans. Did she really believe he was one of the sharpest people she had met, or was she willing to simply parrot the talking points given to her by party operatives?

Mary Peltola’s assessment of Biden’s mental acuity: ‘One of the smartest, sharpest people I’ve met in D.C.’

In addition to Peltola, other Biden allies likewise insisted the President is “on top of his game,” as multiple cabinet officials and congressional Democrats have publicly stated.

The Oversight Committee’s probe appears to be narrowing in on the possibility that key executive actions—including presidential pardons—may have been issued without the full awareness or authority of the President himself. Comer said that determining who has been “calling the shots” in the White House is now central to the investigation.

Transcribed interview dates are expected to be announced this week. If the witnesses decline to cooperate voluntarily, subpoenas will follow, according to Committee officials.

The Biden White House has not yet issued a formal response to the new round of demands.

Inferno at sea: Crew rescued after massive cargo ship fire south of Adak

Suzanne Downing
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Inferno at sea: Crew rescued after massive cargo ship fire south of Adak

The US Coast Guard responded Wednesday to a cargo vessel fire approximately 300 miles south of Adak, following a distress call from the 600-foot Liberian-flagged ship Morning Midas, which had reported a fire on board and carried a crew of 22 and a cargo of thousands of vehicles.

The distress signal was received Tuesday at about 3:15 pm by watchstanders at the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District command center. The vessel, owned by Zodiac Maritime, was en route through the North Pacific Ocean when the fire broke out.

In response, the Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast, prompting three nearby vessels to assist. One of those, the motor vessel Cosco Hellas, successfully rescued all 22 crew members from a life raft launched by the Morning Midas. No injuries were reported.

The Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) was diverted to the scene, while a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft was launched from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, and an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew was staged in Adak to assist in the response.

The status of the fire aboard the Morning Midas remains unclear, but officials report that smoke continues to be seen rising from the vessel.

Rear Admiral Megan Dean, commander of the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District, praised the coordinated effort:

“As the search and rescue portion of our response concludes, our crews are working closely with the vessel’s parent company, Zodiac Maritime, to determine the disposition of the vessel. We are grateful for the selfless actions of the three nearby vessels who assisted in the response and the crew of motor vessel Cosco Hellas, who helped save 22 lives.”

According to information provided to the Coast Guard, the Morning Midas is carrying approximately 350 metric tons of gas fuel and 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil. The vessel’s cargo reportedly includes 3,159 vehicles, among them 65 fully electric and 681 hybrid-electric vehicles. These figures are preliminary and subject to change as more details become available.

The Coast Guard is actively working with Zodiac Maritime to assess the vessel’s condition and plan a recovery operation.

The situation remains under observation as the Coast Guard continues to monitor the potential environmental risks posed by the fuel and vehicle cargo aboard the drifting vessel.

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