By PAM MELIN
On Friday, the Alaska House of Representatives did something almost unheard of: They denied a ceremonial citation. It was not for someone controversial by action, criminality, or disgrace, but for a conservative Alaska journalist who’s dared to tell the truth too clearly, too often, and to the wrong people.
Suzanne Downing is no stranger to Alaska politics. She’s a force. A truth-teller. A thorn in the side of the establishment who’ve gotten far too comfortable operating in the dark. Through Must Read Alaska, she’s pulled back the curtain on political games, exposed backroom deals, and given a platform to the silent conservative majority in this state.
And for that, the Legislature denied her a routine nod of recognition, something they’ve freely handed out to sports mascots, pet goats, and tomato growers.
Why? Because her words hurt feelings, specifically, the fragile ego of Rep. Zack Fields, who openly admitted his problem with Downing was personal.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t about journalistic ethics. It was political retaliation dressed up in moralizing hypocrisy. Fields has never objected to a citation before, even when he disagreed ideologically. But when someone dares call him out? Suddenly, citations must pass a purity test.
Even more disappointing were the spineless, so-called Republicans who caved to the pressure and voted to table it instead of standing up for one of the few conservative voices brave enough to take the fight to the public square.
Let’s be blunt: Suzanne Downing has done more to shape public opinion in Alaska than half the Legislature combined. It’s apparent that Downing is informed, unrelenting, and most terrifying voice of all to the political class, because she is independent of their control.
Alaska’s mainstream media is MSNBC on crack, pushing spin, not facts. Suzanne built a platform that bypassed them and gave the people a voice. That’s what this petty stunt was about. The establishment couldn’t handle the truth, so they tried to silence it.
The grassroots doesn’t forget moves like this. While lawmakers play political dodgeball with ceremonial resolutions, real people are watching. This wasn’t just an insult to Suzanne … it was a slap in the face to every Alaskan who’s ever dared speak out, ask questions, or hold their elected officials accountable.
Legislators who supported this move should ask themselves: What are they so afraid of? The truth? Or the people who are waking up to it?
Grow a spine.
Pam Melin is a resident of the MatSu Valley.
I’m going to take a guess, that I and others will have to take a number in response to the actions of the legislature. This presentation by Pam is outstanding and on point. I am a recent acquaintance of Suzanne soon following, a fan of total admiration for the reporting that requires great depth of truth before ever being put to print.
Thank you Pam, it is thought from this corner, that no better defense of Suzanne could be formulated than your epistle.
Cheers,
Johnson-Ketchikan
MRAK’s creds just doubled or tripled, and Suzanne’s creds are now through the roof. Dems are awfully slow learners. It’s been like that for decades. Either too much dope, or mental illness. And the RINOs are just as stupid.
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Suzanne doesn’t need an effing citation from the Legislature. She gets daily good girl citations in the MRAK comments. Citations enough.
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You go, Suzanne.
LOL. The LAST award Suzanne would want, or accept, is a citation from the Democrat and RINO operated Alaska Legislature. That would be like accepting an award by a bunch of petty pick-pocketers and larcenists. Not much to hang on the wall.
Loser Chuck Kopp didn’t disappoint again. Eternally indebted to socialists like Zack Fields, he couldn’t help but be another yes vote to dishonor Suzanne Downing.
I thought Kopp learned his lesson in 2022. Apparently not. Organizing right now to defeat him again in 2026. It’s real.
Kopp is a slow learner. A dumb guy. He thinks he’s beautiful with his little girlfriend by his side. No respect for this *sshole.
Thanks for this writing and contributing this piece. And for making us aware of the votes cast by Costello, Saddler, Vance and Tilton. Good to know those that can’t be benevolent, respecting the work of others.
13 Republicans including Costello, Saddler, Vance and Tilton did support Suzanne. An additional two Republicans Nelson and Allard were excused on Friday.
The four that joined most Democrats, Louise Stutes and Chuck Kopp in voting against this ceremonial citation are Stapp – Fairbanks, Ruffridge – Kenai, Elam – Kenai and Coulombe – Anchorage.
What part of real coverage offended these four? Tabling fails 18-20 with these four votes.
Elam voted not to table it– Please don’t malign people falsely — Good job Suzanne! We appreciate having a voice!
You are correct, I read it wrong.
I appreciate the correction. Bill Elam was a No vote along with 13 other Republicans on this vote to Table the Citation.
Only three Republicans (Stapp – Fairbanks, Coulombe – Anchorage and Ruffridge – Kenai) voted to table with all the Democrats, Stutes from Kodiak and Kopp from Oceanview.
You do understand a no vote was supporting Suzanne? The motion was to table (kill) the citation.
Bear–You are correct. The Republicans saw that tabling the motion would be more respectful to Suzanne than to watch the motion fail because of the nay votes on the citation itself.
The Alaska Capitol building doesn’t have a dome. 😉
Figure of speech Skippy.
It’s obvious.
They hate women. Especially successful women.
It is painfully obvious that the lot of them are weak, spineless misogynists.
While Alaska’s News Source spins propaganda, Must Read Alaska provides information that is necessary to be well-informed. Thanks to Suzanne!
You are correct Manda Gershon, Suzanne is like a light beam in the darkness of the “network news.”
I definitely appreciate Suzanne for TELLING the TRUTH..With so much commie garbage coming from the ADN..It very refreshing to get the TRUTH..
Suzanne is where I get the truth of what is going on. We appreciate her journalistic values. The ones that do not are the ones that need to be voted out; they are the ones that are destroying Alaska!
Fields is a pos
I voted for Ceezar
Fields is a mental case. A pansya// and a pipsqueak in a little boy suit. What a loser.
SD has been consistently ‘on-target’ and accurately dropping … TRUTHBOMBS!
Excellent Job & Keep Up the Great Work!
Folks, Alaska doesn’t have a functioning GOP, it has leaders that do media functions but little else. We can’t expect any support from the democrats (R) party.
Yundt?
Perhaps readers of Must Read Alaska should share this post by Pam Melin. Not too sure the nay voters, especially Fields, can withstand the bright light exposure of recent activities.
Folks who ask WHY?, with a bit of research, should become informed. And an informed voter makes informed decisions.
Bright lights make cockroaches scatter.
Fields is a totally protected liberal ….. no “bright light” will scatter him.
He has a job for life because of progs, gov/NGO parasites & Muni union members who live in that district.
Well said! Get rid of the commie democrats and spineless “republicans”, elect people who are more about caring for Alaska than self-aggrandizement.
Suzanne Downing is our Winston Churchill without the cigars and whiskey! (?)
Now you’ve gone and done it.
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Wait ’til the meme meisters get ahold of that one.
Julie Coulombe needs to explain this vote the next time she “blathers” on and on about her unrelenting representation of those who reside in “her” district on the radio.
Get a clue, Julie! You were very wrong with this vote.
And voters … we let’s work to replace her. This is not Julie’s only recent wrong vote.
We are as shocked as anyone regarding her recent votes.
What a huge disappointment.
She just lost six votes from our extended family with her “last straw” vote with the democrats.
She needs to move downtown if she continues leg wrestling with Zack Fields.
He is a POS weasel.
What is a ceremonial citation? I gotten citations for speeding, really wouldn’t want another. Who cares, Suzanne and everyone who visits this site knows what see does and appreciates her efforts. Awards these days mean nothing…just look at the Grammys, Oscars, even the Pulitzer, they just choose box checkers.
Zack Fields, former comms director for the Alaska Democrats, has only one thing in mind: Total takeover of the state by the Democrats. One person stands in his way: Suzanne Downing
Hot golly‼️ The picture of the vote board would be blown up and framed and hung on the living room wall if I was Suzanne…
Just knowing that she’s living rent free in so many legislators heads, is the greatest award you could ever receive 💯😊
I can envision that vote board framed nicely.
Donations coming in large amounts to MRAK and Suzanne Downing. Everyone who enjoys Suzanne’s articles of truth, please pull out your checkbooks and give a substantial donation. $100 minimum would be fantastic. Legislators constantly beg for political donations, then they turn on their own constituents. Suzanne has never lied. But her truth hurts the cowards and the hypocrites. Thank you for this article and thank you, Suzanne Downing. You are an Alaska hero.
Beautifully said, Ted. Write your checks everyone. Let’s give our favorite journalist a big financial boost.
Zack Fields……call your mommy. It’s time for you to go to beddie-bye. The adults need some quiet time.
Zack Fields looks like a homeless boy begging for a full PFD, standing on the corner of a Spenard intersection.
Yes he does!
Without his union guys nearby to protect him, Fields is like a lost boy looking for mamas to protect him. That’s why he learned Indian leg wrestling with women in Juneau. He doesn’t run with men.
I just want to Thank Suzanne for all her amazing work.
Hear Hear!
Suzanne is a highly experienced journalist and no stranger to Alaska politics. She does outstanding work on both local and statewide issues. Must Read is the sunlight that serves as disinfectant against lunatics, wood ticks, & dirty politics. Alaska is better because of her work.
If Zack Fields decides to give me an award, I’ll immediately accept. I’d prefer Double Black, but Black or Red Label still gets me through the day.
Mr. C., your writing is an inferior piece of garbage compared to Suzanne’s.
Those are long winters for Dermutt. 45? 50?
The words seemed to flow better with that sharp crack of scotch on the tongue and like a can of Heat down the pipes. Unfortunately, after that many winters, the brain has become pickled and the ideas have slowed to a dribble of nonsensical drivel. Time to retire.
That’s what my bros said. Pushing daisies in the green does sound like nice retirement.
Suzanne is a champion. And that’s that. The favorable comments here and her large readership attest to that fact. She built Must Read on her own and its success is her reward. She remains accessible despite that success. It would have been nice if the legislature had recognized her private sector entrepreneurial spirit & hard work (which Alaska needs to encourage more of) but Alaskans can do it themselves come election time if they will do so keeping this vote in mind.
Spot on Dave.
Alaskans especially GOP voters need to keep this phony move made by so called Republican reps in mind when their term comes up and send them packing.
We are so disappointed in Julie Coulombe’s actions to not show support in Suzanne’s work and to cast her vote with the “herd” as well as the other despicable “republicans”.
We will not forget or forgive her failure to comprehend the importance of her voting record.
👍
The Dems are reading Must Read Alaska. That’s awesome!
Good reason to contribute! Ya can’t eat citations.
I voted for Coulombe and won’t make the same mistake again.
AGREE!
I have a personal problem with Zack! He insists on inventing new ways to steal our money egg y and crafts bait and switch education bills so that he can serve his new overlords. The guy disgusts me
Let’s look at this issue from a different perspective. Given the composition of the current legislature, having it vote down a commendation only confirms the integrity of the candidate. We should all see the rejection as a badge of honor for Suzanne. I certainly would not welcome blandishments from a group such as that.
Wayne Douglas, I love the use of the word ” blandishments”! A fine word that sadly has fallen out of favor.
You’ve been reading Fisher Ames?
Suzanne if not the only, she is first among the few that speaks the truth for Alaskans. Suzanne remember when you throw a rock into a pack of dogs; the one that yelps is the one you hit. You have hit a bunch of those dogs.
The uniparty.
Anyone is free to challenge Suzanne at any time.
Most folks are worms by nature and rather spit from the shadows.
A HUGE public Rally needs to be pulled off to give all our Juneau Legislators THE FINGER.
Suzanne is our Leader
How about the HUGE RALLY???
If this legislature voted against a ceremonial citation for me I’d take that as a mark of distinction and be enormously proud of it, in fact by taking this action once again these people show themselves for what they are.
Our country wouldn’t be the same without Rush Limbaugh, who received the presidential Medal of Freedom. These are the kind of people MAGA embrace. Why shouldn’t Alaska join in to celebrate and honor another figure of this type who has made a similar contribution to our society?
This move by the devious Democrats is a badge of honor that shows just how effective Suzanne is and it tells us everything we need to know about which Republicans we need to remove: Coulombe, Ruffridge are the vipers in the snake pit.
But seriously, who would even want a citation or award from this pack of hyenas? Stay on course, Suzanne. It’s a war of ideas, values and our future, and you are over the target, so bombs away!
Lack of citation is criticism of a kind.
Never accept criticism from someone you wouldn’t ask for advice.
Even his bolo is an affectation and no one would ask for advice from a boob like Zack Fields.
You go, girl.
I read the title and saw the picture of Fields. I thought Pam was referring to the top of Field’s head. There is definitely a coward beneath THAT dome.
I’m late to the parade but, I echo the support given to Suzanne Downing and her years of tireless, insightful and intelligent reporting on all things conservative and decent. Fields is a known issue but Coloumbe is a huge disappointment. Kopp had an opportunity to turn himself around and failed miserably. Again. How he was re-elected is beyond me. I’m hoping to see Suzanne at the Alaska Family Council Spring Dinner. Our side needs to encourage like minded people to get off their collective asses and vote.
Time to get going and vote them all out as they come due. Force the funding for the moving of the Capital. I understand that the Dividend Board just took it upon themselves to do away with the State requirement of bonding for all Board members. Do they have that right? I thought all Dividend Board members are required to follow State law and are required to be bonded?
Why is our state’s budget so large considering our population? It is time for a complete audit of all projects and money moving throughout the State. Student population continues to decline, yet the need to “borrow” from the Dividend again is for the schools? Auction off all the closed buildings and use that money for the school budget items.
What about the State lottery money? How much of that amount goes to the schools and how is it accounted for?
Looking at the travel in and out of the State, it looks like more are going than coming. Again, why is our budget so large for our overall population?
When do lawmakers separate the “have to have” from the “real necessary” government needs?
Wear this as a badge of honor.
This piece demonstrates that some of the far far right, such as Pam, do not take the time to understand the strategy before they write accusatory pieces. The Republicans had two members gone, one of which was Allard who sponsored the citation. Once Fields and Kopp started their goofy process the only way to keep the thing alive is to table it until the republicans all get their people back to vote on it. This is common sense strategy and those who voted to table did a good thing. Nothing against Suzanne, it was all procedural at that point. Keeping the citation alive was maybe seen as a better option? But here Melin possibly destroys that end game by her public chastizement of fellow republicans for their strategy that she does not understand. Clueless.
What a joke. You are obviously one of the butt-hurt Republicans in the building trying to cover your a//. Attack Melin as clueless? You out yourself as an elitist way in the bubble.
Extremely disappointed with Rauscher. As some who lives in his district and has voted ro keep him in office because of his conservative values, I am beyond ticked off that he would side with Fields and the other democrats who voted against this.