
USAID and the history of U.S. foreign assistance programs
Historically, the United States has provided foreign aid to other countries since 1812; but on a large scale only during and after World War II. The history of the U.S. foreign assistance is marked by several key events, including Lend-Lease during World War


How Alaska’s bureaucratic special interests serve entrenched power, not public good
This vicious cycle of special interest control, fueled by political patronage and cyclical funding flows, demands that we scrutinize and, ultimately, reform our system to ensure that it truly serves the public


OPINION: A reminder to the Left on basic reciprocity with regard to fair trade & tariffs
Far-left activists are relentlessly opposing the Trump administration for imposing and revising economic and trade tariffs with other countries to establish a fair economic practices and balanced reciprocity. Perhaps these radical leftists must be reminded or


OPINION: Incentivized homeschooling can solve Alaska’s school funding dilemma
With increased homeschooling, fewer schools and fewer teachers would be needed. If the state could shift more students out of public schools, it could give the students an education of their choice and save money at the same


OPINON: Alaska’s GOP could take a page from Trump on how to flex political power
There was a short but interesting lesson on the effective use of political power over the weekend. When ICE sent two planeloads of illegal immigrants back to Colombia on Sunday, Gustavo Petro, the President of Colombia, refused to allow the planes to land and


Trump gender-ID order is a call for Alaska to realign policies with biological reality
Trump's order aims to restore clarity in language, protect women’s rights, and realign Title IX to its original intent of safeguarding opportunities for females. For like Alaska, where gender ideology has deeply influenced schools, policies, and public


BOB BIRD: ‘How anarchy begins’
“Anarchy” will lead us into total chaos, where there is no right principle of action, except self-interest. Most people want nothing to do with


OPINION: My political bluff got called, but Alaska’s GOP still needs to go all in
Poker players sometimes bluff, pretending a weak hand is stronger than it is, to win the pot. That strategy works until someone recognizes their strategy and calls them on it. I bluffed and got called on a recent article where I suggested that in response to


Trump’s executive order to unleash Alaska’s energy potential
Within hours of being sworn into office for his second term, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to help unlock Alaska’s vast natural resources related to fossil fuels, mineral, timber and


OPINION: The clock is ticking on Alaska’s Republican Party
Alaska GOP leadership has tacitly endorsed the Democrat-led caucuses in the Alaska legislature. The GOP leadership may not recognize it, but this is a crisis point for them. The voters are not going to tolerate a weak and impotent GOP for much

