In his latest show of being completely out of touch with Alaskans’ needs, Nick Begich fell in line with Donald Trump and Elon Musk, voting YES on a bill that slashes $9.4 billion in critical local public broadcasting and cements Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) job and program cuts.
The most dangerous consequence of Begich’s vote? A $1.1 billion cut to public broadcasting, including tens of millions of dollars in funding for Alaska’s radio and TV stations – sometimes the only source of news, public safety alerts, and weather updates for rural parts of the state.
This isn’t just a budget cut. It’s a direct threat to Alaskans’ safety. Public broadcasting that serves as a lifeline during natural disasters, power outages, and severe storms will be forced to go dark.
Here’s what Alaska’s own leaders are saying:
- Ed Ulman, president and CEO of Alaska Public Media: “Should the Senate go along with the House and claw back this funding, we’re going to see probably a third of our public radio stations go dark.”
- Senator Lisa Murkowski: “What may seem like a frivolous expense to some has proven to be an invaluable resource that saves lives in Alaska.”
- Jeff Seifert, KBRW General Manager: said Begich’s vote today shows a lack of understanding of rural Alaska. “It’s lifesaving stuff…I don’t think (Begich) is very well in touch with the rural parts of Alaska. If you don’t spend any time (here), you’re not going to know how important services like public radio are to the people of rural Alaska”
DCCC Spokesperson Anna Elsasser:
“Begich’s vote goes beyond cowardice – it’s a dangerous move that will threaten rural Alaskans’ safety in crisis. It’s clear that he’s more focused on appeasing his party bosses than protecting the lives of Alaskans.”
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