PODCAST · news
Home To Roost
by Rachel Levitt and John Robertson
Rachel Levitt and John Robertson provide timely researched commentary on Home to Roost, a weekly take on the effect of national policies on Alaska.
Episodes
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Home To Roost #76
This week on Home to Roost: Trump announced in Wasilla that Taiwan is ready to buy Alaska LNG, but Taiwan still remains only gas curious. A Republican accused his opponent of witchcraft. Does MAGA want to make Salem great again? And we discover how John Locke's Christian understanding of natural...
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Home To Roost #75
This week on Home to Roost, South Korea insists Alaska’s LNG pipeline must make financial sense before investing, while the Trump administration apparently believes federal money can be handed out in $500 and $90 installments without Congress’s permission. A GOP senator warns that your airline...
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Home to Roost #74
South Korea is investing $54 billion in the Alaska gas line! Except, apparently, it isn’t. We follow the money—or, more accurately, look around for it. Meanwhile, bipartisan support for green energy shows signs of photosynthesis, we play another round of Public Policy Pursuit, and Thomas Paine...
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Home To Roost #73
This week we do something a bit different. We present interviews with four Alaskans who describe how changes in federal policies have affected them or their organizations, whether for better or for worse. Specifically, we interviewed Alaskans involved with libraries, social work, foster care, and...
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Home To Roost #72
This week on Home to Roost: the Fed raises rates, Sutton’s Evan Jones Mine supplies fossils for a conversation about Alaska’s warmer future, and Trump’s remarks about blood and genetics put purported pedigrees on the agenda. Then we open some very old mail: Kendall v. United States (1838), a...
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Home To Roost #71
This week on Home to Roost: Social Security approaches insolvency while Trump offers a $5,000 “dividend” financed more like a forced loan. Meanwhile, Alaska gets hammered by fuel prices, and Speaker Johnson’s vow not to “allow” Democrats to control Congress makes us wonder what the Constitution...
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Home To Roost #70
This week on Home to Roost, we follow the federal government into some strange territory. Trump's DHS, not just the Postal Service, plans to review mail-in ballots, and the Ninth Circuit reminds the Administration that Congress defines spending. Meanwhile, President Trump publicly ponders an...
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Home To Roost #69
Trade wars, robot wars, and Blackbeard with broadband. Canadian tariffs come for Alaska, delayed federal ferry money finally docks, and AI agents discover cooperation—and even self-sacrifice. John and Rachel also ask whether cyberwar will revive an old constitutional idea: privateering.
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Home To Roost #68
Tariffs, trees, and Tina Peters. John and Rachel look at why Alaska parents are paying more for school supplies, what the Trump administration’s plan to scrap the Roadless Rule could mean for the Tongass and Chugach National Forests, and why using federal dollars to pressure Colorado into freeing...
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Home To Roost #67
In this episode, Rachel wonders whether $272 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program money might fail to fully land in Alaska, while John looks into the billions of dollars some Native corporations are getting in ICE contracts. We also see who has called Trump a mere temporary…
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Home To Roost #66
This week, we review the substantial decline in Alaska's federal workforce and the planned increase in the U.S. icebreaker fleet. We also play "Who Said It?" and discuss President Washington's advice on constitutional prudence.
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Home To Roost # 65
This week, John and Rachel review how the Department of Justice might be trying to butter up Alaska to improve the confirmation chances of Trump’s nominee for attorney general and how federal support for the Alaska gas line is going unclaimed. We continue our review on what George Washington had…
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Home To Roost #64
Join us this week as we look at the federal connection to increasing rates of congenital syphilis and taxes on hockey gear. We also play Who Said It and read what George Washington said about political parties in his Farewell Address.
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Home To Roost #63
This week, Rachel and John take a break from their usual format and bring you interviews with Alaskans attending the Mat-Su Pride festival. Listen to hear how changes in federal policies are affecting people in our community.
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Home To Roost #62
Join John and Rachel this week as they review how congressional resistance to Trump has saved Alaska’s Ocean Station Papa and how it might also improve Alaska’s housing supply. We also discuss how the Supreme Court’s lifting of limits on political party assistance to federal candidates will…
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Home To Roost #61
This week, in honor of July 4th, we focus on the meaning of our nation’s founding. We review news items from 1776, some quotes of the Founders, and consider why we celebrate July 4th, and not some other important day, as the birthdate of America.
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Home To Roost #60
This week we take a break from analyzing how the federal government effects Alaska in order to review some relevant American history, especially the Dred Scott decision, the problem of judicial supremacy, and the election shinannigans of 1876 and 1877.
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Home To Roost #59
This week we review Trump’s plan to require grants and scientific research to pass his political litmus tests, we discuss the dismantling of Ocean Station Papa, the most sophisticated deep sea monitoring system off Alaska’s coast, and we consider the Constitutional basis for federal funding of...
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Home To Roost #58
Join us as we discuss how millions of dollars in federal coal subsidies could cost Alaskans billions in higher utility bills, and how the Trump administration is trying to stifle public workers. We also play “Who Said It?” and wonder what the American Founders would have thought of the expansion…
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Home To Roost #57
This week, we discuss new medicaid rules, new proposed mail-in ballot rules, and new threats to Alaska’s tourism industry. We also host two special guests for this week’s rendition of "Who Said It?'
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Home To Roost #56
This week we discuss rising inflation, delayed Department of Energy grant payments, and how political pressure on immigration judges recalls one of the grievances the Declaration of Independence stated against King George III. We also discuss fake money, fake monuments, and the real Ben Franklin.
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Home To Roost #55
This week, we look at Trump's growing power over Republican primaries and how Alaska's open system limits such power; we review how changes at FEMA are affecting Western Alaska; and we read what the Declaration of Independence says about immigration. We also play "Who Said It?", our unusual news...
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Home To Roost #54
This week, we cover Trump’s proposed billion-dollar settlement with himself and how his tariffs function as a tax on Alaskans’ utility bills. We also review what Thomas Jefferson and George Washington thought about the Murder Act and how their concerns about government power are still relevant...
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Home To Roost #53
This week, we review lessons from recent Army cold climate training in Interior Alaska and discuss how Alaska’s location along the Pacific Basin currently affects our energy economy for better and for worse. We also ponder America’s 250-year-old grievance against taxation without representation…
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Home To Roost #52
This week, John celebrates Home to Roost’s first anniversary by going 4-for-4 in "Who Said It?" Rachel contrasts hyper-partisanship in Washington with the currently less partisan nature of Alaska. We also look at how the war with Iran is greatly affecting rural Alaska, and we review the...
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Home To Roost #51
In this episode, we review how new federal policies are increasing electricity rates in Fairbanks, how new federal enthusiasm for a gas line is not translating into new federal action, and how Trump might run afoul of the Constitution’s domestic emoluments clause. We also play Who Said It?, our...
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Home To Roost #50
For our fiftieth episode, we review Trump’s pressure on Alaskans to repeal ranked choice voting and how his war with Iran might reduce the likelihood of an Alaskan gas line. We also discuss quotes of the week and the Constitution’s Pardons Clause.
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Home To Roost #49
On this week’s show, we discuss how huge new visa fees threaten to worsen Alaska’s teacher shortage, how federal actions have opened new opportunities for graft, and how the Constitution’s 25th Amendment is not the panacea some hope it might be.
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Home To Roost #48
For this episode, we review Trump’s recent executive order on mail-in ballots in light of the Constitution’s Postal Clause. We also discuss significant changes in how the US Forest Service will be organized in Alaska.
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Home To Roost: #47
This week, we discuss how a looming US Supreme Court decision might stymie state legislative efforts to improve voting in Alaska, and we ponder recent statements by current and former Trump officials on sending ICE to the polls. We also ponder the meaning of the Constitution’s rarely reviewed...
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Home To Roost #46
This week we discuss new federal oil lease sales in Alaska, new hate speech by federal officials outside Alaska, and how the SAVE Act would be a possible unconstitutional return of poll taxes to Alaska. Rachel also presents John with an especially difficult version of “Who Said It”, our weekly…
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Home To Roost # 45
This week, we review one way the Constitution might stymie Trump's attempt to save the SAVE Act. The negative side of high oil prices for Alaska, the appearance of clown shoes in the White House, and more.
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Home To Roost #44
This week we consider some possible economic effects on Alaska due to the U.S.-Iran conflict. We also look at how the Constitution structured similar conflicts early in U.S. history, and we review more strange statements made by the Trump administration.
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Home To Roost #43
Join us this week as we review how the SAVE Act would affect Alaska especially hard and how the 19th Amendment will likely be no protection for women’s voting rights. We also play another round of 'Who said It?”.
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Home To Roost #42
For this show we review the gains and losses in federal funding for rural healthcare, recent ICE arrests in Soldotna, and how the US Constitution’s Progress Clause means for Alaska. We also review some of the stranger things said by some of the nation’s leaders.
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Home To Roost #41: Speech and Debate.
In this episode we discuss likely consequences of the DHS shutdown and of the Trump administration’s decision to pretend that global warming is not real. We also discuss the Constitution’s Speech and Debate Clause and laugh about some of the weirder public statements of the past week.
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Home To Roost #40: How ICE enforcement is affecting immigrant and refugees in Alaska.
In addition to how the Trump administration is affecting Alaska’s ferry system and Scouting America, we look at how ICE enforcement is affecting immigrant and refugees in Alaska and how ICE might play a role in the conduct of the mid-term elections in light of the Constitution’s elections clause.
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Home To Roost #39: Possible Federal Reductions
This week we review reductions in federal childcare support, a possible reduction in defense contracts for Native corporations, and a presidential threat to decertify Canadian-made aircraft. We also play “Who said it?” and read the Constitution’s Indian Commerce Clause.
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Home To Roost #38: All about Greenland: This week Rachel and John look at the implications of Pres. Trump's threats to Alaska's fellow Arctic state: Greenland.
This week Rachel and John look at the implications of President Trump's threats to Alaska's fellow Arctic state: Greenland
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Home to Roost #37: Alaska responds to ICE and DOGE & Weird of the Week
This week we review Native Corporation shareholders pushing back on ICE contracts, soldiers at Ft. Greely going without dinner for three months due to DOGE cuts, and how DHS is buying private location data. We also discuss the weirdest statements of the week.
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Home to Roost #36: Post Office Policies, Submerged Lands in AK and More
In this episode, Rachel and John review changes to post-office policies, the ownership of submerged lands in Alaska, and recent statements by federal officials. We also discuss the Constitution in light of the ideas of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.
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Home To Roost #35: Federal Support for Rural Hospitals and Medicaid Cuts
Rachel and John review how new federal support for rural hospitals contrasts with medicaid cuts and why the Interior Department is considering changes to membership on subsistence councils. They also play public policy pursuit and discuss aboriginal title.
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HTR #34: New Canadian Consulate, Who Mike Johnson Works for and More
Rachel and John discuss the prospect of a new Canadian consulate, federal pressure to stop states from keeping medical debt off credit reports, and federal threats to deport Alaskans due to errors by Alaska’s DMV. We also see who Mike Johnson works for and how Trump’s threats to Greenland are...
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Home to Roost #33: Disappearing Things
Rachel and John discuss disappearing federal health insurance subsidies, disappearing federal atmospheric research, and disappearing manufacturing jobs. We also discuss the how the Constitution’s ban on religious tests was intended to protect religion, not just the government, from hypocrisy.
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HTR #32 Hep B and Birthdays of Autocrats
John and Rachel review some surprising facts about Alaska’s history of Hepatitis B and discuss celebrations of autocratic birthdays. They also play Public Policy Pursuit and review the Constitution’s Nobility Clauses.
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HTR #31 TSA fees, drug education, and possible oil and gas leases.
This week, we look at new TSA fees, drug education, and possible oil and gas leases. We also play public policy pursuit and discuss the Pardons Clause.
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HTR #30: Coast Guard Icebreakers & Federal Homeless Policies
Rachel and John discuss the new Coast Guard icebreakers and changes in federal homeless policies, play Public Policy Pursuit, and review the Constitution’s Oath Clause.
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HTR #29: Federal Workforce and Statements from the White House
John and Rachel discuss what a less capable federal workforce might mean for Alaska, the craziest statements to recently come from the White House, and the meaning of the Constitution’s Guarantee Clause.
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HTR #28: SNAP Chaos and more
What’s been landing in Alaska? SNAP chaos, shortened public comment periods, and ICE enforcement. We also discuss the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and play public policy pursuit.
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HTR #27: Food Stamps, Heating Subsidies, Staggered Terms for US Senate
John and Rachel review how the shutdown is affecting food stamps and heating subsidies, why the Constitution staggers the terms for Senators, and what bizarre statements federal officials now consider appropriate.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Rachel Levitt and John Robertson provide timely researched commentary on Home to Roost, a weekly take on the effect of national policies on Alaska.
HOSTED BY
Rachel Levitt and John Robertson
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Home To Roost have?
Home To Roost currently has 75 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Home To Roost about?
Rachel Levitt and John Robertson provide timely researched commentary on Home to Roost, a weekly take on the effect of national policies on Alaska.
How often does Home To Roost release new episodes?
Home To Roost has 75 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Home To Roost?
You can listen to Home To Roost on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Home To Roost?
Home To Roost is created and hosted by Rachel Levitt and John Robertson.
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