The Empty Office Podcast

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason sit down with representatives from the ACLU of Alaska to discuss prison deaths, trans rights, and the politicization of criminal justice reform efforts. ACLU of Alaska Prison Project This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin is joined by two 4th grade teachers from Soldotna to discuss the crisis in Alaska's public schools brought on by years of flat education funding. Kristie Cotroneo and Heather Baker are both teachers at the K-Beach Elementary School in Soldotna. Both Kristie and Heather testified on February 14 in front of the Senate Education Committee. This is a public episode. If you would l...

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin recently spoke to school district officials from across Alaska about the historical struggle to establish a public education system open to all students. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Reaction to Governor Dunleavy's State of the State speech from Rep. Andy Josephson, Rep. Genevieve Mina, and Sen. Löki Gale Tobin. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin discusses Senate Bill 140 and Mike Mason talks to former Alaska Teacher of the Year Marilyn Rosene from Dillingham. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason discuss the start of the Alaska State Legislature's 2024 session with retired teacher turned lawmaker Rep. Sara Hannan from Juneau. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Listen now (45 mins) | Sen. Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason discuss homelessness, religion, and politics with Reverend Matt Schultz from the First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

March 7, 2023, was a tense and unscripted day in the office of Sen. Löki Gale Tobin. We wrap up season 1 with a look back at that day and hear how Sen. Tobin responded to events in real-time. Send feedback and questions to Michael. Mason@akleg.gov. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason discuss the "Employee Free Speech Act" and the importance of unions with Patrick Fitzgerald , the Political Coordinator for Teamsters Local 959. Email comments to michael.mason@akleg.gov or Sen. Loki. Tobin@akleg.gov. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason are joined by Sen. Cathy Giessel from Anchorage to talk about the 2023 legislative session and her work on pension reform for public sector workers in Alaska. Please note that the audio quality of episode 18 is not the best. The podcast was recorded using Zoom and, as you can hear, Sen. Giessel's audio is often distorted. We will endeavor to improve the sound in...

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason talk with Sen. Scott Kawasaki from Fairbanks about the effort to pass election reform legislation and the relationship between the Alaska House and Alaska Senate. Note: Sen. Kawasaki has been working to pass Senate Bill 138 , which is an omnibus election reform bill. Note: Sen. Kawasaki did not choose which version of Batman he would like to insert into the Alas...

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason sit down with Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson just hours after a compromise budget was passed by the Alaska State Legislature. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason are joined by Sen. Tobin's father, Lew Tobin, for a wide-ranging conversation about Nome, the Alaska State Legislature, and being a single-father. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin & Mike Mason discuss the crisis in public education and the efforts to increase funding with Dr. Lisa Parady, Executive Director of the Alaska Council of School Administrators . Senate Bill 52 will be considered by the Senate Finance Committee during a meeting scheduled for 9:00 am on Tuesday, May 9. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscr...

Senator Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason talk climate change and renewable portfolio standards with Chris Rose, the founder of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Senator Löki Gale Tobin (D-Anchorage) and Mike Mason were joined by the Executive Director of the Association of Alaska School Boards on April 19 to discuss the role of school boards in public education in Alaska. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason are joined by Roy Getchell, the Superintendent of the Haines Borough School District, to discuss the effort to increase funding for public education in Alaska. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason are joined by ISER Director Diane Hirshberg to discuss data and how it can inform good public policy decisions for the State of Alaska. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Mike Mason and Sen. Löki Gale Tobin are joined by Rep. Cliff Groh and Rep. Zack Fields for an update on the ongoing legislative session in Juneau. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin & Mike Mason sit down with two District I constituents (shout out to Fairview and South Addition) who traveled to Juneau to advocate on behalf of the Pacific Community of Alaska. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Former journalist and current legislative staffer Mike Mason sits down with veteran journalists Tim Bradner and Larry Persily to discuss the Alaska State Legislature and how the institution has changed over the years. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Mike Mason and Sen. Löki Gale Tobin sit down with fellow podcaster Rep. Andrew Gray to discuss an eventful week in the Alaska State Legislature. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Sen. Löki Gale Tobin sits down with her mentor, former State Senator Tom Begich, to discuss life inside and outside of the Alaska State Senate. Special intro and outro music by the one, and only, Tom Begich. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

An interview with Senator Bill Wielechowski about oil tax reform, the formation of the Alaska Senate Majority, and the capitol press corps. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

In this episode of the Empty Office Podcast, host Mike Mason asks Senator Löki Gale Tobin and guest former State Representative Chris Tuck how to be a great lawmaker and survive the political turmoil in Juneau. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com