Alaska's Advocate Writer

DONN Liston lives in Eagle River, and attends church regularly.

DONN LISTON is an independent journalist who has lived in Alaska since 1962, and Eagle River since 2010. He was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News during pipeline construction, and a certified teacher who taught Adult Basic Education. He was selected as a 2013 BP Teacher of Excellence for work with Nine Star teaching adult basic education classes in a basement classroom at the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club, and the Mat-Su Job Center. DONN was a member of three State Education Commissions.

Thank You for visiting DonnListon.co!

I write Alaska non-fiction stories in historical context about things regular Alaskans need to know and possibly act upon. If you are looking for a place where they scare you, tell you what you want to hear, and patronize you with happytalk sensationalism to distract you from reality of our failed Alaskan institutions, go to ADN.com.

I am an Independent Journalist. I tell Alaska’s story through my lens of 60 winters living an active politically charged Alaskan Life: No rose-colored glasses. Based on information I provide, you may find a meaningful way to contribute to improving our state for people who are NOT just passing through.

Plenty of people come to Alaska for the wrong reasons and leave nothing of value when the door doesn’t hit them in the ass. Some of those people work in our schools, non-profit corporations, and state government.

Thank you for taking time to read Alaska’s stories!

Alaska is a beautiful and vast state with great potential. We want to share our amazing story since statehood with the world!

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Latest Posts:

Alaska Courts Promote Viewpoint Discrimination
by DONN LISTON
April 13, 2024
Arguments Based on Case Law… By Jessica Pleasant Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa [1] Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee University Viewpoint based discrimination allows for only one group’s opinion over another. The U.S. Supreme Court believes this type of regulated speech the most egregious. A law allowing content-based regulation is exemplified by social media platforms banning… Read more: Alaska Courts Promote Viewpoint Discrimination
Thinking about China; 4,000 Years of Recorded History
by DONN LISTON
April 6, 2024
What’s Alaska’s Long-Term Plan? Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa China HAS a Plan Long-Term Thinking: One who fails to plan for 10 generations cannot plan for one time. Reflecting views of previous Chinese thinkers and dynasty rulers, current president, Xi Zinping has maneuvered China away from failed dogmatic Chinese Communist Party (CCP) short-term thinking toward Enlightened National… Read more: Thinking about China; 4,000 Years of Recorded History
Today is NOT Tomorrow
by DONN LISTON
March 26, 2024
So a little Real Estate and Philosophy – because your concerns about the future may be stopping you making a decision today. Will prices go higher? Will interest rates to down? Will you still have your job? There are so many unknowns that we speculate about that impact our hesitancy to make a decision today. It is the purpose of this article to encourage you to abandon fears about tomorrow and just get on with it. You want a new home, so go and acquire it. Once you make that decision I can most certainly make it happen. When thinking about Real… Read more: Today is NOT Tomorrow
USA in Philippines
by DONN LISTON
March 19, 2024
Buildup of our Asian Frontline Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa Marcos Election Brings Back a PH Dynasty Former PH Pres Rodrigo Duterete, 2016-2022 soured USA relations with his response to Pres. Barack Obama’s expressed concern over human right issues related to Duterete’s War on Criminality and Drugs. During a press conference Duterte infamously called Obama “a son… Read more: USA in Philippines
Why AK Prosecutors are Afraid of Grand Juries
by DONN LISTON
March 6, 2024
It’s About Imperial Control, Baby… Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa Maybe what we need is a grand jury investigation into judge investigator Marla Greenstein, said Haeg as he was sitting in the court building waiting for the opportunity to present evidence to the Grand Jury. You know she would never be convicted because 100 judges would be… Read more: Why AK Prosecutors are Afraid of Grand Juries
Legislative Task Force to Assure Alaska Food Security
by DONN LISTON
February 27, 2024
It’s under control, Folks… Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa This writer’s growing number of Asian readers know Philippine people have experienced starvation. This island archipelago has had abundant food but invasion by hostile forces has meant mass death of Filipinos by starvation. But at a time when Filipino people were dying in Manila streets, Alaska had true… Read more: Legislative Task Force to Assure Alaska Food Security
Building an Honest Model for AK Property Tax Assessment
by DONN LISTON
February 17, 2024
Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa 2023 Alaska property tax assessment process failed the Haines community, causing local outrage and igniting a now statewide movement to amend State Laws currently allowing cutthroat bureaucrats to drive people off of their property to pay for more government. Previous story about this was in Mid-October: [1]Tyranny of the Powerful in Rural… Read more: Building an Honest Model for AK Property Tax Assessment
Who Should be Teaching YOUR Kids?
by DONN LISTON
February 10, 2024
Longstanding Alaska Dilemma Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa Updated version originally published: February 28, 2016 NorthernRight.com Editor’s Note: As the Alaska Legislature is once again barraged by special interests insisting the State of Alaska must provide increased funding for Public Education factories despite our bottom-of-the nation academic outcomes in 50+ Alaska School Districts, perhaps it’s time to… Read more: Who Should be Teaching YOUR Kids?
AK Supreme Court Rules Against Internet TROLLS!
by DONN LISTON
February 2, 2024
Sen. Lora ReinBOLD took them on and won. Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa Credit where credit is due. The AK Supreme Court has ruled correctly by accepting and approving former AK Senator Lora Reinbold’s Petition for Review in the Lawfare Freedom of Speech case brought by Bobbie McDow and the Northern Justice Project, LLC (NJP). Lawfare is… Read more: AK Supreme Court Rules Against Internet TROLLS!
How Alaskans are Rolled by the Alaska Court System
by DONN LISTON
January 29, 2024
And why I Dare Not Take MY Case Before the Alaska Supreme Court Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa Alaska is in a Constitutional Crisis. Nothing demonstrates that fact like current general lawlessness, and the way our AK criminal justice system operates, especially the courts. This writer has written about: 1. State Government efforts to overrule our Constitutional… Read more: How Alaskans are Rolled by the Alaska Court System
Public Officials vs. The People: Alaska’s Due Process Controversy
by DONN LISTON
January 13, 2024
Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa By Jessica Pleasant, The Conservative Fem, and DONN LISTON The State of Alaska is owned by Public Sector Unions organized into represented bargaining units of workers, apparently creating confusion for some appointed public officials who believe they, too, should be afforded Due Process as if they were part of a Union Collective… Read more: Public Officials vs. The People: Alaska’s Due Process Controversy
Activist Judges do Administration’s bidding Ex Pos Facto
by DONN LISTON
December 12, 2023
Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa By Jessica Pleasant, TheConservativeFem.com [1]AK Supreme Court judges information When former President Fernand Marcos plotted to become Philippines dictator beginning with his election in 1965, he changed the laws through a loaded legal and legislative process. Over more than 20 years Marcos enriched himself and his family, crashing the PH economy, causing… Read more: Activist Judges do Administration’s bidding Ex Pos Facto
ALASKA: Crime Capital of USA
by DONN LISTON
November 24, 2023
Big Mike’s Legacies of Failure… Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa Nobody in Alaska seems to care about the crime rate anymore so this story should offend plenty of elected officials and judges who have allowed our state to descend into anarchy. Laws don’t matter, courts don’t care, and smart people are packing…to get the hell out of… Read more: ALASKA: Crime Capital of USA
Is China Bluffing?
by DONN LISTON
November 15, 2023
USA/Asian Conference May Offer Opportunity for Détent Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa English.e. America has a Mutual Defense Agreement with Philippines requiring USA to come to Philippines aide in case of attack. But despite characteristic recent bluster from President Joe Biden, vulnerable allies such as the Philippines need ever more reassurance of USA commitment at this time. It is… Read more: Is China Bluffing?
The State Always Wins in Alaska’s Court System Casino
by DONN LISTON
November 10, 2023
Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa English. By Jessica Pleasant, TheConservativeFem.com Since statehood in 1959 Alaskans have enjoyed a process outside the inbred court system to demand justice for official wrongdoing through an Independent Grand Jury. Most Alaskans do not need to know about this aspect of our government established in the Alaska Constitution until they are wronged in a… Read more: The State Always Wins in Alaska’s Court System Casino
How Alaska Courts FURTHER Damage Children In Broken Families
by DONN LISTON
November 3, 2023
As her Son becomes a Man, Jessica Pleasant Celebrates their Bond Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa English. Jessica Pleasant is a Disabled US ARMY Veteran who has survived the corrupt Alaska Court System and Office of Children’s Services misfit application of Child in Need of Protection laws. Being trained as a paralegal, Pleasant recognized every distortion of the law… Read more: How Alaska Courts FURTHER Damage Children In Broken Families
Tyranny of the Powerful in Rural Alaska
by DONN LISTON
October 15, 2023
Haines, We have a Problem! Notice to International Readers: This site can be read in six languages. Just peck the popup at the bottom of the page to change from English. Ang site na ito ay mababasa sa anim na wika. I-peck lang ang popup sa ibaba ng page para magpalit mula sa English. Rural Alaska often suffers from tyrannical behavior from elected officials and their bureaucrat sycophants, who impose unfair expectations on people simply trying to live in a climate zone that can be unforgiving. Normally very optimistic Haines resident, Brenda Josephson, has been an elected official in Haines, Alaska, and… Read more: Tyranny of the Powerful in Rural Alaska
The Romblon Marble Festival!
by DONN LISTON
September 7, 2023
Natural Resource Bounty in Philippines Romblon, Republic of Philippines January 13, 2023–In the heart of the Philippine Archipelago is an island group with pristine white sand beaches and a major deposit of marble, for which the people celebrate each year with a festival! I was privileged to participate in this Filipino celebration and interviewed one of the largest marble factory owners in the country, Napoleon Makino, Jr. Having already spent some time at nearby San Agustin Island, it cost P72 (About $2.00 USD) for senior fare on the ferry. She was very crowded ship and we traveled a few hours… Read more: The Romblon Marble Festival!
Alaska/USA descending into 3rd World Banana Republic
by DONN LISTON
August 31, 2023
The DEVIL Went Down to Georgia, he was lookin’ for a soul to steal… If President Trump can be violated in our justice system, anybody can. I’ve personally experienced it myself. All Alaskans are at Risk. This isn’t hyperbole; when courts aren’t fair people consider taking the law into their own hands. The Borden thieves stole my security camera system, were ordered by a judge last February within 10-days to return it and everything else they stole, but nothing has happened. I fear for my personal safety in Alaska. Over 60 winters living in Alaska I have done a lot… Read more: Alaska/USA descending into 3rd World Banana Republic
Alaska Joins Philippines-China Love/Hate Relationship
by DONN LISTON
August 21, 2023
Alaska-Philippines Connection 11 While China has become the Neighborhood Bully in Asia, new economic challenges on many fronts will determine how far it can go with that behavior. USA is reducing trade with China. Will USA expect Alaska producers to reduce trade to our top export destination, too? China is now having economic problems… [1]Why China’s economy ran off the rails, Substack.com, Noah Smith, Econ Blogger Mexico and Canada have moved to the top exporters of goods to USA in the first half of this year, as economic decoupling between the two superpowers reduces China’s exports to USA by 25%… Read more: Alaska Joins Philippines-China Love/Hate Relationship
Demise of the FOURTH ESTATE
by DONN LISTON
August 10, 2023
What is Entertainment-NEWS Good For? JUDGE MURPHY TRIAL FOR PERJURY LIVESTREAM LINK: https://courts.alaska.gov/#:~:text=%E2%96%B8%203KN%2D23,2023%20%40%2010%3A00am For boomers like this writer, NEWS was something boring that our parents watched after dinner before entertainment programs on black & white televisions. Today the legacy NEWS is entertainment and little more. [1]Confessions of a Boomer Later, as a cub reporter at the Anchorage Daily News during the mid-1970s I learned that the PRESS is the Fourth Estate; established under the US Constitution to be independent of any government institutions including the Executive, Legislative or Courts except in the case of wrongdoing. This was and remains an… Read more: Demise of the FOURTH ESTATE
Alaska’s 3rd World Child Protection System Destroys Families
by DONN LISTON
July 26, 2023
My immediate reaction (to removal of her four children) was shock, said Hoover. I’m a busy mom and my kids were in jujitsu classes for two weeks, I have just started picking up my job at work and getting schedules going and getting them ready for school. So I wasn’t paying attention to the signs of grooming (by the neighbor). What parent thinks about that stuff when someone offers incidental help to a single parent managing multiple kids? I’m in a public place when I found out about this. So I couldn’t drive. I couldn’t think straight; it was like all my kids had just died. I was with my sister, her fiancé and my fiancé–they saw the damage it did that day.
Make it Monday for Shiloh Community Housing
by DONN LISTON
July 15, 2023
Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Event By Jessica Schultz Pleasant The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce has announced its “Make it Monday” forum will focus on the subject of “Disrupting the Cycle of Homelessness/Homelessness Prevention.” The event will be hosted by Alaska 529. This event will be highlighting the rejuvenating energy the Shiloh Community Housing, Inc., (SCHI), and its new Mt View community resource center. This event will be held on Monday, July 17, 2023, at 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM AKDT, at the Petroleum Club of Anchorage, 3301 C, St. #120, Anchorage, AK 99503. The Monday event schedule is: 11:30 AM… Read more: Make it Monday for Shiloh Community Housing
What Kind Of People Live In Alaska?
by DONN LISTON
July 10, 2023
Alaska (><) Philippines Connection 7 After more than 60 years living in Alaska, I have seen a lot of people come and go and observed what kinds of people are likely to stay. In the 2020 census Alaska was ranked the least densely populated state with 733,391 people over 586,000 square miles of land. This represented an increase of only 23,160 people over the 2010 census. The next largest state of the USA in area is Texas with 261,232 sq mi. and 29.53M people. [1]Alaska census, 2020 The Men That Don’t Fit InBY ROBERT SERVICEThere’s a race of men who… Read more: What Kind Of People Live In Alaska?
Celebrating Rizal on my Birthday!
by DONN LISTON
July 5, 2023
Alaska (><) Philippines Connection 6 Having a birthday on July 2 has always meant a big celebration as it is two days before American Independence Day (July 4). That meant I was always dubbed a FIRECRACKER! But this year is different because July 4 is no longer celebrated as Philippine Independence Day, as the American Overlords had declared it to be in 1946 after WWII My Birthday at the Birthplace of Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal Kuya Nap doesn’t speak English very well but he is very openly kind and accommodating to me. He planted this tree many years ago… Read more: Celebrating Rizal on my Birthday!
Q: Why must THE MOB attack Sen. Reinbold?
by DONN LISTON
June 29, 2023
A: Because She was Right. As many Alaskans continue to be disappointed in most of our faux Republican Legislators and Governor, it might be time to review what happened in a recent time when a conservative Alaska elected official was BOLD. Of course, that would be Lora Reinbold, who is now standing alone in the tender clutches of the Alaska Court System in two cases aimed at diminishing her as a rational and BOLD conservative who represented her Chugach-Eagle River constituents with conservative aplomb. That’s why the unions who own and run this state hate her. I am one of… Read more: Q: Why must THE MOB attack Sen. Reinbold?
Alaska’s Covid Pandemic Battle
by DONN LISTON
June 29, 2023
Ship of Fools Fights Covid-19 at Anchorage This story has been updated since its original posting February, 2021 but reflects this writer’s understanding of the situation at the time.. Some might think our recent Covid-19 Pandemic was mitigated by destroying the private sector economy of Anchorage. Looking over the events of the last year, and comparing outcomes by community, we now know lockdowns made no difference. However, the Anchorage lockdown will surely make it more difficult to return to normalcy in Alaska’s largest city. Ultimately Alaskans would learn that Masks were of no consequence but only caused government to impose… Read more: Alaska’s Covid Pandemic Battle
Too Bold? Rep Lora Reinbold speaks out on SB 91, Education, and the Budget
by DONN LISTON
June 27, 2023
This story was first published ECHO News November 1, 2017 Trying to catch Rep. Lora Reinbold to interview for a story is a challenge. But pinning her down on the issues is a snap. She is outspoken on many issues, voting on principle, while some other elected officials play it safe. [1]In This Race for Senate Reinbold beat Rep. Dan Saddler. Read my Updated story about Born-Again Dan! Reinbold is currently an Alternate member of both the House Education Committee, and Select Committee On Legislative Ethics. She is a full member on Law (Finance Subcommittee), Judiciary (Finance Subcommittee), Military &… Read more: Too Bold? Rep Lora Reinbold speaks out on SB 91, Education, and the Budget