Democrats appear to be pulling some more shenanigans in Alaska as Democratic Senate candidate David Leslie withdrew from the Senate race Monday, making former Rep. Mary Peltola the field’s only Democratic candidate as three Republicans will appear on the ballot.
Leslie&#8217;s decision clears the way for a Republican who narrowly missed the top four in the state’s primary to advance to the November ballot. 
Leslie, a democratic socialist from Fairbanks who ran to the Left of Peltola, finished fourth in the August 18 primary with roughly 1.1% of the vote. His withdrawal came hours before Alaska’s deadline for candidates to leave the November ballot.
That decision elevated Republican Gerald Heikes, who finished fifth with roughly 1.1% of the vote, into the general election. Heikes finished just 109 votes behind Leslie. The change leaves Peltola as the only Democrat on the ballot and gives Republicans three candidates in the race: incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, Republican challenger Dan J. Sullivan, and Heikes. The move led <a href="https://x.com/VoteHub/status/2094529883376423178">VoteHub</a> to flip its rating of the race from “Toss Up” to “Tilt Democrat.”
The development comes as Republicans have already accused Democrats of trying to manipulate the unusual Senate contest through the candidacy of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dan-sullivan-endorses-dan-sullivan-against-dan-sullivan-in-key-senate-race">Dan J. Sullivan</a>, a retired Petersburg teacher who shares a first and last name with the incumbent Republican senator.
Republicans, including Sen. Sullivan, have accused Dan J. Sullivan of working with Democrats and the Peltola campaign to confuse voters and siphon support away from the incumbent. Dan J. Sullivan, Peltola’s campaign and the Alaska Democratic Party have denied the allegations.
Sen. Sullivan has called his namesake’s candidacy a “dirty political trick coordinated by Democrats and the campaign” of Peltola and accused him of “purposely trying to trick my constituents to rig the election for Peltola.” The allegations followed a legal fight over Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy. Alaska election officials initially removed him from the ballot, but the Alaska Supreme Court ultimately ruled that he was eligible to run. He went on to finish third in the August primary with 2.5% of the vote, securing one of the four spots in the general election.
Now, Leslie’s withdrawal has produced another unusual twist in the race. The top four candidates are relevant because Alaska uses a ranked-choice voting system. The top four finishers in the open primary advance to the general election regardless of party, where voters rank the candidates. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed according to voters’ next available choices until someone reaches a majority.
Peltola dominated the primary, receiving 49.5% of the vote to Sullivan’s 41.4%. Dan J. Sullivan received 2.5%, while Leslie and Heikes were separated by only a handful of votes for the final qualifying spot.
Leslie’s withdrawal therefore removes the only other Democrat from a race in which Peltola already enters the general election with a substantial primary showing. It also puts another Republican on the ballot, potentially giving voters who oppose Sullivan another option while creating another set of preferences that could eventually be redistributed under Alaska’s ranked-choice system.
The field is considerably different from the one Alaska voters faced in August, when 16 candidates competed for four spots. The Senate race is expected to be one of the country’s most closely watched contests as Democrats seek to gain seats in the chamber. Peltola is seeking a promotion to the Senate after serving in the House from 2022 to 2025, while Sullivan is seeking a third term representing Alaska.
For Republicans, Leslie’s departure means the Democrats’ alleged efforts to shape the race have not ended with the Dan Sullivan controversy. For Democrats, it means Peltola will enter November without another Democrat competing for first-choice votes. Either way, a Senate race that was already among the country’s strangest just became even more complicated.

Sen. Dan Sullivan

Democrats Pull Out Another Dirty Trick To Flip GOP Senate Seat

Alaska

dan sullivan

Politics

Republicans

Senate Democrats

Senate Race

Senate Republicans

U.S. Politics

Another slate of Democratic candidates running in the midterm elections has rejected former Vice President Kamala Harris&#8217; endorsement, underscoring the toxic brand her failed presidential campaign has left behind in key battleground states.
Iowa Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek on Wednesday flatly rejected the idea of Harris campaigning for him.
A <a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/campaign-2026/iowa-us-senate-candidate-josh-turek-d-ia-speaks-to-reporters-in-cedar-rapids/684486">reporter pressed</a> the Senate hopeful at a Cedar Rapids event about whether he would welcome the former vice president — and one of the Democratic Party’s top leaders — onto the campaign trail.
“No,” the state representative firmly said. 
Turek, a state representative and two-time Paralympic gold medalist, is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hegseths-iowa-trip-raises-early-questions-about-2028">challenging</a> Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), the Republican nominee for the open Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Joni Ernst. Polls show a competitive race in a state Trump won by double digits in 2024. 
Another Iowa Democrat, gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, also rejected the idea of embracing Harris on the stump and even shot down the idea of her running for president again in 2028.
“No thanks. Let’s move on,” Sand told <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/08/26/iowa-governor-rob-sand-state-fair-01049432">Politico</a>. “We need some new leadership.” He also brushed off the idea of seeking former President Biden’s support. “No. Can he even do that right now?” Sand asked.
Sand, Iowa’s current state auditor and the most recent Democrat elected to statewide office, is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/razor-thin-governor-primary-snaps-trump-endorsement-streak">running against</a> Iowa farmer and businessman Zach Lahn, who narrowly defeated Trump-endorsed Rep. Randy Feenstra to win the Republican nomination for governor in June.
The strategy of sidelining national Democrats is not limited to Iowa, as the Democratic Party’s brand remains deeply unpopular with voters nationwide.
Former Rep. Mary Peltola’s (D-AK) Senate campaign <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-runs-from-kamala-harris-support">made clear earlier this month</a> that it wants nothing to do with Harris’s message of support.
Harris’s Fight for the People PAC sent an email urging supporters to “stand behind Mary,” The New York Times reported. The PAC called the Alaska contest a “must-win race” for Democrats seeking to retake the Senate, declaring, “If there’s anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats — it’s Mary.”
The message directed donors to a page asking them to split their contributions between Peltola’s campaign and Harris’s political committee. Peltola’s team quickly pushed back, saying the campaign had not authorized the email and had no knowledge of it before it was sent.
“Mary isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 — her focus is and always will be Alaska,” the statement read, citing support she has received from several Alaska labor groups.
Peltola, a former congresswoman, is running against incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). In a state Trump won by 13 points, early polling shows a tight race with Peltola holding a two-point advantage, according to <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/alaska/peltola-vs-sullivan">RealClearPolitics.</a> <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dan-sullivan-endorses-dan-sullivan-against-dan-sullivan-in-key-senate-race?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dan+Sullivan+Endorses+Dan+Sullivan+Against+Dan+Sullivan+In+Key+Senate+Race">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported how the presence of two Dan Sullivans is confusing voters and complicating a race that could determine control of the Senate.
Republicans moved fast to connect the two. Nick Puglia, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/razor-thin-governor-primary-snaps-trump-endorsement-streak">said</a> Peltola had worked “hand in hand with Kamala Harris to put Alaska last, so it’s no surprise that Harris is backing Peltola.”

Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. Kamala Harris Attends Campaign Events In Las Vegas

Nobody Wants To Campaign With Kamala

Ashley Hinson

Democrats

elections 2026

Iowa

Josh Turek

mary peltola

Midterms

News

Rob Sand

U.S. Senate

In a U.S. Senate race that could determine control of the chamber, Alaskans now face an unusual choice: Dan Sullivan or Dan Sullivan. And a third political heavyweight named Dan Sullivan has drawn a line in the sand, weighing in on which Sullivan he backs heading into November.
Earlier this week, former Anchorage Mayor Dan A. Sullivan endorsed Sen. Dan S. Sullivan (R-AK) for re-election this fall over retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan and former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola. 
“As the OG Dan Sullivan, I urge Alaskans to vote for Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan. He’s been great for Alaska,” the former mayor <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dan.sullivan.3910/posts/pfbid02rq5wKtwmJHp3b1fNCQmQ43AspBkDZqcCTDV5KneoBean9q35RKX7Ao5CmeEF9mXUl">posted on his Facebook page.</a>
The endorsement, which went viral on social media, follows a closely watched legal fight over Dan J. Sullivan’s Senate bid. The former elementary school teacher, who has no prior political experience, successfully qualified for the primary ballot, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-runs-from-kamala-harris-support">The Daily Wire previously reported.</a>
Republicans, including the incumbent senator, have accused Dan J. Sullivan of working with Democrats and the Peltola campaign to confuse voters and boost Peltola&#8217;s chances of defeating Sen. Sullivan.
Dan J. Sullivan, Peltola&#8217;s campaign, and the Alaska Democratic Party have denied the allegation.
Sen. Sullivan has called his namesake&#8217;s candidacy a &#8220;dirty political trick coordinated by Democrats and the campaign&#8221; of Peltola and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/02/alaska-senate-dan-sullivan-name-ballot-peltola/6559e452-5ee5-11f1-9c46-d6211372eede_story.html">accused</a> him of &#8220;purposely trying to trick my constituents to rig the election for Peltola.&#8221;
Alaska election officials initially removed Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot, but he ultimately prevailed at the state’s highest court and was allowed to run.
Republicans&#8217; concerns intensified after Dan J. Sullivan placed third in the nonpartisan primary and secured a spot on the November ballot alongside Sen. Sullivan and Peltola. 
The national GOP, however, got some good news in the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/08/18/us/elections/results-alaska-us-senate-primary.html">latest vote dump</a> from the August 18 election. As of Wednesday, Democratic candidate David B. Leslie was leading another Republican by just 43 votes for the final spot on the November ballot. If the result holds, Leslie would advance and could potentially pull votes away from Peltola.
Alaska uses ranked-choice voting in the general election. Voters rank candidates by preference, and if no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-performing candidate is eliminated and those ballots are redistributed according to voters&#8217; subsequent choices.
Peltola also made waves earlier this month when she distanced herself from support offered by former Vice President Kamala Harris’ political action committee.  
Harris’s Fight for the People PAC sent an email urging supporters to “stand behind Mary,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-runs-from-kamala-harris-support">The Daily Wire reported.</a> It called the Alaska contest a “must-win race” for Democrats hoping to retake the Senate and declared, “If there’s anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats — it’s Mary.”
Peltola&#8217;s team responded almost immediately, insisting it had not approved the email and had no knowledge of it before it went out.
“Mary isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 — her focus is and always will be Alaska,” the statement read. 
<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488531">The Cook Political Report</a> ranks the race as a toss-up.

dan-sullivan-x-2

Dan Sullivan Endorses Dan Sullivan Against Dan Sullivan In Key Senate Race

ballots

Mary Petola

Republican

Voting

Eight people are dead after a plane carrying multiple Army engineers crashed Thursday near an isolated Alaskan radar station. 
The Federal Aviation Administration said the crash occurred Thursday at 12:15 p.m. when a chartered Cessna aircraft went down near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site airport in southwestern Alaska. No immediate information was released on the cause of the crash, but the FAA and the National Safety Transportation Board are investigating. 
“This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,&#8221; said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis. “These individuals were dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment. Our absolute priority right now is providing unwavering support to their families, friends, and teammates during this devastating time. We are profoundly grateful for the swift and tireless response of our search and recovery professionals.”
The plane left Anchorage and its final destination was Cape Newenham, the location of an Air Force-managed radar tracking site. 
Two of the victims on the plane were members of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, which chartered the flight. Six passengers and two pilots with flight company Security Aviation were on the flight.  
“We have received confirmation that the two [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers] employees onboard were fatalities. Next of kin have been notified. We are coordinating closely with the appropriate local, state, and federal authorities,” the Army Corps said. 
The fatalities were confirmed by a rescue team from Alaska Air National Guard&#8217;s 176th Wing.
&#8220;Guardian Angel personnel from the 212th Rescue Squadron confirmed there were no survivors,&#8221; Alaskan Command <a href="https://abcnews.com/US/small-plane-8-aboard-crashes-alaska-faa/story?id=135827761">said</a>. &#8220;The names of the passengers and crew will be released 24 hours after notification of next of kin.&#8221;
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) offered her condolences to the victims of the crash, noting she has frequently flown on flights operated by Security Aviation. 
“I join Alaskans in condolences as we learn of the plane crash in Cape Newenham today. I’ve traveled extensively with Security Aviation throughout Alaska, and have met many of their experienced pilots,” she <a href="https://x.com/lisamurkowski/status/2090629413323087975">said</a>. “Alaska is praying for those on board, their loved ones, and the team at Security Aviation.”

Aerial photograph of alaskan river

Deadly Alaska Plane Crash Was Carrying Team On Vital Military Mission

Airplane crash

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Lisa Murkowski

National transportation Safety Board

With control of the U.S. Senate hanging in the balance, Democrats are pushing to pick up seats anywhere they can — but reports out of Alaska suggest a storm may be brewing for Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola ahead of Tuesday&#8217;s primary.
Peltola, according to several reports, will be going into Tuesday&#8217;s primary without her campaign manager, Anton McParland — who has been with Peltola since 2022 and previously served as her chief of staff.
The Alaska Landmine <a href="https://alaskalandmine.com/landmines/saturday-night-massacre-mary-peltola-fires-senior-campaign-staff-days-before-primary/">reported</a> that several senior staffers were handed walking papers in what the outlet referred to as a &#8220;Saturday Night Massacre&#8221; — leaving other staffers wondering whether they might be next.
New York Times political reporter Kellen Browning <a href="https://x.com/Kellen_Browning/status/2089172446872055865">appeared to confirm</a> at least part of the Landmine&#8217;s story, writing on X, &#8220;This is true [a]nd Anton McParland, Peltola’s campaign manager and former chief of staff, is no longer with the campaign.&#8221;
McParland&#8217;s departure is particularly notable because of just how long — and how closely — he worked with Peltola. By her side since her breakthrough victory to land a U.S. House seat in 2022, he remained on her staff throughout her one term in Congress — first as her deputy chief of staff, then as her chief of staff.
After Peltola&#8217;s 2024 reelection loss, both she and McParland moved on to take roles at lobbying firm Holland &amp; Hart in March 2025. When she launched her U.S. Senate run, he managed her campaign.
Prediction markets have Peltola&#8217;s race — against incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) — as a virtual dead heat, but losing a longtime adviser and campaign manager just hours before the polls open could hurt voter confidence.
Alaska is broadly viewed as a &#8220;must-win&#8221; state for Democrats, who need to pick up four seats in the upper chamber to gain control — and a major campaign shake-up going into Tuesday&#8217;s primary does not project the kind of strong message that Peltola needs to send.
Peltola also scrambled to do some damage control a few days prior, running away from the endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris&#8217;s Fight for the People PAC sent an email last Wednesday promoting Peltola, saying in part, &#8220;If there’s anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats — it’s Mary.&#8221;
Peltola&#8217;s campaign quickly dismissed the email as unsolicited and said no one on the campaign had been aware of it before it went out: &#8220;Mary isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 — her focus is and always will be Alaska.&#8221;
An <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-runs-from-kamala-harris-support">endorsement from Harris</a>, who performed poorly in Alaska in her 2024 presidential bid, is not expected to give Peltola any kind of boost — and being tied to Harris&#8217;s record and policies could put her at a disadvantage in the typically red state.
Thus far, it is unclear whether McParland&#8217;s exit is related to the campaign&#8217;s attempt to distance Peltola from Harris following that email.
But Peltola&#8217;s campaign shake-up is not the only complication dogging Alaska&#8217;s Senate race: incumbent Sen. Sullivan will be joined on the ballot by another candidate named Dan Sullivan — a retired 5th grade teacher who describes himself as a &#8220;pragmatic Republican.&#8221;
President Donald Trump and a number of others have suggested that his name on the ballot was an intentional move to confuse voters and damage the incumbent, but Democrats have denied any connection with his campaign.
Alaska&#8217;s &#8220;top four&#8221; primary — in which the top four candidates in every primary, regardless of party, advance to the general election — sets the stage for even more confusion in the general election, because both Dan Sullivans could see another face-off in November.

US-POLITICS-ELECTION-PORTRAIT

‘Chaos’ Reigns In ‘Must-Win’ Senate Race For Dems

2026 elections

Kamala Harris

Former Rep. Mary Peltola’s (D-AK) Senate <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/us/politics/kamala-harris-mary-peltola-endorsement.html">campaign</a> made clear this week that it wants nothing to do with former Vice President Kamala Harris’s message of support.
On Wednesday, Harris’s Fight for the People PAC sent an email urging supporters to “stand behind Mary,” The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/us/politics/kamala-harris-mary-peltola-endorsement.html">reported</a>. It called the Alaska contest a “must-win race” for Democrats hoping to retake the Senate and declared, “If there’s anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats — it’s Mary.” The message linked to a page asking donors to split contributions between Peltola’s campaign and Harris’s own committee.
Peltola’s team responded immediately. The campaign said it had not approved the email and had no knowledge of it before it went out.
“Mary isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 — her focus is and always will be Alaska,” the statement read, citing support she has received from several Alaska labor groups.
Peltola did not endorse Harris in 2024.
Peltola, a former congresswoman, is running against incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Limited polling thus far shows the race to be competitive, but Peltola would need to far outperform Harris’s 2024 showing in the state: a 13-point loss.
Republicans moved fast to connect the two. Nick Puglia, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Peltola had worked “hand in hand with Kamala Harris to put Alaska last, so it’s no surprise that Harris is backing Peltola.”
Nate Adams, speaking for Sullivan’s campaign, added, “No matter how hard Mary Peltola tries to hide from the endorsement, Alaskans can see exactly whose team she and Kamala Harris are on.”
This was not the first time Harris’s PAC has pushed Peltola. On January 12, the day Peltola announced her candidacy, the same group sent a similar appeal that read, “This is the race that may determine control of the Senate.” The latest message emerged just days before Alaska’s August 18 nonpartisan primary. Under Alaska&#8217;s odd voting system, the top four finishers in the primary advance to November, regardless of party.
State Representative Rebecca Himschoot, an independent, called the email “really dumb” and said Harris was “riding Mary Peltola’s coattails.” Himschoot noted that Harris is not currently running for anything and “didn’t do well here to begin with.” She described the overall swarm of outside messaging in the race as “tremendously manipulative.”
Harris has left the door open for another presidential run in 2028.
Alaska has not sent a Democrat to the Senate in nearly two decades. Most voters in the state are politically unaffiliated. Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who often crosses party lines to vote with Democrats, won re-election in 2022 by defeating a Trump-backed challenger.
Another candidate named Dan Sullivan, a former elementary school teacher with no prior political experience, is also on the ballot. Republicans have accused the other Dan Sullivan of working with Democrats and Peltola’s campaign to confuse voters and siphon support from incumbent Sen. Sullivan. The Peltola campaign has denied any coordination. The second Sullivan successfully fought in court to remain on the ballot after election officials tried to remove him.

AUSTRIA-US-CLIMATE-SUMMIT

Dem Senate Hopeful Runs From Kamala Harris Support

2026 Midterms

Election

Senate

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s path to becoming permanent head of the Justice Department became more difficult on Friday after Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said she would not vote to confirm him. 
Murkowski joins Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in her opposition to Blanche, claiming he would further the politicization of the Justice Department. The Alaska Republican also cited pro-life commitments made by Blanche and now-rescinded plans to create a fund for the victims of government weaponization as reasons to oppose his nomination.
While she said that Blanche comes across as “decent and capable,” and had “numerous constructive meetings” with him, Murkowski said she would “oppose his nomination.” 
“The politicization — even weaponization — of the Department did not start with this administration but has accelerated during it,” she said. “I take issue with the handling of the release of the Epstein files; the sweeping immunity protections granted to the President, his family, and their businesses; the statements that have been made to anti-abortion groups; and the repeated targeting of individuals ranging from former administration staff to sitting U.S. Senators.”
Murkowski added that she was still skeptical that the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund Blanche <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/todd-blanche-makes-move-to-secure-votes-from-two-gop-holdouts?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=10&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Todd+Blanche+Makes+Move+To+Secure+Votes+From+Two+GOP+Holdouts">rescinded</a> on Sunday would stay dead. While that was enough for Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to vote for his nomination to advance from the Senate Judiciary Committee, both Murkowski and Collins said they were not convinced. 
“The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration,” she said. “I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case.”
With Senator Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) long absence from the Senate amid health issues, Blanche cannot afford to lose any more Republicans. Outgoing Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has met with Blanche this week and is reportedly one of the key votes yet to be decided. It is unknown when a full Senate vote could occur. 
Last weekend, Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117020029291674756">said</a> that if Blanche was not confirmed, he would continue to “push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill, which takes care of those who have been so badly treated by the Crooked Joe Biden (and Obuma!) Administration.”

DOJ Announces Charges Against Top Members Of Mexico Cartel CJNG

Second GOP Senator Comes Out Against Blanche Confirmation

bill Cassidy

Department of Justice

Donald Trump

Maine

Mitch McConnell

Susan Collins

Todd Blanche

An Alaska fishing guide captured a viral selfie video showing a brown bear casually eating a salmon just inches from his head. 
Carter Brown was leading a fishing charter near Soldotna, Alaska, last week when a mother brown bear approached his boat looking for an easy meal. Brown pulled out his phone and recorded the encounter as the bear found a salmon and began eating it beside him.  
“I decided to take a selfie video of her as she foraged. She finds a piece of salmon while foraging and eats it right next to my head,” Brown told <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/grizzly-bear-shows-off-fish-065232078.html">Storyful</a>. “My clients were mind blown!”
Brown later told Fox &amp; Friends that a second bear was visible in the background while a third remained just out of frame.
“I work in an extremely unique location where bears and humans coexist unlike anywhere else in the world,” Brown said.
Brown said encounters like this are part of the job, and he relies on experience to keep clients calm.
“This was an active fishing charter. This bear approached us while we were fishing,” he said to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LszXueolrEI">Fox and Friends</a>. “When that happens, I tell my people… be cool. I’m not necessarily worried about them creating a reaction with a bear, maybe worried about them bumping someone over or causing a scene.”
Brown said he was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response the video generated online. 
“We get a lot of negative feedback, especially on the internet, where they seem to kind of take off,” he said. “Everybody was just really well received.”

Carter Brown Bear Viral Video

WATCH: Massive Brown Bear Comes Within Feet Of Fisherman To Grab Salmon

Brown Bear

Matt Brown, 42, the eldest brother of the &#8220;Alaskan Bush People&#8221; family, was found dead over the weekend in a Washington state river.
His brother Bear, 38, confirmed the loss in an emotional video on Saturday, sharing that the youngest brother, 33-year-old Noah, helped pull Matt out of the water and identified the body as his older brother. 
&nbsp;
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&#8220;I would&#8217;ve never suspected he would&#8217;ve hurt himself,&#8221; Bear said in the video. &#8220;It does look as though the injury is self-inflicted.&#8221; The family is still waiting on the coroner&#8217;s report to confirm the cause of death.
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<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY_QL5Ngs9l/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bear Brown (@bearbrownthekingofextreme)</a>
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Matt&#8217;s body was discovered after a search that lasted several days.
Last week, the Okanogan County Sheriff&#8217;s Office <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1422965179869181&amp;set=a.227153996116978">posted</a> a press release that detailed a 911 call describing a man sitting in the shallow water of the Okanogan River. When the caller turned away, he heard a noise, and after turning back around, he saw that the man was face down in the water, drifting down the current. First responders were unable to locate the man, though a firearm was recovered where he was last seen.
In another <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZBxxxVAuzD/?hl=en">post</a>, Bear shared a tribute on behalf of the whole family: &#8220;It is with broken hearts that we share the loss of our beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, Matthew Brown. To millions of viewers, Matt was known as one of the original stars of Alaskan Bush People.&#8221;
&#8220;When we think of Matt, we will remember the young man who loved the wilderness, could navigate rough waters, draw for hours, lose himself in learning, make us laugh unexpectedly, and dream bigger than most people ever dared. He was imperfect. He was human. He was deeply loved. And he will be missed beyond words.&#8221;
The Discovery Channel&#8217;s “Alaskan Bush People,” which ran from 2014 to 2022, featured the Brown family and their unique lives off the grid in remote Alaska. 
Matt had reportedly grown estranged from the family in recent years and struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DY0WjdBJnhc/?hl=en">According to Bear</a>, he &#8220;didn’t want anything to do with the family.&#8221;
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free hotline for individuals in crisis or distress or for those looking to help someone else. It is available 24/7 by dialing 988.

‘Alaskan Bush People’ Star Found Dead In A River

Death

Captain Rick Shelford, star of the popular Discovery Channel reality series “Deadliest Catch,” revealed on Monday that his 25-year-old deckhand, Todd Meadows, died in a fishing accident.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Meadows&#8217; death in statement on Tuesday, saying that Meadows fell overboard about 170 miles north of the Dutch Harbor, off Alaska&#8217;s Aleutian Islands.
&#8220;He was recovered unresponsive by the crew approximately ten minutes later,&#8221; the spokesperson said, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/deckhand-deadliest-catch-boat-dies-fishing-alaskan-waters-rcna261372">per</a> NBC News. &#8220;First aid and attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful, and the crew transported the deceased to Dutch Harbor.&#8221;
“February 25, 2026 was the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea,” Shelford said in a Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/captainrick.shelford/posts/898155459760463">post</a>, which included photos of Meadows. “We lost our brother, Todd Meadows. Todd was the newest member of our crew, he quickly became family. His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone’s respect right away. His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always.”
“Deadliest Catch” premiered in 2005 and remains a popular series for the network. It follows crab fishermen working in the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king crab and snow crab fishing seasons, documenting the dangers of the job along the way. 
Alaskan crab fishing is considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
“Todd’s love for his children, his family, and his life was evident in everything he did. He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him,” the post went on. “Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express. We ask that you lift Todd’s children and family in prayer and keep them in your thoughts as they face the days ahead without him. Todd will forever be part of this boat, this crew, and this brotherhood. Though we lost him far too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we carry of him. Rest easy brother, till we meet again.”
A GoFundMe campaign was set up for Meadows’ family. The description mentioned that the deckhand was fishing at the time of his death. “We are heartbroken to share the sudden passing of Todd Morgan Meadows, a beloved 25-year-old father, son, brother and friend, who left us far too soon while doing what he loved — crabbing out on Alaskan waters,” the GoFundMe page read.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows,&#8221; a <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/deckhand-deadliest-catch-boat-dies-fishing-alaskan-waters-rcna261372">statement</a> from Discovery said, per NBC. &#8220;This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time.”

Aleutian Lady

‘Deadliest Catch’ Deckhand Dies On Alaskan Fishing Boat

Entertainment

Reality TV

Television

If Alaska Democrat Senate candidate Mary Peltola had her way, states would not be allowed to shield kids from transgender procedures like cross-sex hormones and double mastectomies.
Peltola, who briefly held Alaska’s lone House seat, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/561/cosponsors">signed</a> onto a resolution that condemned states that shield kids from transgender procedures. The Senate hopeful has consistently voted in line with Democrat orthodoxy on transgender issues throughout her time in the House. 
In July 2024, Peltola co-sponsored a House resolution that condemned state actions to protect unborn life and prohibit doctors from performing transgender medical procedures on kids. The resolution decried the “criminalization of the full range of sexual and reproductive health care such as abortion,” and so-called “gender-affirming care.” 
The resolution said that “no person” should be punished for “seeking or obtaining gender-affirming care.”
Specifically, the resolution targeted state legislation &#8220;designed to severely limit access to necessary gender-affirming care, especially for young people, which is against the recommendations of major medical organizations&#8221; and &#8220;designed to criminalize and penalize providing gender-affirming care to young people, providers of gender-affirming care for young people, and the parents of those young people for enabling access to this essential care.”
Over two dozen states have passed legislation protecting kids from transgender procedures.
Like many Democrats running for office in 2026, Peltola will have to address her support for transgender ideology. 
The election of President Donald Trump in 2024 showed that large swaths of Americans do not want kids to undergo transgender procedures or allow boys to compete as girls on sports teams. 
The far-left Human Rights Campaign is <a href="https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/documents/OneYearOUT-rev6.pdf">urging</a> Democratic candidates to address attacks against radical transgender ideology directly and stress “fairness” and “safety” while not deviating from pushing transgender ideology. Potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates have also been <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/18/democrats-2028-struggle-trans-rights">shying</a> away from the issue, including failed 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris. 
Earlier this month, Peltola <a href="https://thealaskastory.com/dc-influencer-class-fundraisers-clash-with-peltolas-anti-insider-message/">reportedly</a> attended a fundraiser with major Democrat donor David Steinglass, a <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-steinglass-a7525a1b/">self-described</a> “donor activist for transgender rights.” 
While she has downplayed questions on whether men should be allowed to compete in women’s sports, Peltola <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023192">voted</a> against proposed <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/734">legislation</a> that would require schools receiving federal funding to not allow gender-confused boys onto girls’ sports teams. 
While campaigning for the House, Peltola was evasive on the issue, saying that she needed to “better acquaint myself with this issue, which I believe is more complicated than some make it out to be.”
“My starting point is that sports should be fair for all students, and we must protect the rights of all students – especially those that are already subject to significant discrimination,” she <a href="https://www.adn.com/politics/2022/08/06/candidate-qa-us-house-mary-peltola/">said</a>. “I look forward to learning more, and focusing on the many other pressing challenges the U.S. Congress is facing.”
Peltola also <a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/qa-with-2022-alaska-u-s-house-candidate-mary-peltola/">backed</a> the so-called “Equality Act,” which would embed protections for perceived “gender-identity” into federal civil rights laws and would give access for transgender-identifying men to women’s bathrooms. 
“The Equality Act must be passed to prevent unfair and unlawful discrimination,” she said. “I will work hard to see that through, with no exceptions, so that everyone in Alaska can live and love without fear.”
In 2023, Peltola <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023161">voted</a> against a Republican-backed proposal that would have prohibited schools from socially “transitioning” their kids without their knowledge or consent. 
Peltola did not respond to questions from The Daily Wire on her positions on transgender issues. She is hoping to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.

MixCollage-19-Feb-2026-02-34-PM-5459

Dem Senate Candidate’s Record On Child Trans Procedures Comes Into Focus

Transgender

The Department of War has awarded $45 billion in contracts to &#8220;Alaskan Native&#8221; companies in the last half-decade, fueled by minority-contracting laws. But Alaska Natives are hard to come by at the companies. Instead, the work most commonly happened in Virginia, with racial preference laws putting white, Democrat Beltway insiders in multi-million-dollar homes, while natives live in poverty.
No &#8220;Alaskan native&#8221; company got more contracts than ASRC Federal, which lists zero native executives. The company is named after, and is owned by, the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, a for-profit umbrella company representing 14,000 Inupiaq natives in a remote region of Alaska known as the North Slope. The company is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/lists/top-private-companies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ranked</a> the 111th-largest private company in America, with $5.7 billion in revenue. It owns five million acres of land, including oil reserves whose sale leads to dividend payments to the natives.
Yet the most valuable resource might come from Washington, which in 1971 passed a law saying companies can get contracts without having to go through the competitive bidding process if they are at least 51% owned by Alaskan Natives. Other minorities can get no-bid contracts for nine years while they own a small business, but Alaskan firms retain the disadvantaged status even when they have billions of dollars in revenue.
That has led to business executives donning the skins of native people to get high-tech contracts, under the curious pretext that the natives dwelling in huts are learning to do advanced engineering. The scale of the riches that unleashes is mind-boggling.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1045703" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/asrc-leadership.jpg" alt="" width="1854" height="1698" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/asrc-leadership.jpg 1854w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/asrc-leadership-300x275.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/asrc-leadership-629x576.jpg 629w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/asrc-leadership-768x703.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/asrc-leadership-1536x1407.jpg 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 1854px) 100vw, 1854px" /></div>
Last month alone, ASRC Federal announced that it was awarded a Defense Logistics Agency contract worth up to <a href="https://www.asrcfederal.com/defense-logistics-agency-awards-asrc-federal-up-to-2-3-billion-to-manage-chemical-and-oil-supply-chain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$2.3 billion</a>, as well as a &#8220;Missile Defense Agency Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a ceiling of <a href="https://www.asrcfederal.com/asrc-federal-secures-position-on-missile-defense-agency-shield-contract-vehicle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$151</a> [billion].&#8221;
The Department of War has awarded nearly one million separate contracts, totaling $45 billion, to &#8220;Alaskan Native&#8221; companies since fiscal year 2021, according to <a href="https://www.usaspending.gov/search?hash=c138c3b3102e4ead5777696955f0e871" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USASpending.gov</a>. The most common &#8220;place of performance,&#8221; however, was Virginia. Less than 12% was spent in Alaska.
No company brought in more than ASRC Federal, which is made up of numerous subsidiary companies that exist to get federal contracts. ASRC Federal Facilities Logistics LLC billed taxpayers $2 billion, ASRC Communications Ltd. charged half a billion, ASRC Federal Field Services LLC earned $390 million, and ASRC Federal System Solutions LLC took $319 million.
ASRC Federal&#8217;s CEO is <a href="https://www.asrcfederal.com/about-us/#leadership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jennifer Felix</a>, who lives in a $4.3 million, 14,000-square-foot home in Loudoun County, Virginia. The mansion sits on four acres and includes a guest home and private movie theater. Felix has showered liberal politicians with tens of thousands of dollars in donations since 2022, donating to groups like &#8220;Pro-Choice Majority 2024,&#8221; &#8220;Elect Dems Now,&#8221; and the campaigns of Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner.
Meanwhile, there is no sign that residents of the North Slope even have a public movie theater. The only theater in town is a now-closed, rusted hut, research from the American Accountability Foundation, a government watchdog group, found.
<div id="attachment_1045705" style="width: 1842px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1045705" class="size-full wp-image-1045705" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/felix-house.jpg" alt="" width="1832" height="1044" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/felix-house.jpg 1832w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/felix-house-300x171.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/felix-house-1011x576.jpg 1011w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/felix-house-768x438.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/felix-house-1536x875.jpg 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 1832px) 100vw, 1832px" />Home of white &#8220;Alaskan Native&#8221; contractor CEO, replete with private movie theater</div>
<div id="attachment_1045707" style="width: 1918px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1045707" class="size-full wp-image-1045707" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-theater.jpg" alt="" width="1908" height="1050" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-theater.jpg 1908w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-theater-300x165.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-theater-1024x564.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-theater-768x423.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-theater-1536x845.jpg 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 1908px) 100vw, 1908px" />Shuttered theater used by actual Alaskan Natives</div>
&#8220;Felix has a long history of working with government contractors, previously being employed with companies like General Dynamics, Sotera Defense Solutions, and Deloitte. She is, put simply, a typical Beltway bandit defense contractor,&#8221; the American Accountability Foundation wrote in a report provided to The Daily Wire.
Conservatives say no-bid minority contracting laws, known as 8(a), are wasteful and unfair. But the absence of actual Alaskan Natives at companies bearing their names raises questions about whether the program has even succeeded in its liberal-minded goal of lifting minorities out of poverty by training them in business.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth raised a similar question last month when he said that other minority-owned firms often subcontract the work to white-owned firms, while keeping a large cut for playing middleman. “In the Pentagon, $100 million sole-source contracts go out the door to these 8(a) firms almost <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-pete-hegseth-is-right-to-take-a-sledgehammer-to-the-8a-scam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">every day</a> without any competition or opportunity for anyone else to bid,” he said.
Joseph Winthrop, ASRC Federal&#8217;s chief financial officer, lives in a $2 million Loudoun County home replete with a wine cellar. Executive Scott Altman lives in a Georgetown townhouse and is paid $1.1 million a year, according to a recent contract disclosure.
Clifford Greenblatt lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, the historic domain of the Beltway elite, in a <a href="https://censusreporter.org/profiles/15000US240317054002-bg-2-tract-7054-montgomery-md/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">neighborhood</a> that is 0% black or native and has a $200,000 median per capita income. Chief Strategy Officer Ann Stevens lives on the banks of the Potomac River in Great Falls, Virginia.
It&#8217;s a vastly different life than the company&#8217;s Inupiat shareholders. &#8220;The supposed beneficiaries of the corporation – the Inupiat – live in conditions that would make most Americans cringe,&#8221; the American Accountability Foundation wrote. Alaskan Natives make up nearly all the people on welfare in the North Slope, with more than 17% collecting food stamps.
A spokeswoman for ASRC Federal, Aubrel Mellos, did not respond to questions including how many of the company&#8217;s employees are Alaskan Native, or what dividends from federal contract dollars have been paid out to native people. But she wrote in an email:
&#8220;Every ASRC subsidiary operates at the direction of ASRC&#8217;s 100% Iñupiaq Board of Directors for the benefit of its 14,000+ Iñupiaq shareholders. ASRC&#8217;s Board Members are directly selected by its Indigenous shareholders through annual elections. ASRC Federal&#8217;s operations, business priorities, and hiring are done to the benefit of ASRC&#8217;s Iñupiaq shareholders, who receive dividends based on the success of the corporation – as was the will of Congress and the federal government when the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) established ASRC and the 11 other regional Alaska Native corporations.&#8221;
&#8220;ASRC Federal directly contributes to the self-determination of the North Slope Iñupiat through dividend payments and economic opportunity, contributing to a <a href="https://globalhealth.washington.edu/news/2017/05/09/alaska-dispatch-news-alaska-sees-most-dramatic-increases-life-expectancy-nation-new" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarkable increase</a> in lifespan on Alaska&#8217;s North Slope,” she continued.
<div id="attachment_1045709" style="width: 1778px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1045709" class="size-full wp-image-1045709" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/winthrop-wine-cellar.jpg" alt="" width="1768" height="1258" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/winthrop-wine-cellar.jpg 1768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/winthrop-wine-cellar-300x213.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/winthrop-wine-cellar-810x576.jpg 810w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/winthrop-wine-cellar-768x546.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/winthrop-wine-cellar-1536x1093.jpg 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 1768px) 100vw, 1768px" />Joseph Winthrop&#8217;s wine cellar</div>
<div id="attachment_1045713" style="width: 1492px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1045713" class="size-full wp-image-1045713" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-village.jpg" alt="" width="1482" height="1094" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-village.jpg 1482w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-village-300x221.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-village-780x576.jpg 780w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/alaskan-village-768x567.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1482px) 100vw, 1482px" />The largest Inupiat city</div>
For decades, politicians in both parties have said that Alaskan contracting was not advancing the goals that justified the program. That&#8217;s what then-Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) said in 2010. In <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/national/2010/09/30/bethesda-consultant-made-millions-with-alaska-firm/e9187e20-cc34-11df-8eee-2e1a26a3708e/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one case</a> from that time period, a Bethesda, Maryland, man was paid $15 million to run an Alaskan government contractor for three years, while its Alaskan Native owners received a total of $682,000 in dividends in 2009, or $305 each. The company won a contract to make military uniforms, which it manufactured in Puerto Rico instead of Alaska.
But efforts at reform have been blocked by Alaska Republican senators such as the now-deceased Ted Stevens, who for years chaired the powerful Appropriations Committee. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is a <a href="https://punchbowl.news/article/defense/murkowski-gavel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contender to chair</a> either the Senate Appropriations Committee or its defense subcommittee next Congress.
Now, if the Alaskan program meets its end, it&#8217;s likely to be through the abolition of the broader minority-contracting program. The Trump administration has made moves to rein in the DEI scheme after a black man, Walter Barnes, pleaded guilty to getting $500 million in USAID contracts by paying a USAID official <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/usaid-official-three-contractors-plead-guilty-to-half-billion-dollar-bribery-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$1 million in bribes</a>. The scheme worked because 8(a) empowers a government official to steer contracts to specific companies.
The increased scrutiny has placed Alaska&#8217;s senators, both Republicans, in the curious position of defending the DEI program as a whole.
Sen. Joni Ernst, chair of the Small Business Committee, which oversees the 8(a) program, asked agencies to pause sole-source contracts in order to get a handle on fraud. But Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/alaska-republicans-secretly-working-to-protect-fraud-plagued-dei-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secretly urged</a> the agencies to ignore that request, according to a letter previously obtained by The Daily Wire.
The letter highlighted that Pentagon officials enjoy taking advantage of the Alaskan law because although the competitive bidding process is designed to get the most qualified company and the best price, it is also a bureaucratic slog.
&#8220;We consistently hear from top Pentagon officials that the 8(a) Program provides flexibility and timeliness in procuring weapons systems that strengthen our country,&#8221; they wrote. &#8220;The program reduces administrative burden, shortens acquisition timelines, and avoids the delays and litigation risks that often accompany large-scale procurements.&#8221;
Murkowski and Sullivan did not respond when The Daily Wire asked for statistics about how many Alaskan Natives actually work at firms like Bowhead, another multibillion dollar defense contractor whose leadership consists virtually entirely of white males.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1026861" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1535" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-300x180.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-961x576.jpg 961w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-768x460.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-1536x921.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-2048x1228.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></div>
In the 1980s, Congress passed laws allowing Native Americans to join Alaskan Natives as so-called &#8220;super 8(a)&#8217;s,&#8221; exempt from having to show that they are actually small, disadvantaged companies. Undercover journalist James O&#8217;Keefe caught an executive from one such firm, ATI Government Solutions, boasting that it received a $100 million contract and kept two-thirds while paying a big company, like Accenture, to do the actual work.
None of ATI&#8217;s executives was native, either. Members of the Susanville Indian Rancheria tribe, which owns part of ATI Government Solutions, were interviewed by O&#8217;Keefe&#8217;s outlet. &#8220;Here you have this millionaire making money off of us, and we&#8217;re here begging for help. All of the things that were created for us, we <a href="https://x.com/JamesOKeefeIII/status/1988770902243176767" target="_blank" rel="noopener">don&#8217;t benefit</a> from,&#8221; one tribe member said.
The American Accountability Foundation called for ending the 8(a) program, saying &#8220;it is currently not benefiting minority populations and is enriching D.C. elites.&#8221;

ASRC

How A Top Pentagon Contractor Enriches DC Insiders Using Law Intended To Help Eskimos

Department of Defense

Minority Contracting

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