By SUZANNE DOWNING
July 5, 2026 – Alaskans across the state have begun finding an odd publication in their mailboxes called The Alaska Independent, a free “newspaper” that presents itself as a source of Alaska news but is actually part of a national media and political advocacy scheme tied to Democrats.
The June edition features stories on rising gasoline prices, commercial fishing, health care, Medicaid, food assistance, glowing coverage of Mary Peltola’s US Senate campaign, and the state’s minimum wage increase. It contains no commercial advertising. Instead, every story directs readers to scan QR codes to continue reading online.
One article features business owner Mark Robokoff, a registered Democrat. The article is written by a Pennsylvania writer, Anna Gustafson, who writes for leftist organizations.
The publication is produced by American Independent Media, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that operates a growing network of state-branded “Independent” news sites. According to its website, The Alaska Independent is “a project of American Independent Media,” whose stated mission is to “use journalism to educate the public.”
The newspaper’s arrival in Alaska mirrors a strategy the organization has already deployed in several battleground states, where millions of free newspapers have been mailed to targeted households.
A review of the Alaska edition shows a consistent emphasis on issues and candidates generally aligned with Democrat and pro-Marxist messaging.
The cover story warns that Alaska fishermen are paying “the cost of war.” Inside are articles highlighting the impact of Medicaid reductions, Affordable Care Act tax credits, proposed cuts to the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program, and a positive angle on the increases in the state’s minimum wage.
Another feature profiles Democratic US Senate candidate Mary Peltola under the headline, “Peltola vows to curb inflation in ‘Fish, Family, Freedom’ Senate bid.”
The edition also includes travel features, recipes, puzzles and other lifestyle content, giving it the stealth appearance of a traditional community newspaper.
What readers will not find are paid advertisements supporting the cost of producing and mailing the publication statewide.
Instead, the operation is financed through nonprofit organizations and grants.
American Independent Media is affiliated with the American Independent Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that reported nearly $58.6 million in revenue during 2024. According to publicly available tax filings, the foundation transferred more than $11 million to its affiliated American Independent Media organization during that year.
The organization’s history traces back to liberal activist David Brock. The media operation evolved from Blue Nation Review, later renamed Shareblue, before becoming The American Independent and ultimately the American Independent Foundation. Brock has also founded or led organizations including Media Matters and American Bridge, Democratic-aligned organizations focused on opposition research and media messaging.
Brock is described by Time magazine as “one of the most influential political operatives in the Democratic party.” He resides in Washington, DC and is tightly aligned with Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Public records show the foundation has also received support from a variety of large philanthropic organizations and donor-advised funds, including grants from the Hopewell Fund, part of the Arabella Advisor dark money network and other national foundations, at least one linked to George Soros.
The Alaska publication is not an isolated effort.
The same organization expanded into Montana ahead of that state’s competitive 2024 elections. Earlier campaigns included monthly newspaper mailings to selected voters in Virginia and Wisconsin, where the organization has publicly discussed using printed newspapers to reach moderate and progressive voters.
This type of publication as part of a growing trend in which politically aligned organizations produce newspapers that resemble traditional local journalism while advancing ideological objectives. The practice is referred to as “pink slime journalism” by some.
The Alaska edition does identify its publisher in the fine print, noting that it is produced by American Independent Media. It does not present itself as a campaign publication, nor does it contain explicit endorsements of candidates. It has no advertising.
Nevertheless, the editorial choices are notable: Nearly every public policy story focuses on topics that place Republican officeholders or conservative policy proposals in a negative light, while the feature on Peltola highlights her campaign themes without including a comparable profile of incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
The Alaska version newspaper represents the latest example of national political organizations investing in localized “media” products as traditional newspapers continue to shrink. Rather than purchasing campaign advertisements, organizations are increasingly producing publications that resemble conventional community newspapers while emphasizing issues and story selection likely to shape public opinion ahead of elections.
18 thoughts on “New ‘Alaska Independent’ newspaper arriving in Alaska mailboxes linked to national dark-money Democrat network”
Independent news I have a story here that you may be interested in. I was solicited five years ago by the municipality of Anchorage and Neser construction to use my property for a staging area to replace the sidewalks on downtown Anchorage on fourth Avenue during that process which contract was signed multiple times stating that they would replace or leave better than our property when they were done that did not happen. I have construction engineer reports I have videos, photographs, and witnesses to the contrary, they done me damage. I have brought this to numerous times to the municipality of Anchorage both as a whole and individually, I cannot get no response. I could get no action to fix the sidewalk that has failed also in front of my store and causing water damage as we speak, they are aware of this and they still refuse to fix it. Would like to have an independent investigation. Are you willing to take the story?
They’re nor interested, it doesn’t glorify their narrative
If Alaska Story at Ms Downing doesn’t take it, you sound like you got an explosive Landmine story for Jeff Landfield at AlaskaLandmine
I think he’s looking for some Explosives 🧨
It’s pretty quiet over there on his site
He can only talk so much about Anchorage Hobo camps
And the stalled gasline pipeline project has gotten old
Anyone with half a brain can scan the front page and instantly know its a politically funded hit and puff piece for Peltola. Geared to
come across as a “Local news.” Went straight into the trash.
Democrat SOP.
More sneaky BS from democrats, like decoy Dan.
Why don’t they waste some of their money on me? I could use the paper for starting my stove in the winter instead of using clean burning natural gas. I am being forced to murder trees and burn their carbon bearing remains so that I can stay warm…had my last fire in early July since anthropogenic global warming still hasn’t taken hold.
Exactly. Just 1% of all those who received it will actually read it. Most Alaskans do not want to read because reading beyond common names of grocery and prices is a struggle for the most. The rest of us who can and could read the little Alaskan Enquirer our minds are already made up on the Right and don’t need Democrat BS.
The rest of Alaskans will leave it on tables, counters, chairs before it’s time to clean up and then in the trash it goes.
The dark money would been better spent at Anchorages homeless shelters
“ Most Alaskans do not want to read because reading beyond common names of grocery and prices is a struggle for the most.” Perhaps in your circle but sure as hell not in mine.
I already got mind and threw it away with the rest of my junk mail.
I already have my own negativity I don’t need to read the Democrats negativity “how the world is going to hell in a gift basket and they are contributing to everyone going to hell (most of everyone) including themselves @the writers” ❤️🩹
If this rag included “paid by peltola campaign” it would have one line of truth. Preys on low information or low IQ people. Sad for many that it’s easier to believe a lie than accept they’ve ben lied to. Ditch pride and find some self respect.
Suzanne, appreciate your in-depth exposure of this leftist propaganda rag. When the pap…oops, paid DNC advertisement arrived in our mail I did minimal research to see David Brock’s name attached; enough to confirm my initial response to this duplicitous, unsolicited mailing. But even more interesting was there was NO CONTACT listed to have our name removed from their mailing list.
Another in a long running series of attempts by the left wing demoncats to trick the Alaskan Voters. Can you imagine Peltola alongside Murkowski as the two Alaska Senators……..an absolute revolting thought.
A posting by “DataRepublican” on another site on June 23 discusses a Daily Caller examination of the totality of the USAID “color revolution” infrastructure internationally and the domestic parallels. There are five capabilities and the first of these is media -“the Megaphone – Fund Independent Outlets that become the Opposition’s voice”. The analysis concludes that in the end the actual messages are not important – THE POINT IS THE NETWORK. The machinery and tools of the “color revolution” are present and active right here in Alaska. The Alaska Independent and the array of NGOs, activist groups and other media are part of this. Alaskans are being manipulated big time by some sophisticated operators.
JMARK, Data Republican on X has done excellent work in exposing this info, so pleased to see it mentioned in your comment.
The chances that the “Alaska Independent” is an actual, independent, community-driven publication is completely ZERO. I hope and pray that Alaskans can figure that out, understand who is pulling the strings and act accordingly. Sadly, seizing two US Senate seats in Alaska for the Left is a relatively cheap, low-effort plan
“ rganizations produce newspapers that resemble traditional local journalism while advancing ideological objectives. “ is it more irony or hypocrisy that Downing would make this claim? JFHCOAB.
Neither irony nor hypocrisy. SD clearly and unambiguously presents The Alaska Story as a Conservative news site. Tell me Evan, where can I find a left/liberal Alaska news site where I’m allowed to comment anonymously and openly as a Conservative, and not get banned? Just one. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Mjohn. I don’t know of any other liberal site that allows that. So seriously and yes and good on Downing for allowing dissenting voices. She’s also good at getting early scoops and publishing them before other news sites do. And some of her posts are just factual, sorta public service pieces. BUT, she stains most of her information with misleading headlines or omitting relevant facts in the story. And you notice that she doesn’t address news events that
look bad for conservatives , like anything that The Pussy Grabbing Felon does. So it’s journalism lite, mostly propaganda and rage baiting that her readership adores.