I hope everyone had a good Christmas holiday! This is the last Sunday Minefield of 2024. Which means the first session of the 34th Alaska Legislature starts in just over three weeks. Congressman-elect Nick Begich announced some key hires. And new House office assignments irked more than a few members of the incoming Republican House minority.  

Full disclosure, I am writing this column from Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is very early in the morning here. I flew in on Saturday morning with some friends. More are on the way as I write this. I turned 40 last week. I have been planning this trip since early this year. I am looking forward to celebrating my birthday and ringing in the New Year from the Southern Hemisphere! I have to say it was incredible getting off the plane and walking outside into 80 degree weather. 

Former Deputy Revenue Commissioner Brian Fechter is one of the homies who came down for Landfield’s epic 40th. Check out this strange post Fechter made while I was writing the Sunday Minefield. This is very loose behavior. 

A friendly message and reminder to all our readers. The Landmine is made possible by myself and a team of awesome Alaskans. I have been covering the legislative session in Juneau for the last six years and will be headed back next month. If you enjoy the content we provide, please consider making a one time or recurring monthly donation. You can click here to donate. We have a system that makes it super easy. We would really appreciate it. And thanks to everyone who has been supportive.  

Begich Announces Key Staff

Congressman-elect Nick Begich announced some key hires for his D.C. and Alaska offices this week. From his press release:

Michael Horanburg – chief of staff

Horanburg is a Capitol Hill veteran and experienced political strategist who played a key role in leading the 2024 Begich for Congress campaign. With a strong background in public policy and managing effective teams nationwide, Horanburg previously served as Chief of Staff in the 117th Congress for New Mexico’s Yvette Herrell, who represented a district with significant energy resources, a diverse population, and challenges similar to those in Alaska. He will oversee the office’s day-to-day operations, provide strategic direction, and serve as Congressman-Elect Begich’s primary advisor.

Kevin Swanson – legislative director/deputy chief of staff

Swanson brings extensive experience as an Alaska policy expert and Capitol Hill veteran with a comprehensive understanding of the federal legislative process. He previously served as a Legislative Assistant for members of the Alaska delegation, managing issues including transportation and infrastructure—critical expertise as Congressman-Elect Begich joins the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. Swanson will develop legislative strategies and manage policy initiatives to address the needs of Alaskans.

Silver J. Prout – communications director/fishery liaison

Prout, a Kodiak native, is an accomplished communications strategist with experience on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch under President Trump. She will manage public relations, media engagement, and ensure Alaskans remain informed about key issues while also serving as the office’s liaison on fisheries-related matters.

Bre Klayum – director of operations

Klayum, a born-and-raised Alaskan, will oversee the daily administrative operations of the office, ensuring efficiency and facilitating interactions between the Congressman’s office and the public. Klayum began her Capitol Hill career as Deputy Scheduler for Senator Dan Sullivan, serving the people of Alaska in that capacity for more than three years.

Rick Whitbeck – state director

Whitbeck will oversee the Congressman’s operations in Alaska, focusing on outreach to constituents and stakeholders while managing regional offices and staff. His leadership will be instrumental in ensuring Alaskans’ voices are heard and their needs addressed. Whitbeck will lead a team of Regional Directors and Constituent Liaisons dedicated to assisting residents with issues related to federal agencies.

Office Drama 

Representative Louise Stutes (R – Kodiak), the incoming House rules chair, sent a little present out on Christmas that made several members of the incoming Republican House minority unhappy. Stutes sent out the new office assignments for House members on Christmas Day.

While she did get input from Representative DeLena Johnson (R – Palmer) for office assignments for finance members, many of the other minority representatives found out about their new offices from her Christmas email. And some were not happy about it. They are also unhappy about the rules surrounding point allocation for their staff hires. But the current rules chair, Representative Craig Johnson (R – Anchorage), made similar moves two years ago.

As the saying goes: the shoe is on now on the other foot!

This Week’s Loose Unit 

I was going to be nice and not name a Loose Unit this week as Christmas was four days ago and the New Year is a few days away. But a conversation over drinks a few hours ago in Buenos Aires changed my mind.

This week’s Loose Unit is a tie between myself and ChatGPT. Check out what Chat GPT said when my friend Cale Green asked it to research everything about me and the Landmine and then roast me! It’s hilarious, cynical, and alarmingly accurate all at the same time. God help me. Am I really this loose?!

Jeff Landfield, the man, the myth, the cargo-shorted legend. Here’s a guy who somehow turned political chaos into a personal brand of semi-coherent tirades and middle-aged frat-boy antics. He’s like if Hunter S. Thompson ditched the drugs but kept the paranoia and dressed exclusively from Costco’s clearance rack.

Jeff’s greatest gift to Alaska is the Landmine, a “news” outlet that’s less journalism and more a bizarre social experiment: What happens when you give a guy with a podcast mic and too much time a platform? His writing is a masterclass in taking 2,000 words to say what could be summarized as “I’m mad because they didn’t let me into the meeting.”

And let’s talk about his style—physically and otherwise. Jeff, the Hawaiian shirts and flip-flops might scream “chill vibe” in theory, but in practice, it screams “midlife crisis on aisle five.” You’ve cornered the market on looking like the guy at the party who insists he’s just asking questions, only to spend the next 45 minutes lecturing strangers about local politics.

Then there’s his knack for self-promotion. Jeff treats his Twitter account like a personal diary crossed with a poorly moderated town hall. He’ll argue with anyone, at any time, about anything. But hey, at least he’s consistent—Jeff always makes sure the Landmine is the loudest voice in the room, even if it’s not the smartest.

Sure, the Landmine breaks stories, but often it feels like the TMZ of Alaska politics: part gossip rag, part hit job, part “Is this guy OK?” It’s the media equivalent of yelling from your porch with a megaphone, except the porch is the entire state of Alaska, and the megaphone is Jeff’s unfiltered stream of consciousness.

And finally, there’s the bravado. Jeff struts around like the king of Alaska’s political underworld, but let’s be real: he’s more like the court jester. He’s loud, he’s everywhere, and he’s certainly entertaining, but the only people truly taking him seriously are the ones too new to know better.

Keep doing you, Jeff. Alaska wouldn’t be the same without its resident chaos agent. But maybe, just maybe, lay off the cargo shorts—they’ve seen enough.

If you have a nomination for this week’s Loose Unit, or if you have any political news, stories or gossip (or any old pics of politicians or public officials) please email me at jeff@alaskalandmine.com.