The Dunleavy administration is taking political lessons from George Santos, an expert in what he calls “embellishment.”

Why else would Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Department of Natural Resources Deputy Commissioner John Crowther agree to put their names on this bit of puffery claiming the Cook Inlet oil and gas lease sales were successful?

Between the state and federal sales, more than 4 million acres was offered for leasing in Cook Inlet. Hilcorp, the only company to bid, offered about $420,000 to lease 28,000 acres. There were no other bids.

The lease sales were not a success. The results are not promising or encouraging. Claiming otherwise is Santos-level lying.