Good morning! The deep freeze is absolutely over. The climate is gentle and moist, and the highs and lows are each within the 40s, identical to the Seattle Gods prefer it. In all the frigid climate, it may need been straightforward to overlook that we’re additionally squarely out of the Huge Darkish. The solar’s happening at 5:36 pm right this moment, and we’re approach nearer to the spring equinox than the winter solstice. Excessive 5, you bought by means of the worst of it and confirmed your seasonal affective dysfunction who’s boss.
Okay, we’ll begin with Trump this morning.
“He who saves his nation doesn’t violate any legislation.” That quote was plastered throughout Trump’s social media accounts over the weekend. For those who use any Meta apps like Fb or Instagram, you most likely noticed it towards your will, like I did. It’s a twist of a quote usually attributed to Napoleon, but it surely additionally jogs my memory of a Nixon quote: “When the president does it, which means it’s not unlawful.” Didn’t fairly work out for him.
Presidential Immunity: The New York Instances interpreted it to be the ethos of his second time period: “Mr. Trump, by means of his phrases and actions, has repeatedly instructed that surviving two assassination makes an attempt is proof that he has divine backing to implement his will,” Charlie Savage wrote. He’s already pushing the boundaries of presidential authority, and sadly, the Supreme Courtroom gave him a bonus that Nixon by no means had: “The powers of the presidency that he returned to have been bolstered by final 12 months’s Supreme Courtroom ruling that he’s presumptively immune from prosecution for any crimes he might commit utilizing his official powers.”
Cuts Hit the FAA: Hey keep in mind when that horrible, deadly mid-air crash was (presumably) blamed on understaffing in air site visitors management? This weekend, the Trump admin began firing a whole bunch of Federal Aviation Administration staff. In accordance with the AP, the Nationwide Air Visitors Controllers Affiliation stated it was “analyzing the impact of the reported federal worker terminations on aviation security, the nationwide airspace system, and our members.” I’ll be holding off on getting on a airplane whereas they kind that out.
The Anti-Science Administration: The American Affiliation for the Development of Science gathered final week, they usually’re spooked. “Angst and nervousness and, to a sure extent, grief,” is how one scientist summed up the temper. The Trump administration’s cuts to the sciences—by means of funding freezes crackdowns on DEI initiatives, threats to endowments from DOGE, and the potential deportations of undocumented college students—have taken lower than a month, and the science neighborhood is frightened the worst continues to be to come back. The New York Instances analyzed how Trump’s cuts to medical analysis alone would hit universities in every state, and shock! Washington is likely one of the worst. The College of Washington might lose $86 million in NIH funding—and that’s only one establishment. However the courts nonetheless have to permit these modifications to maneuver ahead.
Talking of Cuts: Our very personal nuclear web site is engaged on a skeleton employees. Senator Patty Murray sounded the alarm over the weekend after dozens of Division of Vitality employees have been laid off, costing the central Washington web site security engineers, environmental scientists, and staff who shield employees’ rights, Murray stated. “These reckless firings will decelerate vital cleanup work and make employees much less protected—making an attempt to run Hanford with a skeleton crew is a recipe for catastrophe that would have irreversible impacts.”
Gulf of Mexico Enjoyable Reality: Do you know that the Gulf of Mexico is house to the Sizzling Tub of Despair? It’s a deep sea lake off the coast of New Orleans, about 3,300 toes under the floor. It’s so salty that it kills nearly the whole lot that enters it. Why are we telling you this? No cause, actually. However we heard Trump hates it when information shops name it the Gulf of Mexico.
Want a palate cleanser earlier than we transfer on from Trump? I’ve received a great one. Final Thursday, New Yorker editor Susan Morrison despatched out a mass electronic mail invitation to an occasion for her forthcoming biography of Lorne Michaels. Apparently, she didn’t know that she ought to put everybody on bcc, so inevitably, the Boomer Reply Alls began rolling in. Some individuals politely stated they couldn’t make it, or requested, bewildered, why they have been on this checklist. Gradon Carter replied, in all seriousness: “Actually, I’ve my very own life. I can’t dedicate any extra time to Lorne …” After which the comedians began chiming in. It’s a goddamn delight, and it has zero implications about our nationwide safety, primary human rights, and a decline into authoritarianism. Learn it right here.
Harrell’s Warfare on Graffiti: As a result of it wasn’t embarrassing sufficient that he’s making an attempt to make use of drones to battle graffiti in Seattle, Harrell’s battle towards tagging continues. Since 2022, the Metropolis has spent $12 million on graffiti removing and abatement.
Your Least Favourite NextDoor Commenter Is Operating for Mayor: Keep in mind Rachael Savage? Yeah, we’d forgotten about her for a bit too. As a refresher: Final fall she went a bit viral after posting a racist, fear-mongering clip on twitter with then-Republican Lawyer Normal candidate Pete Serrano. (She stated she was terrified of getting into the Capitol Hill gentle rail station whereas her digicam man zoomed in on a Black man simply…sitting on a bench). She’s additionally one half of Savage Residents, a corporation that was main a marketing campaign to dam development of a 120-unit supportive housing constructing on Belmont Avenue in favor of obligatory remedy and abstinence-only residing areas. And now, she’s operating for mayor, as a Republican.
What Does a Republican Seattle Mayoral Marketing campaign Look Like? Properly thus far, her plans sound acquainted: Declare a state of emergency on day one; Name in legislation enforcement from outdoors of town; Rise up a short lived jail on metropolis property; Saying issues like “We will create the most effective model of Seattle that has ever existed.” Appears like she noticed the Trump marketing campaign and thought, “that looks like enjoyable.”
Washington Republicans Are Pissed: Conservatives confirmed as much as the state capitol this weekend to protest Dem’s modifications to the so-called Parental Invoice of Rights. Conservatives suppose Democrats are taking away their proper to father or mother their very own youngsters. Democrats are actually simply abiding by the legal guidelines that enable youngsters aged 13 and as much as handle their very own psychological well being care. State Senator Jamie Pederson pissed the Fox Information crowd off by saying simply that, which was cute.
Wage Theft within the Metropolis? In accordance with Geek Wire, a category motion lawsuit was filed towards the Metropolis of Seattle final week. The swimsuit alleges {that a} new payroll system from an organization known as Workday precipitated payroll errors that affected hundreds of staff throughout the Metropolis.
Pardon Me, Ferguson: With the Trump administration threatening deportation for any immigrants which can be convicted of crimes, immigrants in Washington State want to the governor for assist. Ferguson continues to be empowered to pardon many convicted of crimes on the state stage, so persons are preventing for restricted listening to slots earlier than the state Clemency and Pardons Board. “It’s one of many only a few choices that exist when a conviction creates obligatory deportation,” stated Jennie Pasquarella, authorized director of the nonprofit Seattle Clemency Venture.
ICYMI: The social housing initiative, Proposition 1A trounced the Chamber of Commerce-backed various this month. Contemplating Mayor Harrell plastered his face throughout the marketing campaign, it’s not solely embarrassing for him—it tells us so much about what we are able to do in November. Stranger columnist Katie Wilson broke it down right here.
Ever Heard of a Hydrofoil? I hadn’t both, but when they’re something just like the Seattle Instances described them, I’m on board: “Two native endeavors are aiming to construct passenger-only boats with hydrofoils—underwater wings that carry a ship’s hull out of the water, lessening drag on the vessel for a quicker, much less uneven journey and producing little to no wake, permitting them to sail near shore with out disturbing banks or piers.” These “flying ferries” might be a part of your future commute, if Olympia funds them.
Have you ever heard the one concerning the man who received swallowed by a whale? It truly occurred, kind of, in Chile and it’s my new favourite video on the web. A father and (grownup) son have been kayaking within the Strait of Magellan when a humpback whale scooped the son up in his mouth, kayak and all, promptly realized he wasn’t a small fish, and let him go. Catch and launch, you may say.
