Good morning! It’s Friday. The solar’s out. The birds are singing. We’re hitting 71 levels immediately. So let’s damage it by speaking in regards to the information.
Trump Tries to Use IRS as a Weapon: Do I must say that that’s not regular? It’s not regular. After Harvard refused to adjust to an inventory of the Trump administration’s calls for (together with reporting overseas college students and lowering the facility of scholars and college over college affairs), Trump has known as for the IRS to revoke the varsity’s tax exempt standing. The IRS, an company that has been deliberately unbiased of the president for the reason that Nixon administration, is “weighing” the choice now.
He’s clearly attempting to reveal that dissent hurts. He’s already frozen $2.2 billion in grants to the college. Then on Wednesday, Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem canceled one other $3 million in company grants to the college. Noem additionally wrote a letter to the varsity requesting “detailed data on Harvard’s overseas pupil visa holders’ unlawful and violent actions” by the top of the month. In the event that they don’t comply, they may lose the “privilege of enrolling overseas college students.” I’m nonetheless not prepared to start out taking a look at Harvard as a scrappy underdog, however whereas so a lot of our establishments are bending the knee left and proper, watching Harvard stand their floor is giving me hope that we would begin studying what institutional resistance appears like.
A GOP Senator Tells the Reality: At a press convention in Anchorage on Monday, Senator Lisa Murkowski stated out loud what I believe half of her social gathering is considering. “We’re all afraid,” she stated. After a 5 second pause, she acknowledged: “It’s fairly a press release. However we’re in a time and a spot the place I definitely haven’t been right here earlier than. I’ll let you know, I’m oftentimes very anxious myself about utilizing my voice, as a result of retaliation is actual. And that’s not proper.”
Taking pictures at Florida State: Two folks died and 6 others had been injured at Florida State College yesterday when a 20-year-old gunman opened hearth close to the coed union. The shooter was the kid of a Sheriff’s deputy, and he used a handgun, his mother’s previous service weapon. (Based on the NYT, it’s not unusual for deputies to be allowed to purchase their previous service weapons from the division for private use.) In case you’re not assured that gun violence is an epidemic on this nation, this would possibly promote you: For a few of the college students at FSU, this was their second faculty capturing in lower than ten years; the scholars that sheltered in place included some that had been survivors of the mass capturing at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Excessive College in 2018. Fuck your ideas and prayers.
Proof of Life: Maryland Senator Chris Van Holland was in El Salvador yesterday to fulfill together with his constituent, Kilmar Ábrego García, in a Salvadorean mega-prison. Did you hate studying that sentence as a lot as I hated typing it? The Trump admin has admitted that Ábrego García was despatched to the jail in error, however each Trump and El Salvador’s Bukele have refused to carry a finger to convey him residence Bukele known as him a “terrorist” whereas sitting within the Oval Workplace. That very same day, a federal appeals court docket dominated that Trump officers could possibly be compelled to testify underneath oath in regards to the deportation. “The federal government is asserting a proper to stash away residents of this nation in overseas prisons with out the appearance of due course of that’s the basis of our constitutional order,” wrote one of many court docket’s conservative judges, Harvie Wilkinson III. “This must be surprising not solely to judges, however to the intuitive sense of liberty that Individuals far faraway from courthouses nonetheless maintain expensive.”
It’s not Simply Ábrego García: Trump has despatched a whole lot of individuals to the jail, and earlier this week, stated that he was open to sending Americans to the brutal prisons as effectively.
Anxiousness-Free Salmon: In case you missed it earlier this week, salmon are getting ballsier. Based on analysis reported in Science, Atlantic salmon are swimming in a soup of SSRIs, however consequently, they seem like bolder, and extra profitable in combating their approach upstream. I’m not saying we should always put Lexapro within the fish ladder on the Ballard Locks. I’m simply saying that it appears actually nerve-racking.
Simply Tax the Wealthy Already: Yesterday, Governor Ferguson threw shade at one other finances proposal from the Dems, as a result of he actually hates the thought of balancing the finances with new taxes we clearly want. Should you’ve been following alongside this 12 months, you already know that our state has a $16 billion finances gap to fill, and Ferg has stated he’ll veto any finances with a wealth tax (which certainly has nothing to do with the truth that Microsoft, T-Cell, Alaska Airways, and Costco threw a $1.5 million-shaped match over it). Earlier this week, the Dems proposed a $12 million finances that included neither a wealth tax nor the payroll tax that will have taxed firms like Amazon and Microsoft. And Ferguson nonetheless known as it “too dangerous.” He didn’t provide any options, however his unique finances proposal included furloughing state staff in the future each month for the following two years (which they’ve given a exhausting “no” to). This legislative session ends on April twenty seventh, so Fergie’s bought 9 days to get his act collectively.
ICYMI: Seattle Youngsters’s Hospital is at it once more. Stranger workers author Vivian McCall reported yesterday that the hospital has stopped offering gender affirming surgical procedure for sufferers underneath 19 once more. Why? Good query. Trump’ s Govt Order banning gender affirming take care of minors (and 18 12 months olds) is presently blocked by the courts, so that they’re doing this by selection. Learn extra about it right here.
There’s a Rose With That Thorn: On Wednesday, the state legislature handed a invoice that will compel insurance coverage firms to cowl 12 months of HRT at a time, making it simpler for trans folks to keep away from disruption to their medical care whereas Trump tried actually exhausting to just do that. Extra on that excellent news from Vivian later this morning.
We Stay in Shoeboxes: Based on the FYI Man, among the many 100 US cities with the biggest variety of rental items, Seattle ranks lifeless final for common residence dimension. Of the flats constructed within the final ten years, the common dimension is 649 sq. ft. Our flats are smaller than Portland, San Francisco, and three of the 5 boroughs of New York Metropolis.
You’ve Acquired a Poll Below that Pile of Mail: Election day is subsequent Tuesday, and we’re voting on whether or not or to not renew a levy to fund King County’s fingerprinting system. Sound kinda wonky? Don’t fear, our endorsement is coming later immediately.
Searching for one thing to do tonight? Stranger Arts Editor Emily Nokes recommends Area Is the Place Fest. She writes: “Seattle, that is the power. Again within the day, the Naf warehouse was the go-to for raves/early EDM, in addition to a house to the ’90s underground music scene. Area Is the Place Fest is reviving that vast capability venue to convey you two all-nighters stuffed with music/raving/efficiency. Astro-jazz legends the Solar Ra Arkestra and lo-fi synth queen the Area Girl might be on the town; count on a multimedia spectacle from the Fabulous Downey Brothers, and instrumental noise choices from Diminished Males. Don’t overlook we’re going all night time: DJs Donald Glaude, Slantooth, Sherman, Riz Rollins, and Area Otter are bringing the old-school home, drum & bass, and extra. Rumor has it there may even be modular synth work, stay glass-blowing, some circus motion, and ‘all issues cosmic and wild!’”
And for a Tune for Your Friday: Stevie Nicks introduced that she’s engaged on her first new album in 14 years. So right here’s a bit stay “Go Your Personal Method,” as a deal with.
