Category Archives: Government

News Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter gives context to current events that is more readable and incisive than most commentators. I’ll try to more frequently post her essays because of the need to put the daily chaos into some kind … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Government, Immigration, Law | Leave a comment

The tragic story of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia

Posted on April 14, 2025 by Jim deMaine

by Heather Cox Richardson (thanks to MaryLou P. and others) This evening, lawyers for the Department of Justice told a federal court that the administration does not believe it has a legal obligation to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, Immigration, Law, Politics | Leave a comment

‘Don’t Fight the Stupidity’ and Other Relevant Bonhoeffer Advice

Posted on April 13, 2025 by Jim deMaine

by Tim Snyder in Sojourners (thanks to Mary Jane F.) As a theologian, I get nervous when reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer becomes all too relevant. I’m the kind of theologian who would rather not find myself in what some scholars refer … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Essays, Ethics, Government, History, Religion | Leave a comment

View Historic City Council Meeting – Unanimous Approval of Skyline’s Skybridge!

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Jim deMaine
Posted in Disabilities, Government, Health, In the Neighborhood | Leave a comment

The tariff question

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Jim deMaine

David J. Lynch – Washington Post (thanks to Mary M.) The tariff barrage that President Donald Trump unleashed this week on the world economy marks a decisive end to an era of freewheeling globalization that was shaped by American policymakers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Government | Leave a comment

Trump Just Bet the Farm

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Thomas L. Friedman Opinion Columnist in the NYT (thanks to Marilyn W.) Donald Trump is not known for doing his homework — he’s more of a go-with-my-gut kind of guy. What I find most terrifying about what Trump is doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Essays, Government | Leave a comment

Connecticut Senator Murphy explains the real purpose of Trump’s tariffs

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mike C.

Posted in Economics, Government | 1 Comment

“The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history,” former Vice President Mike Pence

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Jim deMaine

by Heather Cox Richardson – posted yesterday April 2nd as the anticipated fallout began Just five months ago, on October 19, 2024, The Economist ran a special report on America’s economy. That economy was, the magazine said, “the envy of … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, Government | Leave a comment

“Perfect Storm” at the University of Washington

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ann M. This message is being sent to all staff, faculty and academic personnel across the University of Washington. Dear colleagues, Over the past two months, we have been tracking and responding to a range of policy changes … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Finance, Government | Leave a comment

The signal app snafu

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Heather Cox Richardson Mar 27 Monday’s astounding story that the most senior members of President Donald Trump’s administration planned military strikes on Yemen over an unsecure commercial messaging app, on which they had included national security reporter and editor in … Continue reading →

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Violation of the Espionage Act?

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Heather Cox Richardson Mar 25 Today the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, dropped the story that senior members of the Trump administration planned the March 15 U.S. attack on the Houthis in Yemen over Signal, a widely available encrypted … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Government, Media, War | 1 Comment

Skybridge proposal goes to City Council’s Transportation Committee today

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Jim deMaine

The City Council’s transportation committee meets today at 9:30 AM. The second item on the agenda is a vote of approval for Skyline’s skybridge. Three residents are slated to give a brief supportive statement during the public comment period. If … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday, Maine

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Heather Cox Richardson March 15 is a crucially important day in U.S. history As the man who taught me to use a chainsaw said, it is immortalized by Shakespeare’s famous warning: “Cedar! Beware the adze of March!” He put it … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, History, Race | Comments Off on Happy Birthday, Maine

NIH to ax grants on vaccine hesitancy, mRNA vaccines

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ed M. A UW  colleague who has published multiple studies on immunization hesitancy received this notice from NIH today: [All your] federally funded vaccine research projects terminated today effective immediately. In the termination letter, the NIH says this: … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Health | Comments Off on NIH to ax grants on vaccine hesitancy, mRNA vaccines

Trump Is Nero While Washington Burns

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Jim deMaine

‘Trump’s message is that being his ally serves no purpose, because he will not defend you.’ By Claude Malhuret in The Atlantic (thanks to Mary Jane F.) March 8, 2025, 7 AM Editor’s Note: On Tuesday, the French senator Claude Malhuret gave … Continue reading →

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Telephone Town Hall

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Rick B and Mary Jane F. You’re Invited: March 11th Telephone Town Hall! people Update from Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal  – If you weren’t able to make it to my last town hall, where we had 1,000 people come … Continue reading →

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From Churchill to Trump – a terrifying transition

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson (thanks to Mary M.) In the gym of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, on March 5, 1946, former and future prime minister of the United Kingdom Winston Churchill rose to deliver a speech. Formally titled … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, History, Politics | Comments Off on From Churchill to Trump – a terrifying transition

Letter: This will truly be a new golden age for America. Out with D.E.I., in with T.E.I.

Posted on March 3, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Letter to the editor in the Salt Lake Tribune – thanks to Bob P. (Photo courtesy of Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation/© Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation) Maurizio Cattelan’s “America”, is a solid gold, fully functioning toilet that was installed in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Government | Comments Off on Letter: This will truly be a new golden age for America. Out with D.E.I., in with T.E.I.

Keepers of the Land

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Jim deMaine

by David B. Williams in the Street Smart Naturalist (thanks to Mary M.) Many, many years ago, I was a national park ranger at Arches National Park and the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. As a ranger, I led … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Parks | Comments Off on Keepers of the Land

The budget mess – commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on February 25, 2025 by Jim deMaine

On Friday, February 21, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg posted: “A defining policy battle is about to come to a head in this country. The Republican budget will force everyone—especially Congress and the White House—to make plain whether they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, Government | Comments Off on The budget mess – commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

Commentary update by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Historian Heather Cox Richardson helps make the current current political chaos understandable putting events in context. In an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) yesterday, billionaire Elon Musk seemed to be having difficulty speaking. Musk brandished … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Government, Politics, Race | Comments Off on Commentary update by Heather Cox Richardson

How to topple Trump in six steps

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By David Brewster February 21, 2025 Like many, I am tired of waiting for the congressional Republicans to grow a spine, and for Democrats to get their resistance act together. Instead, I suggest aspects of a shadow government and an … Continue reading →

Posted in Government | 2 Comments

Trump in the World 2.0 Spring Lecture Series

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Marilyn W. Join us for Trump in the World 2.0, a series of talks and discussions on the international impact of the second Trump presidency. Moderator: Danny Hoffman, Director of the Jackson School of International Studies and Stanley … Continue reading →

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Congresswoman Jayapal at Town Hall

Posted on February 16, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F. There is no question that it has been a difficult start to this year and the new Trump administration — from funding freezes to executive orders that have caused chaos across the country. We must … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government | Comments Off on Congresswoman Jayapal at Town Hall

Make your voice heard.

Posted on February 15, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Please consider joining this group: https://5calls.org/. It connects you with issues of concern and gives you the number/persons to call. You can also subscribe to their newsletter. It’s a chance for your voice to be heard. Calling your … Continue reading →

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