Category Archives: Government

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 →

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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 | Leave a comment

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 | Leave a comment

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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Understanding RFK Jr.

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Since the time of Pasteur, Lister, Koch and Semmelweis we’ve all (but for a few) accepted the germ theory of disease. One of those few who does not accept established science is RFK Jr. Yet, he’s about to … Continue reading →

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Thousands of Danes sign petition to buy California from U.S.

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Jim deMaine

 Travis Schlepp in KTLA5 Morning News (thanks to Bob P.) In response to President Donald Trump’s continued musing about the U.S. acquiring Greenland from Denmark, Danish citizens have launched their own effort to purchase America’s most economically prosperous state. An online petition seeking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Government | 2 Comments

A sidelined Congress and Republicans are largely mum about the seizure of their power.

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Heather Cox Richardson Feb 10 On Friday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order “protecting Second Amendment rights.” The order calls for Attorney General Pam Bondi to examine all gun regulations in the U.S. to make sure they don’t infringe … Continue reading →

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How, when and why Seattle started to shift into a bike-friendlier city

Posted on February 9, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Tom Fucoloro in the Seattle Times My note: Our first home (rental) in 1969 was near those railroad tracks and Matthew’s Beach. Sandy Wood and Jim Todd lived near us and we would gather the neighborhood to discuss world events. … Continue reading →

Posted in environment, Government, In the Neighborhood, Transportation | Leave a comment

I Ran U.S.A.I.D. Killing It Is a Win for Autocrats Everywhere.

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Samantha Power in the NYT (Thanks to Diana C.) Ms. Power was the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development in the Biden administration. We are witnessing one of the worst and most costly foreign policy blunders in … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Ethics, Food, Government, Health, Justice, Kindness, Morality, Philanthropy, Poverty, Social justice | Leave a comment

Data and communication are gold

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Jim deMaine

“What the hell is going on? by Katelyn Jetelina in Your Local Epidemiologist Feb 04, 2025 It’s February 4. That matters because, as of February 1, the communications freeze at federal agencies, including CDC, FDA, and NIH, was supposed to … Continue reading →

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CDC Data Are Disappearing

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Jim deMaine

The agency has already removed scientific data from public view. More could follow. By Katherine J. Wu (Thanks to Ed M.) The CDC campus in Atlanta (Smith Collection / Gado / Getty) Last night, scientists began to hear cryptic and foreboding warnings … Continue reading →

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What so proudly we hailed …

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Dan S. As the Pentagon and the State Department try to cancel Black History Month, our Martin Luther King County (Harborview) Hospital flies the Afro-American Black Liberation flag with the American flag, no longer at half-mast in observation … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, In the Neighborhood, Race | Leave a comment

RFK Jr.’s War Against Cancer…Prevention

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Jim deMaine

A recent Senate confirmation hearing revealed RFK Jr.’s secret war against cancer prevention. by Paul Offit (thanks to Ed M.) Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cancer. Every year, HPV causes about 20,000 cancers in women and 14,000 in men. For women, … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Health, Law | Leave a comment

ACLU at Town Hall

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Bob P. ACLU Town HallFighting Trump’s First Attacks Tuesday, February 4, at 4:30pm EST

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Please express your support for HB 1531

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ed M. Our public health partners are seeking our support on House Bill 1531 re preserving the ability of public officials to address communicable diseases, which will be heard 1/31 at 8:00AM in House Health Care and Wellness and … Continue reading →

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Commentary on Day One

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Somehow the Trump cartoons don’t seem funny to me anymore. They reflect the negativity that is now reality and evoke sadness rather than humor. Historian Heather Cox Richardson helps me see the present in an historical context. As … Continue reading →

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In Praise of California

Posted on January 21, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Paul Krugman in Krugman Wonks Out (thanks to Kate B.) One of the unwritten rules of American politics is that it’s OK to sneer at and smear our big cities and the people who live in them, while it’s an … Continue reading →

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How Trump “Won”

Posted on January 20, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Michael Podhorzer (thanks to Kate B.) With all the ballots counted and all the races decided, in today’s post, I want to unpack what we already know about how Trump “won” the popular vote.1 I use quotes around the word “won” … Continue reading →

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Two great presidents’ masterful inaugural speeches

Posted on January 20, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By David Adler in the Seattle Times Special to The Idaho Statesman When Donald Trump assumes office Monday, as the 47th president of the United States, he will mark the solemn occasion with an inaugural address. While not required by the … Continue reading →

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An American tragedy: how Biden paved the way for Trump’s White House return

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Jim deMaine

From The Guardian by David Smith – Thanks to Frank C. To admirers, Biden will remain one of the most consequential one-term presidents in US history – to detractors, he was undone by a fatal flaw His back straight, his … Continue reading →

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How Jimmy Carter’s love of music helped launch his presidential campaign

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Abi Inman (thanks to Pam P.) July 21, 1978: President Jimmy Carter greets Willie Nelson, left, after watching the star country and western music singer perform in a concert at the Merriweather Post Pavillion at Columbia, Md. Charles Tasnadi/Associated Press … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Music | 1 Comment

A note from Liz Cheney

Posted on January 4, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F. — From Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter 1/3/25 … Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, given to those “who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens,” to twenty Americans including former … Continue reading →

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Buckle up: Navigating the noise around routine vaccination

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Katelyn Jetelina Thanks to Barb W. The arguments against routine vaccination are already escalating. Just last week, it was unearthed that a prominent lawyer on the RFK Jr. transition team questioned the safety of the polio vaccine, and the long-debunked measles-autism … Continue reading →

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