Category Archives: Government

Understanding RFK Jr.

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.

 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

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

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

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

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

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

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Data and communication are gold

“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

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 …

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

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RFK Jr.’s War Against Cancer…Prevention

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

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ACLU at Town Hall

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

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

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

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”

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

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

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

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

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A note from Liz Cheney

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

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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The Honeymoon Won’t Last

by Adam Kinzinger in Substack It’s always a temptation to feel like the current state of facts or misery will continue unabated into the foreseeable future. This is a bias of our minds and souls; it’s difficult for us to … Continue reading

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Boasting is Easy, Governing is Hard

By Joel Connelly in Post Alley (thanks to Mary M.) One of the best presidents America never had, Adlai Stevenson, put it bluntly when he said: “The ability to govern is the final test of politics, the acid, final test.”  Stevenson … Continue reading

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Important News Updates by Heather Cox Richardson

The sudden collapse of the Assad regime in Syria yesterday took oxygen away from the airing of President-elect Trump’s interview with Kristen Welker of NBC’S Meet the Press. The interview told us little that we didn’t already know, but it … Continue reading

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Update on Syria

by Heather Cox Richardson Late last night, the White House said in a statement that “President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners.” Early this morning, the … Continue reading

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MORE PAVING, FEWER TREES. SO MUCH FOR A GREEN ‘ONE SEATTLE’

Thanks to MaryLou P. – from the Seattle Times For Seattleites who appreciate trees, Mayor Bruce Harrell’s “One Seattle” comprehensive plan ought to spark grave concerns. The city’s proposed 20-year blueprint for growth contains major changes for residential neighborhoods, paving … Continue reading

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How Do You Like That Filibuster Now?

by Michele Cottle in the NYT As Republicans prepare to take control of both chambers of Congress and the presidency, Senator Joe Manchin, the conservative West Virginia Democrat turned independent, has a question for his former Democratic teammates: “How do … Continue reading

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