Category Archives: Government

If They Call Me a Domestic Terrorist

Thanks to Pam P.

Posted in Advocacy, Communication, Government, Immigration, Poetry | Comments Off on If They Call Me a Domestic Terrorist

The Boys of Terezin

Thanks to Ann M. Don’t miss this deeply moving documentaryabout courageous teenage boys and thesecret magazine they dared to create in Terezín Between 1942 and 1944, about 100 teenage boys imprisoned in the Terezín concentration camp created a secret magazine … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Government, History, Morality, protests, Social justice, terrorism, War | Comments Off on The Boys of Terezin

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

Ed Note: Here’s the recent posting by HCR. You can subscribe to her free newsletter, Letters from an American, here. Public outrage over the violence of federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol has given … Continue reading

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

Steets of Mineapolis by Bruce Springsteen

Thanks to Mary M. 2,870,341 views Jan 28, 2026 #1 on music Trending chartLyrics:Through the winter’s ice and coldDown Nicollet AvenueA city aflame fought fire and ice‘Neath an occupier’s bootsKing Trump’s private army from the DHSGuns belted to their coatsCame … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Government, Guns, Justice, Kindness, Law, Military, Morality, protests, Race, Social justice | Comments Off on Steets of Mineapolis by Bruce Springsteen

For Alex Jeffrey Pretti

Thanks to Diana C.

Posted in Advocacy, Government, Immigration, Morality, Poetry | Comments Off on For Alex Jeffrey Pretti

Two regulatory rollbacks, along with a new A.I. experiment in Medicare, raise some worrisome questions.

By Paula Span in the NYT Ed note: We should be proud of our LTC Washington State Ombudsman, Patricia Hunter, for advocating for us and pushing back on the negative moves of CMS. Month after month, Patricia Hunter and other members … Continue reading

Posted in Aging Sites, Government, Health | Comments Off on Two regulatory rollbacks, along with a new A.I. experiment in Medicare, raise some worrisome questions.

The killing of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson As the nation mourned the killing of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti yesterday at the hands of federal officials in Minneapolis, President Donald J. Trump spent last night at the White House at a black-tie … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Crime, Essays, Government, Grief, Guns, Immigration, Justice, Kindness, Law, Media, Mental Health, Morality, prayer, protests, Social justice, terrorism | Comments Off on The killing of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti

Crosslake Update: Mark your calendar for opening day!

It’s official: Link 2 Line service across Lake Washington begins in March. By Sound Transit (thanks to Ed M.) The 2 Line’s highly anticipated Crosslake Connection between Seattle and the Eastside will transform how we travel around the region for generations … Continue reading

Posted in Adventures, Government, technology, Traffic, Transportation | Comments Off on Crosslake Update: Mark your calendar for opening day!

A Simple Proposal for the Legal Profession to Regain Its Dignity

By Shira A. Scheindlin and John Jones III — in the New York Times (Jan 19, 2026) Ms. Scheindlin is a former judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Jones is a former chief judge … Continue reading

Posted in Ethics, Government, Law | Comments Off on A Simple Proposal for the Legal Profession to Regain Its Dignity

Resources about ICE for Parents and Guardians

This list of resources has been provided by several local schools: (thanks to Sylvia P.)

Posted in Advocacy, Government, Immigration | Comments Off on Resources about ICE for Parents and Guardians

A Superpower is Dying by Suicide

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Late last night, Nick Schifrin of PBS NewsHour posted on social media that the staff of the U.S. National Security Council had sent to European ambassadors in Washington a message that President Donald J. Trump … Continue reading

Posted in Communication, Dementia, Economics, energy, Essays, Ethics, Government, History, Justice, Kindness, Law, Mental Health, Morality, Politics, protests, Social justice, War | Comments Off on A Superpower is Dying by Suicide

How Governments have Caused Homelessness

By Skyline’s Michael Caplow — in Post Alley More than 770,000 people in the US experienced homelessness in January of 2024. The causes for this epidemic have a history dating to the 1960s. It’s not just “bad choices,” laziness, or … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Homeless, Mental Health | Comments Off on How Governments have Caused Homelessness

Greenland, ICE, and negative polling

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson After the extraordinary pushback on President Donald J. Trump’s bizarre demand for Greenland, he has responded with what economist Paul Krugman called “a howl of frustration on the part of a mad dictator who has … Continue reading

Posted in Government | Comments Off on Greenland, ICE, and negative polling

It’s the Cynicism

by Joyce Vance (thanks to Mary M.) It seems to be everywhere you look, across the political spectrum. Far too many people don’t believe in anything anymore. They’ve lost faith in everything: our institutions, our values, and even each other. … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Communication, Essays, Government, Justice, Kindness, Law, Media | Comments Off on It’s the Cynicism

Remembering Maggie

Henry Jackson and Warren G. Magnuson, February 17, 1969 Courtesy UW Special Collections (UW19599) By Joel Connelly in Post Alley (thanks to Ed M.) The problem telling Maggie stories nowadays is that you must stop and tell folks who Warren … Continue reading

Posted in Government, History, Politics | Comments Off on Remembering Maggie

Supporting Mark Kelly

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Today, Democratic senator Mark Kelly of Arizona sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Defense Department, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and the Navy Department for violating his First Amendment rights, the Speech and Debate Clause of … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Justice, Law, Military | Comments Off on Supporting Mark Kelly

How to support WACCRA’s Important Actions in the State Legislature

Ed note: If you are not already a Washing State Continuing Care Resident’s Association (WACCRA) member, please consider joining this statewide organization of CCRC’s which advocate for the rights of residents. Currently, we have very few legal protections of our … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, CCRC Info, Finance, Government | Comments Off on How to support WACCRA’s Important Actions in the State Legislature

The Curse of the Middle Guy: Ferguson’s first 8 months as governor

Expectations were high for Bob Ferguson. For many across the political spectrum, the reality has been baffling and disappointing. What happened? Laurel Demkovich in Crosscut If you want to learn more about Gov. Bob Ferguson’s term so far and hear … Continue reading

Posted in Finance, Government, Politics, Taxes | Comments Off on The Curse of the Middle Guy: Ferguson’s first 8 months as governor

FACISM – commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

Beginning in 1943, the War Department published a series of pamphlets for U.S. Army personnel in the European theater of World War II. Titled Army Talks, the series was designed “to help [the personnel] become better-informed men and women and … Continue reading

Posted in Government, History, War | Comments Off on FACISM – commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

Journey to American Democracy: The Battle of the Bulge

Ed note: As a subscriber to Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter, this arrived in my inbox today. It’s inspiring to remember our history and battle against Facism–a battle that must be renewed today. The second post today (thanks to MaryLou P.) … Continue reading

Posted in Government, History, War | Comments Off on Journey to American Democracy: The Battle of the Bulge

15 Things That Can Pretty Much Instantly Be De-Trumpified In 3 Years

by Matt Stoper in BuzzFeed (Thanks to Bob P) Donald Trump has gotten his hand-shake-bruised hands on pretty much everything in DC… For those counting down: He’s got three years left, but de-Trumpification will take time once he’s gone. Fortunately, some cosmetic issues … Continue reading

Posted in Government | Comments Off on 15 Things That Can Pretty Much Instantly Be De-Trumpified In 3 Years

Plane trips and the Epstein files – a million questions remain

Commentary from Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter On Wednesday, December 24, the Department of Justice posted on social media that it might take “a few more weeks” to release the Epstein files after announcing that the U.S. attorney for the Southern … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Law | Comments Off on Plane trips and the Epstein files – a million questions remain

The redacted 60 minute interview is on social media

If you’d like to watch this, click here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSmfgc_Didy/ It may be muted. If so, just click on the small speaker icon in R hand lower corner of the video. or thanks to Diana C. you may be able to … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Immigration | Comments Off on The redacted 60 minute interview is on social media

Our Petty, Hollow, Squalid Ogre in Chief

Ed note: Although I dislike giving the President more notoriety, the piece by a conservative columnist highlights the depths of Trump’s pathologic personality disorder. The questions is this. How can others not question Trump’s sanity? By Bret Stephens Opinion Columnist Though … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Mental Health, Morality | Comments Off on Our Petty, Hollow, Squalid Ogre in Chief

The Hero We Need Now

Andy Borowitz (thanks to Mary Jane F. and Pam P.) One of the great joys of publishing TBR is the time I spend each day in the comments section reading what you have to say. Last week, this comment from … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Immigration | Comments Off on The Hero We Need Now