Federal aid for victims of the December floods is picking up a bit of steam, but it’s still not enough to cover the significant levels of damage faced by Washington residents. And now the deadline to apply for a bit of that money is fast approaching. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Oregon gas tax proposal rejected by 80+% of voters www.opb.org/article/2026...

Bezos on CNBC: "You could double the taxes I pay, and it's not gonna help that teacher in Queens. I promise you."

Will his investigation be led by Claude? "Mr. Rosenbaum acknowledged in a statement that the book had “a handful of improperly attributed or synthetic quotes” and said that he had started his own investigation." www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/b...

Yet another example of institutions growing in administrative bloat instead of investing in people doing the core work. The result is less good stuff for way more money. And then these same bureaucrats wonder why trust in institutional programs is so low. CC: journalism, local govt, etc

The DOJ announced a $1.7 billion fund to pay Trump allies prosecuted by the government as part of the president's settlement with the IRS. The new fund could pay claims to the likes of Jan. 6 rioters

The Seattle Times published a full obituary for Juniper Blessing. It's a moving tribute to a life well-lived. May she rest in peace, and may UW honour and carry on her legacy. Scholarships named for her might be a good start.

Take This Job and Shove It. Johnny Paycheck - or Dead Kennedys

Super interesting analysis ("autopsy") of what went wrong for the Kamala Harris campaign in 2024, by an insider. open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

NEW: Three people will face a federal jury next week for their alleged roles in Spokane’s mass ICE protest last summer. But something else about it is noteworthy: a local journalist is being subpoenaed to testify in it. Here’s more: www.spokesman.com/stories/2026...

As Rs blow up majority-black seats, and Ds cut up their own to compete, you're simply going to have fewer coherent communities with their own districts. For example, Rs are cutting the Mississippi Delta and the city of Jackson in half order to throw them into Republican seats.

This would constitute one of the most brazen, most appalling acts of corruption in U.S. history. I know we’re numb to all of this but this is a seven-alarm fire. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/b...

ICYMI: A Seattle woman is leading a national conservative campaign to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 SCOTUS decision legalizing same-sex marriage. Katy Faust's nonprofit group, Them Before Us, has grown increasingly well-funded. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

"Democratic Rep. Kim Schrier of Washington pressed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reassure parents that the vitamin K shot is safe. He refused and pushed back..." www.propublica.org/article/more...

Nothing can prepare you for who's singing this National Anthem (via lpaulfranklin / TT)

Host: Kash Patel brought at least one case of his personalized bourbon to the FBI's training facility for a seminar with UFC athletes. At least 1 bottle went missing, which caused the Patel to "lose his mind." Patel began threatening to polygraph and prosecute his staff over the missing bottle.

Republicans Unveil Map Carving Up Tennessee’s Majority-Black House District www.nytimes.com/2026/05/06/u...

This is at least the second person who responded to my link TO A NEWS ORGANIZATION reporting this story, which itself cites two earlier stories from OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS that did earlier work on it, claiming we don't have news organizations.

It’s Harder Than Ever to Get Federal Disaster Aid. Even in Red States. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/c...

NEW: Gov. Bob Ferguson agrees to $4,000 civil settlement in ethics probe over bringing former top aide Mike Webb on a state plane ($2k suspended if he has no more violations.) www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Flyers Fans Not Sure  Whether Gritty  Supposed To Be Eating Live Bird https://theonion.com/flyers-fans-not-sure-whether-gritty-supposed-to-be-eating-live-bird/

IN HONOR OF CALIFORNIA’S 175TH ANNIVERSARY, WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT A VERY SPECIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE FOR EVERY CALIFORNIAN THIS SUMMER!

JUST IN: Sixth straight loss for DOJ in lawsuits to obtain states’ voter rolls. This one in Arizona from Trump-appointed judge Susan Brnovich. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ex-FBI Director Comey indicted in probe over online post officials say constituted threat against Trump, AP source says.

Update: Jeremiah Bourgeois has been fired for 'insubordination and misconduct,' per termination letter from the Gov's office.

There’s a new rumor spreading about discarded mail-in ballots found in WA w/ insinuations that mail-in voting is insecure & allegations of fraud. It sounds alarming at first glance. But a deeper look reveals the rumor to be misleading in old, familiar ways. katestarbird.substack.com/p/here-we-go...

NEW: Gov. Bob Ferguson has put Jeremiah Bourgeios, head of the state prison watchdog office, on paid home assignment citing allegations of unethical conduct. Bourgeois denies the accusations & accuses Gov's office of retaliation & undermining his work. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Authoritarian personality cult stuff. Stable democracies don't talk about their sitting leaders this way.

Zero. Sympathy. They did this to themselves. Oh, and also? There definitely is an easy answer.

TIRED: Cocaine Bear WIRED: www.wired.com/story/cocain...

Westneat: Amid Seattle’s neglect, a Little Saigon gem somehow hangs on www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Vaccines were once so uncontroversial that McDonald’s restaurants put the childhood immunization schedule on their tray liners. Now, as the U.S. government sows doubt, preventable diseases could come roaring back.

Al Dams, the chief deputy assessor, called on his boss to resign Wednesday. More fallout from Assessor John Wilson's criminal charges related to allegations that he stalked his ex-fiance. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Evergreen

Forbes is gamifying news about the horrific mass shooting in Shreveport, LA this weekend, encouraging readers to bet on the likelihood of gun regulation with fake money via its "ForbesPredict" feature. Eight children were murdered in the shooting. futurism.com/future-socie...

Pretty sad that on the ghostly bones site that still calls itself Seattlepi.com there is nothing about the death of Joel Connelly. Why does this Hearst clickfarm outpost even exist?

"On most Sundays, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson climbs into his 2023 electric Ford F-150 and heads out across the city. Along the way, he picks up roadside garbage, monitors homeless encampments and makes unannounced stops to speak with businesses and residents." www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Rest in peace, Joel www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Joel Connelly, who passed away today at age 78, was an excellent reporter and columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer w/an institutional knowledge of the Northwest. As much as we remember his exceptional reporting, we also remember his kindness and joy for life. We’ll miss you, Joel.

lol, wtf? www.cnbc.com/2026/04/15/a...

Gregg Phillips, the high-ranking FEMA official who said he teleported to a Waffle House has a history of making supernatural claims we found in his podcasts: a dead girlfriend who lifted his car off the road to avoid a crash, Satan encountering him on a hike, etc. www.cnn.com/2026/04/14/p...

Me IRL

Trump has approved WA's request for a Major Disaster Declaration for December's flooding. This unlocks individual assistance & aid for state and local governments for repair costs.

An anticipated lawsuit has been filed challenging WA’s new high-earners income tax as unconstitutional under a 1933 state Supreme Court precedent www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Hall of fame FT correction

$2 million per ship — to cross a Strait that was free six weeks ago. @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/w...

That red line is doing something unusual. www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/...

There is some MAGA opposition to Trump's "whole civilization will die" plans: • Alex Jones: "🚨🚨WAR CRIME ALERT!!🚨🚨" • Marjorie Taylor Greene: "This is evil and madness" • Joe Kent: "reckless rage and destruction" • Candace Owens: "The 25th amendment needs to be invoked."

A top FEMA official is doubling down on his claims that he teleported to a Waffle House.