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Protect and Serve? Last summer’s May Day USA event, the right-wing Christian extremist event held in Cal Anderson, was a clusterfuck largely because of the Seattle Police Department’s biases against the people of this city, a new report found. SPD apparently didn’t see what the big deal was about holding an anti-LGBT rally in the park—they “weren’t familiar with the neighborhood’s history,” according to PubliCola. They viewed May Day USA as a “church group” and the counterprotesters as “antifa.” They entered the event with a “anticipatory defensiveness” toward the counterprotesters—who they started referring to as “transtifa” after hearing May Day USA security use the term. SPD—which is largely made up of people who do not live in Seattle—also shared information with May Day USA security. This big mess of bias and animosity toward the people SPD is supposed to protect caused an aggressive police response and 23 arrests of counterprotesters.
Impeached: The Federal Way City Council voted 4-3 to remove Martin Moore from his post as council president. Moore posted on his official Facebook page in support of the anti-ICE student walkouts. The rest of the council did not like this. Despite public commenters speaking largely in favor of Moore’s actions at a meeting Tuesday, the council sided against him. He’ll still stay on council, but he’s lost his presidential role.
The Weather: Say goodbye to dry skies. The rain is back. In case you’re wondering if we’ll get any more wintery weather, the Seattle Times has the answer: There is no hope for Seattle snow this year.
Well, what about ICE? In his first executive order, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay banned Immigration and Customs Enforcement from doing anything on nonpublic county-owned land. This includes “parking lots, vacant lots, buildings, and garages and prevents them from being used for staging areas, processing or operations bases.” The executive order won’t stop ICE if those gooners have a judicial warrant. Zahilay’s order also directs $2 million to immigrant communities for “emergency food, housing, and legal aid” and steers the King County Sheriff’s Department to make a plan for dealing with ICE, including how to identify undercover agents and how to respond if ICE and the public get into conflict.
Hey, get off of there! A person in Spokane hitched a ride on an ambulance, clinging to the back of the emergency vehicle on eastbound Interstate 90. That’s not the suggested way to get to the hospital.
The EPA Is Done Regulating Greenhouse Gases: Hahaha. We are so boned. On Thursday, Donald Trump repealed the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse gases endanger human life, thus ending our government’s capacity to legally control pollution. This sweeping move means the Environmental Protection Agency can no longer regulate emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases. It’s a rejection of science and an absolutely dismal backslide as the US faces the realities of climate change: more intense storms, wildfires, droughts, and natural disasters. This, of course, is only good for “billionaire polluters,” reports The Guardian.
“Jayapal Pramila Search History”: Attorney General Pam Bondi had a piece of paper titled “Jayapal Pramila Search History” detailing the un-redacted Epstein files Washington state Rep. Pramila Jayapal accessed in her review of the documents. This outraged House members since it showcased the Department of Justice’s alleged betrayal of the separation of powers. The DOJ confirmed it is keeping tabs on what searches lawmakers are doing in the disgusting pit that is the trove of Epstein files.”It is an outrage that [the justice department] is tracking members’ investigative steps,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin. He plans to open an inquiry into this “abuse of power.”
Antitrust Dust Up: Gail Slater, the head of the Justice Department’s antitrust unit, announced her resignation. This shake-up comes as the DOJ is set to deal with corporate mergers like the tug-of-war battle between Netflix and Paramount Skydance over ownership of Warner Bros. Discovery. Slater’s deputy in the antitrust unit also left this week.
DHS Shutdown Imminent: With Democrats saying they won’t approve more funding for DHS, funding for the department is expected to run out on Saturday. Democrats are holding out until Republicans agree to implement more stringent restrictions on ICE. Agencies under DHS like ICE and TSA could be affected. Will the Gestappo work for free?
Honoring the Dead Is Politics: Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics because he insisted on wearing a helmet honoring the athletes killed during Russia’s war in Ukraine. His tribute apparently violated the Olympics’ athlete expression guidelines. “I believe I am right in this case,” Heraskevych told NBC News. “For me to back down is betraying [the people pictured on the helmet].”
Ukrainian skeleton slider withdrawn from Olympics after insisting on wearing helmet honoring dead athletes killed in Ukraine https://cnn.it/3ZtrjXN
Blood Moon on the Rise: A big, red Blood Moon—which is not just a fun way of saying having your period—will gush all over Washington night skies on March 3.
Oh Deer: The Michigan town of Iron Mountain has a deer problem. One of its parks has had a deer enclosure for 75 years. This is an odd choice since wild deer are prevalent. It’s not like these people are lacking access to deer. Anyway, the enclosure is in dire need of upgrades. Like, $22,000 in one-time fixes and $16,000 in annual upkeep. The city council voted to close the pen. But, what to do with the deer? They are inbred, stupid, and diseased. They cannot be freed. So, they must be shot and killed. The people do not like this. Can’t they save the deer? Probably not.
Good for Them: The Winter Olympic village ran out of condoms in three days. More are on the way.
A Long Read for Your Friday: You liked that Atlantic deep dive on Attorney General Pam Bondi? Then you’ll love this Wall Street Journal story about what craven ghouls Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her advisor Corey Lewandowski are. A tidbit: Noem fired a US Coast Guard pilot after he left her blanket on a plane, but reinstated him when she realized there was no one else to fly her home. Plus, Lewandowski has been really trying to get someone to issue him a gun.
Happy Almost Valentine’s Day: Here is a date idea. If you’re looking for gifts, or a gesture, I recommend heading to Salmonberry Goods Green Grocer in Crown Heights and buying some of their handmade Valentine’s Day pastries. Also, buy a bouquet while you’re there.
A Song for All You Lovers:
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Nathalie Graham
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