Shift’s Newsmaker Interview is with Janell Hulst, candidate for 23^rd Legislative District (North Kitsap) House of Representatives Position 1 seat.  Hulst is running against first-term Democrat Representative Tarra Simmons, one of the leading advocates for the Democrats’ 2021 anti-police package and co-sponsor this year of the controversial legislation to reduce the penalty on those convicted in drive-by shootings.  In reviewing Representative Simmons’ Public Disclosure Commission reports, she is strongly funded by state government employee unions and out-of-district Seattle liberals.

Hulst is a determined small business owner who says she is running to steer Washington’s “ship back on course.”  In her interview, Hulst asserts her support for fixing the Democrat’s failed police pursuit law, providing gas tax relief, and reducing regulations and fees to encourage affordable housing.  She advocates for the parents’ right position when it comes to the controversial Comprehensive Sexuality Education policy the Democrats imposed on our young school children and believes Governor Jay Inslee has “grossly trampled” our state’s constitution through his on-going abuse of his emergency powers. (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)

The Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating Thursday’s crash of the ferry Cathlamet into the Fauntleroy ferry dock.   Thus far there has been no indication of mechanical failure and the ferry captain has been terminated from his position.  It is also not known yet if Governor Inslee’s firing of 200 ferry workers last October, thanks to his unilateral implementation of an unscientific vaccine mandate, and subsequent staff shortages played a role in the accident.  Damage to the ferry is estimated to be well into the millions.  It was reported on Friday morning that the vessel the ferry service brought in to replace the Cathlamet on the Vashon-to-West Seattle run was pulled from service due to mechanical problems, yet latest word is that problems have been fixed and the replacement vessel is back in service. (Northwest NewsRadio, MyNorthwest, and WA State Ferry System Twitter)

The controversial WA Cares plan (and payroll tax) already faces a $15 billion shortfall and is insolvent before it even commences according to a new report by the Washington Policy Center.  Taxes will needed to be increased, or the maximum benefit of $36,500 will need to be immediately decreased, for the controversial plan to be solvent. The hastily written and poorly conceived plan has faced numerous problems since the Democrats jammed the plan through in 2019.  And even though the implementation was postponed 18 months at the start of the 2022 legislative session, allegedly to fix the plan’s many problems (but mainly to move the reality of their mistake until after this fall’s elections), massive problems persist.  Republican have offered an alternative voluntary long-term care insurance plan which will be managed by private companies and not by government bureaucrats. (KONA Radio and House Republican Caucus media release)

Across the state, Republican candidates will be seeking volunteers this weekend as they work to “Get-Out-The-Vote” for next Tuesday’s primary elections.  To get involved, please contact the campaigns (federal, state senate, and state house) or county party leaders.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that the Seattle Police Department (SPD) will soon resume investigating some sexual assault cases.  This news comes two months after it was publicly revealed on June 1^st that the SPD no longer had the human resources needed to investigate these cases. The lack of investigations is due to the mass exodus of more than 400 (and still growing) well-trained officers from the department after multiple disrespectful actions against them were taken by Seattle’s liberal leadership.

Sexual assault victim support groups and others were becoming increasingly frustrated over the lack of action from Mayor Harrell to provide a plan to resume investigations and the groups were about to send a collaborative public letter condemning the mayor when he suddenly made the Thursday announcement.  The mayor’s executive order stated that by the end of August all felony cases “with sufficient evidence allowing for a follow-up investigation” will be assigned to a detective.  Yet there is no plan for increasing police resources or any requirement for the SPD to actually investigate the cases in a timely manner.

As is evident in the return of criminal activity on Downtown Seattle’s 3^rd Avenue following the recent removal of the SPD’s “emphasis patrols,” the Seattle Police Department is now playing a citywide version of Whack-a-mole as it attempts to provide public safety for the city’s 775,000 residents despite a heavily depleted workforce. This problem was created by Seattle’s liberal elected officials who chose to cave into the “defund the police” demands of violent liberal rioters in 2020.  As was predicted by many at the time, well-trained Seattle police officers left for other departments where elected officials respect law enforcement and appreciate the dangerous work they do to keep the public safe. (Seattle Times and Brad Foster Twitter)

Amazingly no one was hurt this morning after a car thief repeatedly drove on the wrong side of two local freeways trying to avoid police.  The theft was reported at 5:00 a.m. by the Bothell Police Department. The thief then was spotted driving on the wrong side of the heavily travelled State Route 522 near Woodinville. Because the suspect’s action were an immediate threat to members of the public, police were able to pursue the vehicle despite the Democrat Party preference (written into state law) that criminals be able to drive away from their crimes unbothered.  The suspect then drove westbound on eastbound 520 near Lake Washington Boulevard where the car was maneuvered into a crash by a Washington State Trooper. Car thefts have nearly doubled in Washington State since the passage of the Democrats’ anti-police legislation as criminals have become move brazen due to the restrictions the Democrats have placed on law enforcement. (MyNorthwest)

The cooler and wetter spring prevented many wildfires from occurring, yet the vegetation that thrived during that period has now become dry fuel to any possible flames.  Authorities predict an increase in fires in the coming days, as the state experiences its normal hot and dry weather during August.  One major problem for fire fighters will be the severe drop in the number of people available to fight the fires due to Governor Inslee’s power-hungry decision to impose a vaccine mandate – even on non-state employees. A recent survey of volunteer firefighters found that only 20% are fully vaccinated and willing to provide proof if required by the Washington State Patrol. (KREM and Wenatchee World)

Washington State Democrat Party Chair Tina Podlodowski has received criticism, even from liberal journalist Joel Connelly, for her recent tweet in which she attacked Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tiffany Smiley for holding a meeting with voters at a church in Manson (on Lake Chelan).  Podlodowski demonstrated her lack of knowledge of the U.S. Constitution by claiming the event somehow infringed on the separation of church and state (FYI – the 1^st Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It does not restrict those who are religious from participating in political events.) Evidently Podlodowski believes those who hold religious views should be denied their constitutional rights to be involved in the political process.  We wonder if it is the position of the Washington State Democrat Party to roll back all the gains made by the 1960’s civil rights movement since it grew from southern Black churches and was fronted by such religious leaders as the Reverend Martin Luther King?

Speaking of Chair Podlodowski’s ludicrous Twitter account, another one of her recent posts caught our eye.  She posed for pictures with 42^nd LD Democrat Representatives Alicia Rule (who is running for re-election) and Sharon Shewmake (who is trying to move up to the State Senate).  The fact Representative Rule would want to publicize the support of an extreme non-constituent like Podlodowski shows a deep contrast between Rep. Rule and her Republican opponent Tawsha Dykstra Thompson.  Thompson is a recently retired Bellingham police officer, and her husband Jay is currently recovering from being shot while on duty as a Whatcom County Sheriff Deputy.

Podlodowski’s anti-police views are well known, as she made news last year for her anti-police stand after former Democrat Governors Gary Locke and Christine Gregoire announced their support for Ann Davison in the race for Seattle City Attorney.  Podlodowski responded by posting a tweet favoring the radical Nicole Thomas Kennedy who advocated for rioting and violence against police officers. If Representative Rule and other Democrat lawmakers want to be taken seriously for their campaign-year reversal to suddenly support the police, then they should condemn the previous actions of their party chair who strongly supported the candidacy of someone who tweeted, “I have a rabid hatred for the police” and that police should “eat some covid laced s**t & quit UR job.” Having her picture taken with Podlodowski leads to the belief that Representative Rule has no problem with her party chair supporting such a radical anti-police candidate.

Do you like The Daily Briefing? Do you want to keep seeing coverage of election issues which are important to you?

Please consider making a contribution to ensure Shift continues to provide daily updates on the shenanigans of the liberal establishment and provides you inside coverage of the 2022 elections which includes exclusive interviews with top candidates.

Forward this to a friend.  It helps us grow our community and serve you better.

You can also follow SHIFTWA on social media by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

If you feel we missed something that should be covered, email us at [email protected].