This week’s Newsmaker Interview is with the University of Washington’s premier Atmospheric Sciences Professor Cliff Mass. The professor literally wrote the book on local weather patterns (“The Weather of the Pacific Northwest”), yet he is best known by many for his skirmishes with members of the liberal academia and the “cancel culture” who want to silence his scientific findings and viewpoints because they do not subscribe to liberal orthodoxy.  Recently Mass was fired from public radio Station KNKX, not for his scientific failings, but for a blog post he made regarding the deteriorating condition of downtown Seattle and the on-going violent protests. This past week, Mass again made headlines for refuting Governor Jay Inslee’s assertions that the wildfires were caused by climate change.  In his interview with Shift, Professor Mass discusses the false climate change declarations, fear in academia, and the dangers of the cancel culture. (Shift, Amazon, Cliff Mass Weather Blog, and KVI Radio)

Washington businesses slowed their pace of hiring employees after a record-breaking summer of rebuilding the workforce. After averaging 100,000 new hires in May, June, and July, the state’s employment increased by only 19,800 in August.  Washington’s unemployment rate in August was 8.5% (it was 4.6% in August 2019).  There were 18,403 new unemployment claims for the month, which is down considerably from the Spring, yet it is three times more than the new claims filed a year ago.  (Seattle Times and August 2019 Monthly Unemployment Report)

The News Tribune took aim at both presidential candidates for their reactions to the wildfires that have engulfed the Western United States.  The paper specifically criticized the Biden campaign (and nearly all Democrat officials) for ignoring the poor forest management that is the primary culprit of the recent fires. The paper said that no matter who wins the election in November, “it’s imperative for the feds to take a leading role in prescribed burns, tree thinning and other proven forestry practices.” (News Tribune)

KIRO Radio hosted an hour-long debate between controversial one-term Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and his challenger Maia Espinoza on Thursday evening. Reykdal, who is being criticized for the state being woefully unprepared for distance learning when the pandemic hit (despite being the home of the world’s technology leaders) and for pushing the divisive mandatory sex education legislation (which is the subject of the Referendum 90 campaign), is strongly supported by the deep pockets of the state’s teachers’ unions. Espinoza is supported by individuals and groups opposed to the sex education bill and by those who want to bring more choice to our state’s education system. Reykdal, who received just 40% in the August primary, is considered to be on his way out in the November elections. (KIRO Radio and Secretary of State election results)

The Washington Policy Center will be hosting its  Annual Dinner virtually next Friday evening (September 25th).   For the past 20 years, the Annual Dinner has become a premier event in Washington State as the WPC has brought in national recognized speakers to discuss free market solutions. The staff at WPC assert that the 2020 dinner will be different than other virtual events, for they are working with a production company to improve the quality of the presentations (and “attendees” can choose the option of enjoying a lavish meal while viewing the event).  Former Congressman Trey Gowdy will be the featured speaker.  Cost is free (yet donations are appreciated since the dinner is the major fundraising event for WPC).  For additional information and to register, please click on the links. (Washington Policy Center)

Good news for Pac – 12 football fans as it appears the conference will reverse its previous position and allow games in the 2020 season. A determining factor in the decision has been the implementation by the league of a daily rapid-result COVID-19 testing system which can assist in stopping a mass spreading of the disease. If approved by the schools, the football season could commence by the end of October. California and Oregon governors have allowed practice to resume.  (Everett Herald)

Ernie Lou, the individual leading the Recall Kshama Sawant campaign, refuted the claims from the socialist councilwoman that the effort to unseat her is backed by Right-wing corporate interests. Lou, who describes himself as “gay Asian-American,” said he has always voted Democrat and that the campaign does not accept donations from corporations and has set a contribution limit of just $25. The recall effort received the necessary approval from a King County Superior judge earlier this week, which will be appealed to the Washington State Supreme Court by Councilmember Sawant (since Seattle taxpayers are footing the bill for her legal defense, even the pathetic parts).  If the Supreme Court supports the lower court’s ruling, then the recall effort will need to collect 10,800 signatures from registered  voters in Sawant’s council district to place the issue on the ballot next Spring. (MyNorthwest)

The latest bizarre occurrence in the state has been the sudden increase of termites on the Key and Kitsap peninsulas. Since last weekend, many residents have reported seeing a significant increase in the wood-eating pests.  Insect specialists believe the smoke in the air, along with the humid conditions, has drawn them out from underground. (News Tribune)

Washington State Department of Agriculture stated that no one has ever been punished for illegally transporting maggot infested fruit into Eastern Washington.  The issue arose after Governor Inslee presented boxes of infested apples during photo opportunities in Eastern Washington communities devastated by the wildfires. (YakTriNews)

Senate Republican floor leader Senator Shelley Short (R – Addy) says the economic damage caused by the wildfires is yet another reason why Governor Inslee and the Democrat legislative leadership should call the legislature back into special session.  Senator Short said, “The legislature should have already addressed the financial fallout of the governor’s stay-home order. Now, with the latest outbreak of catastrophic wildfires, our local communities are in even more dire straits. Individuals and families have lost their homes, ranchers have lost pasture and livestock and the state has lost valuable food commodities as these fires ravage our state.”  Meanwhile Governor Inslee and the Democrats stubbornly refuse to bring the legislators back before the November election because their unpopular solution (because it benefits government employee unions) is to raise taxes on Washington citizens who have faced dire financial insecurities during the past six months (iFIBEROne)

Tri-City area health officials believe they can more accurately track the number of daily coronavirus cases better than the state can. This is one of the primary reasons why the Benton Franklin Health Department recently made recommendations to begin returning local students back to the classroom in October (saying returning students to the classroom will not increase disease activity).  Health official Dr. Amy Person also said that one of the reasons why the state has stalled counties from reopening more of their economy is because they are re-evaluating their models for determining the phases.  (KNDU – TV and iFIBER One)

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