Governor-elect Bob Ferguson’s new subcommittee to combat “potential harms” of Project 2025 is a masterclass in performative paranoia. Despite President Trump not having any involvement with the Heritage Foundation’s policy guide, Ferguson has enlisted Planned Parenthood CEO Jennifer Allen and King County Councilmember Jorge Barón to tackle imagined apocalypses like gutting abortion access on the federal-level and warrantless surveillance. The subcommittee’s stated goal? Protecting Washington from a policy paper which was grossly exaggerated by Democrats and the media for political purposes and published by a conservative think tank without the involvement of Trump.

With vague membership details and a lifespan limited to Ferguson’s transition, this team looks less like a serious initiative and more like political theater. Of course, Barón and Allen seem honored to co-chair a crusade against hypothetical threats – they appear to suffer from a similar derangement as Ferguson. Laughably, all this comes as Ferguson’s spokesperson admits the subcommittee may simply recommend further action “later.” If this is how Ferguson preps for office, Washingtonians might need protection—from their own governor’s overactive, hyper-partisan imagination. Read more at KOIN.

After years of record-breaking revenue and equally record-breaking reckless spending, Gov. Jay Inslee is finally scrambling to address Washington’s $10-12 billion budget gap—just in time for his exit. His genius solution? A hiring freeze for “nonessential” positions, a pause on noncritical contracts, and a plea for agencies to cut back on travel and goods. Of course, the exemptions for revenue-generating and public safety roles mean the freeze is more PR than practical. Inslee’s last-minute austerity push is like slapping a Band-Aid on a fiscal train wreck of his own making. Washingtonians shouldn’t hold their breath—this move seems less about solving the problem and more about ducking the blame. Read more at the Olympian.

Girmay Zahilay, best known for his support of defunding the police, is now setting his sights on becoming King County Executive, touting himself as the “next generation” leader. While he claims to focus on outcomes over performative gestures, his track record includes record-setting crime that devastated local businesses and neighborhoods under his policies. His solution to the county’s budget woes? Aggressively lobby to raise property taxes, even higher than the current 1% cap, because nothing says “economic recovery” like squeezing struggling taxpayers.

Zahilay’s pitch leans on his personal story as a Sudanese refugee turned lawyer, but his left-leaning approach, including calls for public banks and “alternatives” to traditional law enforcement, suggests more of the same policies that have already hurt King County. If Zahilay’s leadership on crime and spending is any preview, King County might want to brace for an executive era of lofty promises and disastrous results. Read more at KUOW.

The Spokane City Council’s new rules overhaul looks more like a power grab than procedural housekeeping. The “progressive” majority plans to shift meetings to Tuesdays—coincidentally the one-day District 1’s GOP representative, Jonathan Bingle, can’t attend—after 65 years of Monday meetings. They’re also raising the bar to advance legislation by requiring three sponsors, conveniently making it harder for minority conservative voices like Bingle and Michael Cathcart to represent their downtown constituents effectively. Council President Betsy Wilkerson claims this is about “boosting community engagement,” but it’s far more likely a calculated move to sideline dissent. If silencing a district and limiting public input to two minutes is “engagement,” Spokane’s “progressives” might need a new dictionary. Read more at the Center Square.

Have you subscribed to the new Shift WA podcast yet? Subscribe now and don’t miss out on a single critical discussion!

Please consider making a contribution to ensure Shift continues to provide daily updates on the shenanigans of the liberal establishment. If you’d rather mail a check, you can send it to: Shift WA | PO Box 956 | Cle Elum, WA 98922

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].