Remember when Governor Bob Ferguson kicked off the 2025 session with lofty talk about reforming emergency powers, curbing shady legislative tricks, and maybe—just maybe—not lighting taxpayer dollars on fire? Yeah… none of that happened.

Turns out, Ferguson’s first legislative session was less a fresh start and more a rerun of the Jay Inslee show. That bill to rein in emergency powers? Dead on arrival. And while Ferguson vetoed a few token “emergency” clauses, he left the truly abusive ones in place—because blocking public votes on controversial bills is just how Democrats roll now.

But the crown jewel of this dumpster fire? The record-breaking tax hikes—yes, even higher than Inslee’s reign of fiscal terror. They’re being spun as taxes “on the rich,” but don’t fall for it. Property taxes? Up. Gas taxes? Up. Fees for state parks? Also up. Apparently, the new budget hits everyone except the wealthy progressives cashing in on climate grants.

Speaking of grants, the state’s still throwing around millions for feel-good climate schemes, like $22 million for local “climate planning” and another $10 million to help activist groups shake down the feds for more cash. But hey, they did veto $200,000 to teach low-income families how to ice skate, so you’re basically getting a rebate… of 0.03%.

To be fair, there were a couple of small wins: wasteful EV subsidies got axed, and agriculture got a CO2 tax exemption. But those are crumbs compared to the bloated mess that passed.

Ferguson, like Inslee, seems more focused on growing government and pushing an ideological agenda than actually fixing anything—roads, schools, ferries, public safety, you name it. And when voters dare to challenge the narrative (like in Spokane), local politicians just ignore them or let activist judges toss out the results.

So what now? According to the Washington Policy Center, real change isn’t coming from Olympia—it’s coming from the ground up. Limit property taxes, empower parents, respect voters, and restore local control. Because while Washington’s political elite sees the public as a problem to manage, the rest of us know better: they are the problem. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

File this under “you can’t make this stuff up”: Senator Patty Murray, once a cheerleader for vaccine mandates that cost people their jobs and livelihoods, is now deeply concerned that the government’s updated COVID vaccine guidance “takes away choice.” Yes—choice. The same concept she steamrolled during the pandemic now matters deeply to her, because apparently, irony is dead.

As KTTH’s Jason Rantz reports, Murray took to X to whine that Health Secretary RFK Jr. is making it harder for healthy kids and pregnant women to get vaccines that even the CDC admits they don’t need. She bemoans the loss of “choice” without acknowledging that she championed coercive mandates and government-enforced compliance just a few years ago. Ask yourself: is it still gaslighting if it’s this obvious?

Let’s not forget, Murray backed OSHA’s vaccine mandate rule and warned that ending it would “jeopardize American lives.” Fast forward to 2025, and she’s trying to cosplay as a freedom-loving moderate while still pushing unneeded jabs for low-risk kids—jabs that don’t stop transmission and do carry side effects, especially for boys.

And why the sudden change of heart? Follow the money. Murray raked in over $3.4 million in PAC cash from 2019 to 2024—heavily bankrolled by Big Pharma. So it’s not shocking that she’s flipping out over any policy that could slow the gravy train.

Here’s the kicker: RFK Jr., for all his quirks, is the one advocating for informed consent. He didn’t ban the shot; he just doesn’t think the government should push it on people who don’t need it. That’s a “choice,” Senator. You should look into it.

But of course, Murray’s worried that her masked-up Seattle base might start asking questions she doesn’t want to answer. So instead of admitting past mistakes, she’s hoping no one remembers she was on the front lines of the mandate mob.

Spoiler: We remember. Read more at KTTH.

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, a powerful union representing over 30,000 healthcare workers in Washington, was fined $6,000 by the state Public Disclosure Commission for failing to report over $430,000 in political contributions before the 2024 election.

The union funneled huge donations—including $200,000 each to House and Senate Democratic caucuses—without reporting them until a full week after Election Day, violating laws meant to inform voters before they cast ballots.

The union didn’t contest the fine and won’t have to pay the full amount. If they keep their nose clean for four years, half the penalty vanishes.

Let’s Go Washington, the group that filed the complaint, called out the leniency. Founder Brian Heywood said, “They knew what they were doing by hiding that information… but were given a relatively minor penalty by the PDC despite admitting their guilt.”

The PDC says there’s no proof of intent to deceive voters—just a “regrettable error” by one of the most politically active organizations in the state.

So: hide nearly half a million in campaign cash, admit it, and walk away with a $3,000 bill. Must be nice. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

Seattle’s economy is sputtering in 2025. According to the latest state data, the city lost 4,200 jobs between January and April while King County’s unemployment rate rose to 5.1%—well above the state average. Worse, Washington now ranks second-worst in the nation for unemployment versus job openings. Only California is doing worse.

The tech sector is shrinking, small businesses are struggling, and job growth in hospitality and retail remains anemic. Even with foot traffic downtown ticking up, the jobs aren’t following.

Why? Bad policy.
As the Washington Policy Center explains, Seattle’s $20.76 minimum wage and the burdensome JumpStart tax are driving employers out. Amazon is sending 25,000 jobs to Bellevue. Complex permitting rules and anti-business zoning laws choke growth. Crime and protests haven’t helped either.

The city is also still reeling from the shift to remote work, with downtown office occupancy hovering at just 56% of pre-pandemic levels. Commercial real estate is tanking, and demand for local services is falling with it.

If Seattle wants to stop the bleeding, it needs market-based reform:

• Repeal or fix the JumpStart tax
• Ease minimum wage mandates for small businesses
• Streamline zoning and permitting
• Support hybrid work infrastructure and offer office retention incentives

Seattle’s decline is not inevitable—but it is the direct result of policies that punish job creators and ignore economic realities. Reversing course now is the only way to prevent a slow-motion exodus of businesses, jobs, and talent. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

Seattle managed to turn a peaceful religious rally into a brawl—again—and this time, the White House is paying attention. Eight people were arrested outside City Hall Tuesday after left-wing agitators showed up to counterprotest a group daring to stand up for gasp Biblical values. Violence broke out. Arrests followed. And local leaders? They pointed fingers—at the victims.

The original rally by Fire Ministries was meant to push back against the indoctrination machine of the National Education Association and its obsession with turning classrooms into social justice boot camps. But in Seattle, if you believe in traditional values, you’re labeled “far right” and apparently fair game for assault. Even the mayor joined in, blaming the rally organizers after their event was overrun.

Enter the Trump administration.

Paula White, Senior Advisor to President Trump’s White House Faith Office, told KTTH’s Jason Rantz that what happened in Seattle is exactly what the Faith Office was designed to fight. “We absolutely support the fundamental right to free speech, religious freedom for all Americans. It’s non-negotiable,” she said—something Seattle’s city leaders clearly forgot.

White says the administration is working with the DOJ, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the FBI to prevent future violence and discrimination against religious Americans. Because unlike Seattle’s leadership, the Trump team understands that “religious liberty” actually means liberty for people of faith—not just for activists waving rainbow flags and rewriting biology textbooks.

Meanwhile, city officials continue to prove they’re more interested in coddling left-wing mobs than upholding basic constitutional rights. Maybe if the pastors had dressed like Antifa and shouted about “queer liberation,” they’d have gotten a permit and a pat on the back.

Seattle’s leadership might not take this seriously—but the White House just made it clear: they will. Read more at KTTH.

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