Governor-elect Bob Ferguson has a singular focus, and it’s not Washington—it’s Donald Trump. As Attorney General, he racked up nearly 100 lawsuits against the Trump administration, a record that screams obsession. Now, instead of addressing Washington’s mounting crises, Ferguson is creating a subcommittee to “defend” the state from Project 2025, a policy plan Trump hasn’t even endorsed. As KTTH’s Jason Rantz points out, the subcommittee, featuring Planned Parenthood’s CEO and a pro-open-border council member, seems more like a virtue-signaling PR stunt than a real policy effort.

Ferguson’s fixation on a second Trump term has Washington’s actual problems—crime, homelessness, drug overdoses—playing second fiddle. While he postures as a Trump-slayer on MSNBC, car thefts, violent crime, and public safety continue spiraling out of control. Ironically – as Rantz explains – the “threat to democracy” Ferguson warns about looks more like his own administration’s gun bans and demonization of political opposition.

Washington deserves a governor who prioritizes local challenges over his personal vendetta. Instead, Ferguson’s all-in on maintaining Trump as his boogeyman, so no one notices his failures at home. It’s not governance—it’s a four-year Trump grievance tour. Read Jason Rantz’s take here.

Sea-Tac Airport’s website is back after a summer ransomware attack, but don’t expect smooth sailing just yet. Key features like security wait times and the SEA Visitor Pass are still offline, and some internal systems remain a work in progress. Travelers should brace for potential delays and prepare accordingly as Thanksgiving crowds converge. The August attack compromised some passenger information and left the airport scrambling to restore services. While Sea-Tac refused to pay the $6 million ransom, the fallout is still making waves for holiday travelers. Read more at KIRO.

In a recent article, the Washington Policy Center highlights how the City of Tacoma is mandating costly $100,000 underground grease traps for medium and large restaurants, even though cheaper and equally effective alternatives exist. This requirement, enforced more strictly since 2020 to include food delivery services, has made it nearly impossible for some restaurants to offer delivery without exceeding the city’s meal-per-hour threshold. For many, especially those leasing properties, the large tanks are financially and logistically unfeasible. Smaller, labor-intensive grease traps that achieve the same result are not being approved for restaurants serving over 40 meals an hour. The policy is effectively a barrier for new and existing restaurants, forcing some to reconsider opening or staying in Tacoma. City leaders need to allow flexible alternatives before this regulation kills small business growth in the area. Read more at Washington Policy Center.

Washington is facing a $10-12 billion budget deficit over the next four years, but don’t blame declining revenue—state tax collections are at record highs, nearly doubling since 2014. Sales tax revenue has soared, the new capital gains tax raked in $847 million, and even the estate tax jumped 131% in a year. Yet, despite this revenue bonanza, the state’s spending habits are outpacing its income, driven by ballooning caseloads, program costs, and a $4 billion wish list for union contracts. Democrats are already hinting at tax increases to cover the gap, while Republicans argue the issue isn’t revenue but reckless spending. As GOP Chairman Jim Walsh points out, the “crisis” looks more like an excuse to raid taxpayers’ wallets again. Washington doesn’t have a budget problem—it has a leadership problem. Read more at the Center Square.

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