Every Presidency a lot happens. And so a lot is on the ballot. Big stuff, little stuff. Obviously, we’re focused on a potential global pandemic today.

But! Recently the NLRB passed a rule to make easier for a franchise to fire workers in retaliation for union organizing. It is now on the individual franchisee rather than the larger franchise. A million of these smaller decisions — boards, court cases you never heard of — are on the ballot.

The stock market has taken a tumble this morning. And so, it’s as good a time as any to remind you that stocks are not the economy. You could be doing well or not. Collectively, one tumble in the market due to a disease isn’t employment or wages. So some spooked investors are spooked. But we should continue to deal with homelessness and wages and job security and empowering unions because those matter more than the rise and fall of the DJIA on any particular day.

Glad that Seattle is providing for more transitional encampments (first point). I can’t imagine that it’s enough, but it’s a step in the right direction. Maybe the rest of us could remember that they’re, like, actual humans living in tents and tiny houses.

The Washington State Presidential Primary ballots will be mailed on Friday. So you should be getting it next week. You have to declare your party and get it returned by March 10.

(Sorry I didn’t write this sooner)

Applications for King County’s Section 8 lottery are going on now. If you are eligible, I would encourage you to apply.

Did you vote in a special election? Did your local bond pass? Should I have covered it before it was over? All good questions.

Big election coming up tomorrow. Could make a huge difference for years to come. Of course, I am talking about the King Conservation District. You can vote online for this one, so you can vote on the toilet. In fact, I will be disappointed in you if you don’t vote from the toilet.

I asked a couple environmentalists and they said Porter. So vote for Porter — while pooping — is the official Carl Ballard recommendation.

It would be nice if the Sound Transit area was allowed to pay for Sound Transit without shenanigans from the state. I know, I know there was an initiative. Still, if you want to contact your legislators and let them know that it’s bullshit, Transportation Choices Coalition has a place for you to write them.

So, today is the impeachment vote

And by now it seems rather rote

If you think they have some gall

Well, give them a call.

Or at least you can write them a note.

The caucus

The caucus

Does whatever the cock does!

Hangs around ’till you’re irate.

The second round is not as great.

Look out!

Iowa caucuses.

Obviously apologies to Spiderman, cocks, and rhyme schemes. And good luck to the candidates.

Happy maybe last day of impeachment. I see people posting on Twitter that if he’s acquitted, President Trump will start believing that he’ll start feeling like he can do anything. But that’s false; Of course he has always operated like he can do anything and will continue as long as he’s in office. Impeachment showed who the Republicans are, and now it’s up to us to defeat them.

I support the Swedish Nurses. They are having a rally this afternoon, and if you can join them, rad.

I realize that this is a long shot, but does anyone know where in Seattle you can watch the women’s FA Cup tournament matches? My team, Ipswich Town, are doing surprisingly well. They’re in the 4th tier of the Women’s FA but are down to the round of 16. It would be nice to see a full game rather than highlights.

A few years ago when the men’s team were in the semifinals of the FA Cup, it was on at some pubs. But this feels a bit tougher to find. I couldn’t figure out streaming it in the US, but maybe I missed something.

This rain is pretty ridiculous. Please slow down a bit. Try to pace yourself, the rain. We have enough landslides and gigantic puddles. Let’s give it a rest. Maybe come back when we’ve had a chance to dry off a bit.

Did any of you realize the King Conservation District was having an election at all? Or that you could vote via the Internet including on your phone? It seems like the District elections come up just enough that I can never remember the process Just put it on the ballot and send it to people’s homes like a normal election. But seriously, do any of you know who to vote for?