by Carl Ballard — ,
The Washington State eviction moratorium has been extended again. This time through the end of June.
Given the rate of vaccination, I would guess that it will be the last extension. I hope that the state and Federal relief packages will mean it’s a relatively soft landing when the moratorium expires.
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
I took a walk past Denny Park the other day. Man, the only thing more awful than it full of tents, is the absence of those tents. Knowing that my city is shuffling people around without finding help for most of them. Knowing that I’m helping to pay to hassle, and worse, people living rough through a pandemic.
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Local races are really heating up all over the state. Here in Seattle, in addition to mayor and some city council positions, we will have school board, King County, Port of Seattle. We’re still a couple months away from filing week, but some of the races are starting to get interesting. Is there any local election you’re looking forward to?
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
by Darryl — ,
Seth Meyers: Bill Gates thinks America will solve the climate crisis
Roll Call: Congressional hits and misses of the week
LegalEagle: South Dakota AG in deep water
President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris:
Robert Reich: Amazon’s anti-union blitz
The Daily Show: Remotely educational
Seditionists, Liars, Traitors, Criminals, and Other Flavors of Republicans:
Trevor: First Ladies
Jimmy Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorship
ТрампPlague:
Bruce W. Nelson: ♫ A song for International Women’s Day ♬
John Oliver: Unemployment
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Washington is going to hit the next phase for COVID-19 reopening on March 22nd. I am nervous about greater capacity on indoor activity. It stinks, but it’s how the virus spreads. I hope it’s old people partying while the rest of us are still on the outside, but that’s not really how humans work.
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Those of you who live in King County, how are you voting in the Conservation District? I follow Brittney Bush Bollay on Twitter, and she seems like a good egg. She has a solid from the Sierra Club. I have also heard good things about Doug Hennick.
The district having elections rather than just being appointed by the executive is a bit weird. But as long as it’s elected, you might as well vote for it online.
Also, please wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Oh, hey, the State Senate passed a capital gains tax. The House has passed it in previous years, and Governor Inslee supports it. Still, you don’t want to count your chickens before they’ve hatched: So if you want the tax system to be a bit more fair, you can let your House members know.
Also, please wash your hands right now
by Darryl — ,
Legal Eagle: How lawyers fight climate change
Bruce W. Nelson: ♫ Culture wars ♬
Amber Ruffin: Why can’t America have nice things? Two words—“Economic anxiety”
Vox: Texas’s power disaster is a warning sign for the US
A REAL Administration:
Robert Reich: The truth about guaranteed income
John Oliver: Raids!
Winlar: ♫ A World of… ♬
Republicans and Other Losers, Liars, Seditionists, and Whack-Jobs:
Andre Antunes: ♫ ‘Shaking head prophetess’ goes Heavy Metal ♬
Stephen: Uh-oh, Nevada wants to let corporations form their own governments
Jimmy Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorship
Roll Call: Congressional hits and misses of the week
The Week in ТрампPlague:
Amber Ruffin: ♫ “I Love It When a Man Tells Me What To Do ♬
Mark Fiore: Best frienemies forever
Bruce W. Nelson: ♫ CPAC is Mecca for conservatives ♬
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
by Carl Ballard — ,
by Carl Ballard — ,
by Carl Ballard — ,
It has been a year since the first COVID-19 death in the United States. It has been a hell year, although the absolute worst is behind us (touch wood). I haven’t gone further than a bike can take a round trip from my apartment. Here’s hoping the next year is better.
by Darryl — ,
Stephen: Tim Meadows calls for the expansion of Black History Month
John Oliver: Meatpacking
Dulcé Sloan: The history of the “strong Black woman”
President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris:
LegalEagle: Weird federal criminal laws
Trevor: America’s failing power grid
Roll Call: Congressional hits and misses of the week
Amber Ruffin and James T. Lane: Lift Every Voice and Sing—The Black National Anthem
The Grand Old Party of Incompetence, Sedition, Conspiracies, and Lies:
Mark Fiore: “It’s the windmill’s fault
The Late Show: Uninformed correspondent, Bootsie, talks race relations with Rep. Jamaal Bowman
Jimmy Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorship
Robert Reich: The only way Democrats will get anything done
ТрампPlague:
Wired: U.S.—China relations, explained
Jimmy Dore: Mitt Romney’s alter ego lashes out!
Stephen: Bill Gates points out that we’re going to have more crazy weather events
Roy Wood, Jr.: The history of Black journalists
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
by Carl Ballard — ,
It is the right thing to let felons who have served their time vote. It will help them be part of society once they have served their time. And a democracy should include everyone. So I am glad that a bill to do that has passed the state House. The article doesn’t really say what its prospects are in the Senate, so it couldn’t hurt to contact yours.
One thing I’m curious about, although obviously it’s the right thing to do either way, is how they will vote. During the 2004 election lawsuit they found some former felon voters, and many were Republicans. Not sure how much you can extrapolate a small sample size, but it may be that it helps Republicans a bit.
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
The legislature is moving forward on police reform (first item, although the private prison story is interesting too). It would mean that police have to intervene when their colleagues use excessive force.
My favorite quote in the piece is Senator Jeff Holy complaining that it would make it tougher to hire cops. Good, my dude. Like, if it’s tougher to hire police who look the other way when other police are violent, it’s a better police force.
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
The COVID-19 bill Governor Inslee signed on Friday is pretty good. I hope that the relief can get where it needs to go in a timely manner. People are hurting in the recession. Rent is behind for a lot of people, and many businesses are hurting. This bill goes a long way to help.
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
Eager to share our brilliant political commentary and blunt media criticism, but too genteel to link to horsesass.org? Well, good news, ladies: we also answer to HASeattle.com, because, you know, whatever. You're welcome!