Seattle
Washington
Topline Talkers: More Washington, Less Washington D.C.
Government and Politics
March 3, 2025
Big Picture
Washington Democrats are making the case that we need more Washington (state) and less Washington (D.C.) not just here in our corner of the Pacific Northwest, but across the country.
As soon as Congressional House Republicans passed their odious budget framework last week that will carve government programs like Medicaid and SNAP up for parts, I knew Democrats needed to make this vote as painful as possible for every House Republican and ensure the American people understand who is responsible when their healthcare and food assistance programs are stripped away. Republicans in Congress holding Town Halls got a taste of how outraged everyday Americans are by the abuses of DOGE and Trump’s disdain for the rule of law. We are urging every Washington Democrat who lives in Congressional Districts 4 and 5 to make sure Republican U.S. Representatives Dan Newhouse and Michael Baumgartner understand just how devastating cuts to Medicaid and CHIP would be for their districts.
Call to Action
Vancouver: Tuesday, March 4th, 50501 Movement is hosting a rally in Esther Short Park from 2p-4p. More details here.
Port Townsend: Tuesday, March 4, 50501 Movement is hosting a March for Democracy from 4:30p-5:30p. More details here.
Lynnwood: Tuesday, March 4, American Federation of Teachers will lead a sign-waving and solidarity rally at the Lynnwood Event Center (3711 196th St. SW, Lynnwood) from 4p-6p.
Everywhere: There’s a Special Election for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida. We have the opportunity to use a low turnout election to cut into MAGA Mike Johnson’s majority, but we need everyone’s help. Write postcards, make phone calls, and more to help push the Democrats over the top in this April 1 election (no fooling!). Learn more here.
If you would like to see less Washington D.C. and more Washington state in your community, please DONATE to The Real Washington Fund – our rapid response account to counter MAGA’s chaos with real organizing, real solutions, and real results. We can’t do the work of holding Republicans accountable without your support.
More Washington, Less Washington, D.C.
As we work in our Washington to build the biggest tent possible that stretches from Canada to the Columbia River, we are seeing Republicans in control of Washington, D.C. do everything possible to drive wedges into communities while looting programs that assist the poor to pay off oligarchs. Here are just a few of the contrasts that exist between the two Washingtons right now:
Economy
D.C.: The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits has risen to the highest level in 3 months with nearly a quarter of a million Americans filing. New tariffs on steel and aluminum are turning happy hours into sad hours as craft breweries will either need to jack up prices, reduce profitability, or shut down. New tariffs on Canada and Mexico and doubled tariffs on China will increase prices for consumers on groceries, electronics, and energy while possibly instigating a trade war with our North American allies. All the while, the U.S. economy is beginning to show signs of strain from Trump’s tariffs and spending cuts, increasing the threat of inflation and stalling business investment plans.
State: Meanwhile, as of last year, Washington was ranked as the top economy in the country based on economic activity, economic health, and innovation potential. Further, a survey by the Association of Washington Business shows that state employers are cautiously optimistic and WalletHub found that there’s no shortage of workers. Washington employers are wary that Trump’s tariffs would hurt their businesses further proving we need less Washington, D.C. and more Washington state. In order to help workers, King County is piloting a program to boost the pay of child care workers.
Government Efficiency
D.C.: Elon Musk’s DOGE illegally lays off tens of thousands of federal workers, including the CDC employees protecting our country from Ebola. Despite Musk’s claims that the initiative to prevent the spread of Ebola was restored, current and former USAID workers say this is a lie. DOGE has claimed to save the federal government $55 billion, but independent analysis from journalists show savings are actually less than $1 million. Trump will shutter 110 IRS offices (during the height of tax season).
State: Governor Ferguson enabled Washington’s Department of Health to speed up processing times for sex designation changes on birth certificates, cutting the average wait time from 10 months to 3 business days. The Governor’s office has also identified $4.4 million in savings over four years by ending a warehouse lease for COVID supplies, $2.4 million in savings by consolidating and sharing office space among Department of Ecology and State Parks staff, and $300 million in savings by requiring most state employees to take one furlough day per month for the next two years, exempting troopers patrolling Washington roads and staff working in state prisons and hospitals.
Rule of Law
D.C.: The White House won’t admit Elon Musk is in charge despite daily evidence because they realize it’s an unconstitutional power grab.The American Bar Association says Trump is not following the rule of law, citing efforts to radically restructure the government and ignoring the separation of powers among co-equal branches of government. U.S. judges, including those in Seattle, accuse the president of ignoring the rule of law for political and personal gain. In pursuit of his campaign promises, Trump is bending the rule of law to the breaking point especially as his Vice President JD Vance (not to be confused with his Co-President Elon Musk) ignores the U.S. Constitution with his claims that the judiciary aren’t allowed to control executive power.
State: Here in the sane Washington, our leaders have been fighting Trump’s overreach since his first term, when now-Governor Bob Ferguson filed 99 lawsuits against Trump and his cronies. Attorney General Nick Brown has taken up that mantle with gusto, trying to get us out of this mess. AG Brown helped ensure a nationwide block of Trump’s “blatantly unconstitutional” attempt to end birthright citizenship, joined a 14-state lawsuit to end Elon Musk’s “virtually unchecked authority” to change our government, joined a coalition of 22 states to halt the policy of withholding billions in Congressionally-authorized federal assistance, sued the National Institutes of Health over its new policy of cutting what it will pay for “indirect costs” of medical research, and successfully blocked Trump’s attempt to cut funding for gender-affirming care for young people. Our Superintendent of Public Schools has instructed schools to leave their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and policies in place as Trump’s Department of Education “Dear Colleague” letters calling for cuts “do not hold the power of law.”
Storybanking
We are also continuing to collect stories from around the state and you can watch our first video below! Follow us on social media for up-to-the-minute updates and actions that can benefit your communities:
Andrew Ashiofu, Chair of the Washington Stonewall Democrats, shared his personal experience of how Trump’s policies are impacting health care for people with HIV. It’s only a matter of time until people lose their lives because of Trump’s cruelty. You can watch our conversation by going here.
Washington state is leading the way out of the mess Donald Trump has put us in. We’re here to do what works. In the other Washington, partisan politics and unswerving loyalty to Trump come first. We are laser focused on doing what works for working people, not billionaire rocket enthusiasts.
In the News
The Seattle Times: Murray: Trump, Musk have made child care crisis worse
The Seattle Times: Seattle judge blocks Trump’s executive order suspending refugee admissions
The Seattle Times: Things to know about the ruling blocking President Trump’s refugee ban
The Seattle Times: FDA cancels meeting of vaccine experts scheduled to advice on flu shots
For more information or to get involved, please contact Shasti Conrad at [email protected].