ICYMI, your homework as a democracy-loving American is to watch this and share it with every tuned-out normie who is considering voting for the fascists because gas prices are too high globally.

In case you prefer your coup attempt news in written form: Here's an excellent recap/analysis from Vox. How do we know for sure this hearing was a Big Fucking Deal? Even members of Congress shut the fuck up for once: "There was minimal preening or grandstanding by members. In fact, only two, Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY), even spoke during the two hours of hearings. The others remained silent, seated on the dais."

Say it louder for the centrists in the back: Senator Bernie Sanders took to the pages of DC's most annoying blog, Politico, to remind his colleagues up for election that "You really can’t win an election with a bumper sticker that says: ‘Well, we can’t do much, but the other side is worse.’” In all this hubbub about Republicans trying to steal the last election, it seems some Dems need to remember that they still need to win the next couple. How? Give people some tangible reason to believe democracy is worth saving.

Fear fascism nationally, act to prevent it locally: Ok, that doesn't quite roll off the tongue, but you get my point. If encouraging habitually spineless Dems in DC to do something in the face of rising authoritarianism seems daunting, RunForSomething founder Amanda Litman wants you to know there's probably a local race where you can make a difference:

Inflation hits a record high: According to a new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation rose 8.6% last month compared to a year ago. Democrats will undoubtedly point to the fact that prices have risen across the globe since the pandemic, and that there's nothing specific about American economic policy that has led to the pain workers are feeling in their pocketbooks. If they don't do something about it, though, the high price of milk will be the end of democracy.

That's not just my opinion: Seattle-area doom prophet and climate journalist David Roberts had Chris Hayes on his podcast last week to talk about how their outlooks on politics have changed since 2015. Can't say the listen left me feeling any more hopeful, but their discussion connects the dots of the various trends that have made everything feel so horrible for the last seven years. Specifically, they get into the weeds on why our accelerating slide towards authoritarianism doesn't seem to trouble as many people as it should, which I found helpful as a reminder that it's the world that's gone crazy, not us.

Seattle's Next Top Police Oversight Official competition narrowed down to four: On Wednesday evening, the Mayor's Office put on a fun little four act play, wherein they asked each of the finalists for the head of the Office of Police Accountability the same four questions. Carolyn Bick of the South Seattle Emerald put their lightning-fast Twitter fingers to use and documented the play-by-play live:

"Truth over peace" was my favorite quote of the forum, and it came from Ginale Harris of Oakland's Police Commission. She also refused to mince words when providing an example of her experience holding police officers accountable, calling the officers who "passed around" a sixteen year old girl "child molesters." She said the department referred to the crime as a "sex scandal," which she believed unfairly concealed the true horror of the officers' behavior from the public. That's the kind of energy Seattle needs in a cop watchdog.

Light rail to Bellevue hits another snag: Some structural damage to the plinths supporting the track over I-90's floating bridge will further delay Sound Transit's expansion to our suburban neighbors across Lake Washington, reports the Seattle Times. Guess we'll have to wait until 2024 to zip over to the fancy mall without sitting in traffic.

City settles lawsuit with Lorenzo Anderson's family: The father of the 19-year-old who was shot within CHOP will receive $500,000 in exchange for dismissing his wrongful death suit against the City. Sure seems like the decisions City leadership made during the 2020 protests have cost taxpayers quite a bit, if only someone could find a way to hold any of them accountable...

Florida Man wants government to raise your kids: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis found a new front in the culture war yesterday when he "weighed" weaponizing the state's Child Protective Services against parents who take their kids to drag shows. He took the opportunity to demonize the drag community after a "family-friendly" drag show in Dallas went viral among right-wing concern trolls. Obviously the children at the show could not have attended without someone bringing them, so how about we all leave these families alone and focus on some real problems?

I can think of one better use for Florida's CPS: How is this not worse than taking your kid to a drag show?

How long until we unplug Facebook? Seriously. Conveniently snooping on your ex's vacation photos cannot justify the radicalization of hundreds of state legislators nationwide, because that's what a new report from the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights says is happening on the platform. They've tracked state legislator membership in what they characterize as far-right Facebook groups and found 875 state legislators participating in all sorts of cesspools of the internet.

Here's the 30 WA elected officials who made the list: Ann Rivers, Carolyn Eslick, Chris Corry, Cyndy Jacobsen, Dan Griffey, Doug Ericksen, Drew MacEwen, Gina Mosbrucker, House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, Jacquelin Maycumber, Jeff Holy, Jeff Wilson, Jenny Graham, Jesse L. Young, Jim Walsh, Joel Kretz, Judith Warnick, Keith Wagoner, Larry Hoff, Lynda Wilson, Matt Boehnke, Michelle Caldier, Mike Volz, Peter Abbarno, Phil Fortunato, Robert Sutherland, Sharon Brown, Skyler Rude, Tom Dent, and Vicki Kraft.

Alright, this has been a tough Slog AM: But then again, this is America. What else would you expect?

Â