Jim Brunner
@jimbrunner.bsky.social
Seattle Times politics reporter
Got a tip? Signal: 206-214-8789
https://www.seattletimes.com/author/jim-brunner/
Got a tip? Signal: 206-214-8789
https://www.seattletimes.com/author/jim-brunner/
NEW: Democrats are quietly retreating from a big boost in the WA estate tax they passed last year, citing anecdotal evidence of rich people redomiciling. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Fearing wealth exodus, WA Democrats consider retreat on estate tax
Democrats in the state Legislature are moving to roll back a big increase in the estate tax rate, acknowledging it may be causing some very wealthy people to move.
www.seattletimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 8:33 PM
NEW: Democrats are quietly retreating from a big boost in the WA estate tax they passed last year, citing anecdotal evidence of rich people redomiciling. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
"By removing writing from reporters’ workloads, we’ve effectively freed up an extra workday for them each week" is an insane sentence.
This AI-loving newspaper editor is teaching young journalists a valuable lesson: editors can be dumbasses
www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02...
www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02...
Journalism schools are teaching fear of the future: Letter from the Editor
Journalism schools lag in teaching AI, crucial for modern reporting, which aids in efficient news gathering and frees reporters for fieldwork.
www.cleveland.com
February 16, 2026 at 3:19 AM
"By removing writing from reporters’ workloads, we’ve effectively freed up an extra workday for them each week" is an insane sentence.
That Super Bowl for Ring will be taught as a read-the-room lesson in marketing school for decades, no? www.seattletimes.com/business/ama...
Amazon scraps partnership with surveillance company after Super Bowl ad backlash
Ring is ending its planned tie-up with police surveillance company Flock Safety after critics raise fresh worries about neighborhood camera networks.
www.seattletimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:39 PM
That Super Bowl for Ring will be taught as a read-the-room lesson in marketing school for decades, no? www.seattletimes.com/business/ama...
During floor debate last night, state Rep. Rob Chase, R-Spokane Valley, repeated conspiracy theories FBI agents staging Jan. 6 attack, and said a "mathematician" "pretty much proved" there were 300,000 "phantom" votes in WA 2020 election.
www.tvw.org/watch/?clien...
www.tvw.org/watch/?clien...
February 13, 2026 at 5:06 PM
During floor debate last night, state Rep. Rob Chase, R-Spokane Valley, repeated conspiracy theories FBI agents staging Jan. 6 attack, and said a "mathematician" "pretty much proved" there were 300,000 "phantom" votes in WA 2020 election.
www.tvw.org/watch/?clien...
www.tvw.org/watch/?clien...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
“The Constitution does not permit the government to arrest thousands of individuals and then disregard their constitutional rights because it would be too challenging to honor those rights.”
BREAKING: Judge Nancy Brasel, a Trump appointee, has issued a TRO in the Minnesota access-to-counsel case about treatment at Whipple.
"It appears that in planning for Operation Metro Surge, the government failed to plan for the constitutional rights of its civil detainees."
"It appears that in planning for Operation Metro Surge, the government failed to plan for the constitutional rights of its civil detainees."
February 13, 2026 at 12:24 AM
“The Constitution does not permit the government to arrest thousands of individuals and then disregard their constitutional rights because it would be too challenging to honor those rights.”
Reposted by Jim Brunner
Our office has had a new decoration out front for the week, courtesy of Kenneth Walker and the Seahawks' defense.
Congrats on the win, @adamsmith.house.gov. And enjoy the 🍺!
Congrats on the win, @adamsmith.house.gov. And enjoy the 🍺!
February 12, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Our office has had a new decoration out front for the week, courtesy of Kenneth Walker and the Seahawks' defense.
Congrats on the win, @adamsmith.house.gov. And enjoy the 🍺!
Congrats on the win, @adamsmith.house.gov. And enjoy the 🍺!
Reposted by Jim Brunner
New poll: In 2024, low-engagement voters went for Trump over Harris by 11 percentage points. But now they disapprove of the way he's handling the presidency by 13. They have moved 25 points against Trump — 2x as large as the shift for high-knowledge voters www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trump-lost...
Trump has lost the voters who weren’t paying attention in 2024
The least-engaged Americans have swung 25 points against him since 2024 — about twice the shift among everyone else. Trump has flattened the engagement gap.
www.gelliottmorris.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:01 PM
New poll: In 2024, low-engagement voters went for Trump over Harris by 11 percentage points. But now they disapprove of the way he's handling the presidency by 13. They have moved 25 points against Trump — 2x as large as the shift for high-knowledge voters www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trump-lost...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years thehill.com/homenews/med...
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years thehill.com/homenews/med...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers
None of the D.C. grand jurors who heard the Trump administration’s pitch on why they should indict Democratic lawmakers over a video urging members of the
www.nbcnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:46 PM
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
This is a major repudiation of Trump's efforts to use the law enforcement system to attack his political opponents. Grand juries only hear the prosecution side and rarely reject indictments. But in this case, the everyday citizens found even the one-sided case unconvincing.
Trump Justice Department tries to indict six Democratic members of Congress for making a video reminding members of the military that they should not obey illegal orders, only to have the grand jury refuse to go along. @alanfeuer.bsky.social @glennthrush.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
Grand Jury Rebuffs Justice Dept. Attempt to Indict 6 Democrats in Congress
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:00 AM
This is a major repudiation of Trump's efforts to use the law enforcement system to attack his political opponents. Grand juries only hear the prosecution side and rarely reject indictments. But in this case, the everyday citizens found even the one-sided case unconvincing.
Reposted by Jim Brunner
Breaking News: Prosecutors failed to secure an indictment against six Democrats who posted a video reminding members of the military to refuse illegal orders.
Prosecutors Fail to Bring Charges Against Democrats Involved in Illegal Orders Video
The rejection was a remarkable rebuke, suggesting that ordinary citizens did not believe that the lawmakers had committed any crimes.
nyti.ms
February 11, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Breaking News: Prosecutors failed to secure an indictment against six Democrats who posted a video reminding members of the military to refuse illegal orders.
Tweaks to high-earners income tax include boost in small biz tax breaks, doubling of charitable exemption & a deduction for commercial fishing operations.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
WA ‘millionaires tax’ advances in Senate with some changes
A proposed WA state income tax cleared a Senate panel, with changes to boost tax breaks for small businesses and an increased charitable deduction.
www.seattletimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Tweaks to high-earners income tax include boost in small biz tax breaks, doubling of charitable exemption & a deduction for commercial fishing operations.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
"The OPB on your coffee mug, or on your window sticker, might not be the exact place you think it is."
This week, we're telling you why we started the @thewesternedge.bsky.social. Today read @ryanjhaas.bsky.social's devastating essay about local media:
www.thewesternedge.media/p/i-had-a-dr...
This week, we're telling you why we started the @thewesternedge.bsky.social. Today read @ryanjhaas.bsky.social's devastating essay about local media:
www.thewesternedge.media/p/i-had-a-dr...
I Had a Dream Journalism Job. Here's Why I Quit.
The rot that hollowed out trust in corporate media finally reached OPB. I had to go.
www.thewesternedge.media
February 9, 2026 at 4:56 PM
"The OPB on your coffee mug, or on your window sticker, might not be the exact place you think it is."
This week, we're telling you why we started the @thewesternedge.bsky.social. Today read @ryanjhaas.bsky.social's devastating essay about local media:
www.thewesternedge.media/p/i-had-a-dr...
This week, we're telling you why we started the @thewesternedge.bsky.social. Today read @ryanjhaas.bsky.social's devastating essay about local media:
www.thewesternedge.media/p/i-had-a-dr...
'Millionaires' tax set for vote this a.m. in Senate Ways & Means. Some changes made, in part to appease Gov. Ferguson. Biz tax exemption threshold raised to $300k, with some help for biz up to $600k. Charitable deduction doubled to $100k. app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
'Millionaires' tax set for vote this a.m. in Senate Ways & Means. Some changes made, in part to appease Gov. Ferguson. Biz tax exemption threshold raised to $300k, with some help for biz up to $600k. Charitable deduction doubled to $100k. app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
Bad Bunny had more yards during the halftime show than the Patriots had rushing yards all game
February 9, 2026 at 4:12 AM
Bad Bunny had more yards during the halftime show than the Patriots had rushing yards all game
Reposted by Jim Brunner
Hawks!!!!!!!! 💚💙💚💙💚💙
a mascot for the seahawks is standing in front of a crowd
ALT: a mascot for the seahawks is standing in front of a crowd
media.tenor.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:26 AM
Hawks!!!!!!!! 💚💙💚💙💚💙
Reposted by Jim Brunner
PATRIOTS averaged TWO yards per play in 1st half.
www.seattletimes.com/sports/seaha...
www.seattletimes.com/sports/seaha...
Bob Condotta's observations from first half of Super Bowl LX
The Seahawks appear in total control vs. the Patriots in Super Bowl LX, leading 9-0 after one half of play.
www.seattletimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:40 AM
PATRIOTS averaged TWO yards per play in 1st half.
www.seattletimes.com/sports/seaha...
www.seattletimes.com/sports/seaha...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
I've written about the overarching post story, causes, underlying pattern. But the failure of Lewis or Bezos to even show up, literally or figuratively, on a day of devastating cuts epitomizes the profound lack of character and accountability that is so common place today within the American elite.
February 8, 2026 at 6:15 AM
I've written about the overarching post story, causes, underlying pattern. But the failure of Lewis or Bezos to even show up, literally or figuratively, on a day of devastating cuts epitomizes the profound lack of character and accountability that is so common place today within the American elite.
Westneat: "Of late the state (Republican) party’s official statements have sounded more like an anonymous cretin trolling the internet than a serious political outfit trying to win in 2026."
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
The humiliation of the WA GOP is not yet complete
Does the WA state GOP want to win elections in 2026? Because lately it's been sounding more like an internet troll than a serious political outfit.
www.seattletimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Westneat: "Of late the state (Republican) party’s official statements have sounded more like an anonymous cretin trolling the internet than a serious political outfit trying to win in 2026."
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
1 retiring House Republican said that Thursday’s Trump post depicting Obamas as apes validated the choice to leave Capitol Hill. Not long after that, Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei announced retirement
Aide: “Another reason to increase the intensity of my job search"
www.semafor.com/article/02/0...
Aide: “Another reason to increase the intensity of my job search"
www.semafor.com/article/02/0...
Domestic challenges mount for Trump
From social media posting to immigration to the midterms, the president is on the back foot.
www.semafor.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:28 PM
1 retiring House Republican said that Thursday’s Trump post depicting Obamas as apes validated the choice to leave Capitol Hill. Not long after that, Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei announced retirement
Aide: “Another reason to increase the intensity of my job search"
www.semafor.com/article/02/0...
Aide: “Another reason to increase the intensity of my job search"
www.semafor.com/article/02/0...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
“I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.” www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Border Patrol agent's texts after he shot a Chicago woman five times will be released, judge rules
The government dropped its case against Marimar Martinez but her lawyers say it has refused to correct the record after calling her a “domestic terrorist.”
www.nbcnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:52 PM
“I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.” www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Reposted by Jim Brunner
Reposted by Jim Brunner
It's Axl Rose's birthday today, so no better way to celebrate than by sharing this classic @johnmoe.bsky.social piece.
Notes on “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” as Delivered to Axl Rose by His Editor
Hi, Axl — Just got your manuscript and demo for the song “Sweet Child O’ [sic] Mine.” I think we need to talk. As your editor, I am responsible for...
buff.ly
February 6, 2026 at 6:32 PM
It's Axl Rose's birthday today, so no better way to celebrate than by sharing this classic @johnmoe.bsky.social piece.