We were very, very saddened to hear of another attack on the 99% this morning. H.R. 358 amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to restrict abortion access in ways that, as is always the case with American restriction on abortion, hurt poor women the most: forcing some state health plans to drop abortion, giving hospitals a right to "exercise their conscience" in treatment of a pregnant woman facing emergency medical conditions, and more. Our own Congressman Jim McDermott, like a boss, laid it all out with this short, sweet and to-the point-tirade that summarizes why this bill is so infuriating while calling out politicians who hide behind theology to hurt women. It's less than a minute and a half long, and worth every second of your time. more ›

Before you head out for your weekend, catch up on the last-minute news of the day. more ›

Before you head out to happy hour or whatever sunshine-stuffed activity you're planning, catch up on the news of the day with our afternoon round-up. It involves Xboxes, interns, and armed robbery! more ›

Whoa. It's not even 5am and this is quite the newsday. Today brings you promises of light rail on the east side, debt-ceiling inspired woes for UW, a dirty deed in a "very clean SUV", a strip club fire, Starbucks making big money and being bigger jerks, and finally, BABY CLOUDED LEOPARDS. Happy Friday. more ›

A California man has been arrested on charges of threatening to kill U.S. Rep Jim McDermott, a Seattle Democrat. News like this feels extra menacing as the nation continues processing the news of last weekend's horrible shooting in Tuscon. more ›

• This morning around 10:30 a.m. a woman found herself being rescued by rappelling firefighters and a city boat after her car plummeted 200 feet down a waterfront cliff in Edmonds.
• Two groups of car prowlers are making the rounds in Crown Hill. One group wielding a skeleton key seems to fancy cars with GPS units. In total, they've broken into 15 cars in five days.

The Congressional Bike Caucus, founded by Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Portland, gets a boost from the NYT. In case you're wondering who represents for the spokes-folks in Washington State, it's alternative-energy friendly Jay Inslee, Adam Smith, Rick Larsen, and Jim McDermott. more ›

Greg Nickels is feeling pretty good this morning. He probably served himself an extra couple of pancakes, and probably broke open that bottle of boysenberry syrup he’s been saving for a special occasion, to reward himself for getting the tunnel he has always wanted. more ›

A local artist, Deborah Lawrence, created a beautiful, swirly, red-and-white collage Christmas ornament for the White House Christmas tree and shipped it off east at Jim McDermott's request. The ornament was then chosen out of many and hung on the presidential Douglas before the Deciders realized it was decorated with text in support of somewhat radical left politics--including, as the P-I notes, positive sentiments towards the impeachment of President Bush. So sneaky! So delightfully devious! Too bad the grownups in charge said it was inappropriate and took it down, even after they initially said it was okay, thereby confirming that they are total killjoys. UPDATE: Now KIRO has an interview with the communist artist in question. more ›

It has just not been Jim McDermott's week. First, the story breaks that he unintentionally toured Baghdad on Saddam's dime. Now, he has been ordered to a pay a political rival's legal fees. The legal squabble between House Minority Leader John Boehner and McDermott has lasted a decade and stems from a clandestinely taped telephone conversation that was leaked to the press. more ›

According to federal prosecutors, Washington State representative Jim McDermott's 2002 trip to Iraq was secretly financed by Saddam Hussein's intelligence agency. McDermott, a strong opponent of the war in Iraq, traveled to the country in October 2002 with two other democratic representatives. The trip occurred during the zenith of President Bush's push for the war, while McDermott and his fellow travelers urged for a diplomatic solution to be found. more ›

While trolling through today's Floor Proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives for our other job (it's an exciting one), we noticed something that will probably get no coverage anywhere else. However, we think it is important to note when Congress singles out one faith as important. We think it's doubly important to note when the vote is taken while Congress fights with the Bush Administration over funding the government for the next year, haggles... more ›

Right out of the gate we're going to D up on Jordan, pressure him a bit and maybe force a few turnovers. MARIA CANTWELL for U.S. Senate. And since we finally figured out how to beat the Bulls' fullcourt press we're going to get a lot of transition baskets from Payton driving to the hole and Sam Perkins from the arc. A pull-up jumper over Longley for JAY INSLEE for U.S. State Rep. A long two from the baseline for JIM MCDERMOTT for U.S. State Rep. We'll go into halftime knowing that the ballot's going pretty well and the Key Arena crowd is going nuts, but we've got to keep the pressure on. Down three games to zip in the best-of-seven series means nothing tonight. Out of the locker room coach Karl has us staying strong on defense while managing to pick up a few buckets. INITIATIVE 930 - NO, INITIATIVE 933 - NO, INITIATIVE 931 - YES. Die, initiatives, die. When Jordan tries to start a run we'll squash it with an Ervin Johnson block and a Hersey Hawkins three on the other end to the rapture of the crowd. JAMIE PEDERSON for State Rep. ED MURRAY for Senator! We're almost there, but a comeback at this point in the game would be difficult -not impossible- for this magic Bulls team. Kukoc is stripped at midcourt, a pass to Payton for the lay in. DARCY BURNER for U.S. Rep. Ball's loose at the Bulls end, McMillan scoops it to Payton who spins around Jordan and fires to Kemp flashing down the lane! The ballot is completed! We're going strong to the ballot box! Kemp absolutely explodes over Pippen and Rodman and the basket counts! We're hanging from the ballot box in ecstasy as time expires. On the way off the floor/out of the church basement we'll exchange high fives and flying chest bumps with the election officials and then head home to face the inevitable games 5 and 6. more ›

--When Canadians say "the war" they're still referring to Afghanistan. Pftt. Americans are so over that war. more ›

-Is this the year Ichiro loses it? more ›

Went to this NetGreen thing today at Bergen Park in Ballard. Took the bus, even. Dozen or so "electeds" on hand (city, county, federal) with their attendant staffers. Lots of bikes. An electric Xebra Zapcar. Lots of self-congratulatory speeches. more ›

-That weird storm earlier caused eighteen thousand cars to crash into each other on I-5 near the Thorn Lane exit. more ›

Congressman Jim McDermott will be playing all the hits, sending out your long distance dedications, and generally getting the Led out all week. more ›

-Bombs Over Bahgdad Jim McDermott will be guest hosting on KIRO radio while Dave Ross is on vacation. more ›

There is really no point to this post, except to let you once again read that Tom DeLay will be resigning from Congress. He will give up his seat and focus on being a martyr for the ignorant and easily duped. We have admitted many times before that we are not above schadenfreude, so this post should come as no surprise. Now please excuse us, as we stretch to add a local connection. more ›

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-A group of Seahawks players were attacked by an automated gate that struck the van they were riding in today, but luckily it was just a bunch of practice squad scrubs like Hasselbeck, Alexander, Hutchinson, Jones and Boulware instead of the team's stars. Everyone seems ok. more ›

Consider “The Other Washington”… Which one is it? more ›

It may not be as desirable as hottest rock star wife or as prestigious as greatest novel, but our own Congressman Jim McDermott has been named the 38th worst American. more ›

Fans of progressive radio will want to tune in this afternoon between 12 and 3pm (you're late) for the Ed Schultz Show broadcast from Town Hall. If you had known about the event earlier you could have bought tickets to see it live and helped benefit First Place, but you already dropped the ball on that. more ›