Take a minute to [un]wind with our Sunday morning newsletter. Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what you may have missed from [un]Divided this week – plus, all the anti-fringe news that’s fit to print.
VOTE VOTE VOTE!
Filling out ballots is ceremonial in our household. Yesterday, when our ballots arrived for the August 2 primary, my boyfriend threw some steaks on the Traeger, made us both whiskey drinks, and we talked through our choices. While we’re fine with disagreement, we try to come to terms on the same candidates if possible (that way our votes don’t cancel each other out). We get a lot of joy out of voting and hope you do too.
If you live in Washington state, your ballots should arrive in the mail by Monday. Races include United States Senate, the U.S. House, and a variety of state legislative races. Maybe you already know who you’re going to vote for, but if not make sure to catch this week’s episodes of [un]Divided as we sort through what’s at stake. On Wednesday’s show, we’ll cover the battle for Washington’s 8th Congressional District – a bellwether race for swing districts across the country. I’ll have in-depth interviews with candidates and a glimpse into what voters are prioritizing in this Midterm election year.
Trump floats a 2024 run:
Speaking of the Midterms, former President Donald Trump says he’s already made up his mind about 2024 – the only decision left? Whether to announce before or after the Midterm elections, according to an interview he did this week with Olivia Nuzzi: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/donald-trump-2024-decision.html
“Do I go before or after? That will be my big decision,” he said.
Trump also scoffed at the idea of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis being a strong challenger, suggesting DeSantis only won the governorship because he got Trump’s endorsement.
To me, a 2024 announcement from Trump pre-primary would be malpractice if he cares at all about the GOP, especially in states like Washington where the former President has a dismal approval rating. The specter of another Trump campaign could tank the prospects of Republican candidates in close races who might have otherwise had a chance in November.
If Trump were to ask me for advice (or anyone for that matter), I’d encourage him to wait (of course, I’d encourage him not to run at all, but I digress).
Meanwhile, the media is already full steam ahead on painting DeSantis as Trump 2.0. In the event GOP favor starts to turn in the direction of DeSantis, talking heads need to get a jump start on vilifying him as the second coming of orange man bad (while I dislike Trump, I also think the press went batshit crazy over him long before January 6).
Take this op-ed from MSNBC titled: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is a far more dangerous politician than Donald Trump.”
Le sigh.
Seattle desperate to hire more police officers:
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell this week outlined an ambitious plan to try to fill the police department’s depleted ranks. SPD has lost around 400 officers since 2019, leaving it with the lowest staffing levels since 1991.
Harrell’s plan includes retention incentives and massive hiring bonuses for new recruits and lateral transfers.
But as I detailed on Friday’s episode of [un]Divided – money won’t fix what’s broken here.
In order to attract officers to the city, the entire climate around policing needs to change. Washington state has been on a bender passing anti-police legislation and making it more difficult (and dangerous) for officers to do their jobs. Few officers will be willing to trade their safety (and their dignity) for a few thousand bucks.
Watch my commentary on the SPD hiring plan here (at the 1:00 mark): https://brandikruse.locals.com/post/2431368/un-divided-seattles-police-problem-video
‘Invisible Storm’:
One-time presidential hopeful Jason Kander joined [un]Divided on Wednesday to talk about his new book, which details his departure from the campaign trail in 2018. Kander, a former Army intelligence officer, was a rising political star when he announced he’d be stepping away from politics to get help for untreated PTSD.
While I disagree with a lot of Kander’s Progressive political views, I am in awe of his courage and commitment to country. If you’re looking for a good read, I highly recommend Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD.
As a bonus, proceeds from the sale of the book go to help veterans who are struggling.
Anti-ICE activists are now attacking a group of elderly women who serve soup. Republican state lawmakers say two bills would have stopped self-dealing described in whistleblower report. Major job cuts ahead for Amazon. Another disturbing report of the Mercer Island School District covering for teachers accused of abusing students.
Prefer to listen? https://audioboom.com/posts/8797200-save-the-soup-ladies-10-28-25
A whistleblower exposes rampant self-dealing within a state equity program. Portland ramps up efforts to control Antifa, but is it too little too late? Governor Bob Ferguson’s insane blind spot on girls’ sports. New lawsuit in parental rights battle. Illegal driver in fatal Florida turnpike cash failed CDL test 10 times in Washington state – got a license anyway.
Prefer to listen? https://audioboom.com/posts/8796587-enrichment-over-equity-10-27-25
The eyes of the nation will be on Portland once again this weekend, but don’t overlook the real tragedy. Voters report double ballots, other concerns ahead of the November election. Socialist state lawmaker fined for blocking conservatives on X. Florida sues Washington state.
Prefer to listen? https://audioboom.com/posts/8795310-the-real-tragedy-in-portland-10-23-25
These remarks were delivered to the Snohomish County Lincoln Day Dinner on May 17, 2024.
The following remarks were delivered to the Whatcom County Lincoln Day Dinner on March 23, 2024, in Ferndale, Washington.
I struggled with what to talk to you about tonight.
Well, that’s not true. I didn't struggle with what to talk to you about – I struggled with whether I was brave enough to say what I wanted to say.
When I'm invited to speak to groups, I don't want to offend anyone or be too controversial. So, I reached out to a few of your fellow party members to ask whether any topics were off limits or wouldn't go over well with the crowd.
I got some good advice.
Then I decided to ignore that good advice entirely.
Too much is at stake to be polite.
As we sit here tonight, we are in the final battle of a war.
A war that has pit sanity against insanity.
Pragmatism against idealism.
A war that has sacrificed the public good, in favor of a twisted idea of progress.
It's a war that began long before I moved here 15 years ago. It started silently and it was mostly waged in the shadows.
Most of us didn't even realize that a war was being fought. We were too caught up in our own lives and our own problems. ...
Do you work in the tech sector, or have a job that directly depends on the strength of the tech sector in Washington state?
Halloween Edition! Seattle mayoral candidates are resorting to desperate tactics in the final days. National Guard deployment on hold in Portland. I guess climate change isn’t going to kill us after all? Congressional hearing on political violence. Socialist mayoral candidate gets schooled on Cuba in Miami.
Anti-ICE activists are now attacking a group of elderly women who serve soup. Republican state lawmakers say two bills would have stopped self-dealing described in whistleblower report. Major job cuts ahead for Amazon. Another disturbing report of the Mercer Island School District covering for teachers accused of abusing students.
I was honored this week to join President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and other independent content creators for a roundtable on Antifa.
While a certain joke about TDS is getting a lot of attention, the underlying mission of the meeting was serious – deadly serious.
For years, organized left-wing radicals have sought to influence public policy through coercion: using harassment, threats, vandalism, and violence as their tools. From the Occupy movement, to the May Day riots, to the "Summer of Love" and up to the most recent anti-ICE actions, I've followed these activities closely – and been the target of their tactics far too many times.
Whether you call them Antifa, terrorists, radicals, or just criminals – understanding, investigating, and disrupting violent extremism in all forms should be a nonpartisan pursuit.
Here are my full remarks to President Donald Trump:
Mr. President, you’re going to hear us be very fired up today, as you can tell. It’s because some of us have been covering Antifa for 15 years and have never had anyone in a position of authority even acknowledge their existence.
The single most powerful thing you’ve done to deal with this scourge has been acknowledging that Antifa is a real thing. I genuinely believe there would be people at these tables who would be dead today and would have been killed in Portland had you not called them a terror organization and said you're going to bring the full weight of the federal government to bear.
I talked to Katie Daviscourt in Portland the other day. She’d been assaulted all summer. And she said the same thing. They didn’t seem as quick to violence as soon as you made that designation. They’re worried. There’s been two dozen or so arrested in Portland. They don’t want to go to federal prison.
There’s this video of one of them who was in the face of an ICE agent and then he’s in custody shaking. Once you take the mask off, they’re nothing.
I was told by probably a dozen people not to tell you this. I’m going to tell you anyway because it’s relevant to what we’re talking about. I’m living proof that you can recover from TDS. I had strong Trump Derangement Syndrome for probably eight years. This is one of the reasons I recovered from it.
By the way, it’s much better to not have TDS. I’m happier. I’m healthier. I'm more successful. I even think I got a little more attractive after I got rid of my TDS.
I’m a reporter in Seattle and frankly, I could not care any less what any of you have to say about this meeting (looks to Press Corps). I could not care any less. We’re not here for you. I’m not here to convince any of you that Antifa is a real thing. Because if you have not come to that conclusion by now, you are never going to come to that conclusion because you don’t want to see it. And you’re going to say it’s a bunch of right-wing conservative influencers who are here spinning a tale.
I was one of you. I was a mainstream reporter in Seattle for 10 years. I was a TV reporter, on the streets, doing my job and I was still assaulted by Antifa. So, it’s not about being conservative. It’s about people who go out there and show what they’re doing.
When I saw after all those years that the media wouldn’t be honest about what was happening, that Democratic politicians wouldn’t be honest about what was happening, I thought, well, if they’re not being honest about that, maybe they’re not being honest about President Trump either. It opened my mind to just looking at things for what they were. And now I find you quite funny, actually (looks to President Trump).
Again, I could not care any less the stories that go to print. This is what I care about: We have three and a half years. Nothing is guaranteed. Although, I think if Democrats keep it up, we’ll probably have Republican presidents for the next three decades. But nothing is guaranteed. So, what I want to see over the next three and a half years is a fullcourt press to dismantle Antifa once and for all in a meaningful way. I know Andy Ngo, we talked before this about some ideas. We want the federal government to take as many of these cases as possible and look at the interstate travel between Portland and Seattle when it comes to these people who are committing violent acts.
Hopefully, in three and a half years, they will be a shell of their former selves.
President Trump:
Well I think we're very close, and it’s Antifa and many others. Unfortunately, there are many others, bad ones. Most have been named terrorist organizations. There a couple that we’re going to focus on, but I think we’ve got it pretty well covered, but there are many others. Specifically today is Antifa and it’s really bad and we’re going to get it cleaned up.
Thank you very much. I’m glad you no longer have TDS. I feel very good about that. Thank you.
There will be no live show today, September 29.
Why?
I'm on the ground in Portland, doing my best to sort through competing narratives about what's happening outside the ICE facility here.
President Donald Trump declared the city a "war zone," mobilized the National Guard, and authorized Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to use "full force" to finally bring months of unrest outside the facility to an end.
Democratic leadership, including Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, have called the city "safe and calm," suggesting there is no need for federal intervention.
As usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle. But after just one night on the ground, it is clear that Portland has failed to address the unrest in any meaningful way for more than 100 days. The federal government has a right to protect federal assets and agents, especially considering the abdication of responsibility from local leaders, but what level of intervention is appropriate?
We will be back on air tomorrow, September 30, at our regular time with a special report. In the meantime, the best way to follow breaking updates is on any one of my social media platforms:
X: @BrandiKruse
FB: @BrandiKruseNews
