Enjoy our special series "Truth Tellers," starting December 24 with Ana Kasparian, host and producer of The Young Turks. Subscribers can also join me for a LIVE Q&A December 29th at 8pm PT.
Brandi Kruse
[un]Divided with Brandi Kruse is political coverage for the anti-fringe.
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Brandi Kruse@BrandiKruse
July 07, 2023
INTERVIEW: Congressman Dan Newhouse
During a visit to Eastern Washington, Brandi sat down with Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA04) to discuss the fentanyl crisis, fuel costs, border security, Chinese land acquisition, and how he was able to survive his vote to impeach Donald Trump.
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WATCH: Murder is a predictable outcome (12.19.24)
When government policies cater to the law-breaking, loss of life is to be expected. Evictions are skyrocketing and the media blames everything except the actual cause. Activist judge strikes again. Idaho Board of Education stands up for meritocracy. Cato Institute ranks the freest states.
01:07:12
WATCH: The desires of a double murderer (12.18.24)
The Seattle Times writes sob story about killer who says trans inmates are being treated unfairly. Olympia looks to become a ‘sanctuary’ for the gender diverse. State appointees want more power over sheriffs. The Left picks and chooses which gun crimes to be mad about. Common sense out of Canada.
Prefer to listen: https://audioboom.com/posts/8626156-the-desires-of-a-double-murderer-12-18-24
01:06:09
WATCH: A baffling level of incompetence (12.17.24)
To solve budget deficit, Governor Inslee proposes raising taxes and spending. There’s only one entity to blame for Washington’s incompetent leadership. A so-called solution to protecting kids from drug abusing parents will leave you speechless. Trump sues pollster. Blue-state leaders think we’re all stupid.
Prefer to listen? https://audioboom.com/posts/8625545-a-baffling-level-of-incompetence-12-17-24
01:22:17
REMARKS: 'A fundamentally different approach to government'
These remarks were delivered to the Snohomish County Lincoln Day Dinner on May 17, 2024.
'The Final Battle': Remarks to the Whatcom County Republican Party
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. ...
When you fight for freedom, you fight for everyone
The following remarks were delivered to the Kitsap County Lincoln Day Dinner on June 2, 2023, in Bremerton, Washington. They are shared here as prepared and edited for print.
((REMARKS))
It is an honor to be here tonight, especially considering my friend Dori Monson was here last year as your keynote.
Dori was one of the last true government watchdogs in media. He took the responsibility seriously.
He was fierce.
He was fair.
He was unflinching.
He believed that if left to its own devices, government would move further away from the People.
In a lot of ways that’s already happening.
May I propose a toast to our friend Dori, to what he stood for, and to why we’re all here tonight – our shared mission to keep a government of the People, by the People, for the People.
When I’m invited to speak at events like these, there are always a few people in the room who are confused why I’m here. There is certainly a segment of Republicans in Washington who don’t understand why a self-titled moderate independent who has been critical of the former president and his claims of a stolen election would be invited to be a keynote at...
https://reason.com/2024/12/20/covid-19-lockdowns-unleashed-a-wave-of-murder/
“But Jay Inslee kept us safe!” That ridiculous statement regarding Inslee’s response to Covid hysteria in the comments of a Seattle Times article was the final straw for me. This was an inevitability of his garbage policy. I canceled my subscription and haven’t looked back. I do miss the sports section though.
LIVE: Murder is a predictable outcome (12.19.24)
When government policies cater to the law-breaking, loss of life is to be expected. Evictions are skyrocketing and the media blames everything except the actual cause. Activist judge strikes again. Idaho Board of Education stands up for meritocracy. Cato Institute ranks the freest states.
LIVE: The desires of a double-murderer (12.18.24)
The Seattle Times writes sob story about killer who says trans inmates are being treated unfairly. Olympia looks to become a ‘sanctuary’ for the gender diverse. State appointees want more power over sheriffs. The Left picks and chooses which gun crimes to be mad about. Common sense out of Canada.
Early Christmas gift: Democrats' leaked tax plans
It's worse than getting a lump of coal in your stocking.
It's the equivalent of finding the Christmas gifts your parents tried hiding under their bed. Washington State Senate Democrats have inadvertently leaked their plans for new taxes in 2025 – and unDivided snuck a peek.
Friday afternoon, Democratic State Senator Noel Frame (Yes, Noel – could you get a better name for an X-mas political story?) appears to have accidently sent an email intended for her caucus to Republicans as well. In the email, provided to unDivided by several of its unintended recipients, Frame summarizes what was discussed at a Democratic "retreat."
The email and its attachments are worse than getting a lump of coal in your stocking. Democrats plan to introduce a string of new tax policies that will target the wealthy, businesses big and small, and allow localities to increase your property taxes at a higher rate.
'Identify the villain'
The word "villain" is used a lot throughout the proposals, as Democrats work to coordinate their messaging on tax increases. The slides contain do's and don'ts of selling the policies to the public.
"Be specific about the villain. Talk about the wealthy few and those who wrote our flawed (sic) tax code 100 years ago."
Don't "focus on the budget hole." Instead, "focus on the solutions and how it will make people's lives better."
Don't say "tax the rich" or "pay their fair share." Instead, say "pay what they owe."
Democrats plan to use the same strategy that was successful in defeating I-2109, which sought to repeal the capital gains tax, in order to sway public opinion in favor of taxing the wealthy and businesses.
Expanding Seattle's bad tax policy statewide
In the summer of 2020, the Seattle City Council pushed through a tax on high paying jobs (known as the Jump Start Tax) that led the city's largest employer, Amazon, to move 10,000+ jobs to Bellevue.
Now, Democrats want to expand that tax statewide. In the documents, they offer two possible versions. One would replicate the Seattle tax more closely, limiting the tax to only companies with $8M+ in payroll. The second version would be more wide-reaching, removing "the requirement that the company have $8 million minimum payroll, so it applies to all businesses not just big businesses."
Wealth tax
We already knew a tax on unrealized gains was coming, because even Governor Jay Inslee proposed it in his budget – signaling mainstream Democratic support for what used to be a fringe desire of Leftists on the Naughty List.
Add that to the other anti-business taxes, and Washington's largest employers are no doubt looking to migrate south for the winter – or forever.
How the Grinch stole common sense
Not a rich person or business owner? Cheer up, there's still something for you under the tree.
How about an added 11% tax when you buy guns or ammo?
Expansion of the Real Estate Excise Tax?
Or, worst of all, lifting the property tax lid so cities and counties can raise your property taxes at a faster rate.
Ignorance is holiday bliss
All of this so Democrats don't have to wrestle with the reality that they have misspent taxpayer funds and failed to budget during times of exceptional revenue growth. While our state's budget has doubled over the past 12 years, Democrats have no plan to take a serious look at spending.
Their excuse for out-of-control spending and a looming budget deficit of $14B?
Inflation.
Bah humbug.
