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
January 13, 2025
WATCH: Bob Ferguson exposed by his own task force (1.13.25)
If we can take anything away from the second meeting of Washington's Domestic Extremism and Mass Violence Task Force, it’s that Governor-elect Bob Ferguson himself engaged in extremism. Lawmakers seek to upend parental rights initiative. State lawmaker punts on question about safety for female inmates. Mark Zuckerberg isn’t fooling anyone. California’s sanctuary laws may protect arsonist.
Prefer to listen? https://audioboom.com/posts/8637075-bob-ferguson-exposed-by-his-own-task-force-1-13-25
01:27:36
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WATCH: Farewell, King Inslee (1.14.25)
After 12 years in office, Washington Governor Jay Inslee leaves behind a legacy of lies. Democrat-backed bill would give unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants. Rent control gets day one hearing. Amazon ditches DEI. Hot take: Kids need cellphones in class.
Prefer to listen? https://audioboom.com/posts/8637633-farewell-king-inslee-1-14-25
01:21:47
WATCH: Another win for girls’ sports (1.9.25)
Schools who protect girls' sports are free from federal retribution. Sen. John Braun (R-Centralia) joins us to explain his support for making the public schools chief an appointed position. Join Brandi at Washington’s Domestic Violent Extremism Task Force meeting. Trump calls on Newsom to resign. LA Mayor Karen Bass has nothing to say.
Prefer to listen? https://audioboom.com/posts/8635152-another-win-for-girls-sports-1-9-25
01:18:09
WATCH: Fire and failure (1.8.25)
As Los Angeles burns, California’s failures come into focus. A bipartisan push to make the head of public schools appointed, not elected. School district has kids on the hunt for hate crimes. A proposal to increase property taxes will only make Democrats’ key complaint worse. SWAT patrolling the streets of Seattle. There is nothing controversial about the Laken Riley Act.
Prefer to listen? https://audioboom.com/posts/8634554-fire-and-failure-1-8-25
01:08:27
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. ...
LIVE: Reap what you sow (1.15.25)
Voters opted not to repeal wasteful taxes in November, now they’ll reap the consequences. Governor Inslee gives unhinged speech on his way out the door. Is anyone seeking justice for victims anymore? House votes to ban boys from girls’ sports. Here’s how you can tell Democrats are losing their grip on gender debate.
LIVE: Farewell, King Inslee (1.14.25)
After 12 years in office, Washington Governor Jay Inslee leaves behind a legacy of lies. Democrat-backed bill would give unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants. Rent control gets day one hearing. Amazon ditches DEI. Hot take: Kids need cellphones in class.
LIVE: Bob Ferguson exposed by his own task force (1.13.25)
If we can take anything away from the second meeting of Washington's Domestic Extremism and Mass Violence Task Force, it’s that Governor-elect Bob Ferguson himself engaged in extremism. Lawmakers seek to upend parental rights initiative. State lawmaker punts on question about safety for female inmates. Mark Zuckerberg isn’t fooling anyone. California’s sanctuary laws may protect arsonist.
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.
