In a series of proposals ahead of the 2023 legislative session, Governor Jay Inslee outlined his vision to address homelessness. As Brandi Kruse explains on the [un]Divided Podcast, Inslee fails to identify the true cause of a crisis he helped to create.
Washington needs a serious drug policy. In 2016, Shannon Blake was arrested in Spokane, Washington. At the jail, officers found a small bag of methamphetamine in the pocket of her jeans. At trial, she testified that a friend had given the jeans to her two days before Blake’s arrest, that she had never used methamphetamines,...
As bills are pre-filed in Olympia, Brandi Kruse of the [un]Divided Podcast says a few Democrat-backed proposals show misplaced priorities.
A recent expose by The News (Tacoma) Tribune regarding Western State Hospital, the state’s largest mental hospital that is located in Lakewood, is not only perhaps one of the closest examples of the inmates literally running the asylum as you’ll ever get, but it’s also a vivid example of Governor Jay Inslee’s failed leadership on...
While details are still murky, here are what issues we can expect to pop up.
Brandi interviews Tacoma News Tribune journalist Sean Robinson in this segment of [un]Divided to discuss further the breaking news that Washington state knowingly hired a career criminal to work with vulnerable patients. As the criminal justice reform movement in Washington state continues to grow, this story is an extreme example of giving a convicted felon...
In Tuesday’s Midterm election, undecided voters have the power to usher in a period of much-needed sanity. They can do it by prioritizing balance above political party. At a time when extremes on both sides are pushing bad ideas – balance is the only thing that can truly protect us. Balance requires compromise, consensus, and...
In the latest segment of [un]Divided, Jim Ferrell – the Mayor of Federal Way – discusses his campaign for King County Prosecutor with Brandi. She explains how this is the most important race because the Prosecutor elect will have the opportunity to set the tone for the criminal justice system. Accountability and justice are crucial...
In this week’s segment of [un]Divided, Brandi unpacks the debate over who is at fault for the Camp Hope situation in the city of Spokane. With approximately 500 homeless people camping out on the state’s Department of Transportation land, city and county officials are at a standstill about how to resolve the encampment. The inability of...
This article is republished here courtesy of Change Washington. When tasked with a long, difficult undertaking it’s important to celebrate the victories when they happen. King County’s decision to nix a planned homeless megaplex in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID) represents an unexpected and important success for sound homelessness policy, public safety, and common-sense governance. As we’ve written on...
In Brandi’s recent segment of [un]Divided, she details the controversy surrounding the proposed expansion of a homeless complex in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. Specifically, the dismissal of the community’s concerns by elected officials and the recent decision to pause the project.
Crime across Washington has increased significantly in recent years. While it’s a local problem in much of the state, it’s the result of decisions made elsewhere. Some might naturally point to Olympia, where the state legislature has enacted numerous police “reform” laws handicapping law enforcement and enabling criminal activity. However, ultimately this is tied to...
Looming elections have a way of making politicians appear pragmatic. As public opinion sours on our state’s handling of the crime crisis – some Democrats are shifting their stance to stay in step. The question for voters is whether they believe that the sudden course correction will last past November. After staying silent on the...
On [un]Divided, Brandi Kruse hears the story of a woman who is speaking out about her attempted rape and how her attacker might not serve any time for the crime due to his mental state. One of the biggest challenges to Washington’s public safety crisis is how to prosecute violent offenders who are mentally ill....