Cascadia today: Challenging ICE tear gas use + WA gov subject to recall + Cascadia could expand fossil gas pipelines for data centers
Good morning, friends. US ruler Donald Trump decided not to annihilate Iran's civilization and likely will agree to let Iran charge up to $2 million for every oil tanker sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Art of the deal or something. As I posted yesterday on Bluesky during a protest against the war at Seattle's federal building, Trump needs to be removed from office, and Cascadia needs to consider leaving the US.
Enough is enough.
I'm at federal building in Seattle at a protest against Trump's threat to kill Iran's civilization. Even though he delayed Armageddon for two weeks, he needs to be removed.
— Andrew Engelson (@andyengelson.bsky.social) April 7, 2026 at 5:36 PM
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Lawsuits heard on tear gas at Portland ICE facility
OPB covered hearings before the Ninth circuit federal court of appeals yesterday regarding two lawsuits seeking limits on how ICE can use tear gas and other "non-lethal" crowd control on protesters at the agency's facility in Portland. The two lawsuits were filed by protesters & journalists as well as residents of a nearby apartment building, and are represented by the ACLU. Late last year, ICE fired tear gas at peaceful protesters including children and elders. A ruling is expected later this month.
In related news, ICE has reportedly resumed kidnapping people at immigration hearings in Seattle, and Superfamilia KC has put out a call for court observers at the 6th & 8th floors of federal building in Seattle at 915 Second Ave. from 8 am - 5 pm April 8 - April 10.
WA governor subject to recall effort
Washington State Standard reports that an attorney who monitors campaign finance violations has quietly filed a recall effort against Washington governor Bob Ferguson for failing to fill seats on the state's campaign finance commission, which violates state law. The recall hasn't gained much attention, but if a recall would lead to replacing the timid centrist with a progressive who recognizes the constitutional and fiscal crisis we're in, then sure, go for it.
Vancouver parks seeks $1.4 billion
CBC reports that Vancouver's parks board will ask the city for $1.4 billion in funds to repair and renovate the city's aging parks and recreation facilities. That sure seems like an excessive ask considering the council and centrist mayor Ken Sim last year passed a "zero tax increase" budget that slashed social services.
Expand fossil gas pipelines to Cascadia for data centers?
Columbia Insight reports that an Oklahoma company wants to expand fossil gas pipelines to the Columbia gorge and eastern Washington to meet the sucking energy demands of data centers in Cascadia. State lawmakers need to place hard limits on this – which they failed to do last session. And for earth's sake, stop using AI to generate slop.
Community and haircuts in south Seattle
Need a feel-good story? Photographer Susan Fried has a great photo essay at the South Seattle Emerald from the "Barbershop, Chat & Chew" event in the city's Rainier Beach neighborhood. It's a fun community celebration in one of south Seattle's most diverse neighborhoods with free haircuts, chess playing, and conversation. We need to keep building community in these times.
Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting. --Andrew
