OK, OK, OK! Let's talk about Trump: Today So Far

• The case against Trump has finally reached the court Tuesday and the full charges have been revealed.
• Seattle considers a new tax for affordable housing.
• Small Washington communities, far from Seattle, also face affordable housing challenges.

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for April 4, 2023.

When I arrived in Los Angeles for vacation last week, I met up with some friends, and the first thing they said to me was: "Did you hear Trump got indicted!?" Even when stepping away from work, it seems that all anyone wants to talk about is the news — that news.

Trump facing an indictment is a big deal. This has never happened to a former president. He's in New York right now to face the music (but he'll head back to Florida soon). Expect more headlines later today, and stay tuned to KUOW.org, as this story develops.

RELATED: Trump pleads not guilty to 34 charges; admonished by judge

Here are a few basics. Trump was arraigned today. That means his first court appearance, which is usually just getting the judicial process started — paperwork, fingerprints, mugshots. Don't expect to see a mugshot any time soon, unless you're donating to Trump's campaign. This is also when a defendant hears the charges against them and can enter a plea. Trump is pleading "not guilty," and not just because he's Trump and that's the sort of thing he does. In my experience covering various (lower level) court stories, defendants almost always plead "not guilty." This is a bargaining tactic. I've seen defendants say "not guilty," then get lower sentences, different charges, etc. before pleading "guilty." I doubt that will be the case here. Todd Blanche, a former federal prosecutor, is heading up Trump's legal defense. Pleading "not guilty" could mean this goes to trial.

The main takeaway from the 34 charges Trump is facing is that he is accused of falsifying business records. A 23-person grand jury just spent months going over such details to produce these charges. Until today, they had not been released to the public.

Just in case you've been living under a rock for a few years: Trump had an affair with pornstar Stormy Daniels, then paid her hush money to cover it up. While that story has garnered a lot of headlines, that is not what this case is about. Rather, it is about how that hush money was used in the context of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. This case is about laws around campaigns and financing, which is a lot more boring to talk about, sorry.

The lack of details — days ahead of today's revelations — didn't stop Washington's politicians from weighing in on the matter, proving that, despite their status as major decision-makers, they have the same faults as everyone else — they comment on stories they know nothing about after only reading headlines.

Washington state's GOP has already accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of "weaponizing the justice system to go after political opponents." The state Democratic Party also jumped into the mud, aka Twitter, saying, "Trump was a criminal before, during and after his time in office." Who needs potential foreign threats from TikTok to set a bad example when you can have American politicians on Twitter?

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane) was perhaps the most crafty in her response to the whole ordeal, saying, “We are in uncharted territory. Even the appearance of this being politically motivated is doing irreparable damage to the trust and confidence in our justice system. President Trump must receive the same right to due process as every other American.”

That's a lot of basic sentiment which folks can't really disagree with (people should have due process), layered with enough rancorous rhetoric to keep the base off her back, all while leaving enough wiggle room to walk anything back later if needed.

And wait, did you hear that? I believe that is the clicking sound of countless political fundraising emails being sent far and wide, spurred by this one event. Read more local responses here.

Politicians closer to home are also looking to raise money, but it could be argued this is for a good cause. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is pushing to hike local property taxes to fund more affordable housing projects. The goal is to raise $1 billion. To reach that goal, Seattle property owners would pay $380 a year (up from the current $114) starting in 2024. The funding would help maintain the city's current affordable housing, plus build 3,000 new units, as well as some supportive housing.

“We need to swing for the fences," Harrell recently said. "The housing levy is the tool that we can count on to make a difference, not just by building units but by giving people a place to call home."

Far away from the Seattle-area's housing woes, smaller Washington communities like Winthrop are facing similar affordable housing issues. Winthrop's council declared a housing crisis in 2021. Home prices in the region have significantly shot up. As other communities have learned, as prices go up, the opportunities for many to live in the area go down. Eventually, you start to notice that it's hard to find people to work at local shops and stores. In Winthrop, some locals are losing places to rent. Some camp, others leave.

A major chunk of land is up for sale in the Winthrop area, creating an opportunity for locals, if they can raise $8.3 million to buy it. The Sunny M Ranch is about 4,000 acres. Much of it has been sold to resort companies, but the Methow Conservancy wants to buy 1,200 acres to preserve for wildlife, hiking, biking, and skiing. There is also a desire to preserve farming in the area. If the conservancy is successful, 24 acres would be set aside for affordable housing. That would come as a relief as high-end cabins pop up in the surrounding area. Northwest News Network's Courtney Flatt has the full story here.

AS SEEN ON KUOW

Elijah Lewis was a young community activist known for his work in the Central District and South Seattle. This weekend Lewis's family says he was shot and killed while driving in Capitol Hill with his nephew. (Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez / KUOW)

DID YOU KNOW?

For years, actor Danny Trejo has made great movies. You might recognize him as a vampire in "From Dusk Till Dawn," or an assassin in "Desperado," or as Machete from the family film "Spy Kids," or as Machete from the not-family-friendly film "Machete." Throughout his career, he's also had a positive influence on a lot of lives through his work as an addiction counselor. That's actually how he entered the business, helping someone he knew battling addiction who was working on a film set. Filmmakers saw Trejo and started casting him in films. That led to a film career as an all-around badass spanning the '80s to now. Turns out, while Trejo is usually a villian on screen, he is a hero in real life. He continues his work as a drug counselor, often speaking with at-risk youth. And in 2019, he happened to be walking near an intersection where a car ran a red light and was struck by oncoming traffic, flipping it onto its roof. Trapped inside were a grandmother and a special needs child. Trejo jumped into action and got the child out safely. He stayed on the scene to comfort the kid while firefighters worked to get his grandmother out.

Now, Danny Trejo also makes great tacos (and beer, coffee, and doughnuts). In 2016, this actor rolled his celebrity into a business venture, establishing Trejo's Tacos in Los Angeles, which aims to highlight LA Mexican food. Trejo's Tacos wanted to be "representative of Los Angeles, built off historic roots, but a melting pot of cultures all influencing each other in some way." This approach has grown into four locations (with more on the way) and a donut shop. I recently visited a taco stand at a farmer's market, where I also picked up a can of Trejo's Cerveza, and a bottle of Trejo's alkaline water. You can also pick up bags of Trejo's coffee.

ALSO ON OUR MINDS

Finland joins NATO over Russia's objection

Finland became the newest member of NATO Tuesday, as the country's flag was raised over the defense alliance's headquarters in Brussels. Finland raced to join NATO after Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. On Monday, Russia promised to strengthen military capacity in its western and northwestern regions in response to NATO's expansion.

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