The future of coronavirus response, the Seattle city budget, and the Republican Party, this week

Bill Radke reviews the week's news with The Stranger's Jasmyne Keimig, SCC Insight's Kevin Schofield, and the Seattle Times' Patrick Malone.

Last night, Governor Inslee addressed the state to say Covid infections are in a third wave. The weekly average of new Covid cases has doubled in the last two weeks. Governor Inslee and his wife Trudi sat side by side on a couch and urged Washingtonians to skip this year's in-person holiday gatherings. But he did not close any businesses or make masks mandatory. Why is he not making new restrictions on our behavior?

Plus, the pandemic is affecting almost everything, including what the city of Seattle can spend money on. Next Wednesday the City Council will vote on Seattle's 2021 budget. As of now that budget doesn't include a 50% cut to the Seattle Police Department, or $100 million in funding for BIPOC community groups. How are the Mayor and local activists reacting to these decisions?

Finally, let's count all the Republicans who hold statewide office in WA, OR and CA. Ready?

Kim Wyman. We're done.

What state is the Republican party in with only one person in a statewide office on the West Coast outside of Alaska? Does President Trump's refusal to concede help or hurt the party? And what can we expect from the next few months before President-elect Biden takes office?