Democrats love preaching ‘inclusivity,’ but in Kent that apparently means excluding a murdered conservative from basic human decency.

Kent School District Flunks Moral Clarity 101

Heading into the weekend, the Kent School District showed the state exactly who they are. Instead of lowering flags to honor Charlie Kirk—a 31-year-old husband and father assassinated for daring to debate ideas—Superintendent Israel Vela twisted himself into knots explaining why “values” apparently outweigh human life. The district admitted state law doesn’t require half-staff in every case, then added the kicker: when someone’s public views “conflict with the values of inclusivity, respect, and student safety,” KSD “may choose not to fly the flag.” Translation: if you’re conservative, don’t expect dignity in death.

This wasn’t about compliance—it was about character. When political violence strikes, the proper civic instinct is unity, not a partisan purity test. Instead, KSD taught students that honoring the murdered is conditional, that respect is only for those who echo the district’s politics. That’s not safety. That’s indoctrination.

And let’s be honest: if the victim had been a progressive activist, Kent wouldn’t be waving legal technicalities around. They’d have lowered the flags, issued statements about “standing against hate,” and flooded social media with hashtags. Instead, they preened while the rest of the country, including leaders across the political spectrum, condemned the assassination.

Even worse, KSD mangled the very values it claimed to defend. “Inclusivity” can’t mean excluding the dead. “Respect” can’t be contingent on speech codes. And “student safety” certainly isn’t modeled by signaling that unpopular opinions make you less worthy of mourning. That’s a chilling civics lesson to hand students.

This was a moment for moral clarity. Instead, Kent School District gave kids a masterclass in petty politics. The flags should have been lowered. The violence should have been condemned. Instead, the superintendent—who, by the way, has already been fined twice by the Public Disclosure Commission—showed that even grief is fair game for ideological enforcement.

Kent didn’t just fail a test of decency. They wrote the answer key upside down. Read more at Seattle Red.

Billions for DEI, Peanuts for Results

The latest state test scores are in, and while Superintendent Chris Reykdal is busy patting himself on the back, parents have every reason to be frustrated. Reading and math scores ticked up slightly this year, but they’re still far below where kids were before COVID shutdowns—and Washington taxpayers are coughing up almost $39 billion for K-12 schools, or nearly $19,000 per student. For that kind of money, we should be rocketing past Idaho, Wyoming, and even Mississippi. Instead, those states are leaving us in the dust with far less spending.

Reykdal’s spin? He says low test scores don’t necessarily mean kids are failing—they might have just had a “bad test day.” Right. Tens of thousands of students all just happened to have an off day, year after year. And while parents want answers about academics, Reykdal points to—you guessed it—DEI. According to him, focusing on equity and diversity has “moved the needle” and closed achievement gaps. Never mind that the actual numbers show students still lagging badly in both reading and math.

Meanwhile, classroom culture is increasingly hijacked by politics and social agendas, distracting from actual academics. Even education advocates note that the “vast middle” of students are being ignored—pushed through the system without ever reaching their potential. That’s not equity, that’s neglect.

Here’s the bottom line: Democrats and their union allies keep demanding more money, more programs, and more political agendas in the classroom, yet student outcomes remain flatlined. Washington isn’t failing because it lacks funding—it’s failing because those in charge refuse to prioritize education over ideology. Read more at Center Square.

Another Life Lost on the Altar of Sanctuary Politics

A Pierce County jury just convicted Jerry España Davila, a Mexican national who has been deported four times, for murdering a Tacoma auto dealer execution-style. His record reads like a rap sheet of missed opportunities—assault, DUI, gun threats—but thanks to Washington’s “Keep Washington Working” sanctuary law, ICE was barred from taking him off the streets. Instead, he roamed free until his crimes finally turned deadly.

The details are sickening. Davila stalked his victim, shot him twice in the head, and fled. Detectives only caught him because of his dog, which got hit by a car and later led them to his hiding spot. That’s right—a black lab showed more reliability than our state’s immigration policies.

ICE confirmed what Democrats in Olympia refuse to admit: this murderer was deported in 2005, twice in 2007, and again in 2010. Each time he waltzed back across the border, protected by open-border politics and shielded by sanctuary laws. Instead of being behind bars or back in his home country, he was here, emboldened by a system designed to prioritize ideology over safety.

Let’s be clear: the victim’s family got a conviction, but no law-abiding Washingtonian should have to pay the ultimate price because politicians in Olympia prefer pandering to activists over protecting communities. This wasn’t some victimless policy quirk—this was a man’s life.

Democrats promised sanctuary laws would protect families. They did—just not the American families they were elected to serve. Read more at Seattle Red.

Washington Wins the Gold Medal… in Pain at the Pump

Congratulations, Washington—we’re officially number one. Not for education, not for affordability, not for safe streets. Nope. We’re leading the nation in the price of gas. As of September 15th, drivers here are shelling out an average of $4.66 a gallon, nearly 47% more than the national average. That’s $1.48 more every single time you pump, just for the privilege of living in Bob Ferguson’s utopia of “climate leadership.”

Some counties have it even worse. San Juan residents are paying an eye-watering $5.60 a gallon. Pacific, Wahkiakum, Columbia, and King counties aren’t far behind, all hovering near or above $5 a gallon. Even the “cheap” spots like Spokane and Asotin can’t get under $4. And remember, the all-time state record was $5.56 back in June 2022—meaning we’re inching dangerously close again.

AAA and GasBuddy will tell you it’s about refinery maintenance, California shutdowns, or seasonal blends. And sure, those factors don’t help. But let’s not ignore the elephant in the gas tank: Washington’s cap-and-trade program and carbon tax scheme that Democrats swore would only cost “pennies.” Instead, those “pennies” now add up to hundreds of extra dollars a year for every driver—small businesses, commuters, and families alike.

For years, Democrats in Olympia sold voters a fairy tale: jack up the cost of fuel, and somehow it’ll save the planet. What it’s actually saved is California’s reputation, because even they aren’t as expensive as us anymore. Washington just leapfrogged them by half a cent. Mission accomplished, right?

So while regular folks cut back on groceries to pay for gas, the same lawmakers responsible are patting themselves on the back for “climate progress.” Translation: they’ve turned your daily commute into a revenue stream for government coffers.

Democrats promised cleaner air. What we actually got was empty wallets, longer commutes, and the proud distinction of being America’s most expensive place to fill a tank. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.

So Much for the Left’s Tolerance

In a recent piece, the Washington Policy Center explains how Charlie Kirk’s assassination wasn’t just a tragedy for his family and millions of young conservatives he inspired—it was the inevitable consequence of a culture the Left has been nurturing for years. Kirk’s trademark was actual debate, not the cable-news shoutfests Democrats pretend are “dialogue.” He built Turning Point USA into a powerhouse by showing up, listening to opposing views, and engaging with grace and wit. And for that, he was branded “divisive” and dehumanized until, predictably, someone decided to pull a trigger.

While Americans from Trump to Obama offered condolences, plenty of self-righteous progressives flooded social media with sneers and excuses. Polls show shocking numbers of young Democrats think political violence is “acceptable.” That’s not just fringe crazies—that’s the rotten fruit of years of indoctrination where opposing ideas are labeled “hate” and silenced rather than answered.

Kirk’s death is proof that the Left’s version of “tolerance” ends where disagreement begins. And now a 31-year-old husband and father is dead—not because he hated debate, but because he embodied it. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

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