While Olympia Democrats brag about their $446 million carbon auction jackpot, Washington families get slapped with the highest gas prices in the nation.

Democrats’ “Climate Cash Grab” Leaves Drivers Holding the Bill

Washington’s latest carbon auction pulled in a staggering $446 million, adding to the nearly $3.5 billion the state has pocketed since Democrats’ Climate Commitment Act went into effect in 2023. Bureaucrats at the Department of Ecology call this “bold climate action,” but for working families it’s nothing more than a cleverly disguised tax that punishes anyone who drives a car, heats their home, or runs a business.

Under this cap-and-trade scheme, the state sells “allowances” to polluters, with the number of permits shrinking each year. That’s by design—forcing prices for gas, diesel, and natural gas to climb steadily higher. It’s no coincidence that Washington now has the highest gas prices in the entire country at $4.65 per gallon, surpassing even California. Just one year ago, gas was $4.15. The program is functioning exactly as Democrats intended: less affordability for residents, more cash for state coffers.

Critics like Todd Myers from the Washington Policy Center have pointed out the obvious—real people are being hurt. Families, truckers, farmers, and small businesses are paying the price so politicians in Olympia can virtue-signal about climate change without showing proof that emissions are actually dropping. In fact, Ecology hasn’t even released the data needed to confirm whether Washington is anywhere close to meeting its climate targets.

Democrats like Jay Inslee used to tout rebates to soften the blow, but those ended in 2024. Now, residents are stuck paying record fuel prices while politicians cheer about “market confidence” and plan more auctions. Even worse, the latest auction price was so high it triggered an emergency reserve sale to try and stabilize costs—clear proof that Olympia has lost control of its own scheme.

At the end of the day, Democrats are padding the state budget while Washington families bleed at the pump. They can dress it up in green rhetoric all they want, but this program isn’t about saving the planet—it’s about wringing every last dollar out of taxpayers under the guise of climate policy. Read more at Center Square.

Finally, a School District That Gets It

The Lynden School District deserves serious credit for stepping up when so many others hide behind “neutrality.” In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, they’ve declared an annual “Charlie Kirk Day” — not just to honor his legacy, but to take a stand against the kind of political violence too often brushed aside when it targets conservatives.

Set for the Monday before Sept. 10 each year, the day will emphasize peaceful civic engagement and student-led forums, giving young people the tools to practice real debate and leadership instead of shouting matches. The district nailed it with their focus: respectful dialogue, civil discourse, and rejecting violence across the board.

At a time when too many institutions ignore attacks on the right, Lynden is proving schools can model courage and principle. By making this day about students and free speech, the district is showing what education is supposed to do — teach the next generation how to reason, listen, and lead. Bravo, Lynden. Read more at Seattle Red.

Hobbs’ Phony Outrage: Democrats Terrified of Oversight

The DOJ asked for voter registration data—basic stuff campaigns and reporters already get all the time—with the simple goal of making sure only eligible voters are on the rolls. Instead of complying, Democrat Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is staging a melodramatic press tour, pretending it’s some dark Trump plot.

Here’s the truth: if the rolls are clean, the data will prove it. If they’re not, oversight will expose it. That’s what Hobbs and his fellow Democrats can’t stand. They’ve built their whole narrative on claiming “anomalies” don’t matter, even as those anomalies keep piling up.

By stonewalling, Hobbs is making it clear: Democrats would rather block transparency than risk admitting their system isn’t airtight. Luckily, Harmeet Dhillon and the DOJ aren’t playing along. Oversight is coming, and no amount of grandstanding will save Hobbs once this hits the courts. Read more at Seattle Red.

Flag Faux Pas: Democrats Can’t Even Pretend to Show Respect

Tenino Mayor Dave Watterson had one job: lower the American flag to half-staff to honor Charlie Kirk, as ordered by both President Trump and the Governor. Instead, he played political games, leaving Old Glory flying high while the rest of the nation mourned. His excuse? The rope was “broken.” Councilmember Jason Lawton proved that was nonsense—he walked up and lowered it himself.

This wasn’t about ropes. It was about politics. Watterson, a proudly anti-Trump Democrat with a long record of partisan rants, just couldn’t bring himself to follow protocol. And while he later issued a half-hearted apology, his Facebook posts mocking conservatives told the real story.

In a moment when Americans are desperate for unity, Democrats like Watterson show their true colors: petty, divisive, and incapable of honoring the fallen when it doesn’t fit their politics. Thankfully, Lawton showed his city—and his mayor—what respect looks like. Read more at Seattle Red.

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