Donna Blankinship

Donna Blankinship (@dgblankinship) The November election is less than a week away. Do you know if there’s an election in your city, state or county? Do you know what’s on the ballot? Do you know where your ballot is? You’d never have ...

The November election is less than a week away. Do you know if there’s an election in your city, state or county? Do you know where your ballot is? You’d never have to ask those questions if you live in a state that votes by mail. #election2025

substack.com/@dgblankinsh...

That’s disappointing.

What to know about bulldozers at the White House The most famous house in America has been remodeled before, but never like this.

What to know about the bulldozers at the White House. The most famous house in America has been remodeled before, but never like this.
open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Immigration Law 101: Law and policy are not the same A primer on America's immigration traditions and how Trump is trying to throw those rules out the window, including changing the Constitution.

Immigration law is complicated, and I am not a lawyer. But I think we all need a basic primer on how the United States handles immigration, plus how Trump Administration actions seem to ignore both laws and traditions.

open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Protesters: Stay safe out there Legal rights, first aid, bystander training, what to do if you are arrested, and a note about protesting while Black, Brown or Queer.

Protesters: Stay safe out there. Legal rights, first aid, bystander training, what to do if you are arrested, and a note about protesting while Black, Brown or Queer. open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

What to know about government shutdowns From social security checks to ICE, national parks and unpaid government workers.

What to know about the government shutdown. From social security checks to ICE, national parks and unpaid government workers. open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Last words: What Washington is losing with the demise of Crosscut • Washington State Standard COMMENTARY | As a nearly two-decade venture in nonprofit news comes undone, it underscores the precariousness of public service journalism.

What Washington is losing with the demise of Crosscut:
As a nearly two-decade venture in nonprofit news comes undone, it underscores the precariousness of public service journalism. washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/09/24/l...

Last words: What Washington is losing with the demise of Crosscut • Washington State Standard COMMENTARY | As a nearly two-decade venture in nonprofit news comes undone, it underscores the precariousness of public service journalism.

Last words: What Washington is losing with the demise of Crosscut. As a nearly two-decade venture in nonprofit news comes undone, it underscores the precariousness of public service journalism. My latest column for the Washington State Standard: washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/09/24/l...

The U.S. Constitution was a second draft The nation really struggled with the first, which governed the nation from 1781 to 1789, the first years after the Revolutionary War.

The U.S. Constitution was a second draft. The nation really struggled with the first, which governed the nation from 1781 to 1789, the first years after the Revolutionary War. An American history guest post by Jim Schlueter. open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Hate speech is protected speech But should you indulge?

You’ve probably been reading that the U.S. government is coming after hate speech. But hate speech is protected from government interference by the First Amendment. That doesn’t mean you should indulge. But it probably won’t land you in jail. open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

A guide to navigating the immigration court system in WA state How do you locate someone in ICE custody? Who has the right to an immigration hearing? Attorneys and advocates answer common questions.

Immigration court is and can be complex.

To help you make sense of the system, Cascade PBS spoke with immigration attorneys and advocates in Washington to answer questions regarding recent federal changes and our region’s unique challenges.

Murray seeks to block Trump nominee for Eastern WA U.S. Attorney The senator says she’ll use “every legislative tool” she has to thwart the permanent appointment of former Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano to a federal post.

WA U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is blocking the Trump administration’s nominee for U.S. attorney in Eastern Washington. Few U.S. attorneys have ever been confirmed without the blessing of a state’s two U.S. senators. (By Nick Geranios for @crosscut @cascadepbs)
www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

The fabulous perks of serving in Congress From a generous pension to perks that continue after retirement (or death), it’s a great job if you can win it.

The fabulous perks of serving in Congress: From a generous pension to perks that continue after retirement (or death). It’s a great job if you can win it. open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Congress is back in D.C. Your summer break is over. How to call your lawmakers, update your voter registration, keep track of legislation and get involved.

Congress is back in D.C. Your summer break is over. (Except for those who never took a break). How to call your lawmakers, update your voter registration, keep track of legislation and get involved.

open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

The No. 1 problem facing Washington farmers • Washington State Standard COMMENTARY | News coming out of the other Washington is concerning, but the industry’s top issue is labor, and as has been for years.

The No. 1 problem facing Washington farmers … is
an issue that predates the Trump administration.
My latest for @washingtonstatestandard.com

washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/09/01/t...

Constitutional law for beginners: the First Amendment And all the ways the Trump administration is taking aim at free speech.

Constitutional law for beginners: the First Amendment. And all the ways the Trump administration is taking aim at free speech. open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

What's a gerrymander and when was the political species discovered? Digging into the government, politics and history of gerrymandering: a collaboration from Civics for Adults and Civics & Coffee Substack.

What’s a gerrymander and when was the political species discovered? Digging into the government, politics and history of gerrymandering. Explaining how redistricting is supposed to work. substack.com/home/post/p-...

How immigration and crime are definitely (not) connected Immigration, both authorized and not, grew tremendously over the past four years. Crime went down.

How immigration and crime are definitely (not) connected

Immigration, both authorized and not, grew tremendously over the past four years. Crime went down.

open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Which is more concerning: The economy or censorship of economic statistics? An explanation of how the U.S. government has tracked jobs numbers since the 1880s.

New post from my Civics for Adults newsletter.

Which is more concerning: The economy or censorship of economic statistics?

An explanation of how the U.S. government has tracked jobs numbers since the 1880s.

open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Experiments in American democracy From Democracy Vouchers to ranked-choice voting: Seattle is an election petri dish.

Experiments in American democracy. From Democracy Vouchers to ranked-choice voting: Seattle is an election petri dish. open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

The real tragedy of NPR & PBS budget cuts Urban dwellers are pitching in to help their local public media stations after Congress cut federal funding. Who is going to bail out rural broadcasters?

The real tragedy of NPR & PBS budget cuts. City dwellers are pitching in to help their local public media stations after Congress cut federal funding. Who is going to bail out rural broadcasters? open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Homeless people visited ER less after moving into King County’s hotels King County had two goals when it purchased more than a dozen hotels to convert into housing for people living on the streets — end homelessness for a bunch of people and improve their health. Officia...

What’s the solution to homelessness? Housing. It saves people AND money, according to new study. Seattle Times: Homeless people visited ER less after moving into King County's hotels

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

FOIA like an American who has a right to government documents How to get your hands on public records and track your government

How to get your hands on federal and state government documents like a boss (because as an American you are the boss). open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

What if Kamala actually won in 2024? Is there still a way to overturn the election?

What if Kamala actually won in 2024?

Is there still a way to overturn the election?

The answer comes from the Constitution, the nation’s history and our current political reality.

open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Political actions to celebrate Independence Day Call your lawmakers, update your voter registration, help your neighbors, run for office, put more protests on your calendar, support civics education.

Democracy is a participatory sport. If you hope for a better future, you need to contribute toward that goal. Don’t spend Independence Day worrying and complaining about what is happening in the United States.
Do something. 6 political actions to take right now. open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Political actions to celebrate Independence Day Call your lawmakers, update your voter registration, help your neighbors, run for office, put more protests on your calendar, support civics education.

In addition to grocery shipping for the 4th. Political actions to celebrate Independence Day: Call your lawmakers, update your voter registration, help your neighbors, run for office, put more protests on your calendar, support civics education. open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Despite federal ruling, trans Seattleites can’t update passports A judge temporarily blocked an executive order on ID gender markers, but transgender citizens are still waiting for officials to comply.

Despite federal ruling, trans Seattleites can’t update passports. A judge temporarily blocked an executive order on ID gender markers, but transgender citizens are still waiting for officials to comply. (By @jcohenwrites.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social) www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

Trump is stress testing the nation’s courts • Washington State Standard COMMENTARY | America’s court system may be the only thing standing between us and the collapse of our democracy.

Trump is stress testing the nation’s courts. The judiciary may be the only thing preventing the collapse of our democracy. A commentary for @washingtonstatestandard.com washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/06/26/t...

Presidents have been going to war without Congress since at least 1898 While Trump's order of an attack on Iran was definitely shocking, there's plenty of historical precedent to show it probably wasn't illegal and unconstitutional.

Presidents have been going to war without Congress since at least 1898. While Trump's order of an attack on Iran was definitely shocking, there's plenty of historical precedent to show it probably wasn't illegal and unconstitutional. open.substack.com/pub/dgblanki...

Seattle festival canceled due to ICE concerns The annual celebration of the city’s only river was scheduled for August, but organizers started to rethink the plan after hearing from anxious neighbors.

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...