WSDCC – January 13, 2025

Posted on January 13, 2025

Dear friend,

Tomorrow, Senators will question Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s unqualified pick for Secretary of Defense, at a major confirmation hearing.

His lack of experience, documented misconduct, and blind MAGA loyalty make him a dangerous choice to oversee the defense of our nation and our allies.

We need to stand with Senate Democrats as they stand up against this reckless nomination.

Will you add your name to show your support for Senate Democrats as they fight for accountability and a competent defense leadership?

STAND WITH DEMOCRATS

Our nation deserves better. Let’s make our voices heard.

In solidarity,

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democrats

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

	
						
			
						
				
				
					2,477				
			
					
				
							
					
				
						

				            Benton County WA Democrats
				        							Serving the Democrats of Benton County, WA
						
		
	

	
	
					
				Benton County WA Democrats
				 
			
			
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		We’re suddenly talking about the Great Depression when discussing Trump’s stock marketStory by David Goldman, CNNStocks are on the rebound Tuesday, bouncing back from another miserable day on Wall Street. But American financial markets are sounding all sorts of alarm bells that one day in the green can hardly overcome.That’s because investors have been sending a clear message: President Donald Trump’s trade war is making America an unsafe place to invest.We know this by looking at the broader markets and the assets that traders are buying and – let’s face it – mostly selling.US stocksTrump’s stock market is throwing off some jaw-dropping statistics. How extraordinary? We’re now making comparisons to the Great Depression.The Dow Jones Industrial Average has tumbled 9.1% in the first three weeks of April, the 129-year-old index’s worst performance for any April since 1932. The only other April that was worse: April 1931.The broader S&P 500 has plunged 14% over the course of Trump’s first term – the worst performance through April 21 for any president since records began in 1928, according to Bespoke Investments.Even with a modest rebound on Tuesday – major indexes rose over 2% each – Trump has a long way to bounce back to avoid history. The next-worst start to a term for the US stock market in the first 63 days of trading was under former President Franklin Roosevelt in 1941, with a decline of just over 9%.DollarMeanwhile, traders have given up on the US dollar. During Trump’s new term, the US dollar has fallen 5.5%, by far the record dating back to when data started being collected during former President Gerald Ford’s term beginning in 1974. The only other presidential term for which the dollar started off even remotely close to this abysmal a start: Trump, during his first term, when the dollar fell 3% in the first 63 days of trading.The dollar hit a three-year low Monday.BondsTypically, when investors get nervous, they pour money into the perceived safety of American Treasury bonds – historically the safe-haven assets to rule all safe-havens. But not this time: Government bond have sold off sharply. Yields, which trade in opposite direction to prices, have surged.The 10-year US Treasury yield has risen to 4.4% just a month after it plunged below 4%. Bonds don’t usually swing that quickly.Foreign stocksAs traders have pulled money out of American stocks and bonds, they’ve been pouring money into investments around the rest of the world. The MSCI All World index, excluding the United States, has risen 2.9% over the course of Trump’s new term. That’s roughly on par with the start to former President Joe Biden’s term and only slightly below Trump’s first term – two periods when US stocks were also booming.OilFearful of a global recession, traders have sold off oil dramatically, giving US crude its worst start to any presidential administration since former President Bill Clinton’s second term, according to Bespoke. Oil has fallen 19% during Trump’s second term as traders worry that demand for travel and shipping will tumble. Oil fell nearly 24% during in the first few months of 1997, as Clinton started his second term.GoldMeanwhile, investors are looking for secure places to park their money. Among the best-performing assets is gold, which surged again Tuesday above $3,500 an ounce, hitting yet another record.Gold has skyrocketed nearly 25% during Trump’s new term, absolutely crushing the pervious record of 13.5% during former President Jimmy Carter’s start to his term in 1977. No other president in the early days of their administrations has come close to matching Trump’s recent gold boom.What’s going on?Trump’s trade war is sending the global economy into shock, the International Monetary Fund reported Tuesday.“We are entering a new era as the global economic system that has operated for the last 80 years is being reset,” the IMF said in an alarming new report Tuesday that predicted rapidly slowing economic growth – particularly in the United States – while inflation is set to reignite.That potentially disastrous combination of slowing growth and rising inflation is difficult to overcome. Although economists don’t yet expect anything close to the so-called stagflation of the 1970s, the rapid reordering of global trade dynamics is causing tremendous confusion and unease among consumers, businesses and traders.“The April 2 Rose Garden announcement forced us to jettison our projections,” the IMF noted, referring to Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement in which he imposed 10% across-the-board tariffs and announced punishing “reciprocal” tariffs on dozens of countries that have since been paused for 90 days.Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon on CNBC Tuesday noted that the confusion around Trump’s ever-changing policy has hurt business’ ability to make necessary adjustments.“The level of uncertainty is too high. It’s not productive,” he said. “It will have an effect on the growth of the economy, and we will see that, in my opinion, relatively quickly.”			
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				Benton County WA Democrats
				 
			
			
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		U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Kim Schrier visited Wenatchee on Thursday to hear directly from health care providers about how cuts to Medicaid and Medicare would impact the region.			
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				Cantwell, Schrier visit Wenatchee to hear concerns about potential Medicaid cuts
			
		
					www.wenatcheeworld.com
		
					At a conference room at Columbia Valley Community Health’s Behavioral Health Clinic, two members of Congress sat beside hospital executives, doctors, and community health stakeholders from across No...
		
	


	
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				Benton County WA Democrats
				 
			
			
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		No. No. No. No and No. Another grossly unqualified cabinet member who is not only not paying attention to science, Kennedy is also not paying attention to history.			
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				Not Frightening At All! RFK Jr. Is Compiling Registry of People With Autism
			
		
					www.jezebel.com
		
					This is alarmingly reminiscent of Nazi Germany’s notorious registry of people with disabilities who were deemed “unworthy of life.”
		
	


	
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		Congratulations to all the budding thespians at Hanford High School!			
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	April 2025
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1 TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday April 1, 2025 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA "Protest Tuesday" at John Dam Plaza on GWay in Richland from 3:45pm to 5:45PM. Bring your own sign or flag or one will be provided. Join our stalwarts and protest whatever is bothering you most that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/999996418325987/999996484992647/ See more details Richland City Council Richland City Council April 1, 2025 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Richland City Hall, 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352, USA See more details • •	2	3	4	5 Hands Off! Kennewick Fights Back Hands Off! Kennewick Fights Back April 5, 2025 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/767357/ Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. We are fighting back! They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them. This is a crisis, and the time to act is now. See more details WE LOVE DEMOCRACY! Yakima Fights Back WE LOVE DEMOCRACY! Yakima Fights Back April 5, 2025 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM This event's address is private. Sign up for more details. Billionaires think this country belongs to them. We say it belongs to all of us! They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our health care, our data, our jobs, our services, our democracy, our neighbors —and we have to stop them. This is a crisis. The time to act is now. 🚨 On Saturday, April 5th, we're taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: Hands off! 🚨 Sign up: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/764958/ See more details Hands Off! Pendleton Fights Back Hands Off! Pendleton Fights Back April 5, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/768559/ Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. We are fighting back! They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them. This is a crisis, and the time to act is now. See more details Hands Off! Remove Reverse Reclaim Walla Walla Hands Off! Remove Reverse Reclaim Walla Walla April 5, 2025 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM Courthouse Lawn 315 W Main St Walla Walla, WA 99362 Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. We are fighting back! They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them. This is a crisis, and the time to act is now. 🚨 On Saturday, April 5th, we're taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: Hands off! 🚨 See more details • • • •
6	7 BCDCC E-Board Meeting BCDCC E-Board Meeting April 7, 2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM 955 Northgate Dr, Richland, WA 99352, USA https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89652046114?pwd=c0JBUWhNZ2hkSUtDcHlXUXFPak9zQT09#success See more details •	8 TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday April 8, 2025 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA "Protest Tuesday" at John Dam Plaza on GWay in Richland from 3:45pm to 5:45PM. Bring your own sign or flag or one will be provided. Join our stalwarts and protest whatever is bothering you most that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/999996418325987/999996484992647/ See more details Kennewick City Council Workshop Kennewick City Council Workshop April 8, 2025 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM See more details • •	9 The People's Town Hall The People's Town Hall April 9, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Yakima Convention & Event Center, 10 N 8th St, Yakima, WA 98901, USA Who: Former Governor Jay Inslee, Community Leader Maria Beltran, WA Democrats Chair Shasti Conrad, and other special guests What: Congressional District 4 Town Hall Where: Yakima Convention Center 10 N. 8th Street, Yakima, 98901 When: Wednesday, April 9, 6-8 PM This event is open to anyone, and all are welcome! RSVP today → See more details •	10 Indivisible-TC Founder Hour Indivisible-TC Founder Hour April 10, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Online with Zoom https://zoom.us/j/94107976607?pwd=qZeb9jUuH9e3DwVvukrhqxuwrNTWvv.1 Meeting ID: 941 0797 6607 Passcode: 24430 It is that day of the week again, join me via zoom, link below. We will chat about upcoming events (April 16, 19, 26.) Happy to answer questions or get you plugged in. As always, just happy to get to see you all. Look forward to it. Reach out anytime. See more details How to Manage Members and Google Drive Training How to Manage Members and Google Drive Training April 10, 2025 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Y0A24mBXSK6nldEdUfMaeg#/registration Learn how to manage a members roster, and keep track of files on Google Drive. April 10th at 6 PM See more details • •	11 Tri-City Democrats Meeting/Potluck Tri-City Democrats Meeting/Potluck April 11, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM For current location please visit https://www.facebook.com/TriCityDems/ See more details •	12
13	14	15 TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday April 15, 2025 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA "Protest Tuesday" at John Dam Plaza on GWay in Richland from 3:45pm to 5:45PM. Bring your own sign or flag or one will be provided. Join our stalwarts and protest whatever is bothering you most that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/999996418325987/999996484992647/ See more details Richland City Council - RPL Presentation Richland City Council - RPL Presentation April 15, 2025 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Richland City Hall, 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352, USA See more details • •	16 Indivisible-TC Newhouse "Office Hours" Indivisible-TC Newhouse "Office Hours" April 16, 2025 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Tri-Cities Office Dan Newhouse WA 4th, 3100 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99354, USA From Indivisible-TC: Next up… the next congressional recess is coming up fast. We have asked Newhouse for office hours, but he is “busy” through the summer. So, we will go and ask our questions anyway. We will also deliver the town hall video! Let’s show him we deserve better!! See you there. See more details •	17 Franklin County General Meeting Franklin County General Meeting April 17, 2025 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Pasco Branch Library, 1304-1320 W Hopkins St, Pasco, WA 99301, USA Franklin County Democratic Central Committee (FCDCC) Full Membership Meeting Thursday, April 17, 2025 Location: Library, 1320 W Hopkins Street, Pasco 5:30 p.m. Potluck /Social 6:00 p.m. Meeting and Zoom begins Virtual Option (Zoom): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9144488289?pwd=OENYNWRxR1VtQkVFT1RsMU13RlZLUT09 Meeting Agenda: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wtSx9jFTpqby1JD3SoE6WjNzz4c87HURI9K6f29OlGU/edit?tab=t.0 See more details •	18	19 Indivisible "No Kings" Protest Indivisible "No Kings" Protest April 19, 2025 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA Join us for another national protest!! Will again be a peaceful day, we will be on John Dam Plaza. Bring signs with "No Kings" or bring any sign you wish. We will have some signs made and limited ability to make your own. We are excited to see you all again. Please share away!! See more details •
20	21	22 TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday April 22, 2025 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA "Protest Tuesday" at John Dam Plaza on GWay in Richland from 3:45pm to 5:45PM. Bring your own sign or flag or one will be provided. Join our stalwarts and protest whatever is bothering you most that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/999996418325987/999996484992647/ See more details Richland City Council Workshop Richland City Council Workshop April 22, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Richland City Hall, 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352, USA See more details • •	23	24 Central Washington Families at John Dam Plaza Central Washington Families at John Dam Plaza April 24, 2025 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM John Dam Plaza Park, 815 George Washington Way, Richland People who voted for Rep. Newhouse are coming together to show him that when people voted for him, they did not vote for him to cut health care! See more details 8th LD General Meeting 8th LD General Meeting April 24, 2025 5:15 PM - 6:15 PM Richland Public Library Gallery 955 Northgate Drive Richland, WA General Meeting April 24th, 2025 Richland Public Library Gallery 955 Northgate Drive and on ZOOM 5:15 PM See more details BCDCC General Public Meeting BCDCC General Public Meeting April 24, 2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Meeting details will be provided over email from the Benton County Democrats Chair. See more details • • •	25	26 Indivisible Tri-Cities: Let's Gather Together! Indivisible Tri-Cities: Let's Gather Together! April 26, 2025 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM 525 N 3rd Ave, Pasco, WA 99301, USA Hello Tri-Cities residents, we are getting together again. We will be planning future events, working on outreach, learning about local activities, and joining together in community. Let's keep the momentum going. See more details •
27	28	29 TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA "Protest Tuesday" at John Dam Plaza on GWay in Richland from 3:45pm to 5:45PM. Bring your own sign or flag or one will be provided. Join our stalwarts and protest whatever is bothering you most that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/999996418325987/999996484992647/ See more details •	30 Transforming Conflict into Connection: Join Us for the Restorative Practices 201 Free Workshop! Transforming Conflict into Connection: Join Us for the Restorative Practices 201 Free Workshop! April 30, 2025 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Richland Public Library 955 Northgate Dr, Richland, WA Restorative Practices 201 Workshop, facilitated by the Conflict Center, sponsored by Battelle, is designed to equip you with practical tools to address low-level conflicts, build stronger relationships & create a more supportive environment for the youth you serve. Registration Information: https://forms.gle/UKzWNz26s4SRLpmA9 Deadline: Please register by March 21st. See more details •