Being a parent is nonstop hard work, which makes following all the news happening in the city, state, and U.S. decision-making circles challenging. Here are highlights of Washington state political news for families from last week (June 16-22) and a hint at what’s up this week. I hope you will consider taking action – reaching out to those who represent you and your family in Congress and state offices — on the issues that impact families in our state.
A parent wrestling with war
On Saturday, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers carried out strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, ipso facto bringing America into the war Israel initiated against Iran on June 13. Israel’s, and now President Donald Trump’s stated goal is the full dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program.
I’ve been sitting here, as a parent, thinking about the ramifications of the U.S. entering yet another war. What does it mean to families and children in greater Seattle and Washington?
The bottom line is, no matter your stance on Israel or Iran, joining a war — especially one we didn’t start and can’t control — is a gamble with the lives, futures, and well-being of our children here in America, as well as those in Israel and Iran.
Any military conflict with Iran risks spiraling into a broader regional or even global war. The Middle East is a volatile region, and U.S. involvement could draw in other world powers. It also increases the risk of terrorism, cyberattacks, and retaliation, including attacks on U.S. soil or against U.S. troops.
Let’s take a quick look at the latter. In Washington, there are:
- 52,571 active-duty members of the military
- 29,670 National Guard and Reserve members
- 22,667 active-duty spouses
- 36,772 active-duty children
- 13,355 National Guard and Reserve spouses
- 18,616 National Guard and Reserve children
That’s 90,246 military members, spouses, and kids who could potentially be personally impacted by President Donald Trump’s decision to enter the war. Not to mention that any war risks a military draft, so if you have an 18-year-old high schooler or recent grad, draft concerns are valid.
Additionally, wars incur substantial costs. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars drained U.S. resources — any war uses funds that could have gone to schools, health care, child care, or affordable housing.
If you read this column regularly, you likely know where I stand on this administration and its whip-fast, unconsidered decisions. I sided with the majority of the 1,000 Americans surveyed last week by The Washington Post. The newspaper asked this question: What are your thoughts on a possible U.S. airstrike on Iran?
According to that poll, 45% of those surveyed were against U.S. airstrikes, 25% were in favor, and 30% were undecided. We are each entitled to our position. But, regardless of whether or not we support entering a war, parents must pay attention. This decision was made in our name, and it impacts all of us, including our kids.
Even young kids hear the news. They feel tension even if they don’t understand all the facts. We must be ready to answer their questions and concerns. Keep this list of tips from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network in your back pocket: “Talking to Children about War.”
Take action: Contact your congressional representatives and express your position. Find your lawmaker at congress.gov.
Juneteenth Snub: Shame on you, Mr. Trump
Did you notice? I sure did. And Black families and communities in Washington and around the country certainly did: While Black culture was “unapologetically on display ” in and around Seattle during Juneteenth (July 19) celebrations commemorating the end of slavery in America, the White House didn’t even mention this federal holiday. No proclamation, no celebration, nothin’.
Instead, @realDonaldTrump Truth Socialed this message: “Too many non-working holidays in America…soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change to ‘MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.’”
Is there a more pointed dismissal of the tragic history of slavery in America? Trump’s lack of recognition is right in line with his strategic attempt to erase Black history and culture in this country, from disappearing Black American heroes from websites to his attempts to strip the Smithsonian.
Mr. Trump, YOU SHAME AMERICA ONCE AGAIN. I, for one, will continue to search out and find ways to honor Black history in this country in all its truths and teach the young people in my life to do the same. I hope you will, too.
SPS has an interim superintendent
When Dr. Brent Jones, Seattle Public Schools superintendent, announced in March that he would leave the district in early September, it seemed like an ample planning window for district officials and the Seattle School Board to search for a replacement. Potentially, Jones could finish out the 2024-25 school year in June and hand over the keys to a new superintendent at the start of the school year in September.
When he announced he was going on medical leave in May and then later requested his leave be extended until his out date, that window felt a whole lot smaller. Who’d be doing the sup’s work?
The answer to that is Seattle Public Schools’ Chief Operations Officer Fred Podesta, who has been with SPS since 2019 and has been filling in for Jones during his leave. As COO, Podesta has always been second in command behind the superintendent and had the power to sign documents on his behalf. Last week, the SPS board voted to appoint Podesta as the official acting superintendent, at least until Sept. 3, Jones’ official last day.
Does that mean SPS has two superintendents? Sort of. Jones retains his title until Sept. 3, according to a report in The Seattle Times. However, with Podesta as the acting, Jones is ipso facto done with leading the SPS.
Seattle School Board President Gina Topp stressed that the board “fully supports Dr. Jones’ decision to prioritize his well-being, and we wish him a smooth and full recovery.” Does that mean the sup search is over? No, it does not.
Take action: You can still share your thoughts on what is needed in a new superintendent, either by completing the district’s online survey by June 30 or by attending one of the following online public meetings:
- June 26 – Spanish: 6 p.m. (Join the Thursday, June 26, 6 p.m. – Spanish meeting)
- June 26 – Somali: 7:15 p.m. (Thursday, June 26, 7:15 p.m. – Somali meeting link)
- June 27 – Vietnamese: 7:15 p.m. (Join the Friday, June 27, 7:15 p.m. – Vietnamese meeting link)
- June 27 (virtual): 6 p.m. (Join the Friday, June 27, 6 p.m. meeting)
- June 28 (virtual): 10 a.m. (Join the Saturday, June 28, 10 a.m. meeting)
Did you know whooping cough can be deadly?
Whooping cough (pertussis) is avoidable. You can protect yourself and your kids, especially vulnerable babies, from it. And yet, last week, the Washington State Department of Health released preliminary data that shows a dramatic rise in whooping cough cases over the last 12 months.
The data shows 2,261 confirmed and probable cases of whooping cough in 2024. In 2023, 90 cases were reported. In 2025, we are on track to meet or exceed last year’s case numbers.
It is no surprise that, at the same time, the number of babies and toddlers receiving the whooping cough vaccination has continued to drop. According to the Washington State Department of Health, 73% of children ages 19 to 35 months received vaccination against the bacterial disease in 2019. By 2024, the rate had fallen to 65%. Get the complete picture of the pertussis numbers in Washington from the reporters at Cascade PBS.
In the meantime, parents, make no mistake: Whooping cough isn’t just a bad cold. It can be extremely dangerous — even deadly — especially for infants. Here are a few more facts:
- 90% of pertussis deaths occur in infants younger than 6 months.
- Newborns are especially vulnerable because they can’t begin vaccination until around 2 months old and are not fully protected until they’ve had multiple doses.
- Severe complications are common in babies and include pneumonia (1 in 5 infants); apnea – pauses in breathing (3 in 4 infants); seizures (1 in 100); encephalopathy – brain disease from lack of oxygen or infection (1 in 300) and death (1–2% of hospitalized infants)
- Infants often don’t cough forcefully enough to expel mucus, leading to choking and gasping for air.
- Hospitalization is often necessary for pertussis. Up to 50% of infants under 1 year old with pertussis require hospitalization. Among those hospitalized, 1 in 5 will need intensive care, and some will require mechanical ventilation due to respiratory failure.
- Even after recovery, pertussis can cause months of coughing, interrupted sleep, weight loss, and feeding difficulties.
- Severe cases can lead to permanent damage to the lungs, neurological issues, or developmental delays from oxygen deprivation.
- The vast majority of infected infants catch it from a family member — often a parent or caregiver.
As someone who spent more than 25 years in perinatal services, I’ve seen the devastation that whooping cough can bring to children and their families. It’s a life-threatening disease. I’ve helped plan funerals for babies who died of it. Which is why I call on parents to prevent it.
The pertussis vaccine has been used and studied since 1914. The Tdap vaccination is well-researched and is considered safe. Adults, especially those around infants and toddlers, should be vaccinated. The CDC recommends expectant mothers get vaccinated during pregnancy to protect their newborns. Babies should be vaccinated as soon as their immune systems are mature enough to handle it—at 2 months of age.
End of lecture.
FEPP: Now it needs YOUR vote
The following item comes straight from the source: The Seattle City Council Blog.
Last week, the council voted to place a renewal of the city’s Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy on the November 2025 ballot for Seattle voters. If approved, it would be a big win for students from preschool through community college. Here’s what a passage in November would mean:
- $658.2 million for early learning would more than double the number of affordable child care slots in Seattle from 600 to 1,400. It would open 600 more slots in the nationally recognized Seattle Preschool Program.
- $235 million for K-12 health and safety would create five additional school-based health centers providing physical and mental health care, in-person and via telehealth.
- $82.5 million for post-secondary education and career support would mean universal access to a free two-year college degree and expanded pathways to the trades through Seattle Promise.
“This levy is a bold investment in the health, safety, and success of Seattle’s youth, helping them get off on the right foot in school and life and providing critical support for working families by doubling affordable child care options,” Mayor Bruce Harrell said of the council’s vote.
Take Action: Mark your calendars for Nov. 4 and vote.
