In a narrow 215–214 vote early Thursday morning, House Republicans passed a sweeping tax and spending package advancing President Trump’s domestic agenda. The legislation extends major tax cuts from Trump’s first term while enacting deep reductions to Medicaid, food assistance, and clean energy programs.
Speaker Mike Johnson secured passage after last-minute concessions to holdouts, including accelerating Medicaid work requirements and adjusting state tax deductions. No Democrats supported the bill, and two Republicans voted against it. Here is a summary of major elements of the bill:
The bill enacts roughly $700 billion in cuts to Medicaid over 10 years. Key provisions include mandatory work requirements for childless adults beginning in 2026, new co-pays of up to $35 per visit, and shorter retroactive eligibility windows. It also eliminates enhanced federal funding for states newly expanding Medicaid under the ACA and reduces reimbursements to states that offer coverage to undocumented immigrants. Washington state officials warn these changes could result in 194,000 residents losing coverage and $2 billion in lost federal funds over four years.
SNAP, the federal food assistance program, would see over $300 billion in structural and administrative changes. These include expanded work requirements, new cost-sharing mandates for states, stricter eligibility verification rules, and caps on energy-related deductions used in calculating benefits.
The legislation repeals or sharply curtails more than $500 billion in clean energy tax credits and programs introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act. It terminates or phases out credits for solar, wind, EVs, geothermal, and battery production. It also repeals EPA emissions rules, defunds climate resilience and port pollution programs, and rolls back grants to state and local governments for greenhouse gas reduction.
The bill permanently extends key elements of the 2017 Trump tax cuts. This includes lower marginal rates across income brackets, an expanded standard deduction, and higher exemption thresholds for the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). The child tax credit is enhanced by $500 per child through 2028 and indexed to inflation thereafter. These changes total more than $4 trillion in lost revenue over a decade and provide the largest gains to high-income households.
Beyond individual income tax changes, the legislation expands and extends a wide array of business-friendly tax provisions. These include permanent full expensing for capital investments, an expanded pass-through income deduction (from 20% to 23%), and a larger estate tax exemption. Temporary deductions—such as for overtime pay, car loan interest, and tips—are included through 2028. The bill also creates new child savings accounts dubbed “Trump Accounts.”
The bill directs $138 billion in new defense spending, including $32 billion for shipbuilding, $24 billion for missile defense, and $19 billion for expanding munitions and the defense industrial base. Additional funding supports nuclear modernization and Indo-Pacific force posture.
Roughly $150 billion is allocated to border and immigration enforcement. This includes $50 billion for continued construction of the border barrier system, $73 billion in expanded enforcement capabilities funded by increased immigration fees, and $15 billion for hiring and technology upgrades at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A new provision offers $12 billion in reimbursements to states for border-related expenses, a priority for hardline immigration factions within the GOP.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where its future is uncertain. Several Republican senators have already expressed concerns over deficit impacts and policy scope, and changes are expected before any final version reaches President Trump’s desk.
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The Municipal Buildings Decarbonization Plan targets 176 facilities for electrification, aiming to cut carbon emissions 87% and reduce energy use nearly in half through end-of-life equipment upgrades.
The lawsuit alleges the removal of thousands of CDC and other public health webpages has harmed clinical care, research, and disease response efforts.
Seattle police say two men face murder and assault charges in the May 17 incident; a third suspect was arrested on an unrelated warrant as the investigation continues.
Public Health officials say the case is unrelated to prior infections; exposure may have occurred during international travel, and vaccination status is unknown. (See all locations of potential exposure).
All Nippon Airways Flight 114 landed safely in Seattle; the passenger was restrained midair and taken for medical evaluation upon arrival.
Seattle officers say arrests were made for assault and obstruction after clashes between opposing groups on Saturday; one officer was treated for injuries and released.
Agents detained workers at Eagle Beverages for allegedly using fraudulent documents.
Edelweiss Air will begin seasonal Zurich service in June, while Scandinavian Airlines resumes Copenhagen flights this week after a 15-year hiatus.
Seattle’s 2025 mayoral race is effectively a toss-up, according to a new poll from the Northwest Progressive Institute, with challenger Katie Wilson edging incumbent Bruce Harrell 36% to 33% in a simulated general election matchup.
The poll reflects growing vulnerability for Harrell, whose approval and favorability ratings remain in negative territory. Just 37% of likely voters approve of his job performance, while 45% disapprove. Harrell’s favorability is similarly underwater, with 42% viewing him unfavorably compared to 32% favorably.
Wilson, who gained political momentum after backing the winning social housing initiative Proposition 1A earlier this year, has built a credible campaign with strong grassroots fundraising and Democratic Party endorsements. Harrell retains broad institutional support, including recent backing from MLK Labor, and maintains a fundraising edge.
The poll, conducted online May 10–14 among 522 likely Seattle voters, shows generational divides: Wilson leads among voters under 50, while Harrell holds an advantage with older voters. Seattle’s electoral history suggests a tough road for incumbents—only one mayor has been reelected in the past 30 years.
Gov. Bob Ferguson on Tuesday signed a two-year, $78 billion state operating budget into law. The budget addresses a projected $16 billion shortfall through a mix of new taxes, account transfers, and modest spending cuts.
The budget includes about $4 billion in new and higher taxes for the upcoming biennium. Most new revenue will come from permanent across-the-board business tax increases, a temporary surcharge on large corporations, expanded sales taxes on digital and temporary services, and higher taxes on banks and computing giants. A capital gains surtax and a new “Tesla tax” on electric vehicle credit sales are also part of the plan.
Despite early opposition to tax hikes, Ferguson largely approved the tax package, vetoing only one item to preserve a housing-related exemption for community banks. He also used his veto authority to trim $25 million in spending, targeting smaller line items such as nonprofit grants, youth enrichment programs, and policy studies. While he described many of the vetoed programs as valuable, Ferguson said they were not essential given the state’s budget constraints.
The budget preserves funding for public schools, housing, health care, and collective bargaining agreements, while administrative cuts and facility closures will reduce spending in corrections, higher education, and disability services.
Lawmakers return in January 2026 to consider a supplemental budget and may be called back earlier depending on federal funding developments.
Seattle’s rank in the Trust for Public Land’s 2025 ParkScore among the 100 most populous U.S. cities
The ParkScore index evaluates access, investment, acreage, amenities and equity to measure how well cities meet residents’ park needs.
Record median price of Seattle homes in May 2025
Seattle’s median home price hit $899,475—its highest on record—surpassing the 2022 peak and rising almost 5% in the past month as limited inventory and renewed buyer confidence amid return-to-office policies drive demand.
Annual income needed to afford median rent in Seattle
Renters must earn $90,840 to keep housing costs below 30% of income—a 23.2% increase since April 2020 as rents have outpaced wage growth.
A Wizard of Oz-themed vacation rental has opened in Crown Hill (view on Airbnb), drawing guests into a whimsical, movie-inspired world built inside a former garage. Designed by longtime residents Cristie and James Kearny, the immersive guesthouse features a tornado staircase, hand-painted murals, and Kansas-to-Oz transitions—earning it near-full bookings through summer and cementing its place as one of Seattle’s quirkiest new attractions.
Barnes & Noble will take over the general books department at the University Book Store flagship location on The Ave early this summer. The independent bookstore, founded in 1900, will continue selling textbooks, student supplies, and branded merchandise, maintaining its curated programming and student discounts. University Book Store staff will join the Barnes & Noble team, while the HUSKY Union Building outlet remains unaffected.
Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream will open its seventh Seattle location this summer, expanding the chain to 10 shops in Western Washington. The new scoop shop occupies space between Pioneer Square, the Stadium District and Waterfront Park beside the state ferry docks. The waterfront site will serve ferry riders, tourists and locals, offering views of arriving and departing ferries.
Cheryl Chow Park is now open in the Rainier Valley, offering a colorful new space designed for all ages and abilities. The park features playgrounds, grills, fitness equipment, and a half-court for basketball—built with nearly $1.5 million in state grants and named in honor of the late City Councilmember Cheryl Chow.
Ikigai invites us to embrace an intuitive journey, one that encourages us to navigate life’s complexities and, eventually, challenging us to find and embrace our true purpose, considering both intimate and social dimensions of life.
