The Big News: The White House correspondents dinner, a bad idea with a fascist in the White House, proved to be an even worse one when a man armed with guns and knives plowed through security in a mad dash toward the subterranean ballroom containing President Donald Trump, his lackeys, and hundreds of journalists. Cole Tomas Allen, 31, managed to squeeze a round into an officer’s bullet-proof vest before being tackled to the ground. No one in the Trump administration was injured. He’s facing at least two firearms charges, including a count for shooting that officer. Why’d he do it? Allen, a tutor and computer engineer from California, allegedly disliked Trump and called himself a “Friendly Federal Assassin” in writings sent to family minutes before he charged the ballroom. According to a message reviewed by the Associated Press, Allen did not reference Trump by name, but railed against the actions he and his administration have taken, including illegal strikes on purported “narcoterrorists” in the Pacific Ocean. (The US has provided no evidence that any of the boats were involved in the drug trade. The crew of the Don Maca were fishermen who dealt in swordfish and albacore). The investigation is ongoing. But why? Republicans were quick to blame Democrats for daring to criticize Trump, as if the President hasn’t called them enemies of the state for the last decade or instigated a coup. If Chuck Schumer’s windbag rebukes to Trump are violence, then free speech really is dead.  What’s Stuck in My Mind: It’s my understanding that the Vice President’s main job is to keep his heart slugging away in his chest should the President drop dead. But it looked like the Secret Service pulled JD Vance from his chair before touching President Trump. Appearances can be deceiving, though. According to Newsweek, the Secret Service was actively shielding Trump and creating a secure route when Vance was removed. A Funny Detail: FBI Director Kash Patel, who last week sued The Atlantic over their story on his drunken behavior and general incompetence, was seen by a New York Times White House correspondent running down a hallway with two men while his girlfriend hid in a room with another man holding her hand. I wouldn’t necessarily read into this detail. In life or death situations, grabbing the nearest hand psychologically tethers one to life. But “Kuck Patel” is a fun nickname. Yes, Kings: King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Washington, DC today to mark 250 years since the US declared independence. We had a little war about it. Nice of them to remember when they have so many exes. President Trump says he’s looking forward to the visit, which will begin with tea. In Local Nepotism News: Yolanda McGhee, a King County employee who ran a $10 million youth education and anti-racism program, paid out $800,000 in grant money to five of her family members, according to county records obtained by The Seattle Times. For its part, the county first learned about one of McGhee’s potential conflicts of interest five years ago. It didn’t launch an investigation into McGhee until last year, which found she reportedly pressured three contractors to hire or subcontract with her daughter. Many of the county’s ethics rules have been softened over the last three decades. They’re also vague and regulation is split between multiple agencies. But even when officials “had the discretion to take action, they didn’t,” the Times wrote. Kachow: Despite bellyaching by business owners, a pilot that limited car access to Pike Place Market between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. boosted sales and visits. According to the Urbanist, “Sales at retail stores within the Market rose 9.2%, with restaurants seeing a 10.2% boost between May and September, the busiest season at Seattle’s most popular public market.” About 127,000 more people visited the market. More Socialism: Seattle is distributing one-time $80 gift cards to older, low-income adults for fresh fruits and vegetables at farmer’s markets. To be eligible, residents must be 60 and up (or 55 and up if they are Native American or Alaska Native) and make no more than $2,461 a month (or $3,337 if in a two-person household). Those who qualify can apply online or mail a paper application by May 8. Uh Oh: Credit agency Moody’s revised its outlook on our state finances from stable to negative over budgets that spend more than they take in. Democrats are counting on the millionaire’s tax for stable revenue, but the state won’t see returns until 2029, and that’s only if it survives the court challenge like they expect it to. Republicans said we just need to spend less, which of course they did. Feds arresting Lao Refugees: King 5 has a story about Laotian refugees with criminal convictions being detained at the Department of Homeland Security Building in Tukwila after decades of regular check-ins. One of them is still in detention in Tacoma at the Northwest ICE Processing Center. The other has already been deported back to Lao, a place he hasn’t been since he was two, with no passport or connections in the country. Weather: Cloudy, then sunny with a high near 62 today. Summer really is coming—we’ll hit a high 72 on Thursday. The post Slog AM: Shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, King County Nepotism, the British Are Coming  appeared first on The Stranger. ...read more read less