Monthly media Literacy Tip
We all are susceptible to persuasion. Persuasion can be based on reliable or faulty information. 

Faulty information at the heart of persuasion can spread quickly, like a virus, reaching many individuals and posing a threat to the truth, institutions, and democracies. 

To recognize faulty information—and thus resist its manipulation–a person needs to be familiar with some common types. They often are found in online posts, everyday conversations and elsewhere. 

Fallacies are a type of faulty reasoning or misleading or unsound arguments. A fallacy may sound compelling, but it can lead to unsupported conclusions and misguided actions. First identified by the Greeks, fallacies exist in many forms. 

“Fearmongering” is one common fallacy. It uses language or images that evoke strong emotions, including intense sympathy, fear or outrage. For example: “What you’re about to see will horrify you” and “The judge issued a disgusting ruling today.”  

Emotional language and fearmongering statements both prepare you to feel strong emotions, increasing chances you will. And, when you feel strong emotions, you are more likely to act without examining the quality of the information.   

Learning about fallacies, like fearmongering, can help you put the brakes on being a spreader of faulty reasoning and faulty information. 

Don't Miss the Final Media & News Literacy Workshop
Artificial intelligence is everywhere—even places that might surprise you. Do you want to get smarter about AI? The workshop is on Feb. 24 from 6:30-8 pm via Zoom. Register here.

“Get to Know Artificial Intelligence” is the last of four online, interactive workshops in the Media & News Literacy series presented by the LWVWA Local News and Democracy Advocacy and Education Committee. 

Register now and learn the following: 

 Explore the recordings and presentations from the first three workshops HERE.  

The Media & News Literacy workshops are part of the state League’s “Democracy Power-Up!” series to help members respond to the constitutional crisis and defend democracy. 

The LWVWA members responsible for the Media Literacy and News Education Project share a media literacy tip for publication in the monthly Project for Civic Health newsletter. The project, established to foster greater civic health and dialogue, is housed in the office of Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and involves the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, the University of Washington Evans School, and The William D. Ruckelshaus Center. The League's most recent tip is above.

Big steps are continuing to be made toward national adoption of the LWVWA’s “Protecting the Rights of Immigrants” position. 

Tonight, Feb. 19, is a nationwide webinar featuring study co-chairs Susan F. Martin and Lydia Zepeda explaining the provisions of the position and the process for securing adoption by way of the process known as national concurrence.  

Register here for tonight’s webinar. It takes place on Zoom at 4 pm. 

Additionally, the LWVWA has launched a website further explaining the study, the position adopted by Washington members, and the process for arriving at national adoption by concurrence. The site, titled “Make Protecting Immigrants Part of the League’s National Advocacy Platform—Support Concurrence,” can be readily accessed from the LWVWA home page. 

The state site features a multi-faceted look that details how to get the study, steps for requesting a speaker, a quick look at the study, the position itself, and resources. 

It also features two five-minute videos titled “Path to Adoption: Concurrence Blueprint for Belonging” and “What Systemic Challenges Do Immigrants Face in WA?” The videos were produced by study committee member Janet Lenart, who used readily accessible artificial intelligence tools. 

Tonight’s webinar participants are expected to attend from across the country as members in all 50 states prepare for the LWVUS’  57^th biennial convention, June 25-28. The convention, titled “Women Unite & Rise,” will take place at the Hilton Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio. 

by Cynthia Stewart, Advocacy Chair Emeritus, LWV of Washington

The thorniest issue this legislative session, which pervades all others, is the revenue shortfall relative to the funding required to sustain needed services.

But Washington may be a step closer to addressing that challenge after the Senate voted on Monday to approve SB 6346, the so-called “Millionaires’ Tax.” The legislation would establish a tax on incomes exceeding $1 million annually, affecting a very small percentage of the population. An estimated 99.9% of the population would not be affected.

At present, Washington state has the second most regressive tax structure in the US, and no way exists under the current system to raise adequate revenue.

The measure now is in the House for members’ action there.

The LWVWA has made SB 6346 a top priority because it affects all other proposals with any fiscal impact, and because it is consistent with the League position on taxes: Support action to obtain a balanced tax structure that is fair, adequate, flexible, and has a sound economic effect.

The state’s revenue deficit is estimated at $2.3 billion annually, beginning in 2026. This is a result of lower than previously estimated tax revenue combined with increased costs of doing business. If passed, SB 6346 would generate significant additional revenue, estimated between $1-3 billion per biennium.

Interest in this bill has been historic, with over 80,500 people signing in either pro or con for the Feb. 6 public hearing in the Ways & Means committee.

Thank you to the League members who took the time and made the effort to sign in in support of the bill. 

⚠️ Please take one more step and thank the legislators who voted in favor of SB 6346 HERE.

With special elections in February, we want to make everyone aware of United State Postal Service changes that could affect how your ballot is postmarked—and counted.

The League of Women Voters US provides this explanation of rule update the USPS made on Dec. 24: In simple terms, it clearly defines what, how, and when a postmark is applied or used. It does not make operational changes to the way that mail is processed.

The USPS's definition makes clear that a postmark does NOT indicate the date a piece of mail was sent (accepted by a postal worker, dropped in an official USPS mailbox, or received at a local post office). Instead, it indicates when a piece of mail was received by a USPS processing facility.

This does not change the way that mail-in ballots (or any other mail) are processed. Postmarks will continue to be applied in the same manner as they were previously applied. However, voters should know that a local post office may NOT be the processing facility that applies the postmark. In some cases, the mail may be sent to another facility. This means that a ballot mailed at a local post office might not be postmarked by 8 pm on election day, which is the requirement.

What should my League focus on?

Leagues will be instrumental in reminding voters about Washington state's mail-in ballot deadlines and processes. Check with your local Elections Office for additional details.

• What is the deadline to receive ballots in Washington state?
  According to the Secretary of State’s website: “Your ballot must either be postmarked no later than Election Day or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 pm on Election Day. If mailing your ballot within a week of Election Day, be mindful of mailbox collection times or use an official ballot drop box. A late postmark could disqualify your ballot.”
• Share the location of ballot drop boxes.

It’s important to help voters make a plan to return their ballot. If they plan to use the US Postal Service, encourage them to return their mail-in ballot no later than one week prior to the deadline. You can also share information about how to have their ballot manually postmarked if they are concerned about the timeline, help them locate drop boxes near them, or direct them to drop off their ballot at the office of their election official (if available).

You can read more on the LWV website here.

A Front-Row Seat to What’s Happening in Olympia

The jam-packed stretch of daytime and evening opportunities to help you advocate for legislation critical to Washingtonians—also known as LWVWA’s Lobby Week—runs Jan. 26-29 this year.

Register here to make sure you’re able to participate in this front-row seat to what’s happening in Olympia this session.

Evenings will feature a collection of workshops for members, providing them with important details about League legislative priorities. Bills that “defend democracy” top the list, including the plight of local news. Other priorities include homelessness, behavioral health, the plight facing immigrants and citizens, climate change and the environment, waste diversion, forests, children’s issues, health and behavior health, early childhood and K-12 issues, and criminal justice. League members will be encouraged to weigh in throughout the session on the wide range of bills we support.

Daytime will be opportunities for members in local Leagues across the state to meet with their senators and representatives via Zoom—and advocate for specific bills.

“This is your power,” state League President Karen Crowley said of Lobby Week. “You can sway what happens. When 2,000 League members set in, that’s power.”

Crowley urged Lobby Week coordinators in each local League to set up meetings with respective senators and representatives and recruit fellow members to participate in discussions. She said the evening workshops will offer insights to help members feel more empowered in their conversations with lawmakers.

Local Leagues that don’t have coordinators for Lobby Week or those coordinators who would like additional coaching should check out this link to a series of guides and instructions.

Meanwhile, League leadership acknowledged workshops every evening and daytime meetings with two representatives and a senator make for a full week of activities. But as Crowley noted, leadership understands members have other relationships and responsibility and therefore should feel welcome to attend as they are able.

Evening sessions will run from 6:30-8:30 pm Monday through Thursday with a wrap-up from 6:30-7:30 pm Friday. Daytime meetings will be set by coordinators in each local League. A full agenda is available at the registration link.

Lobby Week is a free event, although attendees are asked to consider a contribution to support LWVWA's advocacy work. You can adjust the suggested donation of $15 to any amount from $0 on up.

More information about Lobby Week is available from Administrative Director Amy Peloff.

Register Today

For a solid summary of what happens in the Legislature every day during session, watch TVW's Legislative Review nightly at 8pm & 11pm.

The campaign for I-126—which could have resulted in thousands of eligible Washingtonians being blocked from voting—did not secure enough signatures to qualify for consideration this legislative session.

Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, the initiative’s sponsor, conceded earlier this month that the campaign had not generated enough signatures to meet the approximately 309,000 required by law to be validated.

I-126 would have required Washington voters to have an enhanced driver’s license/ID or provide other in-person proof of citizenship. Without that documentation, voters would have been required to appear in person at their county auditor’s office to prove their citizenship under a specified timeline or be removed from the rolls.

“The League is pleased that Washingtonians did not respond to initiative I-126,” said League state President Karen Crowley. “We all want our elections to be accurate, secure and transparent, but this effort offered nothing toward that end.”

Had the campaign been successful, the measure would have gone to the Legislature, whose members could have adopted it as written; sent it to the November 2026 ballot for voters to decide; or approved an alternative initiative for the November 2026 ballot that would have appeared next to the original.

Walsh also announced he plans another campaign to gather signatures on a new petition for an initiative to the voters for the November 2026 election. That initiative reportedly will be nearly identical, but proponents must start over in gathering signatures.

“You can be sure the League will be back in opposition if this effort to silence thousands of eligible voters is resurrected,” Crowley added.

by Callie Ridolfi, Virtual Unit Leader, LWV of Seattle King County

The Duwamish people: People of the Inside dxʷdəwʔabš 

The Seattle King County Virtual Unit’s program this year is educating members on local tribes and exploring partnership opportunities with them. The unit’s research and outreach also will support the state League’s update of the 1980 Tribal Study.   

The Duwamish people have resided in the Seattle area since time immemorial, with stories telling of the last Ice Age with an ice weir breaking at the Duwamish River. “Duwamish” means “people of the inside," referring to those who lived on the land around the Duwamish, Black, and Cedar rivers.  

Their ancestral language is Lushootseed, which the tribe is working to revitalize. Primary sources of food were historically from the water, including fish, salmon, shellfish, ducks and saltwater animals.  

The Duwamish tribal longhouse in Seattle is near where one of their largest villages was located before it burned in 1895. Many enrolled members live in the Seattle King County area on the aboriginal territory of the Duwamish people. 

In 1855, four Duwamish tribal members signed the Treaty of Point Elliott, including Chief Si’ahl (or Seattle). Chief Si’ahl was a chief of the D’wamish and Suquamish tribes. Since 1978, the tribe has been seeking to restore their status with the U.S. government as a federally recognized tribe.  

A six-member council leads the tribe, which is governed by a 1925 constitution and bylaws. Cecile Hansen, a descendant of Chief Si’ahl, is the tribe’s elected chair. 

The need for the update stems from significant developments since 2000: 

Techniques Used to Sway Opinion (Jan. 20). 

Register here

Get to know Artificial Intelligence (Feb. 24)

Register here

Do you want to be a savvier consumer of media and news in 2026? 

Register now for the final two educational workshops for League members in the Media & News Literacy series presented by the LWVWA Local News and Democracy Advocacy and Education Committee.  

Techniques Used to Sway Opinion: Jan. 20, 6:30-8 pm via Zoom. 
Persuasion is a foundational element of democracy that’s essential for civil discourse, public debate on issues, and consensus-building in a free society. But sometimes, persuasion can lead you astray. This online, interactive workshop will cover persuasion’s different forms and how they work, and it will provide skill-building exercises to help you become more aware of when you’re being influenced and how to resist. 

You will need the following two handouts for this workshop. Download them now and either print them or have them easily accessible on your computer.

• Fallacies Visual Aids 
• Fallacies Quiz Companion 

Get to Know Artificial Intelligence (AI): Feb. 24, 2026, 6:30-8pm via Zoom. 
Artificial intelligence is everywhere—even places that might surprise you. This online, interactive workshop will teach skills to help you identify how and where AI is being used. You’ll also learn basic definitions and information to help you understand AI’s capabilities for good or potential harm. 

To get the most out of these Media & News Literacy: Educational Workshops, we recommend you: 

• View the 8-minute introduction to media and news literacy video. 
  
  
• Explore the recordings and presentations from the first two workshops HERE. 
  

These workshops are part of the state League’s “Democracy Power-Up!” series to help members respond to the constitutional crisis and defend democracy.