For more than a quarter century, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) has been active in fighting for older Americans, retirees, their children and families through social justice activities. P uget S ound A dvocates for R etirement A ction Working across generations for social justice, economic security, dignity, and a healthy planet for all of us. The Trump Administration is closing Social Security Offices across the country. Click here for Senator Murray’s interview with constituents with Social Security Offices Click Here for More Perfect Union's report on this Tragedy Click here for more information on the fight to save Social Security PSARA October Retiree Advocate Click here to read the Advocate online In this issue, we feature Tim Wheeler's account of a plane ride over the Spokane wildfires. Also in this issue: "Social Security on the Ballot," by Steve Kofahl Jeff Johnson's interview with Joe Uehlein An update on our Government Relations Committee's work "Living and Dying with Artificial Intelligence" by Bobby Righi Jeff Johnson's response to Reuvan Carlisle and Mark Mullet on the subject of investments in fossil fuels Katie Harris's analysis of high-tech surveillance tools used by ICE "Carpetbaggers, Scalawags, and Redeemers: White People in the Post Civil War South," by Mike Andrew Upcoming PSARA Events/meetings Event details: What: "Protect the Vote" webinar Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Time: 4:30-6:30pm RSVP here Protecting Our Assets, Protecting Our Asses PSARA Webinar Weds. Oct. 22nd, 6:00-7:30 p.m. To REGISTER for this webinar, click here. Click Here for a complete list of Events and PSARA Committee Meetings From Wins to What’s Next – A Recap of the 2026 Legislative Session was presented May 27th If you missed the presentation you can watch the recording here Protecting our Assets Protecting our Asses In 2025 PSARA’s Co-President, Jeff Johnson, wrote a series of articles for PSARA’s Retiree Advocate highlighting the need to move beyond fossil fuels and the responsibility of unions to insure that their retirement plans stop investing in fossil fuels not just because its good environmentally but also good economics. Unions can play a key role in jump starting our green future. These articles have been consolidated into a single publication: Protecting our Assets Protecting our Asses. Read Protecting our Assets Health Secretary Kennedy is Attacking Traditional Medicare in Washington State In January, the Trump administration will be rolling out a new control on Traditional Medicare in six states, including Washington State. This program is called WISeR. It will affect Medicare benefits by requiring a new prior authorization for a number of medical decisions. This means your doctor will need to receive prior authorization from the Federal government before you get some medical treatments. C lick Here for more on the WISeR Program and what you can do to stop it. On December 6th PSARA Board Members Robby Stern and Anne Watanabe (hosted by Dan Grey and Evegreen State College) discuss the attacks on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Please listen to the interview and share with your friends: Click here to hear the interview. Download and Read PSARA’s Primer on Leveling the Medicare Playing Field JOIN PSARA in making a difference! Back to Top

-5198757490226798476 IMG_0563 20230321_115056_edited -5198757490226798476 1/5 Meetings & Events IMG_0137 (1) IMG_6872 France Giddings Karen Richter, Jeff Johnson and Robby Stern IMG_0137 (1) 1/9 PSARA committee meetings and events will be virtual unless otherwise noted, to attend any of these meetings, email organizer@psara.org for the link. Non PSARA events on this calendar are identified as such and have link to the sponsoring agency in the description. Thursday Oct 15, 2026 3:00 AM Race and Gender Equity Comm. Unless otherwise specified all meetings are Zoom. Please contact Organizer@psara.org for Zoom link. Thursday Oct 15, 2026 4:30 AM PSARA Executive Board Unless otherwise specified all meetings are Zoom. Please contact Organizer@psara.org for Zoom link. Friday Oct 16, 2026 3:30 AM Federal Bldg. 909 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 Support our Federal Workforce Support our Federal workers and No Kings Rally. Every Friday at the Seattle Federal Building PLaza. For more information or to support contact: federalbuildingfridays@gmail.com Saturday Oct 17, 2026 5:30 AM northeast corner of 4th Avenue & Pike Street, Seattle WA No Kings Rally (Westlake Park, Seattle) Are you planning to go to the No Kings rally and march in Seattle? If so, meet up with other PSARA members and our friends in Third Act Washington. Saturday Oct 17, 2026 9:00 AM 153 14th Avenue, Seattle Grow the Garden of Repair: Seattle/King County African American Reparations Committee for their Third Annual Gala What dream do you hold for the future of reparations? Join us on October 17 at 5 PM at Washington Hall for SAARC's Grow the Garden of Repair gala. It's an evening of community, bold dreaming, and the work of repair. Click here for more information and registratioin. Tuesday Oct 20, 2026 2:30 AM WA State Labor Council Office, 321 16th Ave. S, Seattle Fund Raising Comm. This is normally an in person meeting. Please contact Organizer@psara.org for details. Wednesday Oct 21, 2026 8:30 AM webinar Protect the Vote You are invited to "Protect the Vote ," a webinar showcasing the steps voter protection workers are taking across Washington to ensure a free and fair election on Wednesday, Oct. 21st from 4:30-6:30pm .On the call, we will be joined by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs , who will overview the steps that are being taken at the state level to ensure our votes are protected and our ballots count.Then, we'll use our time to explore three scenarios we're likely to see unfold in the coming weeks, and how we're working to interrupt bad actors and protect voters. We'll hear from activists working across the three regions that may see the greatest threats: Yakima, Skagit Valley/Whatcom County and the 3rd Congressional District.We have scheduled ample time for breakout sessions to address these topics because we want to understand what your organization is doing to protect the vote and how we can work together. Event details:What: "Protect the Vote" webinarDate: Wednesday, October 21, 2026Time: 4:30-6:30pm RSVP here The event is presented in partnership with:Voter Protection AllianceStanding for DemocracyOneAmericaWashington for AllFree Washington To access the Zoom link, please register here. LINK: https://us05web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9yXSRLWSRAKZdwMb-QrG4g Thursday Oct 22, 2026 10:00 AM PSARA Webinar: Protecting Our Assets, Protecting Our Asses Click here to register for this webinar. This webinar makes the case for the Washington State Investment Board divesting our public pensions and state savings from fossil fuels and making no new fossil fuel investments. Engage in a conversation with financial and pension experts, workers impacted by climate chaos, climate activists, and state employees who demand their pension funds not be invested in the destruction of the planet. This webinar is for activists and concerned individuals across sectors who believe that we have a responsibility to curb climate change. Our goal is to arm you with information, arguments and action steps that will lead towards putting our pension dollars, taxes, and savings in investments that support a just, equitable and sustainable world. Click here to register for this webinar. Friday Oct 23, 2026 3:30 AM Federal Bldg. 909 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 Support our Federal Workforce Support our Federal workers and No Kings Rally. Every Friday at the Seattle Federal Building PLaza. For more information or to support contact: federalbuildingfridays@gmail.com Friday Oct 30, 2026 3:30 AM Federal Bldg. 909 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 Support our Federal Workforce Support our Federal workers and No Kings Rally. Every Friday at the Seattle Federal Building PLaza. For more information or to support contact: federalbuildingfridays@gmail.com Friday Nov 6, 2026 3:30 AM Federal Bldg. 909 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 Support our Federal Workforce Support our Federal workers and No Kings Rally. Every Friday at the Seattle Federal Building PLaza. For more information or to support contact: federalbuildingfridays@gmail.com Thursday Nov 19, 2026 10:30 AM Seattle Labor Temple 5030 1st Ave. S, Seattle Celebrate 50 Years of Teamsters for a Democratic Union 2026 marks the 50th Anniversary of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), the largest and most durable rank-and-file reform movement in U.S. labor movement history. The story of how TDU activists confronted labor’s challenges over five decades provides lessons for today’s organizers. Speakers: Bob Hasegawa , a long-serving WA State Senator, was a 32-year Teamster, Principal Officer of IBT Local 174, and national TDU leader. He led strikes in multiple industries, helped organize the protests that shut down the WTO in Seattle in 1999, and has been a life-long fighter for working families. Ken Paff co-founded TDU and strategized the campaign to win the Right-to-Vote in the Teamsters. Ken served as TDU National Organizer for more than four decades and is a leader in the growing movement for grassroots, militant unionism.

The Retiree ADVOCATE The Monthly Publication of PSARA EDUCATION FUND “Uniting Generations for a Secure Future” Advocate Print Version October 1, 2026 You're Invited! Book Release Party Saturday, October 3, 3:00 p.m. Reuben's Canning Line at Reuben's Brews 800 NW 46th Street, Seattle An invitation to a book release party — a selection of articles by Michael Righi, titled Every Billionaire Is a Policy Failure. Read More From AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler's State of the Unions Speech on Labor Day In her State of the Unions address, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler pointed to the single greatest barrier to that desire to be union transforming into actual membership. Read More Defending the Election, Defending Democracy Mike Andrew An article on protecting our rights to a free and fair 2026 mid-term election. Read More The Tech Tools of ICE Robots, Apps, Towers and Drones Katie Harris More from Katie Harris on the high-tech tools used by ICE. Read More Election 2026: Making Your Vote Count Pam Crone Pam Crone's article on the 2026 election. Read More AI: The Universal Labor Replacement Machine Bobby Righi An article by Bobby Righi on AI. Read More Join Joe Uehlein, PSARA, and Friends! Wednesday, September 30, 4:00 p.m. WSLC Offices, 321 16th Avenue S, Seattle Read about Joe Uehlein and his upcoming concert Wednesday Sept. 30 from 4-6 pm. More info at WA Labor Council 321 16th Ave. S. Seattle, WA Read More Strikes Get the Goods Embassy Suites Workers Win After 85 Day Strike Mike Andrew Coverage of UNITE HERE's victory in the Embassy Suites strike. Read More Did You Earn Windfall Profits, or Were You Caught Red-Handed? Mike Andrew Mike Andrew digs deep into the origin of “windfall profits" Read More

Democracy Depends on Truth and Facts As a potential harbinger to the future in our country, Cindy Domingo reports on the challenges to democracy in the Philippines. Read

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents October 2026 Defending the Election, Defending Democracy Mike Andrew So please raise your right hand. I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States…I don’t care if I’m registered or not, I’m going to try to cheat like hell, like they do.” – Donald Trump “You’re damn right we’re gonna have ICE surround the polls come November. We’re not gonna sit here and allow you to steal the country again. "This is why we need a national emergency proclamation, a national emergency memo, about the upcoming elections. You're going to have to have a forcing function to get to ID. You're going to have to have a forcing function not to have the phony mail-in ballots. "It ain't intimidation if you're a United States citizen. It's an intimidation if you're a foreigner and here illegally and not eligible to vote. It should be intimidating. We don't want you here..." – Steve Bannon So here we are. The president of the United States – terrified of losing power and being held to account for his crimes – is openly calling for his supporters to commit election fraud. His right-wing extremist supporters are ginning up support for a potential coup disguised as a national emergency. Immigrant communities will certainly bear the brunt of the violence they are threatening. How do we defend the integrity of the 2026 mid-term elections? How do we defend democracy itself? There are many possible scenarios that could put democracy at risk, including… A “hard coup” – Trump proclaims a national emergency and claims emergency powers to cancel the election. A “soft coup” – the election takes place, but the Republican-controlled 119th Congress refuses to seat the newly elected 120th Congress. A “legal coup” – the election takes place, but Trumpistas allege fraud and sue to prevent certification, sending the results into legal limbo. Legal challenges to election results in key swing districts. Legal challenges to voter lists and/or election methods in key districts. Use of the US Postal Service (USPS) to sabotage vote-by-mail (a special concern for Washington State voters). Intimidation at polling locations and/or drop boxes by ICE or right-wing militias. Sabotage of drop boxes by right-wing terrorists. Mob violence incited by claims of voter fraud. Each of these potential threats requires us to think of practical strategies and tactics in response. Fortunately, we are not without allies, and we are not without resources. PSARA is working with Standing for Democracy and the Voter Protection Alliance to identify potential threats to democratic elections and respond in the most effective way. We wish to share the following resources with our members: Use ballot drop boxes, not USPS – Because the Trump administration is actively undermining legal mail-in voting, there are concerns that mail-in ballots may not be delivered by the deadline. We recommend that voters use drop boxes rather than USPS. Many counties have added additional drop boxes to accommodate voters with concerns about mailing in their ballots. You can find the drop box nearest you on the Washington Secretary of State’s portal – VoteWA Voter Portal Voter Protection Hotline – set up by the Washington State Democratic Party. The number is 206-309-VOTE (8683). Please share this number with your friends, neighbors, family, and co-workers. You can report any irregularities before, during, or after the election and also ask election-related questions. Printing your own ballots – There are concerns that voters might not receive their ballots in the mail. Here is the link for King County Voters for printing out your ballot at home if this threat materializes. https://wa.omniballot.us/sites/53033/site/app/home – This site will allow you to print, mark, and review, your ballot before returning it to King County Elections. Residents of other counties should check with their county election commissions. Freedom Trainers Election Defense Scenarios – Freedom Trainers, a network of experienced educators and organizers, has prepared a manual for action in the event of several possible election scenarios. You can access it on their website at https://freedomtrainers.net . Yes, these are scary times. We’re worried about the future of this country. And we should be worried. But we should also be prepared to take simple practical steps to defend our democratic rights to a free and fair election. Share this information with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Solidarity is key. None of us are alone. Mike Andrew is the Editor of the Advocate and Executive Director of PSARA < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents January 2026 Report from PSARA’s Second Annual Public Discussion in Tacoma Dan Grey Threats to Traditional Medicare - The WISeR Project. Threats to Social Security The Tacoma Chapter of PSARA hosted its second annual public discussion, entitled “Social Safety Net Under Attack: Fighting to Save and Improve Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare.” The well-attended event was held on Saturday, December 6 at the beautiful campus of Evergreen State College in Tacoma. Barb Church shared a moving land acknowledgment on behalf of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. Lynne Dodson spoke about the proud history of this college in Tacoma, thanks to its first president, the late Maxine Mimms. Lynne also spoke about the mission of PSARA and recognized the co-sponsors for the event, including Pierce County Labor Council, University Place Indivisible, Indivisible Tacoma, and Indivisible Gig Harbor, as well as newly elected Tacoma City Councilwoman Latasha Palmer. The three featured panelists from the PSARA Board were Pam Crone, Anne Watanabe, and Robby Stern. Pam started by speaking about the dangers to Original Medicare beneficiaries due to the WISeR project. Washington is one of 6 states in the WISeR ((Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction Model) program. The pilot program expands prior authorization in original Medicare and reimburses artificial intelligence (AI) contractors based on how much money they save the Medicare Trust Fund, i.e. by denials of care. WA Representative Suzan DelBene has introduced HR 5940 to stop WISeR. Her bill is called “Seniors Deserve Smarter Care Act.” Pam reported that WA Senator Patty Murray will also be introducing a Senate bill to stop WISeR. We were all encouraged to ask Senator Maria Cantwell to support efforts to halt WISeR even before it begins in January 2026. Anne then spoke about the well documented, devastating cuts that Trump "Big Beautiful Bill" has for Medicaid in our state. Anne added to the discussion of WISeR and compared it to a home invasion robbery where the effects are dire and immediate. The longer-term goal of privatization of Medicare is comparable to “termites who work 24/7, and you know what they’ve done when the house collapses.” All spoke to the need to “level the playing field”, by making coverage in Original Medicare on par with Medicare Advantage plans including, dental, vision, hearing, pharmacy, and by ending copays, and the need for Medigap supplemental policies. Robby rounded off the discussion, speaking about the threats to Social Security. Closing of Social Security regional offices has left field offices without guidance and much needed support. Recent policy is to shift in-person support to phone support with agonizingly long wait times. Robby spoke about the long-desired effort to “Scrap the Cap” so that wealthy employees, who make more than the current wage cap of $176,100, would continue to pay the same tax rate on their multimillion dollar incomes as those of us with much less income. Robby reminded us that, last year, PSARA helped move Washington State Senate Joint Memorial 8002 (in support of Original Medicare), sponsored by Sen. Hasegawa, to the State House, where it died in the House Rules Committee. Given that there is no fiscal note or cost to this measure, we were encouraged to let House Speaker Jinkins know we want the measure approved by the House and sent to the US Congress as the will of the people of our state. Robby credited Connecticut Representative John Larson with introducing the “Social Security 2100 Act” in Congress. While no action will occur before the new Congress is sworn in in January, 2027, we can let our Washington Congress members know of our support to strengthen and preserve Social Security. Following questions and answers, Dan Grey, a PSARA Tacoma chapter member and volunteer for Radio Tacoma, interviewed Anne and Robby. Their 28-minute interview can be heard on the radiotacoma.org website click here for the direct link to the broadcast. Dan Grey is a member of PSARA in Pierce County. < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents April 2026 Honoring Jesse Jackson Cindy Domingo Today, as we face a crisis in our democracy of monumental proportions, the passing of Jesse Jackson forces our nation to remember the type of movement that must be built to regain political power for working people in this country. Coming to power in the 1980’s, Jackson brought us to the realization that the progressive movements must vie for power in the electoral arena. Jackson built an inside/outside structure in relationship to the Democratic Party, which had a long-term impact for the participation of people of color and working people. Jackson’s vision was first reflected in his 1984 Presidential election campaign. He then went on to become a major player and candidate in the 1988 Presidential election. He used his powerful oratory and organizing skills to build an organization that reflected one of his most important campaign themes, multiracial unity. In Nikhil Pal Singh’s book, Climbin' Jacob’s Ladder: The Black Freedom Movement Writings of Jack O’Dell , O’Dell, one of the key visionaries of the National Rainbow Coalition, stated that, “The Rainbow Coalition is a mass political movement, which should seek to provide a center of social authority, political judgment, and activist training as an alternative to the organs of mainstream governance and the two-party system.” O’Dell emphasized the necessity of building and maintaining an independent organization, “capable of effecting a basic realignment in US politics, in favor of Peace, Justice and Progress.” Because of Jackson’s and the Rainbow Coalition’s power base, Jackson was able to negotiate the rules within the Democratic Party and at the national convention. These changes altered the race and class representation and participation at national and local levels, elections of state delegates to state party conventions and the National Democratic conventions, and the construction of party platforms at all levels that represented a peace and justice peoples’ agenda. For many of us who participated in the Washington State Rainbow Coalition (WSRC) in the 1980s, it was our first foray into the electoral arena besides registering and casting our votes. Many in the WSRC joined the Democratic Party through participation in their legislative district party structure. By 1988, the WSRC had 1,000 members, strategically positioned in seven of the eight Washington State Congressional districts. At that time, Washington had a caucus system, through which people met by precinct to debate issues and positions, and elected people to vie for delegate positions for the national Democratic Convention, supporting a presidential candidate. At the caucus level, resolutions, positions on issues, and platforms were also discussed and voted on. For the WSRC, this was where our independent progressive movement impacted the process; our positions on major issues facing the US working class were debated, voted on, and passed onto the next level. At the Washington State Democratic Party Convention in 1988, the WSRC passed a resolution calling for a two-state solution to the Palestine/Israel conflict. The issues taken up by the WSRC are reflected in the founding convention of the WSRC in 1989. These included platform priorities on Washington State budget and taxation, Rainbow Coalition positions on foreign policy, the politics of AIDS, and many other issues that remain relevant today. Many WSRC members became delegates to the 1988 National Democratic Party Convention, where Jesse Jackson gave his famous speech about how his grandmother made a quilt from scraps of clothes to form a beautiful quilt. Jackson likened that quilt to the multi-racial, multi-class movement that was needed to win the 1988 election and political power for working people. I have such great memories of seeing my sister-in-law and other WSRC members on national television in the front rows as Jesse Jackson gave that speech. At Jesse Jackson’s funeral, former President Barack Obama gave credit to Jackson for his historic 2008 presidential victory. Kamala Harris also stated that she would not have been elected as vice president without the work that Jackson had done decades before. In Washington State, Seattle’s first Black mayor, Norm Rice, served two full terms from 1990-1997, acknowledging that his victory was due to the influence of Jackson and the WSRC. Rice hired a number of WSRC leaders, including Charles Rolland, who later became the first African American to become Chair of the State Democratic Party. Other WSRC members went on to run for political office with a progressive platform, even after the WSRC disbanded. The 1988 Jackson presidential campaign and the Rainbow Coalition opened the door for working class people to run for office, a door that can never be closed again. Today, as we see the Trump administration move to cancel or steal the 2026 midterm elections, we must remember the power unleashed by Jackson and the Rainbow Coalition. Free elections are a central component of our democracy and we must stand up and protect our right to vote! We hope you will attend Standing for Democracy’s and Free Washington Project’s April 8 webinar at 5:30 pm on protecting the 2026 midterm elections. Go to www.freewaproject.org for details and to register. Cindy Domingo is a veteran activist with LELO (Legacy of Equality, Leader-ship & Organizing) and APALA (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance). She is PSARA's Co-VP for Outreach. < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents April 2025 PSARA to Olympia Lawmakers: “No Cutbacks! Tax the Rich!" Tim Wheeler Beaming with delight, GRC Committee Chair Pam Crone greeted a crowd of grassroots lobbyists gathered in a conference roomof the Washing- ton State Labor Council in Olympia, on Mar. 18. The African American, Asian American, Latino, and white activists were reporting back on their meetings with Washington State legislators to press their demands for increased funding for healthcare, public schools, rent stabilization for people who live in manufactured homes, and a wealth tax. They were all participants in PSARA Lobby Day, including activists from Seattle, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and other cities andtowns. A delegation of five PSARA members drove down from Port Angeles, Sequim, and Port Townsend. “We had meetings with38 legislators and their staff,” Crone exclaimed. “One staffer told me, ‘You guys are everywhere!’” Crone, PSARA’s former lobbyist, urged the crowd to keep the pressure on. She warned against Republican schemes to bury legislation with crippling amendments proposed to stall passage until the 90-day legislative session ends. She hailed Senateapproval by a landslide vote of 30 to 19 Senate Joint Measure 8002. SJM 8002, now pending in the House, urges the WashingtonCongressional delegation, President Trump, the House, and the Senate, calling on them and CMS to halt privatization ofMedicare, and to enact measures to “level the playing field” between so-called Medicare Advantage (MA) and traditional Medicare. The measure urges Congress to cap out- of-pocket costs. It would eliminate the need for supplemental insurance that traditionalMedicare recipients must purchase. SJM 8002 also calls for adding to traditional Medicare dental, vision, and hearing benefitsoffered by MA. David Loud, a member of the PSARA Board and a leader of Health Care Is a Human Right, said SJM 8004, which urges theCongress to sup- port universal health care, was approved by the State Senate, 30 to19. Advocates of Medicare for All will rally on the steps of the Capitol in Olympia on April 2 to urge approval of universal health care in Washington State, Loud said. Rep.Pra- mila Jayapal, Democrat from Washington’s 7th Congressional District, is the author of Expanded and Improved Medicarefor All, which will be introduced in the US Congress. Bobby Righi of Seattle, Co-Chair of PSARA’s Climate & Environmental Justice Committee, told the debriefing that lawmakers in her legislative district support PSARA’s legislative agenda. And one legislator was clearly distressed about Gov. Bob Ferguson’sstate budget with $4 billion in cuts. Coupled with the enormous cuts to health, education, and welfare programs inflicted by theTrump-Musk Administration, it adds up to disaster for the poor, the sick, children, and the elderly. “ It is going to take hard work to come up with a budget compromise,” she said. “We have to put pressure on Ferguson.” Michael Righi warned that an atmosphere of doom is hanging over the legislature. He pointed out that there is no economicrecession, no lack of wealth that could be taxed to pay for these life and death programs. “We should have the position: NO CUTS!” he said. The crowd erupted in applause. These warnings were on display in earlier sessions. A lawmaker from LD 24 told the delegation from the Olympic Peninsula that “Ferguson is strangely silent on the (Wealth) Tax bill,” which the LD-24 legislator promised to support. He spoke atlength about the worsening budget crisis with cutbacks in vital programs that serve children, the elderly, and the poor, and the Ferguson conundrum: He ran as a progressive yet now governs as a “fiscal conservative,” proposing budget cutbacks cheered by the MAGA Republicans. Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, a former legislator, told the PSARA delegation, “Our health care system is morally bankrupt.” She spoke of her being born prematurely with many life-threatening problems. She became “a proponent of universal health care where everyone has access.” Health care, sheadded, should not be a field for “making profits…This should be a country that cares about people.” When she was a legislator, she told her constituents, “Out of 400,000 people I represent, only 400 were impacted by thecapital gains tax...I want taxes to go to health care, education.” It will mean, she added, “A robust economy, poverty plummeting, crime in decline.” Her aide, Bryon Welch, said a delegation from the Insurance Commission is headed to the nation’s capital to meet with theWashington State congressional delegation to urge them to take action against the “relentless, misleading ads for MedicareAdvantage. We are going to Washington D.C. to make sure that Medicare is not completely privatized.” Robby Stern, President of the PSARA Education Fund, presented him with Give Us a Real Choice, a 63-page PSARA primer onthe urgent need to “level the playing field” between traditional Medicare and MA. Stern said the book “lays out very clearly ourmembers who have had problems with Medicare Advantage. We’re not saying eliminate Medicare Advantage, but what we are saying is that senior citizens should have a real choice.” Later, the delegation gathered in the Capitol building to hear House Speaker Laurie Jinkins. “We prefer progressive taxes ratherthan budget cuts,” she said. “Start building on the taxes we already have, the Capital Gains Tax.” The crowd erupted in applause.“When you build support for programs that people want, they are willing to pay taxes to pay for them.” PSARA Co-President Karen Richter urged Jinkins to push SJM 8002. It is necessary, Richter said. “We really need the backing ofthe State Legislature to exert pressure on Washington D.C. to take action to level the playing field.” Tim Wheeler is a veteran activist and journalist, a member of PSARA's Executive Board, and a leader of PSARA organizing in Clallam County. < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents August 2026 The Barbed Wire Barb Flye < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents October 2025 A Fake Drug War Against Venezuela Cindy Domingo In less than a month, three boats off the coast of Venezuela have purportedly been bombed by US naval forces now stationed off the coast of Venezuela. The first boat sank on September 2, allegedly carried eleven people, and it was unclear whether any survived. Reports in the media suggested that the bombing may have been an artificial intelligence film as well as questions whether the boat may not have been a drug smuggling operation since high speed drug boats carry few passengers in order to carry more drugs. The story quickly left the media pages until the latest boat sinkings in mid-September. These boat bombings have followed a heightened build-up towards war against Venezuela since August of this year. On August 7, the bounty for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro increased from $25 million to $50 million, with US Attorney General Pam Bondi accusing Maduro of collaborating with foreign terrorist organizations to smuggle drugs into the US. It was during the first Trump administration in 2020 that a bounty was placed on Maduro for $15 million and then in January 2025 it was raised to $25 million. On August 8, the US military deployed eight warships, 1,200 missiles, 10 F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine off the coast of Venezuela and some 4,500 military personnel including 2,200 Marines and amphibious assault crews. These moves were followed by the bombings of the small boats. In addition to Maduro’s bounty, increased financial sanctions, lesser bounty rewards and travel visa restrictions have been levied against others in Maduro’s administration and Venezuelan state oil and transportation officials. These provocations under the guise of a drug war come even as there is little evidence that Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro are involved in any drug smuggling. Juan Gonzalez, former senior director for the Western Hemisphere at the US National Security Council, has stated clearly that there is no credible evidence that Maduro directs any narco-gangs. Furthermore, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2025 report notes that only 5% of drugs going to the US pass through Venezuela; that in fact the country has consolidated its status as a territory free from coca leaf cultivation or drug production, as well as free from international criminal cartels. Yet Trump continues to push the narrative that Maduro is the head of a cartel called “Cartel of the Suns” and the attack on Venezuela is part of his War on Drugs. Trump’s real purpose is “regime change” in Venezuela, a strategy that was implemented in 2019 when Trump and other countries proclaimed Juan Guido as President of Venezuela even though not one person in Venezuela voted him into office and Maduro had won in the national presidential elections. And the real reason for regime change is the US wants control of Venezuela’s oil resources, the largest deposit of oil in one country in the world. Venezuela’s oil resources have been a lifeline to Cuba and lays the basis for important trade with China and Russia. The US war against Venezuela has been met with resistance in and outside Venezuela. In response to the warships, Maduro mobilized Venezuela’s popular militia that reportedly counts for 4.5 million members with its purpose to defend the country’s sovereignty. On September 1, Maduro was quoted by Al Jazeera that the US is “seeking a regime change through military threat…Venezuela is confronting the biggest threat that has been seen on our continent in the last 100 years…If Venezuela is attacked, we would immediately move to armed struggle in defense of our territory.” Maduro continued to state that he would declare Venezuela “a Republic in arms.” The September 1 issue of Venezuelan newspaper Ultimas Noticias reports that governments of 80 nations have repudiated the presence of US warships in the Caribbean and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), an alliance of 33 countries, convened an emergency session to address the crisis. The 10 countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA-TCP) have unanimously condemned the US deployments. The Presidents of Mexico, Columbia and Brazil have been outspoken about the US military aggression as well as they know they are also targets of Trump’s manufactured War on Drugs and plans for regime change. Cindy Domingo is PSARA's Co-VP of Outreach and a veteran activist with LELO (Legacy of Equality, Leadreship, organizing), APALA (Asian Pacific Ameri- can Labor Alliance), and Standing for Democracy. < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents November 2025 Stunning New Report From PNHP No Real Choices: How Medicare Advantage Fails Seniors of Color In a stunning new report, PNHP (Physicians for a National Health Program) reveals that Medicare Advantage (MA) plans fail to deliver on their promises of equity for seniors of color. According to the report, seniors of color continue to face all the disparities in health care that characterize the US health care system. the disparities MA plans still impose on seniors of color. The Medicare Advantage ('MA') program, through which health insurance corporations contract with the federal government to deliver Medicare benefits, offers enrollees few upfront costs, an out-of-pocket maximum, extra benefits, and a simple enrollment process. However, these advertised benefits show themselves to be hollow when carefully studied, revealing a program that compromises access, equity, and quality of care. Evidence from an exhaustive literature review and new research reveals that MA enrollees often encounter steep barriers to the physicians and hospitals people with complex conditions need for medically necessary care. Contrary to claims from the insurance industry that MA is a solution to inequity, racial and ethnic minorities enrolled in MA continue to face many of the longstanding disparities that are common in American healthcare. The financial model of MA does little to mitigate existing inequities – and often exacerbates them by disproportionately offering communities of color inferior insurance products. At the same time, MA places a heavier burden on federal spending than Traditional Medicare (TM), which raises doubts about whether the program truly provides worthwhile returns for the people it is meant to serve. Summary of PNHP Report How Medicare Advantage Fails Seniors of Color < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents January 2026 PSARA 2026 Legislative Agenda Click here to download PSARA Leg. Agenda pdf Click here to download talking Points PSARA is a multi-generational grass roots organization advocating for all people, and seniors in particular, being able to live their lives with economic security, dignity, and respect. Healthcare PSARA believes that comprehensive, affordable, accessible, and culturally appropriate health care is a fundamental human right. Promote Leveling the Playing Field in Medicare, SJM 8002 Protect against healthcare program cuts and advance immigrant health equity and food security (budget) Regulate the use of Prior Authorization in healthcare decisions, SB 5395 / HB 1566 Climate and Environmental Justice PSARA supports the right of all people to live and work in a clean and healthy environment. Divest Washington State Investment Board funds from fossil fuels, No Coal Act SB 5439 Increase environmental justice by improving government decisions, Curb Act HB 1303 / SB 5380 Create standards for Data Center operations Fiscal Reform and Revenue PSARA supports a state budget that is transparent, pays a living wage to state workers, and provides services that help our people, economy, and environment thrive. Support progressive revenue HB 2100 Well Washington Fund Housing and Homelessness PSARA supports keeping people housed, building more low-income housing, and preventing homelessness in the first place. Workers’ Rights and Economic Justice PSARA supports legislation that promotes healthy families and workplaces. Extend unemployment benefits to undocumented workers SB 5626 / HB 1773 Expand Working Families Tax Credit HB 1214 / SB 5768 Strengthen Paid Family & Medical Leave financing Promote Washington Future Fund pilot (Baby Bonds) SB 5541 Provide greater security to Washington workers against ICE practices on the job (Immigrant Worker Protection Act) SB 5822 / HB 2015 Community Safety and Justice PSARA supports legislation that promotes community safety and justice for all of our community members. Ensure proper identification of law enforcement (No Secret Police Act) SB 5855 / HB 2173 < Back to Table of Contents