Slog AM: Mayor Wilson Recall Gets Court Date, Trump Threatens Economic Sanctions Again, and Seattle Christian Metal Band Sues Netflix 

That dumb Mayor Katie Wilson recall petition has a court date. In last week’s Slog AM, I mentioned that a Bruce Harrell supporter and her husband filed papers to recall Mayor Wilson. The charges will be heard in King County Superior Court on August 31. The Seattle Times says Mayor Wilson has retained Dmitri Iglitzin as counsel. If a judge decides the recall charges meet the legal threshold of “malfeasance,” “misfeasance,” or a violation of her oath, the filers of the petition will have six months to gather nearly 70,000 signatures needed for a recall election. Scrying into my crystal ball, I don’t see any competent judge allowing this to advance. If you want to see democracy in action, the hearing is open to the public and begins at 9 a.m.

Good news for Charles Mudede and all the other sun-hating Seattleites: The region will cool down this weekend with rain (the first all month!) and maybe even some thunderstorms.

Local Christian metal band Demon Hunter is suing Netflix for trademark infringement over the platform’s hit movie KPop Demon Hunters. The band formed in 2000 and has released more than a dozen albums. Apparently people have bought tickets to the metal band’s concerts, thinking they were buying tickets to the KPop Demon Hunters tour. And oh no they’ve been wrongly tagged on social media gasp. 

Let me take this opportunity to lead you down a Demon Hunter-related rabbit hole: In 2013 Esquire story, in which “the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden tells his story,” the alleged shooter—who we now know is Robert O’Neill—said Demon Hunter the band sent him CDs and patches after reading that Metallica didn’t want their music to be used as a form of torture at Guantanamo Bay. From the article: “…then a band called Demon Hunter got in touch and said, ‘We’re all about promoting what you do.’ They sent us CDs and patches. I wore my Demon Hunter patch on every mission. I wore it when I blasted bin Laden.” You can see a Demon Hunter logo on one of O’Neill’s tactical vests that went for $140 in an auction.

After Esquire published the story, Demon Hunter said (in a very long-winded statement): ”We have no specific knowledge of our music being used for this, nor have we ever volunteered it to be used as such.” They also said O’Neill’s patch must’ve been homemade. Sick burn.

Have you read Guy’s story about the hunger strike at NWDC? You should. The strike, which lasted nearly a week and included more than 140 detained immigrants, ended when detainees were promised new menus, improved food quality, and bigger portions. Will the NWDC keep its promise? Read all about it here.

Trump is threatening Iran with economic sanctions. Again. Yesterday, on Truth Social, he wrote: “ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences.” He went on to say that “oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies” all need to stop. The thing to remember here: Every accusation is an admission.

In other Trump news, he just nominated White House aide Heidi Overton to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. The way he posted about this on Truth Social is interesting, because there were several instances of words written in all caps. Common for him. But when arranged on their own, they make for a telling poem, of sorts: ROCKSTAR MOST TRANSFORMATIVE HARDEST ALWAYS RIGHT WORLD LEADER CURES. This must be some kind of code suggesting Overton was hired to “transform” and “cure” the “world leader,” and she will be developing a Terminator-esque medical device that will turn Trump into the immortal assassin he dreams of being via shitty AI images. Just 884 more days until Inauguration Day 2029.

Five Americans and the head of Ecuador’s intelligence agency died in a helicopter crash in Kenya on Wednesday. CNN reports that the helicopter was “carrying guests from the luxury tour agency &Beyond.” An executive from Telemundo, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife Stephany Hollihan were all killed en route to the Loisaba wildlife conservancy.

The US Army has hit its 2026 recruitment goals early. Secretary of WAR Pete Hegseth will tell you it’s because the Army stopped being so woke and did away with all the embarrassing anti-American diversity programs. It’s more likely the result of a bunch of shit Biden changed regarding recruitment, including cutting down on applicant processing time, and setting different physical requirements. Another recruiting device? Video games. CBS News reports, “…a U.S. Army unit in Georgia is offering active duty soldiers a four-day pass to play crime and murder simulator Grand Theft Auto VI when it’s released this fall.” Y’all realize you can play the game as much as you want if you don’t enlist, right?

Eighteen American soldiers have died in the US war with Iran, and more than 750 have been wounded, according to CNN. 

We’re broke! The US just hit the $40 trillion debt mark, but, as the Guardian points out, Trump loooooves to show off all the White House renovations, including a helipad that doubles as a patio, new grass, and a “flawless granite” driveway that replaced that ugly asphalt. Asphalt driveways are for poor people! Gross!

Can I tell you fucking excited I am for the Genius Awards? We just announced the recipients of the 2026 Stranger Genius Awards, in which we gave six very excellent people and organizations $10,000 each. Get to know all the very worthy winners here! And the best part is, we’re throwing a GIGANTIC PARTY!!!!! And you are invited. September 12, at the Moore. All the winners will be there, along with a veritable who’s who of the city’s arts scene. Tickets are just $10, it’ll be hosted by the brilliant and hilarious Miss Texas 1988 and Lady GuGu, there will be dancing music provided by DJs Erik Blood and La Mala Noche, fucking Shabazz Palaces (!!!!!!) are headlining, and all of us at The Stranger are already planning our outfits, so come dressed to the nines! And tens! And elevens! 

Here’s the new Shabazz song to get that blood pumping. “Put your money where your mouth is, baby.”

The post Slog AM: Mayor Wilson Recall Gets Court Date, Trump Threatens Economic Sanctions Again, and Seattle Christian Metal Band Sues Netflix  appeared first on The Stranger.