Slog AM: Nude Beach Celebrated, White House Clowns Trip in Media Fight, and Alleged Serial Killer Revealed

Fuck, it’s basically Halloween already: Ghostly decorations are going up across Seattle. There’s a zombie in the Senate. And there’s a giant pumpkin in Spokane, the Spokesman-Review reports. A Seattle man grew the pumpkin to 1,006 pounds, carted it across the state, and won a prize that won’t get close to covering the costs. Apparently he had to build a special shed.

But first, the good nudes news: The historically gay, trans, clothing-optional beach we’ve loved for 50 years is now formally loved by the city. Denny Blaine Park was recognized for its historical and cultural significance in a resolution by the Seattle City Council Tuesday. We’ve got the backstory on how rich neighbors tried to ban nudity there, and how you can get involved in its future. 

There are ghosts in the neighborhood: Capitol Hill Seattle Blog says three Capitol Hill businesses on 15th Avenue E are shuttering this week due to apparent drama with the building and landlord. The bricks of the 1922-era building that houses Rubinstein Bagels, Rione XIII Italian Restaurant, and Bar Vacilando have been crumbling. Nothing’s been done about it. And, it turns out, the property owner hasn’t paid taxes on the parcel since 2023. Rubinstein and Rione have already closed their doors. Bar Vacilando closes out on Saturday. 

Catnip for true crime cats: On Wednesday, authorities in Idaho identified a man who was found dead under a church pew 40 years ago as Dr. Mathew Francis Betkouski. They released evidence suggesting he might have been a serial killer responsible for the seven Chicago Tylenol murders of 1982 with cyanide-laced pills and others across the Southwest. AZFamily has many of the twists and turns: a key with markings of a Florida locksmith led investigators to a specific neighborhood. DNA testing from the neighborhood around the locksmith got them a match to relatives, and interviews revealed Betkouski was a chemist who struggled with mental illness after a brain injury.

The call is coming from inside the White House! The Associated Press reported this morning that a judge temporarily blocked Trump’s White House press ban and ruled Trump must allow CNN, MS NOW, and Politico access to the White House. Their reporters haven’t been allowed inside since Friday, when Trump kicked them out because he doesn’t like their reporting. Despite the ruling, reporters said this morning they’re still blocked.

The administration hit peak dumb in court as it tried to use national security concerns to justify the obvious First Amendment violation against Politico. How did Politico threaten the safety of all American Patriots? By covering a White House press conference. That’s right. In its own court brief, the White House faulted Politico for basing a story on an anonymous source. The source was an official the White House put forward, on the condition of anonymity. 

The Associated Press added some context: “That item appeared to reference a background briefing set up by the White House, where an official briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House itself.” 

Totally out of context, let’s quote White House comms director Steven Cheung. “You must be truly fucking stupid,” and “Stop beclowning yourself.”

Starfucks deja vu. Starbucks is cutting 1 percent of its North American stores, around 250 locations, again. Meanwhile, Fast Company says that the behemoth we love to hate is still expanding, opening hundreds of locations overseas. Earlier this year, the company laid off a bunch of its Seattle-based corporate staff. It’s pushing others to move to Nashville, Tennessee. One white collar worker I spoke with at the time told me Starbucks gave her a free trip to Music City to charm the move, but she planned on finding another job so that she could stay in Seattle. 

Prolonged deployment led to eight suicide attempts among sailors assigned to USS Abraham Lincoln: Working on an aircraft carrier sucks. If you want to truly understand the horror that is living on an aircraft carrier, follow this woman for 12 hours a day as she restocks vending machines. Over six months stuck in a giant tin can to support Trump’s war of choice against Iran led to the eight suicide attempts, the Navy admits, the New York Timesand CNN report. At least one of the sailors jumped off the ship and had to be rescued. Secretary of War Crimes Pete Hegseth hasn’t wanted to talk about the situation. (If you have a situation you want to talk about, dial Lifeline at 988. You can even text or chat.)

Spiking the football on Ed Sheeran: Macklemore has announced a “Free Palestine” tour, but hasn’t announced dates, Billboard reports. And finally, Frankie McNamara has torn apart Ed Sheeran and “the tyranny of the centrist dad” on a level that only an Irish poet can.

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