Democrats launch coordinated attack on Brandi Kruse over her support for girls' sports

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:00]This is going to get so dark, you guys.

[00:00:04]This is going to get so dark.

[00:00:07]So, I was already going to be angry coming on the show today because of something that happened over the weekend, an article that was put out by the Seattle Times, and it's how I intended to start the show today. And then I got word of something as I was driving into the studio this morning that sent me through the roof when I quit my job in TV news. So Washington State is not where I'm from.

[00:00:31]I'm from the W Midwest. You guys know that. But this is where I've lived my entire adult life. After college, I came here. I've never left. Despite there being a lot of reasons and opportunities to do so.

[00:00:42]And in 2021 when I was working in TV news and I was becoming increasingly disillusioned with the journalism that we were putting out, I was really upset with our coverage of the riots. I was really upset with being attacked at the riots and then having it downplayed. I was really upset with the coverage of the pandemic and the inability or lack of desire to question people in power.

[00:01:03]I had a decision to make at the time. I had an agent at the time and I was sort of thinking, well, maybe I should try to go to one of the news networks and try to do national news and, you know, maybe look at Fox or CNN or something like that. We were talking about it with my with my agent. Then I decided, you know what? Or more people are doing this independent media thing. I think I could give that a shot. I think I could be really successful at it. Not a lot of people were doing it at the time. And I think my agent was like, "Oh, no. Let's try to go to the network because then he would continue, you know, to get paid."

[00:01:33]Uh whereas if I went independent, I might not make any money and and and you know, he wouldn't probably represent me, which he ended up not representing me.

[00:01:40]And there's one of the reasons I went independent is I felt this strong pull inside me to start to advocate against and for some of the things I had seen when I was a mainstream journalist that just weren't sitting well with me.

[00:01:58]And when you're a journalist and and you know I think when you're a journalist who cares about their job and I'm not saying I was the only journalist in Seattle who cared about their job.

[00:02:07]You know you see things you see people on their worst days and you see communities on their worst days and you become really close with people when you're in one place for that long doing journalism. And I know I'm having a big buildup because it's part of me I'm trying to calm myself down because I I'm so upset over the what is going to be an effort to either try to ruin my reputation or get me killed but I was you know at that point I was 10 years in the state and like I said I'd met people in that job on the worst days of their lives whether it was the OSO landslide or other natural disa disasters or you know covering wildfires where people lost everything they had or people getting fired over the vaccine or businesses, you know, being destroyed during the pandemic or being destroyed during riots, family members whose loved ones just got killed. You meet people and you, unless you're stone cold, you form an attachment to people and to a place.

[00:03:12]And I formed an attachment to this place and to the people in it.

[00:03:20]And I like to think that over 15 years now, I have built a reputation as someone who you might not agree with politically at this point, but someone who cares and who is passionate and who wants the government to work better for the people it's supposed to serve.

[00:03:43]And so all those reasons, you know, is part of the reason I decided not to try to go to the network and get some, you know, network news job, which was absolutely an option at the time, but to do this independent thing and to stay and fight for the state I love. And I made a decision that I wasn't going to be passive anymore, that I was going to start giving my opinion. And I was going to go beyond that. I was going to try to make a difference and use all the reputation that I built and the trust that I've built. Nothing's more important than that. The trust that I'd built to try to fix this place, to try to fix Seattle. And it might be a slow process and it might feel like it's taking forever, but I know we're making a difference. How do I know we're making a difference?

[00:04:21]Because of the amount of hate, vitriol, lawfare, and efforts to vilify me that are happening right now.

[00:04:32]So over the weekend, I'm going to start with the article that angered me, but now I understand that this article is a small piece of a much bigger effort that my understanding is going to come to fruition tomorrow morning. Okay, so we're going to get out ahead of it. So there's an article in the Seattle Times, the headline, meet the Seattle woman behind a national effort to end same-sex marriage. Picture of a woman named Katie Foust. Mind you, this aired on Mother's Day on Sunday in the Seattle Times. It was written by Jim Bruner, who's the Seattle Times political reporter, and it talks about who Katie Fast is. It says, "Earlier this year, a national coalition of conservatives unveiled a new campaign to turn back the clock on same-sex marriage. In a promotional video, supporters of the Greater Than campaign said they want to push the US Supreme Court to reverse its landmark 2015 decision, which legalized samesex marriage nationwide.

[00:05:26]The effort challenges a decade of established legal rights for same-sex couples. Rights that continue to enjoy broad public support. In Washington, marriage equality protections go back even further to a 2012 law upheld by voters. So, it might come as a surprise that one of the leading activists behind the campaign to undo those rights lives in Seattle. Katie Foust is president and founder of Them Before Us, a conservative nonprofit organization that says its mission is to protect every child's right to their mother and father. So, I otherwise would have probably not taken a second look at this because I don't know Katie Faust. I mean, I've heard the name before, but I I wouldn't have been able to tell you what she was all about. Um, but someone clued me in that my name was mentioned in the story. And before I get to that, you know, look, I have never not supported samesex marriage. I talk about on the show all the time. I maybe it's a generational thing. I've never had the position that gay people shouldn't be able to get married. I've always been in favor of same-sex marriage. And as you know, I've said, you know, I'm not religious or, you know, practicing Christian. And so a lot of some of the political beliefs that are built around, you know, religious ideology um aren't something I necessarily I mean I've told you I'm pro-choice. It's something that makes you guys upset sometimes, but that's just the reality. So color me shocked when somebody says I mentioned in this story about this very conservative Christian woman who holds, let's be honest, a fairly mainstream Christian belief. It's not like this is the only Christian on the planet. I mean, the Pope, for as liberal as he he is, doesn't support gay marriage. So, it's an odd article to begin with because it's basically like, okay, you're calling out a Christian mother on Mother's Day for having a very mainstream Christian belief. That's kind of weird. But also, I'm like, why am I mentioning this article? I don't know who this woman is. It says uh later this week, FAS is scheduled to speak at the annual Lincoln Day fundraising dinner for the Snomish County Republicans, an event to be MED by Brandy Cruz, the former TV journalist turned conservative activist and podcaster.

[00:07:29]Other speakers for the dinner include state GOP chair Jim Walsh and Brian Haywood, the Redmond hedge fund manager and initiative financeier, who is backing a measure headed for the fall ballot that would ban transgender students from participating in girls sports at K through2 schools. So I read that in an article vilifying this woman as this right-wing hates gay people, all of this stuff. Now all of a sudden, for really no reason, they're throwing my name in there. This is going to get so dark, you guys. This is going to get so dark. They throw my name in there. They throw Brian's name in there. I asked Brian, "Do you know this woman?" He said, "I've never heard of this woman in my life." And I'll agree sometimes uh to MC events. I don't raise money for political parties. Let me just say that. I don't raise money for political parties. Uh I will if somebody wants me to MC an event, I'm not a member of the Republican party. I charge for that. So unless you're a nonprofit, I mean, I host events for nonprofits all the time or give speeches to nonprofits and don't charge them anything. But if a political party wants me to MC their fundraiser, a political party I'm not a member of, yeah, I'm going to charge them for that, right?

[00:08:36]And I'll agree to these and we've got stuff booked out through like September, October. It's an important part of my income. I give speeches. I do MCing. I don't know who's going to be there. I don't I don't know every single speaker.

[00:08:48]And it doesn't really matter to me because I'm not triggered by it. I'm not triggered by the fact that next week or this week I'm going to be at an event with this woman who's not in support of gay marriage because I don't feel the need to have to absorb the political beliefs of every single person I ever come into contact with. So, it doesn't bother me one bit. But then it was about guilt by association, right? Jim Bruner of the Seattle Times. This was about guilt by association. had to do a story on a Christian woman who holds a fairly mainstream Christian belief and then has to try to ruin the reputation of me and Brian Haywood at a time when I'm speaking out in favor of girls sports and parental rights. At a time when Brian's running initiatives that I support to speak out in favor of girls because the Democrats won't do it and parental rights because the Democrats won't do it. two very common sense popular policy positions. Boys aren't girls. They shouldn't play against girls. And parents have a right to know what's going on with their kids at schools. And so if that had been it, I would have been annoyed. I would have probably started the show with it today because it's about more than just like Jim Bruner. You know, they never write articles about controversial left-wing figures who who hang out with the Democratic class.

[00:10:04]They never do that. You you won't find anything like that. But it's like controversial mother on Mother's Day.

[00:10:09]Let's vilify her. So the story and the premise of it, even if I wasn't mentioned in it, is so Seattle times and it's so telling, right?

[00:10:17]But what they're trying to do here, guilt by association, but also what I was most upset about is now you've put a target on my back at a time when I'm already under a lot of kind of a a heavier threat environment than normal and have been since I went to the White House. So now you're getting people all riled up in the Seattle Times about the fact that this woman who's a hateful, bigot, horrible person is going to be at this event and I'm going to be there and Brian's going to be there. So now an event that I otherwise would not have hired security to go with me to. I'm going to have to hire security to go with me to. So I was just mostly upset by that. It's like, are you trying to get me killed? You probably would be happy if I died, but are you trying to get me killed? But then I was like, I was thinking about this article a lot, right? And I still thought it's so weird. Why do an article on this woman just because she's going to be at this event this week? Why throw my name into it. This morning I found out why.

[00:11:10]Because this is part of a concerted effort by the Seattle Times. Whether the Seattle Times knew it was being used in this way, I don't know.

[00:11:18]and the Democratic Party and Democratic operatives to try to destroy my reputation because we are that effective in advocating for girls sports and parental rights.

[00:11:31]So, this is a press release that was sent out to all the media in the state this morning about me.

[00:11:38]It's from a group called Washingtonians for Ethical Government. Doesn't that sound nice?

[00:11:43]Tuesday morning, Washingtonians for Ethical Government, a citizen campaign and government watchdog group, is filing a formal request for investigation into Brian Haywood's Let's Go Washington pack for at least 159 instances of undisclosed and unreported political advertising by right-wing content creator Brandy Cruz promoting Haywood's 2026 anti-LGBTQ ballot initiatives.

[00:12:11]Washingtonians for Ethical Government is filing the complaint with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, detailing dozens of examples where Cruz advertised the initiatives to her more than 800,000 followers, urged voters to sign initiative petitions, and attacked opponents of Let's Go Washington. Cruz also appeared at multiple Let's Go Washington rallies and events promoting Hwood's initiatives. In fact, this weekend, Cruz is mceing another event with Haywood as well as Katie Foust, national anti-gay marriage activist at a fundraiser for the Snomish County Republicans.

[00:12:48]It says media advisory for Tuesday, May 12th, 2026. Washingtonians for ethical government to file PDC complaint concerning violations of political spending by Let's Go Washington and right-wing political commentator and advertiser Brandy Cruz. Details will be released 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 12th at a virtual press conference. I have never been paid a scent by Let's Go Washington.

[00:13:07]You I would pay someone else to let me advocate for girls and women.

[00:13:13]Every event I've ever done for them, which has been many, every hour I've taken of my personal time on weekdays and weekends, every mile I have traveled, every speech I have given, I haven't been paid a scent for.

[00:13:31]I'm speaking up for those initiatives because it's the morally correct thing to do. Says 80% of the population.

[00:13:41]There is no greater honor for me than to have built a trusted reputation and a large platform that I can now use to advocate for those girls to stand side by side with them to hopefully make a difference in the state that I love.

[00:13:57]There's no greater honor. I don't need to be paid a scent to do that. nor have I been. Let's go Washington. And you can see it with the PDBC. They've never paid me a scent. And this group knows that.

[00:14:07]They can't argue that because it the spending would be in there. So what they're saying is because I am an advertiser, right? I have we have run ads on the show that when I cover Let's Go Washington, when I tell you I support the initiatives, here's how you can sign them. That that is essentially an inkind contribution to Let's Go Washington.

[00:14:27]Now that's hilarious, right? because then the Seattle Times editorial board or you would have to say then anytime that Let's Go Washington or Brian Haywood does an interview with the Seattle Times. It's an inkind contribution to his campaign. I it's insane on its face. But the point is not to file a PDC complaint or have an investigation that will actually lead to anything because it won't.

[00:14:52]The point is to harm my reputation to the point where they hope that people won't trust me, won't listen to me when I continue to advocate for girls and women and parental rights.

[00:15:08]Now, let's take a closer look at this group that's filing it because what they want is to use the media as a tool press release and get entities like the Times or whoever it is to just print that this is the accusation that she's colluding with them to what? Keep boys out of girl sports.

[00:15:30]Guilty as charged. Collusion in the worst possible way.

[00:15:35]But they want it's it's they want the toothpaste out of the tube. Once they once you take the toothpaste out of the tube, you can't get it back in. So they want the media to be useful idiots, which they will be and they have been, and to publish, we're doing this big big investigation PDC with no merit whatsoever. But by the time the headlines are written, the headlines are written.

[00:15:56]Unless you think this group, Washingtonians for Ethical Government, oh well, it's Washingtonians for Ethical Government. Brandy, don't you support ethical government? Let me tell you a little bit about this group.

[00:16:06]Citizenpowered campaign and government watchdog for the evergreen state. But look at what they focus on. In fact, they hadn't written anything since 2024 and before then 20 2019.

[00:16:17]Most of what they write about is at the time was about Tim Iman.

[00:16:23]It was about Tim Iman, anti-conservative.

[00:16:28]I mean, if they were really an active group, Washingtonians for ethical government, the top story on there would be the fact that Governor Bob Ferguson just became the first sitting governor in Washington state history to be found in violation of state ethics laws if they were really a watchdog for ethical government. But no, this is just about a hit list on conservatives who they don't like.

[00:16:46]So, that tells you a little bit about that group.

[00:16:49]But then in that email when it the they put out the press release RSVP for link to join Kristen at powerhouse strategies.

[00:17:01]Kristen at powerhouse strategies. Let's look at powerhouse strategies shall we?

[00:17:06]So the press release was sent out by a woman who works for powerhouse strategies which is a progressive political strategist. It says, "Progressive issues, labor unions, ballot initiative campaigns from around the US come here for media, digital strategy, messaging, website, and other communication services. Huge wins for child care, education, long-term care, and taxing mega millionaires and billionaires." And there they have a picture from powerhouse strategies, efforts to defeat another Brian Haywood initiative, ending the long-term care tax.

[00:17:40]So, don't be confused by Washingtonians for ethical government.

[00:17:44]It's a It's an organization that sounds like it's not partisan, but it's run by the most partisan political strategists in the nation who are trying to, as we speak, defeat the Let's Go Washington initiatives and have done so before.

[00:18:06]And now they're taking aim at me. And here's the other thing with the Seattle Times and this the collusion. So again, what are the chances of this? In that Seattle Times article about Katie Faustst, even the writer Jim Bruner admits that FA is little known locally, but she has more of a national prominence. Little known locally.

[00:18:28]What are the chances that someone who is little known locally, first of all, what are the chances I would know them? It's why I didn't. She's little known locally, but you still tied me to her.

[00:18:38]And what are the chances that the Seattle Times puts that article out and then this press release comes out also talking about my connection with Katie Foust, which is none. I have no connection with Katie FA despite despite besides the fact we're going to be in the same room apparently this week. And the Seattle Times might be an unwitting unwitting participant. But here's what happened. Democratic strategist, I guarantee emailed Jim Bruner about this woman, Katie Faust, who was going to be at this event this week. Said Brandy Cruz is also going to be there. Brian Haywood is also going to be there. So, the useful idiots at the Seattle Times wrote a hit piece and then it would gain leverage and give leverage to the press release this morning where they announced an investigation into me and Brian Haywood for me taking a position. It's first amendment protected position. And don't believe me, believe the ACLU.

[00:19:27]Believe the Washington State Supreme Court.

[00:19:31]They had this rule. They had a ruling years ago. Washington State Supreme Court says endorsements by talk show hosts are not campaign contributions.

[00:19:40]So they know what they're trying to do is not going to result in anything. But it's that's not the point of it.

[00:19:48]The point of it is to try to hurt my reputation.

[00:19:52]The point of it is to try to get the media to help them hurt my reputation.

[00:19:58]And the result of it might even be to get me killed.

[00:20:04]because they know what tying me to a woman who's anti-gay marriage and anti- they call her anti-trans and all these things they know in this political climate what can happen surely they know that I've already been assaulted and attacked and had police at my home and been harassed a woman was just convicted of harassment just plead guilty to harassment for being angry at my coverage for threatening to come to my home and harm me because of my coverage of protecting girl sports.

[00:20:37]And here you have the Seattle Times and Democratic operatives working together to try to put a target on my back and to try to take 15 years of work that I've done, advocating for things I believe in, never being paid a dime to do so, and to try to ruin my reputation. So what? So, I can't continue to be as effective. And that's why I said at the beginning of the show, I don't know if I'm mad or tickled pink.

[00:21:05]Part of me is, "Wow, how nice. Wow, you must really think that we're doing a good job on the show. You must really think that we're making a difference if you're willing to go to these lengths to try to harm my reputation." And I will say from a personal perspective, it's been a it's been a couple weeks for me and us here at Undivided. I don't tell you guys about every little thing that happens.

[00:21:35]I don't I don't put upon you every little threat. I don't put upon you every little thing of lawfare or every little whatever it is. Some of them if newsworthy, sure. But there is an element of doing this job where that kind of comes with it. But to be frank, like I'm not a big famous podcaster.

[00:21:57]I do local politics. I do a show about Washington state politics. We dabble sometimes in national.

[00:22:04]It's insane the amount of lawfare and threats and nonsense that we have to deal with just to bring this show to you.

[00:22:14]I mean, I mentioned it briefly, but just in the last couple weeks, I mean, some leftists filed a PDC complaint against me. That takes time and energy. It's totally nonsensical.

[00:22:23]Now, we've got this. They're going to have a big press conference and publish all these things, vilifying me as a tool of Let's Go Washington because I don't think boys should play against girls.

[00:22:32]I had a federal defamation suit filed against me that was totally frivolous that I have to believe because of all of this was part of a strategy from Democrats cost me thousands of dollars just to get it to go away.

[00:22:49]Not to mention the safety concerns that we're living under and now renewed safety concern event I wouldn't have had to have security for as a local podcaster.

[00:22:58]I'm not Ben Shapiro.

[00:23:02]You name it that I think would have to live with some of these things and expects to live with some of these things, but this is like the depths that they're willing to go to in this state to maintain every ounce of power. Anyone who even poses the smallest threat to them, they will try to squash.

[00:23:22]The good news is I don't care.

[00:23:26]The good news is when you try to come harm my reputation, I don't care about my reputation because the people who I care about their opinion, they they don't have any doubts about my integrity.

[00:23:41]Now, the safety thing, yes, that's bothersome. I don't want to die. I'd prefer not to, honestly. I'm having a good time, but I I don't know, you know, I'm not going to be deterred by any of this. I think that's obvious.

[00:23:58]I'm not going to be deterred by any of this. In fact, I I'm going to do more.

[00:24:01]We're going to do more things with Let's Go Washington to stand up for girls, to stand up for parents. We're going to we're going to dive in. So, if they thought they were going to deter me, they're not going to deter me. So, I don't know what they're trying to push me to, unless the goal really is just to get me killed.