Gee and Ursula’s top stories: GOP to eliminate filibuster, Bremerton coach, Mariners-Angels scuffle

MyNorthwest is bringing you highlights from the top stories and discussions from the Gee and Ursula Show June 28: Ursula and guest-host Jack Stine discuss the potential elimination of the filibuster, what the future for Bremerton Coach Joseph Kennedy looks like, and how the biggest brawl in baseball this year turned into a surprise pizza party.

A critical misstep from the GOP?

Last week, former Vice President Mike Pence told Breitbart that it is time to enact a nationwide ban on abortion. He also vowed to take up the defense of the unborn and to support women in crisis pregnancy centers in every state in America.

Former Republican National Chair Michael Steele shared a similar sentiment with MSNBC, stating that Republicans don’t actually need 60 votes in the Senate to make that happen. Steele shared that his party is going to simply abolish the filibuster if they gain control in November.

Bigger issues at play than just reproductive health in WA lawmaker’s call for a general women’s strike

“I think that [the GOP] kind of shot themselves in the foot with this because nothing mobilizes suburban women like abortion and reproductive health, right? Like nothing does,” guest-host Jack Stine said. “And suburban women, in particular, are who swayed the last election, right? So I think that the GOP really made a misstep here by appointing a bunch of ideologues to the Supreme Court because now people feel powerless. And when people feel powerless, they react in any way they can to affect change. And I think that you’re going to see huge voter turnout, particularly from suburban or urban women who might come out and vote for somebody solely on the basis of other women being able to have access to an abortion.”

In a letter to colleagues, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats will now craft legislation that affirms a woman’s constitutional right to travel across state lines. Pelosi also said the House will seek to secure the data women put into reproductive health apps.

Bremerton Coach would return to WA if he gets his job back

The Supreme Court made its decision in support of the former Bremerton High School Football coach, Joseph Kennedy, who prayed on the 50-yard line after every game. Kennedy has since moved to Florida, but said he would return to Washington if he got his job back. Attorneys for the Bremerton School District said they are still assessing if Monday’s Supreme Court decision means they have to rehire him.

Superintendent: SCOTUS decision on Bremerton coach retains separation of church and state

“We’re now learning that Justice Neil Gorsuch — who wrote for the majority — needs a fact-checker. In his opinion, he said that coach Joseph Kennedy lost his job after offering a quiet, personal prayer after the games,” Ursula said. “But Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissenting opinion, pointed out that Kennedy had a longstanding practice of doing his very visible prayers on the 50-yard line and invited students and players to join him in the middle of the field. She even included several photographs to make her point.”

“I think for Coach Kennedy, the religious aspect was maybe more important than the football aspect, given that he was inviting the media to come and take pictures of him and inviting senators,” Stine said in response to Ursula. “Just enjoy your money, guy. Enjoy your time, enjoy the media circuit. And I think that’s the last we need to hear of Coach Kennedy.”

Mariners-Angels fiasco leads to multiple punishments, pizza party

Major League Baseball announced that 12 people are facing punishments for their roles in the brawl involving the Mariners and the Angels, including a seven-game suspension for Jesse Winker, a five-game suspension for J.P. Crawford, and a two-game suspension for Julio Rodriguez.

Chaos in Anaheim after Jesse Winker is hit by a pitch, causing a benches clearing brawl between the Mariners and Angels 😳

🎥 @BallySportWest pic.twitter.com/n6fst9fCUg

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 26, 2022

“It turned out to be a mess, it turned out to be ugly, and I don’t believe it’s over,” Seattle Mariners announcer, Rick Rizzs said previously on the Gee and Ursula Show.

“I mean, it was exciting while it happened, but I don’t want this to be an ongoing beef,” Ursula said. “I’m not into the physical fights, even though initially, I was like, ‘this was kind of cool to see.’ But now, I’m kind of thinking, ‘you might say the M’s have heart and it really was the Angels’ fault for all of this.’ And maybe the punishment reflects that. But still, it’s kind of poor sportsmanship all around for me.”

Mariners’ Justin Upton, ex-Angel, shares his take on beef between rivals

“Yeah, I still like my idea. I think we should just let the two guys go at it for 30 seconds, and then you pull them apart just like how they do it in hockey,” Stine said in response. “But, in the real world, you toss hands, you’re going to get arrested. On a baseball diamond, you punch somebody in the face, you’re going to get a seven-day suspension. It doesn’t really make a lot of sense to me.”

After Jesse Winker was ejected from the game, a Mariners fan with Twitter handle @sophieballgame, decided to brighten up his day by ordering him some food.

“I was just imagining Winker, just back in the clubhouse, licking his wounds, and you know what, I’m going to send him a pizza,” Sophie said.

Can I order a pizza to be delivered directly to the visitor clubhouse at Angel Stadium?

— Sofie 🏳️‍🌈 (@sofieballgame) June 26, 2022

“Hundreds of fans on Twitter ended up banding together to send tips to the DoorDash driver. I love this part of the story,” Ursula said. “He ended up with some much-needed cash, and it was a life-changing experience.”

“He has a nine-month-old baby at home and a wife. I think he’s the sole income earner and over 400 people sent him tips over Venmo,” said Andrew Lanier, the producer of the Gee and Ursula Show. “So, think about this, a mariners fan in Arkansas sends a pizza to a Mariners player in Anaheim and the delivery driver gets tips from all over the country. It’s just beautiful.”

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

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