Gee and Ursula warn Trump’s funding decisions carry ‘very real impacts’ for rural communities
May 8, 2025, 3:01 PM
Adna, Washington. (Photo: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest)
(Photo: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest)
King County, among seven other jurisdictions, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s recently imposed conditions to secure federal funding. On Wednesday, a Seattle judge issued a restraining order against the White House, temporarily blocking those requirements for local governments to receive funding.
Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin, co-hosts of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, highlighted that Trump’s decisions have tangible consequences.
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“This should be alarming for everyone,” Gee said. “And if you go back to the 80s and you see what Ronald Reagan did with the divesting from social programs across the country, they did a lot of that. And we all know and remember, the economic plan then was for there to be a trickle-down, and here we are today, with federal funds being held from states.”
Ursula said people don’t realize what’s going on until it hits them.
“You don’t realize what is happening until it impacts you,” she said. “And because of all the chaos that we cover on a daily basis of you know, let’s call the Gulf of Mexico this and that. And Canada being the 51st state, etc, there are these things that are actually happening that have very real impacts right now.”
Gee and Ursula: Nonprofits, rural communities will bear brunt of Trump’s funding decisions
Gee said non-profit organizations are losing funding, and important services for single parents are being taken away.
“There’s going to be a lot of services that will go away that used to be here all the time,” he said. “And it’s unfortunate that we are politicizing organizations or situations out here in this way, and all that’s going to help happen is our people in our communities will hurt, and it doesn’t matter if you’re Republican, it doesn’t matter if you’re Democrat, doesn’t matter if you’re liberal, it doesn’t matter anything about your politics. So right now you might be OK, but who knows what happens tomorrow?”
Gee also mentioned rural areas in the country will be hit the hardest.
“Between cities and rural areas across the country, who will feel the impact of everything that’s going on first?” he asked.
Ursula responded, “A lot of rural areas, absolutely.”
Listen to the full conversation below.
Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.
