Axios Seattle
☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high near 74.
🚨 Situational awareness: The National Weather Service has issued a weather advisory about an incoming heatwave, which is expected to last through Monday.
- Temperatures could reach 90℉ Sunday in parts of western Washington, according to the advisory.
Today's newsletter is 944 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Pro-impeachment Republicans under fire
Of the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump last year, two are from Washington state.
- Now, U.S. Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Battleground) and Dan Newhouse (R-Sunnyside) face challengers from the right who are angry over how the two lawmakers voted.
Why it matters: Whether Herrera Beutler and Newhouse survive their primary challenges will provide clues about the direction of the state's GOP — and whether those who buck Trump's influence still have a place in it.
What's happening: Herrera Beutler, who represents the 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington, was particularly outspoken after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, decrying the former president's actions as inappropriate.
- Herrera Beutler's opponents now include three pro-Trump Republicans who have publicly disagreed with her impeachment vote: Vicki Kraft, a state representative; Joe Kent, a retired special forces officer; and Heidi St. John, a Christian author who promotes homeschooling.
- All have questioned the validity of the 2020 election and suggested without evidence that the vote was fraudulent.
Meanwhile, Newhouse faces six GOP challengers in Washington's 4th Congressional District.
- One is Loren Culp, who ran for governor in 2020 and later filed a baseless lawsuit alleging widespread election fraud — a claim he withdrew after the state threatened his lawyer with sanctions.
- Another Republican in the race, state Rep. Brad Klippert, has also questioned the 2020 election results.
- Both Klippert and Culp have criticized Newhouse's impeachment vote, as has Republican candidate Jarod Sessler, a Prosser businessman and former NASCAR driver.
What they're saying: Peter Graves, a Republican consultant in Washington state, told Axios the state's top-two primary system is likely to help Newhouse and Herrera Beutler.
2. Wolves are making a comeback
Gray wolves are growing more abundant in Washington and seem headed toward recovery — but they're not out of the woods yet, state wildlife officials say.
By the numbers: Washington's wolf population grew for the 13th consecutive year in 2021, climbing to 206 wolves in 33 packs, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- That's a spike of 16% from 2020's tally of 178 wolves statewide, per the department's annual year-end wolf survey.
Why it matters: Gray wolves have been on the state's endangered species list since 1980. Their recovery would mark a coup for successfully restoring a native species to the wilds of eco-friendly Washington.
- The wolves also were federally relisted as endangered in the western two-thirds of Washington this year, after being taken off that list briefly last year.
Zoom out: The latest tally represents the highest count since the state started surveying wolves in 2008.
3. We're the most expensive state to hire a nanny


In 2021, Washington state was the most expensive state for hiring a nanny, per a new survey from Care.com.
Why it matters: High child care costs burden families and can make it difficult for some parents to work — especially if all or most of their income would go toward paying for the care.
By the numbers: According to the survey, hiring a nanny in Washington cost $840 a week in 2021.
- That's 21% higher than the national average.
- The only place with higher costs was Washington, D.C., where a nanny is estimated to cost about $855 per a week.
- Daycare also was more expensive in Washington state than elsewhere — about 35% more than the national average.
- That makes Washington the second most expensive state for child care centers, trailing only Massachusetts and D.C.
Melissa's thought bubble: The average rate listed for a day care center in Washington, D.C. — $419 per week — is about two-thirds what I pay for a modest daycare center in Seattle.
- That makes me think that, if you compared Seattle and Washington, D.C. directly, Seattle's child care costs might eclipse the nation's capital.
4. Morning Buzz: Landmark status, plus a ban
🍽 A Wu Tang Clan-themed meal with 36 courses is being planned in Seattle. (Eater)
🐘 One of the pink signs from Seattle's Elephant Car Wash could become an official city landmark to be displayed in Belltown. (The Seattle Times)
❌ The FDA has banned Juul e-cigarettes and ordered the products be pulled from store shelves. (Axios)
🚊 Sound Transit, which runs light rail, commuter trains and buses across three counties, has picked Julie Timm as its new CEO. (Sound Transit)
😸 This Seattle man watches about 10,000 cat videos a year to find the best clips to showcase in a cat video festival. (The Seattle Times)
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5. Brew stop: Aslan Brewing Company
👋 Melissa here.
I've been expanding my beer tastes lately, but typically there are a few options at any brewery that I just … would never order again.
Yes, but: I've yet to find that "thanks, but no thanks" pour at Aslan Brewing Company, a Bellingham-based brewery which opened its Seattle taproom a few months before the pandemic hit.
What's on offer: 10 beers on tap — plus, food prepared by the stellar seafood restaurant next door, Local Tide.
- I like the Tateyama, a Japanese-style rice lager with notes of jasmine that kept me wanting to come back for another sip.
- I also happily downed a Mountain Crisp — a pale lager— on a recent visit, along with the B'ham Brown, which was full of chocolatey, malty goodness.
The vibe: Murals make for a vibrant and welcoming setting to sip a beer.
- The crowd skews young and cool, but so far no one has told me to take a hike or given me side eye as I imbibe in my disheveled mom clothes.
The verdict: I plan to keep on going and chugging the occasional beer before it's time to pick my son up from daycare.
Details: Aslan Seattle, 401 N 36th St., Ste. 102

🗽Lewis is in New York City. He'll share more about his trip Monday.
⛱ Melissa is thinking about going paddleboarding this weekend, but might end up just reading a book at home instead to stay out of the heat.
Hope you have a lovely weekend! Same place — Monday.