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Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Washington Legislature. Austin Jenkins is the Olympia correspondent for the Northwest News Network. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) weekly public affairs program "Inside Olympia."

New Role For Washington Governor? President Trump Foil

Jeanie Lindsay
/
Northwest News Network

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee seems to have a new part-time job: foil to President Donald Trump. And it’s getting him lots of attention, including mentions on Facebook and in the national media.

Inslee has always been a politician unafraid to seize the bully pulpit and he has a colorful and energetic rhetorical style. But it doesn’t always match his audience.

Now suddenly his rhetoric about President Trump has an impassioned audience for his message and we’re seeing now that in the last week comments Inslee has made have gone viral. So he may be emerging as a national voice when it comes to opposition to President Trump.

Inslee’s picture and his comments on Trump headlined a story last week at the website Politico. And the governor’s speech at SeaTac Airport over the weekend about Trump’s immigration order also made the rounds on social media.

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."