‘The Stranger’ reinstates Seattle journalist who said ‘Make America Aim Again’ after Trump assassination attempt failed

Staff writer at The Stranger Ashley Nerbovig, who covers “policing, incarceration and courts” for the far-left outlet, posted on X, “Make America aim again,” following the news that the former president had survived the shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania last month. Though Nerbovig deleted the post, the screenshots went viral and she shut down her account.

After the posts were deleted, The Stranger, which supported the BLM riots in the Seattle area in 2020, posted on X, “The Stranger condemns political violence in the strongest possible terms. Period.” Shortly thereafter, Nerbovig’s writer’s profile was removed from the outlet’s website.

Though The Stranger did not respond to requests for comment, Scott Greenstone, a reporter for KUOW posted on social media that the editor of The Stranger told him in an email that “Ashley was suspended yesterday and reiterated that the stranger stands against political violence.”

However, just a few days ago Nerbovig became active on X again. In her first post since the suspension, she retweeted a post from her colleague Hanna Kreig who wrote, “Rich Smith is the best editor in the world. No contest.” Smith is the editor of The Stranger.

Social media pundits speculated that the outlet was just waiting for the heat to die down before reinstating her.

This is not Nebovig’s first time in hot water. In 2022, she was arrested on a felony burglary charge after the former NBC affiliate employee broke into her ex-boyfriend's house and tried to steal the dog that the two had previously shared. The charges were eventually dismissed.

Nerbovig wasn’t alone in wishing ill on the former president. Krieg criticized Seattle’s Democratic mayor for praising the Secret Service and wishing the best for Trump. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrel posted on X following the news of the failed assassination, “This act of political violence is disturbing and unacceptable in our country. Thank you to the Secret Service and all the first responders who quickly secured the scene. Our thoughts are with the former president and all the people who attended today’s rally.”

Krieg retweeted the post and wrote, "Mayor Bruce Harrel swiftly comes to the defense of Trump, a failed insurrectionist touted by mainstream Democrats as an existential threat to Democracy.” She deleted the post and then locked her account after the blowback. Kreig began posting again shortly after the controvery had dissipated.

The pair have been at the forefront of pushing the far-left outlet’s radical agenda. Nerbovig and Krieg are listed on The Stranger’s “Election Control Board,” which has endorsed a slate of radical candidates.

Nerbovig and Kreig have also been supporting and covering anti-Israel and anti-American rallies in the Seattle area since the Oct. 7 massacre. In January, both of them were spotted on the I-5 freeway when pro-Hamas activists blockaded the highway for 6 hours. Washington State Patrol had previously considered charging them for breaking the law by being on the freeway.

While Nerbovig was suspended, the outlet was acquired by Brady Walkinshaw, a former Washington State lawmaker who is the chairman, publisher, and largest shareholder of Noisy Creek. The company also purchased The Portland Mercury, events site EverOut, and ticketing business Bold Type Tickets, all of which were owned together with The Stranger by Index Media.

According to KUOW, Walkinshaw was also the CEO of environmental media nonprofit Grist for six years and told the outlet that he does not plan on being a part of The Stranger’s Election Control Board.

Walkingshaw and Noisy Creek did not respond to requests for comment.