Week in Review: July 4, 2025 - with Josh Cohen
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Josh Cohen discuss: 🎯 WA top target in Medicaid cuts 😬 KC Assessor Wilson arrested 🚔 Barnes confirmed as police chief 💰 Possible sales tax increase for public safety 🏗️ Rinck revives Morales’ community dev program As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find today’s co-host, Josh Cohen at .
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Claudia Balducci Details Platform for County Leadership
Hacks & Wonks
King County Executive candidate Claudia Balducci outlines her approach to the region's biggest challenges, emphasizing housing affordability, prevention-focused public safety & regional coordination. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find Claudia Balducci at .
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Week in Review: June 27, 2025 - with David Kroman
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and David Kroman discuss: 👀 NYC mayoral race hints at Seattle’s? 💰 Seattle biz tax revamp? 🚔 Pursuit GPS trackers & digital billboards 📷 License plate readers proliferate in WA 🏘️ Affordable housing industry crisis As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find today’s co-host, David Kroman at .
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Girmay Zahilay Outlines Vision for Executive Role
Hacks & Wonks
King County Executive candidate Girmay Zahilay details plans for the region's biggest challenges, including homelessness, public safety & housing affordability. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find Girmay Zahilay at .
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Week in Review: June 20, 2025 - with Robert Cruickshank
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss: 👑 ‘No Kings’ protests ⚕️ WA immigrants' health data shared w/ feds 🏘️ Housing First works well 🚍 Saka erases advocates, makes deal w/ Curby 🤑 RealPage ban delayed 🎒 School waitlists lifted As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find today’s co-host, Robert Cruickshank, on Bluesky at .
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Week in Review: June 6, 2025 - with Erica Barnett
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Erica Barnett discuss: 👋 Cathy Moore resigning 🗳️ Kshama Sawant running for Congress 😬 KC Assessor John Wilson won't resign despite calls 🚔 Diaz/Tompkins updates 🏳️🌈 WA State Patrol interrupts Pride flag ceremony As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find today’s co-host, Erica Barnett, on Bluesky at and on .
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Jeanie Chunn Outlines Vision for Seattle City Council District 2
Hacks & Wonks
Jeanie Chunn, candidate for Seattle City Council District 2, shares her stance on housing affordability, public safety, transportation, and more while advocating for significant changes to the city's approach to public safety, housing, and budget priorities. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find more about Jeanie Chunn at .
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Week in Review: May 30, 2025 - with Josh Cohen
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Josh Cohen discuss: 🏳️⚧️ “Protect Our Kids” anti-trans rally & counterprotests 📉 Every Seattle elected = negative approval 🏘️ Seattle's interim missing middle housing 🤦 Essential behavioral health facilities stymied As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find today’s co-host, Josh Cohen at .
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Eddie Lin Outlines Vision for Seattle City Council District 2
Hacks & Wonks
Eddie Lin, running for Seattle City Council in District 2, shares his stance on housing affordability, public safety, transportation, and more while emphasizing his government experience and commitment to community-driven solutions. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find Eddie Lin at .
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Week in Review: May 23, 2025 - with David Kroman
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and David Kroman discuss: 🖋️ Ferguson acts on state budget, parental bill of rights 🧊 Troubling ICE raids 🤓 Seattle Mayor race deep dive 🔔 Sara Nelson bellwether 🗳️ Other notable primary races ⛺️ Rushed Tent City 4 move As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find today’s co-host, David Kroman at .
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Today on the show, Executive Director of America Walks and former mayor of Seattle, Mike McGinn joins Crystal to discuss new Covid-19 vaccine mandates, planned walkouts by some workers in Seattle fizzling, rising gun violence and the conspicuous lack of analysis by the media and the mayor’s office, the knee-jerk desire for police presence when crime rises (in spite of it being ineffective), and the integration of Compassion Seattle into a certain mayoral campaign now that it’s off the November ballot.
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available below and at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Find the host, Crystal Fincher on Twitter at @finchfrii and find today’s co-host, Mike McGinn, at @mayormcginn. More info is available at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Resources:
"State employees union announces agreement with Inslee over vaccine mandate" by Joseph O'Sullivan https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article254009258.html
“Biden Lays Out Plan To Mandate Vaccines Or Testing For Millions Of Workers” by Alana Wise and Tamara Keith from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/
“‘Every hospital is quite full’ in Washington as delta variant of coronavirus spreads” by Elise Takahama from The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/
“‘Don’t have a clue’: It turns out Washington state set a murder record in 2020, but no one knows why” by Danny Westneat from The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/
“Sickout at Seattle City Light over COVID-19 vaccine mandate doesn’t materialize” by Daniel Beekman from The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/
“Unions warn of ‘mass exodus’ over city of Seattle vaccine mandate” by David Kroman from Crosscut: https://crosscut.com/news/
“Seattle’s arrest alternative, LEAD, moves beyond police” by David Kroman from Crosscut: https://crosscut.com/2020/07/
“‘Compassion Seattle’ Is Dead. Now What?” by Katie Wilson from Publicola: https://publicola.com/2021/09/
“Harrell Says He’ll Implement Key Provisions of ‘Compassion Seattle’ Measure, Clear Encampments” by Erica C. Barnett of Publicola: https://publicola.com/2021/09/
"Durkan Won’t Sign Crowd Control Weapons Bill, Raises Specter of Court Challenge" by Paul Kiefer https://publicola.com/2021/09/07/durkan-wont-sign-crowd-control-weapons-bill-raises-specter-of-court-challenge/
"Harrell Ducks Police Accountability Forum, Burgess Rides In to Attack González" by Doug Trumm https://www.theurbanist.org/category/politics-and-government/elections-and-endorsements/2021-election/
Transcript:
Transcript will be uploaded shortly.