Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss: 😡 WA still providing driver data to federal immigration agents 🌱 New Seattle electeds inaugurated 🤨 SPOG misleads on drug policy 🥳 Mike Solan out as SPOG president 🪓 Bob Ferguson proposes an income tax – and huge austerity 💸 Inslee criticizes Ferguson’s raid on climate funding 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 .
info_outlineHacks & Wonks
As Washington state braces for devastating federal budget cuts, State Representative Shaun Scott is leading a progressive revenue effort he says could protect critical services from austerity measures contained in the Trump administration’s proposed budget. 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 Representative Shaun Scott at .
info_outlineHacks & Wonks
Washington State Representative Chipalo Street is entering the upcoming 2026 legislative session with an ambitious agenda that includes fixing structural problems in juvenile rehabilitation, reforming the state's regressive tax system, and protecting residents from federal overreach. 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 Representative Chipalo Street at .
info_outlineHacks & Wonks
The Transit Riders Union faces a transformation as its longtime leader prepares to become Seattle's mayor. For over a decade, the grassroots organization has built power for working people across King County. With Katie Wilson headed to City Hall, TRU is navigating a leadership transition while positioning itself to push an ambitious agenda. Wes Mills, TRU's new General Secretary, discussed how the organization is adapting and what comes next. 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 , find Wes...
info_outlineHacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Shauna Sowersby discuss: 🌊 Historic flooding across WA 🛡️ Protecting workers from immigration raids ⚔️ Legislature’s public records fight continues 📉 County plans for Trump homelessness changes 💸 New SPOG contract = bad deal for Seattle 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, Shauna Sowersby at .
info_outlineHacks & Wonks
Seattle's creative economy drives 18% of city GDP but artists can't afford to live here. Randy Engstrom, co-leading Mayor-Elect Wilson's arts transition team, argues culture must be central to solving housing, education, and economic challenges - not treated as expendable when budgets get tight. 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 Randy Engstrom on LinkedIn at .
info_outlineHacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and David Kroman discuss: ✂️ Ferguson budget relies on cuts 🧑⚖️ Trump sues WA 🏢 Affordable housing bailout 🔮 Significance of Wilson hires ✋ Eddie Lin sworn into Council 🚈 Light rail arrives in South King Co! 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 .
info_outlineHacks & Wonks
Senator Rebecca Saldaña is preparing for her 10th year representing South Seattle's 37th Legislative District with plans to address healthcare access, immigration protections, and Washington's budget shortfall. In a recent interview on the Hacks & Wonks podcast, Saldaña outlined her priorities for the January legislative session. She said her work remains grounded in the experiences of immigrant and refugee families, working people, LGBTQ residents, and those fighting displacement in her district. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky...
info_outlineHacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Erica Barnett discuss: ▶️ Mayor-elect Katie Wilson's transition ▶️ KC Exec Zahilay's staff review ▶️ Council hands a budget of Harrell's priorities to Wilson ▶️ Pipeline spill raises safety concerns ▶️ Is ICE using local surveillance in WA? 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 .
info_outlineHacks & Wonks
Washington state's 2025 elections saw progressives win across multiple cities and legislative districts, with people-powered campaigns and bold ideas beating out establishment moderates. Listen in to the Hacks & Wonks 2025 Post-Election Roundtable from Tuesday, November 11, 2025, as the strategists who saw it coming explain what pundits missed! Panelists: Stephen Paolini, Principal at Bottled Lightning Collective Lexi Koren, Communications Consultant with PowerHouse Strategic Crystal Fincher, Executive Director of KVRU and Hacks & Wonks Host As always, a full text...
info_outlineToday on the show, Marco Lowe, Professor at Seattle University’s Institute for Public Service, joins Crystal to discuss the extension of the eviction moratorium, the vital importance of keeping people housed, the departure of Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff, City Council candidate Sara Nelson caught in a lie regarding laying off workers at Fremont Brewing, new polling in the Seattle mayoral elections, the increasing impact of climate disasters, and developments in the carpenters’ union strike in our state.
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, Marco Lowe, at @MarcoLowe. More info is available at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Resources
“Seattle eviction moratorium extended into 2022” by Katie Campbell, Dyer Oxley, and Angela King from KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-eviction-moratorium-extended-into-2022
“King County Scrambling to Distribute Rent Assistance as Eviction Crisis Looms” by Doug Trumm from The Urbanist: https://www.theurbanist.org/2021/09/23/peter-rogoff-departing-sound-transit-leadership-in-2022/
“Peter Rogoff Departing Sound Transit Leadership in Early 2022” by Stephen Fesler from The Urbanist: https://www.theurbanist.org/2021/09/23/peter-rogoff-departing-sound-transit-leadership-in-2022/
“A $550-per-hour coach is helping Sound Transit’s chief get along with his employees” by Mike Lindblom from The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/a-550-per-hour-coach-is-helping-sound-transits-chief-get-along-with-his-employees/
“Sara Nelson Said Fremont Brewing Didn’t Lay Off Anyone During the Pandemic. Unfortunately, That’s Not True.” by Rich Smith from The Stranger: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2021/09/17/61269041/sara-nelson-said-fremont-brewing-didnt-lay-off-anyone-during-the-pandemic-unfortunately-thats-not-true
Crosscut-Elway Poll for the 2021 Seattle General Election: https://crosscut.com/sites/default/files/files/crosscutelway_0921.pdf
“New Poll Shows Harrell’s GOP Donors, Response to Murray Rape Accusations Could Drive Voters to González” by Rich Smith from The Stranger: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2021/09/20/61276092/poll-shows-harrells-gop-donors-response-to-murray-rape-accusations-could-drive-voters-to-gonzalez
González campaign internal polling: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MMyriegbmkvCj8ePRLa0hKiY7rx0CyH9/view
“Early Polling Indicates Tight Mayoral Race, Potent Lines of Attack Against Harrell” by Doug Trumm from The Urbanist: https://www.theurbanist.org/2021/09/22/early-polling-indicates-tight-mayoral-race-potent-lines-of-attack-against-harrell/
“Weather Disasters Have Become 5 Times As Common, Thanks In Part To Climate Change” by Eric McDaniel from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/07/1034607602/weather-disasters-have-become-five-times-as-common-thanks-in-part-to-climate-cha
“The Greatest Killer in New Orleans Wasn’t the Hurricane. It Was the Heat.” by Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Katy Reckdahl from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/15/us/new-orleans-hurricane-ida-heat.html
“Carpenters union pauses picketing in Seattle after wildcat strikes, dispute with Kshama Sawant” by Heidi Groover from The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/carpenters-union-to-pause-picketing-in-seattle-after-wildcat-strikes-dispute-with-kshama-sawant/
“Concerns about safety and legal action grow as carpenter strike ends first week” by Lilly Ana Fowler from KNKX: https://www.knkx.org/2021-09-24/concerns-about-safety-and-legal-action-grow-as-carpenter-strike-ends-first-week
Joe Mizrahi Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/Joe_Miz/status/1441250734150803474
Transcript:
A transcript will be uploaded as soon as possible.