The Other Washington

The podcast for everyone who knows conventional wisdom stinks. The Other Washington is a Seattle-based podcast that takes a deep dive into a single policy issue each episode. Listen to venture capitalist Nick Hanauer and his team of political troublemakers explain and explore how policies work, how they don’t, and how conventional politics often gets in the way of implementing effective policies.

3:6 Three Progressive, Badass, Female Politicians: LIVE! 12/27/2017

3:6 Three Progressive, Badass, Female Politicians: LIVE! American national politics is screwed, but in the other Washington, we're electing badass, progressive women with fresh ideas. In our first ever live taping of The Other Washington podcast—and Season 3 Finale!—we interviewed newly sworn-in Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, and State Senator Manka Dhingra. All are women and first-time candidates and politicians. Listen as the whole Civic Ventures crew asks them about their experiences on the campaign trail, what policies they're excited to fight for, and how Washington state can continue to be a progressive beacon to the rest of the country. We talk with each individually and then for the first time ever all three sit down together and discuss the importance of this political moment. There's never been a better time to get involved in local politics. Join The Other Washington and Town Hall Seattle at Ballard’s Hale’s Ales Palladium for a night of political banter and dare we say…optimism! This episode of The Other Washington is brought to you by The Evergrey — the daily Seattle newsletter for people who want to make the most of their city. Sign up at This episode is also brought to you by Town Hall Seattle — check out their upcoming events at /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/6092368

3:5 Seattle's Affordable Housing Crisis 12/18/2017

3:5 Seattle's Affordable Housing Crisis In the Seattle region, we're grappling with too much growth and not enough housing—and we're not alone. Across the US, cities are trying to deal with this complex problem—with mixed results. Everyone agrees that something must be done about affordable housing, but the disagreements begin when we propose solutions. Is the market our saving grace? Or should the government simply create more public housing? Stephanie and Goldy explore this issue by speaking with a range of experts. Our guests include Charles Mudede, a politics, culture and economics writer; Dan Bertolet, a senior researcher at Sightline Institute; Gabe Grant, a principal at Spectrum; Laurie Inouye, Board Chair of the Tenants Union of Washington; Paul Purcell, President at Beacon Development Group; and Villette Nolon, Executive Director at Imagine Housing. This episode of The Other Washington is brought to you by The Evergrey — the daily Seattle newsletter for people who want to make the most of their city. Check out TheEvergrey.com /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/6057351

3:4 Universal Basic Income & Federally Guaranteed Jobs 12/08/2017

3:4 Universal Basic Income & Federally Guaranteed Jobs The Democratic Party suffered catastrophic losses in 2016, in part, because they failed to offer real economic solutions for average Americans. As progressives move forward, they're examining some bold new policies, including a universal basic income and a federally guaranteed jobs plan. Both policies provide more agency and offer more choice to the American worker—but they're implemented in drastically different ways. Oftentimes, these two policy ideas are portrayed as mutually exclusive. But is that a false choice? We speak with basic income advocate Scott Santens; Darrick Hamilton, an associate professor of economics and urban policy at The New School; Rakeen Mabud, Program Director of the Roosevelt Institute’s 21st Century Economy and Economic Inclusion programs; and Misha Werschkul, the Executive Director of the Washington State Budget & Policy Center. This episode of The Other Washington is brought to you by The Evergrey — the daily Seattle newsletter for people who want to make the most of their city. Sign up at . /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/6025776

3:3 Police Shootings: What Can Be Done? 11/30/2017

3:3 Police Shootings: What Can Be Done? We rarely include police shootings in the ongoing discussion about America's gun violence epidemic. Power dynamics and racial biases often create false choices that further isolate police shootings from the broader conversation. Stephanie and Dujie discuss the divide between community and police in interviews with Seattle Police Department Lieutenant Adrian Diaz, former King County Sheriff and current principal of Washington's Police Academy Sue Rahr, criminal justice reform activist Nikkita Oliver, and Community Passageways founder Dominique Davis. We wrap up the episode with De-escalate Washington campaign manager Riall Johnson, who offers a way out of this mess through one of our very favorite things -- collective action. Pitch in to support the campaign: This episode of The Other Washington is brought to you by The Evergrey — the daily Seattle newsletter for people who want to make the most of their city. Sign up at /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5996472

3:2 How Elites Influence What You Think About Economics 11/15/2017

3:2 How Elites Influence What You Think About Economics We all know that big money matters in politics, but do you realize that moneyed interests have also shaped the way we perceive the economy? Cass and Dujie talk with historians and journalists to discover the various strategies elites have employed to justify their disproportionate levels of wealth. Two self-identified elites, venture capitalist Nick Hanauer and author/activist Eric Liu, explain why citizens shouldn’t feel helpless in this moment of inequality. And they discuss the irony of using their power and to limit the influence of elites. This episode of The Other Washington is brought to you by The Evergrey — the daily Seattle newsletter for people who want to make the most of their city. Sign up at /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5949024

3:1 How Will Climate Change Alter the PNW? 11/08/2017

3:1 How Will Climate Change Alter the PNW? Climate change is a huge problem on a global scale, which makes it difficult to imagine the personal consequences. So we @ Civic Action narrowed our focus to Washington state. Annie and Cass talk to farmers, professors, and a member of the Swinomish tribe to learn the negative (and, yes, some positive) effects of climate change on the region. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5922510

How Will Climate Change Alter the PNW? 11/08/2017

How Will Climate Change Alter the PNW? Climate change is a huge problem on a global scale, which makes it difficult to imagine the personal consequences. So we @ Civic Action narrowed our focus to Washington state. Annie and Cass talk to farmers, professors, and a member of the Swinomish tribe to learn the negative (and, yes, some positive) effects of climate change on the region. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5922508

Season 3 Coming Soon 10/24/2017

Season 3 Coming Soon Season 3 of The Other Washington applies Seattle's outside-the-Beltway sensibility toward the huge political questions facing our nation, and our communities, today. From climate change to police violence to affordable housing and more, our team of troublemakers explores the biggest, most complicated issues of our time in search of unorthodox solutions. To help us, we talk with venture capitalist Nick Hanauer, Seattle mayoral candidate Nikkitta Oliver, and a wide array of professors, journalists, and policy experts. This new season of The Other Washington will be our most ambitious yet. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out! /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5873632

2:13 Interview with Rep. Pramila Jayapal 07/19/2017

2:13 Interview with Rep. Pramila Jayapal With Trumpcare dead (for now), we sit down with Rep. Pramila Jayapal to talk about the state of politics in Washington DC. We ask her about what it's like to be in the belly of the beast and how progressives are combatting the current administration with actual policy positions (or lack thereof). /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5555644

2:12 Addressing Homelessness in Seattle 07/14/2017

2:12 Addressing Homelessness in Seattle Homelessness is the worst, most extreme side effect of the historic economic inequality we face today. It’s a local and regional problem nearly everywhere, and it’s totally preventable. In this episode, we look at homelessness through the eyes of those experiencing it and those on the front line. Then we hear about solutions at city-, county- and state-level. Special thanks to Paul Lambros and the residents of Plymouth Housing for showing us around. Interviews: King County Executive Dow Constantine, Wash. State Rep. Nicole Macri (43-D), and Nick Hanauer. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5539506

2:11 Seattle's $15 Minimum Wage, Revisited 07/08/2017

2:11 Seattle's $15 Minimum Wage, Revisited It’s been three years since Seattle started down the road to an “insane” $15 minimum wage. So The Other Washington decided to check-in on how this labor regulation is affecting the larger economy. Two new studies, one from Berkeley and one from the University of Washington, reached very different conclusions and so we compare and contrast their findings. Ultimately, the studies don’t change this simple fact: Seattle’s economy is booming and the minimum wage hasn’t stopped the city from achieving a startling 2.6 percent unemployment rate---an all-time low. Guests include ice cream virtuoso Molly Moon and venture capitalist Nick Hanauer. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5517765

2:10 All Politics Is Local 07/01/2017

2:10 All Politics Is Local The Senate race for Washington State's 45th district is a big deal over here in the other Washington. If Democratic candidate Manka Dhingra wins, Democrats will regain control of the WA state legislature, laying the groundwork for a progressive future. Goldy and company ask Dhingra about the campaign, what issues she's focusing on, and how she differs from her opponent. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5497916

2:9 The Young and the (politically) Restless 06/22/2017

2:9 The Young and the (politically) Restless Ever since America lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, Democrats have struggled to bring young people to the ballot box. When more young folks vote, progressive causes and candidates win. So how do we encourage them to be full participants in democracy? Special guest star Toby Crittenden, until recently the executive director of political access organization the Washington Bus, explains how to win the hearts and minds of young voters. Political engagement is a lot more difficult than just slapping on a Rock the Vote t-shirt: turns out, Crittenden explains, "you can't fake the funk." /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5473338

2:8 Gun Responsibility Revisited 06/16/2017

2:8 Gun Responsibility Revisited Given this week's tragic shooting, we are re-airing last season's episode on gun responsibility. Unfortunately, much of what we talked about a year ago is still relevant today. So join us for a deep dive into the forefront of the gun responsibility movement and explore how Washington became the first state to pass universal background checks by popular vote. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5455031

2:7 The Median Is the Message with Tom Perez 06/08/2017

2:7 The Median Is the Message with Tom Perez The 2016 election made it clear that Democrats still lack a coherent economic message. Why can’t progressives offer a better explanation for how an economy works? To get some answers, Goldy interviewed the new DNC Chair, Tom Perez, while he was visiting Seattle last week. Nestled up in a hotel lobby, Perez provided a very compelling explanation for the party’s economic woes. With that conversation in mind, the Civic Ventures team discusses the Democratic Party’s many messaging opportunities in the years to come. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5431791

2:6 Trickle Down Trump 06/01/2017

2:6 Trickle Down Trump Donald Trump has unveiled his budget, and boy are we livid (particularly Goldy.) Tax cuts for the rich, increased military spending, and a weakened social safety...it's a trickle-down monstrosity through and through. In today's show, we talk with Nick Hanauer (a really rich guy who would benefit from this budget) about the moral and economic depravity of this budget. And Cass tries in vain to find one good policy in it. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5410481

2:5 Everything is an Economic Issue, Really 05/25/2017

2:5 Everything is an Economic Issue, Really Can we really separate social issues, like health care, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, and crime from economic issues, like poverty and wages? In today's show, we talk to , of the UW Evans School, about the need to link our societal woes directly to our economic policy. Links for today's show: Abortion is an Economic Issue Good Immigration Policy is good Economic Policy Why Paid Sick Leave is Feminist as Hell /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5389541

2:4 Why Do We Still Wait in Line to Vote? 05/18/2017

2:4 Why Do We Still Wait in Line to Vote? In the age of on-demand everything and apps so easy that both toddlers and Goldy can make them work, why do we still force people to take time off work, figure out a ride, and wait in line to vote? The simple answer: Because a lot of people don't want poor folks to do it. Investigative journalist Greg Palast talks to us about the income-based suppression of voting and how it impacts the larger economy. Plus, we talk about how Washington and Oregon are doing it right (hint: VOTE. BY. MAIL.) Find Greg Palast online: Read our Medium publication here: civicskunk.works Follow us on Twitter: @civicventures /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5367225

2:3 Bob Ferguson Knows What "Sanctuary City" Means 05/11/2017

2:3 Bob Ferguson Knows What "Sanctuary City" Means A whole lot of folks have opinions about "sanctuary cities"—what they are, what policies should be enforced, and what the role of immigrants may be in this much-touted melting pot. But what does it actually mean? We talk to Dujie, our colleague (who's currently in deportation hearings here in Welcoming Washington), and then Goldy makes Hanna jealous by interviewing AG BOB FERGUSON! /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5344766

2:2 Washington's Dirty Little Secret 05/03/2017

2:2 Washington's Dirty Little Secret While Trump tries to figure out how to package trickle-down taxes in a new, fancy way, we in the Other Washington have been trying to undo our very own upside-down mess. Yeah, we're pretty sure Paul Ryan would be head-over-heels with our tax structure (if he weren't so busy assuming we're all a bunch of crooked lefties). Thanks to Misha Werschkul for joining us on the pod today! You can find out more about the work that she's doing with the Washington Budget and Policy Center below. Links for more info: All In for Washington and their work on this important subject: The Washington Budget and Policy Center: Our blog: /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5324550

2:1 Thomas Frank 04/27/2017

2:1 Thomas Frank We're back—for real this time! The team kicks off Season 2 with an interview with Thomas Frank, author of Listen Liberal and Pity the Billionaire. You've heard a million reasons why the left are losing and what can be done, but until you've heard Frank's, well, Frank criticism, you really haven't heard the whole story. Ok, listen, liberally! /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/5304543

1:8 How the Economy Really Works 10/28/2016

1:8 How the Economy Really Works In the third presidential debate, Hillary Clinton made a great case for growing the economy from the middle out. But does economic theory back up her claims? Our founder Nick Hanauer and Eric Beinhocker of the Institute for New Economic Thinking explain a new way of understanding how an economy works, and the Civic Skunk Works crew speaks with political experts Felicia Wong and Zach Silk about the policy and electoral implications of middle-out economics. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/4783988

1:7 Everything You Know About Economics Is Wrong. 09/15/2016

1:7 Everything You Know About Economics Is Wrong. In this episode, we take a big-picture look at economics and question the unquestionable. What if we told you that was a bunch of BS? What if economics doesn’t reflect the complex reality of human behavior? Could it be that economics isn’t a science at all? We investigate these questions with economic thinkers Nick Hanauer, Eric Beinhocker of Institute for New Economic Thinking, Heather Boushey of Washington Center for Equitable Growth, former Reagan economic advisor Bruce Bartlett, and the team at Civic Skunk Works. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/4665725

1:6.5 Paid Sick Leave 08/22/2016

1:6.5 Paid Sick Leave The economic and social benefits of paid sick leave are widespread. In this episode, we look at this policy and what the Other Washington is doing to ensure that all Washingtonians have access to this basic labor right. Guests include WA State Rep. Jessyn Farrell and renowned food safety lawyer, Bill Marler. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/4604617

1:6 Raise Wages, Kill Jobs? 05/09/2016

1:6 Raise Wages, Kill Jobs? Raise wages, kill jobs? The team at Civic Skunk Works investigates this talking point and hears from experts about a new study which upends this repeated trickle-down claim. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/4558632

1:5 Secure Scheduling 03/24/2016

1:5 Secure Scheduling Scheduling practices today are appalling. Employees are given schedules which make it impossible to plan for the most basic elements of daily life. Seattle has already led the nation on the $15 minimum wage; now learn how it's leading the fight to protect a worker’s right to secure scheduling. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/4558633

1:4 Gig Economy 02/25/2016

1:4 Gig Economy With more and more Americans moving from traditional jobs to freelance and part-time work, the so called "gig economy" is changing the very nature of employment. How will the middle class survive the loss of benefits and security? A new social contract - a "Shared Security System" - is one possible answer. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/4558634

1:3 Robots & Automation 02/03/2016

1:3 Robots & Automation In this episode, we explore what the future holds for the US economy, and whether you need to prepare for the coming robot apocalypse. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/4558635

1:2 Gun Responsibility 02/03/2016

1:2 Gun Responsibility Join us for a deep dive into the forefront of the gun responsibility movement and explore how Washington became the first state to pass universal background checks by popular vote. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/4558636

1:1 Minimum Wage 02/03/2016

1:1 Minimum Wage When Nick Hanauer first brought up the idea of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, many (including Forbes magazine)called his theory insane. In this episode, we talk with civic leaders about the adoption of Seattle’s revolutionary $15 minimum wage and why this (not-so) crazy idea has spread across the country. /episode/index/show/otherwashington/id/4558637

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