City Cast Seattle

Democrats control the House, Senate, and Governorship in Washington now, and that could spell doom for data centers. Today on the show, interim host Liam Billingham is joined by Drey Wang Gosselin and contributor Chase Hutchinson to unpack the opposition to data centers and what their fate might be when the state legislature reconvenes. Plus, we talk about why workers are picketing at the National...

Despite the blue wave shifting much of the country’s representation in last week’s midterms, Washington State, along with several other states, voted to ban trans girls from participating in K-12 girl’s sports. Today on the show, interim host Liam Billingham speaks with the Director at Gender Justice League, Danni Askini, and producer Sam J. Leeds to break down what’s ahead in the legal fight agai...

Hannah Krieg from The Burner and Amy Sundberg from The Urbanist join us to discuss Mayor Wilson’s search for a new police chief and history of public distrust in the SPD, as well as the uphill battle ahead of Washington Democrats despite the “blue wave” supermajority. Then, we’ve got a midweek medley to break down top headlines: McDonald’s potentially moving into the Chinatown-International Distri...

Today on the show, interim host Liam Billingham and producer Sam J. Leeds discuss the messages we’ve received from you, our listeners. They get into updates on the RV ban veto, the SIFF union, and the best record stores and croissants in Seattle. Then, Liam speaks with Simren Kaur Rai and Fatema Boxwala about the history behind Washington’s role as one of the breadbaskets of the world, the new kin...

As election week wraps up, Washingtonians are anxiously anticipating what comes next. Seattle-based journalists Harry Cheadle and Guy Oron join interim host Liam Billingham for the latest updates on key races, controversial initiatives, and top election news stories. Then, we cover developments in the RV legislation journey and where City Council members stand on Mayor Wilson’s partial veto. We wr...

The morning after a seismic election night, interim host Liam Billingham, contributor Chase Hutchinson and guest Diana Oppong make sense of what happened in Washington State — from Jaelynn Scott's historic win as the country's first out Black trans state lawmaker in the country to the unclear outcome for a ballot initiative targeting transgender student athletes. Then Liam, Chase and Diana dig int...

On Election Day — and our one-year anniversary at City Cast Seattle — interim host Liam Billingham and contributors Brett Hamil and Eula Scott Bynoe dig into voter fraud claims, Mayor Wilson's first veto of council member Strauss’ RV permit bill, Seattle's essential restaurants, and whether the rest of us should have access to university swimming pools. If you love the show, leave us a birthday re...

Happy Election Day, Seattle! Today we’re joined by contributor Hannah Krieg and Seattle Times business reporter Alex Halverson to discuss our election predictions, the initiatives and candidates we’re closely watching, and Hannah’s piece on Democratic candidates funded by the controversial Sabey Corporation. Then, we break down what’s happening in tech — from AI and job security to Amazon’s bold c...

Today on the show, interim host Liam Billingham speaks with Angelina Godoy from the UW Center for Human Rights and Guillermo Rivera from East Side For All about the ongoing pathways through which driver and vehicle data held by the state Department of Motor Vehicles is accessed by federal immigration enforcement agencies. Then Liam is joined by contributor Adam Willems from CHUM News and producer...

Welcome to November…almost! We’re sending you off into Halloween weekend with your newest Seattle monthly guide, featuring Contributor and Editor of PubliCola Erica C. Barnett, Creative Producer Sam J. Leeds, Executive Producer Ashley Smith, and Interim Host Liam Billingham. This month we’re looking forward to watching great movies, cooking soup, eating at new restaurants, avoiding awkward convers...

King County Metro wants to replace Route 7 with a Rapid Ride called the R Line. This change has created a lot of controversy because it would eliminate up to 36 bus stops. Contributor Ryan Packer from The Urbanist and Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero from the South Seattle Emerald join Liam to discuss. Then, where does the optimism for Ballard Light Rail come from? That’s what Executive Producer Ashley Sm...

The most progressive district in Washington could get an extra nudge to the left if Hannah Sabio-Howell replaces a 20-year incumbent in the State Senate. In today’s interview, we discuss what makes District 43 unique, the story behind Sabio-Howell’s “on your left” campaign slogan, and how her team hopes to “move the center of gravity of the Democratic Party” in Washington and beyond. Then, we’re j...

Today on the podcast, interim host Liam Billingham is joined by guests Anna Griffin, Pacific Northwest bureau chief for The New York Times, and Joe Mizrahi, D4 School Board Member-At-Large, to dig into the three initiatives on the Washington ballot this election season and the Redmond-based millionaire bankrolling them. The three discuss Anna’s profile of millionaire Brian Heywood to better unders...

Today on the podcast, interim host Liam Billingham is joined by Kelabe Tewolde and Jaelynn Scott, candidates for House Position 1 and 2 in Seattle’s 37th District, to discuss the uniqueness of the 37th, why they want to represent it, and what are the biggest issues facing the area. They discuss how education can be a way to reduce crime, bringing down the cost of childcare and housing, how to prot...

City Cast Partner Studios presents Weaving Our Future: Stories for a Fair Economy, a five-part series on what a fair economy looks like in King County, told through the people building it. Celeste Levy, Communications Coordinator at the Statewide Poverty Action Network, and Danielle Palmer Friedman, Communications Lead at the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, join Jane C. Hu on this e...

Happy Monday! We’re jumping on the feed real quick to let you know we’re taking this week off from the podcast to plan our next steps as we look for a new host. But don’t worry: you can still read the newsletter, check us out on Instagram or TikTok, and even listen to some bonus segments (if you’re a neighbor, that is). We’ll see you again with a brand new episode a week from today, October 26. Ha...

Today on the podcast, interim host Liam Billingham is joined by the Urbanist’s Amy Sundberg and activist Maria Abando to help Seattle understand the difference between CCTV, ALPR, SDOT, and private cameras like Ring.  They also get into why Seattle residents should be concerned about the scope of surveillance in the city. Then Liam is joined by regular contributors Erica C. Barnett of PubliCo...

Between an aging fleet and the recent sickout drawing attention to pay disparities, the Washington State Ferry system runs on a razor's edge. Fill-in host Liam Billingham asks contributors Hannah Krieg and Chase Hutchinson what’s happened since 119 ferry workers requested sick leave on the same day, and if the state is taking our ferry system seriously enough. Then, Hannah breaks down her reportin...

Next week, City Council will vote on a proposed $5 million assistance program for vehicle residents. Why is this legislation drawing criticism from groups like the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness? We sat down with Dee Williams, a former vehicle resident, to understand the pushback. Then, contributor Brett Hamil joins Liam and Ashley to discuss a right-wing influencer’s attempts to “e...

Ana Gaeta, Communications Manager at the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, and Deric Gruen, Lab Leader at People's Economy Lab, join City Cast Seattle Host Jane C. Hu on this final episode of Weaving Our Future: Stories for a Fair Economy to talk about what real dignity and real power look like for workers in King County. They dig into what happens when the Workforce Developmen...

Today on the podcast, we revisit a conversation Jane had earlier this year with celebrity chef, author, and Seattleite Kenji López-Alt. They talk about Seattle’s food scene, Kenji’s version of a girl dinner, what to feed picky kids, and lots more. Then Jane, creative producer Sam, and executive producer Ashley review two so-called “historic” American Girl dolls who hail from Seattle… in 1999. If y...

Today, Jane C. Hu hosts her last episode of City Cast Seattle (unless we can drag her back). She speaks with Madison Jones of Seattle Gay News about the concerning news that the Seattle LGBTQ+ Center has been ordered to send HIV/STI blood samples to a facility in Texas as part of a cost-saving measure, according to the Washington Department of Health. Madison explains why giving data to a state li...

A team of UW researchers is developing vaccines that could prevent opioid overdoses by blocking the drug from reaching the brain. Host Jane C. Hu sits down with researcher Marco Pravetoni to discuss a future where anyone at risk of being exposed to opioids could simply take a yearly shot. Then, Jane is joined by Kika Westoff, co-owner of new local deli Friends of Carmela, and local sandwich queen...

Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by Stan Shikuma, co-chair of Tsuru for Solidarity’s leadership council, organizer, and a descendant of Poston and Tule Lake Concentration Camps, to discuss their upcoming Free Families Pilgrimage, a 48-mile walk across Puget Sound calling for an end to family and child detention. Then, Jane is joined (for the last time 😞) by contributors Brett Hamil and Chase...

After the Pike Place Market pilot, a new car-free experiment will be taking place on University Ave. Host Jane C. Hu talks to urbanist organizer L. Harrison Jerome about what they hope to accomplish by shutting down the street to cars. Then, Jane is joined by contributors Hannah Krieg and Ryan Packer to discuss the Washington State Ferry engineers' ask for better pay by coordinating a mass call ou...