Hacks & 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 officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on...

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 officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find the host...

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 a...

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  officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky a...

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 Li...

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss: 🤩 Katie Wilson elected mayor! 🌊 Progressive wave across region and state 👀 What to watch out for next 🏫 Role of Stranger school board endorsements ⚔️ Looking forward to legislative session   As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Fi...

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss: ⚾ Mariners! 💸 Seattle wastes homelessness money ⛔ SPOG undermining popular CARE team 🚫 Seattle School Board rejects cop at Garfield 🗳️ Use dropboxes to vote!   As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, o...

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Melissa Santos discuss: WA/CA/OR vaccine alliance Cell phones in schools Firefighter immigration raid = inside job Harrell pushes light rail extensions despite shortfall Autonomous vehicles pilot starts   As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find the host, Cryst...

Amy Sundberg, public safety reporter for The Urbanist and publisher of Notes from the Emerald City, joins Hacks & Wonks to discuss how Seattle's City Council is poised to expand the city's surveillance pilot program before collecting any evaluation data on its effectiveness, raising concerns among privacy advocates about potential federal access to the data amid heightened immigration enforcement....

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss: 🧊 Spokane blocks warrantless ICE action 🥡 $15m Uber Eats settlement 🛒 UFCW 3000 backs Wilson 🚲 Biker hit where safety upgrades were cancelled 🏫 School board updates 🪧 Protests against Microsoft use by IDF   As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @...

Hacks & Wonks hosted a 2025 Post-Primary Roundtable on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 to dig into the 2025 primary results - what they mean, how they happened, and what's next - with the people who actually do the work of winning (and sometimes losing) campaigns in Seattle and King County. Listen to the roundtable as a podcast or watch the recorded livestream on YouTube ! By bringing together a panel of...

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Erica Barnett discuss: ⛪ Christian nationalist rally moves to new park 🤑 Police execs take bonus meant for officers 🛡️ Trump admin targets sanctuary cities – 📮 -- and vote-by-mail 🕵️ Tacoma ICE facility must open for inspections   As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAn...

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and David Kroman discuss: 💰 Seattle B&O tax overhaul proposal 📉 Seattle budget forecast 👁️ Seattle surveillance expansion ⚖️ Tacoma minimum wage initiative sues city ⚔️ MGP challenger in CD3 🗳️ Election results update   As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find th...

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Josh Cohen discuss: ❤️‍🩹 A Hacks & Wonks update 🗳️ Primary election results! 👀 Seattle: Mayor, City Attorney, City Council seats 💵 Seattle Democracy Vouchers 🥊 King County: Executive, D5 Council seat 🤓 Takeaways   As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find t...

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss: 🙅 End of Denny Blaine nudity 🗳️ Urbanist endorsements 🧑‍🏫 Sea Public Schools news 🐀 Hot Rat Summer 📸 Seattle police cameras ❌ Harrell cancels safety upgrades 💸 Business pours $ in WA Senate races   As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAnd...

Seattle voters will decide in August whether to renew funding for the city's groundbreaking Democracy Voucher Program, the first and only system of its kind in the United States that gives residents public money to support local candidates of their choice. Proposition 1 on the August 5 primary ballot asks voters to approve a 10-year property tax levy to continue the program, which provides every e...

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Erica Barnett discuss: ⚖️ No Wilson charges 💬 Pro-Harrell message testing poll 🔄 Moore replacement 👑 Bills expand Davison/Police power 🔎 Ask to end consent decree 🤖 PC Sheriff gets bad advice from ChatGPT    As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find the hos...

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 officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find...

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 officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at @finchfrii and find Cla...

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 officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find the...

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 officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at @finchfrii and find Girmay Zahilay at @girmayzahilay .

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 officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Fi...

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 officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find...

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 officialhacksandwonks.com .   Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find t...

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 officialhacksandwonks.com . Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks . Find...