City Cast Seattle

Jane and producer Sam were on the ground for Sound Transit’s Crosslake Connection media preview, and they reported back on what it was like to take the light rail over the water, plus all the details on when it’s open to the public. EP Ashley joins to chat about whether the AI bubble is about to burst amid the latest Meta layoffs. Plus, everything we’re doing this weekend. Learn more about the  sp...

Today, Jane is joined by UW Professor of Law and Politics Brie McLemore to discuss the role of surveillance in our city, and how effective cameras can be at decreasing violent crime. Then Jane is joined by contributor Chase Hutchinson and producer Liam Billingham to discuss some of the latest headlines, including renaming Cesar Chavez Park, the potential return of the Sonics, and the potential cha...

Today on City Cast Seattle, we’ve got an out-of-towner on the show! City Cast CEO (and host of Your City Could Be Better) David Plotz asks Jane and Ashley all the “dumb” questions he has about Seattle, and they try to give him some not-so-dumb answers. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 25th episode Window Nation Town Hall Seattle Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instag...

Today, Jane is joined by contributors Hannah Krieg and Eula Scott Bynoe to give listeners the latest information on ICE being sent to airports across the country. They explain why SEA’s regular wait times so far mean ICE will not be sent to SEA and why it has become harder to differentiate ICE from other law enforcement actions. Then Eula and Jane break down the Dick’s class action lawsuit filing,...

Today, Jane is joined by contributor Brett Hamil and music journalist Martin Douglas to discuss the news that Mayor Katie Wilson has decided to stop the expansion of surveillance cameras in Seattle while keeping some on. They also talk about the news that Lime scooters are going to chirp at their drivers when they’re riding on the sidewalk. Finally, they discuss Martin’s piece for Bandcamp Daily a...

The unionization efforts of sex workers in Nevada might have implications for gig workers in Seattle. At Sheri's Ranch, a legal brothel 45 minutes outside Las Vegas, some of the workers are seeking both recognition as employees and union representation. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with former City Cast Las Vegas podcast host, current contributor, and longtime Nevada attorney Dayvid Figler abou...

Today, Jane is joined by contributor Marcus Harrison Green and social media maven Ben Keenan to discuss the somber news that Seattle Police have arrested a 15-year-old suspect in the January shooting deaths of Rainier High School students Tyjon Stewart and Tra'Veiah Houfmuse. The three talk about the shared community failure when a shooting is committed by a 15-year-old and how to invest in our co...

Today, Jane is joined by bus driver, filmmaker, and writer Nathan Vass about how driving a bus in Seattle makes him feel connected to his community and the ways it informs his art. Then she is joined by Ashley and Liam to talk about the latest on Amazon’s 1-hour delivery, as well as the lawsuits Amazon is facing from Microsoft related to its use of OpenAI. Also, Elon Musk is suing OpenAI. The girl...

Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by contributor Chase Hutchinson and producer Sam to discuss the people who door-knocked for Mayor Katie Wilson, now campaigning for her to turn off CCTV cameras. They also get into the data retention law passed this legislative session and council member Alexis Mercedes-Rinck’s proposal for a mandatory 60-day pause on automated license plate recognition (ALPR)...

Jane is joined by Ryan Packer of The Urbanist and City Cast executive producer Ashley Smith on the first day of Transit Appreciation Week to talk all about the ways we could expand our ferries and light rail. First, they discuss the news that Sound Transit has announced plans to lower the cost of its West Seattle Expansion. Then they talk about the drama around a bill that would have made it easie...

Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by contributor Hannah Krieg and producer Sam to discuss the end of the legislative session. They get into the walk back of last year’s estate tax and why some democrats opposed the millionaires tax. All three share some of the bills they’re excited to see pass, as well as the ones they were sad to see die. Then, it’s been 6 years since the COVID lockdown. They...

Seattleites are concerned about police accountability, especially with the increased presence of federal troops in many cities. DC Council in Washington recently passed emergency legislation requiring local police to release body-worn camera footage of incidents involving federal forces they patrol with, and to collect the names of federal officers who make arrests. It’s a big shift in local polic...

Today on the show, Jane and Marcus Harrison Green are joined by music journalist and fiddle player Devon Leger to hear about the best spots to hear some Irish music this weekend and on St. Patrick’s Day. After, Jane and Marcus speak with writer and podcaster Sarah Stuteville to talk about why, as a leftist who spent her life not having anything to do with guns, she decided to buy her own gun, and...

Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by contributor Chase Hutchinson and Seattle Times arts economy reporter Margo Vansynghel to discuss the record-setting, 25-hour debate that led up to the passage of the ‘Millionaires Tax’ through the Washington House. The three talk about the legal challenges the tax might face due to a 1933 WA Supreme Court case. Then Jane talks through Mayor Wilson’s announce...

Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by her two dads, Brett Hamil and Creative Producer Liam Billingham, to talk about the social housing initiative and its mascot ‘Housey’. They also talk about the entrance of Hannah Sabio-Howell and Ron Davis into the race for the 43rd and 46th districts, respectively. Finally, they take a trip to Jane’s History Corner (™), where they learn about Blake Island an...

Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by producer Sam J. Leeds and Seattle journalist Aimee Rawlins to discuss the Oat Mafia – Aimee’s coverage of the farmers trying to bring oat farming back to the US and the role Seattle played in introducing oat milk to the world. Then, we break down the drama playing out as Wayward Vegan Cafe drops the “vegan” and starts serving chicken, eggs, and cheese. Ever...

Today on the show Jane and Ashley are joined by journalist Susan Shain to discuss the dismal snow season here in the PNW, and why the future of snow looks somewhat bleak. Then Jane and Ashley are joined by regular contributor and Seattle native Eula Scott Bynoe to discuss the news that British Columbia is adopting permanent daylight saving time and whether we should too. Finally, Ashley rants abou...

Homelessness is one of the major issues that cities like Seattle are trying to solve. The state of Utah is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one tha...

Today on the show, Jane is joined by contributors Marcus Harrison Green and Lex Vaughn to break down what the recently released Wilson Transition Team report tells them about our city’s political focus. Then they get into what’s missing from the report – hint, it has to do with local journalism. And they discuss Katie Wilson’s previous proposal of a news voucher program, which would be similar to...

Today on the show, Jane is joined by contributor Chase Hutchinson and Producer Liam Billingham to discuss the fact that Seattle was ranked the #1 most livable city in the U.S. by entertainment platform JB. They also give Liam recs about where to see the soon-to-bloom flowers around the PNW, and they close with their usual segment, Cut To The Chase, where Chase tells us about the latest arts and cu...

Today on the show, Jane is joined by contributor Brett Hamil and guest Gordon Padelford from Seattle Neighborhood Greenways to discuss the city’s goal to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030. Gordon weighs in on why that goal is going poorly and what communities can do to change this preventable trend. Then producer Sam joins Brett and Jane to talk about new data showing...

Today on the show, Jane is joined by contributor Hannah Krieg and Executive Producer Ashley Smith to discuss the PNW’s continuing response to potential ICE expansion. They talk about ways people are protesting the Sabey corporation, who are allegedly renting office space to ICE in Tukwila. They also talk about the recent news that Amazon’s workforce in Seattle has shrunk and what that could mean f...

Today on the show, Jane is joined by the whole team (executive producer Ashley Smith, social media prince Ben Keenan, and producers Liam Billingham and Sam J Leeds) to share our team recommendations for March. From cultural festivals and jam nights to Free Museum Day and Oscars Watch Parties, there’s a lot to choose from. Learn more about the  sponsors of this March 2nd episode Ignite Seattle Wind...

A lot of cities, including Seattle, are trying to figure out how best to revitalize downtown. It's an issue that's especially top of mind for Pittsburgh, who is hosting the NFL Draft in April. To solve the problem of vacant properties and empty storefronts, the city is trying out a new rent abatement program. So, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Pittsburgh podcast host Megan Harris a...

Jane and producer Sam are joined by contributor Marcus Harrison Green to discuss what’s going on with Bill Gates and the Epstein files and how Seattle should handle Gates’ monetary influence on our city. Then, Sam walks Jane and Marcus through the history of King County’s name on its 40th anniversary– from bearing the name of a slaveholder to being named after one of our country’s most famous civi...