Inside Olympia

Austin Jenkins goes in-depth with Dept. of Commerce Director Lisa Brown on the eviction moratorium, broadband expansion, aerospace and more.

In-depth interviews with two of Washington's statewide elected officials: Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, and Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler.

In the second of a two-part series, we get perspectives from law enforcement organizations on policing bills passed by the 2021 Legislature. Guests: Criminal Justice Training Commission Interim Executive Director Monica Alexander, and WA Fraternal Order of Police Vice President James Schrimpsher.

Police reform legislation was one of the most high-profile and contentious issues of the 2021 legislative session. We discuss with Democratic State Rep. Jesse Johnson of Federal Way and Republican State Sen. Mike Padden of Spokane.

We dig into the Supreme Court's "Blake" decision decriminalizing drug possession, and the Legislature's response. Guests: Sens. Manka Dhingra and Ron Muzzall, Reps. Lauren Davis and Gina Mosbrucker.

Majority Democrats and minority Republicans offer starkly different reviews of the 2021 legislative session. We sit down with Democratic House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, Senate Democrat Majority Leader Andy Billig, Senate Republican Leader John Braun, and House Republican Leader JT Wilcox.

Rep. Melanie Morgan, chair of the Members of Color Caucus, on Democrats' focus on equity in the 2021 Legislature. Plus, first-term state Reps. David Hackney and April Berg.

We go in-depth with Steve Sinclair, who is retiring as secretary of the Washington Department of Corrections. Plus, Joanna Carns, the director of the state's recently created Office of Corrections Ombuds.

This week on Inside Olympia we talk with two first-term Republican representatives, Peter Abbarno of Centralia and Mark Klicker of Walla Walla.

It's budget time at the State Legislature, as lawmakers look to approve three state budgets: operating, capital, and transportation. This week we cover two of the three: we go into the details of the state operating budget with Senate budget leads Christine Rolfes and Lynda Wilson, and talk about the capital or construction budget with State Reps. Steve Tharinger and Mike Steele.

We discuss adult and juvenile criminal justice with Senators Jeannie Darneille and Chris Gildon. Plus, an interview with first-term State Representative Tarra Simmons, who went from incarcerated felon to law student to attorney to the State Legislature.

We talk with UW Associate Professor Kate Starbird about her research on the spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media. Plus, Senators Lisa Wellman and Brad Hawkins discuss school challenges during COVID, including learning loss, and what the 2021 Legislature is doing to help public schools.

We go in depth with Sens. June Robinson and Ann Rivers on foundational public health; plus, Capitol journalists Joe O'Sullivan of The Seattle Times and Sara Gentzler of McClatchy newspapers recap the 2021 Legislature at its halfway point.

He moved from Texas and took the reins of the state's Department of Health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: meet Washington's new Health Secretary, Dr. Umair Shah. Plus, we continue our interviews with first-term lawmakers -- this week, two Republicans new to the Legislature: Sen. Jeff Wilson of Longview and Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen of Puyallup.

Host Austin Jenkins discusses the past and future of policing with Sue Rahr who is the outgoing executive director of the Criminal Justice Training Commission. Also Austin sits down with freshman legislator state representative Jamila Taylor of Federal Way.

Washington's new Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck served 8 years in Congress, and before that founded TVW the state's version of C-SPAN, was chief of staff to Governor Booth Gardner, and was speaker of the State House. We discuss his goals and priorities as lieutenant governor, plus look back at his years in Congress and the political discourse in Washington, D.C. New Washington State Treasurer Mike...

Majority Democrats in Olympia are proposing a capital gains tax to fund an expansion of child care. We debate those proposals with Reps. Tana Senn and Tom Dent. Plus, in the social media era, is it time for students to be taught media literacy and digital citizenship? We talk with two senators who have a bill to do just that: Sens. Marko Liias and Shelly Short.

We talk policing reform and accountability with House Public Safety Chair Roger Goodman and the ranking Republican on the committee, Rep. Gina Mosbrucker. Plus, an interview with pollster Stuart Elway, whose latest statewide poll reveals deep political differences among Washingtonians.

We talk with Senate Republicans' new lead on the state budget, Sen. Lynda Wilson of Vancouver. Plus, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal on reopening schools during COVID, and education policy in the 2021 Legislature.

Jan. 21, 2021 – The Senate's Special Committee on Economic Recovery, which met throughout the summer and fall, just released its COVID recovery plan -- we discuss the plan with Senators David Frockt and Shelly Short. Plus, we sit down with Senate Ways & Means Chair Christine Rolfes about the state budget, spending and proposals for new taxes.

Jan. 14, 2021 – With the kickoff of the 2021 Washington State Legislature, host Austin Jenkins sits down with two legislative caucus leaders: House Republican Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, and Senate Democratic Majority Leader Andy Billig.