The IMPACT

A detailed budget breakdown highlighting various 2025 spending plans and the proposed tax increases within them.

State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti weighs in on state reserves and federal policies that impact Washington finances.

Highlights from state probes into the huge number of uninspected eggs for sale, overlapping agency employment, and multi-state Medicaid enrollment. Guest. State Auditor Pat McCarthy

A look at signature verification challenges and election related legislation in 2025. Features Q&A with Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.

An update on the massive effort to address invalidated convictions stemming from the 2021 Blake decision that overturned Washington's drug possession law. Guests: Chris Stanley, Administrative Office of the Courts and Brittany North, Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office

An in-depth look at the proposed road usage charge to tax drivers by the mile, pitched as an eventual fuel tax replacement. Interviews with bill sponsor and Democratic House Transportation Committee Chair, Rep. Jake Fey and Ranking Republican Member on the Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Curtis King.

Mark McKechnie of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and Anthony Anton of the Washington Hospitality Association weigh in on a bill to lower the legal blood alcohol limit for drunk driving to .05% in Washington.

A discussion of HB 1380, a proposed state law that would hold cities and counties to a new standard when enforcing anti-encampment ordinances. Featuring interviews with bill sponsor, Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-SeaTac) and bill opponent Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen (R-Puyallup).

Welcome to North Cove, Washington, a small coastal town battling the most extreme erosion on the West Coast. For more than a century, this area has been losing an average of 100 feet of beach per year. House after house toppled into the ocean until just a few years ago, when the community mounted a stunning comeback.  What started as a grassroots, last-ditch effort to save "Washaway Beach"  could...

A deeper dive into the debate over logging pre-WWII stands of trees on state trust lands —sometimes called Legacy Forests— and the implications for trust beneficiaries and the environment.  Guests: Rachel Baker, Washington Conservation Action and Paul Jewell, Washington State Association of Counties

A look at the debate over rent stabilization and an overview of legislation that would limit rent increases to 7% per year. Segment includes a panel discussion with Chester Baldwin representing the Rental Housing Association of Washington and Kraig Peck, a rental property investor based in Bothell.

From logging to habitat conservation, revenue, and wildfire — state forests are under new management. Hear what Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove has in store for DNR this week on The Impact.

Impact host Mike McClanahan sits down with OSPI Chris Reykdal to talk about his legislative agenda and a range of K-12 topics, from school funding to student achievement and the office of OSPI itself. We also highlight Governor Bob Ferguson's first three executive orders.

Part 2 of The Impact's business and labor series covers union headlines from 2024 and labor priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session. Guests: April Sims, President of the Washington State Labor Council and Danielle Alvarado, Executive Director of Working Washington.

A look at the key issues facing Washington business leaders heading into 2025.

An undercover special agent for the WA State Gambling Commission joins the head of the Washington State Animal Fighting Task Force to offer an inside look at efforts to break up illegal gambling operations centered around animal fighting. 

What will the 2025 Legislative Session look like based on this year's elections? A press panel highlights the issues to watch next year. Guests: Laurel Demkovich of the Washington State Standard and Paul Queary of The Washington Observer.

Professional political consultants break down the early returns from the 2024 election and what they could mean for the balance of power in Olympia. Guests: Sandeep Kaushik, Sound View Strategies and Justin Matheson, Axiom Strategies

This award-winning news program with host Mike McClanahan provides an up-close look at how government decisions in Olympia impact your daily life.

The Impact hosted a panel interview focused on Initiative 2066 to ban restrictions on natural gas service, featuring initiative supporter and BIAW Executive Vice President Greg Lane and No on I-2066 campaign representative Leah Missik, Washington Deputy Director of Climate Solutions.

An overview and panel discussion of Initiative 2117 would outlaw state imposed cap-and-trade policies to regulate carbon emissions. Panelists: I-2117 supporter Todd Myers, Vice President for Research at the Washington Policy Center and I-2117 opponent, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, Democratic House Majority Leader.

This award-winning news program with host Mike McClanahan provides an up-close look at how government decisions in Olympia impact your daily life.

State Commissioner of Public Lands candidates Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dave Upthegrove.

This week we look at the debate over I-2124, the initiative to allow anyone to opt-out of the state's mandatory long-term care insurance program, WA Cares. Guests: I-2124 supporter Rep. Chris Corry and I-2124 opponent Rep. Nicole Macri.

Filing consumer protection lawsuits, defending state laws, and writing legal opinions for state officials or local prosecutors are a few of the duties of the Washington Attorney General. 2024 AG candidates Nick Brown and Pete Serrano joined host Mike McClanahan on The Impact for a panel interview covering a range of topics including their priorities and signature issues.