Washington in Focus

In today’s episode of Washington In Focus Daily, multiple major policy issues collide — from rising retail theft to controversial tax hikes and a last-minute veto drawing backlash. Governor Bob Ferguson’s decision to veto $500,000 in funding for an organized retail theft task force is raising concerns among lawmakers and industry leaders, especially as reports show Washington is among the hardest-...

A major legal battle is underway in Washington State after a new income tax law was signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson—and now it’s being challenged in court. A coalition including the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), former Attorney General Rob McKenna, and former State Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmage has filed a lawsuit arguing the tax violates the Washington Constitution. Critics...

Washington State is facing major developments across tax policy, education funding, and public safety. In this episode of Washington In Focus Daily, we break down the Department of Revenue’s plan to hire more than 300 employees ahead of the state’s new income tax rollout—while legal challenges question whether the tax is constitutional. We also examine $7.5 million in budget cuts to charter school...

Washington State’s new income tax is already facing multiple legal challenges—and the fight is escalating. In this episode of Washington In Focus Daily, we break down a newly filed lawsuit from the Citizen Action Defense Fund, joined by former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, challenging the legality of the state’s income tax in Klickitat County Superior Court. We also hear from a former D...

Washington in Focus Daily | Wednesday April 8, 2026 Tim Clouser hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, Gov. Bob Ferguson's state income tax has a new opponent in a former Democrat Supreme Court Justice, a recall petition is underway unless Gov. Ferguson fills the vacancies on the Public Disclosure Commis...

Washington in Focus Daily | Tuesday April 7, 2026 Tim Clouser hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, Gov. Bob Ferguson's new state income tax is headed to the state Supreme Court for a hearing over the ability to challenge the law with a ballot initiative, Puget Sound Energy is proposing another rate hik...

Washington in Focus Daily | Monday April 6, 2026 Tim Clouser hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, The United States enters the fifth week of conflict with Iran as gas prices hit record highs nationwide, the sheriff decertification bill now faces legal challenges, and the city of Seattle faces scrutiny...

Washington in Focus Daily | Friday April 2, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, two Washington students are voicing their concerns over the state's policies around girls sports, an exclusive interview with the girls involved and their parents, and Gov. Bob Ferguson issues a direct...

Washington in Focus Daily | Wednesday April 1, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, Gov. Bob Ferguson signs the sheriff decertification bill into law, debate over how the income tax will impact businesses continues, plus an update on legal challenges against the new income tax. Rea...

Washington in Focus Daily | Tuesday Mar. 31, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, Gov. Bob Ferguson signs the new income tax bill into law, Let's Go Washington Founder Brian Heywood discusses legal challenges the legislation will face, a controversial reform bill is now law in Wash...

Washington in Focus Daily | Monday Mar. 23, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, the new income tax has still not been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, the sheriff decertification bill is signed into law, and an Anti-Trump art project in a Puyallup school classroom goes viral....

Washington in Focus Daily | Monday Mar. 30, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, Gov. Bob Ferguson signs the new income tax bill into law, Attorney Jackson Maynard of Citizen Action Defense Fund discusses his organization's lawsuit against the legislation, and No Kings protests too...

Washington in Focus Daily | Friday Mar. 27, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, the new income tax has still not been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, Gov. Ferguson signed a new bill to make supportive housing solutions permanent, and Washington ranks 49 out of 50 states on a...

Washington in Focus Daily | Thursday Mar. 26, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, the new income tax has still not been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, Washington Republicans discuss their thoughts on why Ferguson is delaying signing the new tax and possible plans to stop th...

Washington in Focus Daily | Wednesday Mar. 25, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, the new income tax has still not been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, estate tax gets rolled back to 20%, a new report claims the affordability crisis in Washington is getting worse, and Presi...

Washington in Focus Daily | Tuesday Mar. 24, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, the new income tax has still not been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, the groundwork is being laid out for possible ways to intervene with the new tax legislation, the SCOTUS is set to rule on v...

Washington in Focus Daily | Friday Mar. 20, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, the new income tax has still not been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, A new bill passed that will help with housing costs , and Washington has yet to opt into a Federal tax credit program for edu...

Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, the new income tax has still not been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, a new home energy ordinance in Thurston County is facing backlash, and gas prices are soaring in Washington. Read more at TheCenterSquare.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...

Washington in Focus Daily | Wednesday Mar. 18, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, legal challenges expect to launch against the new state income tax, the new income tax may threaten the NBA's return to Seattle, plus a new report out highlights charter school successes. Read more...

Washington in Focus Daily | Tuesday Mar. 17, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, the new income tax may hurt the business community in Washington, Republicans have big plans to win elections in November , and new bridge and light rail construction get's Gov. Ferguson's Approval. R...

Washington in Focus Daily | Monday Mar. 16, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, the new income tax may hurt Seattle sports teams, new ESG laws are set to impact, and critics of the press credentialing system in Washington say they see a double standard. Read more at TheCenterSquar...

Washington in Focus Daily | Tuesday Mar. 10, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, Republicans spend the whole night fighting the new income tax bill, a law enforcement reform bill passes alongside an important policing amendment, and an update on the new media lawsuit over press cr...

Washington in Focus Daily | Monday Mar. 9, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, Democrats keep making changes to the new income tax bill, a Washington state senator defends his language during a floor hearing, and an update on the new media lawsuit over press credentialing. Read mo...

Washington in Focus Daily | Friday Mar. 6, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, Democrats are making changes to the new income tax bill, the sheriff decertification bill passes, and a conversation surrounding a city's ability to restrict federal law enforcement from operating in th...

Washington in Focus Daily | Thursday Mar. 5, 2026 Carleen Johnson hosts The Washington in Focus Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers in Washington State. On today’s show, Democrats appear to be torn on how to move foward with an income tax bill, energy bills maybe going up as PSE says they need to hike rate, and a lawsuit is filed of the DOL data breach. Read more at T...