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Shannon Cheng

Chair of Sierra Club Seattle and long-time communications and political strategist, Robert Cruickshank

Week in Review: May 2, 2025 - with Robert Cruickshank

Washington's legislative session ended with a budget missing the popular wealth tax. Governor Ferguson's approval falls, putting Democrats at risk. Seattle faces additional police discrimination lawsuits as former candidate Joe Mallahan considers a mayoral run.

Rory O'Sullivan, Candidate for Seattle City Attorney

Reform-Minded O'Sullivan Sets Sights on City Attorney Position

Seattle City Attorney candidate Rory O'Sullivan outlines his plans for transformative change, including restoring Community Court, improving jail conditions, protecting civil rights, and aggressively prosecuting wage theft—all guided by his 20 years of legal and policy experience.

Donna Blankinship, former news editor for Cascade PBS and publisher of the Civics for Adults newsletter on Substack

Week in Review: April 25, 2025 - with Donna Blankinship

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or type "Hacks & Wonks" into the search bar of your preferred podcast app. On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Donna Blankinship discuss: 💔 State Senator Bill Ramos 🗳️ April ballot results 💵 Seattle Democracy Vouchers 📚 Seattle Education Levy expanded 🧑‍⚖️ Spokane homeless initiative struck down

Nathan Rouse, Candidate for Seattle City Attorney

Public Defender Nathan Rouse Brings Frontline Experience to Seattle City Attorney Race

Public defender Nathan Rouse challenges incumbent Ann Davison for Seattle City Attorney, advocating a transformative approach that addresses root causes and draws from his frontline experience.

Ryan Packer, contributing editor for The Urbanist

Week in Review: April 18, 2025 - with Ryan Packer

New poll: Washingtonians worried about national politics, media consumption habits evolving; State Budget negotiations drop wealth tax & shift burden to everyone else; transportation budget challenges; workers' comp system upgrade falters raising governance concerns; special elections on April 22

Journalist Amy Sundberg and Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck

As Federal Rights Rollbacks and Cuts Hit Home, Seattle Council Forms Crisis Response Committee

Federal funding cuts are already endangering regional power grid stability, threatening 4,490 Seattleites with housing loss, and hitting Head Start programs as ICE raids are increasing. Committee Chair Rinck warns of "dire" impacts as city scrambles to backfill potential $157 million funding gap.

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Founder and Editor of The Needling, Lex Vaughn

Week in Review: April 11, 2025 - with Lex Vaughn

Activists protest Trump administration across WA; international students face visa revocations; state workers clash with Gov. Ferguson over wealth tax; rent stabilization bill advances; King County fingerprint ID levy vote upcoming; tensions rise in Seattle City Council.