Hacks & Wonks
@hacksandwonks.bsky.social
Political Hacks and Policy Wonks talk about state and local politics and policy in Washington state
Sharon Tomiko Santos Makes Case for Reelection in the 37th #waelex #SEAelex
Sharon Tomiko Santos Makes Case for Reelection in the 37th
Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, running for reelection in the 37th Legislative District, argues that displacement, public safety, housing, childcare affordability, and a fundamental reimagining of Washingt...
officialhacksandwonks.com
Kelabe Tewolde is running for State Rep in the 37th District, challenging an incumbent in a race centered on housing affordability, education investment, and public safety in South Seattle. #waelex #SEAelex
The Fighting 37th Has a New Contender: Kelabe Tewolde Eyes House Seat
Kelabe Tewolde is running for State Representative in the 37th District, challenging the incumbent in a race centered on housing affordability, education investment, environmental justice, and public ...
officialhacksandwonks.com
Silas James, Seattle District 5 Candidate, Outlines Plans to Address Housing, Safety, and Poverty #SEAelex
Silas James Shares His Plans for Seattle’s District 5
Silas James is running for Seattle City Council District 5 as a working-class Democratic Socialist focused on fixing failing systems
officialhacksandwonks.com
Ron Davis, challenger to 15-year incumbent Rep. Gerry Pollet, shares his vision and priorities for the 46th district. #waleg #waelex
Ron Davis Challenges Incumbent Gerry Pollet in 46th District House Race
Ron Davis, challenging 15-year incumbent Rep. Gerry Pollet, shares his vision and priorities for the 46th district.
officialhacksandwonks.com
State Rep. Chipalo Street is running for the open 37th LD Senate seat, emphasizing his record on progressive taxation, housing affordability, reparations, and immigrant protections as the district faces compounding pressures from federal policy rollbacks and a tight state budget #waleg #waelex
State Rep. Chipalo Street Seeks 37th District Senate Seat
State Representative Chipalo Street is running for the open 37th District Senate seat, emphasizing his record on progressive taxation, housing affordability, reparations, and immigrant protections as ...
officialhacksandwonks.com
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @ericacbarnett.bsky.social discuss: 🗄️ Data center moratorium 🚈 Link light rail ridership soars 🕸️ The whole KCRHA situation 🫶 CARE Department proposal
Week in Review: June 12, 2026 - with Erica Barnett
Seattle's council pauses large AI data centers for a year, Link set a ridership record even as the Ballard extension was shelved, and KCRHA's deficit grew to about $65 million as auditors warn its tur...
officialhacksandwonks.com
The whole series is so informative for local voters. And I appreciate @finchfrii.bsky.social for moderating the @theurbanist.org housing forum last night.
Crystal Fincher@finchfrii.bsky.social · 3mo agoFirst up in our series of 2026 candidate interviews: @rebeccasaldana1.bsky.social
Tatiana Brown is running for the open 37th District State Senate seat on a platform of progressive tax reform, environmental justice, expanded public safety alternatives, and community-driven governance. #waleg #waelex
Tatiana Brown Makes Case for Open Senate Seat in the 37th District
Tatiana Brown is running for the open 37th District State Senate seat on a platform of progressive tax reform, environmental justice, expanded public safety alternatives, and community-driven governan...
officialhacksandwonks.com
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and Jerry Cornfield discuss: ⚖️ Developments in WA redistricting case 🧑⚖️ WA Supreme Court races ⚔️ Impending battle to be Speaker of the House 🔍 Rep Tarra Simmons faces ethics charges 😭 Tragedy in Longview ✊ Spokane 3 found guilty
Week in Review: June 5, 2026 - with Jerry Cornfield
Washington state faces a redistricting showdown at SCOTUS, five Supreme Court seats up amid income tax fight, a House speaker challenge, ethics charges against the Deputy Speaker, a deadly Longview pl...
officialhacksandwonks.com
Jaelynn Scott is running for State House in the 37th LD She shares her priorities, including progressive revenue, social housing, care-based public safety, and sanctuary protections for immigrants and LGBTQ+ communities. #waelex
Jaelynn Scott Seeks Open State House Seat in Seattle's 37th District
Jaelynn Scott is running for the 37th District House and shares her priorities, including progressive revenue, social housing, care-based public safety, and sanctuary protections for immigrants and LG...
officialhacksandwonks.com
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @robertcruickshank.com discuss: ☕ Mayor Wilson, Starbucks and biz lobbying 🏳️🌈 Seattle’s state of emergency to support LGBTQ+ refugees 🚈 Sound Transit swings the axe at ST3 projects 🚲 The NIMBY drama over Bicycle Weekends on Lake Washington Blvd
Week in Review: May 22, 2026 - with Robert Cruickshank
Seattle's business community is attacking Mayor Wilson on policies she hasn’t announced, Sound Transit may gut voter-approved transit projects, the city declared an LGBTQ refugee emergency, and neighb...
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Hannah Sabio-Howell, a labor organizer and former Washington State Senate communications staffer, is challenging incumbent Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen for the 43rd Legislative District's state senate seat. #SEAelex #WAelex
Hannah Sabio-Howell Shares Her Vision for the 43rd District
Hannah Sabio-Howell, a labor organizer and former Washington State Senate communications staffer, is challenging incumbent Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen for the 43rd Legislative District's sta...
officialhacksandwonks.com
Washington Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen is running for reelection and facing a primary challenge in Seattle's 43rd District In this Hacks & Wonks interview, he defends his record and shares his priorities on taxes, education, child care and protecting WA residents #waleg #waelex
Senator Jamie Pedersen Defends Record in Reelection Campaign
Washington Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen is running for reelection in the 43rd District, defending his record and sharing his priorities on taxes, education, child care, immigration, and prote...
officialhacksandwonks.com
Toshiko Hasegawa Shares Vision as King County Council District 2 Candidate The Port of Seattle Commissioner draws on her family history and policy record in bid for a seat that shapes nearly every aspect of daily life in the region #SEAelex #WAelex
Hasegawa Shares Vision for King County Council District 2
Port Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa is running for the King County Council District 2 open seat and shares her priorities, including prioritizing criminal legal reform, affordable housing, child homele...
officialhacksandwonks.com
Rebecca Saldaña is leaving the State Senate to run for the open King County Council District 2 seat. She spoke with Hacks & Wonks about her priorities, including addressing the county's budget deficit, homelessness, public safety, transit equity, and environmental justice. #SEAelex #WAelex
Rebecca Saldaña Makes Her Case for King County Council
Rebecca Saldaña leaving the State Senate to run for the open King County Council District 2 seat. She spoke with Hacks & Wonks about her priorities, including addressing the county's budget deficit, h...
officialhacksandwonks.com
From Consumer Protection to Constitutional Defense: Nick Brown's First Year as Attorney General
From Consumer Protection to Constitutional Defense: Nick Brown's First Year as AG
Washington AG Nick Brown confronts federal overreach by filing 49 lawsuits, protecting $15 billion in state funding while focusing on consumer protection, workers' rights, and defending state sovereig...
officialhacksandwonks.com
Seattle's creative economy drives 18% of city GDP but artists can't afford to live here. Randy Engstrom, co-leading Mayor-Elect Wilson's arts transition team, argues culture must be central to solving housing, education, and economic challenges - not treated as expendable when budgets get tight.
Seattle's Creative Economy at a Crossroads
Seattle's creative economy drives 18% of city GDP but artists can't afford to live here. Randy Engstrom, co-leading Mayor-Elect Wilson's arts transition team, argues culture must be central to solving...
officialhacksandwonks.com
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @robertcruickshank.com discuss: 😡 WA still providing driver data to ICE 🌱 New Seattle electeds inaugurated 🤨 SPOG misleads on Wilson’s drug policy 🪓 Gov Ferguson proposes huge austerity 💸 Inslee criticizes Ferguson’s raid on climate funding
Week in Review: January 9, 2026 - with Robert Cruickshank
Washington state continues sharing driver data with ICE despite officials claiming they stopped. Governor Ferguson's austerity budget and climate faces criticism from former Gov. Inslee and Democrats....
officialhacksandwonks.com
Rep. Scott’s proposed progressive corporate tax — the Well Washington Fund — could prevent steep cuts to housing, health care and higher education in WA’s budget
Hacks & Wonks@hacksandwonks.bsky.social · 7mo agoAs Washington state braces for devastating federal budget cuts, Rep. Shaun Scott (@organizewithshaun.bsky.social) is leading a progressive revenue effort he says could protect critical services from austerity measures contained in the proposed WA budget. #waleg
As Washington state braces for devastating federal budget cuts, Rep. Shaun Scott (@organizewithshaun.bsky.social) is leading a progressive revenue effort he says could protect critical services from austerity measures contained in the proposed WA budget. #waleg
Rep. Shaun Scott Pushes Revenue Plan to Counter Austerity
Representative Scott introduces the Well Washington Fund corporate tax proposal aimed at protecting housing, healthcare, and education funding
officialhacksandwonks.com
Rep. Chipalo Street talks about his ambitious agenda that includes fixing structural problems in juvenile rehabilitation, reforming the state's regressive tax system, and protecting residents from federal overreach. #waleg
Rep. Chipalo Street on Tax Reform, Budget Deficits, and Federal Threats to Washington
Washington State Representative Chipalo Street is entering the upcoming 2026 legislative session with an ambitious agenda that includes fixing structural problems in juvenile rehabilitation, reforming...
officialhacksandwonks.com
This is the episode I was eagerly waiting for and should, hopefully, excite Seattle-ites
Hacks & Wonks@hacksandwonks.bsky.social · 8mo agoTransit Riders Union has built power for working people across King County for over a decade. With Katie Wilson headed to City Hall, Wes Mills (@oowm.org), TRU's new General Secretary, discussed how the organization is adapting and what comes next.
Transit Riders Union has built power for working people across King County for over a decade. With Katie Wilson headed to City Hall, Wes Mills (@oowm.org), TRU's new General Secretary, discussed how the organization is adapting and what comes next.
Transit Riders Union Charts New Course After Katie Wilson’s Election
Transit Riders Union restructures leadership as Katie Wilson becomes Seattle mayor. New General Secretary Wes Mills outlines priorities including bus lanes, transit funding renewal, and progressive re...
officialhacksandwonks.com
Great convo with Shauna!
Hacks & Wonks@hacksandwonks.bsky.social · 8mo agoOn this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @ssowersby.bsky.social discuss: 🌊 Historic flooding across WA 🛡️ Protecting workers from immigration raids ⚔️ Legislature’s public records fight continues 📉 County plans for Trump homelessness changes 💸 Council approves flawed SPOG contract
I've been subscribed to H&W for a year or so; this is one of the best conversations I can remember, and not for lack of competition. Listening to Randy got me fired up in a way I did not expect.
Hacks & Wonks@hacksandwonks.bsky.social · 8mo agoSeattle's creative economy drives 18% of city GDP but artists can't afford to live here. Randy Engstrom, co-leading Mayor-Elect Wilson's arts transition team, argues culture must be central to solving housing, education, and economic challenges - not treated as expendable when budgets get tight.
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @ssowersby.bsky.social discuss: 🌊 Historic flooding across WA 🛡️ Protecting workers from immigration raids ⚔️ Legislature’s public records fight continues 📉 County plans for Trump homelessness changes 💸 Council approves flawed SPOG contract
Week in Review: December 12, 2025 - with Shauna Sowersby
Atmospheric River Brings Historic Flooding, New Legislation Would Protect Workers from Immigration Raids, Public Records Battle Continues in Olympia, Federal Threats to King County Homelessness Fundin...
officialhacksandwonks.com
Anyways, read or listen to @finchfrii.bsky.social ‘s convo with Randy Engstrom here: bsky.app/profile/hack... This is absolutely the sort of convo that the city should be paying attention to
Hacks & Wonks@hacksandwonks.bsky.social · 8mo agoSeattle's creative economy drives 18% of city GDP but artists can't afford to live here. Randy Engstrom, co-leading Mayor-Elect Wilson's arts transition team, argues culture must be central to solving housing, education, and economic challenges - not treated as expendable when budgets get tight.
Hacks and Wonks Q&As prove the most valuable election reporting every damn time
Crystal Fincher@finchfrii.bsky.social · 8mo agoI also went back and looked at Joy Hollingsworth’s answers to Hacks & Wonks Lightning Round questions about what she would or wouldn’t support in a SPOG contract:
![[00:05:58] Crystal Fincher: Do you oppose a SPOG contract that doesn't give the Office of Police Accountability and the Office of the Inspector General subpoena power?
[00:06:08] Joy Hollingsworth: Yes.
[00:06:10] Crystal Fincher: Do you oppose a SPOG contract that doesn't remove limitations as to how many of OPA's investigators must be sworn versus civilian?
[00:06:19] Joy Hollingsworth: Yes.
[00:06:20] Crystal Fincher: Do you oppose a SPOG contract that impedes the ability of the City to move police funding to public safety alternatives?
[00:06:29] Joy Hollingsworth: Maybe.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cf7f6n5ypoqzsxofbti645r6/bafkreif5g7hlgajxpe3elhbeayhlwukeuhczd2wnklhbyukvcbkjo4fszi)
