Hacks & Wonks
Hacks & Wonks is a show hosted by political consultant Crystal Fincher, who talks with Policy Wonks and Political Hacks to gather insight into local politics and policy in Washington state through the lens of those doing the work, with behind-the-scenes perspectives on what's happening, why it's happening and what you can do about it.
Episodes
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Melissa Santos discuss:
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Amy Sundberg, public safety reporter for The Urbanist and publisher of Notes from the Emerald City, joins Hacks & Wonks to discuss how Seattle's City Council is poised to expand the city's surveillance pilot program before collecting any evaluation data on its effectiveness, raising concerns among privacy advocates about potential federal access to the data amid heightened immigration enforcement.
The expa...
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss:
🧊 Spokane blocks warrantless ICE action
🥡 $15m Uber Eats settlement
🛒 UFCW 3000 backs Wilson
🚲 Biker hit where safety upgrades were cancelled
🏫 School board updates
🪧 Protests against Microsoft use by IDF
Hacks & Wonks hosted a 2025 Post-Primary Roundtable on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 to dig into the 2025 primary results - what they mean, how they happened, and what's next - with the people who actually do the work of winning (and sometimes losing) campaigns in Seattle and King County. Listen to the roundtable as a podcast or watch the recorded livestream on YouTube!
By bringing together a panel of seasoned ...
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Erica Barnett discuss:
⛪ Christian nationalist rally moves to new park
🤑 Police execs take bonus meant for officers
🛡️ Trump admin targets sanctuary cities –
📮 -- and vote-by-mail
🕵️ Tacoma ICE facility must open for inspections
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and David Kroman discuss:
💰 Seattle B&O tax overhaul proposal
📉 Seattle budget forecast
👁️ Seattle surveillance expansion
⚖️ Tacoma minimum wage initiative sues city
⚔️ MGP challenger in CD3
🗳️ Election results update
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Josh Cohen discuss:
❤️🩹 A Hacks & Wonks update
🗳️ Primary election results!
👀 Seattle: Mayor, City Attorney, City Council seats
💵 Seattle Democracy Vouchers
🥊 King County: Executive, D5 Council seat
🤓 Takeaways
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at offic...
Seattle voters will decide in August whether to renew funding for the city's groundbreaking Democracy Voucher Program, the first and only system of its kind in the United States that gives residents public money to support local candidates of their choice.
Proposition 1 on the August 5 primary ballot asks voters to approve a 10-year property tax levy to continue the program, which provides every eligible S...
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Erica Barnett discuss:
⚖️ No Wilson charges
💬 Pro-Harrell message testing poll
🔄 Moore replacement
👑 Bills expand Davison/Police power
🔎 Ask to end consent decree
🤖 PC Sheriff gets bad advice from ChatGPT
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhack...
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Josh Cohen discuss:
🎯 WA top target in Medicaid cuts
😬 KC Assessor Wilson arrested
🚔 Barnes confirmed as police chief
💰 Possible sales tax increase for public safety
🏗️ Rinck revives Morales’ community dev program
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at offi...
King County Executive candidate Claudia Balducci outlines her approach to the region's biggest challenges, emphasizing housing affordability, prevention-focused public safety & regional coordination.
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks. Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at @finchfrii and find Claudia Balduc...
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and David Kroman discuss:
👀 NYC mayoral race hints at Seattle’s?
💰 Seattle biz tax revamp?
🚔 Pursuit GPS trackers & digital billboards
📷 License plate readers proliferate in WA
🏘️ Affordable housing industry crisis
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonk...
King County Executive candidate Girmay Zahilay details plans for the region's biggest challenges, including homelessness, public safety & housing affordability.
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks. Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at @finchfrii and find Girmay Zahilay at @girmayzahilay.
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss:
👑 ‘No Kings’ protests
⚕️ WA immigrants' health data shared w/ feds
🏘️ Housing First works well
🚍 Saka erases advocates, makes deal w/ Curby
🤑 RealPage ban delayed
🎒 School waitlists lifted
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Erica Barnett discuss:
👋 Cathy Moore resigning
🗳️ Kshama Sawant running for Congress
😬 KC Assessor John Wilson won't resign despite calls
🚔 Diaz/Tompkins updates
🏳️🌈 WA State Patrol interrupts Pride flag ceremony
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at off...
Jeanie Chunn, candidate for Seattle City Council District 2, shares her stance on housing affordability, public safety, transportation, and more while advocating for significant changes to the city's approach to public safety, housing, and budget priorities.
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks. Find...
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Josh Cohen discuss:
🏳️⚧️ “Protect Our Kids” anti-trans rally & counterprotests
📉 Every Seattle elected = negative approval
🏘️ Seattle's interim missing middle housing
🤦 Essential behavioral health facilities stymied
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksan...
Eddie Lin, running for Seattle City Council in District 2, shares his stance on housing affordability, public safety, transportation, and more while emphasizing his government experience and commitment to community-driven solutions.
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks. Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at @...
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and David Kroman discuss:
🖋️ Ferguson acts on state budget, parental bill of rights
🧊 Troubling ICE raids
🤓 Seattle Mayor race deep dive
🔔 Sara Nelson bellwether
🗳️ Other notable primary races
⛺️ Rushed Tent City 4 move
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