All Episodes

December 4, 2024 33 mins

A Northwest Reports limited series examines the present and future of Washington’s GOP. In this episode, moderate Republicans talk internal divisions.

Republicans won big in this year’s election. Republicans in Washington state, however ... That's a different story.  

In November, the country voted to reelect Donald Trump to the nation’s highest office; Republicans gained control of Congress; and most states experienced significant swings to the right. Washington also saw a slight rightward shift, but it wasn’t by much, and Democrats won all the statewide races.     

“The Elephant in the Room” is a three-part series that examines the state of Washington’s GOP through conversations with Republicans – who range from moderate to conservative – before, during and after the election. The series explores what it’s like to be red in a blue state; the divisions that exist between the more moderate and more conservative flanks of the party; what lies ahead for the Washington’s GOP; and how Trump fits into all of this.  

In the first episode, hosts Sara Bernard and Maleeha Syed speak with two people before the election who identify as Republicans but distance themselves from Trump: Chris Vance, who formerly chaired Washington’s Republican Party and this year worked as a Republican for Kamala Harris, and Deanna Martinez, who chairs the Mainstream Republicans of Washington. These two explore the discord between more moderate and more conservative Republicans in Washington ... and what another four years under Trump could mean for the state’s GOP.  

---

Credits 

Host/Producer: Sara Bernard and Maleeha Syed 

Reporters:  Sara Bernard and Maleeha Syed 

Story editor: Ryan Famuliner

Executive producer: Sarah Menzies

---

If you would like to support Cascade PBS, go to cascadepbs.org/membership. In addition to supporting our events and daily journalism, members receive complete access to the on-demand programming of Cascade PBS. 

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.