Épisodes

  • The Impact — Bills Would Extend Collective Bargaining to Farm and Domestic Workers from January 21, 2026

    The Impact — Bills Would Extend Collective Bargaining to Farm and Domestic Workers from January 21, 2026
    Jan 22 2026
    The Impact -- from expanded collective bargaining to the costs of business regulation, we examine the labor and business flashpoints driving the 2026 session.Hear from April Sims, President of the Washington State Labor Council, and Morgan Irwin, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Association of Washington Business.
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    25 min
  • Big Fights Over Money and Policy in 2026 from January 14, 2026

    Big Fights Over Money and Policy in 2026 from January 14, 2026
    Jan 15 2026
    An inside look at the high-stakes policy and revenue battles set to dominate Olympia as the 2026 Legislative Session begins. This episode features key takeaways from interviews with Governor Bob Ferguson and top Democratic and Republican leaders in both chambers.
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    25 min
  • Comparing College Savings Plans from December 10, 2025

    Comparing College Savings Plans from December 10, 2025
    Dec 9 2025
    The Impact breaks down the two major 529 options for college savings in Washington: the GET (Guaranteed Education Tuition) plan and WA529 Invest, a market-based savings portfolio. Luke Minor, Senior Director of Postsecondary Affordability for the Washington Student Achievement Council, offers practical guidance for families who aren’t sure where to begin.
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    25 min
  • The Impact -- From the Newsroom to the State Capitol: Jesse Jones in New Role from December 3, 2025

    The Impact -- From the Newsroom to the State Capitol: Jesse Jones in New Role from December 3, 2025
    Dec 3 2025
    From chasing stories to leading change, The Impact interviews former investigative reporter Jesse Jones about his new role as director of Your Washington, the state government improvement unit.
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    25 min
  • AI, Data, and Transparency: Tech Officials Chart Government’s Next Moves from November 19, 2025

    AI, Data, and Transparency: Tech Officials Chart Government’s Next Moves from November 19, 2025
    Nov 19 2025
    This is a special edition of The Impact taped on-location at the Washington Digital Government Summit in Tacoma, organized by GovTech magazine. The episode features a panel discussion with state, city, and county-level technology leaders answering questions about the use of artificial intelligence in government decision making, workforce displacement, and oversight. The panel also explored the privacy implications of smart infrastructure— such as vehicle-tracking sensors— and efforts to promote digital equity in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
    Panelists:
    • Jake Hammock, Seattle Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
    • Bill Kehoe, WaTech Director and Washington State Chief Information Officer (CIO)
    • Stephen Heard, interim Chief Information Officer for King County Information Technology
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    25 min
  • Wolf Conflicts and Owl Removals from November 12, 2025

    Wolf Conflicts and Owl Removals from November 12, 2025
    Nov 13 2025
    From wolf conflicts to owl culls — inside Washington’s toughest wildlife decisions. Guest: Julia Smith, WDFW's endangered species recovery manager
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    25 min
  • Election Signals and a Social Media Ad Showdown from November 5, 2025

    Election Signals and a Social Media Ad Showdown from November 5, 2025
    Nov 6 2025
    Political writers wade into early returns from the fall election, and what that says for the direction of the legislature next year. "We had a record package of tax increases in the legislature this year. The majority Democrats paid no price at the ballot box," said Paul Queary, Washington Observer.
    "I would look for this session for folks who have been hiding things in their back pocket that they didn't use to try to balance the budget last time,” said Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard.We also cover the automatic voter registration system error discovered in two counties.Then, we look at why Instagram and Facebook’s parent company, Meta, is in a showdown with the state over Washington’s campaign ad laws.
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    25 min
  • Earthquakes from October 29, 2025

    Earthquakes from October 29, 2025
    Oct 29 2025
    A new study points to major PNW earthquakes potentially triggering California earthquakes and vice-versa. DNR earthquakes expert Alex Steely breaks down the potential link between the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the San Andreas fault.Later, we cover "sonic boom" earthquakes, the Seattle fault nightmare scenario, and why so many Washington buildings are vulnerable to shaking.
    • Guest: Alex Steely, Assistant Director of Geologic Hazards and Mapping at the Washington Department of Natural Resources

    Other topics:
    • A constitutional amendment on the ballot would allow the state's long-term care program funding to be invested in stocks.
    • Good news and bad news about traffic after a spate of big truck bridge collisions.
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    25 min