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Hacks & Wonks
@hacksandwonks.bsky.social
Political Hacks and Policy Wonks talk about state and local politics and policy in Washington state
Join us tomorrow night to make sense of the election results!

What questions do you want answered (besides who will be mayor of Seattle)?
Tune into the Hacks & Wonks Post-Election Roundtable for sharp political analysis of the elections with a panel of political consultants!

Hacks & Wonks Post-Election Roundtable
Tuesday, November 11th, 7:30-9:00p
Livestreaming on YouTube & Facebook

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb_e... #WAelex #SEAelex
November 10, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Tune into the Hacks & Wonks Post-Election Roundtable for sharp political analysis of the elections with a panel of political consultants!

Hacks & Wonks Post-Election Roundtable
Tuesday, November 11th, 7:30-9:00p
Livestreaming on YouTube & Facebook

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb_e... #WAelex #SEAelex
November 8, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Trying to decide who will get your vote for King County Executive? Learn more about Girmay in this comprehensive interview

#waelex
Girmay Zahilay Outlines Vision for Executive Role
King County Executive candidate Girmay Zahilay details plans for the region's biggest challenges, including homelessness, public safety & housing affordability.
www.officialhacksandwonks.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Trying to decide who will get your vote for King County Executive? Learn more about Claudia in this wide-ranging interview

#waelex
October 22, 2025 at 7:57 PM
As we move into the final weeks of the 2025 election, follow the candidates and see where they stand:
2025 candidates and ballot measures in WA:

#waleg #waelex
October 18, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Reposted by Hacks & Wonks
What happens when you trust low-income families with no-strings-attached cash?

Tacoma's $500/month guaranteed income experiment shattered myths about poverty and public assistance.

#gbi #ubi #basicincome
Tacoma's Guaranteed Income Pilot Yields Positive Results
Tacoma's guaranteed income pilot that gave 110 families $500 monthly improved employment, savings, and well-being, challenging myths about poverty. Recipients increased full-time work and showed bette...
www.officialhacksandwonks.com
November 27, 2024 at 8:07 PM
We are looking forward to resuming Hacks & Wonks podcast episodes in October.
September 26, 2025 at 8:00 PM
If you prefer lists, we’ve updated these too!

✅ 2025 candidates and ballot measures in WA
September 16, 2025 at 3:51 PM
We’ve updated our starter packs!

A list of elected officials in WA:
September 16, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Hacks & Wonks
I enjoyed the convo with Melissa this week!
September 5, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Reposted by Hacks & Wonks
In honor of today’s Seattle waterfront grand opening, here’s the episode of @hacksandwonks.bsky.social that @finchfrii.bsky.social, Mike McGinn, and I did back in 2023 about the fight over the waterfront and the tunnel. We particularly enjoyed recording it and hope you enjoy listening to it!
The Big Waterfront Bamboozle with Mike McGinn and Robert Cruickshank — Hacks & Wonks
On this midweek show, Crystal chats with former Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and his former Senior Communications Advisor Robert Cruickshank about the missed opportunity for generational impact through h...
www.officialhacksandwonks.com
September 6, 2025 at 4:03 PM
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social @melissajsantos.bsky.social discuss:

💉 WA/CA/OR vaccine alliance
📵 Cell phones in schools
🧑‍🚒 Firefighter immigration raid = inside job
🚈 Harrell pushes light rail extensions despite shortfall
🚘 Autonomous vehicles pilot starts
Week in Review: September 5, 2025 - with Melissa Santos
WA, OR, CA form vaccine alliance amid federal policy shifts. Investigation suggests fire officials coordinated immigration enforcement targeting firefighters. Sound Transit faces massive shortfall as ...
www.officialhacksandwonks.com
September 5, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Seattle City Council is poised to expand the city's surveillance pilot program before fully evaluating its effectiveness, raising concerns about federal access to the data amid heightened enforcement targeting immigration, abortion and gender-affirming care
Seattle Moves Forward with Surveillance Expansion Despite Lack of Pilot Data, Raises Federal Access Concerns
Seattle City Council will vote Sept 9 to expand surveillance pilot before collecting evaluation data. Program adds cameras citywide despite limited evidence of success & concerns about federal access ...
officialhacksandwonks.com
September 2, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by Hacks & Wonks
We covered a lot this week!
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @robertcruickshank.com discuss:

🧊 Spokane blocks warrantless ICE action
🥡 $15M Uber Eats settlement
🛒 UFCW 3000 backs Wilson for mayor
🚲 Biker hit where safety upgrades canceled
🏫 School board updates
🪧 "No Azure for Apartheid" Microsoft protests
Week in Review: August 29, 2025 - with Robert Cruickshank
Spokane blocks warrantless ICE action, $15m Uber Eats settlement, UFCW 3000 backs Wilson, ethics investigation targets City social media activity, biker hit where safety upgrades were cancelled, schoo...
officialhacksandwonks.com
August 29, 2025 at 10:31 PM
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @robertcruickshank.com discuss:

🧊 Spokane blocks warrantless ICE action
🥡 $15M Uber Eats settlement
🛒 UFCW 3000 backs Wilson for mayor
🚲 Biker hit where safety upgrades canceled
🏫 School board updates
🪧 "No Azure for Apartheid" Microsoft protests
Week in Review: August 29, 2025 - with Robert Cruickshank
Spokane blocks warrantless ICE action, $15m Uber Eats settlement, UFCW 3000 backs Wilson, ethics investigation targets City social media activity, biker hit where safety upgrades were cancelled, schoo...
officialhacksandwonks.com
August 29, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by Hacks & Wonks
I'm on @finchfrii.bsky.social's Hacks and Wonks podcast this week, talking about an upcoming Christian nationalist rally in Seattle, $50,000 hiring bonuses for police chiefs, Trump's efforts to end vote-by-mail, and more.
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @ericacbarnett.bsky.social 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
Week in Review: August 22, 2025 - with Erica Barnett
Seattle moved Christian nationalist rally to Gas Works Park. Police Chief received $50K bonus meant for officers amid budget crisis. Trump admin threatens sanctuary policies & mail voting. Court allow...
officialhacksandwonks.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:38 PM
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @ericacbarnett.bsky.social 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
Week in Review: August 22, 2025 - with Erica Barnett
Seattle moved Christian nationalist rally to Gas Works Park. Police Chief received $50K bonus meant for officers amid budget crisis. Trump admin threatens sanctuary policies & mail voting. Court allow...
officialhacksandwonks.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Do you have questions you want us to answer?
🤨 Is Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell cooked?

💁 Is the King County Executive race settled?

🙅‍♂️ Do the 48th/33rd LD results predict what’s coming for centrist Dems in 2026?

Join our 7:30p livestream – local political strategists will discuss these Qs and more!

➡️ www.youtube.com/live/qLav1Pf...
August 12, 2025 at 11:52 PM
August 12, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Join our Post-Primary Political Consultant Roundtable on Tuesday at 7:30p!

Consultants behind local campaigns will provide insight and analysis behind the primary election results and what’s in store for the general election and beyond!

#SEAelex #WAelex
August 9, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by Hacks & Wonks
Shannon Cheng, my colleague of 5 years, the producer of @hacksandwonks.bsky.social and one of my favorite people walking the earth, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Early detection likely saved her life. Shannon urges everyone to get their preventative screenings ON TIME as recommended!
Hacks & Wonks Producer's Cancer Diagnosis Prompts Early Detection Reminder
Shannon Cheng, longtime producer of the Hacks & Wonks political podcast, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, prompting an important reminder about the critical value of preventative health screenin...
www.officialhacksandwonks.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:27 PM
On this week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @jcohenwrites.bsky.social 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

#SEAelex #WAvotes
Week in Review: August 8, 2025 - with Josh Cohen
Seattle voters delivered a decisive message for change in Tuesday's primary election, with progressive challengers leading incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell and other moderate office holders in what polit...
www.officialhacksandwonks.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Reposted by Hacks & Wonks

👀 Check out a side-by-side comparison of Jamie Fackler, Eddie Lin, and Jeanie Chunn from the lightning rounds in our Seattle City Council District 2 candidate interviews! 👀

#SEAelex
Hacks & Wonks Interviews with Seattle City Council District 2 Candidates
Check out the lightning round comparison of Seattle City Council District 2 candidates!
www.officialhacksandwonks.com
June 18, 2025 at 9:19 PM