Inside Olympia

On this episode of Inside Olympia:  Austin Jenkins sits down and discusses elections with Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.

On this episode of Inside Olympia:  Austin Jenkins discusses energy affordability and climate policy future with former State Senator Reuven Carlyle and Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center.

Facing a tight 2027 budget, DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez says the agency is pursuing a two-track strategy: scaling back spending while modernizing how it delivers services. Ramirez discusses potential program reductions, workforce constraints, an AI decision package and other efficiencies as federal policy changes add new costs and administrative demands.

Washington voters will elect five of nine state Supreme Court justices this fall, putting competing views of the judiciary before voters. It is the first time in modern state history that a majority of the high court is up for a vote in a single election cycle. Tim Kovis of Full Court Press and Andrew Villeneuve of the Northwest Progressive Institute and Northwest Progressive Foundation discuss judicial restraint, accusations of judicial activism, precedent and how voters can assess candidates who cannot say how they would rule in future cases.

On this episode of Inside Olympia: Austin Jenkins sits down with Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown.

Attorneys Paul Lawrence and Jackson Maynard debate the constitutional challenge to Washington’s new 9.9% tax on income above $1 million. Lawrence argues the state Supreme Court should overturn nearly century-old precedent treating income as property. Maynard argues the tax plainly violates that precedent and the state constitution. The discussion also explores the November repeal measure and what could happen next in court.

On this week's episode of Inside Olympia:  The Spokane complex fire was just one of several large and destructive fires this summer. Our focus this week is on the changing wildland fire enviroment. The lessons learned from what happened this year. And what can be done to miitigate and prepare for future fire seasons. Plus, what are the implications of this year's fire season for the property-casualty insurance market? We ask that question and more of State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer.

Onthis episode of Inside Olympia:  Austin Jenkins sits down with Karen Hanan, longtime director of the Washington State Arts Commission on the eve of her retirement.

On this episode of Inside Olympia:  Host Austin Jenkins goes one-on-one with the Director of the Washington State Labor and Industries Joel Sacks.

On this episode of Inside Olympia:  Host Austin Jenkins discusses the future of local news with Kaarin Austin, Founding Director of the Washington News Fund and Matt Powers, Professor of Communication at the University of Washington.

On this episode of Inside Olympia ... How is Washington State regulating the liquor and cannabis industries in an era of declining alcohol sales and market pressures in the marijuana industry? What's driving the market disruptions? And where are the tension points? On the program this week, Will Lukela, Director of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and Justin Nordhorn, the agency's Director of Policy and External Relations.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping government, business and daily life, raising urgent questions about trust, transparency and accountability. Arthur Jago from the University of Washington Tacoma and former Seattle Chief Technology Officer Rob Lloyd, now executive director of the Center for Digital Government and the Center for Public Sector AI, discuss AI’s promise and risks, from algorithmic discrimination and workforce disruption to cybersecurity, public services, emotional reliance on chatbots, and the future role of humans in decision-making.

On this episode of Inside Olympia:  Host Austin Jenkins sits down with Former Executive Editor at The Seattle Times and current president of the WA Coalition for Open Government

On this episode Inside Olympia: Austin Jenkins sits down for an exit interview with former WA State Supreme Court Justice Barbara Madsen.

This week’s Inside Olympia examines the unintended harms of the foster care system, featuring The Seattle Times reporter Claudia Rowe, who shares insights from her research on what happens to children after they are removed from their homes.

This week on Inside Olympia ... Washington State Ferries Assistant Secretary John Vezina and WSDOT Passenger Rail Manager Kirk Fredrickson outline plans to manage heavy summer travel demand ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Officials detail ferry fleet readiness, staffing and backup capacity, while rail leaders say they sought an additional Amtrak coach to meet demand. Long-term fixes remain years away, including new ferries, while new Airo trainsets for Amtrak Cascades are expected to roll out in phases beginning in late 2026.

Energy consultant Arne Olson, senior partner at Energy and Environmental Economics, warns the Northwest faces a near-term electricity shortfall driven by rising demand, data centers, and resource retirements. He outlines risks of rotating blackouts, limits of wind and solar, the role of natural gas backup, and the cost of meeting reliability and decarbonization goals.

On this episode of Inside Olympia...Former chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Mel Tonasket, reflects on 55 years of leadership in Indian Country. He discusses the fight against termination, tribal sovereignty, the Centennial Accord, state-tribal relations, economic development, and his message to the next generation of Native leaders.

On this episode of Inside Olympia and for the full hour Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal.

Is government functioning as intended? That's a question the state Auditor's Office is increasingly asking. How is the office evaluating government effectiveness and accountability? On the program this week: State Auditor Pat McCarthy and Jim Brownell, Assistant Director for State Audit and Special Investigations.

This week on Inside Olympia:  Our focus this week is police accountability and specifically Washington's Office of Independent Investigations (OII) which is responsible for investigating police deadly force cases. We hold an exit interview with the first director of OII, Roger Rogoff.  Plus we talk with the lawmaker at the forefront of Washington's efforts to hold police more accountable to the public, Representative Debra Entenman.

On this episode of Inside Olympia:  Austin Jenkins sits down with members of the Capitol Press Corps and take stock of the historic 2026 legislative session.

On this episode of Inside Olympia:  Host Austin Jenkins sits down with retiring Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Training Commission, Monica Alexander.

On this episode of Inside Olympia:  Host Austin Jenkins sits down with Dow Constantine, CEO of Sound Transit.

This week on Inside Olympia...Austin Jenkins sits down and talks budget and spending with Senate Ways and Means Chair June Robinson and the Ranking Republican on that committee Senator Chris Gildon.

Two panels of early-term Washington state lawmakers describe why they ran, what surprised them in Olympia, and where they think they can make an impact. Democratic Reps. Brianna Thomas and Osman Salahuddin cite affordability, housing, child care, and immigrant and refugee support. Republican Reps. Deb Manjarrez and Hunter Abell emphasize taxes, budget growth, housing costs, and bipartisan pathways on veterans and oversight.

On this episode of Inside Olympia:  Host Austin Jenkins sits down with Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens.

Microsoft President Brad Smith has been in Olympia this week to talk with lawmakers about the company’s policy priorities – affordability, tax reform and infrastructure, including housing supply targets, “pay our own way” data center energy commitments, and a shared responsibility agreement under which the company gets to build and invest, and the town gets lasting value in return.. He also discusses water replenishment and “closed-loop liquid cooling” for data centers, AI’s job impacts, bubble risks, and the state’s role in balanced AI regulation.

This week on Inside Olympia:  Host Austin Jenkins sits down and goes one-on-one with Robert J. Jones, President of the University of Washington.

On this episode of Inside Olympia hodt Austin Jenkins sits down with State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti and Anneliese Vance-Sherman, Chief Labor Economist for the State of Washington.

On this episode of Inside Olympia: Austin Jenkins sits down with Washington State University’s 12th president and the first woman to hold the role. We meet President Dr. Elizabeth "Betsy" Cantwell. What are her priorities for the state’s land grant university? How does she plan to address enrollment declines and budget cuts?

Host Austin Jenkins sits down with Dennis Worsham, Washington State Department of Health Secretary.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down with the new Secretary of the Department of Social & Health Services Angela Ramirez.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down with pollster Stuart Elway on Washingtonian's perceptions over the past 5 decades.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down with State Chief Privacy Officer Katy Ruckle and Chief Technology Officer Gretchen Peri to discuss digital privacy and AI.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down with State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer and Ingrid Ulrey of the State Health Benefit Exchange to talk about the spike in 2026 health insurance rates.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an interview with retiring State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu.

This week on Inside Olympia: host Austin Jenkins sits down with Office of Independent Investigations Director Roger Rogoff.

Inside Olympia, with host Austin Jenkins, sits down this week with State Patrol Chief John Batiste.

This wekk on Inside Olympia: host Austin Jenkins, sits down with Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove.