Seattle News, Views, and Brews

Why is King County's longest-serving executive in the modern era not running again? Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and King County Executive Dow Constantine discuss his next career moves, decisions he wishes he would have made 15 years ago when he began as the county's leader, Sound Transit, and the King County Homelessness Authority, too. Also featuring questions from show patrons! If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon. Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies - The Beltway Briefing Listen for of-the-moment insider insights, framed by the rapidly changing social and...

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and Councilmember-Elect Alexis Mercedes Rinck discuss her win over incumbent Tanya Woo in the Council's citywide Position 8 race, how her progressive approach will fit with a majority moderate-to-conservative Council, her top priorities for the first 3-6 months on the job, and... the biggest facepalm moments of her Council campaign, too! If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and former Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata discuss the fallout from Donald Trump's historic presidential win, the pitfalls of the Harris campaign, the wave of Democrat support for issues and candidates in Washington, a new face for the Seattle City Council, and some patron questions, too! If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and Jon Scholes, President and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, discuss a new city ordinance that will waive design review for new development downtown, the DSA's take on the city's mixed economic forecast, the impact of Amazon's 5-days-in-office mandate starting in January, the future of the Overlook Park project, and an interesting question from one of our patrons, too. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and guest host Ryan Packer of The Urbanist discuss the latest economic forecast for the City of Seattle, a revised growth plan from Mayor Bruce Harrell, and some big financial challenges for two local transit agencies. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and former Seattle City Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis discuss where the City Council's budget discussions are going, a new power structure for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, the expansion of 911 alternative reponse in Seattle, and the opening of the new Overlook feature of the Seattle waterfront. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and former Seattle City Council President Debora Juarez discuss her next move in politics, her thoughts on having six new Councilmembers steer their way through a City budget process, the impact of SOAP/SODA zones, and more. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and independent journalist Kevin Schofield discuss the financial pressures and political savvy behind the Mayor's recent budget proposal, the uncertain future of the city's 2026 budget, concerns over police no longer reporting to all security alarm calls, and the transportation levy, too. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and Erica C. Barnett, founder of Publicola, discuss the tradeoffs in Mayor Bruce Harrell's budget proposal, a new plan for lateral police hires and increased neighborhood surveillance, a new contract between Seattle and the King County Jail, and a major upheaval for King County's public defense system. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and guest host Justin Carder of the Capitol Hill Blog discuss the new alternative proposed by the City Council regarding funding for social housing, another housing program from King County (that sounds a lot like social housing), impending elementary school closures, the passage of "stay out" laws meant to curb prostitution and drug crimes, and an interesting report on drivers in Seattle, too. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in Seattle-area public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and guest host Hannah Krieg of the Stranger discuss a highly-charged meeting that appears to be leading to new laws to combat drug use and prostitution, a new agreement between the City of Seattle and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, another delay in putting I-137, the social housing funding measure, on the ballot, public safety in the C/ID, and a patron question, too. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss a legal case finally dropped against former Councilmember Kshama Sawant, problems with a police accountability watchdog group, an investment in back-to-school safety, a major budget question for the Seattle City Council, and an answer to one of our patron's questions, too! If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

This week, it's a patrons-first podcast with an insider's look at last week's Democratic National Convention! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel speaks with guest co-host Scott Greenstone of KUOW about Scott's reporting at the DNC, the rising significance of Washington State in this year's national elections, and more. If you like this podcast and want to get this patrons-first content before anyone else, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss a disagreement over mental health funding for Seattle schools, the Seattle's push for "exclusion zones" for prostitution or drug crime, a race to the finish to pass legislation for the City Council, a look at substance use disorder response in Seattle and King County, and a concern from one of our patrons, too. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

It's a patrons-first podcast on the future of Seattle Public Schools! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel talks with Seattle Council PTSA President Samantha Fogg about declining school populations (and funding), school closures planned for the fall of 2025, and school safety, too. If you like this podcast--where you can learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break--please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss the arrest of Belltown Hellcat driver Miles Hudson, an ultimatum from DoorDash to the City of Seattle, a new agreement with the King County Jail, a push for low-income energy assistance, and a response to one of our show patron's questions. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss the City's new plan to incarcerate misdemeanor offenders in a jail in Des Moines, an update on public safety from Interim SPD Chief Sue Rahr, the swearing-in of Chief Amy Smith of CARE (Community Assisted Response and Engagement), a troubling poll for state Democrats, and a looming challenge for restaurants over a minimum wage hike next year. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss the continuing delay on passing new app-based delivery driver legislation, an update on equitable development projects, concerns about light rail expansion in West Seattle, a drop in the overall crime rate, and the story behind impending rate hikes for Seattle City Light. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss the finalized version of the transportation levy headed to voters, tweaks to Housing Levy spending and the approval of an offices-to-housing measure, a new report on drug overdoses and crime, two new measures likely to qualify for your ballot, and an inside look at interim Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

After the Mayor's announcement about expanding CARE (Community Assisted Response and Engagement, Seattle's third public safety department), questions remain: how have CARE's 911-alternative behavioral health teams performed? Does expanding CARE mean we need fewer police officers? With host Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel, special guest Amy Smith, Acting Chief of the CARE Department, breaks down these issues and more. It's a patrons-first podcast, so if you'd like to get this content before anyone else, please support the program on Patreon!