Capitol Ideas: The Washington State House Democratic Caucus Podcast
Welcome to Capitol Ideas. This is where members of the majority Democratic caucus in the Washington State House of Representatives sit down at the Capitol and talk about ideas. Ideas like strong schools, enduring values, equity, affordable and accessible healthcare, tax fairness, thriving small businesses, inclusion, a clean environment. You know: good ideas.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 19 minutes
- Episodes
- 134
- Years Active
- 2009 - 2025
Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins returns to Capitol Ideas today for her annual post-session visit. It's a half-hour wrap-up of a challenging session that featured political victories, personal losses, 400+ bills sent to the governor's desk, and 105 days.
We're grateful to have Speaker Laurie Jinkins as today's guest on Capitol Ideas, to share her perspective on the just-ended 2025 session of the Washington state Legislature. Her sixth year leading th…
00:26:55 |
Thu 08 May 2025
It's a shame that it took three years to feature Rep. Chipalo Street on Capitol Ideas, because this turned out to be one of the most informative and entertaining episodes in a long while. Good things are worth waiting for, and we finally got him. Enjoy.
Washington state lawmakers and staff were still celebrating the final gavel of the 2025 session when Rep. Chipalo Street sat down for his first appearance on Capitol Ideas. We covered everything from…
00:30:58 |
Wed 30 Apr 2025
Rep. Mia Gregerson carved out 20 minutes during the hectic closing days of session to share some Capitol Ideas. They're good ones.
As vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Mia Gregerson has a lot on her mind in the final 72 hours of the legislative session. The fact that we got her to sit down and share the Capi…
00:20:07 |
Sat 26 Apr 2025
Sen. Bill Ramos, in memoriam.
Sen. Bill Ramos, who was Rep. Bill Ramos for six years before his election to the Senate last fall, died suddenly Saturday evening. Bill's voice being silenced is a loss for his 5th district, and for…
00:28:30 |
Mon 21 Apr 2025
Rep. Julio Cortes joins us for conversation on Capitol Ideas today that touches on at-risk youth, the purposely slow pace of lawmaking, maintaining a positive attitude in challenging times, and industrial symbiosis. You'll have to listen to find out what that is.
This is the third legislative session for Rep. Julio Cortes, and his second visit to Capitol Ideas. Today he reflects on the difference between being a brand-new legislator and a veteran, talks about…
00:21:35 |
Tue 15 Apr 2025
The lawmaker of the day on Capitol Ideas this time around is 47th-district Rep. Chris Stearns, AKA Speaker Pro Tem Chris Stearns. We'll talk about that new position and how he got here, and you'll hear a new guest host as well. Listen.
Rep. Chris Stearns moved to Washington state many years ago because it was the most beautiful place he'd ever seen. Now he's Speaker Pro Tem of the state House of Representatives, and as of today he'…
00:23:13 |
Fri 11 Apr 2025
Today's Capitol Ideas features a return visit from 21st-district Rep. Strom Peterson. It's been a couple of years, and we'll hear what he's been doing in the meantime. Hint: It's a lot.
Rep. Strom Peterson agreed to chair a brand-new committee three years ago, a panel dedicated to chipping away at Washington's housing crisis. Today we'll talk about progress made by the House Housing…
00:18:19 |
Thu 10 Apr 2025
Today on Capitol Ideas, meet Rep. Adam Bernbaum from Port Angeles. He's the 10th and final member of the House Democratic Caucus Class of '25, and this one was worth waiting for.
Rep. Adam Bernbaum has been to a lot of places and done a lot of things, but Port Angeles is home and the Legislature is his new job. Hit the play button now to get to know a chamnpion of rural issue…
00:19:40 |
Sat 05 Apr 2025
Today's guest on Capitol Ideas: Rep. Janice Zahn from Washington's 41st legislative district. She started on day 10 of the 2025 session, and is making her mark. Public servant, engineer, immigrant -- she's a lot of things, and you'll hear about it right now.
When Janice Zahn immigrated to the U.S. with her family as a child, she probably wasn't planning to find herself sitting at a desk on the floor of the Washington state House of Representatives. But h…
00:27:58 |
Fri 04 Apr 2025
Yes, it's another first-year member of the House Democratic Caucus! Today's Capitol Ideas features a conversation with Rep. Edwin Obras of Seatac in Washington's 33rd legislative district, a diverse south King County district that includes SeaTac International Airport and a whole lot more.
Rep. Edwin Obras was appointed to a vacant seat in the state House of Representatives in December 2024, and for a lawmaker just getting his feet wet, he's made a splash. After a 30-year career in hum…
00:17:30 |
Fri 28 Mar 2025
Washington state House Democrats and countless Washingtonians whose lives he touched are mourning the death of Speaker Emeritus Frank Chopp this past weekend. Today's Capitol Ideas is a reprise of a January 2024 episode featuring his first and, sadly, final Capitol Ideas conversation.
ORIGINAL EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Speaker emeritus Frank Chopp, who voluntarily switched his role to Rep. Frank Chopp at the end of the 2019 session, is the special guest on this episode of Capitol Ideas…
00:29:10 |
Tue 25 Mar 2025
Rep. Natasha Hill from the excellent city of Spokane makes her Capitol Ideas debut today, and it's a good one. She's the seventh new Democratic member of the class of 2025 to show up on the mics, with three more to go! Don't touch that dial.
Rep. Natasha Hill has an interesting story. Attorney. Commumnity activist. Civil rights fighter. Mom. She fought her way upstream to get here and is already making a difference. Get to know her in to…
00:16:59 |
Sat 22 Mar 2025
Today's edition of Capitol Ideas presents yet another new member of the House Democratic Caucus. That would be Rep. Lisa Parshley of the 22d district: veterinarian, scientist, public servant. Stay tuned.
Capitol Ideas returns today after a brief hiatus while lawmakers burned the midnight oil in more than a week of marathon floor sessions. Today's idea-generator is Rep. Lisa Parshley of Olympia, inter…
00:21:54 |
Mon 17 Mar 2025
Today's Capitol Ideas is a little different. Instead of one lawmaker, you've got a dozen. They each grabbed the mic for a minute during non-stop floor action in the House chamber. Different is good.
Few things in life are certain, but it's a sure bet you've never heard a Capitol Ideas like this one. A dozen Democratic lawmakers, from veterans to brand-new members, making observations about life,…
00:13:01 |
Wed 05 Mar 2025
Meet Rep. Shaun Scott: author, filmmaker, historian, educator, labor organizer, and a member of the House Democratic Caucus serving his first term in Olympia.
Today Capitol Ideas welcomes yet another member of the 2025 Class of House Democrats. Rep. Shaun Scott was sent here by his neighbors in the 43rd district, the heart of Seattle. He's a creator, a pol…
00:19:25 |
Fri 28 Feb 2025
Today's your chance to get acquainted with Rep. Victoria Hunt. She's a first-year lawmaker with solid Democratic values and an impressive resume. If you don't believe me, just listen.
This is the eighth Capitol Ideas of 2025, and the fourth to feature a lawmaker in their first session as a member of the Legislature and the House Democratic Caucus. Hooray for new faces and new ener…
00:20:57 |
Tue 25 Feb 2025
Any visit from Rep. Nicole Macri is worth a listen, and today's Capitol Ideas is one of those episodes. Don't touch that dial.
Washington's crying need for rent stability and affordable housing is more crucial than it's ever been, and Rep. Nicole Macri is once again a point person in the effort. We'll talk about these issues…
00:26:56 |
Fri 21 Feb 2025
Today, we're happy to have a return visit from Rep. Davina Duerr from Bothell, in the 1st legislative district. It's a good talk. Stay tuned.
It's been a couple of years since Rep. Davina Duerr stopped by the Capitol Ideas HQ for a conversation, and in legislative years that can be an eternity. We'll find out what we've missed in today's s…
00:24:40 |
Tue 18 Feb 2025
You're about to meet Rep. Brianna Thomas, appointed a couple of weeks ago to fill a vacancy in the 34th district. To say she's interesting would be an understatement, so put on your headphones, sit back, and give us 20 minutes.
Rep. Brianna Thomas has done a lot of things in her life, and they all led, in one way or another, to the day she was sworn in as Washington state's newest representative. Today we talk about some of…
00:22:37 |
Sat 15 Feb 2025
Today is the day you'll meet Rep. Adison Richards, midway through his fifth week in the state House. You're going to like him, and what he's about.
Rep. Adison Richards works for the folks of Washington's 26th legislative district, a beautiful, seahorse-shaped piece of western Washington that stretches from Bremerton down to Longbranch and from …
00:20:40 |
Tue 11 Feb 2025
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