Capitol Ideas: The Washington State House Democratic Caucus Podcast
News & Politics
About
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.
Episodes
- Capitol Ideas wraps up season 18 with a return visit from Rep. April Berg, chair of the House Finance Committee
The 2026 session is in the books, and it will always be known as the year when Washington’s upside-down tax code began the long process of righting itself. Rep. April Berg was one of the leaders in that effort, and she joins us today.
- Looking back at the historic 2026 legislative session and previews next year's session
In today’s special edition of Capitol Ideas, Washington State Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins looks back at the historic 2026 legislative session and previews the 105-day session that will begin next January. The 60-day sprint that end…
- Seattle State Rep. Shaun Scott joins us today for the first post-sine die edition of Capitol Ideas
Rep. Shaun Scott is an interesting fellow. Smarter than anyone deserves to be, laser-focused on public service, and impatient to use his position as a state legislator to improve lives in every corner of Washington. He just wrapped up his…
- Today’s idea-generator on Capitol Ideas is Rep. Shelley Kloba. We’ll talk about privacy, of course, and lots more
When Rep. Shelley Kloba drops by the Capitol Ideas HQ, you know we’re going to talk about online privacy and all things related. But wait, there’s more! Much more, so give us the next 20 minutes.
- Today’s guest on Capitol Ideas is Everett state Rep. Mary Fosse, deputy majority floor leader in the state House and vice chair of the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards.
Rep. Mary Fosse was on her first picket line three months shy of her first birthday, and she’s been a lifelong ally of workers and the labor movement in Washington and beyond. She puts that passion to work as vice chair of the House panel…
- House Appropriations Chair Timm Ormsby makes one of his semi-regular appearances on Capitol Ideas today. With the supplemental operating budget in the works, this is a timely conversation.
Rep. Timm Ormsby, chair of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee, has been one of the Olympia voices for Spokane’s 3 rd legislative district for longer than Capitol Ideas has been around, and over the years he’s become a favori…
- Today, Capitol Ideas welcomes 10th-district Rep. Dave Paul, chair of the House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee, for a chat about the 2026 session and much more
It’s been several years since Rep. Dave Paul has stopped by the Capitol Ideas HQ for a talk, but good things are worth waiting for. Today’s episode is definitely a good thing. Our conversation touches on the transportation and operating bu…
- Today’s visitor to Capitol Ideas is Rep. My-Linh Thai, deputy majority leader in the state House of Representatives
Rep. My-Linh Thai drops by Capitol Ideas every now and then, and it’s always an interesting and thought-provoking conversation. This time around the yawning chasm between this Washington and the other one, and its effects on her 41 st dist…
- Today we’re visiting with Rep. Joe Timmons from Bellingham, up in the 42nd district. Deputy speaker pro tem, good guy. Check it out.
It’s year four in the House for Rep. Joe Timmons, but today you’ll hear his first Capitol Ideas conversation. Besides representing his friends and neighbors up in the northwest corner of the state, Joe serves long hours with a gavel in his…
- Hit “play” to meet Rep. Zach Hall of Issaquah, the newest member of Washington’s House Democratic Caucus
Rep. Zach Hall is a young man, but when he was appointed to the House by the King County council last June, he had six years on the Issaquah city council under his belt, along with four years on the legislative staff, a master’s in public…
- Today, Rep. Adison Richards (D-Gig Harbor) makes an encore appearance on Capitol Ideas, midway through his second legislative session
In this episode of Capitol Ideas, you’ll meet, or re-meet, Rep. Adison Richards. He was our guest almost exactly a year ago, less than a month into his new job as a state lawmaker. We invited him back to catch up on his trajectory as a rep…
- Rep. April Berg visits Capitol Ideas today to talk about her views on problems facing today’s boys and men, particularly young men, and the bill that will, she hopes, provide some solutions
Rep. April Berg chairs the House Finance Committee, so you might think we’d be talking about revenue today. We’ll mostly save that for another time. This episode of Capitol Ideas is where you’ll learn about Rep. Berg’s bill creating the Wa…
- Rep. Chipalo Street (Seattle-37th) makes an encore appearance on today’s Capitol Ideas, after helping us close out season 17 last spring
In today’s episode, Rep. Chipalo Street talks about issues ranging from housing (affordable and otherwise), juvenile justice reforms, the state’s responsibility to persons under its complete control, and the challenges facing Washington’s…
- Washington’s young people have a lawmaker in their corner 24/7/365. Rep. Lisa Callan visits Capitol Ideas to talk about her priorities for 2026, including the progress of Washington Thriving, a comprehensive program she created in 2022.
Some lawmakers come to Olympia to fix the climate. Others might be here to improve public schools, or make our communities safer, or upend our regressive tax system. Rep. Lisa Callan, a veteran member from Issaquah, looks at all those issu…
- 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 day
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 the House of Representatives was by far th…
- 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 rent stabilization and safer streets to…
- 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 Capitol Ideas mics makes this a special epis…
- 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 the people of Washington. Today's Capit…
- 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
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 his journey from one capitol -- Mexico…
- 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's a two-time visitor to Capitol Ideas. T…
- 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 Committee under his leadership, and ple…
- 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 issues, a housing advocate, and a guardian of…
- 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 n
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 here she is, and that's fortunate for all…
- 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 Internat
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 human services, he knows his way around the…
- 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, fin
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. The good things he's done for the Ever…
- 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 today's Capitol Ideas.
- 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, interviewed on her 60th day as a state repres…
- 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, one of the busiest weeks of the session…
- 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 polymath, and a leader, and we've got him n…
- 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 energy. Today's guest is Rep. Victoria Hunt…
- 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 and more in today's Capitol Ideas.
- 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 show.
- 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 those stops along the way, and what she…
- 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 Vaughan in the west to the Tacoma Narrow…
- The featured Democratic lawmaker on today's Capitol Ideas is 44th-district Rep. Brandy Donaghy. She's a Navy vet, a busy legislator, and a terrific interview. Give her a listen.
Rep. Brandy Donaghy is vice chair of the House Transportation Committee, and that's just a quarter of her committee portfolio. She lives in Snohomish County and writes laws that make Washington a lot better place. Today we'll talk about so…
- Today we meet brand-new Rep. Osman Salahuddin of the 48th legislative district, on the east side of Lake Washington. In addition to being the newest member of the House Democratic Caucus and the state Legislature, he's also the youngest. Good things come
It's been just a few days since Osman Salahuddin became 48th-district Rep. Osman Salahuddin. That could be one reason why this might be the most interesting podcasts you've heard in a long time.
- To kick off the 2025 legislative session in Olympia, and season 17 of Capitol Ideas, we're joined by Rep. Timm Ormsby, chair of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee.
Rep. Timm Ormsby chairs the House Appropriations Committee. 2025 is a budget year in Olympia. Those two facts alone make this a podcast worth your time.
- Rep. Chris Stearns makes his first appearance on Capitol Ideas today, and you need to know him. He started out fast in his first two terms: vice chair of two key committees, sponsor of several successful bills, and an outspoken advocate of bipartisanship
Before he was sent to be their voice in Olympia by the good people of the 47th district, Rep. Chris Stearns already had a full resume. He's an accomplished attorney working with tribes throughout the nation. He's done a stint with the fede…
- Rep. Debra Entenman just wrapped up her sixth session in the House, working for her friends and neighbors in the 47th legislative district. That's a south King County district that contains parts of Kent and Auburn, all of Covington, Shadow Lake, and a ha
This is a good one. We say that every time, but seriously, you want to hear what Rep. Debra Entenman has to say about higher ed, civil rights, equity, school lunches, being a legislator, and lots more. Stick around.
- Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins returns to Capitol Ideas today for her now-annual post-sine die visit. It's both a look-back and a glimpse into the future, with insights from the leader of the largest House majority in a generation.
Hit the PLAY button on Capitol Ideas today to hear an exclusive conversation with Washington state Speaker Laurie Jinkins. After five years at the helm of a growing Democratic majority, she shares her view of the just-concluded session and…
- Rep. Sharon Wylie works for the good people of the 49th legislative district, and for the other 8 million or so Washingtonians as well. She co-chairs one committee, serves on two others, and gets things done. Here she is.
As co-chair of the House Committee on Controlled Substances and Gaming, Rep. Sharon Wylie is instrumental in shaping Washington's policies on one of the 21st century's most controversial issues. And that's just for starters. Open up today'…
- Deputy House Majority Leader My-Linh Thai is a thinker, and what she thinks most deeply about are people. Their lives, their problems, what they want, what they need. That's a good trait for a leader. In today's Capitol Ideas we'll hear what's on her mind
My-Linh Thai contains multitudes. She's a state representative. An education leader. A pharmacist. Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State House of Representatives. A parent. A refugee, the first ever elected to the state House. Mos…
- Rep. Dan Bronoske had been in the Legislature barely one term when his colleagues chose him to serve as deputy speaker pro tem of the state House of Representatives. A few minutes into today's Capitol Ideas it should be obvious why. Hit the play button an
Today we'll spend a half hour with Lakewood state Rep. Dan Bronoske. If you tune in to TVW when the House is in session, there's a good chance you'll see him handling the gavel and presiding over the debate as deputy speaker pro tem. When…
- Today we'll talk with Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self in a podcast recorded as the 2024 session of the Washington State Legislature headed into its final, hectic few weeks. Rep. Ortiz-Self chairs the largest House Democratic Caucus in recent memory, and doubles a
It's a tough job, and she loves it. Mukilteo state Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self chairs the House Democratic Caucus in Olympia, represents 160,000 of her friends and neighbors in the 21st legislative district, and has spent most of her professio…
- This is a good one. Today's ideator on Capitol Ideas is Rep. Tana Senn from the 41st legislative district, which stretches from Mercer Island east to Samammish and from Newcastle up to Bellevue. She chairs the House Committee on Human Services, Youth and
It's Day 39 of the 60-day 2024 legislative session in Olympia, and schedules are tight. We were lucky to grab 20 minutes with Rep. Tana Senn, and the luck is yours, as well. Her bills on emission-free school buses, adult family homes, fire…
- Rep. Bill Ramos (D-5th, Issaquah) stopped by the Capitol Ideas headquarters this week for a while, and we're glad he did. What resulted is a conversation that ranges from illegal dumping on private land and illegible license plates to amending the state c
Now in the midst of his sixth year in the House, Rep. Bill Ramos makes a return visit to Capitol Ideas today. Bill chairs the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations, and has seats on the Transportation Committee and the C…
- Every couple of years, Rep. Melanie Morgan stops by for a visit with Capitol Ideas. Today's conversation is a good one, and an important one. Equity, Black History Month, housing and homelessness, renewable energy, art, the dearth of Black farmers in Wash
Rep. Melanie Morgan champions equity in most everything she does, and she does a lot. Join us today for a conversation with Rep. Morgan, who in six short years in the Legislature has become a force to be reckoned with. Today's Capitol Idea…
- It's is a pretty special episode of Capitol Ideas today. Really. Our conversation is with Rep. Frank Chopp, the Seattle Democrat formerly known as Speaker of the House Frank Chopp. He's never been one to hog the spotlight, and this might be one of the mos
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. The good things he's done for the Evergreen State are too numerous t…
- Today we have a return visit from Speaker Pro Tem Tina Orwall. Rep. Orwall leads us through a day on the podium, and talks about her role as a champion of persons whose voices need to be heard on the floor of the House.
Rep. Tina Orwall is one of the busiest people in Olympia. If she doesn't hold the record for the legislator with the greatest number of bills that became laws, she's in the running. And as the longtime Speaker Pro Tem of the state House of…
- 23rd-district Rep. Greg Nance is our guest on Capitol Ideas today. Greg is the newest member of the Washington State House of Representatives, having been appointed in September to fill a vacant seat in the 23rd legislative district. He's a unique individ
Meet Rep. Greg Nance. He's a native Kitsapian, if that's a word, lives on Bainbridge Island, is a non-profit leader with deep experience in youth-mentoring, education, and mental health care. He's a conservationist, an athlete, and now . .…