Seattle News, Views, and Brews

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 split vote from the Seattle City Council on the latest contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild, a changing story on Seattle's response to nightlife crime, a growing bailout for affordable housing, a wrongful death case that raises new questions about the CHOP protest area from 2020, and a crowded election ballot coming your way in 2026. 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 new member joining the Seattle City Council, a new leadership team unveiled for Mayor-Elect Wilson, the City's state funding requests (and the all-cuts budget promised by the Governor), overtime concerns for the Seattle Police Department, and a legal question over the future of Seattle's Gas Works Park. 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 political priorities (and future challenges) of the new city budget, a controversial piece of legislation from outgoing City Council President Sara Nelson, some insights regarding Mayor-elect Wilson's transition team, a concern regarding the transition to a new City Attorney, and a sale of two decommissioned state ferries that isn't going as planned. 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 President Trump's take on Katie Wilson and possibly pulling World Cup soccer matches from Seattle, the City Council's last-minute move to raise permit prices, concerns over a potential huge cut in federal homelessness funding, new worries over how local surveillance camera footage is used, and some surprising public safety survey results, 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 how vote counts are favoring Katie Wilson as Seattle's next mayor, what kind of support staff she'll need once in office, a decision to fire the Seattle Police Department's top two civilian officials, a statewide debate over public records requests, and an update on funding for tenants and tenants' rights for the Seattle City Council. 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 election night totals and how they could change Seattle politics, how a challenge over federal food benefits is changing Seattle's budget process, and a curious case involving $4M set to be returned to the federal government by the Seattle Department of Transportation. 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 two new polls on the Seattle mayor's race, a complex start to the City Council's budget process, a new contract for the largest union representing Seattle's rank and file police officers, a push for new bus lanes, and the impact of thousands of local Amazon layoffs. 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 "muted optimism" over the city's most recent economic forecast, a crowded ballot for Seattle voters, Seattle Public Schools' rejection of a school resource officer plan for Garfield High School, a court victory for the city's nude beach, and the reaction after a legal decision to allow President Trump to deploy National Guard troops to Portland. 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 Seattle City Council decision over the multifamily tax exemption program, which could impact developers and renters alike; Seattle's continuing structural budget concerns, a newly-approved crisis care center for Capitol Hill that neighbors are organizing against, the King County Executive race, and a struggle between the city of Seattle and its largest union over required in-person days at work. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Where is Seattle's local economy headed amid concerns over downtown office vacancies, new state and local taxes on businesses, and federal tariff policies? It's a patrons-first episode of Seattle News, Views & Brews, where you can always learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel talks with outgoing Seattle Metro Chamber President and CEO Rachel Smith (who's taking on a new role at Washington Roundtable ) about how Seattle business leaders are trying to raise awareness about the jobs and industries needed to power the region's future. If you'd like exclusive early access to episodes like this in the future, please support this podcast 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 first public hearing on the city budget, the potential impacts on that budget from a federal government shutdown, new insights into the Seattle mayor's race, a new wave of advertisements from ICE seeking to recruit police officers in Seattle, and a surprising victory for Washington's Climate Commitment Act. 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 state and local response to President Trump's plans to federalize the National Guard in Portland and possibly Seattle, how the President might affect the World Cup, the start of the City Council's budget process and questions about expanding Seattle's 911 alternative program, how the Seattle mayor's race has intertwined with late-night talk show TV, and questions around a new return to work order from one of Seattle's biggest employers, 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 Mayor Harrell's newly-proposed $8.9B budget, the importance of a 0.1% sales tax hike to this year's budget, a small step forward for Seattle's Comprehensive Plan for urban growth, a new Community Safety Initiative report, some changing mayoral endorsements, 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 David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss the new fundraising numbers in the Seattle mayor's race--and the new battle lines drawn between the candidates, the fight between trees and density in the Comprehensive Plan rezoning process, a review of Seattle's historic budget highs and lows, and a look at an alarming trend with e-scooters and bikes. 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 concerns over the city's recently approved expansion of a surveillance camera system with regard to threats of federal immigration enforcement looming, the end to the 12-year consent decree hanging over the Seattle Police Department, a look at how stay out of drug areas and stay out of areas of prostitution laws are working, an unusual consultant agreement for Mayor Bruce Harrell, and what local officials can do when a neighborhood grocery store closes. 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 political implications of a major cost hike for Sound Transit's planned light rail expansion, the behind-the-scenes dynamics of some new labor union endorsements in the Seattle mayor's race, a debate over doing away with design review, continued affordable housing worries, and a landmark labor violation ruling against Uber Eats. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Your favorite coffee break political podcast turns its attention to Seattle tourism this week, with special guest Tammy Canavan, CEO of the nonprofit tourist advocate group Visit Seattle ! Host Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel discusses the impact of a new tourist magnet at the Seattle waterfront--and what will keep it attractive to visitors and locals like. Plus, there's a focus on the current state of Canadian tourism, the story behind some new wayfinding e-kiosks coming to a neighborhood near you, the foot-traffic-focused future of Pike Place Market, and our region's preparation for World Cup soccer matches next summer. If you'd like to get patrons-first content like this before anyone else, and 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 rare error on a Seattle City Council ordinance, an improving but perhaps unsettled economic forecast, a growing lead for progressive candidates from the August primaries, a change to multi-family tax exemptions for developers, and a question over Seattle's walkability. 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 impact of having Debora Juarez back on the Seattle City Council, a breakdown of a tighter-than-expected Mayor's race and a high-intensity City Attorney's race, a curious challenge with seating the Seattle Renter's Commission, a new federal executive order on homelessness, and a proposal to change the way public comment is admitted at Seattle City Council. 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 leading candidates in the race for Seattle mayor, a report on the King County courthouse docket that may surprise you, a brewing debate over a resolution about using a sales tax hike that hasn't been proposed yet, a discussion about City Council "district privileges," and a look at cuts to public broadcasting stations. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

A former Councilmember who said it was her job to "lead to leave"... is coming back for an open position in Seattle's District 5! Learn about this and more of 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 Council vacancy, an impending deadline for a new, controversial city business tax proposal, a delay for the City's plan to build housing and a "maker's space" in SODO, a court fight over a local nude beach, and the launch of a new police surveillance 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 David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss the challenges of filling the Council's vacant District 5 job, a new graffiti civil enforcement law from City Attorney Ann Davison, a retrospective of the revitalized Seattle waterfront, a lawsuit facing the City over its Mandatory Housing Affordability requirements, and a new record set for Seattle population growth. 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 sales tax proposal from Council President Nelson aimed at improving treatment options and public safety, a new equitable housing plan that looks a lot like one the Council considered in 2024, the joining of two unlikely political allies in Mayor Harrell and Councilmember Rinck with a bid to revamp Seattle business tax collections, a federal bill regarding homelessness on public federal lands, and a new future for Seattle's Memorial Stadium. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

With Seattle Public Schools seeking a new superintendent, and with four of the seven School Board Director positions up for election this fall, what challenges are ahead for a new set of local leaders on education? Are school closures still a possibility in Seattle? Plus, with state early learning programs getting delayed or cut, and with federal funding for schools in jeopardy, what's next for the 1.1 million K-12 students in the state of Washington? Former Seattle School Board Director Stephan Blanford, now the Executive Director of Children's Alliance (a non-profit advocacy organization) breaks down these issues and more with host Brian Callanan of The Seattle Channel. Want to get this content before anyone else? Support the show here 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 fallout from this past weekend's "No Kings" rallies, a financial crisis for affordable housing providers in Seattle, emerging problems for the voter-approved social housing developer, a ban on using algorithms to set rents, and a years of major shutdowns projected on I-5 north of Seattle. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!