Advertise on podcast: Capitol Ideas: The Washington State House Democratic Caucus Podcast

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 Washington State Boys and Men Commission, an innovative idea that can help lawmakers address some of the unique challenges facing half of the state’s population.

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 budget.

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 issues and more through the lens of making the state a better place for infants, toddlers, “kids,” and those on the exciting brink of young adulthood. If you have children, or if you’ve ever been young, you’ll enjoy this one.

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 the most difficult she's encountered, and today she walks us through what turned out to be a session marked by landmark victories and sometimes-painful realities. If you're interested in Washington state legislative goings-on, this is a half-hour to savor.

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 life as a professional soccer referee, and ended up with a half hour that goes by much too quickly.

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 episode, all by itself.

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 Capitol Ideas is a repost of a conversation that originally ran in early 2024.

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 City -- to another, and explains his bills, his committee leadership and the work of the Latino Democratic Caucus...and does it all in 20 minutes!

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. There are interesting things to learn if you'll hit the play button on this episode.

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 plenty more.

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 the taxpayer's purse, all in one.

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 of us. Today's episode is a little longer than your typical Capitol Ideas, but it's justified. This is a good one.

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 Capitol and already has bills poised to become law. You'll meet him today as we continue our conversations with the newest members of the House Democratic Caucus.

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 Evergreen State are too numerous to list here, but if you listen to today's conversation, you'll notice a promise to include some items in the show notes. Here, in no particular order, are some of the things that he played a pivotal role in: the state Housing Trust fund; the best minimum wage in the U.S.; paid family and medical leave; free college and university tuition for those who need it most; the Marriage Equality Act; the Dream Act; the Voting Rights Act; the Long-term Care Trust Act; the Education Legacy Fund; The College Bound Scholarship program; Apple Health for All Kids; Apple Health and Homes; and 20 years of state budgets that put people first.

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.