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Hacks & Wonks

Crystal Fincher
Washington State Education
Opportunity Gaps
Education Funding
Public School System
School Closures
King County
Teacher Retention
Student Mental Health
Seattle City Council
AI In Education
Childhood Education
Seattle Police Department
Washington State
Seattle Public Schools
Digital Divide
Homelessness
Housing Crisis
Juvenile Crime
Gun Violence
Evictions

Hacks & Wonks is a show hosted by political consultant Crystal Fincher, who talks with Policy Wonks and Political Hacks to gather insight into local politics and policy in Washington state through the lens of those doing the work, with behind-the-scenes perspectives on what's happening, why it's happening and what you can do about it.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes465Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews CommentaryNews

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Artwork for Hacks & Wonks

Latest Episodes

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Melissa Santos discuss:

WA/CA/OR vaccine alliance

Cell phones in schools

Firefighter immigration raid = inside job

Harrell pushes light rail extensions despite shortfall

Autonomous vehicles p... more

Amy Sundberg, public safety reporter for The Urbanist and publisher of Notes from the Emerald City, joins Hacks & Wonks to discuss how Seattle's City Council is poised to expand the city's surveillance pilot program before collecting any evaluation d... more

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss:

🧊 Spokane blocks warrantless ICE action

🥡 $15m Uber Eats settlement

🛒 UFCW 3000 backs Wilson

🚲 Biker hit where safety upgrades were cancelled

🏫 School board update... more

Hacks & Wonks hosted a 2025 Post-Primary Roundtable on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 to dig into the 2025 primary results - what they mean, how they happened, and what's next - with the people who actually do the work of winning (and sometimes losing) cam... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Erika Evans
Candidate for Seattle City Attorney
Episode: Former Federal Prosecutor Erika Evans Launches Bid for Seattle City Attorney
Tiffani McCoy
Co-Executive Director of House Our Neighbors, campaigning for Proposition 1A
House Our Neighbors
Episode: Competing Social Housing Measures Face Off in Seattle Election with Rian Watt and Tiffani McCoy
Rian Watt
Fellow Urbanist Board member and local housing advocate
Episode: Competing Social Housing Measures Face Off in Seattle Election with Rian Watt and Tiffani McCoy
Everett Maroon
Executive Director of Blue Mountain Heart to Heart
Blue Mountain Heart to Heart
Episode: Harm Reduction Approach Vital for Addressing Opioid Crisis, Says Expert (Re-Air)
Stephanie Van Jacobs
Licensed clinical social worker and licensed addiction counselor currently serving as a program manager at WellPower.
WellPower
Episode: Denver's STAR Program Offers Promising Alternative Response to Mental Health and Substance Use Crises (Re-Air)
Evan Thompkins
STAR program specialist with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment overseeing the STAR program.
Denver Department of Public Health and Environment
Episode: Denver's STAR Program Offers Promising Alternative Response to Mental Health and Substance Use Crises (Re-Air)
Eleuthera Lisch
Director of the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention
King County
Episode: King County's Community-Led Approach Showing Promise in Combating Gun Violence (Re-Air)
Dr. Stephan Blanford
Executive Director of Children's Alliance, advocate for affordable, high-quality childcare
Children's Alliance
Episode: Children's Alliance Director Highlights Critical Importance of Affordable, High-Quality Childcare (Re-Air)
Robert Cruickshank
Chair of Sierra Club Seattle, longtime communications and political strategist
Sierra Club Seattle
Episode: Week in Review: December 6, 2024 - with Robert Cruickshank

Host

Crystal Fincher
Crystal Fincher is a political consultant and host, known for insightful discussions on local politics and policy issues in Washington state. She highlights progressive viewpoints and engages with experts to provide depth and context to political matters.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 94 ratings
  • Best, most in-depth local political podcast

    I consider myself pretty tuned in and aware of what is happening politically and policy-wise in Seattle and across the state, but every week I learn about something I hadn’t otherwise heard about and get a lot of great insight into what’s going on.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    camilleeonn
    United States20 days ago
  • Awesome comforting rational review of what’s going on in Washington politics and policy.

    This podcast is a welcome review of what’s going on in Washington politics and policy with a calm and considered approach that is so comforting these days. It means so much to have something to listen to that has clarity and rational consideration. Crystal does an excellent job and has great questions for her great guests. Please keep them coming.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    brentnospg
    United States8 months ago
  • Excellent. Informative.

    I listen to this podcast more than any other because Crystal and her guests always explain issues in a way that makes sense to me. I learn a ton about politics and the movers and shakers in WA from them. She also covers issues outside of only Seattle with the same level of integrity. She does her homework for sure, which is welcome!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    boatchick
    United Statesa year ago
  • Crystal Fincher is a cynical liar

    I said what I said

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    woodlandfemme
    United Statesa year ago
  • Super informative

    I have learned so much about Seattle and King County politics, governance, and budgeting. Crystal is so knowledgeable and helps keep listeners informed about important local matters. I wish everyone in the region listened to this!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CarrieHawthorne
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some criticisms mention a perceived bias from the host, with a few listeners expressing dissatisfaction with certain episodes.
Listeners appreciate the calm and rational commentary on politics, noting it provides clarity on complex issues.
Many value in-depth analysis of Washington state politics and the diverse range of guests featured.
The host is often praised for asking insightful questions that lead to engaging discussions.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Former Federal Prosecutor Erika Evans Launches Bid for Seattle City Attorney
Q: What would you implement or advise to promote transparency, accountability and community oversight when these technologies are deployed?
Evans believes in clear articulation of the purpose for surveillance tools and opposes broad use that disproportionately affects communities of color.
Former Federal Prosecutor Erika Evans Launches Bid for Seattle City Attorney
Q: Why are you running to be Seattle City Attorney and what are your priorities?
Evans runs to serve her community, prioritizing public safety through restorative justice, addressing root causes of crime, and fighting against unconstitutional federal overreach.
Melissa Demyan Challenges Larry Springer in 45th District Race (Re-Air)
Q: What will it take to pass the Keep Our Care Act, this legislative session, if you are elected?
Melissa highlights the need for organized community support to pass this critical healthcare legislation due to its significance for many Washingtonians.
Melissa Demyan Challenges Larry Springer in 45th District Race (Re-Air)
Q: What does a safe community look like to you, and what can you do in your role as a legislator to make that more possible?
Melissa focuses on victim support and adequate funding for victim services within the criminal justice framework.
Melissa Demyan Challenges Larry Springer in 45th District Race (Re-Air)
Q: What can you do as a legislator to make childcare more affordable for more people?
Melissa stresses the importance of hiring more childcare providers and making childcare an attractive profession to address its high cost.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hacks & Wonks

What is Hacks & Wonks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast offers insightful conversations centered around local politics and policy issues in Washington state. It features political consultants, policy experts, and community activists who provide behind-the-scenes perspectives on current events and decision-making processes. Topics frequently discussed include public safety, housing policies, education funding, and various social justice issues, all through an informed and engaging lens. Each episode aims to demystify political happenings and encourage listener engagement in local governance, making it highly relevant for those interested in civic matters and community activism.

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Which podcasts are similar to Hacks & Wonks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hacks & Wonks:

1. Seattle Nice
2. Week In Review
3. Seattle News, Views, and Brews
4. The Burner Seattle
5. Seattle Now

How many episodes of Hacks & Wonks are there?

Hacks & Wonks launched 5 years ago and published 465 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Hacks & Wonks?

Recent guests on Hacks & Wonks include:

1. Erika Evans
2. Tiffani McCoy
3. Rian Watt
4. Everett Maroon
5. Stephanie Van Jacobs
6. Evan Thompkins
7. Eleuthera Lisch
8. Dr. Stephan Blanford

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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