Inside Olympia

Water is an increasingly precious commodity. How is Washington State managing water resources in areas like the Columbia River Basin where demand outstrips supply? And as drought becomes more common, how is the state preparing for current and future dry spells? On the program, Tom Tebb, the recently retired Director of the Office of Columbia River at the Department of Ecology and Caroline Mellor, the statewide drought lead at Ecology.

Austin Jenkins sits downs and discusses tariffs, agriculture and energy with Washington State's Director of Commerce Joe Nguyen.

Inside Olympia, with host Austin Jenkins, sits down with State Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens.

This week on Inside Olympia....Austin Jenkins sits down with first-term State Representatives Natasha Hill of Spokane and Brian Burnett of Wenatchee.

We discuss the state budget with House Democratic Majority Leader Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, and Rep. Travis Couture, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee. Plus, Capital Press journalist Don Jenkins on covering agriculture- and farming-related news. 

This week on Inside Olympia....we sit down with top legislative leaders.  On the program, Speaker of the House Rep. Laurie Jinkins and Senate Republican Leader John Braun.

On this episode of Inside Olympia ... The debate over how to balance Washington's budget? Should lawmakers cut spending? Raise taxes? Or do some of both? We hear two perspectives. Treasure Mackley with Invest in Washington Now and Paul Graves with Enterprise Washington.

On this week's episode Austin Jenkins sits down with Matt Powers to discuss his newly released report titled, "Statehouse Journalism in Transition."

House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary. Plus, Rep. Kristine Reeves on her proposal to ban flavored vapes.

This week Austin Jenkins sits down with newly elected Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown.

This week we interview the new leader of WA's Dept of Children, Youth and Families, Tana Senn. Plus, Rep. Shelley Kloba on her data privacy bill, and Rep. Stephanie Barnard on her bills to advance nuclear power.

Washington's Public Works Board is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. While the board is not well known to most Washingtonians, chances are it has helped pay for an infrastructure project in your community -- from roads and bridges to drinking water, stormwater and sewer systems, recycling and solid waste, and more recently, broadband.Established by the Legislature in 1985, the board's low-interest loans have funded more than 2,000 critical infrastructure projects in towns and cities across the state. In 40 years there's never been a default on a loan.This week we dig into the history, mission, and future of the Public Works Board with its Executive Director, Maria Jawad, Board Chair Kathryn Gardow, and board members Kelly Snyder, Public Works Director for Snohomish County, and Gary Rowe, who retired after a career in public works in Jefferson and Skagit Counties, plus working for the Washington State Association of Counties.

This week on Inside Olympia....Austin Jenkins sits down with the newly sworn-in Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer.  Plus, we sit down with Rep. Clyde Shavers and talk Artificial Intelligence Legislation.

Host Austin Jenkins talks taxes with House Finance Chair April Berg and Ranking Republican Ed Orcutt. Plus, the state's fiscal health with State Treasurer Mike Pelicciotti.

We go in-depth with Senate budget leaders June Robinson and Chris Gildon. Plus, Capitol reporters look at the 2025 Legislature.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an interview with the outgoing Washington State Governor Jay Inslee who is leaving office after three consecutive terms.

An interview with newly re-elected Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, and an exit interview with outgoing Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Jilma Meneses.

This week on Inside Olympia....Austin Jenkins discusses the 5-year-old Career Connect Program with individuals from Partnership for Learning and the Chehalis School District.

Legislative budget writers watch his quarterly state revenue forecasts closely, to see how much revenue will be available to fund the state budget. Host Austin Jenkins sits down with state economic forecaster Dave Reich, who leads the Washington's Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.

Host Austin Jenkins interviews outgoing Washington State Department of Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange.

This week on Inside Olympia...we breakdown the election results with Democratic State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon and Republican Senator John Braun.

This week on Inside Olympia ... Is there any room left in politics for moderates? And what is the future of the Republican Party in Washington State? I sit down with former Secretary of State Sam Reed and Chief Historian John Hughes to discuss the new book: "Mr. Mainstream: Sam Reed's Half Century of Public Service and Ccivility.

On this episode of Inside Olympia....Austin Jenkins sits down with Health Benefit Exchange CEO Ingrid Ulrey and State Medicaid Director Charissa Fotinos.  

An in-depth interview with Adutant General Gent Welsh, who leads the Washington National Guard, Military Department and Emergency Management Division.

Washington's Office of Insurance Commissioner is open for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, as current Commissioner Mike Kreidler will not run for reelection. Vying to replace him are two state senators: Democrat Patty Kuderer and Republican Phil Fortunato. Learn about their priorities for this important but often overlooked statewide office, this week on Inside Olympia.

On this week's show....He came from one state that pioneered the legal use of recreational cannabis -- Colorado -- to another pioneering state, Washington. Meet Will Lukela, the director of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.

This week Austin Jenkins sits down with retiring legislators Karen Keiser and Mike Padden.

This week on Inside Olympia...Roger Rogoff, director of the state's Office of Independent Investigations, which is set to begin examining police deadly force cases.

On this week's Inside Olympia ... What will it take to create a robust and comprehensive behavioral health system in Washington? Why is it taking so long to get there? And what are the barriers to success? On the program for the full hour this week, Amber Leaders, Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Behavioral Health.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an interview with Washington's 2024 Elementary School Principal of the Year, Dr. Cathy Sork of Dorothy Fox Elementary in Camas.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down with 2024 Washington Teacher of the Year Blaire Penry. Penry, from the Auburn School District, has been interviewed by Bill Gates, and has a lot to say about online learning, artificial intelligence in the classroom, equity and diversity in education, and more.

Host Austin Jenkins does an in-depth interview with Dan Wilson of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and Claire Davis of WA Wildlife First.

On this week's episode of Inside Olympia …. We continue our in-depth look into how Washington manages its fish and wildlife populations.  On the program for the full hour is the agency head of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Department Kelly Susewind.

This week, the first interview in a three-part series on the management of fish and wildlife in Washington state. Host Austin Jenkins sits down for the full hour with Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Chair Barbara Baker, and Commissioner Jim Anderson.

On this episode of Inside Olympia...From Hanford cleanup to salmon-harming toxins to the state's carbon pollution credit program … The Department of Ecology is the regulatory agency in charge. How is ecology managing the state's most pressing environmental hazards? On the program this week is the Director of Ecology Laura Watson.

On this episode of Inside Olympia....Host Austin Jenkins discusses veterans' services and housing with the Director of the WA State Department of Veterans Affairs David Puente.

On this week's episode of Inside Olympia … How is Washington State's government working to combat the fentanyl crisis? We talk with Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah, and Sue Birch of the State Health Care Authority.  Also, what lessons were learned from covid? And how concerned should we be about bird flu? Dr. Shah discusses those and other priority issues for the State Department of Health.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an in-depth interview with retiring former House Republican Leader and State Representative J.T. Wilcox, of Yelm.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an in-depth interview with retiring legislator Andy Billig, Senate Majority Leader from Spokane.

A statewide drought emergency has been declared. How low is the snowpack? And what are the implications for fish, farms and people? We ask representatives of the Department of Ecology and Agriculture.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an in-depth interview with State Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong.

An interview with Washington Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Jilma Meneses.

Interviews with State Representatives Jamila Taylor and Kevin Waters.

An exit interview with retiring State Senator Sam Hunt, plus a discussion on K-12 public schools with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal.

Host Austin Jenkins interviews Washington Health Care Authority Director Sue Birch about the work of the HCA's Health Care Cost Transparency Board.

On this episode of Inside Olympia...We recap the legislative session with Lt. Governor Denny Heck. Plus we meet Megan Matthews, Director of Washington's Office of Equity. 

On this week's episode of Inside Olympia....It's been more than half a century since Washington voters approved the Public Records Act. Now a new report from the Washington Coalition for Open Government warns the spirit and letter of that law are being undermined. We talk with the Mike Fancher, the nonprofit's president about recommendations for strengthening it.

Host Austins Jenkins interviews WA's Long-Term Care Ombuds Patricia Hunter and Family and Children's Ombuds Director Patrick Dowd.

On this week's episode of Inside Olympia: Austin Jenkins sits down with DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter.

Artificial Intelligence is the topic of discussion on Inside Olympia this week. Austin Jenkins sits down with state legislators and the Chief Technology and Chief Privacy Officers for Washington State.

On Inside Olympia...we take a lookback at the Boldt decision and how that helped secure the fishing rights for tribes in Washington State.