The Overcast politics podcast

Newly sworn-in Seattle City Council member Andrew Lewis, center, is seen with his staff policy lead Jacob Thorpe, left, and Monica Martinez Simmons, the City Clerk, right, during an orientation meeting for new members, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, at Seattle City Hall. 212535

February 15, 2020 at 7:00 am

New member of Seattle City Council starts term tackling taxes, evictions, crime, homelessness

Andrew Lewis moved into City Hall less than two months ago, but the new Seattle City Council member has already debated winter evictions, downtown crime...

The homeless encampment under the 4th Avenue Olympia Yashiro Friendship Bridge, seen just after police, pictured, posted that the area would be swept, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020 in Olympia. 212722

February 6, 2020 at 12:47 pm

Lessons from a year of reporting on the homelessness crisis in Olympia

Can Olympia's response to a homelessness crisis provide lessons for other West Coast cities? The 'Outsiders' podcast takes a deep dive into the issue.

Earlier this decade, Washington had the third-highest rate in the nation of adults with a mental illness, and the second-highest rate for those whose illness interfered with major life activities. At the same time, a government survey ranked Washington’s inpatient psychiatric bed capacity almost last in the nation.This gap between need and specialized care has led to more patients waiting in facilities that aren’t equipped to treat them, and left nearly a quarter of adults with mental illness unable to get the help they needed.Yet one source of mental-health care has expanded rapidly: private psychiatric hospitals.State payments to five private psychiatric hospitals nearly tripled over five years, totaling almost $67 million in 2018.Seven such hospitals have been built or expanded in Washington since 2012. And when three more come online, they will have added more than 850 inpatient beds. All but one of the facilities are for-profit.Until 2012, state regulators hadn’t approved a new psychiatric hospital in years. What changed?As legal pressure mounted on Washington state to add psychiatric treatment beds, the expansion of Medicaid coverage and mental-health benefits created a potentially lucrative opportunity for health care companies.When all the approved psychiatric hospitals open, there will be almost three times as many beds in such facilities as there are in the psychiatric wings of medical hospitals.On paper, this expansion looks like a salve for Washington’s mental-health crisis.

January 17, 2020 at 7:00 am

Investigative reporter Daniel Gilbert uncovers problems at private psychiatric hospitals

On Episode 120 of The Overcast podcast, reporter Daniel Gilbert explains what his reporting over the course of the past year uncovered — and what...

FILE – In this April 22, 2019 file photo, Washington State Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, adjusts his laptop computer on the floor of the House, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. An investigative report prepared for the state Legislature and released Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 said that Shea took part in “domestic terrorism” against the United States during a 2016 standoff at a wildlife refuge in Oregon and traveled throughout the West meeting with far-right extremist groups. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) WATW204 WATW204

December 26, 2019 at 6:00 am

‘Bundyville’ podcaster Leah Sottile explains Rep. Matt Shea’s theocratic views

Journalist Leah Sottile says Rep. Matt Shea's actions — including his push for Eastern Washington to split off into a 51st state — can all...

Bothell City Council Position #2 candidate Leigh Henderson watches as election specialists divide ballots for the close Bothell City Council Position #2 election into five piles — one for candidate Mason Thompson, one for Henderson, one for write-in candidates, one for overvotes and the last for undervotes. Then a total count from each pile is made and is shared with the original tally from election results. The race is partly in King County and partly in the city of Bothell. A similar count will be made next week for those ballots. Combined election results show Thompson with a five-vote lead. Shot Thursday, December 5, 2019 at King County Election headquarters in Renton. If there is a fewer than 2,000 votes or a .5% difference in the total, a machine recount is done. If there are fewer than 150 votes or .25% difference, a hand recount is done.

Three King County city council races — Bothell, Mercer Island and Redmond — require a recount because they votes were so close.

212303

December 13, 2019 at 11:48 am

Redmond is growing and Medina is taxing after last month’s Eastside election results

Last month's elections, in Seattle's Eastside suburbs, saw women and renters win a majority on Redmond City Council, recounts in Bothell and Mercer Island,...

U.S. Rep. Denny Heck who represents the 10th congressional district.

November 8, 2019 at 11:00 am

Ukraine testimony shows 'abuse of power' by Trump, says Washington Rep. Denny Heck

Rep. Denny Heck says Republicans objecting to impeachment process refuse to answer the underlying question of whether Trump abused his authority in soliciting foreign investigation...

October 26, 2019 at 7:00 am

Breaking down Seattle races that could yield a ‘split council,’ with political consultant Monisha Harrell

Seattle's pivotal City Council elections are now less than two weeks away, and nobody knows how the races are going to shake out. But Monisha...

Hyeok Kim, a Seattle deputy mayor who’s represented her boss, Ed Murray, at several testy neighborhood meetings about homelessness, was homeless herself as a child. She tells us about the experience and how it shapes her still.

October 11, 2019 at 8:32 am

Former Seattle deputy mayor defends affirmative action Initiative 1000

Former Seattle Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim pushes back against opponents of I-1000 who argue it is unnecessary, pointing to continuing inequities in public contracting and...

Protesters opposed to Initiative 1000 chant and march following a joint Washington state House and Senate committee, Thursday, April 18, 2019, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Several members of the group spoke in opposition to Initiative 1000, which would allow the state government to use affirmative action policies that do not constitute preferential treatment to remedy discrimination in public employment, education and contracting. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) WATW114

October 4, 2019 at 9:57 am

'We want equality for all regardless of your skin color': Opponent of I-1000 explains why he's against Washington's affirmative-action measure

Kan Qiu, an opponent of I-1000, is urging voters to repeal the affirmative action measure passed by the Legislature earlier this year.

Tammy Morales celebrates her lead in the primary at her election watch party at Bang Bang Kitchen, as her husband Harry Teicher (right) holds up the results on his phone on Tuesday, August 6. Morales is running for Seattle City Council District 2. 211109 211109

August 10, 2019 at 6:00 am

Incumbents advance, questions linger after Seattle City Council primary election

Seattle Times City Hall reporter Daniel Beekman is joined by KNKX 88.5 reporter Simone Alicea to discuss which candidates are advancing past the top-two primary,...

Latest Headlines