Capitol Ideas is pleased to introduce Rep. Sharlett Mena. She's done policy and communications work in the Washington state Senate, Gov. Inslee's administration, and the U.S. Congress. We've got her now, as a brand-new state representative and member of the House Democratic Caucus. Today she talks about her life, her values, her legislative priorities, and more.

Teens who take part in Washington's legislative page program have a unique experience. They come to Olympia from all over the state, sponsored by a lawmaker, and spend a week learning about state government while helping out with everything from delivering important papers to carrying the flags in opening ceremonies in the House and Senate. In today's special Capitol Ideas, Spokane Rep. Marcus Riccelli interviews high-school freshman Claire Poulsen about her week as a page. For more...

A few days ago Capitol Ideas introduced Rep. Mary Fosse, and today we'll follow up with her seatmate from the 38th district, Rep. Julio Cortes. Julio brings a unique life story to the Legislature -- immigrant, public servant, athlete, social worker -- and we'll talk about all that and more in today's Capitol Ideas.

Today we’ll spend some time on Capitol Ideas with Rep. Mary Fosse of the 38th legislative district up in Snohomish County. This is Mary’s first session in the House but as a longtime community activist, a member of the Everett City Council, and a former legislative staffer, she knows how the place works. We’ll talk about that, and more, in today’s episode.

Week five of Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon's first session as Majority Leader of the Washington state House of Representatives coincided with policy cut-off, arguably the busiest week of the year. He still agreed to spend some time with Capitol Ideas, and now is your chance to get to know a remarkable leader.

Rep. Roger Goodman returns to Capitol Ideas today, seven years after his last appearance. As chair of the newly renamed House Community Safety, Justice, and Re-entry Committee, he’s busier than ever. Find out what he and his committee are working on in the 2023 legislative session in today’s conversation.

The Nothing About Us Without Us Act is Rep. Darya Farivar's highest-profile bill in her first year as a lawmaker, but it's not her only one. Get to know the 46th district's new representative, the first Iranian-American woman ever elected to the Legislature and a fighter for the underrepresented, in this Thursday edition of Capitol Ideas

You might not know who she is, but Rep. Shelley Kloba probably cares more about your online privacy than you do . . . because she knows how little you've got. One of her big bills this session is the People's Privacy Act, and you'll learn why it's important in this episode of Capitol Ideas.

Rep. Marcus Riccelli dropped by the Capitol Ideas studio to talk about free school meals, protecting reproductive freedom, chipping away at the healthcare workforce shortage, and more.

Rep. Strom Peterson (D-21st, Edmonds) visits Capitol Ideas to talk about public safety, octopus farming, and his bipartisan approach to easing the housing crisis. This is one you don't want to miss.

Today we're talking with 10th-district Rep. Clyde Shavers: Annapolis grad, former naval officer, and brand-new state representative.

Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self is a school counselor, a mental-health counselor, a state representative, and chair of the House Democratic Caucus in Olympia. Not surprisingly, she's passionate about education and young people. Give Capitol Ideas 15 minutes today and you'll hear all about it. And more.

Rep. My-Linh Thai came to America from her native Vietnam at 15. Years later she became the first refugee elected to serve in the state House of Representatives, and she began the 2023 session with a new title: Deputy Majority Leader. You'll meet her today, and you'll be glad you did.

Back in 2009, Washington State Rep. Timm Ormsby and Legislative Assistant Shannon Waechter were featured on the third-ever episode of a brand-new podcast called Capitol Ideas, talking about the teamwork necessary in a legislative office. We circle back today to find out what's changed, and what hasn't, now that 13 years have passed and, as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Timm is the chamber's head budget writer.

Despite a tenure of just three years in the House, Rep. Jesse Johnson has been one of the Legislature's busiest and most respected members almost from the day he was first sworn in to fill a vacancy in the 30th district in January 2020. He's leaving the House at the end of his current term to play a bigger role in the life of his newborn son. In this special Capitol Ideas, Jesse reflects on his brief time as a lawmaker, the accomplishments he's most proud of, and work yet to be done.

Rep. Lisa Callan co-chairs the Legislature's Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group. She sits on the House Children, Youth, and Families Committee. Are you seeing a pattern here? If you're a child, a youth, or a member of a family, chances are excellent Lisa has sponsored successful legislation during her time in the House that makes your life better. Stick around for a half hour and get acquainted with someone who plays an important role in your life, whether you know it or not.

Rep. Tina Orwall, today's guest, is a powerhouse of a legislator. She has a tendency to sponsor successful bills, and a look at those bills reveals where her priorities lie: justice for those who have suffered sexual assault or trafficking, veterans' issues, suicide prevention, jobs and economic development, safety for persons experiencing behavioral health crises, foster youth, and adoptee rights, to name just a few. Tina is also Speaker Pro Tem of the Washington State House, handling the...

For this week's Capitol Ideas we're heading up to the Olympic Peninsula to hear from Rep. Mike Chapman, the six-year veteran of the House who chairs the House Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee. Mike is a former law-enforcement professional, served four terms as a Clallam County commissioner, and lives in Port Angeles when he's not in Olympia. Today's topics range from the college-loan crisis to the origins of Washington's short legislative sessions to getting...

What's it like to occupy the highest office in the Washington state House of Representatives? Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins knows. What's that job entail? And how is she committed to making Washington a better, healthier, safer, and more equitable home for everyone in the state? You'll find out in today's special Capitol Ideas.

It's always a good day when House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan drops by the Capitol Ideas HQ. Now in his 12th year as Majority Leader, Rep. Sullivan is busy with budget negotiations and countless other duties, but high on his priority list is getting his one-percent college-loan program approved in the Senate and signed by Gov. Inslee. It's been a multi-year effort and this looks like the year.

If you know what doulas are and the valuable services they provide, you'll enjoy this conversation with Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley. If doula is a new word for you, you just might get even more out of today's episode. Rep. Harris-Talley (D-Seattle) is sponsor of the Doulas for All Act, legislation that could transform the birthing process for countless families. To keep up with progress on the bill, visit https://bit.ly/3H1AMdb.

This is your chance to get to know Rep. Brandy Donaghy. Brandy, who lives in Everett and represents Washington's 44th legislative district, is a Navy vet, community educator, and emergency-preparedness expert who was appointed in December to the House seat vacated when Rep. John Lovick accepted an appointment to the state Senate.

Current estimates put Washington's housing shortage at about 250,000 units, and today's guests, Rep. Jessica Bateman and Sen. Mona Das, are sponsoring legislation that would open the door for construction of tens of thousands of affordable homes -- duplexes, triplexes, quads and sixplexes -- in neighborhoods currently zoned for single-family homes only. Bateman and Das explain how HB 1782 and SB 5670 could begin to reverse decades of sprawl, housing inequity, and greenhouse gas pollution, and...

The first Capitol Ideas guest of 2022 is Rep. Tana Senn. Tana is from Bellevue, is a Democrat, of course, and is one of the state's leading advocates for kids, young adults, and families. She's sponsoring an important bill about preventing youth homelessness this session, and we'll talk about it today. If you want to see the bill and track its progress, visit https://bit.ly/32pDTNQ.

Long before joining the House Democratic Caucus in 2021, Jessica Bateman, both as a private citizen and as a member of the Olympia city council, was a fighter -- for climate action, affordable housing, and affordable and accessible health care, for social justice, equity, and kids at risk. Now that she's representing the 22nd legislative district as a state representative, Jess fights for those same issues, but in a larger arena. We'll talk about all this and more in today's special edition...