The Um, Sir Podcast

In this episode of The Um, Sir Podcast, Emily and Demi Chatters, District 2 Commissioner on the Snohomish County Charter Review Commission, break down the five charter amendments on the November ballot (or as they'd put it, five flaming paper bags on your doorstep) and deliver one simple message: don't touch them, vote no on all of them.

Demi recounts how a developer-funded PAC helped conservatives sweep 11 of 15 commission seats in a low-turnout election, plus the delightful hire of a developer lobbying firm's vice president (and cousin of a sitting commissioner) as commission clerk. She challenged it, and was told to "keep this in the family." Cool.

The through-line: this is a local version of Project 2025. "Project 42" (Washington is the 42nd state, very clever), a coordinated effort that killed every community-driven proposal, from ranked choice voting to real contract transparency.

Demi and her three non-PAC-funded colleagues filed a formal letter of dissent that no media touched. All politics is local, your vote matters, and the whole thing lands somewhere between civic education and two politico friends laughing so they don't cry.

Remember to VOTE!

Check your ballot and status at Votewa.gov

Find a ballot Drop Box (It's the most reliable way to get your vote counted) at the Washington State Secretary of State's Website HERE.

And reach out for other ways to get involved and spread the word!

In this episode, Emily shares her greatest professional bloopers. From the now infamous "welcome to be here" podcast flub to rambling about ditches on the House of Representatives Floor. She reveals how these cringe-worthy moments accidentally became her superpower. Spoiler: The secret to building community isn’t being perfect, it’s being real (even when that means laughing at yourself). A hilarious and heartfelt reminder that our mess is what makes us human.

Emily and her guest Sam Minter go almost live for primary election night, breaking down Michigan’s tight Democratic Senate race (El-Sayed vs. Stevens), Washington’s local battles from state Legislative Districts on the west and east side of the state, to Supreme Court contests, and the tension between voting your conscience or strategizing—plus real-time reactions to turnout, levy wins, and why independent candidates rarely work in WA.

Check out your ballot status in Washington State - Vote.Wa.Gov

Bill Phillips Commentary on National races - Facebook

Democrats Confront Their New Tea Party Reality- Huffington Post

Washington state primary election results 2026 - Seattle Times

El-Sayed and Stevens Project Party Unity After Divisive Race - New York Times

On this episode, we dig into childcare, because here’s the thing: it’s not just a parent problem, it’s an everyone problem. Debbie Carlsen, founder of Washington Families Thrive and general community superhero, joined us to break down why childcare crisis is tanking our workforce, and what the hell we can do about it.

The shit news? 40% of families are cutting hours, 30% are turning down jobs, and 20% are quitting because childcare is either impossible to find or impossible to afford. Meanwhile, we’re underpaying the educators who could literally change our kids’ lives. High-quality early learning interrupts poverty, boosts graduation rates, and even breaks the school-to-prison pipeline—but we treat the people doing this work like glorified babysitters instead of the skilled professionals they are.

Debbie’s org is doing the work: matching families with providers, helping childcare businesses fill their slots, and pushing for real solutions. But here’s the kicker—we need everyone at the table. Businesses, stop whining about labor shortages and start offering childcare benefits. Policy makers, stop pretending this is just a “women’s issue” and start treating it like the economic priority it is.

Bottom line: Childcare isn’t a niche problem. It’s infrastructure. And it’s past time we acted like it. Need help or want to help? Hit up WashingtonFamiliesThrive.com.

In this episode of the Um Sir Podcast, Emily's sits down with Keith Macaulay to unpack FIFA’s wild ride. From its "humble" 1904, Old Boys Club beginnings as a small European club to the multi-billion-dollar powerhouse it is today. They dive into the corruption, the backroom deals, and the larger-than-life characters like João Havelange and Sepp Blatter who turned development funds into political currency and World Cup bids into bidding wars. The conversation covers the 2015 DOJ probe, the Garcia Report cover-up, and the human cost of hosting controversies like Qatar 2022.

But hey, for all the drama, it’s still the beautiful game, bringing the world together, one goal at a time.

Listen: Pitch to Puget Sound Podcast

Local Playbook: Game on Everett

Puget Sound Deets: Seattle FWC

Documentaries & Series

• FIFA Uncovered (Netflix) – 3-part docuseries on FIFA’s corruption
• El Presidente (Prime Video) – Season 2 covers João Havelange’s rise and reign
• ESPN’s Qatar World Cup investigation (featuring Jeremy Schaap)
• Copa 90’s Argentina series – Deep dive into the nation’s football passion

News & Investigative Reports:

• The Guardian: 6,500+ migrant worker deaths in Qatar (2010–2020) – Wage theft, passport confiscation, and extreme heat conditions.
• U.S. DOJ 2015 FIFA Corruption Case – Press releases and findings
• The Garcia Report – FIFA’s redacted summary (full report was suppressed)

Historical Events

• 1966 World Cup controversy – Suspected bias against Brazil
• 1974 Chile-USSR playoff – Played in a stadium used as a torture camp under Pinochet
• 2010 Haiti earthquake – FIFA emergency funds stolen by Jack Warner
• 2018/2022 World Cup bidding scandals – Russia and Qatar’s bribery schemes
• 2034 World Cup bid – Saudi Arabia’s controversial selection

"Official" & Reference

• FIFA’s official website – Current sponsors, tournaments, and governance
• UEFA – European football’s governing body
• CONCACAF – North/Central America & Caribbean federation
• CONMEBOL – South American football confederation
• U.S. Soccer Federation – Governance and team info

While Samie and Emily break for their mental health, they're dropping a very special episode from The Future of Our Former Democracy—yes, the Signal Award-winning podcast that’s basically Snohomish’s coolest export besides, like, Colin Cole (hi, Colin!). It’s made by this Seattle-based racial justice org, More Equitable Democracy, which, same, icon behavior.

This season they are drawing parallels between Nazi Germany’s rise and, uh… *gestures vaguely at everything*… our current political moment.
And how Germany rebuilt its democracy to keep extremism from pulling a sequel.

Episode one is all about how Germany overhauled its elections post-WWII to avoid, y’know, another fascist takeover. And now Colin and Heather Villanueva are over here like, ‘So… how do we not repeat history?’ Mood.

Want more? Hit follow on The Future of Our Former Democracy wherever you get your podcasts: Apple, Spotify, all the usual suspects. Trust us, it’s a vibe.

Guest: Randy Bolerjack, Everett Charter Review Committee Member

The Gist:
Emily in Everett sits down with Randy Bolerjack, another self-proclaimed "civic nerd" and Everett’s Charter Review Committee member, to unpack the wildly underrated world of city charters. Spoiler: It’s the rulebook for how your city (or county) runs, and most of us have no idea what’s in it, let alone, what it is!

Why It Matters:

• Your city’s charter = its constitution. Want to change how local government works? This is where it starts.
• Everett’s committee (15 members, because democracy loves a crowd) is reviewing everything from council powers to election rules. And yes, they want your input.
• Randy’s day job? Overseeing WA state’s elections, libraries, and charities. So if you thought this was nerdy, just wait.

Call to Action:
Read your city’s charter. Attend a meeting. Pretend to care at parties. 

Vibe Check:
✅ Wonky but fun
✅ 100% necessary
✅ Guaranteed to make you the most interesting person at your next city council meeting

Listen if: You’ve ever wondered why your local government works the way it does (or doesn’t).

P.S. Randy’s a Coug. We’ll let you decide if that’s a pro or a con.

Learn more:
Follow Randy on Instagram
Email Randy: [email protected]
Everett Charter Review Committee
County Forms of Government - Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MSRC)
Snohomish County Charter Review Commission
What is a Charter? - League of Women Voters' of Snohomish County
Who is running the Snohomish County Charter Review Commission? - News Tribune
By Abi Ludwig is a co-founder of Standing for Washington, sponsors of Everett Initiative 24-03
Washington State Secretary of State Elections
Everett Link Extension - Sound Transit
Build the Damn Trains
Everett Outdoor Event Center - City of Everett
Everett AquaSox 2026 Season

This week on Um, Sir, we take a deep dive into Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. The vibes, the votes, the “I’m not like other Democrats” energy, and ask the question: who exactly is this for? From SAVE Act support to ICE funding to car analogies that never quite land, we unpack the rural vs. Seattle narrative, Blue Dog politics, and what it actually means to represent working people without throwing your own base under the bus. It’s nuanced. It’s spicy. It’s a little exasperated. And yes… shit’s terrible. 

Note: She did, in fact, end up voting against the Save Act the very next day. Did she see our "bang" reel on Instagram?

CHECK OUT
Snohomish Podcast Network

Right to Repair - Facebook

The Banana Act (Food Handling Reform) - Facebook

LISTEN

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez on What Urbanites Get Wrong about Rural America - Blue City Blues Podcast with David Hyde and Sandeep Kaushik

Seattle Nice Podcast - with David Hyde, Erica Barnett, and Sandeep Kaushik

WATCH
I'm definitely not your typical candidate for Congress - Facebook
Running an Auto Repair Shop (August 2024 Reel) - Instagram 

"Shit’s Terrible” – ICE Funding Defense Clip  - Instagram 

Bumper Stickers & Branding (October 2024)  - Instagram 

Border Security / Fentanyl Messaging Shift (June 2024 Ad) - Facebook

“I Can’t Believe I’m Still Saying This” (Fundraising Video – June 28, 2025)  - Instagram 

4/24 Outside Marie Glusenkamp Perez’s Town Hall - TikTok

That’s it! Emily is growing out her bangs. Thanks for the “heads up” - Instagram

READ
The Betrayals of Marie Gluesenkamp Perez by Karissa Halstrom - Current Affairs
Blue Dogs aim to grow their ranks - Politico 

Israel bars Muslim Reps. Omar and Tlaib from visiting the country - NBC News

Gluesenkamp Perez Releases Statement After Voting to Reopen the Government - Press Release

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez joins other Democrats to vote against SAVE America Act - The Columbian 

ON WHISTLES

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network on Whistles

Our Common Power on Whistles  

Update: WAISN blocked us - SuperFamilia_KC

SUPPORT
Our Common Power

LEARN MORE
Five Things to Know About the SAVE America Act - Bipartisan Policy Center

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez - House of Representatives Webpage

Contributions - Federal Elections Commission
According to the American Jewish Committee “From the River to the Sea” Meaning

Congress is investigating the Super Bowl halftime show (because priorities), the Epstein files are still a mess, and somehow Dr. Oz wants us to trust him again. Cool, cool.

This week, Emily, Samie, and special guest Cindy Goble (elections queen, law degree holder, civic enthusiast) break down the Grammys fashion chaos, Bad Bunny’s culture-shifting halftime show, Jake Paul’s colonizer nonsense, and why Republicans are mad about Puerto Rico existing. We spiral (responsibly) through Epstein updates, local ballot drama, and the radical concept of… voting.

Grab a beverage. Democracy is tired, but we’re not.

CHECK OUT
Snohomish Podcast Network
Book banning in Washington state: An FAQ - ACLU of Washington

U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Epstein Files Release Portal - U.S. Justice Department

Washington State Voter Portal (register, check ballot status, text notifications) - WA Secretary of State

Washington State Legislature bill tracker - Washington State Legislature

LISTEN

“I don’t have to understand something to appreciate it” - TheDadChats 

WATCH

PBS Documentary: The Librarians - PBS
Naked Attraction - HBO
Anoushka DiGiorgio, Epstine File Dump Betrayal - TikTok
Super Bowl Halftime Show full performance (Bad Bunny) - Reddit
Trevor Noah’s Grammy monologue recap - TikTok
Dropkick Murphys statement regarding Wasserman Media - Facebook
Congressional press statements about investigating the halftime show - YouTube

READ

'Suspicious' substance found in Snohomish County ballot box, sheriff says - KING 5
“Good Republican” Bill. HB 1584: Ending vote by mail for nonabsentee voters and restoring in-person voting at polling places and voting centers. - Washington State Legislature
Thousands of Epstein documents taken down after victims identified - MSN
Heidi Klum’s Nude 2026 Grammys Dress Is Molded to Her Butt Crack - Cosmopolitan
Every Single Gorgeous Red Carpet Look From the 2026 Grammy Awards - Cosmopolitan
The Files & Carol Montgomery - Justice.Gov

Um, Sir: Part Two picks up an unfiltered, wide-ranging conversation with Ryan Johnson that dives headfirst into immigration, ICE, labor exploitation, and who actually benefits from the system as it exists. From a blue-collar truck driver’s perspective, the hosts unpack why employer accountability (not worker punishment) is the missing piece in the immigration debate, drawing clear lines between labor trafficking, modern-day exploitation, and political cowardice. Along the way, the episode weaves in history, media, pop culture, and a brutally honest conversation about messaging, power, and why talking at people instead of with them keeps us stuck. It’s raw, funny, uncomfortable, and exactly the conversation we’re not having enough.

CHECK OUT
Snohomish Podcast Network

LISTEN

Um, Sir – Part One: Labor, Logistics, and Losing Our Minds
Curmudgeon's Corner
Good Hang with Amy Poehler - YouTube

WATCH

Stranger Things
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
House of the Dragon
Shameless

READ

Employing undocumented workers in Texas is illegal, but rarely enforced - KXKN
Employers steal billions from workers’ paychecks each year - Economic Policy Institute
The Fourth Turning Is Here - By Neil Howe
A Chill Sets In for Undocumented Workers, and Those Who Hire Them - NY Times
Without DALE, Employers Gain More Power to Exploit Workers - Center for Law and Social Policy
Undocumented builders face unchecked exploitation amid Trump raids: ‘It’s more work, less pay’ - The Guardian
The Everett Massacre - Everett Public Library
The Minneapolis teamsters’ strike of 1934 - MinnPost
1997 United Parcel Service Strike - Teamsters for a Democratic Union
Chicago Teamsters’ Strike of 1905: Topics in Chronicling America - Library of Congress

SUPPORT

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Northwest Community Bail Fund
Washington State Labor Council
(PBS) Public Broadcasting Systems
Support KUOW & NPR

BUY. IF YOU MUST
Union-made goods and fair-labor brands (if you’re going to spend money anyway) 
Merch or memberships that support independent podcasts and creators

LEARN MORE

Workers’ Rights, National Immigration Law Center
Immigrant and Justice Toolkit - Washington State Labor Council
Seattle Legal Defense Network
National Immigration Legal Services Directory
What ITINs are and how undocumented workers actually pay taxes