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

Um, Sir… why is everything terrible, radioactive, and somehow still about bathrooms?

Emily and Samie are joined by Ryan Johnson, a veteran truck driver and Teamster, to unpack how trucking, labor rights, and basic human dignity collide. Ryan breaks down how trucking is structured to reward long hours, unpaid waiting time, and “pay by the mile” systems that leave workers absorbing all the risk — including the fight to secure something as basic as bathroom access.

The conversation escalates (quickly) into fracking, radioactive wastewater, and how hazardous materials are moved and dumped with little enforcement, putting workers and communities at risk. It’s bleak, sharp, and painfully funny — a reminder that everything is connected, and none of it works without labor.

CHECK OUT
Snohomish Podcast Network
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
General Teamsters Local Union No. 38
HB 1706, Concerning truck drivers ability to access restroom facilities (2022) WA State Legislature
Trucker Resource, Port of Everett

LISTEN
From Pitch To Puget Sound - upcoming new show!
Good Time Girls in Bellingham - Bellingham History

WATCH

Ice Road Truckers, The History Channel
Poisoned Waters (full documentary), PBS Frontline
Geochemistry of produced waters sourced from the Marcellus Shale, Justin Makey, PhD, YouTube

READ

America’s Radioactive Secret, By Justin Nobel (2020), Rolling Stone

I’m A Twenty Year Truck Driver, I Will Tell You Why America’s “Shipping Crisis” Will Not End, By Ryan Johnson, Medium
I Am A Twenty Year Truck Driver, Part 2: How Truckers Are Paid, By Ryan Johnson, Medium

Radioactive Shadow Workers: The treatment of oil and gas field waste is a dirty industry’s dirtiest secret, By Justin Nobel, Sierra Club Magazine

Truckers Petition Feds to Enforce HAZMAT Rules on Oil and Gas Waste, By Dustin Renaud, Earth Justice

Orphan Well Explosion in Wayne National Forest Injures 6, Including 5 Critically, The Intelligencer

SUPPORT
Worker-led labor organizations and strike funds supporting drivers, warehouse workers, and port labor.

Environmental justice groups fighting toxic dumping and injection wells, especially in Appalachia.

Local and national efforts pushing for enforcement of existing hazmat and labor laws (not just new bills).

BUY. IF YOU MUST

Union-made goods
Waste: One Woman's Fight Against America's Dirty Secret by Catherine Coleman Flowers (2020)

Run to Failure: BP and the Making of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster by Abrahm Lustgarten (2012)

Poisoned Water: How the Citizens of Flint, Michigan, Fought for Their Lives and Warned the Nation by Candy J. Cooper and Marcina Wheeler (2020)

Not radioactive road salt. Ever. Just… don’t.

LEARN MORE
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Basics of hazardous materials law, bills of lading, National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA)
How to read rail and truck placards

This week on Um, Sir, Emily and Samie are joined by veteran educator Steve Cross for a wide-ranging conversation that connects everyday chaos to the very real stakes of public education. From teaching middle school and surviving ninth graders to Caribbean travel detours and student protests, they manage to discuss it all. 

Listen as they attempt to break down school levies and bonds, share how property taxes actually fund schools, and discuss why low-turnout elections have lasting consequences for students, teachers, and communities. It’s a reminder that school funding isn’t abstract—it’s counselors, class sizes, safe buildings, and support kids rely on every day. 

Civics, but make it human.

CHECK OUT

Vote.Wa.Gov
Snohomish Podcast Network
Everett Public Schools Bond and Levy Information
Snohomish School District Levy Information
Property Tax Basics - Municipal Research & Service Center (MRSC)
Everett High School students walked out of classes today in protest ICE activity in Snohomish County and around the country - Instagram, Iganniphoto
Happening now at the Snohomish County Campus Plaza. Everett High School students have gathered to protest ICE, today, Tuesday, Jan. 13. - Facebook, Everett Post

LISTEN

Um, Sir Podcast: RFK Impersonations, Property Tax Bills, and Smut
Um, Sir Podcast: The System Is Designed to Kill Your Bil

Morbid Podcast - Spotify

Every Outfit Podcast

WATCH

Bonds & Levies: What’s the Difference - NWESD YouTube 

Hilary Knight on Chasing Olympic Gold, Team USA Pressure, and the Future of Women’s Hockey - FanSided NHL, YouTube

Aneta Tejralova —> Sarah Fillier #HFHits - HockeyFights, Instagram

Professor Shocks High School by Speaking Gen Z Slang - Facebook

READ

Everett High students walk out to protest ICE activity - Everett Herald
Local high school students rally in support against ICE activities - The Clipper
Schools eye fixes to leaky roofs, aging boilers, old tech - Everett Herald (April 17, 2022)
The Pathfinder: The Ballot Information Problem - Cascade PBS 

In Our View: Local media’s decline factors into election - The Columbian

Equal is Not Good Enough: An Analysis of School Funding Across the U.S. and Within Each State - The Education Trust

Breaking down WA's school funding formula - Cascade PBS

Explainers on property taxes and special taxing districts (fire, school, library, ports)

2023 is the new worst: Washington again sets a record for low turnout in a general election - The Cascadia Advocate
Seattle Torrent player suspended for 'forceful, predatory' check to opponent's head - KOMO News

SUPPORT

(PBS) Public Broadcasting Systems

Support KUOW & NPR

BUY. IF YOU MUST

Rum from Antigua (coconut, vanilla, cardamom optional) - Total Wine and More

Torrent Hockey Tickets

LEARN MORE

Levy Data, Rolls, and Election Results Data - Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Granite Falls School District Levy Information
Snohomish County Sample Ballots and Voters Guide
Northwest Educational Service District (ESD 189)