
The Elephant in the Dome
The official podcast of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus.
Episodes
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The official podcast of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus.
Reading the feed…
Hosted by Senator Chris Gildon, this episode of The Elephant in the Dome features Washington Retail Association guests Jan Himebaugh and Crystal Leatherman. Together, they explore Washington’s escalating organized retail crime crisis, examine its connection to broader illegal networks, and discuss actionable solutions to rebuild accountability. TRANSCRIPT The post The Cost of Crime: Unpacking Washington State’s Organized Retail Theft Crisis appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.
In this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senator Chris Gildon hosts Senator Ron Muzzall the ranking Republican on the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee. They break down the complex 340B Drug Pricing Program—a federal initiative designed to help safety-net health clinics and hospitals acquire discounted prescription medication for low-income patients. They discuss […] The post Decoding 340B: The $81 Billion Drug Discount Program Explained | The Elephant in the Dome appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.
In this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senator Chris Gildon pulls back the curtain on the real issues facing Washington. From the controversial impacts of the Climate Commitment Act on gas prices and utility bills to a deep dive into Olympia’s looming budget shortfall, Sen. Gildon breaks down the numbers that the majority […] The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast—Ferguson’s Gas Crisis, Shaky Budgets, America @ 250 w/Sen. Chris Gildon appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.
In this episode of Elephant in the Dome, Senator Chris Gildon sits down with foster parent and healthcare professional Tracie Jefferson. They dive deep into the devastating, unintended consequences of Washington State’s “Keeping Families Together Act,” examining how its high removal thresholds and systemic issues impact vulnerable children. TRANSCRIPT The post The Crisis of Washington’s “Keeping Families Together Act” | Elephant in the Dome Podcast appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.
Is housing really the solution to Washington’s homelessness crisis? Senator Chris Gildon and investigative journalist Jonathan Choe discuss why “Housing First” models are failing. They explore the impact of fentanyl, the lack of taxpayer accountability, and why treating addiction as a mental illness is the only way forward for Washington state. Transcript: The Elephant in […] The post The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Is Washington Misdiagnosing the Homeless Crisis? | Jonathan Choe & Sen. Chris Gildon appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.
In this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senator Chris Gildon and the Washington Policy Center’s Todd Myers break down Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. Discover how this “cap-and-tax” law secretly targets your energy bills, driving gas prices up by 55 cents a gallon, and why Republicans are fighting to pause it. TRANSCRIPT The post Is This Law Killing Your Wallet? The Truth About WA Gas Prices on The Elephant in the Dome podcast appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.
Is Washington losing its competitive edge? In this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senate Republican Leader John Braun breaks down the affordability crisis hitting our state. From Starbucks’ Nashville expansion and record-breaking tax increases to the stalled progress on the I-5 Columbia River bridge, we examine how current policies are driving families and […] The post Starbucks, Sonics, and the I-5 Bridge: Washington is more expensive because of Democrat policies and it’s affecting everyone and everything appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.
Senate Republican Leader John Braun discusses the urgent need for oversight at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). He explores massive legal payouts for negligence, the impact of the “Keeping Families Together Act,” and how other states are handling similar agency failures through bipartisan investigation. TRANSCRIPT The post Investigating DCYF: Oversight and Accountability for Washington’s Children on The Elephant in the Dome Podcast appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.
Senate Republican Leader John Braun discusses Washington’s soaring energy costs. From record-high gas prices and the Climate Commitment Act to the future of nuclear power and data centers, Braun explores how state policies impact your wallet and outlines Republican solutions for a more affordable future. TRANSCRIPT The post The High Cost of Gas and Energy: The Elephant in the Dome Podcast with Senator John Braun appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.
Washington now has a new income tax set to take effect in 2028. But questions remain about how the state manages the money it already collects. In this episode of Elephant in the Dome, host Tracy Ellis sits down with Senate Republican Leader John Braun to discuss a troubling state audit involving the Washington State […] The post WA Income Tax Signed — But Fraud, Lawsuits & Government Waste Still Growing — The Elephant in the Dome Podcast appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.