Betting on Wildfires, Denny Blaine Verdict Is In, and Exchanging Books in Ballard

Betting on Wildfires, Denny Blaine Verdict Is In, and Exchanging Books in Ballard

On today’s episode, host Jane C. Hu talks with science journalist Kylie Mohr about the prediction markets allowing people to bet on natural disasters [https://www.hcn.org/articles/people-are-betting-on-wildfires-should-they/], including wildfires. As this hot, dry summer continues, Kylie explains the risks involved in betting on fires that can be human-made as well as who is profiting from these bets. Then Jane is joined by contributors Guy Oron and Marcus Harrison Green to break down the verdict that arrived this week in the Denny Blaine park trial [https://www.thestranger.com/news/denny-blaine-park-stays-open-and-naked-judge-rules/]. Guy explains what the judge’s ruling means for park-goers and neighbors, and Marcus asks why this particular park got so much attention. Finally, all three get into weekend plans ranging from World Cup finals to book exchanges [https://www.myballard.com/2026/07/14/salmon-bay-park-to-host-first-community-book-exchange/]. And if you’re a City Cast Neighbor, stick around for a bonus segment about a legal battle between megacorporation Nestle and a local Seattle cold brew company.  Learn more about the  sponsors of this July 17th  episode: Seattle Theatre Group [https://www.stgpresents.org/] pFriem Beer [https://www.pfriembeer.com/] Grand Central Bakery [https://www.grandcentralbakery.com/] Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastseattle/], or email us at seattle@citycast.fm [seattle@citycast.fm]. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931. For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up [https://seattle.citycast.fm/newsletter] for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle. Support City Cast Seattle by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/seattle [https://membership.citycast.fm/seattle] Looking to advertise on City Cast Seattle? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at https://citycast.fm/advertise/citycast.fm/advertise [http://citycast.fm/advertise].

What Do We Do About Aurora? It’s Complicated

Today on the podcast, we dig into the issues surrounding Aurora Avenue. Aurora has a long [https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2023/05/aurora-photo-essay] and complicated [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/decades-of-decay-haunt-infamous-aurora/]history, and more recently, local residents’ relationship to one northern section of the road has only gotten more so: the section of the road between 85th and 105th streets experiences frequent gunfire, which some believe is rooted in sex trafficking. Earlier this summer, neighbors, dissatisfied with the city's response, took matters into their own hands and placed makeshift barriers blocking through traffic on their streets. We wanted to hear from some of those neighbors directly, so host Jane C. Hu and producer Sam J. Leeds talk with a community advocate who led a walk of Aurora for local community members and lawmakers, a sex worker impacted by the city’s policing efforts, and a resident reimagining the future of Aurora.   Learn more about the sponsors of this July 16th episode: Seattle Theatre Group [https://www.stgpresents.org/] Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastseattle/], or email us at seattle@citycast.fm [seattle@citycast.fm]. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931. For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up [https://seattle.citycast.fm/newsletter] for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle. Support City Cast Seattle by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/seattle [https://membership.citycast.fm/seattle] Looking to advertise on City Cast Seattle? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at https://citycast.fm/advertise/citycast.fm/advertise [http://citycast.fm/advertise].

How a Civic Assembly Changed Minds on AI. Plus, the WA Lawsuits Over Schools and Housing

A civic assembly of 29 Snohomish County residents [https://www.knkx.org/government/2026-07-07/snohomish-county-tasks-citizens-with-writing-artificial-intelligence-policy-civic-assembly] just spent three weekends wrestling with one of the thorniest questions in local government: how should officials use AI and should they use it at all? Today on the podcast, host Jane C. Hu talks with KNKX reporter Nate Sanford and assembly participant Dhruv Raithatha about what it's actually like to build consensus with strangers. Then contributors Brett Hamil and Chase Hutchinson join for a midweek medley covering Washington's growing [https://www.kuow.org/npr-news/2026-07-13/states-sue-to-stop-paramount-warner-bros-blockbuster-merger] list [https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-attorney-generals-federal-litigation-tracker] of federal lawsuits [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/wa-leads-lawsuit-to-block-trumps-homelessness-funding-rules/], the Seahawks' new billionaire owners [https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49358800/khosla-family-vinod-neeru-neal-san-francisco-49ers-seattle-seahawks], the Seattle Public Library levy fight [https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/seattle-times-endorsements-wa-primary-2026-prop-no-1-property-tax-levy-for-the-seattle-public-library/], and a new film shooting in the city [https://deadline.com/2026/07/pete-holmes-lewis-black-alfie-williams-friend-thing-1236976004/]next month. Learn more about the  sponsors of this July 15th  episode: Seattle Theatre Group [https://www.stgpresents.org/] And a reminder that we would ALSO love to hear from you in our annual City Cast listener survey: citycast.fm/survey [http://citycast.fm/survey] Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastseattle/], or email us at seattle@citycast.fm [seattle@citycast.fm]. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931. For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up [https://seattle.citycast.fm/newsletter] for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle. Support City Cast Seattle by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/seattle [https://membership.citycast.fm/seattle] Looking to advertise on City Cast Seattle? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at https://citycast.fm/advertise/citycast.fm/advertise [http://citycast.fm/advertise].

Are You Paying Rental Junk Fees? Plus, Expanded Transit and Time Capsules

Today on City Cast Seattle, Jane C. Hu is joined by regular contributors Hannah Krieg and Ryan Packer to discuss the news that Mayor Katie Wilson is targeting rental junk fees [https://www.theburnerseattle.com/post/here-s-every-fee-landlords-can-still-charge-under-mayor-wilson-s-junk-fee-ban] and what a renter should pay and what they shouldn’t. Then they talk about another of the Mayor’s plans: an increase on sales tax towards transit measures [https://www.theurbanist.org/kettle-proposes-slashing-seattle-transit-measure-halting-city-funded-bus-service-growth/], which would up the 2020 figure of .15% to .3%, raising $138 million a year for transit. The trio discuss what kind of advantages expanded service could offer, especially late nights and weekends. Finally, in honor of the country’s 250th birthday, Jane tells Ryan and Hannah what items Washington lawmakers put into the Semiquincentennial time capsule [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/what-was-representatives-put-in-a-time-capsule-for-2276/], which won’t be opened until 2276. Suffice it to say, Ryan and Hannah have opinions.  Learn more about the  sponsors of this July 14th  episode: Seattle Theatre Group [https://www.stgpresents.org/] pFriem Beer [https://www.pfriembeer.com/] Grand Central Bakery [https://www.grandcentralbakery.com/] Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastseattle/], or email us at seattle@citycast.fm [seattle@citycast.fm]. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931. For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up [https://seattle.citycast.fm/newsletter] for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle. Support City Cast Seattle by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/seattle [https://membership.citycast.fm/seattle] Looking to advertise on City Cast Seattle? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at https://citycast.fm/advertise/citycast.fm/advertise [http://citycast.fm/advertise].

With August Primaries Approaching: How Do Democracy Vouchers Work? Plus, How To Make Friends In Seattle

Today on the show, host Jane C. Hu sits down with City Cast CEO David Plotz to talk about Democracy Vouchers. With August primaries coming up, it felt like a good time to refocus on one of Seattle’s most iconic political innovations. For the last decade, Seattle has issued $100 in vouchers to every voter to donate to the candidate of their choice in municipal elections. For the August primary this applies to residents of District 5. Jane and David discuss how these Democracy Vouchers work, how many people are participating, and what the impact on local elections has been. Plus, is the “Seattle Freeze” a real thing? Learn more about the sponsor of this July 13th episode: Seattle Theatre Group [https://www.stgpresents.org/] Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastseattle/], or email us at seattle@citycast.fm [seattle@citycast.fm]. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931. For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up [https://seattle.citycast.fm/newsletter] for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle. Support City Cast Seattle by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/seattle [https://membership.citycast.fm/seattle] Looking to advertise on City Cast Seattle? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise [http://citycast.fm/advertise].