The Public Records Officer Podcast

Jamie Nixon
  • 5.0 (2)
  • POLITICS

The Public Records Officer Podcast Fighting for the People’s Right to Know.From public records battles to quiet cover-ups, from deleted chats to documents they hoped you’d never see... The Public Records Officer Podcast (PROP) exposes the ways power hides from the people it serves.Hosted by open government advocate, a former elected official, state government public information officer and communications director Jamie Nixon, this show pulls back the curtain on the tactics used by public agencies to avoid transparency, and highlights the citizens, journalists, and legal warriors fighting back.Season One investigates the ontologically shocking story of how Washington State agencies used Microsoft Teams to automatically delete public records after just seven days, raising questions of legality, accountability, and who gets to decide what the public has a right to see.Each episode blends documents, depositions, interviews, and digital trails with sharp commentary and a sense of civic urgency. Whether it’s a modified invoice, redacted emails, or a policy crafted to vanish before a subpoena hits... The PROP is here to shine a light where the law demands it.Featuring interviews with journalists, attorneys, and the officials who tried to sound the alarm before it was too late. The truth doesn’t expire in seven days.

  1. Ep. 14 Get It Gone 2: The Bureaucracy Strikes Back

    DEC 9

    Ep. 14 Get It Gone 2: The Bureaucracy Strikes Back

    In our last episode, we exposed the alleged destruction and withholding of public records inside OMWBE. This case was documented through emails, chats, and timelines of their Public Records Officer. This week, we widen the lens. The allegations didn’t disappear.  In this sequel episode, we break down the Attorney General’s stunning non-response to a credible felony report, the structural conflicts that leave public records officers defenseless, and the systemic incentives that now reward secrecy over compliance. We examine how the very institutions meant to enforce Washington’s transparency laws have quietly positioned themselves as defense counsel for the agencies accused of wrongdoing. If you care about public records, government accountability, whistleblower protections, or simply want to understand why Washington’s transparency system keeps failing, this episode walks you through the uncomfortable truth: there is no functioning enforcement mechanism for records-destruction felonies in this state. And the people who report them often pay the price. Full transcript and all cited documents: thepublicrecordsofficer.com. Support the show Transcript + Source Docs: Get the full hyperlinked transcript and all documents referenced in this episode: thepublicrecordsofficer.com Sign up for updates: Join our mailing list for future episodes and investigations thepublicrecordsofficer.com Support the show: We’re powered by public records and public support. Buy us a coffee https://coff.ee/thepublicrecordsofficer About WashCOG: The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG) fights for transparency and accountability in Washington State. Learn more: washcog.org Tip of the hat to the musicians who created the music used on the show: Alex Grohl, Ian Post, Jakub Pietras, lumine wave, Roberto Pravo, Solis, ...

    31 min
  2. Ep. 13 Get It Gone: Anatomy of a Records Crime

    NOV 23

    Ep. 13 Get It Gone: Anatomy of a Records Crime

    What starts as a routine public records request at a small Washington agency detonates into one of the clearest documented cases of alleged records destruction in recent memory. In this episode, Jamie Nixon walks through the stunning internal messages, emails, and timelines surrounding the Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE), where leadership allegedly ordered staff to delete Microsoft Teams posts specifically because of an active request — and then retaliated when their public records officer refused to play along. This is the story of Julie Bracken, a PRO who followed the law, preserved the evidence, and tried to warn her agency before the consequences spiraled. Instead, she found herself sidelined, overruled, isolated, and ultimately disciplined by the very people implicated in the misconduct. With primary documents, internal chat logs, and verbatim excerpts from Bracken’s notes, this episode dissects how a single deletion order grew into a full-blown culture of obstruction — and what it reveals about Washington’s fragile transparency infrastructure. Transcript with links to source materials found here.  If you care about accountability, ethics, or how easily public records can be erased in the shadows of bureaucracy, this is an episode you won’t forget. Support the show Transcript + Source Docs: Get the full hyperlinked transcript and all documents referenced in this episode: thepublicrecordsofficer.com Sign up for updates: Join our mailing list for future episodes and investigations thepublicrecordsofficer.com Support the show: We’re powered by public records and public support. Buy us a coffee https://coff.ee/thepublicrecordsofficer About WashCOG: The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG) fights for transparency and accountability in Washington State. Learn more: washcog.org Tip of the hat to the musicians who created the music used on the show: Alex Grohl, Ian Post, Jakub Pietras, lumine wave, Roberto Pravo, Solis, ...

    37 min
  3. Ep. 12 Suing WaTech and Gov; AG's Model Rules; Harrell's Failures

    OCT 30

    Ep. 12 Suing WaTech and Gov; AG's Model Rules; Harrell's Failures

    On this important episode, Jamie Nixon breaks down the absurdity of the state’s response to the 2020 1.5 terabyte Teams chat deletion. After four months and multiple delays, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has delivered almost nothing, and the Governor’s Office claimed to find zero responsive records, even though records from another agency prove the Governor's own Public Records Officer and Deputy Counsel received emails on the matter.  This episode features the news of two major lawsuits filed this week: one against the Governor’s Office for a patently inadequate search, and one against WaTech for their third, failed attempt to produce critical live chat records from agency meetings. In Focus: The AG’s Model Rules and a Culture of Secrecy Attorney General Nick Brown proposed sensible changes to the Model Rules, but they strategically omit the most critical issues facing the state: Why the AG must stop defending agencies that knowingly destroy records.The immediate need to end the Teams auto-deletion experiment.The necessity of mandating electronic payment for public records fees.Plus, Jamie details the latest example of systemic failure in the Mayor of Seattle's office, where vital records related to a Chief of Staff investigation were reportedly deleted or withheld, reinforcing the absolute need to end the "honor system" of record keeping. Finally, get a chilling preview of next week's exposé on a State PRO who wrote to the Attorney General, pleading for help against their own agency's internal corruption. Support the show Transcript + Source Docs: Get the full hyperlinked transcript and all documents referenced in this episode: thepublicrecordsofficer.com Sign up for updates: Join our mailing list for future episodes and investigations thepublicrecordsofficer.com Support the show: We’re powered by public records and public support. Buy us a coffee https://coff.ee/thepublicrecordsofficer About WashCOG: The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG) fights for transparency and accountability in Washington State. Learn more: washcog.org Tip of the hat to the musicians who created the music used on the show: Alex Grohl, Ian Post, Jakub Pietras, lumine wave, Roberto Pravo, Solis, ...

    32 min
  4. Ep. 11 They Didn't Ask For Slack Chats

    OCT 20

    Ep. 11 They Didn't Ask For Slack Chats

    In this episode, we return to a recurring pattern in Washington’s public records system: agencies only search what you name — and quietly celebrate when you don’t. First, an update on PRR 24-530. WaTech has now formally closed the request while falsely claiming they produced the live DAUG meeting chats. They didn’t. What they provided were full-length recordings with a few seconds of chat accidentally visible on screen — not exported chats, not searchable text, and not compliant production. That contradiction is now locked on the record. Then we turn to the Office of Insurance Commissioner, where internal emails show staff openly relieved that their work chats were in Slack, a platform the requester didn’t explicitly name, punctuated by an actual wink emoji. This wasn’t an accident. It was the strategy. And it’s the same strategy seen at DCYF (“didn’t specify Teams, so we didn’t search Teams”) and DOC (text messages only searched if explicitly requested). This is not ambiguity. It is intent: Search narrowly. Delete quickly. Deny accountability. Finally, I’m joined by Bill Lucia, editor of the Washington State Standard, for a conversation about Governor Bob Ferguson’s increasingly closed-door approach to governing — from withheld schedules to centralized message control to the absence of unscripted press availability since the Teams deletion suspension quietly expired. Additional Links... Attorney General Nick Brown announces changes to the AG's Model Rules on Public Disclosure Two Pieces by Bill Lucia: Support the show Transcript + Source Docs: Get the full hyperlinked transcript and all documents referenced in this episode: thepublicrecordsofficer.com Sign up for updates: Join our mailing list for future episodes and investigations thepublicrecordsofficer.com Support the show: We’re powered by public records and public support. Buy us a coffee https://coff.ee/thepublicrecordsofficer About WashCOG: The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG) fights for transparency and accountability in Washington State. Learn more: washcog.org Tip of the hat to the musicians who created the music used on the show: Alex Grohl, Ian Post, Jakub Pietras, lumine wave, Roberto Pravo, Solis, ...

    38 min
  5. Ep. 10 And make it discoverable? LOL

    OCT 5

    Ep. 10 And make it discoverable? LOL

    Washington’s culture of secrecy just hit a new low. In this episode, host Jamie Nixon digs into Governor Bob Ferguson’s disappearing act... no press availabilities, no transparency, and apparently, no clue that he has a responsibility to report to the people.  From the governor’s vanishing public schedule to WaTech’s “off-the-record” meetings and the newly surfaced, soon to be infamous quote “And have it discoverable? LOL,” the PROP exposes how state officials are actively ensuring the public stays in the dark. Featuring real audio from state meetings, verified public records, and voices (both human and AI) reading the government’s own words, this episode unpacks a pattern of concealment stretching from the Governor’s Office to WaTech, the State Auditor, and beyond. 🎧 Highlights include: Journalists calling Ferguson’s leadership “elusive,” “confusing,” and “struggling.”A look at how Washington ranked 41st out of 44 states in transparency.WaTech officials literally stopping recordings mid-meeting to keep discussions secret.The kicker: “And have it discoverable? I’m not sure how to answer that.”This one’s equal parts outrage and dark comedy—because apparently, government secrecy is hilarious now. Link to transcript with links to source materials. Listen, share, and remember: You’re not paranoid. They really did delete it. Support the show Transcript + Source Docs: Get the full hyperlinked transcript and all documents referenced in this episode: thepublicrecordsofficer.com Sign up for updates: Join our mailing list for future episodes and investigations thepublicrecordsofficer.com Support the show: We’re powered by public records and public support. Buy us a coffee https://coff.ee/thepublicrecordsofficer About WashCOG: The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG) fights for transparency and accountability in Washington State. Learn more: washcog.org Tip of the hat to the musicians who created the music used on the show: Alex Grohl, Ian Post, Jakub Pietras, lumine wave, Roberto Pravo, Solis, ...

    33 min
  6. Ep. 9 When Hypocrisy Makes You Vomit

    SEP 15

    Ep. 9 When Hypocrisy Makes You Vomit

    In this episode of The Public Records Officer Podcast, Jamie Nixon takes aim at Brandi Kruse’s September 12th show Undivided — a sanctimonious, victimhood-soaked screed that used the assassination of Charlie Kirk as political capital. Kruse demanded Democrats apologize, banned discussion of January 6th, and scolded anyone who dared call Donald Trump authoritarian — all while ignoring the receipts and the rank hypocrisy. Through a sharp mix of humor, mockery, and fact-checks, this episode collides Kruse’s own clips with Donald Trump’s most violent rhetoric. The contrast is impossible to miss: while Kruse insists Democrats can’t say “fascist,” Trump calls his opponents “vermin.” While she says January 6th is off-limits, the DHS and ADL show far-right violence is the most persistent lethal threat in America. No one is silenced here. Instead, we call out the sanctimony, spotlight the hypocrisy, and remind listeners that anecdotes are not evidence — and vibes are not truth. Support the show Transcript + Source Docs: Get the full hyperlinked transcript and all documents referenced in this episode: thepublicrecordsofficer.com Sign up for updates: Join our mailing list for future episodes and investigations thepublicrecordsofficer.com Support the show: We’re powered by public records and public support. Buy us a coffee https://coff.ee/thepublicrecordsofficer About WashCOG: The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG) fights for transparency and accountability in Washington State. Learn more: washcog.org Tip of the hat to the musicians who created the music used on the show: Alex Grohl, Ian Post, Jakub Pietras, lumine wave, Roberto Pravo, Solis, ...

    18 min
  7. Ep. 8 Backroom Deals in our Backyards

    SEP 11

    Ep. 8 Backroom Deals in our Backyards

    What happens when secrecy becomes routine in local government? From zoning boards to school districts to state agencies, closed-door decision-making shifts power away from the public — and it’s happening everywhere. In this episode, Jamie Nixon is joined by journalist Miranda Spivack, author of Backroom Deals in Our Backyards, and reporter Shauna Sowersby of the Seattle Times. Together they unpack the tactics governments use to stall, deny, or bury records — and how everyday people can push back. From “transitory” records excuses to the high cost of public records requests, we explore the obstruction playbook, the human toll of secrecy, and the hopeful strategies of “accidental activists” fighting for open government. Whether you’re a journalist, a public records nerd, or just someone who wants to know what your government is hiding, this conversation will leave you better prepared to demand answers. Backroom Deals in Our Backyards: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities—and the Local Heroes Fighting Back Support the show Transcript + Source Docs: Get the full hyperlinked transcript and all documents referenced in this episode: thepublicrecordsofficer.com Sign up for updates: Join our mailing list for future episodes and investigations thepublicrecordsofficer.com Support the show: We’re powered by public records and public support. Buy us a coffee https://coff.ee/thepublicrecordsofficer About WashCOG: The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG) fights for transparency and accountability in Washington State. Learn more: washcog.org Tip of the hat to the musicians who created the music used on the show: Alex Grohl, Ian Post, Jakub Pietras, lumine wave, Roberto Pravo, Solis, ...

    49 min
  8. Ep. 7 Who Wrote That

    SEP 6

    Ep. 7 Who Wrote That

    What happens when governments let artificial intelligence draft their words? Who’s really behind the keyboard when AI systems churn out emails, press releases, or chatbot responses on behalf of public agencies? In this episode, Jamie Nixon sits down with journalist Nate Sanford of Cascade PBS to talk about his reporting on how AI is creeping into government communications, and what that means for authorship, accountability, and transparency. From “transitory” excuses to the risk of bot-written bureaucracy, we dig into how AI is reshaping the fight for public records and public trust. If you’ve ever wondered whether the next government message you read was written by a human or a machine, this episode is for you. Links to to Nate's two part piece... Part 1 & Part 2 Support the show Transcript + Source Docs: Get the full hyperlinked transcript and all documents referenced in this episode: thepublicrecordsofficer.com Sign up for updates: Join our mailing list for future episodes and investigations thepublicrecordsofficer.com Support the show: We’re powered by public records and public support. Buy us a coffee https://coff.ee/thepublicrecordsofficer About WashCOG: The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG) fights for transparency and accountability in Washington State. Learn more: washcog.org Tip of the hat to the musicians who created the music used on the show: Alex Grohl, Ian Post, Jakub Pietras, lumine wave, Roberto Pravo, Solis, ...

    25 min
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2 Ratings

About

The Public Records Officer Podcast Fighting for the People’s Right to Know.From public records battles to quiet cover-ups, from deleted chats to documents they hoped you’d never see... The Public Records Officer Podcast (PROP) exposes the ways power hides from the people it serves.Hosted by open government advocate, a former elected official, state government public information officer and communications director Jamie Nixon, this show pulls back the curtain on the tactics used by public agencies to avoid transparency, and highlights the citizens, journalists, and legal warriors fighting back.Season One investigates the ontologically shocking story of how Washington State agencies used Microsoft Teams to automatically delete public records after just seven days, raising questions of legality, accountability, and who gets to decide what the public has a right to see.Each episode blends documents, depositions, interviews, and digital trails with sharp commentary and a sense of civic urgency. Whether it’s a modified invoice, redacted emails, or a policy crafted to vanish before a subpoena hits... The PROP is here to shine a light where the law demands it.Featuring interviews with journalists, attorneys, and the officials who tried to sound the alarm before it was too late. The truth doesn’t expire in seven days.

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