Week In Review

I love this show, but Lauryn (especially) is too uninformed to be in the panel. The discussion of CHOP and I-5 was painful. She was clearly missing facts about what happened and thus could add nothing to the conversation. It’s not helpful. Sure, maybe she was still in college and not in Seattle, but these things are still all over the news. I’m shocked she didn’t have some basic knowledge.

But…Stop it with the photos of you for the episode image. I listen for a reason. It bums me out seeing what you look like. 4/5 stars since I often find one or two of your guests are too conservative for me and I think generally not representative of the average Seattleite.

Week in Review used to be an informative, thoughtful look at news in Seattle by journalists who knew things. Now the show puts an emphasis on personalities who may know zip about a topic and who probably aren’t journalists. Today, the show features people who are partisans, biased perspectives, retired hacks, paid political consultants or work for the subjects they discuss. So-called “journalists” or “analysts” discuss city government even though they are employees of city government. Some are blatant or thinly disguised leftists with tiny blogs or tiny organizations with agendas who sprinkle their pronouncements with “you know” or “like.” Is this high school radio? Rarely is a commentator informed and objective. Bill Radke used to be a witty satirist who challenged his guests, but now he’s just surfing the wave of received wisdom. Listen to this show and you’ll never learn a thing or change your mind.

I want this show to be better as a Seattleite for the discussion of local issues. Unfortunately the liberal guests I find are often so convinced they know “the truth” that they are unwilling to even listen and engage with the more conservative guests on key and valid points. In the most recent episode Lydia laughs out loud at the other republican guest giving their opinion. It comes across as hubristic and not very open minded. Let’s find some centrist guests that actually represent Washington’s citizens. Not everyone living here is in lock step with whatever the Seattle times writes.