The IMPACT

Washington is taking on prediction-market operator Kalshi. State regulators say the event contracts offered on the platform clash with state gambling restrictions, but the company argues it's a federally regulated financial exchange.  Federal appeals courts have taken conflicting positions on the issue in different circuits. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown weighs on the legal battles playing out here and across the country.

The Washington State Patrol is pushing to work through a severe backlog of drug and alcohol blood test evidence at state toxicology labs that could jeopardize DUI prosecutions in Washington.  Assistant Division Commander Brian Capron joins us to discuss the backlog and the path forward.

State audits highlight alleged misuse of public funding that nearly drained one small town's bank account. From municipal cash withdrawals to missing equipment -- how can improper personal use of public resources sometimes go unnoticed for years?  Brandi Pritchard, director of the new Special Investigations Division of the Washington State Auditor’s Office, breaks down recent cases of alleged fraud, the oversight gaps that make them possible, and the mindset involved in crossing the line.

State lawmakers have taken a harder line on highway safety following a spike in roadway fatalities a few years ago. New laws target serial speeders and allow increased surveillance in high-intensity crash zones. Lawmakers also debated lowering the legal blood-alcohol limit to .05%.Shelly Baldwin, director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, joins The Impact to talk about policy changes and bills to watch in the future.

What will new state laws mean in your city? Director of government relations for the Association of Washington Cities, Candice Bock, joins us to weigh in on notable changes in 2026. Later we'll highlight a new podcast series exploring some of the most interesting features of Washington history.