Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Republican Voters Flock to Democrats

fizz41

1. Voters are like, wow these budget cuts are just terrible, we’re going to vote to raise our taxes.

2. A dynamic woman enters the Seattle mayor’s race.

3. The anti-bag tax campaign receives a local contribution.

4. U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott announces his retirement.

5. The Democratic strategy of  tabling union bills and  watering down environmental bills works, Republican voters flock to Democrats.


  • hbkahn

    Who is the “dynamic woman” in the Mayor’s race? Do tell.

  • hbkahn

    Who is the “dynamic woman” in the Mayor’s race? Do tell.

  • hbkahn

    OK, you got me.

  • hbkahn

    OK, you got me.

  • hbkahn

    Who is the “dynamic woman” in the Mayor’s race? Do tell.

  • hbkahn

    OK, you got me.

  • beth

    classic.

  • beth

    classic.

  • beth

    classic.

  • Bridgette

    Tim Eyman loses all influence.

  • Bridgette

    Tim Eyman loses all influence.

  • Bridgette

    Tim Eyman loses all influence.

  • Obama Nerd

    nice psych out, Josh.

  • Obama Nerd

    nice psych out, Josh.

  • Obama Nerd

    nice psych out, Josh.

  • state income tax, please

    Hey! How about our elected officials float an income tax? We have one of the screwiest tax systems in the country (e.g., right now we have some of the lowest rates of unemployment and foreclosure in the nation, but one of the highest state deficits?) and now we’re paying for it.

    Face it Dem leadership, focusing on the permanent majority for no reason, is just kinda disastrous. It’s time to take advantage of this crisis and do something constructive like reform our broken tax system (as opposed to gutting higher ed, and social services).

  • state income tax, please

    Hey! How about our elected officials float an income tax? We have one of the screwiest tax systems in the country (e.g., right now we have some of the lowest rates of unemployment and foreclosure in the nation, but one of the highest state deficits?) and now we’re paying for it.

    Face it Dem leadership, focusing on the permanent majority for no reason, is just kinda disastrous. It’s time to take advantage of this crisis and do something constructive like reform our broken tax system (as opposed to gutting higher ed, and social services).

  • state income tax, please

    Hey! How about our elected officials float an income tax? We have one of the screwiest tax systems in the country (e.g., right now we have some of the lowest rates of unemployment and foreclosure in the nation, but one of the highest state deficits?) and now we’re paying for it.

    Face it Dem leadership, focusing on the permanent majority for no reason, is just kinda disastrous. It’s time to take advantage of this crisis and do something constructive like reform our broken tax system (as opposed to gutting higher ed, and social services).

  • Trevor

    Holy shit! Judy Nicastro just announced that she’s running for mayor on facebook?!

  • Trevor

    Holy shit! Judy Nicastro just announced that she’s running for mayor on facebook?!

  • Trevor

    Holy shit! Judy Nicastro just announced that she’s running for mayor on facebook?!

  • don’t tease us like that!

    lemme guess, the Dow jumps 1250 points, GM releases a sound strategy to become profitable without declaring bankruptcy and locally, higher education budget cut are proposals are reversed, Puget Sound develops a profitable, funded mass-transit system, everyone agrees on what to do about the viaduct, and we finally get a monorail with our pony.

  • don’t tease us like that!

    lemme guess, the Dow jumps 1250 points, GM releases a sound strategy to become profitable without declaring bankruptcy and locally, higher education budget cut are proposals are reversed, Puget Sound develops a profitable, funded mass-transit system, everyone agrees on what to do about the viaduct, and we finally get a monorail with our pony.

  • don’t tease us like that!

    lemme guess, the Dow jumps 1250 points, GM releases a sound strategy to become profitable without declaring bankruptcy and locally, higher education budget cut are proposals are reversed, Puget Sound develops a profitable, funded mass-transit system, everyone agrees on what to do about the viaduct, and we finally get a monorail with our pony.

  • Trevor

    Ah, right. April fools.

    Dems act like Republicans but Republicans will never vote for them anyway. Dems strategy of destroying the state village in order to save it is absurd on its face. Judy pulls a fast one. There is no local organization opposed to bag tax. You’ll have to pry McDermott’s seat from his cold dead hands. Etc.

  • Trevor

    Ah, right. April fools.

    Dems act like Republicans but Republicans will never vote for them anyway. Dems strategy of destroying the state village in order to save it is absurd on its face. Judy pulls a fast one. There is no local organization opposed to bag tax. You’ll have to pry McDermott’s seat from his cold dead hands. Etc.

  • Trevor

    Ah, right. April fools.

    Dems act like Republicans but Republicans will never vote for them anyway. Dems strategy of destroying the state village in order to save it is absurd on its face. Judy pulls a fast one. There is no local organization opposed to bag tax. You’ll have to pry McDermott’s seat from his cold dead hands. Etc.

  • ann

    I agree with trevor
    You had me until McDermott. No way that man leaves the House of Representatives other than feet first.

  • ann

    I agree with trevor
    You had me until McDermott. No way that man leaves the House of Representatives other than feet first.

  • ann

    I agree with trevor
    You had me until McDermott. No way that man leaves the House of Representatives other than feet first.

  • Ryan

    that was awesome

  • Ryan

    that was awesome

  • Ryan

    that was awesome