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.

Civil Liberties Update: Drugs

Two bills the ACLU highlighted when Cola Olympia correspondent Josh Cohen wrote about the ACLU agenda in Olympia this year were: 1) Seattle Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles’ (D-36) marijuana decriminalization bill and 2) Tacoma Sen. Rosa Franklin’s (D-29) bill to provide limited legal immunity for people who call 911 on behalf of someone having a drug overdose (the idea is that some drug overdose deaths could be prevented if other drug users didn’t fear arrest after calling in the OD).

Both bills are now eligible for discussion on the Senate floor. Drug reform advocates shouln’t get too excited. Both bills were eligible to hit the Senate floor last session before they were tabled before ever coming up.


  • Timothy

    It is a futile dream to believe that any lessening in marijuana restrictions will get through the legislature. Will not happen.

  • Timothy

    It is a futile dream to believe that any lessening in marijuana restrictions will get through the legislature. Will not happen.