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

Follow & Share
X (Twitter): @opengovpod
Instagram: @opengovpod
BlueSky: @thepropodcast.bsky.social