The Public Records Officer Podcast
The Public Records Officer Podcast
Fighting for the People’s Right to Know.
From public records battles to quiet cover-ups, from deleted chats to documents they hoped you’d never see... The Public Records Officer Podcast (PROP) exposes the ways power hides from the people it serves.
Hosted by open government advocate, a former elected official, state government public information officer and communications director Jamie Nixon, this show pulls back the curtain on the tactics used by public agencies to avoid transparency, and highlights the citizens, journalists, and legal warriors fighting back.
Season One investigates the ontologically shocking story of how Washington State agencies used Microsoft Teams to automatically delete public records after just seven days, raising questions of legality, accountability, and who gets to decide what the public has a right to see.
Each episode blends documents, depositions, interviews, and digital trails with sharp commentary and a sense of civic urgency. Whether it’s a modified invoice, redacted emails, or a policy crafted to vanish before a subpoena hits... The PROP is here to shine a light where the law demands it.
Featuring interviews with journalists, attorneys, and the officials who tried to sound the alarm before it was too late.
The truth doesn’t expire in seven days.
The Public Records Officer Podcast
Ep. 10 And make it discoverable? LOL
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.
Transcript + Source Docs:
Get the full hyperlinked transcript and all documents referenced in this episode:
thepublicrecordsofficer.com
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About WashCOG:
The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG) fights for transparency and accountability in Washington State. Learn more:
washcog.org
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