Host, Seattle's Morning News

Charlie Harger

About

I’m a journalist with more than 30 years of experience covering the stories that shape life in western Washington. I host Seattle’s Morning News on KIRO Newsradio, where I help listeners start their day informed, prepared, and sometimes even entertained.

My reporting has earned multiple national and regional awards, including several Edward R. Murrow Awards. I’ve also been named APTRA’s Radio Reporter of the Year and recognized for investigative reporting on major stories like the Boeing 737 MAX crisis and interviews with serial killer Gary Ridgway.

I specialize in making complex issues understandable, focusing on how news affects real people. I’m a fourth-generation western Washington resident and have called Auburn home for over a decade.

Before hosting, I served as News Director at KIRO, worked at KOMO for nearly two decades, and taught journalism at Green River College. I take news seriously — but believe the best reporting connects on a human level.

Expertise

Broadcast Journalism and Storytelling
Investigative and Accountability Reporting
Community Impact and Public Service Journalism

Experience

Host, Seattle’s Morning News – KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
News Director – KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
Reporter and Anchor – KOMO Newsradio
Broadcast Instructor – Green River College
Communications and Digital Media – Microsoft and tech startups

Education

B.A., Communications – Thomas Edison State University
M.S., Strategic Communication – Arkansas State University

Achievements & Awards

Edward R. Murrow Award – Hard News (2020)
Edward R. Murrow Award – Continuing Coverage (2019)
APTRA Award – Best Investigative Reporting (2019, 2014)
Edward R. Murrow Award – Best Newswriting (2015)
APTRA Award – Radio Reporter of the Year (2015)
APTRA Award – Best Spot News Coverage (2015)
Edward R. Murrow Award – Best Documentary (2014)
APTRA Award – Enterprise Coverage (2014)
Emmy Nomination – Investigative Journalism (2014)

Social Media Profiles

X, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, Threads: @KIROCharlie
Facebook: CharlieKIRO

Harger: Seattle had 74 homicides in all of 2023. This past June, it had zero, the first murder-free month since 1970

For the first time since 1970, the City of Seattle went the entire month of June without a single homicide.

30 days ago

Harger: In 2004, 91% of us were proud to be American. On our 250th birthday, 33% are

Two and a half centuries of the loudest, messiest, most improbable argument in human history, and the thing still runs. That's worth a party, no matter who's in the White House.

1 month ago

‘Does she have crab in her bra?’ Washington Fish and Wildlife officer uncovers 21 hidden Dungeness crabs at Tokeland

A WDFW officer who asked four crab harvesters six times whether they had any more Dungeness crabs got the same answer every time. No. He found 21 crabs hidden on their bodies.

1 month ago

Harger: Your PSE bill went up 12% this year. They’re asking for 30% more. And Olympia is about to print the reason on it

Sometime this winter, the electric bill started climbing, and not in the rounding-error way. I started asking around. Neighbors. Coworkers. Everybody's PSE bill is up.

1 month ago

Harger: Washington is No. 1 in the nation for retail theft. The state found a fix that worked, then killed it over $500K

Forbes ranks us as the state most impacted by retail theft in the country. Third-worst for value of goods stolen per resident. Second-worst for larceny per capita. No. 1. Out of 50 states.

1 month ago

Harger: One listener says I’m a closet liberal. The next says I’m a right-wing mouthpiece. Same mailbag, same morning

Listeners, viewers, and readers all like to sound off on my daily commentaries, and they don't hold back. We hear from a bunch of them every day.

1 month ago

Harger: Jamie Pedersen passed Washington’s first income tax. After 20 years, his own party won’t endorse him

Run your finger down the state Senate races to the 43rd District. The name on the endorsement line is Hannah Sabio-Howell. The name missing is Jamie Pedersen.

1 month ago

Harger: Seattle cleaned up downtown for the World Cup. So now we know we can

I've spent years watching Seattle promise to fix downtown and then not fix downtown, so I figured this would be more of the same. I was wrong. Pleasantly, completely wrong.

1 month ago

Harger: Shoreline wants $100 million for a swimming pool. With a lazy river. For a city of 62,000 people

The City of Shoreline wants voters to approve $100 million for a swimming pool with eight lap lanes, a recreation pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a lazy river, a sauna, and a snack bar.

1 month ago

Harger: 68,000 fans chanted USA at Seattle’s World Cup match on Friday. Then the internet had to weigh in

The US won 2-0. One of the best soccer atmospheres this country has ever produced, and it happened in Seattle. Then both political tribes got involved.

1 month ago

Harger: In Seattle, even the kinda-left Democrats aren’t left enough

On Tuesday, the Democrats of Seattle's 43rd District endorsed a 30-year-old labor organizer named Hannah Sabio-Howell over Jamie Pedersen for state Senate.