Sound Politics

What do you have a right to? Your data? Your gender presentation? Your child’s health information? Between DOGE sifting through our personal data, tech companies tracking our location, and  executive orders weighing in on kids’ medical care, local and national politics are challenging Americans’ ideas about privacy and personal autonomy. We talk through what the implications...

Politics right now it feels like everything is shifting all the time. Federal agencies dismantled? Educational funds frozen? Tech broligarchs breaking into data stores of private citizens? A lot of it is hitting home in Washington.  On today's Sound Politics, hosts Scott Greenstone and Libby Denkmann talk about how the changes at the United States Agency for International Development are tric...

There is a special election coming up in Washington state on February 11. And in Seattle, there’s something big to decide on: a new way of creating and paying for housing. Voters approved the formation of a social housing developer in 2023, and now will decide how to fund it and whether to put guardrails on the nascent developer. We break down the options with the host of KUOW's Booming, Jos...

President Trump technically has only been in office for 72 hours – but our state is already feeling the shockwaves. So today, we want to talk about how the President’s flurry of executive orders, pardons, et cetera, have hit home here. Democratic leaders here are responding in all kinds of different ways. Some are suing him, some are speaking out – others are laying low or a litt...

Governor Bob Ferguson was  sworn in as Washington’s new governor on Wednesday .  Off the bat, his term has been me with shade from outgoing Governor Jay Inslee, who was critical in his farewell address of Ferguson's recent budget proposal -- one containing billions of dollars in new cuts.  Sound Politics talked last week about the $12 billion shortfall in the state’s ope...

On Monday, Washington’s lawmakers will return to the Capitol for a 105-day sprint to discuss, debate, and distill their hopes and dreams into policy.  The biggest “to do” item for this session: fixing the budget. Faced with a $12 billion shortfall, lawmakers need to figure out the age-old question: to spend less money, or raise more of it? We've gathered a panel of experts t...

Do you feel that in the air? As of midnight on January 1st, life is a bit different for most of us in Washington state.   That’s because there are new laws governing your life. Particularly if you’re a minimum wage worker, an Uber or Lyft driver, a low-income student, a crane operator, a stripper, an orca – or one of many other occupations and/or animals. So basically p...

This week, outgoing Washington Governor Jay Inslee sat down for an interview with our colleague Jeanie Lindsay to talk about the defining moments of his time in Olympia. He's been in office for 12 years, longer and than any currently-serving governor in the country. So much has changed since 2012 -- in climate policy, economic growth, homelessness, crime -- but how does Jay Inslee want to be remem...

“As America zigs, Washington zags." That was the name of our election night episode. And you might remember hearing from a lot of places, for days or even weeks post-election, that Washington was the only state in the country where Trump did not gain ground compared with 2020.  The national vote shifted toward Trump by about 6 points.  But Washington is special – we take our...

We’ve gotten two major announcements from local politicos: First, Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales has announced she’s resigning from her seat on the council come January. Morales was re-elected this year, and  is  one of the two remaining incumbents of the 2020 council, which pushed for more progressive policies like police reform. What’s behind the toxic and “harmful” atmosphere within t...

It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year… budget season. Washington state legislators are facing a deficit of over $10 billion dollars for the 2025-2027 budget. And, the state’s not alone: King County is looking at maybe a $150 million deficit by 2026. Seattle is about to pass a budget that filled a $250 million budget hole without massive cuts. Sound Politics host Scott Greenstone sat down with...

Before Bob Ferguson made a name for himself as Washington's Attorney General, he was a chess player. And not just any junior master. In Seattle and abroad, Ferguson earned a reputation as a two-time state chess champion and even won a game against three opponents at once -- while blindfolded. Sound Politics co-hosts Scott Greenstone and Jeanie Lindsay dive into Ferguson's penchant to think 12 move...

While the rest of the country moved towards the right this election, Washington Democrats saw the first sweep of statewide offices since the 1960s. Governor-elect Bob Ferguson, who sued the Trump administration 99 times as Attorney General, announced he's making contingency plans for counteracting a Trump presidency. But what is behind the country's conservative shift? We'll speak with a political...

Take a break from staring at the New York Times needle and join us as we round up local election results. We're looking at the governor's race, initiatives, and a surprisingly close Supreme Court contest on this election day edition of Sound Politics. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to  kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes . Sound Po...

How are you fighting the election scaries this Halloween? If you're like the  Sound Politics  team - you're looking to the future. Washington isn't known for being a decider in the presidential election, but one specific   county and one statewide primary could be a reliable reflections of the national mood. We'll dig into what Washington predicts for the 2024 election. Plus, a few of our favorite...

What's going on with STATE Legislative races? Today on  Sound Politics,  KUOW's Olympia correspondent Jeanie Lindsay joins us to break down the finances behind one of the most expensive races on the ballot this year, as well as why this "purple" district is in play as State Democrats work towards their goal of a legislative SUPER MAJORITY. We also take a look at recent polling about the four initi...

Ballots are landing in Washingtonians' mailboxes, leaving voters just a few more weeks to make up their minds on some big issues, like voter initiatives. The first thing on that ballot - at the very top - is an initiative that has equally impassioned and confused voters.  Washington Initiative 2066 focuses on how fast utilities are transitioning off of fossil fuels, how they plan for that change,...

You’ve   been hearing plenty about the big names on your ballot, but there are many people influencing what shows up on that ballot whom you may have never heard of. Unions, tech entrepreneurs, oil companies and industry associations have given millions of dollars to candidates and campaigns. On this week’s  Sound Politics,  we look at who is spending big on the upcoming election, what they want,...

Washington has a fraught relationship with taxes. And what that relationship looks like in the future is a big part of your ballot this November.  In the latest episode of  Sound Politics , hosts Scott Greenstone and Libby Denkmann break down two relatively new taxes that voters will decide whether to get rid of: the capital gains tax (which only the richest Washingtonians pay) and the Washington...

Two Republicans are battling to represent Washington's 4th congressional district -- the heart of conservative Washington, a place where being labeled a "vegan" could mean death to your campaign. In one corner sits Dan Newhouse: the incumbent, and one of ten Republicans to vote to impeach Donald Trump. In the other: a Trump-backed challenger, and former NASCAR driver, named Jerrod Sessler. In the...

Do you know what's going to be on your ballot this November?  Sound Politics  is here to help. Today:  Sound Politics  host Libby Denkmann and special guest Jeanie Lindsay are diving deep into the wonky world of carbon auctions, gas prices, and climate change legislation as we explain Initiative 2117. If passed, it would end the state’s carbon auctions that are the key part of the Climate Commitme...

Sound Politics is breaking down the big debate! You know it - the one that had you glued to your TV screen, the one all of your group chats were blowing up about, the one that culminated in a cat selfie on Instagram. No, not that debate - we're talking about the first governor's race debate showdown between former Republican congressman Dave Reichert, and Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferg...

Sound Politics is talking elections on land... and in space this week.  Up first: Scott and Libby start a little closer to home, and talk about one of the closest primary races in state history. It was a tight race to determine who would take second place in the fight for Washington State Land Commissioner. After the first statewide hand recount for a primary since 1960, it looks like Democrat Dav...

Sound Politics  is getting a little weird this week: Scott is solo hosting, and the pod is taking a break from our regular episode format due to the upcoming holiday weekend. Scott and Libby will be back with your regular 'ol normie Sound Politics next week. In the meantime, Scott is bringing you a conversation that's all about weird . Weird - it’s the word that’s been on the tip of plenty of demo...

Sound Politics is at the Democratic National Convention! Sound Politics co-hosts Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone are breaking down highlights from the convention so far, and how the Washington state delegation is showing up - and showing out. And later, Libby will take listeners to Redmond for a kind of counter-programming for local conservatives: Summer Freedom Fest 2024. Thank you to the sup...