Sound Politics

Latest Episodes:

Should we trust the polls? Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

No matter where you sit on the political spectrum, chances are you’ve been burned by a poll before. So, should we trust anything we see in the pre-election polls right now?

This week on Sound Politics, we’re bringing you an episode from KUOW’s Control F podcast. Sound Politics host Scott Greenstone and Control F host Teo Popescu dive into how we should be reading the polls less than two weeks out from the election.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go tokuow.org/donate/politics.

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor this week is Andy Hurst. Our producer isAnya Steinberg. Our host isScott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fact-checking election attack ads Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

Ballots for the November election are here – and the attack ads are hitting your screens and your mailbox.

This week on Sound Politics, we get into who’s trying to sway your vote – millionaires, state employees, and... Ken Jennings? – and whether they're telling the truth.

The show is joined by state government reporter Sarah Mizes-Tan and Paul Queary from The Washington Observer.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Alec Cowan. Our host is Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could the trans ban pass in WA? Polling says yes Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

We’re less than a month from election day. It’s the time of year people really look to polls to tell them what is going to happen... and a couple of polls have local Democrats feeling nervous.

This week on Sound Politics, what do the numbers say about support for banning trans girls from playing in girls’ sports? And is an initiative seeking to repeal the state's millionaires tax to blame?

We're joined by State Government Reporter Sarah Mizes-Tan to break it all down.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Alec Cowan. Our host is Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republicans could gain ground in WA's last swing district Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

Democrats in D.C. may be poised to take back the House -- and possibly even the Senate.
But in Washington state's only swing district, Democrats have to defend a seat from a different kind of Republican than they’ve faced for years.

This week on Sound Politics, host Scott Greenstone is joined by State Government Reporter Sarah Mizes-Tan and Seattle Times' D.C. Correspondent Anumita Kaur to break down the race in Washington's 3rd congressional district to see what it can tell us about who is going to win the midterms.

Read Sarah's latest story on what's brewing in Battle Ground here: A bitter battle is brewing in one of Washington state’s last swing districts

Read Anumita's latest story on the race in the 3rd congressional district here: The GOP fight to win back Southwest Washington conservatives | The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Sarah Mizes-Tan and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can socialists budget better? Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

This week on Sound Politics, can socialists budget… better? Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is saying yes -- and that she solved the city’s budget deficit.
But her proposal to add cops, cut elsewhere, and not raise taxes on businesses or the wealthy, has some saying she’s budgeting the same as her predecessors.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Catharine Smith and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sound Politics LIVE Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

It's our fall fund drive; we hope you'll take a second to donate to show how much you love Sound Politics.
This week, we answered your questions -- in front of you! -- at our first live taping of Sound Politics, hosted in partnership with Seattle CityClub.
Initiatives, state Supreme Court races, AI -- you brought some really great questions. We quizzed you about Washington state political history. And we got a little spicy talking about the Stranger and its sway over Seattle voters.
Also: a quick update on that natural gas initiative (it's dead) from two years ago and the Bite of Seattle press conference delay story that won't go away.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Catharine Smith and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle’s mayor lives in a one-bedroom apartment. Can she help fellow renters afford to live here? Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has staked a lot of her political project on the fact that Seattle is majority renters: she’s trying to make life more affordable for them.
She’s promised to build a lot of housing over her term, and to set Seattle up for a better-housed future. We’re going to check in on that… and to do that, we’re going to the one-bedroom apartment she still rents.

Join Sound Politics on Wednesday, September 16 at 6:30pm at The Collective Seattle for "Voters Guide Live." This event is a collaboration between KUOW and Seattle City Club featuring KUOW's Cat Smith, Scott Greenstone, and Sarah Mizes-Tan. We'll talk about all the issues and races that will dominate your ballot this fall and answer your questions.
Find tickets and more information here.
Ask questions we could answer at that event by filling out this survey.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Jason Pagano. Our producer is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Paige Browning and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voting fight update, school strike averted, Katie Wilson's pledge Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

This week on Sound Politics, we’re talking about breakdowns in communication.

First: a Seattle public school strike averted at the 11th-hour, and one very unconventional communication might’ve averted it.

Then, over at city hall, Mayor Katie Wilson is really trying to show us she is fixing communications with her office and the public after the mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle.

Lastly, in voting news, there are new concerns about vote-by-mail ahead of the November election.

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer this week is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Catharine Smith and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When WA defunded Dolly Parton Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Music legend Dolly Parton died this week, and her legacy can even be felt in Washington state, through a reading program she brought to all 39 counties.

But then, the state defunded it.

This week on Sound Politics... what does that say about our education funding at a time when kids are heading back to school, and a lack of funding is causing tension between teachers and school administrators?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where food meets politics: We visit South Seattle's most iconic fish fry Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

How much sway does one South Seattle fish fry hold on local politics? We teamed up with KUOW's Seattle Eats podcast to find out. This episode originally ran last month in the Seattle Eats feed, and we have a piping hot update at the end that you'll want to stick around for.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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