Sound Politics

Latest Episodes:

Did Portland solve the gerrymandering problem? Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Both parties are rushing to gerrymander their Congressional districts as fast as they can. Nobody thinks this is good for Democracy. Is there a better way?
The team at More Equitable Democracy thinks there is, and it is being used right across the Columbia in Portland, OR.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our host is Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why WA hasn't joined the gerrymandering wars....yet May 28, 2026

Show notes

As state legislatures across the country rush to redraw Congressional maps, will Washington follow their lead? Democrats in Olympia think it’s possible, but they need to win some local elections first.
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/soundpolitics/.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Sarah Mizes Tan.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump admin takes on WA's transgender prison policy May 21, 2026

Show notes

Washington’s state prisons have come under the eye of the federal Department of Justice for housing a little over a dozen trans women in a women’s prison. There’s a lot of anger over this policy on the right. And lawsuits on both sides of the issue claiming peoples’ constitutional rights are being violated. We’ll dig into the facts with the Seattle Times' Lauren Girgis.
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/soundpolitics/.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Seattle killing big biz? May 14, 2026

Show notes

The discourse has gotten really heated about progressive politics versus business growth. But is this overblown? We talk to a former tax-the-rich Democrat who now reps Seattle's business community: Joe Nguyen.
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/soundpolitics/.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Catharine Smith and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gerrymander? Mutiny? Dems fight it out May 07, 2026

Show notes

Washington state Democrats feel hopeful, some are talking about winning a two-thirds supermajority, a real longshot this year. But first: they will look to fend off attacks from inside their own party.
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/soundpolitics/.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where is Governor Bob Ferguson? Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Since Governor Ferguson took office in 2025, he’s done few media availabilities or sitdowns with podcasts like the one you’re listening to. He’s also overhauled how the state government communicates with the public. What does that mean for people trying to understand what’s going on in Olympia?
Read Melissa Santos' reporting at Axios Seattle here.
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/soundpolitics/.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our host is Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historic Supreme Court races: Could they sink the 'millionaires tax'? Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

Very few people pay attention to Supreme Court elections in the Evergreen state. In 2024, two of three judges ran unopposed.
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/soundpolitics/.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayor Wilson at 100 days: a progress report Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

As Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson marks her 100th day in office, we look at where she stands on key campaign promises about shelter and CCTV cameras.

Here's that link we promised to a piece about Joel Connelly in MyNorthwest. https://mynorthwest.com/local/joel-connelly-seattle-p-i-dies/4228791
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/soundpolitics/.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Jason Pagano. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where are your lawmakers now? We go to the woods Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

The legislative session in Olympia is over, and do you know where your legislator is now? Because it turns out they are probably herding bison (if you live in Moses Lake), or practicing forestry (If you're living in Centralia), or law or medicine.
Washington has a part-time legislature, and most lawmakers have day jobs. But some say that should change, and “state legislator" should be a full time job. This year's effort to change the law saw an unlikely duo, usually foes, wearing matching argyle sweaters on the House floor. We'll hear why, plus, we get an update on some of the loose ends left over from the session: lawsuits, referendum threats and that pesky budget deficit.

Listen to Sarah Mizes-Tan's story on part-time legislators here.

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/soundpolitics/.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Gabriel Spitzer. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Sarah Mizes-Tan and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Heywood on taking the millionaire's tax to court Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

The so-called millionaires tax has been signed into law, but the fight over it is barely beginning. Now, it moves to the courts -- and potentially onto your ballot.

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/soundpolitics/.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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