Épisodes

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

    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.

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    23 min
  • Mayor Wilson at 100 days: a progress report
    Apr 16 2026

    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.

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    35 min
  • Where are your lawmakers now? We go to the woods
    Apr 9 2026

    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.

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    26 min
  • Brian Heywood on taking the millionaire's tax to court
    Apr 2 2026

    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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    33 min
  • Sonic Politics
    Mar 26 2026

    The Seattle SuperSonics are closer than ever to coming home. And this comeback could have surprising benefits for elected officials. Plus, we recap the political machinations behind the loss of the Sonics 18 years ago.

    Guest

    Jordan Ritter Conn, senior staff writer for The Ringer, host of "Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost Its Team"

    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 Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    25 min
  • Why Joe Kent quit
    Mar 19 2026

    Since retiring from the military, combat veteran Joe Kent has been a loyal foot soldier in the MAGA army.

    Now, the two-time Washington congressional candidate claims President Donald Trump was manipulated into going to war with Iran, a country Kent says posed no imminent threat to the U.S.

    Kent sat down for a lengthy interview with Tucker Carlson about his decision to quit D.C., and we listened in to see what we could learn about him and about the state of the MAGA coalition.

    Related links

    Joe Kent, a top counterterrorism official, resigns citing Iran war - NPR

    The Race for District 3: Joe Kent - Soundside’s 2024 interview

    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 Gabrielle Healy. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    21 min
  • How weird is Washington's millionaire's tax?
    Mar 12 2026

    We've been talking about it for what feels like forever. But it has finally happened. The Washington state legislature has passed the millionaire's tax.

    We're talking about the sounds, smells and substance that got this bill to the governor's desk with Sarah Mizes-Tan, KUOW's Olympia reporter.

    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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    31 min
  • Listener mailbag: Iran redux
    Mar 11 2026

    We’re coming to you with a bonus dose of Sound Politics because we got some feedback about our last episode that we want to talk about and chew over a bit.

    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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    14 min