Microsoft is offering buyouts to a large portion of its workforce, Washington is facing accusations of illegal voter registration and voting, and the Hawaii General Store might be starting a new chapter.

It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

Microsoft is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/technology/2026-10-26/microsoft-offers-voluntary-buyouts-to-a-quarter-of-its-workforce">offering buyouts</a> to a large portion of its workforce, Washington is facing <a href="https://www.kuow.org/elections/2026-10-26/federal-attorneys-allege-hundreds-of-non-citizens-are-voting-in-washington-elections">accusations of illegal voter registration and voting</a>, and the Hawaii General Store might be starting a new chapter.
It&rsquo;s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now

Microsoft is offering buyouts to a large portion of its workforce, Washington is facing accusations of illegal voter registration and voting, and the Hawaii General Store might be starting a new chapter.

Monday Evening Headlines

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has a new plan to address homelessness. 

It’s not completely new, instead it expands on some earlier efforts that have shown success. 

We’ll break it down with KUOW politics reporter Scott Greenstone.

Read his reporting here.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has a new plan to address homelessness.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s not completely new, instead it expands on some earlier efforts that have shown success.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll break it down with KUOW politics reporter Scott Greenstone.
Read his reporting <a href="https://www.kuow.org/governing/2026-10-21/wilson-wants-to-emulate-denver-houston-with-new-homelessness-strategy">here</a>.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has a new plan to address homelessness.   It’s not completely new, instead it expands on some earlier efforts that have shown success.   We’ll break it down with KUOW politics reporter Scott Greenstone.

Mayor Wilson has a new-ish plan to address homelessness

KUOW's Katie Campbell speaks with writer George Saunders about his latest novel, "Vigil." It's set at the deathbed of an 87 year old oil tycoon and climate change denier named KJ Boone. While Boone is dying, an angel comes to get him to revisit some of his most harmful decisions. 

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW app.

KUOW's Katie Campbell speaks with writer George Saunders about his latest novel, "Vigil." It's set at the deathbed of an 87 year old oil tycoon and climate change denier named KJ Boone. While Boone is dying, an angel comes to get him to revisit some of his most harmful decisions.&nbsp;
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW app.

This week, KUOW's Katie Campbell speaks with writer George Saunders about his latest novel "Vigil."

Death, ghosts, and AI with George Saunders

Today, we’re helping you prep for next month’s election with KUOW’s “Soundside.”

One of the closest races in Washington state elections this year is between two Democrats on the Eastside… 

Despite their party alignment, they disagree on a key issue facing the state.

Following a “no” vote on Washington’s millionaires tax in March, incumbent state house Representative Amy Walen (WALL-in) found she was facing a challenge from her own party, from Redmond city council member Jessica Forsythe.

A measly 17 votes separated the two candidates in the primary. 

Meanwhile, the race has attracted hundreds of thousands of dollars of independent expenditures in support of both campaigns.

They’re vying to represent the 48th Legislative District, one of the wealthiest districts in the state which includes parts of Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and all of Clyde Hill, Medina, Yarrow Point, and Hunts Point.

Walen and Forsythe answered questions about their candidacy as part of a debate moderated by Soundside’s David Kroman.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

Today, we&rsquo;re helping you prep for <a href="https://www.kuow.org/podcast/soundside">next month&rsquo;s election with KUOW&rsquo;s &ldquo;Soundside.&rdquo;</a>
One of the closest races in Washington state elections this year is between two Democrats on the Eastside&hellip;&nbsp;
Despite their party alignment, they disagree on a key issue facing the state.
Following a &ldquo;no&rdquo; vote on Washington&rsquo;s millionaires tax in March, incumbent state house Representative Amy Walen (WALL-in) found she was facing a challenge from her own party, from Redmond city council member Jessica Forsythe.
A measly 17 votes separated the two candidates in the primary.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the race has attracted hundreds of thousands of dollars of independent expenditures in support of both campaigns.
They&rsquo;re vying to represent the 48th Legislative District, one of the wealthiest districts in the state which includes parts of Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and all of Clyde Hill, Medina, Yarrow Point, and Hunts Point.
Walen and Forsythe answered questions about their candidacy as part of a debate moderated by Soundside&rsquo;s David Kroman.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Today, we’re helping you prep for next month’s election with KUOW’s “Soundside.”  One of the closest races in Washington state elections this year is between two Democrats on the Eastside…   Despite their party alignment, they disagree on a key issue facing the state.  Following a “no” vote on Washington’s millionaires tax in March, incumbent state house Representative Amy Walen (WALL-in) found she was facing a challenge from her own party, from Redmond city council member Jessica Forsythe.  A measly 17 votes separated the two candidates in the primary.   Meanwhile, the race has attracted hundreds of thousands of dollars of independent expenditures in support of both campaigns.  They’re vying to represent the 48th Legislative District, one of the wealthiest districts in the state which includes parts of Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and all of Clyde Hill, Medina, Yarrow Point, and Hunts Point.  Walen and Forsythe answered questions about their candidacy as part of a debate moderated by Soundside’s David Kroman.

Monday Evening Headlines

In 1 playlist(s)

Seattle Now

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips