Sound Politics
Sound Politics
A podcast about the candidates, policies, and perspectives shaping the Pacific Northwest. There’s a lot to wade through when it comes to Washington State politics. The drama, the facts, the money, and the movers and shakers. In Sound Politics KUOW host Libby Denkmann and politics reporter Scott Greenstone go beyond the ballot to guide you through what’s happening in local politics, why it matters,…Social links:
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Where are your lawmakers now? We go to the woods
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 l…
26:05
Brian Heywood on taking the millionaire's tax to court
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/sou…
33:11
Sonic Politics
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 B…
24:50
Why Joe Kent quit
Since retiring from the military, combat veteran Joe Kent has been a loyal foot soldierin 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 sa…
20:53
How weird is Washington's millionaire's tax?
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. Th…
31:25
Listener mailbag: Iran redux
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/soundpolitic…
13:51
Seattle's Iranian diaspora processes war
We spoke to a major booster of President Trump and a proponent of military intervention in Iran. He doesn’t speak for the wide spectrum of Iranian-American thinking — but he does represent a mode of thought that is very visible and very loud in the Pacific Northwest. Most of the street demonstratio…
41:25
Could conservative sheriffs get removed from office?
Democrats in Olympia are considering a bill that gives a state board the power to decertify elected sheriffs. Depending on how you see it, it's either a necessary step to modernize sheriff's offices or opens the door for an unelected state board to undermine voters. KUOW's Amy Radil will explain th…
34:54
Robin Hood: Dems in Tights
Is Governor Ferguson tax-mogging? We'll let you look up what that means, but the millionaire’s tax is taking shape as it moves through Olympia. State Senate Democrats passed their version of the proposal this week. But can it pay for everything Democrats want it to fund? Also, Seattle mayor Katie …
32:27
Jayapal on what she saw in the Epstein files
We haven’t talked a lot about the Epstein files on this show but it’s a defining picture of a lot of the politics we talk about here – populist backlash against rich elites and distrust of government and the political establishment more generally. It is a story that has engulfed the other Washingto…
24:59