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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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
Taxing the jocks and the nerds
We're going deep on taxes this week, even though it's only February. State Democrats have released their so-called millionaire's tax, and we talk about why one particular Dem isn't sold yet. Related Links SB 6346 - 2025-26 WA Democrats’ ‘millionaires tax’ is here, but Ferguson doesn’t support it…
29:03
Do “general strikes” work? Seattle history has an answer
Where did the idea come from to push back against President Trump by holding a general strike? The story takes us back 100 years to shipyard workers in Seattle. We’ll hear why people think general strikes are an effective protest today and whether they work. On this week's episode, we relied on or…
30:20
How do you measure a year in Trump?
One year into President Trump's second term, we check in with Washington state’s biggest Trump supporter (or at least, the biggest one in our Congressional delegation) Rep. Michael Baumgartner of Spokane. We also talk with the biggest Trump adversary in the state, Attorney General Nick Brown, who s…
52:44
Incoming: a state income tax showdown with Ferguson onboard
Democrats think that this is the year when voters and the courts will side with them on an income tax. Axios' Melissa Santos and the Washington Observer's Paul Queary join us to talk about why. They'll also break down what they're watching during this year's state legislative session. Thank you to…
29:31
Katie Wilson: Socialist mayor running a capitalist city
Seattle's new mayor, Katie Wilson, joins us to talk about being in the media spotlight, her priorities for the coming year, and what new taxes she might get behind. 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…
27:40
Sugar, spice and everything dais
Outgoing Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson reflects on her tenure as she leaves office. 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 p…
36:24
Can taxing millionaires fix WA’s broken budget?
State Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen is talking about passing a new income tax during next year's short legislative session. Plus, how the state will pay for flood damage with a tight budget. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go …
36:44