We’re less than a month from election day. It’s the time of year people really look to polls to tell them what is going to happen... and a couple of polls have local Democrats feeling nervous.

This week on Sound Politics, what do the numbers say about support for banning trans girls from playing in girls’ sports? And is an initiative seeking to repeal the state's millionaires tax to blame?

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 Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Sarah Mizes-Tan and Scott Greenstone.

We&rsquo;re less than a month from election day. It&rsquo;s the time of year people really look to polls to tell them what is going to happen... and&nbsp;a couple of polls have local Democrats feeling nervous.
This week on Sound Politics, what do the numbers say about support for banning trans girls from playing in girls&rsquo; sports? And is an initiative seeking to repeal the state's millionaires tax to blame?
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to <a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics">https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics</a>
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/catharine-smith/">Catharine Smith</a>. Our producer is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/people/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/people/sarah-mizes-tan">Sarah Mizes-Tan</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/people/scott-greenstone">Scott Greenstone</a>.

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, and how you can use your vote to make a difference.  

A podcast about the candidates, policies, and perspectives shaping the Pacific Northwest. There&rsquo;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&rsquo;s happening in local politics, why it matters, and how you can use your vote to make a difference. &nbsp;

A podcast about the candidates, policies, and perspectives shaping the Pacific Northwest. Produced by KUOW in Seattle.

Sound Politics

It’s the time of year people really look to polls to tell them what is going to happen... and a couple of polls have local Democrats feeling nervous.

Could the trans ban pass in WA? Polling says yes

Democrats in D.C. may be poised to take back the House -- and possibly even the Senate.

But in Washington state's only swing district, Democrats have to defend a seat from a different kind of Republican than they’ve faced for years.

This week on Sound Politics, host Scott Greenstone is joined by State Government Reporter Sarah Mizes-Tan and Seattle Times' D.C. Correspondent Anumita Kaur to break down the race in Washington's 3rd congressional district to see what it can tell us about who is going to win the midterms.

Read Sarah's latest story on what's brewing in Battle Ground here: A bitter battle is brewing in one of Washington state’s last swing districts

Read Anumita's latest story on the race in the 3rd congressional district here: The GOP fight to win back Southwest Washington conservatives | The Seattle Times

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 Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Sarah Mizes-Tan and Scott Greenstone.

Democrats in D.C. may be poised to take back the House -- and possibly even the Senate. But in Washington state's only swing district, Democrats have to defend a seat from a different kind of Republican than they&rsquo;ve faced for years.
This week on Sound Politics, host Scott Greenstone is joined by State Government Reporter Sarah Mizes-Tan and Seattle Times' D.C. Correspondent Anumita Kaur to break down the race in Washington's 3rd congressional district to see&nbsp;what it can tell us about who is going to win the midterms.
Read Sarah's latest story on what's brewing in Battle Ground here: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/topics/politics/2026-09-14/a-bitter-battle-is-brewing-in-one-of-washington-states-last-swing-districts">A bitter battle is brewing in one of Washington state&rsquo;s last swing districts</a>
Read Anumita's latest story on the race in the 3rd congressional district here: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/the-gop-fight-to-win-back-southwest-washington-conservatives/">The GOP fight to win back Southwest Washington conservatives | The Seattle Times</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to <a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics">https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics</a>
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/catharine-smith/">Catharine Smith</a>. Our producer is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/people/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/people/sarah-mizes-tan">Sarah Mizes-Tan</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/people/scott-greenstone">Scott Greenstone</a>.

State Government Reporter Sarah Mizes-Tan and Seattle Times' D.C. Correspondent Anumita Kaur break down the race in Washington's 3rd congressional district to see what it can tell us about who is going to win the midterms.

Republicans could gain ground in WA's last swing district

This week on Sound Politics, can socialists budget… better? Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is saying yes -- and that she solved the city’s budget deficit.

But her proposal to add cops, cut elsewhere, and not raise taxes on businesses or the wealthy, has some saying she’s budgeting the same as her predecessors.

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 Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Catharine Smith and Scott Greenstone.

This week on Sound Politics, can socialists budget&hellip; better? Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is saying yes -- and that she solved the city&rsquo;s budget deficit. But her proposal to add cops, cut elsewhere, and not raise taxes on businesses or the wealthy, has some saying she&rsquo;s budgeting the same as her predecessors.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics">https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics</a>
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/catharine-smith/">Catharine Smith</a>. Our producer is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/people/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are Catharine Smith and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/people/scott-greenstone">Scott Greenstone</a>.

The mayor's proposal to add cops, cut elsewhere, and not add taxes, has some saying she’s budgeting the same as her predecessors.

Can socialists budget better?

It's our fall fund drive; we hope you'll take a second to donate to show how much you love Sound Politics.

This week, we answered your questions -- in front of you! -- at our first live taping of Sound Politics, hosted in partnership with Seattle CityClub.

Initiatives, state Supreme Court races, AI -- you brought some really great questions. We quizzed you about Washington state political history. And we got a little spicy talking about the Stranger and its sway over Seattle voters.

Also: a quick update on that natural gas initiative (it's dead) from two years ago and the Bite of Seattle press conference delay story that won't go away.

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 Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Catharine Smith and Scott Greenstone.

It's our fall fund drive; we hope you'll take a second to <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/Donate/soundpolitics">donate to show how much you love Sound Politics</a>. This week, we answered your questions -- in front of you! -- at our first live taping of Sound Politics, hosted in partnership with Seattle CityClub. Initiatives, state Supreme Court races, AI -- you brought some really great questions. We quizzed you about Washington state political history. And we got a little spicy talking about the Stranger and its sway over Seattle voters. Also: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/law/2026-09-17/natural-gas-initiative-ruled-unconstitutional-by-washington-state-supreme-court">a quick update on that natural gas initiative</a> (it's dead) from two years ago and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/crime/2026-09-16/seattle-police-texts-show-confusion-about-command-process-following-bite-of-seattle-shooting">the Bite of Seattle press conference delay story that won't go away</a>.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to <a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics">https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics</a>
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Catharine Smith and Scott Greenstone.

This week, we answered your questions -- in front of you! -- at our first live taping of Sound Politics, hosted in partnership with Seattle CityClub.

Could the trans ban pass in WA? Polling says yes

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