It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year… budget season.

Washington state legislators are facing a deficit of over $10 billion dollars for the 2025-2027 budget. And, the state’s not alone: King County is looking at maybe a $150 million deficit by 2026. Seattle is about to pass a budget that filled a $250 million budget hole without massive cuts.

Sound Politics host Scott Greenstone sat down with KUOW government reporter Jeanie Lindsay, and Seattle Times politics and community reporter Daniel Beekman to figure out what’s on the chopping block, and how it affects our lives.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes.

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Gabe Spitzer. Our producer this week is Sarah Leibovitz. Our host is Scott Greenstone.

It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year… budget season.
Washington state legislators are facing a deficit of over $10 billion dollars for the 2025-2027 budget. And, the state’s not alone: King County is looking at maybe a $150 million deficit by 2026. Seattle is about to pass a budget that filled a $250 million budget hole without massive cuts.
Sound Politics host Scott Greenstone sat down with KUOW government reporter Jeanie Lindsay, and Seattle Times politics and community reporter Daniel Beekman to figure out what’s on the chopping block, and how it affects our lives.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes</a>.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Gabe Spitzer. Our producer this week is Sarah Leibovitz. Our host is Scott Greenstone.

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

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.  

New episodes every week.  

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes. 

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producers are Noel Gasca and Sarah Leibovitz. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

A podcast about the candidates, policies, and perspectives shaping the Pacific Northwest. Produced by <a href="http://www.kuow.org">KUOW</a> in Seattle.  
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.  
New episodes every week.  
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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/soundpoliticsnotes">kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes</a>. Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producers are Noel Gasca and Sarah Leibovitz. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

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

Sound Politics

Washington stares into the (budget) abyss

Before Bob Ferguson made a name for himself as Washington's Attorney General, he was a chess player. And not just any junior master. In Seattle and abroad, Ferguson earned a reputation as a two-time state chess champion and even won a game against three opponents at once -- while blindfolded. Sound Politics co-hosts Scott Greenstone and Jeanie Lindsay dive into Ferguson's penchant to think 12 moves ahead, and what it says about Bob Ferguson: the governor-elect, and the person.

Read Scott's story on Bob Ferguson and his time behind the chess board here: KUOW - Bob Ferguson, chess master and Washington's next governor, preps for Trump rematch

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes.

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Gabe Spitzer. Our producer this week is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Scott Greenstone and Jeanie Lindsay.

Before Bob Ferguson made a name for himself as Washington's Attorney General, he was a chess player. And not just any junior master. In Seattle and abroad, Ferguson earned a reputation as a two-time state chess champion and even won a game against three opponents at once -- while blindfolded. Sound Politics co-hosts Scott Greenstone and Jeanie Lindsay dive into Ferguson's penchant to think 12 moves ahead, and what it says about Bob Ferguson: the governor-elect, and the person.
Read Scott's story on Bob Ferguson and his time behind the chess board here: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-s-next-governor-a-chess-champion-preps-for-a-trump-rematch">KUOW - Bob Ferguson, chess master and Washington's next governor, preps for Trump rematch</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes</a>.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Gabe Spitzer. Our producer this week is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Scott Greenstone and Jeanie Lindsay.

The governor's gambit: Bob Ferguson's rise from chess champ to state leader

While the rest of the country moved towards the right this election, Washington Democrats saw the first sweep of statewide offices since the 1960s. Governor-elect Bob Ferguson, who sued the Trump administration 99 times as Attorney General, announced he's making contingency plans for counteracting a Trump presidency. But what is behind the country's conservative shift? We'll speak with a political consultant, a journalist, and a former Attorney General about the mood of voters and why Washington didn't follow national trends.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes.

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Gabe Spitzer. Our producer this week is Sarah Leibovitz and Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann

While the rest of the country moved towards the right this election, Washington Democrats saw the first sweep of statewide offices since the 1960s. Governor-elect Bob Ferguson, who sued the Trump administration 99 times as Attorney General, announced he's making contingency plans for counteracting a Trump presidency. But what is behind the country's conservative shift? We'll speak with a political consultant, a journalist, and a former Attorney General about the mood of voters and why Washington didn't follow national trends.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes</a>.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Gabe Spitzer. Our producer this week is Sarah Leibovitz and Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann

In a redder America, Washington stands alone

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Take a break from staring at the New York Times needle and join us as we round up local election results. We're looking at the governor's race, initiatives, and a surprisingly close Supreme Court contest on this election day edition of Sound Politics.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes. Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Our editor is Gabe Spitzer. Our producer this week is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

Take a break from staring at the New York Times needle and join us as we round up local election results. We're looking at the governor's race, initiatives, and a surprisingly close Supreme Court contest on this election day edition of Sound Politics.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes</a>. Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
Our editor is Gabe Spitzer. Our producer this week is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

Take a break from staring at the New York Times needle and join us as we round up local election results.

Washington stares into the (budget) abyss

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