Sound Politics

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are you fighting the election scaries this Halloween?

If you're like the Sound Politics team - you're looking to the future. Washington isn't known for being a decider in the presidential election, but one specific county and one statewide primary could be a reliable reflections of the national mood. We'll dig into what Washington predicts for the 2024 election. Plus, a few of our favorite local gems: the down-ballot items that haven't gotten enough coverage. 

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 hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's going on with STATE Legislative races?

Today on Sound Politics, KUOW's Olympia correspondent Jeanie Lindsay joins us to break down the finances behind one of the most expensive races on the ballot this year, as well as why this "purple" district is in play as State Democrats work towards their goal of a legislative SUPER MAJORITY.

We also take a look at recent polling about the four initiatives on the top of the ballot, and try to determine why PINOCCHIO is the poster child for Let's Go Washington's ad campaign.

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 Jason Burrows. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ballots are landing in Washingtonians' mailboxes, leaving voters just a few more weeks to make up their minds on some big issues, like voter initiatives.

The first thing on that ballot - at the very top - is an initiative that has equally impassioned and confused voters. 

Washington Initiative 2066 focuses on how fast utilities are transitioning off of fossil fuels, how they plan for that change, and the power local governments have to weigh in by regulating natural gas. 

We'll unpack the initiative on this week's episode of Sound Politics, and Libby will take on Scott's ballot pop quiz!

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 Noel Gasca. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve been hearing plenty about the big names on your ballot, but there are many people influencing what shows up on that ballot whom you may have never heard of. Unions, tech entrepreneurs, oil companies and industry associations have given millions of dollars to candidates and campaigns.

On this week’s Sound Politics, we look at who is spending big on the upcoming election, what they want, and which big donors are sitting this year out.

Guest:

Paul Queary, editor and publisher of The Washington Observer

 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington has a fraught relationship with taxes. And what that relationship looks like in the future is a big part of your ballot this November. 

In the latest episode of Sound Politics, hosts Scott Greenstone and Libby Denkmann break down two relatively new taxes that voters will decide whether to get rid of: the capital gains tax (which only the richest Washingtonians pay) and the Washington CARES tax (which most voters probably see on their paychecks).

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 producer this week is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two Republicans are battling to represent Washington's 4th congressional district -- the heart of conservative Washington, a place where being labeled a "vegan" could mean death to your campaign.

In one corner sits Dan Newhouse: the incumbent, and one of ten Republicans to vote to impeach Donald Trump. In the other: a Trump-backed challenger, and former NASCAR driver, named Jerrod Sessler.

In the newest episode of Sound Politics, hosts Scott Greenstone and Libby Denkmann check in with Spokesman Review reporter Orion Donovan Smith about how the race is shaping up - and what it could say about the future of the Republican party.

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 producer this week is Sarah Leibovitz. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.