Episodios

  • Brian Heywood on taking the millionaire's tax to court
    Apr 2 2026

    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/soundpolitics/.

    Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    33 m
  • Sonic Politics
    Mar 26 2026

    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 Boom: How Seattle Lost Its Team"

    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 Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    25 m
  • Why Joe Kent quit
    Mar 19 2026

    Since retiring from the military, combat veteran Joe Kent has been a loyal foot soldier in 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 sat down for a lengthy interview with Tucker Carlson about his decision to quit D.C., and we listened in to see what we could learn about him and about the state of the MAGA coalition.

    Related links

    Joe Kent, a top counterterrorism official, resigns citing Iran war - NPR

    The Race for District 3: Joe Kent - Soundside’s 2024 interview

    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 proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Gabrielle Healy. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    21 m
  • How weird is Washington's millionaire's tax?
    Mar 12 2026

    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.

    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 proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    31 m
  • Listener mailbag: Iran redux
    Mar 11 2026

    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/soundpolitics/.

    Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    14 m
  • Seattle's Iranian diaspora processes war
    Mar 6 2026

    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 demonstrations in the Seattle area have been organized by the pro-intervention faction of Seattle’s Iranian diaspora. Plus, we hear from other Iranian-Americans about how they are processing the war.

    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 proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    41 m
  • Could conservative sheriffs get removed from office?
    Feb 26 2026

    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 the bill, we'll hear from two sheriffs against it, and talk to one former sheriff, State Sen. John Lovick, who's for it.

    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 proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Hans Anderson. Our hosts are Catharine Smith and Scott Greenstone.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    35 m
  • Robin Hood: Dems in Tights
    Feb 19 2026

    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 Wilson faces her first test in office: Whether to expand the city’s over 60 CCTV cameras.

    It's a grab-bag episode, inspired by Mayor Wilson's reference to public grocery stores in her State of the City speech this week.

    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 proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Gabrielle Healy. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

    Related Links

    Giving the income tax back before its enacted - The Washington Observer
    Will Katie Wilson turn off Seattle’s surveillance cameras? - The Seattle Times

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    32 m