Rephonic
Artwork for Sound Politics
Washington State
Seattle
Washington State Politics
Democratic Party
Bob Ferguson
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Katie Wilson
Republican Party
Washington State Legislature
Homelessness
Capital Gains Tax
Affordable Housing
KUOW
Governor Bob Ferguson
Public Safety
Climate Commitment Act
Bruce Harrell
Political Violence
Climate Change

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,... more

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Artwork for Sound Politics

Latest Episodes

This week on Sound Politics... we’re having leftovers, tying up last week's primary elections before heading off to Seattle City Hall, where political pressure is building on the mayor and the police department.

Plus: Join Sound Politics on Wednes... more

If you want to help shape our coverage for the general election, fill out our survey.

On this week's episode: early results are trickling in for the August primary. How did incumbents fare against a slew of challengers?

Thank you to the supporter... more

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We now know that Seattle Police Department Chief Shon Barnes has resigned. It caps off a dramatic day at the city where it was unclear whether the Chief Barnes had a job. We're wading through it on this week's Sound Politics.

Thank you to the suppo... more

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Two former Democratic Governors of Washington -- Christine Gregoire and Gary Locke -- have concerns about how much Democrats in Olympia are spending and whether a huge new program like the "millionaires tax" will fix the state’s budget woes.

Thank y... more

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Recent Guests

Sarah Mises-Tan
KUOW state government reporter
KUOW
Episode: Hey, big spender! Former governors rip Dems in Olympia
Orion Donovan-Smith
DC Bureau Reporter for The Spokesman-Review
The Spokesman-Review
Episode: Trump drama in MAGA Washington
Ben Anderstone
Partner at Progressive Strategies Northwest
Progressive Strategies Northwest
Episode: Mamdani's Seattle? Not so fast...
Jake Goldstein Street
Correspondent with The Washington State Standard, covering voting and elections
The Washington State Standard
Episode: RIP, vote-by-mail?
Danny O'Neil
Covers Seattle sports on his substack The Dang Apostrophe
The Dang Apostrophe / Seattle sports journalism
Episode: Ted Cruz + Maria Cantwell: Healing America With Sports?
Colin Cole
Policy Director at More Equitable Democracy
More Equitable Democracy
Episode: Did Portland solve the gerrymandering problem?
Heather Villanueva
Director of Movement Building for More Equitable Democracy
More Equitable Democracy
Episode: Did Portland solve the gerrymandering problem?
Joe Fitzgibbon
Democrat, state house majority leader, prime sponsor of a constitutional amendment on redistricting
Washington State House of Representatives
Episode: Why WA hasn't joined the gerrymandering wars....yet
Lauren Girgis
Law and justice reporter at the Seattle Times
Seattle Times
Episode: Trump admin takes on WA's transgender prison policy

Hosts

Scott Greenstone
Host and politics reporter with KUOW; long-time voice guiding political analysis and Olympia reporting.
Libby Denkmann
Co-host and KUOW politics editor; anchors coverage with on-the-ground reporting and analysis.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 94 ratings
  • Great local news!

    It’s fantastic to get detailed information about Washington state politics and budgets. This podcast is educational and entertaining

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HappyWithGame
    United Statesa year ago
  • In depth and balanced

    Sounds great and has excellent coverage of WA ballot initiatives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    P.erry
    United States2 years ago
  • Good summary on local politicians and issues..

    I appreciate the take on the Governor’s race and other local issues. I’d like to know more about mysterious Eastern Washington. Why have the Dems abandoned it? What is going on with Cathy McMorris Rogers? What about Dan Newhouse and his strategy for staying in office? Also why aren’t more Washingtonians angry about the electoral college? Keep it up Sound Politics!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Cme2see
    United States2 years ago
  • Sounding great

    Making WA politics fun and interesting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sockeye12
    United States2 years ago
  • Engaging hosts who’ve done their homework

    Washington State could use a nonpartisan podcast that regularly digs into the Olympia scene and state politics. The debut episodes for this show hosted by the likable Scott Greenstone and Libby Denkman are promising.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OlyMan12
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows strong guest expertise and thoughtful analysis.
Clear, balanced takes on WA politics with deep policy insight.
Nuanced discussions of local elections and state policy.
Engaging hosts with solid research and on-site reporting.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hey, big spender! Former governors rip Dems in Olympia
Q: Scott, Sarah, can you tell us how we got to this point with the budget and the role of former governors in shaping the current debate?
Sarah explains that the budget has been in the red for years, with historical context from the dot-com bust to the Great Recession, and that high-level criticisms from former governors reflect ongoing concerns about spending and revenue decisions rather than outright opposition to taxation.
Trump drama in MAGA Washington
Q: What are the main Republican candidates' positions and endorsements?
Orion outlines three frontrunners—Amanda McKinney as the Trump-endorsed candidate, Matt Banke as a more moderate traditional Republican, and Jared Sessler as a Trump-aligned challenger—with each framing their stance to either retain Trump support or appeal to more centrist voters in Central Washington.
Trump drama in MAGA Washington
Q: Can you introduce the district and its biggest issues?
Orion Donovan-Smith explains that the district is geographically vast, agriculturally driven, and faces data-center growth, Hanford-related economic transitions, and immigration pressures, making it a hotspot where national Trump-era politics intersect with local priorities.
Mamdani's Seattle? Not so fast...
Q: What are the main reasons liberal voters are going for outsider candidates in these primaries?
Polls indicate that while voters share the party's core values, they feel the party is out of touch on effectiveness and urgency; insurgent candidates are seen as freshening up politics and offering a more responsive approach, which resonates with both younger voters and a broader base.
RIP, vote-by-mail?
Q: What does Watson v. RNC mean for Washington's vote-by-mail system, and could the grace period be at risk?
The case questions whether ballots postmarked by Election Day but arriving after it should be counted; Washington currently allows a lengthy 21-day grace period, so a ruling against late ballots could narrow that window and require changes in how ballots are processed.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sound Politics

What is Sound Politics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

- Concise, policy-forward discussions dissect Washington state politics, elections, and governance. The show consistently covers gerrymandering, tax policy, court races, and public transparency, often with on-site reporting and expert guests. Listeners get accessible, data-informed context that connects policy decisions to real-world impact on communities and the economy. A notable strength is blending historical context with current developments and reform debates, offering practical takeaways for voters, policymakers, and sponsors alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Sound Politics?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Sound Politics. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Sound Politics and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Sound Politics get?

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What are the audience demographics for Sound Politics?

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How many subscribers and views does Sound Politics have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sound Politics has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sound Politics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sound Politics:

1. Booming
2. Week In Review
3. Seattle Now
4. Seattle Nice
5. Soundside

How many episodes of Sound Politics are there?

Sound Politics launched 2 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sound Politics?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Sound Politics?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sound Politics from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Sound Politics?

Recent guests on Sound Politics include:

1. Sarah Mises-Tan
2. Orion Donovan-Smith
3. Ben Anderstone
4. Jake Goldstein Street
5. Danny O'Neil
6. Colin Cole
7. Heather Villanueva
8. Joe Fitzgibbon

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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