Seattle Now
975 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 584 ratingsA smart, daily podcast for a curious city. Seattle Now brings you quick, informal, and hyper-local news updates every weekday.
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Episodes
Securing the Seattle suburban vote
August 02, 2022 12:00 - 13 minutes - 13.6 MBIt’s primary day and there’s a lot on the ballot! Democrats are trying to hold on to seats and Republicans are embracing a rebrand to pick some up. Both parties are focused and fighting over the Seattle suburbs. The swingiest parts of the district will help the parties craft their message for the election season. Axios Seattle Reporter Melissa Santos is going to break it all down with us today. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: h...
Preparing for wildfires in your backyard
August 01, 2022 12:00 - 14 minutes - 14.5 MBThere have already been more than 400 wildfires in Washington this summer. Most of those were on the East side of the Cascades. But fires on the west side do happen and they’re only going to get more common as the climate gets hotter and drier. We're joined by UW professor Maureen Kennedey. She tell us what we can do to lower the risk of wildfires in our forests and our yards. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www.kuow.o...
Casual Friday with Vee Hua and Chase Burns
July 29, 2022 12:00 - 18 minutes - 19.6 MBA Tacoma Farmers Market landed itself in the middle of a Mexican food controversy this week. Plus, camp sweeps continued despite the record-breaking heat, and some Seattleites hopped across the border to find Monkeypox vaccines. In lighter news: The Black Panther 2 trailer arrived, and we're already hyped. We break down the week with filmmaker and managing editor of the South Seattle Emerald Vee Hua and Chase Burns, formerly of the Stranger and now editor of The Ticket from the Seattle Tim...
Election misinformation works harder
July 28, 2022 12:00 - 12 minutes - 13.3 MBIt’s primary season and election misinformation is working harder than a bartender on nickel beer night. Yes, even in Seattle. We are not immune to conspiracy theories around elections. In a minute, Mike Caulfied will talk to us about what information is shaping these theories, and who has the power to change the conversation We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www.kuow.org/feedback
Should I stop reading the news?
July 27, 2022 12:00 - 14 minutes - 14.7 MBIf you’ve found yourself avoiding the news lately you are not alone. More and more people are tuning out from current events. Amanda Ripley is one of those people. She’s a journalist herself, so she dug into why, and found out the news actually isn’t good for your health. She spoke with Jeannie Yandel about how to stay informed without burning out. And, we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www.kuow.org/feedback
Too hot to handle the work day
July 26, 2022 12:03 - 11 minutes - 12.3 MBIf you haven’t noticed… it is HOT today. Especially if you are spending time outside in the sun. In Washington, workers who are outside for more than 15 minutes during their shift have new workplace rights. Ryan Allen from the Department of Labor & Industries will walk us through the rules and red tape. And, we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www.kuow.org/feedback
Is Seattle heading toward a recession?
July 25, 2022 12:03 - 13 minutes - 14.2 MBIt’s been a weird time for the economy. On the plus side, we have a super competitive job market. On the down side, inflation and interest rates are rising. Now Microsoft says it’s going into a hiring freeze And Amazon is slowing down construction projects. This got us wondering if an economic downturn is in our future. Seattle Times business reporter Paul Roberts is here to help us make sense of things. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedba...
Casual Friday with Jane C Hu and Hannah Weinberger
July 22, 2022 12:03 - 22 minutes - 23.1 MBIt’s Friday again and we’re looking at a weekend of rising temperatures, crowded outdoor events, and maybe some dogs who really hate when we leave the house. We’ll get into all that with Crosscut environment reporter Hannah Weinberger and independent journalist Jane C Hu.
Should I be worried about monkeypox?
July 21, 2022 12:03 - 12 minutes - 13.3 MBWe know a lot about monkeypox: How it's spread, what the symptoms are. We even have a vaccine. But health officials are still trying to figure out why it's spreading so quickly right now, in Seattle and across the world. Seattle Times Health reporter Elise Takahama tells us about the impact monkeypox is having in the Seattle area and what still needs to happen to address the outbreak. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://ww...
What to know about BA.5
July 20, 2022 12:03 - 11 minutes - 12.3 MBCovid case numbers are climbing and local health officials are in talks about reinstating a mask mandate. But the public is largely feeling pandemic fatigue. Dr. Pavitra Roychoudhury at the UW Virology Lab shares the latest information on Omicron variant BA.5 and the risk level in the community.
To AirBnb or Not to Bnb
July 19, 2022 12:03 - 15 minutes - 16.2 MBAirBnB has, to put it simply, a complex relationship with many US cities. That includes Seattle, where AirBnB stock is pretty tightly regulated. KUOW’s Joshua McNichols wanted to know: Just what impact do AirBnBs have on the city?
Seattle's plan to hire 500 police officers
July 18, 2022 12:03 - 12 minutes - 12.7 MBTwo years ago, the conversation in Seattle was all about defunding the Seattle Police Department, but things have changed. Mayor Bruce Harrell says SPD now has a staffing crisis. He’s proposing an ambitious plan to put millions into hiring 500 new police officers. KUOW reporter Amy Radil explains why the department has such a labor shortage and how Harrell's recruitment plan would work. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https:...
Casual Friday with Jeannie Yandel and Tan Vinh
July 15, 2022 12:03 - 20 minutes - 21.1 MBThis week Starbucks announced store closures… we greeted Amazon Prime Day with a collective “whatevs” on social media but the retail giant said “whatevs back” still boosting sales by 8.9%... and to top it all off the heavens ordered up a supersized moon. We’re breaking it all down this week with Tan Vinh and Jeannie Yandel. Also, we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www.kuow.org/feedback
How to stay cool without AC
July 14, 2022 12:03 - 13 minutes - 14.4 MBIt’s finally summer in Seattle and the warm weather is going to stay around for a while. If you live in Seattle, chances are you don't have air conditioning to help cool you down. Hannah Weinberger is the environment reporter at Crosscut. She's here to tell us how to stay cool without air conditioning. Read Hannah's article on Crosscut here: As WA heats up, here's how to keep cool without air conditioning We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedba...
Kids and vaccine hesitancy
July 13, 2022 12:00 - 13 minutes - 13.8 MBIt’s been a few weeks since Covid vaccines were opened up to kids under five. Many parents are excited for their little ones to be protected, but others have concerns about the shots. That hesitancy means way more kids are still unvaccinated than adults. We hear from Dr. Dimitri Christakas about common concerns parents have and what we know about kids and vaccines so far. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www.kuow.org/f...
Finding equity in mental health care
July 12, 2022 12:00 - 13 minutes - 14.4 MBThe past couple of years have been brutal, especially on our mental health. A lot of people found themselves looking for a therapist. But it can be hard to find a good therapist in Seattle, especially for people of color. Danie Eagleton is a professor of Psychology at Seattle University and a health equity advocate. She tells us why finding a therapist that understands you is so crucial, and how to do it. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedbac...
The Supreme Court's new M.O.
July 11, 2022 12:01 - 13 minutes - 14.3 MBThe Supreme Court delivered some monumental rulings this term, overturning decades of precedent and introducing a new role for the court in the US. To get a better sense of the legal landscape following these recent decisions from the court, we called up James Romoser, the editor of SCOTUSblog. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www.kuow.org/feedback
Writing to cure trauma
July 08, 2022 12:01 - 26 minutes - 27.6 MBA lot of us are dealing with trauma from the past few years: From the pandemic, ongoing gun violence and all the other ways that grief and loss show up in our lives. Local author Shawn Wong thinks about how to heal from trauma in his work, especially workshops with veterans. He shares the approach on today's episode. This episode is from KUOW's series Subtext: What Goes Unsaid. Hear more stories from Subtext by subscribing to the KUOW Shorts feed in any podcast app.
The return of the Washington sea otter
July 01, 2022 16:27 - 14 minutes - 14.9 MBSea Otters on the Washington coast were hunted to extinction in the 1810s. A nuclear experiment during the cold war created an opportunity to bring them back. The Wild with Chris Morgan took a trip out to the coast to see these creatures in the waves, and learn about their near-miraculous return to our waters. Subscribe to The Wild with Chris Morgan in your favorite podcast app for more stories about how nature survives and thrives alongside (and often despite) humans.
Space Needle sues local coffee shop
June 30, 2022 12:01 - 14 minutes - 14.7 MBLocal coffee shop "Local Coffee Spot" (yes, that's it's name) is being sued by the Space Needle. Well, not the needle itself, but the company that owns it. Why? Its logo looks a bit too much like the famous Seattle landmark. Luke Burbank and Andrew Walsh, co-hosts of the podcast Too Beautiful To Live, dug into it on a recent episode of their show. We're sharing the conversation on today's episode. Subscribe to TBTL in your favorite podcast app.
Living on the Puget Sound (literally)
June 29, 2022 12:01 - 13 minutes - 13.9 MBMany people in Seattle are looking to find affordable housing and some are getting creative with their search. Soundside’s Alec Cowan spoke with Ian and Becky Thompson about the challenges of living on a boat around Puget Sound. Today's episode comes from KUOW's midday show, Soundside. Subscribe to the show in any podcast app.
SCOTUS Rules Coach Can Pray
June 28, 2022 12:01 - 12 minutes - 12.8 MBThe last few days we’ve heard rulings on some landmark cases from the Supreme Court. And yesterday, we got some news on a case close to home. The court ruled in favor of Bremerton high football coach Joseph Kennedy who lost his job after praying on the field. We’ll get some analysis from Seattle University law professor Andrew Siegel.
Leaning Towards Freedom: A Faith Leader on the Reversal of Roe
June 27, 2022 12:00 - 10 minutes - 11.1 MBThe US supreme court's decision to strike down Roe v Wade Friday was not exactly unexpected ... Even so, we’re probably all going to remember where we were when we learned the news. On this episode of Seattle Now, hear from a local pastor whose faith leads him to mourn the overturning of Roe v Wade. Follow us on Instagram @SeattleNowPod
Casual Friday with Jane Don't and Jodi-Ann Burey
June 24, 2022 12:01 - 22 minutes - 23.3 MBThis week mother nature flipped the switch just in time for a hot, hot pride weekend. There’s more talk about a possible recession. And Starbucks says it is changing up three of its most important stores. We’re breaking it down this week with Jane Don’t and Jodi-Ann Burey.
Saving local forests, with help from big business
June 23, 2022 12:01 - 13 minutes - 14.3 MBEarlier this month, a blockchain company based in Delaware struck the biggest carbon offset deal in history with the city of Issaquah. This kind of deal is a new frontier in both saving local forests and tackling climate change. We talked to Seattle Times environment reporter Lynda Mapes about how this all works back when the state of Washington announced they’re getting into this game. Today we’re revisiting that episode.
That flight cost how much?
June 22, 2022 12:01 - 12 minutes - 12.5 MBEveryone is itching for a change of scenery after two years of a pandemic. But getting out of town right now is expensive and complicated. Airfares are through the roof! Helane Becker is an analyst with the banking firm Cowen. She's here to help explain what’s happening in the airline industry and how you can try to save a few bucks.
All Hike and No Crowds
June 21, 2022 12:01 - 12 minutes - 13.1 MBOver the course of the pandemic - a lot more of us have hit the trails, which honestly can make them pretty crowded. The Washington Trails Association is trying to fix that by recommending less popular hikes. Anna Roth the hiking content manager for the Washington Trails Association will fill us in. Related story: Take a trip up Rattlesnake Ledge
Casual Friday with Jas Keimig and Kemi Adeyemi
June 16, 2022 23:36 - 21 minutes - 22.1 MBA video of students at Seattle Pacific University went viral this week when they used their moment on the graduation stage to protest the school's ban on hiring LGBTQ employees. Also this week: We discovered just how many people started hiking during the pandemic (it turns out, many). And this weekend brings the return of the Fremont Solstice Parade, plus the first Juneteenth as a federal holiday. We break it all down with Jas Keimig, Arts reporter at the Stranger, and UW professor of gend...
Washington extremists at Idaho Pride event
June 16, 2022 12:01 - 13 minutes - 14 MBFor months, anti hate groups and the LGBTQ+ community in Washington warned of escalating violence in our region. Especially as pride month events kicked off. Then on Saturday, 31 men were arrested for a conspiracy to riot at Pride in Park in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Some were our neighbors in King County. Daniel Walters, a reporter for the Inlander in Spokane covers extremism in Washington, he’ll fill us in on what he’s learned so far. UW Medicine’s Dr. Helen Chu is here and will tell us how...
When should I take a Covid test?
June 15, 2022 12:01 - 13 minutes - 14.3 MBBy now we all know the drill when it comes to at home rapid Covid tests. You swab, you swirl, drip a few drops and wait 15 min. At-home tests are very convenient, but knowing when to take a test and how to think about the result is important. UW Medicine’s Dr. Helen Chu is here and will tell us how rapid tests can be helpful in reducing Covid cases. Seattle Now runs on listener donations! Support the show by making a gift to our home, KUOW: http://bit.ly/seattlenow
This SPD video was 17 hours too late and false
June 14, 2022 12:01 - 12 minutes - 13.2 MBTwo years later, we’re still untangling the Seattle Police Department’s response to the 2020 racial justice protests. Carolyn Bick, a reporter for the South Seattle Emerald uncovered a mismatch of messaging. SPD published a video with information they knew to be false. The message in the video got picked up….nationally. Remember the so-called anarchist zone?
Take a trip up Rattlesnake Ledge
June 13, 2022 12:01 - 13 minutes - 13.9 MBThe weather might have missed the memo, but summer has started. One upside of the gloomy weather is quieter (but muddier) hiking trails. We revisit our episode about the Rattlesnake Ledge trail renovation today. It's a big change for the state's most popular hike. Guest: Emily Snyder, maintenance crew lead for the Washington Trails Association.
Casual Friday with Erica C. Barnett and Casey Martin
June 10, 2022 12:01 - 17 minutes - 18.1 MBThis week we found out SPD shared misinformation during the 2020 protests, wedding season is back with force, and why isn't it cool to be a lifeguard any more? We break it down with Publicola's Erica Barnett and KUOW's Casey Martin.
Where did all the Uber riders go?
June 09, 2022 12:05 - 12 minutes - 12.7 MBPeople are moving around the city more than any other point since the pandemic started, but apparently those people aren't taking rideshares. Uber and Lyft's business in the Seattle region has cratered. That means a tougher job for people who make their money driving for the companies. Guest: David Kroman, Seattle Times transportation reporter.
Yes, inflation is eating up your food budget
June 08, 2022 12:04 - 13 minutes - 13.4 MBIf you're stretching your dollar for groceries, you are not alone. Seattle food banks are trying to help with that. But right now, they are experiencing high demands and a shift in the people who need assistance. Recently it includes people who are not typically food insecure. Seattle Times reporter Daniel Beekman will tell us about what food insecurity and inflation is looking like in our area.
A shift in the (still expensive) housing market
June 07, 2022 12:05 - 12 minutes - 12.5 MBHousing prices have been going up for a decade. It seems the goal of buying a house is increasingly out of reach for many people in Seattle. But the economy is shifting, and so is the housing market. Matthew Gardner is the chief economist for Windermere and is here to walk us through it.
Seattle's first post-pandemic Pride
June 06, 2022 12:05 - 11 minutes - 11.7 MBThe pandemic forced many of us to reflect on what we truly want out of life. For some folks, that meant coming out of the closet, to themselves or to family and friends. Now Seattle's queer community is celebrating Pride month in person, some for the first time. Guest: Scott Greenstone, Seattle Times reporter. Read Scott's story: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/for-many-who-came-out-during-covid-this-will-be-their-first-pride/
Casual Friday with Esmy Jimenez and Jeannie Yandel
June 03, 2022 12:05 - 19 minutes - 20.4 MBThis week some local orthographers made it to the semi finals of the Scripts Howard spelling bee. The city had to void 200 thousand parking tickets. And It’s pride month, so get out the rainbow flag! ... but only if you really mean it. KUOW’s Jeannie Yandel and Seattle Times reporter Esmy Jimenez breakdown the week.
Mayor Harrell's homelessness plan
June 02, 2022 12:05 - 12 minutes - 12.5 MBThe city rolled out a new tool this week to guide its approach to homeless encampments. We check how the administration's approach to homelessness is going so far, and what the new dashboard will do. Check out the city's One Seattle Homelessness Plan and Transparency Dashboard: homelessness.seattle.gov
Covid numbers are up as people head out
June 01, 2022 12:05 - 13 minutes - 13.4 MBSummer is almost here and after two years of living with Covid people are ready to get back out. But quick reality check…we’re seeing some of the highest case counts of the pandemic right now. We’ll get an update from Dr. John Lynch about COVID in King County. He's an Infectious Disease doctor at UW Medicine.
The promise of a good education, a KUOW investigation
May 31, 2022 12:04 - 14 minutes - 14.6 MBThere’s a lot weighing on the promise of a good education. Employability, creativity, and language acquisition – to name a few. And charter schools boast that they can give students all that and more. But a recent investigation into Washington state's largest public charter school chain found that the schools are not delivering on their promise. Ann Dornfeld, a reporter on KUOW's Investigations Team, breaks down her findings from her latest series, Broken Promises, an investigation of Impact...
Casual Friday with G. Willow Wilson and Katie Campbell
May 27, 2022 12:00 - 22 minutes - 22.7 MBWhat a hard week. Covid cases are up, and Washington State would like you to consider adopting a wasp; plus, we're heading into a long weekend. KUOW’s Katie Campbell and author G. Willow Wilson break it all down.
What does a rainy, cold spring mean for wildfire season?
May 25, 2022 12:04 - 12 minutes - 12.4 MBThis spring has been unseasonably cold and wet. But despite what we've been seeing, there are still parts of our state in a drought as we approach wildfire season. Reid Wolcott from the National Weather Service in Seattle is here to give us a rundown on what to expect this summer.
A new plan to tackle student debt
May 24, 2022 12:04 - 10 minutes - 10.9 MBWhile Democrats in the other Washington are pushing to forgive student debt, a new plan closer to home is aiming to help Washington students who have to take out loans. The idea is to offer low-interest alternatives to federal loans. It could make a difference for some students, but it's far from solving the problem. Guest: Maleeha Syed, communities reporter at Crosscut
Talking across the political divide
May 23, 2022 12:04 - 12 minutes - 13.2 MBThe political divide in America is getting wider, and bridging it is becoming more fraught. That goes for national politics but also for debates closer to home, like policy around homelessness and the criminal justice system here in Seattle. Today we're sharing an excerpt from a new KUOW show, "Subtext: What Goes Unsaid." Host Bill Radke spoke with Seattle author Monica Guzman about her book I Never Thought of It That Way: How To Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations In Dangerously Divided ...
Casual Friday with Jas Keimig and Naomi Ishisaka
May 20, 2022 12:04 - 19 minutes - 20 MBWe experienced another tragic shooting, U.S. women’s soccer finally clinched equal pay, and we had another weird weather week We break down the week with Seattle Times columnist Naomi Ishisaka and the Stranger staff writer Jas Keimig.
Spilled milk to cry over: Baby formula dangerously low
May 19, 2022 12:04 - 12 minutes - 13.1 MBIt’s not getting any easier to find infant formula. The nationwide shortage is worsening as parents and caregivers turn to social media, mutual aid funds and milk banks for extra help. We hear from Harborview Pediatrics Clinic medical director, Dr. Anisa Ibrahim, about how she’s advising parents and caregivers struggling to find food for their infants. You can also find additional resources at doh.wa.gov. The state health department resource page answers questions and provides links to help...
The Duwamish seek federal recognition
May 18, 2022 12:04 - 12 minutes - 12.6 MBThe Duwamish tribe has been fighting for federal recognition for 40 years. Last week they filed a lawsuit in US District Court to plead their case. Federal recognition means the tribe would receive support for education, healthcare, and human services. Bart Freedman and Ben Mayer are attorneys serving as legal counsel for the Duwamish. They're here to help explain this case. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Abortion might swing WA's 8th congressional race
May 17, 2022 12:04 - 11 minutes - 11.5 MBRepublicans are hoping to regain control of the House of Representatives this November. And there’s only one district in Washington state that’s up for grabs. Democrat Kim Shrier's in the 8th. There's now a new wrinkle in the race with the leaked Supreme Court opinion on abortion. KUOW political reporter David Hyde explains.
Seniors connecting again after an isolating two years
May 16, 2022 12:00 - 12 minutes - 12.6 MBThe pandemic has been hard on everyone, but the isolation hit seniors especially hard. Two years on, there's more freedom to be had and like many of us, seniors are rethinking their approach to life. KUOW’s Eilis O’Neill talked to some of them about changes they're making. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod