Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
About
Libby Denkmann has covered veterans' issues, homelessness, and local politics during her radio journalism career. She became the host of KUOW's Soundside in November 2021. Previously she was a producer, reporter, anchor, and host for stations KIRO, KFI, and KPCC in Seattle and Los Angeles. During a yearlong hiatus from journalism in 2011, she worked as a congressional staffer in Washington, D.C.. Libby was born in Seattle, grew up on the eastside, and graduated from the University of Washington. Her favorite things include soccer, video games, and her dog, Monty.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, limited Japanese and Portuguese
Pronouns: she/her
Podcasts
Stories
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Libraries in Western Washington confront the challenges of being open to all
Libraries are taking on a new role as social service providers, hiring mental health professionals and in some cases building an entire in-house social services team to help people in crisis who come to the library because they have nowhere else to go.
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Technology
Elon Musk relies on Microsoft research in lawsuit against OpenAI
Soundside host Libby Denkmann sits down with Karen Weise from the New York Times to talk about Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI.
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Politics
WA's 5th Congressional District, a steady seat, sees change for the first time in 20 years
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Government
King County Council members push back on criticism over handling of asylum-seeker crisis
The plight of a couple hundred asylum-seekers looking for shelter has been juggled among various community and religious organizations that are calling on elected officials to do more.
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Arts & Life
In 'Thunder Song,' a Coast Salish punk creates her own form of medicine
If you read her award winning memoir, you may know Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe as a "Coast Salish punk." Now, LaPointe is back with a new essay collection, titled "Thunder Song: Essays". In it, LaPointe takes a raw, unflinching look the complexities of indigenous identity, the punk scene, and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
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Politics
More than 250,000 Democrats voted 'uncommitted' Super Tuesday. Will the trend continue in Washington’s primary?
Soundside host Libby Denkmann sits down with one of the organizers behind "Uncommitted WA," to talk about the reasons why they're pushing voters to choose "uncommitted delegates," on their primary election ballot.
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Government
Tukwila is swelling with asylum-seekers. What can be done?
When asylum-seekers began showing up at the door of Tukwila's Riverton Park United Methodist Church last year, Rev. Jan Bolerjack felt it was the church's duty to care for them. But as the situation worsened over the months, the reverend said it's now more than one church, in one Washington town, can handle.
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Business
Does Boeing have its eyes set on Wichita 2.0?
Boeing reportedly has its eye on a takeover. Or maybe we should call it a family reunion?
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Government
Washington's legislative maps were challenged by someone who helped draw them
In Washington State, every ten years, a bipartisan commission takes the latest census data and negotiates over district lines that determine who you vote for. But in a very real sense, redistricting is about power and which voices will be heard, and catered to. The latest round of maps was finished in 2021 – but from the jump, the 15th District faced legal challenges. And in an unusual twist, it turns out one of those challenges was orchestrated by someone responsible for drawing the map in the first place.
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Government
'Exploitative' labor practices in Washington state prisons highlighted in new report
The report’s authors interviewed dozens of incarcerated people, highlighting what they call exploitative labor practices in state prisons. Interviewees not only earned far below Washington state’s minimum wage, but also said they felt coerced to work.