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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Public defender shortage slows the wheels of justice in Washington state courts
Prestige TV or Hollywood legal dramas might inform the image: loose tie, crinkled suits, bags under the eyes… public defenders are stressed out, overworked and undercompensated. But something pop culture tends to overlook is how stretching these attorneys so thin affects everyday people caught up in the justice system.
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Why did it take over a year for police to investigate a missing child case?
For marginalized communities, especially ones with whom trust has been broken for so long, it’s easier for people to slip through the cracks. Often the safety nets that are meant to protect them don’t activate properly. In this story, those safeguards missed an Indigenous teenager named Kit Nelson-Mora.
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What the controversy at a Washington charter school reveals about the politics of school choice
What do a former Seattle sports star, a Grammy-winning musician, and a school administrator have in common? They’re all at the center of a controversy surrounding a charter school in Des Moines, Washington: Why Not You Academy.
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Puget Sound counties want modernized ferry fleets. Voters decide their fate this fall
Soundside host Libby Denkmann sits down with correspondent Tom Banse to talk about the finances behind replacing Washington's "other" ferries.
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Seattle has a new gig worker minimum wage. Who's benefiting and who's footing the bill?
Starting during the pandemic, Seattle’s city council has approved a series of labor protections for delivery app drivers who work for companies like Instacart, Uber, and Doordash. An ordinance requiring a new minimum pay per mile — and more during orders — took effect on Jan. 13.
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Boeing announces a 737 Max leadership shake-up. Will it be enough?
Boeing has announced a leadership shakeup on its 737 Max team: Ed Clark, the head of Boeing's 737 Max program, is leaving immediately. These changes come more than six weeks after a piece of the fuselage broke off mid-air on a Max 9 plane, leaving a gaping hole in the jet and terrifying passengers minutes after take-off from Portland.
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Scary good or just plain scary? OpenAI's text-to-video tool amazes some, worries others
Microsoft-backed OpenAI announced a new text-to-video tool that produces videos far more lifelike and high quality than anything we’ve seen before.
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Rent ‘control’ bill claws its way back in Olympia
With just around two and a half weeks remaining to get bills across the finish line this legislative session, a rough scene is playing out in Olympia.
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Can Microsoft end the console wars? Here’s what gamers need to know
Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke with Bloomberg News Tech Reporter Dina Bass about last week's Xbox business update and the future of games exclusivity.
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Safe parking lots are trending, but can the Seattle area meet the need?
Safe parking programs have gained traction in recent years – there are now an estimated dozen lots available across the state, many sponsored by churches. They’re responding to an often invisible problem: people who sleep in their vehicles, with nowhere to legally park and access a restroom. But identifying the need – and ramping up services – are two different challenges.