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Steve Scher

Stories

  • What Does Adequate School Funding Look Like?

    The Supreme Court of Washington ruled earlier this year that the state is not meeting its constitutional duty to fully fund public education. What does a well-funded school system look like? We talk with Diane Ravitch, research professor of education at New York University.

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    Photographer Matika Wilbur On Documenting Native America

    Photographer Matika Wilbur is a member of the Tulalip Tribe raised on the Swinomish Reservation. Her work explores themes of Native American identity and cultural duality, and has appeared in the Royal British Columbia Museum of Fine Arts, The Nantes Museum of Fine Arts in France, the Seattle Art Museum and the Burke Museum. She joins us to talk about her new project to photograph Native Americans from all 562 tribes in the United States.Plus, we get analysis of the latest election results from pollster and UW political science professor Matt Barreto, we look at how state legislators fared in Olympia with AP's Chris Grygiel, we discuss the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Elliott Carter with the Seattle Symphony's Simon Woods and KUOW's Marcie Sillman talks with award-winning cartoonist Ellen Forney about her new graphic memoir, “Marbles:  Mania, Depression, Michaelangelo and Me."

  • Election 2012: Where Did The Money Go?

    55:52 The 2012 presidential race is in the history books as the most expensive campaign in American history. That is, at least until 2016. The Obama and Romney campaigns spent an estimated $1 billion each on the race. What did all that money accomplish? Bill Allison of the Sunlight Foundation has some insight.

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    Election 2012: Recap, Reaction and Analysis

    The votes have been counted and another election day has come and gone. We recap the major races, reflect on the new reality of our political landscape and hear your reaction to last night's results at 206.543.KUOW (5869) or weekday@kuow.org.Also this hour: writer and environmentalist Bill McKibben and 350.org kick off their “Do the Math” climate change tour today. According to 350, life on Earth will be threatened if the planet's temperature rises just 2°C (3.6°F). To stay below that, they estimate that we can burn up to 565 more gigatons of CO2 — but no more. How can we do that if fossil fuel companies have 2,795 gigatons in their reserves? Bill McKibben joins us to talk about what math can tell us about climate change.
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    The Week's Other Leadership Contest: China

    The US presidential election is not the only major leadership contest happening in the world this week. On Thursday, China's Communist Party convenes to pick a successor to President Hu Jintao. Vice President Xi Jinping is expected to succeed him as all but leader of the country's military. University of Washington China scholar David Bachman joins us to discuss the changing Chinese government.Also this hour, Weekday green thumbs Marty Wingate, Willi Galloway and Greg Rabourn join us to answer your flower, vegetable and native plant questions. Need guidance for your garden? Call us at 206.543.5869 or email weekday@kuow.org.Plus, why are so many podcasts hosted by comedians? Weekday producer Katy Sewall sits down with comedian Greg Fitzsimmons to get the inside scoop.
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    Seattle Police Monitor Merrick Bobb On DOJ Reforms

    We talk with Merrick Bobb, Seattle's new federally appointed independent police monitor. He began working in the field of police accountability 20 years ago, following the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. In Seattle, he'll help implement an overhaul of the SPD’s use-of-force procedures and establish guidelines for citizen contacts and stops.Also this hour: Much attention is paid in politics to people’s names — how they sound, the image they convey, how unusual some are. Think about it: Mitt, Barack, Saxby, Strom. How about yours? What message does it send? Does it fit you? Did you change your name? Call us at 206.543.5869 or write weekday@kuow.org.Plus, which cocktails should you be drinking to help get you through election night? We talk to local mixmasters about the best concoctions to celebrate Election 2012. Then, Michael Fagin recommends a hike that's perfect for the week's weather.
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    Nancy Pearl Recommends Science Fiction

    Science fiction is literature that asks “what if?” What if time travel was possible? What if robots took over? What if climate change made Earth uninhabitable? Nancy Pearl joins us with recommendations for science-fiction titles (including  “Angelmaker” by Nick Harkaway) and a conversation about the genre. What sci-fi are you reading? Share your picks with us at 206.543.5869 or weekday@kuow.org.Also this hour, we take one more chance to look ahead to Election Day with University of Washington professor David Domke.
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    Ask Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn

    Are police drones coming to Seattle skies? Protesters raised the alarm about SPD plans for unmanned aerial vehicles at a raucous public meeting last month. Mayor Mike McGinn joins us in our studios to talk about SPD drones, next steps for police reform and the latest news on the city budget. Have a question for the mayor? Call us at 206.543.5869 or write weekday@kuow.org.Also this hour: AP reporter Gene Johnson gives us an update on today's pretrial hearing for the Fort Lewis soldier accused in the massacre of 16 Afghan civilians. Plus, comedian Greg Fitzsimmons talks with Weekday producer Katy Sewall about the election and our system of voting by mail.

  • Porterfield Challenges Reichert For Washington's 8th District Seat

    We speak with Karen Porterfield, candidate for Congress in Washington's 8th District, and Priya Guha, Britain's top diplomat in the Northwest. Plus, we hear live music from members of the award-winning Roosevelt High School Jazz Band and get a weekend weather forecast from Nick Bond.