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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

  • caption: People cross the street as they walk to the Seattle Police Department's West Precinct to protest after body camera footage was released of a Seattle police officer joking about the death of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old woman hit and killed in January by officer Kevin Dave in a police cruiser, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Seattle.

    Following disturbing bodycam video, Seattle's South Asian leaders ask: 'Is that what they think of us?'

    This weekend, protesters marched through South Lake Union, demanding accountability for Jaahnavi Kandula’s death. Kandula was struck and killed by a Seattle Police car in January. The renewed outrage comes after body camera video was released earlier this month showing a police union leader joking about Kandula’s death, saying “she had limited value.” This footage has led to public outrage and members of the South Asian community in Seattle met with Mayor Bruce Harrell and Police Chief Adrian Diaz over the weekend.

  • Soundside x International Examiner CID special graphic

    Exploring the meaning of community in Seattle's Chinatown-International District

    The Soundside team has spent months in the Chinatown-International District, working with journalists from International Examiner to get to know the community better. Our hope is that you’ll come away with a deeper picture of what makes this neighborhood such a vital part of the city — and what the hopes and challenges are for the people here.
  • caption: In the movie "Fantasy A gets a Mattress", local rapper Fantasy A faces evil landlords, dismissive locals, and the threat of homelessness.

    'Fantasy A gets a Mattress': Local low-budget movie gains momentum in Seattle

    "Fantasy A gets a Mattress" is taking Seattle by storm. The movie, filmed in Seattle, won best narrative feature at the Seattle Black Film Festival back in April, and has sold out twenty screenings at the Beacon Cinema. Now, it’s been chosen as an official selection at upcoming events including the Seattle Film Summit, Poulsbo Film Festival, Local Sighting Film Festival and Tacoma Film Festival.

  • caption: U.S. District Judge James Robart praised changes by the Seattle Police Department under federal oversight since 2012. His upcoming decision will clarify if and when he will release SPD from that oversight.

    After 11 years, Seattle's federal consent decree reaches the 'end of the beginning'

    The decree came out of an agreement between the Department of Justice and Seattle Police in 2012, and included changes from officer supervision to how officers respond to people in crisis. Citing a decade of progress, federal officials moved to lift most of the consent decree from the Seattle Police Department.
  • caption: A quiet scene outside Amazon's Seattle headquarters.

    Why Amazon could be served another FTC lawsuit

    Amazon is heading into yet another legal battle with federal regulators . The online retail and cloud computing giant reportedly didn't budge during final talks with the Federal Trade Commission ahead of an expected lawsuit from the agency. That cleared on of the final hurdles for the FTC to file an antitrust case against Amazon – possibly later this month.