sam j leeds
@samjleeds.bsky.social
radio producer based in Seattle @citycastseattle.bsky.social
formerly: Futuro Media, before that: NPR Music's Louder Than A Riot
they/them | https://samjleeds.xyz/
formerly: Futuro Media, before that: NPR Music's Louder Than A Riot
they/them | https://samjleeds.xyz/
Reposted by sam j leeds
What do we mean when we say ICE is accessing Flock data?
Hear from UWCHR's Phil Neff on @opb.org discussing findings from our recent report, "Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement."
Listen here: www.opb.org/article/2025...
Hear from UWCHR's Phil Neff on @opb.org discussing findings from our recent report, "Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement."
Listen here: www.opb.org/article/2025...
December 5, 2025 at 8:43 PM
What do we mean when we say ICE is accessing Flock data?
Hear from UWCHR's Phil Neff on @opb.org discussing findings from our recent report, "Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement."
Listen here: www.opb.org/article/2025...
Hear from UWCHR's Phil Neff on @opb.org discussing findings from our recent report, "Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement."
Listen here: www.opb.org/article/2025...
Reposted by sam j leeds
For students like Xitlaly Mendoza, the College Access Migrant Program made it easier to apply to college — helping with financial aid applications, paperwork and support. That program was abruptly halted after the Trump administration cut funding. From our partners @kuow.org and NWPB.
College program for migrant students loses federal funding
A federal program that helps young people from migrant families attend college abruptly halted this year after the Trump administration eliminated funding for migrant education.
www.knkx.org
December 5, 2025 at 9:11 PM
For students like Xitlaly Mendoza, the College Access Migrant Program made it easier to apply to college — helping with financial aid applications, paperwork and support. That program was abruptly halted after the Trump administration cut funding. From our partners @kuow.org and NWPB.
Reposted by sam j leeds
i spent a little while going through the AIDS quilt and picked out a few panels that stuck out to me for one reason or another. may the memories of all these beautiful, far too young souls be a blessing.
December 2, 2025 at 12:23 AM
i spent a little while going through the AIDS quilt and picked out a few panels that stuck out to me for one reason or another. may the memories of all these beautiful, far too young souls be a blessing.
Reposted by sam j leeds
VIDEO: Seattle Starbucks workers are on strike right now, trying to achieve their first contract to secure a living wage, proper staffing and good working conditions.
I spoke to Emma Cox, a barista at the U District Starbucks who’s helping lead the picket line at her store.
I spoke to Emma Cox, a barista at the U District Starbucks who’s helping lead the picket line at her store.
November 23, 2025 at 7:33 PM
VIDEO: Seattle Starbucks workers are on strike right now, trying to achieve their first contract to secure a living wage, proper staffing and good working conditions.
I spoke to Emma Cox, a barista at the U District Starbucks who’s helping lead the picket line at her store.
I spoke to Emma Cox, a barista at the U District Starbucks who’s helping lead the picket line at her store.
Reposted by sam j leeds
I had a great time chatting with @janehu.bsky.social and @shasti.bsky.social on @citycastseattle.bsky.social about the state of the Democratic party, the ongoing strike by Starbucks workers and how state politicians can better respond to attacks by ICE: megaphone.link/CC1258353158
The WA State Democratic Party on Katie Wilson, Starbucks Strikes, and ICE by City Cast Seattle
megaphone.link
November 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
I had a great time chatting with @janehu.bsky.social and @shasti.bsky.social on @citycastseattle.bsky.social about the state of the Democratic party, the ongoing strike by Starbucks workers and how state politicians can better respond to attacks by ICE: megaphone.link/CC1258353158
Reposted by sam j leeds
Check out my appearance on City Cast Seattle, a new show about Seattle news and politics! Really enjoyed our time talking about important local issues, including federal funding cuts to permanent housing that could profoundly impact the Seattle region.
What is "Seattle nice"? @ericacbarnett.bsky.social tells us what the phrase means to her.
Listen to today's ep, where we discuss federal changes to homelessness funding that could leave Seattle with a massive shortfall and upcoming shake-ups to city & county government: megaphone.link/CC1649419013
Listen to today's ep, where we discuss federal changes to homelessness funding that could leave Seattle with a massive shortfall and upcoming shake-ups to city & county government: megaphone.link/CC1649419013
November 20, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Check out my appearance on City Cast Seattle, a new show about Seattle news and politics! Really enjoyed our time talking about important local issues, including federal funding cuts to permanent housing that could profoundly impact the Seattle region.
Reposted by sam j leeds
Seattleites! City Cast Portland talked smack about Seattle on their pod last week, and we're recording a joint episode soon to determine, once and for all, which city is the best. Give us some ammo to bring to the showdown: what does Seattle do better than Portland?
November 19, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Seattleites! City Cast Portland talked smack about Seattle on their pod last week, and we're recording a joint episode soon to determine, once and for all, which city is the best. Give us some ammo to bring to the showdown: what does Seattle do better than Portland?
Reposted by sam j leeds
'Maybe it’s ok that I can’t predict what will happen or what the future will hold since no one can. What I will do is spend my time, energy, and labor intentionally with the people I care about. I will host dinner parties, make chili crisp for my friends, and spoil my cats Bert and Ernie.'
time.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:59 AM
'Maybe it’s ok that I can’t predict what will happen or what the future will hold since no one can. What I will do is spend my time, energy, and labor intentionally with the people I care about. I will host dinner parties, make chili crisp for my friends, and spoil my cats Bert and Ernie.'
Reposted by sam j leeds
I will spend the rest of my life thinking and writing and talking about Alice, but my voice isn't what's needed right now. Her own words are, so here are some of them.
November 17, 2025 at 2:59 AM
I will spend the rest of my life thinking and writing and talking about Alice, but my voice isn't what's needed right now. Her own words are, so here are some of them.
Reposted by sam j leeds
Hey Seattle: if you want alternatives to Starbucks, @slimeythash.bsky.social, @samjleeds.bsky.social, and @janehu.bsky.social talk about their favorite coffee shops on today's episode! megaphone.link/CC7481892007
And we've got a list going here as well: seattle.citycast.fm/food-and-dri...
And we've got a list going here as well: seattle.citycast.fm/food-and-dri...
November 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Hey Seattle: if you want alternatives to Starbucks, @slimeythash.bsky.social, @samjleeds.bsky.social, and @janehu.bsky.social talk about their favorite coffee shops on today's episode! megaphone.link/CC7481892007
And we've got a list going here as well: seattle.citycast.fm/food-and-dri...
And we've got a list going here as well: seattle.citycast.fm/food-and-dri...
With 1,976 votes more than Harrell, Wilson's margin represents .7% of the total votes cast. I believe that means we're out of recount territory entirely.
Katie Wilson has widened her lead over Bruce Harrell to nearly 2,000 votes in Seattle's mayoral race — up more than 600 from Tuesday — following today's ballot drop that added approximately 1,650 ballots.
Harrell - 136,513 (49.48%)
Wilson - 138,489 (50.19%)
Harrell - 136,513 (49.48%)
Wilson - 138,489 (50.19%)
Katie Wilson has expanded her lead over Bruce Harrell to 1,346 votes in Seattle's mayoral race, up from 91 votes on Monday, following today's drop that added approximately 5,800 ballots to the tally. She's now over 50 percent.
Harrell - 135,871 (49.59%)
Wilson - 137,217 (50.08%)
Harrell - 135,871 (49.59%)
Wilson - 137,217 (50.08%)
November 12, 2025 at 11:30 PM
With 1,976 votes more than Harrell, Wilson's margin represents .7% of the total votes cast. I believe that means we're out of recount territory entirely.
Reposted by sam j leeds
Media advisory: "Tomorrow, Mayor Bruce Harrell will provide an address to the people of the city of Seattle"
November 12, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Media advisory: "Tomorrow, Mayor Bruce Harrell will provide an address to the people of the city of Seattle"
Reposted by sam j leeds
Katie Wilson has widened her lead over Bruce Harrell to nearly 2,000 votes in Seattle's mayoral race — up more than 600 from Tuesday — following today's ballot drop that added approximately 1,650 ballots.
Harrell - 136,513 (49.48%)
Wilson - 138,489 (50.19%)
Harrell - 136,513 (49.48%)
Wilson - 138,489 (50.19%)
Katie Wilson has expanded her lead over Bruce Harrell to 1,346 votes in Seattle's mayoral race, up from 91 votes on Monday, following today's drop that added approximately 5,800 ballots to the tally. She's now over 50 percent.
Harrell - 135,871 (49.59%)
Wilson - 137,217 (50.08%)
Harrell - 135,871 (49.59%)
Wilson - 137,217 (50.08%)
Katie Wilson leads Bruce Harrell by 91 votes in Seattle's mayoral race, erasing a 4,300-vote deficit following today's drop that added 40,000 ballots to the tally.
Harrell - 133,378 (49.79%)
Wilson - 133,469 (49.83%)
Next results update Tuesday.
Harrell - 133,378 (49.79%)
Wilson - 133,469 (49.83%)
Next results update Tuesday.
November 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Katie Wilson has widened her lead over Bruce Harrell to nearly 2,000 votes in Seattle's mayoral race — up more than 600 from Tuesday — following today's ballot drop that added approximately 1,650 ballots.
Harrell - 136,513 (49.48%)
Wilson - 138,489 (50.19%)
Harrell - 136,513 (49.48%)
Wilson - 138,489 (50.19%)
Reposted by sam j leeds
Good morning! We have around 1400 accepted ballots to add to the count this afternoon.
November 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Good morning! We have around 1400 accepted ballots to add to the count this afternoon.
Reposted by sam j leeds
This podcast quickly became a part of my weekday morning rotation. Great guests and topic coverage, and the newsletter is strong, too. Always happy to have more media in town, and @citycastseattle.bsky.social is a promising one.
Katie Wilson is Seattle’s next mayor, probably! Back on
@citycastseattle.bsky.social to discuss the almost certain outcome of the mayoral race/other matters of critical importance. Come listen to that at the link below, stay for my unappreciated movie references
seattle.citycast.fm/podcasts/kat...
@citycastseattle.bsky.social to discuss the almost certain outcome of the mayoral race/other matters of critical importance. Come listen to that at the link below, stay for my unappreciated movie references
seattle.citycast.fm/podcasts/kat...
November 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM
This podcast quickly became a part of my weekday morning rotation. Great guests and topic coverage, and the newsletter is strong, too. Always happy to have more media in town, and @citycastseattle.bsky.social is a promising one.
Reposted by sam j leeds
If you haven't checked to make sure your vote counted, you need to do it now - the race for Seattle's future depends on it!
Your Vote May Not Have Counted: 1,930 of You Could Decide This Election
Your ballot might be sick. Cure it, please. We can't bear to watch it suffer.
www.thestranger.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:17 PM
If you haven't checked to make sure your vote counted, you need to do it now - the race for Seattle's future depends on it!
Reposted by sam j leeds
🚨 NEW SEATTLE PUBLICATION ALERT 🚨 @chum.news just went live a few minutes ago. “An online media outlet covering Seattle culture & society in all its eccentricity.” www.chum.news (I’m not part of it, just excited for a new indie Seattle culture mag)
CHUM NEWS
www.chum.news
November 8, 2025 at 3:13 AM
🚨 NEW SEATTLE PUBLICATION ALERT 🚨 @chum.news just went live a few minutes ago. “An online media outlet covering Seattle culture & society in all its eccentricity.” www.chum.news (I’m not part of it, just excited for a new indie Seattle culture mag)
Reposted by sam j leeds
It now looks like the Seattle mayoral election counting process will drag on for weeks, with a deadline of curing ballots by Monday the 24th and then official certification on the 25th.
Then a likely automatic machine recount — and perhaps even a manual hand count — could drag it into mid-December.
Then a likely automatic machine recount — and perhaps even a manual hand count — could drag it into mid-December.
In today's ballot count, Katie Wilson got 54.8% of the votes, narrowing incumbent Seattle mayor Harrell's lead to 4,300 votes, or 1.88%. This was almost the exact minimum threshold she needed. With about 47,000 ballots left, the final margin could end up being less than 100 votes and go either way.
November 8, 2025 at 1:07 AM
It now looks like the Seattle mayoral election counting process will drag on for weeks, with a deadline of curing ballots by Monday the 24th and then official certification on the 25th.
Then a likely automatic machine recount — and perhaps even a manual hand count — could drag it into mid-December.
Then a likely automatic machine recount — and perhaps even a manual hand count — could drag it into mid-December.
Reposted by sam j leeds
This is incredible. King County elections is now saying they have 45,000 ballots left to count. If Wilson gets exactly the same margin of those as she got today she'll take the lead by... 20 votes!
Katie Wilson made big gains on Bruce Harrell in today's vote count. The count probably makes her the slight favorite at this point, but no one's declaring or conceding anything. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Katie Wilson gains on Bruce Harrell as mayor’s race goes down to the wire
Incumbent Bruce Harrell's lead is now down to less than two percentage points. He and Katie Wilson are separated by 4,300 votes.
www.seattletimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:25 AM
This is incredible. King County elections is now saying they have 45,000 ballots left to count. If Wilson gets exactly the same margin of those as she got today she'll take the lead by... 20 votes!
Reposted by sam j leeds
me waiting for the drop
November 7, 2025 at 11:09 PM
me waiting for the drop
Reposted by sam j leeds
Fun to join @citycastseattle.bsky.social (for their third episode!) to chat about the early results in the Seattle elections along with one of Seattle's smartest reporters, @mhgreen3000.bsky.social.
seattle.citycast.fm/podcasts/how...
seattle.citycast.fm/podcasts/how...
How Seattle Voted, Ballot Measures Explained, and More Election Updates - City Cast Seattle
Today on City Cast Seattle, we’re getting you caught up on election results and everything else we know so far! Marcus Harrison Green, founder of t...
seattle.citycast.fm
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Fun to join @citycastseattle.bsky.social (for their third episode!) to chat about the early results in the Seattle elections along with one of Seattle's smartest reporters, @mhgreen3000.bsky.social.
seattle.citycast.fm/podcasts/how...
seattle.citycast.fm/podcasts/how...
Reposted by sam j leeds
Reposted by sam j leeds
King County elections confirmed to me that so far they’ve only counted ballots up to those submitted Monday or early on Election Day, and none from drop boxes. Wednesday reflects basically a wrap up of what they started counting Tuesday.
The general wisdom is that Wednesday is a continuation of election night and Thursday is when the lefty trend shows up. Nonetheless, this gives Harrell a bigger cushion heading into tomorrow and Friday.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell gained another point on progressive challenger Katie Wilson in today's ballot drop, which added about ~21,000 ballots. She trails by 8 points.
Expected bigger counts tomorrow and Friday, which are typically more progressive-favoring. Comeback still possible.
Expected bigger counts tomorrow and Friday, which are typically more progressive-favoring. Comeback still possible.
November 6, 2025 at 12:15 AM
King County elections confirmed to me that so far they’ve only counted ballots up to those submitted Monday or early on Election Day, and none from drop boxes. Wednesday reflects basically a wrap up of what they started counting Tuesday.
Reposted by sam j leeds
this was the scene at the greenlake ballot box 20 minutes before they were due: traffic backed up for blocks, people abandoning their cars to walk their ballots to the box in the rain. better late than never!
November 5, 2025 at 4:07 AM
this was the scene at the greenlake ballot box 20 minutes before they were due: traffic backed up for blocks, people abandoning their cars to walk their ballots to the box in the rain. better late than never!
Reposted by sam j leeds
thank you for the outpouring of support!
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
Donate to Help Laid-Off Teen Vogue Staffers Recover, organized by Lexi McMenamin
More than half the team at Teen Vogue was laid off this week by our parent co… Lexi McMenamin needs your support for Help Laid-Off Teen Vogue Staffers Recover
www.gofundme.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
thank you for the outpouring of support!
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.