Soundside

Inside the race to fix bugs in Microsoft's software

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 22:51:14 +0000

New ProPublica reporting reveals how a new AI tool, made by Anthropic, is reportedly detecting software bugs faster than Microsoft can address them. And the clock to patch those vulnerabilities is ticking fast.

Soundside talked with ProPublica tech reporter Renee Dudley about her reporting on this issue, and how it's raising major questions about the security of the wider U.S. tech industry, and products consumers rely on daily.

Related Links

Anthropic’s New AI Model Can Identify More Software Bugs Than Ever. Microsoft Is Struggling to Fix Them Fast Enough. - ProPublica

Editor's note: Microsoft is a financial supporter of KUOW, but we cover them like we do any other company.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup - the one before we're off for a month!

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 22:47:40 +0000

Soundside is going on a working hiatus for the month of August, but we'll be back and better than ever the day after Labor Day...

But until then, Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows has a bunch of events to keep you busy until we're back!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotesSoundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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El Niños can be a real headache, especially for WA's fishing industry

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 22:38:55 +0000

If you didn’t know, we are in the middle of an El Niño. Scientists say it has the potential to be one of the strongest in recent years.

This is the weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean that periodically pushes warm water toward the West Coast.

El Niños cause all kinds of problems, including worsening Washington droughts.

And they can be a real pain for the region’s fishing industry.

Guests

Bob Alverson, general manager of the Fishing Vessel Owners' Association
Anthony Rogers, a fisheries economist at Ocean Conservancy

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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"Don't broadcast your notes, broadcast the game." Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs reflects on 41 years with the team

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 22:21:03 +0000

Long summer nights with the Mariners on the radio are a rite of passage in the Pacific Northwest.

This weekend the team is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and whether you grew up with the M’s as a kid during the glory days of Ken Griffey Jr. in the Kingdome, just started following as the Big Dumper was breaking records last season, or stuck with the team, faithfully, through a 20 year playoff drought, one voice has stood out.

Rick Rizzs started with the Mariners back in 1983... He had a brief stint in Detroit, coming back to Seattle in ‘95 where he put in a record breaking 41 years with the team

He announced earlier this year that he would be retiring at the end of the 2026 season, and this week sat down with Soundside producer Jason Burrows.

GUEST: Rick Rizzs

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Why some parents and teachers want the president of Seattle's teachers union to step down

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 22:19:26 +0000

Should the president of Seattle’s teachers union keep her position?

That’s the question on the minds of many local teachers and parents.

Last week, parents of a student of Ibijoke Idowu began the process of pursuing a civil lawsuit against the teacher and the district, claiming she had physically harmed their child.

This follows a Seattle Public Schools investigation, released in June, which concluded that Idowu “more likely than not” grabbed the student hard enough to cause bruising.

Idowu was elected to lead the Seattle Education Association while she was on leave pending the results of this probe.

Idowu has denied allegations of misconduct.

Guest:

KUOW education reporter Noel Gasca

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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'Small part of a far larger problem': Emergency department doctor on ghost guns

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 23:31:54 +0000

Police took a 15-year old into custody in connection to a mass shooting at the Seattle Center that left three dead and several others injured. Police later said that 15-year old had a “ghost gun."

This refers to a type of firearm that’s often assembled at home and manufactured without a serial number.

In charging documents, prosecutors allege the teenager fired into the crowd. Police say the gun doesn’t appear to be involved the deaths of two bystanders from last week.

Washington is a leader in trying to prohibit ghost guns.

Back in 2022, the state passed a law to ban them. Earlier this year, lawmakers prohibited the unlawful manufacture of guns using 3-D printers or CNC milling machines.

And yet, ghost guns continue to be a concern here in the state.

Guest: Garen Wintemute is the founding director of the Centers for Violence Prevention at UC Davis in California. He's also an emergency department attending physician.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What to do about that scourge of summer: odorous house ants

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 22:05:09 +0000

We are officially deep into a Pacific Northwest summer: we’ve already experienced wildfire smoke, 90 degree temperatures and for the unlucky amongst us, you may have also have seen small black ants crawling across your kitchen counters and floors.

I’m talking about odorous house ants. So named because of the smell they emit when they are squished (I won’t say by who).

These little guys are annoying, and they’re everywhere this time of year. I even saw a Reddit post referring to Seattle as being “placed on top of a giant ant hill”. Now, that’s not actually true… but it can certainly feel like it around now.

That’s because, if you live in a city like Seattle, you actually are in an ideal ant environment, one that has led to the little insect’s proliferation.

So before we get mad at odorous house ants, maybe it’s best to understand this creature? Maybe instead of a war on ants… we can make peace.

Guest:

Todd Murray, the Director of Washington State University's Puyallup Research and Extension Center

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Washington clemency board members say Gov. Ferguson is sidelining their work

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 21:39:46 +0000

The Washington state Clemency and Pardons Board hears cases of people currently incarcerated and makes recommendations to the governor for commutations.

These recommendations can allow someone to leave prison before their sentence is completed. In Washington state law, someone’s case would need to be “extraordinary” in order to qualify.

Last year, the board heard a little over 30 cases and recommended 10 people for commutations. Governor Ferguson rejected all of the cases, some of which had the support of every board member.

The Governor has approved pardons for some people who had already completed their sentences and his office said he was "considering the recommendation of the board while also accounting for victim impacts and public safety."

His approach hasn’t sat well with members of the Clemency and Pardons Board.

Guests:

Raymond Delos Reyes, chair of the Washington Clemency and Pardons Board

Dan Berger, professor at the University of Washington-Bothell and director of the Washington Prison History Project

Relevant Links:

Cascadia Daily News: Governor’s disrespect for clemency process extends mass incarceration

KOMO: Case questions Washington's clemency process after governor rejects board's recommendation

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Front Page: Spokane wildfires, Seattle police chief resigns, man's death in a Federal Way hospital

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:15:10 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

Guest: Mike Carter, senior reporter on the law and justice team at The Seattle Times

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The latest on the Spokane wildfires

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:23:43 +0000

17 large wildfires continue to burn across Washington state.

In Spokane, three major fires sparked on Saturday, collectively burning over 8,000 acres and 700 structures.

67,000 people are under evacuation orders.

KUOW reporter Paige Browning joined Soundside with the latest.

Guest:

KUOW reporter, newscaster, and Seattle Now host Paige Browning

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington’s Supreme Court could see big changes in 2026. Here are the candidates on your primary ballot

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:23:25 +0000

The future of Washington’s new “millionaires tax” is at stake this election season. And not JUST the ballot measure asking voters to weigh repealing the tax in November. The justices on the state Supreme Court will decide a separate legal challenge to that historic measure.

In a highly unusual scenario: five of the court’s nine seats are up for election this fall. Tuesday’s primary will determine the candidates for FOUR of those races.

Soundside's final look at the Washington State Primary Ballot takes a closer look at these four races for seats on the WA State Supreme Court.

GUEST: Jonathan Martin - Former Seattle Times editor who now writes for the Washington Observer. Also, The Cascadia Daily News recently announced he’ll be their new editor-in-chief starting in September.

RELATED LINKS:

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WA blocked over 100,000 license plate searches from feds, but immigration raids and vehicle arrests are still rampant

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 21:41:03 +0000

Here’s a number for you: 108,170. That is the number of times immigration enforcement has attempted to look up a Washington license plate number and been denied since November of last year.

That number comes from the state and it’s one that Governor Bob Ferguson has been touting, citing the value of guarding resident’s data from the federal government.

While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions?

Guest:

Gustavo Sagrero, KUOW’s Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter

Relevant Links:

KUOW: WA has blocked over 100,000 federal attempts to access license plate data

KUOW: This Seattle-area mechanic offers free tows for vehicles left behind after ICE arrests

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weekend Warmup: Seafair, Softball, and Spider-Man

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 21:23:27 +0000

As we do EVERY Thursday, Soundside has your list of all the best ways to decompress this weekend...

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How juvenile court handles cases when kids are accused of serious offenses

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 03:12:12 +0000

Police have one 15-year-old suspect in custody in connection to the mass shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday.

Earlier this week, a King County Superior Court Judge found probable cause for three counts of first-degree assault and a single count of second-degree illegal possession of a firearm.

The suspect remains in juvenile detention. An arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, where the defendant will hear charges filed against them.

But the legal process may become more complicated due to the alleged suspect’s age.

Judge J. Mike Diaz explains how juvenile court works, and the major differences between that and adult court – in the wake of the mass shooting at Seattle Center.

Guest:

J. Mike Diaz was a King County Superior Court judge from 2018-2022, and served a term as the Chief Judge of King County's Patricia H. Clark Children & Family Justice Center. Former governor Jay Inslee appointed him to the Court of Appeals in 2022. He's also an adjunct professor of Law at Seattle University Law School and taught juvenile law at the Washington Judicial College.

Related Stories:

15-year-old Seattle Center shooting suspect charged with first-degree assault; prosecutors seek adult trial - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seattle Center shooting, from the perspective of a father who lost his son to gun violence

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:40:59 +0000

People in Seattle are still processing a mass shooting on Sunday that left three dead.

It happened on the final day of the Bite of Seattle, a lively food festival that draws thousands of attendees every year.

A day after the shooting, Arron Murphy-Paine helped organize a vigil at the Seattle Center, where the shooting happened.

His son, Amarr Murphy-Paine, was shot and killed outside of Garfield High School in 2024 while he was breaking up a fight. That case remains unsolved.

Murphy-Paine sat down with Soundside to reflect on the Seattle Center shooting.

Guest: Arron Murphy-Paine

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

" Easier for a kid to get a gun than a summer job": 2 violence intervention experts on the Seattle Center shooting

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 21:51:31 +0000

More information is still emerging about the Seattle Center shooting. For now, we know that police have said they believe at least two people participated in the shooting.

Police have one suspect in custody, who is just 15 years old. Police have also claimed the shooting could be gang-related.

The alleged suspect’s age furthers concerns about Seattle-area youth and gun violence.

Earlier this week, Mayor Katie Wilson spoke about steps the city is taking to prevent gun violence, including violence intervention and community support. Soundside spoke with two experts working on this issue in our region about the shooting and their response.

Guests
Paul Patu, co-founder of Urban Family
Dominique Davis, founder and CEO, Community Passageways

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayor and Police Chief share more information about Bite of Seattle shooting

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 20:43:11 +0000

We’re continuing our coverage of Sunday’s shooting at Seattle Center, where three people were killed and several more wounded.

A 15 year old suspect is in custody.

Police say they believe a 19 year old who is one of the deceased was also involved in the shooting.

Seattle's mayor, and chief of police, held a press conference during the noon hour about the investigation.

Guest:

KUOW reporter Paige Browning

Related stories:

Live updates: Community mourns victims of Seattle Center shooting as police search for another suspect - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: Seattle Center shooting

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:55:38 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: Marcus Harrison Green, founder of the South Seattle Emerald and co-host of the podcast “In the Meanwhile."

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How this empty QFC became a hub for punk rock, movie lovers and more

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:40:28 +0000

Wanna go see a movie?

We could check out what’s playing at The Beacon…. Or Majestic Bay…

…. Or….

We could pop by the old QFC on 15th Avenue on Capitol Hill.

That’s where a local community group has been hosting movie nights for the past few months.

This QFC stands for the “Quality Film Club.” It convenes every other Thursday… in the Quality Flea Center. (You can see how they’re keeping the spirit of QFC alive).

This club is just one of the many ways that its co-organizers are creating community. And all of it is facilitated by their access to this abandoned grocery store.

Guest: Josh Okrent, a co-organizers of the Quality Film Club. He’s also the “Big Cheese” of the Punk Rock Flea Market.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why a Seattle Symphony bassist started a fight with City Hall over housing density and orcas

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 23:20:51 +0000

Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan has hit a snag.

The plan is the set of zoning changes that plans the city’s future growth – the current one in the works outlines a lot more housing density in the city. State law requires such a plan be in place, but Seattle’s has been delayed by administrative appeals from two groups.

On Wednesday, we spoke with Seattle councilmember Eddie Lin about his proposal to eliminate one of the paths people have to appeal the plan under the State Environmental Policy Act. Jennifer Godfrey filed one of the appeals currently delaying implementation, and formed the group Orca Nexus, which is advocating for more environmental review of Seattle’s zoning changes.

They claim the Comprehensive Plan’s Environmental Impact Statement did not fully evaluate the environmental impact of greater housing density on trees and runoff. They say removing trees will increase pollutants that could harm humans, salmon and especially endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

Guest:

Jennifer Godfrey

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Derby Days, River Days, and HORSEGIRLS!

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:56:21 +0000

Hi friends, another weekend is upon us with PLENTY to go and see and do.

LINKS:

Timber! Outdoor Music Festival - Carnation, WA
4 Days Of Aloha - Vancouver, WA
Redmond Derby Days - Redmond, WA
Renton River Days - Renton, WA
Bite of Seattle - Seattle Center
Kaiser Permanente Seafair Torchlight Run 2026
Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade 2026
SIFF Film Center - Horsegirls
CID Food Walk | Seattle Chinatown-International District
Summer 2026 - Urban Craft Uprising
Seattle Scottish Highland Games 2026
The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire - Feast of Fools!

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Attorney General Nick Brown discusses his lawsuits against Kalshi and Paramount

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:41:40 +0000

It’s a war of definitions, and Kalshi just lost a battle. On Monday, a King County Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction against the “prediction market” company. Judge John McHale found Washington state is likely to succeed in proving Kalshi is actually an online gambling site. Those are illegal here in Washington. The lawsuit was brought by Attorney General Nick Brown, who also scored another victory on Monday with a temporary pause on Paramount's acquisiton of Warner Brothers.

Guest:

Attorney General Nick Brown

AG Brown, coalition temporarily block Warner Bros./Paramount merger as lawsuit proceeds

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Video Games won't be on discs much longer. Do gamers care?

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 22:33:42 +0000

The economics behind the most popular video games are, in a word, staggering.

Case in point: Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated to be released later this year, and according to IGN, it made $260 MILLION dollars during the first week of pre-orders. Some analysts estimate that the game could rake in about 5 BILLION dollars during its launch week.

But don’t expect to have a hard copy to cherish for your collection – developer Rockstar Games announced last month that GTA 6 will only be available to download.

Industry giant Sony says it too will soon be ditching discs. The company said earlier this month that it plans to discontinue physical game disc production for new PlayStation games starting in 2028.

Sony says it’s reflecting a broader shift in consumer preference toward digital downloads.

And this shift has consequences for local small businesses: With no discs to sell and trade, stores, especially ones that sell used games, will reap less revenue.

Adam David owns Big Red’s Retro Games in Silverdale. He says he’s not surprised by these decisions:

“Your newer, younger consumer doesn’t care about a physical disc. Your next generation of game players, they've grown up on digital, and at the same time they're too young to see the ramifications down the road of having just a digital library and the fact that, you know, it can be taken away from you”

What are the ramifications and ripple effects when an industry changes the way we buy its products?

It’s something Seattle-area journalist Jacob Robbins has been pondering – he wrote about the disappearance of physical media in games for his new Substack newsletter entitled “Side Quests.”

GUEST: Jacob Robbins

RELATED LINKS:

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Seattle City Council weighs ending some environmental appeals as growth plan stalls

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 22:31:32 +0000

Haven’t heard about Seattle’s comprehensive plan recently?

Well, the city council is supposed to be working on it, but the process is on hold because of appeals.

Just to catch you up: The comprehensive plan is a set of zoning changes that are supposed to be a blueprint for future growth. It’s required by state law. It usually means allowing more housing density. One thing this iteration of the plan would do is change zoning laws to allow for six story buildings in neighborhood centers across the city.

The appeals that are currently putting the plan on hold are based on the State Environmental Policy Act or SEPA.

City Councilmember Eddie Lin, who chairs the Land Use and Sustainability Committee, said that the current phase of the Comprehensive Plan will be delayed into late 2026 or possibly next year.

He’s proposing a change that’s working its way through city council. It would limit these types of appeals.

Guest:

Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: This change will let Seattle address climate change, housing shortage

KOMO: Residents and activists clash over plan to curb SEPA appeals at Seattle hearing

Seattle Times: Seattle’s history shows why zoning appeal process matters

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Primary Elections 2026: Brent Hennrich, candidate for Washington's 3rd Congressional District

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:38:25 +0000

Here on Soundside, we're covering Washington’s most competitive races ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election.

Historically, one of the tightest in the state is the 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington. This area includes Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania Counties. It also covers a small part of Thurston County.

It’s one of the few swing districts left in the country. Voters there have gone for Trump, but they have also repeatedly chosen a Democrat to represent the district in the House.... over a Republican.

Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez currently holds the seat and is running for re-election. She faces a few challengers, like Brent Hennrich. He's campaigning to her left as a progressive alternative.

Guest: Brent Hennrich, a progressive challenger running to represent Washington's 3rd Congressional District

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What justice might look like after the deadly implosion in Longview

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:18:24 +0000

State regulators are still investigating the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant to see what went wrong and whether the catastrophe that killed 11 workers in Longview could have been prevented.

The investigation is expected to be concluded by the end of the year ans it’ll determine whether the facility could face penalties or even criminal charges. It will also likely face civil lawsuits on behalf of workers and families.

Guest:

Vanessa Waldref, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington who is representing families and workers affected by the disaster.

Why one Yakima Valley farmworker decided to "self deport"

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:18:04 +0000

After a lull earlier this year, we’re seeing a surge of immigration arrests in recent weeks across the U.S.
In the wake of two fatal shootings by ICE agents this month, the Trump administration has issued conflicting policies about how officers will conduct arrests.

Fears of detainment and deportation remain high among immigrants – especially in Washington’s agricultural communities.

The situation has pushed some undocumented immigrants to consider voluntarily leaving the United States. It’s an act the Trump administration calls “self deportation”.

A recent story by RANGE Media documented the journey of one orchard worker based in Sunnyside, Washington who chose to return to her home country of Mexico – and the impact immigration enforcement has had on Yakima County’s farming community.

Guests:

Hal Bernton - an independent journalist based in Portland. He reported for the Seattle Times for over 20 years.
Daisy Zavala Magaña - a reporter with Range Media

Related stories:

For a Yakima Valley farmworker, Trump’s immigration crackdown prompts a wrenching decision to self-deport - RANGE Media

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Democrats hopeful in Central Washington race. Plus, recapping Jimothy's big week.

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:19:43 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: KUOW state government reporter, Sarah Mizes Tan

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Primary Elections 2026: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, candidate for Washington's 3rd Congressional District

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 21:26:36 +0000

Washington’s Aug. 4 primary election is coming up. Here on Soundside, we’re diving into this year’s most competitive races, like the 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington.

This area includes Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania Counties. It also covers a small part of Thurston County.

It’s a purple district where voters have backed Donald Trump in recent presidential elections. But it’s also where a Democrat has repeatedly defeated a Trump-backed opponent.

We heard from that Democratic incumbent who has held this seat for the past two terms. She has positioned herself as a champion of the working class and someone who’s willing to work across the aisle.

Guest: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a U.S. representative for Washington's 3rd Congressional District

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Announcing Soundside's new co-host: David Kroman

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:59:37 +0000

If you've listened to KUOW at noon for long, you know the show's open:

"You’re listening to Soundside – I’m Libby Denkmann…"

Pretty soon, Libby's voice won’t be the only one you hear doing interviews and talking about the news at noon.

KUOW is very excited to announce a new co-host for Soundside.

He’s a voice you may be familiar with if you’re a regular KUOW listener, and DEFINITELY a byline you know if you read local news here in the Seattle area: David Kroman.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Primary Elections 2026: Jerrod Sessler, candidate for Washington's 4th Congressional District

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:19:46 +0000

Washington's 4th Congressional District will soon send a new face to D.C. for the first time in over a decade. Representative Dan Newhouse is retiring and there are a slew of challengers who want to take that seat, which covers central Washington, including Yakima, the Tri-Cities and Moses Lake.

For this round of interviews before the primary, Soundside is focusing on candidates who have raised more than $50,000 to fund their campaign.

GUEST: Jerrod Sessler

Related Links:

Meet the 11 people who want to replace Dan Newhouse in Congress - Yakima Herald-Republic
4th Congressional District candidates discuss healthcare, cost of living - Columbia Basin Herald

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Weekend Warmup: Whippy Shows, Sand Sculptures, and the CID Celebration!

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:10:29 +0000

It all comes down to this: The World Cup ENDS this weekend as France faces off against England for 3rd place on Saturday, while Spain takes on FIFA favorite Lionel Messi & Argentina on Sunday afternoon.

But, that’s not ALL that’s happening this weekend. There’s LOTS more to do!

HOST: Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS:

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Documentary showcases the hope and beauty in the West's dwindling theaters

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 22:30:57 +0000

In 1929, there were twenty-two thousand movie theaters across the United States. Now… we’re down to fewer than three thousand.

In his new documentary “The Last Picture Shows,” local filmmaker Rustin Thompson chronicles the life, death, and resilience of many of these small town theaters across the American West.

Thompson drove through ten states and visited scores of theaters… both open AND closed… to tell the story of small town cinemas, and the people who keep them running.

People like Tiny Pedersen, of the Desert Historic Theater in Burns, Oregon:

“ We don't have anything else here. There's not a bowling alley. There's not a video game machine. There, there's absolutely nothing else for high school kids or teenagers or even young adults to have a night out on the town with a date.”

The film is a postcard of American life and a love story to a part of it that seems to be fading.

GUEST: Rustin Thompson

RELATED LINKS:

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The Western District of Washington chose a new US attorney... Trump fired him an hour later

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:54:08 +0000

Roger Rogoff is the new U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Washington.

Or he was.

He started this morning, but was fired by President Trump less than an hour after being sworn in. Rogoff is a former King County Superior Court judge and a former federal prosecutor. He was appointed to be the U.S. Attorney by the Western District’s federal judges.

His firing has set off an expected legal fight that will once again pit the President against the judiciary with no clear idea what the future holds.

Guest:

UW Professor of Law Liz Porter

Seattle Times: Judges seek to appoint U.S. attorney in Seattle as Trump pick’s term nears end

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Primary Elections 2026: John Duresky, candidate for Washington's 4th Congressional District

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:13:10 +0000

For this round of interviews before the primary, Soundside is focusing on candidates who have raised more than $50,000 to fund their campaign.

Guest

John Duresky, retired Air Force major and former project control officer at the Hanford nuclear site

4th Congressional District candidates discuss healthcare, cost of living - Columbia Basin Herald

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Take a tour of Seattle's first ever social housing building

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:26:56 +0000

In 2023, Seattle voters were presented with a new approach to housing:

Mixed income public housing where rent from higher earning tenants would offset the rent of people making below the area median income. It was dubbed social housing by its supporters.

Seattle voters approved the idea and then, a couple years later, chose to give it a lot of money through a new tax on employers who pay individual salaries over $1 million dollars.

Now, the rubber is hitting the road, Seattle’s Social Housing Developer purchased its first property in June. Soundside recently went to see the apartment building in Belltown and met with Tiffani McCoy, the interim CEO of the social housing developer.

Guest:

Tiffani McCoy, interim CEO of the Seattle Social Housing Developer

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: Seattle’s first social housing building draws more than 10K applicants

The Urbanist: Seattle Social Housing Developer Acquires First Building near Pike Place Market

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Primary Elections 2026: Matt Boehnke, candidate for Washington's 4th Congressional District

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:19:31 +0000

For this round of interviews before the primary, Soundside is focusing on candidates who have raised more than $50,000 to fund their campaign.

Guest

Republican State Senator Matt Boehnke

How this UW prof’s father predicted urban architecture's future

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:15:32 +0000

By pure chance, University of Washington architecture professor Vikram Prakash was in his home city of Chandigarh, when his father passed away.

His father was the architect Aditya Prakash, one of India’s most notable modern architects.

He worked on Chandigarh's futuristic design with architect Le Corbusier. The city is now considered a living laboratory for modernism, climate responsiveness and post-independence social transformation.

Vikram Prakash wrote about the death of his father in a new book called "Death of a Modernist"

The short book combines memoir, fiction, and a primer on Indian architecture.

"Soundside" host Libby Denkmann talked with him about the book.

Guest

Vikram Prakãsh, professor of architecture, University of Washington

Related Links

A son’s reflection on the death of his beloved father, ‘Death of A Modernist’ is a compact gem of a book - The International Examiner

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Front Page: A new owner for the Seahawks, a round-up of what's happening with fire season, and more

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:44:41 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: KUOW host Kim Malcolm

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Primary Elections 2026: Will Chen, candidate for Position 1, Legislative District 32

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:04:50 +0000

One of Washington’s hottest statehouse races is for a district representing northwest Seattle, Shoreline, parts of Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood. Legislative District 32 has an open seat, because longtime representative Cindy Ryu is challenging for a state senate seat.

For Position 1, the candidate field in this solidly-blue district is crowded with Democrats.

For this round of interviews before the primary, Soundside is focusing on candidates who have raised more than $50,000 to fund their campaign.

Guest

Will Chen, Edmonds city councilmember

Related Links

Six candidates vie for open House seat in 32nd District - The Daily Herald

Seattle-area state House race draws crowded field of Democratic hopefuls - The Washington State Standard

Soundside's interview with Keith Scully, candidate for Position 1 - KUOW

Soundside's interview with Chris Bloomquist, candidate for Position 1 - KUOW

Soundside's interview with Danica Noble, candidate for Position 1 - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Weekend Warmup: Get your Saunter on through West Seattle or brave the Bare Buns Fun Run!

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:19:55 +0000

We’ve reached the end of another lovely week here in the Pacific Northwest, and while the barge has officially sailed away since we don’t have any more World Cup games HOSTED here in Seattle, there IS still a ton to do!

Here with SO MUCH weekend excitement is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Hundreds of children are headed to 'mega' immigration hearings this week

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:09:57 +0000

This week at Seattle’s federal building downtown, hundreds of kids are showing up to court.

They’ve been summoned to appear for immigration hearings. On Tuesday, more than a hundred juveniles appeared before a single judge. By the end of the proceeding, many received removal orders – a big step on the path to deportation.

Since late June, adults and families have also been packed into immigration hearings much larger than normal, some scheduled on short notice.

They’ve been dubbed “mega master” hearings.

Guest:

Seattle Times reporter Nina Shapiro

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Primary Elections 2026: Danica Noble, candidate for Position 1, Legislative District 32

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:00:09 +0000

For Position 1, the candidate field in this solidly-blue district is crowded with Democrats.

For this round of interviews before the primary, Soundside is focusing on candidates who have raised more than $50,000 to fund their campaign.

Guest

Danica Noble, former attorney with the Federal Trade Commission

Related Links

Six candidates vie for open House seat in 32nd District - The Daily Herald

Seattle-area state House race draws crowded field of Democratic hopefuls - The Washington State Standard

Soundside's interview with Keith Scully, candidate for Position 1 - KUOW

Soundside's interview with Chris Bloomquist, candidate for Position 1 - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How UW scientists built an archiving technology as old as life itself

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:51:59 +0000

How do you store a TON of data in a very small package for 250 years?

Do you copy it onto a flash drive? Record it onto a voice message? Or, heaven forbid, write it down on a piece of paper?

That’s a question that the Library of Congress considered when it put together a time capsule meant to be opened in the year 2251.

We don’t know what the world will look like in that year and technology like servers and USB drives may be out of date. They could go the way of the floppy disc or CD.

So, to give the time capsule the best chance of being understood by future generations, the Library of Congress turned to an archiving technology that is as old as life itself: DNA. And they did it with the help of a team from the University of Washington.

GUEST: Chris Takahashi - Principal Investigator at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Washington state sees it as restitution, opponents call it racial discrimination

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:06:26 +0000

In 2024, Washington state took a novel approach to undoing some of the historical damage caused by racist housing policy. That’s the year the state launched the Covenant Homeownership Program.

It provides no-interest loans to descendents of people impacted by redlining or racially restrictive covenants. Those loans can be used for down payments and closing costs.

So far, more than 1,500 home buyers have benefited from the program. And supporters say it’s giving people the chance at home ownership their ancestors were deprived of.

But the program has opponents: After it was established, a nonprofit group quickly sued, alleging racial discrimination. And earlier this year, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development launched an investigation into the program.

Guest:

Susan Shain, freelance writer reporting for The New York Times

Related Stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Primary Elections 2026: Chris Bloomquist, candidate for Position 1, Legislative District 32

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:19:40 +0000

For Position 1, the candidate field in this solidly-blue district is crowded with Democrats.

For this round of interviews before the primary, Soundside is focusing on candidates who have raised more than $50,000 to fund their campaign.

Guest

Chris Bloomquist, startup founder and the owner of a recruiting firm

Related Links

Six candidates vie for open House seat in 32nd District - The Daily Herald

Seattle-area state House race draws crowded field of Democratic hopefuls - The Washington State Standard

Soundside's interview with Keith Scully, another candidate for Position 1 - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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XBox layoffs tell a larger story about a video game industry in transition

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:21:26 +0000

The gaming industry in the Pacific Northwest has been dealt some major blows in the past few weeks.

Monday, Microsoft announced it would be cutting thousands of full time employees and “restructuring” their XBox division, where 1,600 jobs were cut. It’s not immediately clear how many of those are Washington-based.

Last month, Bellevue based game studio Bungie announced it would be laying off almost 300 full time employees here in the state.

What's behind the upheaval in gaming right now? And what does this mean for our favorite franchises?

GUEST: Sam Machkovech

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Primary Elections 2026: Keith Scully, candidate for Position 1, Legislative District 32

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:16:07 +0000

For Position 1, the candidate field in this solidly-blue district is crowded with Democrats.

For this round of interviews before the primary, Soundside is focusing on candidates who have raised more than $50,000 to fund their campaign.

The first of four interviews is with Keith Scully, a Shoreline councilmember and a lawyer. He’s also Shoreline’s former mayor.

He lives in Richmond Beach with his family.

Guest

Keith Scully, Shoreline councilmember, lawyer

Related Links

Six candidates vie for open House seat in 32nd District - The Daily Herald

Seattle-area state House race draws crowded field of Democratic hopefuls - The Washington State Standard

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: The boys are back in town ... and facing controversy. Plus, are the boom years behind Seattle?

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:27:17 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: KUOW newscaster Paige Browning

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Has TikTok ruined the Enchantments?

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:18:21 +0000

The Enchantments are on the up and up.

Or at least, things are looking better than last year.

The 18-mile stretch in the Cascades has long been a popular destination for hikers and backpackers in Washington.

But federal cuts and staffing shortages last year made the Enchantments pretty disenchanting.

In 2025, only one ranger was in charge of patrolling the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest - which spans 900 miles.

That made trail maintenance really difficult.

We’re talking trash on the trails, overflowing garbage cans, and overflowing toilets.

It didn’t help that last summer, the area saw record-shattering crowds - with 2,400 people visiting on one day during the July Fourth weekend.

It’s been a year, and while some things have improved, there’s still a lot of work to be done in the region.

Guest:

Gregory Scruggs, outdoors reporter for The Seattle Times

Related Stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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After Spokane anti-ICE protest, FBI reportedly extracted data from demonstrators' phones

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 23:04:09 +0000

Last summer, hundreds of people protested outside of an ICE facility in Spokane. They were trying to stop agents from taking two asylum seekers to an ICE detention center in Tacoma.

As the day wore on and the protest grew in size, law enforcement ordered demonstrators to disperse… and then deployed pepper balls and smoke grenades on the crowd. The mayor issued a curfew.

By the end of the evening, around 30 people were arrested.

But the government’s response didn't end there: A month later, federal prosecutors indicted nine Spokane protesters on felony conspiracy charges.

In May, three of those protesters were found guilty of charges related to “conspiracy to impede” federal officers. They face up to six years in prison.

It’s an example of the escalating legal strategy the Trump Administration has been using to charge anti-ICE protesters across the country, most recently in Minnesota.

And, according to new reporting, federal law enforcement turned to an atypical surveillance tactic to fuel the Spokane case.

An investigation from Mother Jones found that the FBI secretly extracted data from protesters’ cellphones confiscated during last year’s protest.

Guest: Schuyler Mitchell, an assistant editor at Mother Jones

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Weekend Warmup: It's the 4th of July + USA vs Belgium!

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:41:24 +0000

It’s official, Team USA WILL be playing against Belgium in Seattle’s FINAL World Cup match… but that’s not until Monday.

We’ve got the entire 4th of July weekend ahead of us, and I’ve got a feeling there will be a LOT of fireworks in our future.

Here with a Holiday Edition of the weekend warmup is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!!

LINKS:

4th of July Activities!

PARADES!

Arlington — 5 p.m. (kids 4:30 p.m.)
Bainbridge Island — 1 p.m.
Bothell — 12 p.m. (kids 11:15 a.m.)
Burien — 11 a.m.
Carnation — 11:30 a.m. (kids 11 a.m.)
Dupont — 10 a.m.
Edmonds — 12 p.m. (kids 11:30 a.m.)
Enumclaw — noon
Everett — 11 a.m.
Issaquah — 10 a.m.
Kingston — 12 p.m.
Kirkland — 12 p.m. (kids 11:30 a.m.)
Tumwater — 11 a.m.
West Seattle — 10 a.m. kids

FIREWORKS!

Arlington — Quake Park 10 p.m.
Bellevue — Downtown Park 10:05 p.m.
Carnation — Remlinger Farms 9:45 p.m.
Everett — Port Gardner Bay 10:15 p.m.
Federal Way — Celebration Park 10:15 p.m.
Kenmore — Log Boom Park 10 p.m.
Kent — Lake Meridian Park 10 p.m.
Kingston — Mike Wallace Park 10:15 p.m.
Marysville — Ebey Waterfront Park 10 p.m.
Sammamish — Sam. Commons 10 p.m.
Seattle — Lake Union 10:15 p.m.
Snoqualmie — Community Park 9:45 p.m.
Steilacoom — offshore 10:30 p.m.
Tacoma — Ruston Way 10 p.m.
Tumwater — Tumwater Valley Golf 10:15 p.m.

EVERYTHING ELSE!

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The secret history of the Earth Liberation Front

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:40:13 +0000

In May of 2001, a building on the University of Washington’s Seattle campus went up in flames, in the middle of the night.

It was the work of arsonists. An eco-sabotage group known as the Earth Liberation Front took credit for the attack. For group members, voting and publicly demonstrating wasn't enough to allay their fears of climate catastrophe.

The group had three core principles: public education, economic sabotage and to harm property, not people.

But members torched the UW building over unfounded claims that professor was making genetically modified trees.

The group committed a string of arsons, from Colorado to Seattle. For several years, the FBI designated the ELF as the most dangerous domestic terror organization in the country.

The group caused tens of millions of dollars in property destruction in the late 90s and early 2000s, according to the federal government.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann talks with the author of a new book about the development of the ELF.

Guest

Matthew Wolfe, author, “Fires In the Night: The Earth Liberation Front, the FBI, and a Secret History of Eco-Sabotage”

Related Links

The Rise and Fall of America’s Environmentalist Underground - The New York Times Magazine
The many lives of Joseph Dibee, codename 'Seattle' - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: What the changes to KCRHA mean for King County, how the latest SCOTUS decisions will impact WA State, and Seattle Dogs!

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:37:50 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: KUOW Politics Editor Cat Smith

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Evergreen State has too much pot

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:19:42 +0000

Revenue in Washington State’s cannabis industry has been declining since it’s peak in 2021. What’s going on? Marijuana farmers say part of the problem is, they have too much pot.

Guest:

Aaron Pickus - Media Spokesperson for Washington CannaBusiness Association

Michael Dykstra - Mount Baker Homegrown (Marijuana grower based in Bellingham)

Relevant Links:

Oversupply and taxes batter cannabis producers - Tri-Cities Business News

Annual Cannabis Sales in Washington - Washington State Information System

Washington’s Evolving Cannabis Market - TVW Inside Olympia

WA cannabis market faces pressure from federal changes and oversupply - Washington State Standard

Cannabis rescheduling arrives, with limits: What the DOJ's final order does and doesn't do - Reuters

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Fantagraphics wanted comics to be treated as art. It changed the publishing industry.

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:44:34 +0000

Comics publisher Fantagraphics is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It began as “The Comics Journal” – one of the first magazines that reviewed comics with a critics eye. At the time, it took an adversarial role against the big players in the comic industry: DC and Marvel. It tried to push comics into the realm of art instead of idle time waster for kids. And then it grew into so much more.

Guest:

Gary Groth, co-founder and president of Fantagraphics

Relevant Links:

KUOW: Seattle comics publisher Fantagraphics celebrates 50th anniversary

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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From Egypt to... Spokane? How the World Cup is building bonds that go beyond the soccer pitch

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:36:11 +0000

How much soccer have you been watching these days?

For millions of American soccer fans (and probably billions elsewhere), the World Cup has already been memorable: Cabo Verde advancing against the odds, Messi setting records, the U.S. team displaying some world-class offensive magic. In fact ALL of the host countries’ teams – USA, Canada and Mexico – have made it to the knockout rounds.

Seattle has played host to four matches so far, and things seem to have gone smoothly here. That’s despite all the anxiety in the lead up, over things like crowds and security.

Now, are we at the point where we might be able to say it’s kind of fun to be a host city?

Other parts of Washington have been playing host as well, including Spokane: the official tournament base camp for the Egyptian national team, with the team training at Gonzaga University’s Luger Field.

GUEST: Mitchell Roland

RELATED LINK:

World Cup 2026 - Special coverage at The Spokesman-Review

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What the bipartisan housing bill might do for WA and why it's not law — yet

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:43:34 +0000

The 21st Century Road to Housing Act, is kind of like a Washington D.C. unicorn, because it passed on a bipartisan basis. Both Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D) and Rep. Dan Newhouse R) were part of strong majorities supporting the legislation.

The bill is a collection of measures focusing on the supply side of the housing equation: things that might make it easier for prospective owners to buy a home and for potential home builders to start constructing.

But President Trump hasn't signed it, even though it's on his desk. We talk about why not, and what the bill could mean for the Evergreen State.

Guest
Heidi Groover, real estate reporter, The Seattle Times

Related Links
What we know about the big housing bill Trump is refusing to sign - The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The exoskeleton that's helping Seattle Mountain Rescue move 'better, faster, safer'

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:17:33 +0000

Hiking can be hard. So can trail running. Even harder than both of those? Performing a rescue in the woods.

That’s why Seattle Mountain Rescue is using exoskeleton legs, under the brand name Hypershell, that you can wear on your legs to basically... help you move.

The hope is that these mechanical legs will help the volunteer rescue team navigate rough terrain and steep inclines to quickly get to people on the trail.

We drove out to North Bend to see exactly how this gear works.

Guest: Wes Cooper, an Emerging Technologies Director at Seattle Mountain Rescue.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: is the future of the Democratic party... socialist? Plus a big capital gains windfall, World Cup controversies, and more

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 21:56:21 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: sports journalist and author of the newsletters The Dang Apostrophe and The Grudgery, Danny O'Neil

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why one Seattle organization says new data doesn't measure Native homelessness accurately — again

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:38:42 +0000

A new estimate for the number of unhoused people in King County is out.

Over the past two years, the new data shows a 9% increase in the homeless population on any given night in King County, and over 18,000 homeless people in the region.

One of the standout data points? The new count also suggests a nearly 11 percent decrease in the number of Indigenous people who are unhoused in our region, since 2020.

And that should be good news.

But the county’s only urban housing and homelessness service provider dedicated to Native people says the latest figures represent an undercount. And according to them, it’s not the first time.

Guest

Derrick Belgarde, executive director, Chief Seattle Club

Related Links

The Chief Seattle club's initial statement

King County finds 9% rise in homelessness since 2024 - The Seattle Times

2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count Initial Report - King County Regional Homelessness Authority

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Pride celebrations are happening across WA during June, including in prisons

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 23:21:58 +0000

Seattle will celebrate Pride this weekend: there's the parade downtown on Sunday and Pride Fest on Broadway in Capitol Hill. It's the culmination of a month of celebrations across the state, including one of the units at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. We caught up with one of the organizers of Pride there, which took place earlier this month.

Guest:

Jennifer Jaylee, one of the organizers of the Pride celebration and member of the queer community support group, PEACE

Relevant Links:

Union-Bulletin: Peer group at Washington State Penitentiary hosts 3rd annual Pride festival

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Weekend Warmup - Things to do OTHER than Pride and the World Cup!

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 20:30:07 +0000

Our Thursday tradition continues with a big list of all the things to do outside of the Pride & World Cup of it all this weekend... That said, there ARE a ton of Pride & World Cup events, so don't miss out if that's your jam too!

LINKS:

Trans Pride Seattle
Seattle PrideFest
Seattle PrideFest - Capitol Hill
Seattle PrideFest - Seattle Center
Seattle Pride - Parade
Seattle Pride - Community Events
Queer/Pride Festival
World Cup - Pride Match Day 2026 Seattle
Pirates Landing - Seafair
Rusty Scupper's Pirate Daze
Gobble Up SLU
The Taste NW
Buckley Log Show
Kenmore Midsommarfest
Washington Summer Mead Festival

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Hear it Again: Ever been abandoned on the trail? There's a name for that.

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:19:56 +0000

Has something like this happened to you before?

You’re on a hike with someone, maybe a romantic partner, and you start slowing down, or want to take a break, but your partner wants to push on.

Eventually, you’re left behind as your partner goes ahead without you. And this situation has consequences for the relationship.

If so, you’re not alone.

The phrase “Alpine Divorce” was coined in a short story about a murderous husband over 100 years ago - but TikTok has lately adopted the label for less dastardly scenarios.

In a recent viral post, a woman sobs as she climbs down a mountain - saying “he left me”. The video has thousands of comments, many of which share similar stories of being left behind on the trail.

But how common is Alpine Divorce? And is it actually a bad thing to spend some solo time on the trail?

Guest:

Alaina Demopoulos, daily features writer for the Guardian

Related Link:

Women are being abandoned by their partners on hiking trails. What’s behind ‘alpine divorce’?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes - Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: What we know now about homelessness in King County

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:15:51 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: Seattle Times political reporter Jim Brunner

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Meet the WWU professor heading to the World Boomerang Championships

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:59:49 +0000

What do you know about Bellingham? Possibly that it’s renowned for its proximity to outdoor activities like skiing, mountain biking, and hiking, or it’s home to Western Washington University and a robust music and craft beer scene.

What about that it has a thriving boomerang throwing community?

It’s not only thriving, but world renowned. Western Washington University is sending three people to the Boomerang World Championships this year, including marketing professor Ed Love.

Guest:

Ed Love, marketing professor at Western Washington University going to the World Boomerang Championships in 2026

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Unpacking how supportive housing could affect the number of King County jail visits

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:12:02 +0000

New data from King County shows putting people in housing without preconditions like drug treatment has had some significant benefits.

The report comes from the King County Department of Community and Human Services and shows a decrease in jail bookings among those in permanent supportive housing programs between 2021-2025.

Seattle has been a national leader in using such “Housing First” initiatives.

But funding for those programs is at risk, to the tune of $26 million – that’s after the Trump administration released a new rule earlier this month, requiring providers to move away from Housing First programs in order to qualify for HUD grants next year.

What more does this data analysis show? And what's lost if federal funding goes away?

Guest

Jelani Jackson, acting director for the Housing & Community Development division within the King County Department of Community and Human Services

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The AI device that's listening to my aging dad's every move

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:40:51 +0000

As Americans age, they have a few options for care in their later years, like moving in with a family member or into an assisted-living facility.

Or aging in place.... Increasingly, with the assistance of AI.

Steven Blum is a writer from Seattle now based in Austria. He published a piece about his aging father, who lives alone in Seattle and is being monitored through Sensi.

It’s an AI device that’s constantly listening for signs of distress. It’s supposed to detect if Blum’s dad has fallen.

It was an option that made sense, because his father doesn’t want to move out of his home. He isn’t alone.

Last year, the Pew Research Center asked older Americans what they would do if they couldn’t live by themselves anymore.

Around 60% said that they’d rather stay in their homes and have someone care for them, instead of moving into an assisted living facility or a nursing home.

As Americans enter their later years, AI could be part of their care.

Guest: Steven Blum, a writer based in Austria

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Long-running fight over Sodo housing takes a new turn

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:42:01 +0000

The long saga of whether Seattle can or should allow housing to be built near the stadiums in Sodo is ... still going.

This wrestling match has to do with a couple blocks to the south of T-Mobile Park.

The debate was restarted in 2025, when the Seattle City Council passed a bill from then-Seattle City Council president Sarah Nelson. It allowed residential use in the small strip of land next to the baseball stadium.

The idea quickly drew backlash from port workers and truckers who operate in Sodo and Nelson’s bill eventually suffered a double-whammy of being declared illegal by a state board and later being repealed by her former colleagues on the council.

So… conversation over, right? Turns out, no…

Guest:

Ryan Packer, contributing editor at The Urbanist

Relevant Links:

The Urbanist: Legal Appeal from MLB Stadium Authority Restarts Stadium District Housing Saga

The Urbanist: Council Committee Greenlights SoDo Housing Proposal Despite Strong Port Opposition

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: is Washington good for soccer, but bad for billionaires? Plus an immigration law firm crackdown, and Starbucks snafu in South Korea

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:20:23 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest:

Mike Lewis - Journalist and owner of the Streamline Tavern in Seattle

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Juneteenth, Father's Day, and BEYOND!

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:34:11 +0000

We’ve been having a lot of fun with the World Cup, and with Team USA taking on Australia on Friday at Seattle Stadium, things are going to be BUSY in downtown Seattle…

But, if you’re looking to get out of the city, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with a bunch of options for your Juneteenth & Father’s Day weekend!

LINKS:

WORLD CUP - Juneteenth Match Day
Mariners vs Boston
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS
- June 19 — Seattle, Jimi Hendrix Park
- June 19 — Seattle, NW African American Museum
- June 19 — Shoreline, Shoreline City Hall
- June 19 — Tacoma, Haub Family Field
- June 19 — Tukwila, Sullivan Center
- June 20 — Kent, Morrill Meadows Park
- June 20 — Lynnwood, Martha Lake Park
- June 20/21 — Seattle, Arte Noir
Gorge Blues and Brews
Edmonds Arts Festival
Marysville Strawberry Festival
Rhubarb Days 2026
Brinnon ShrimpFest
Revel Revolution Women & Nonbinary Ride 2026
Fremont Solstice Parade - Seattle
Fremont Fair

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Upriver Fire, Bear Attacks, Kids Uninsured, and Soccer

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:54:55 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: Melissa Santos

Related Links:

Displaced residents react to Upriver Fire - KHQ
Rare black bear attack on Mount Si injures hiker, shuts down mountain - King 5
WA falls again in national education ranking - Washington State Standard
More Washington kids are uninsured as child well-being slips - Axios
World Cup 2026: Tiny ‘designated protest zones’ pop up around Seattle Stadium - Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The artist who spent months in a tower on the University Bridge

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:21:46 +0000

Have you ever taken a close look at the University Bridge? Specifically those little towers on either side?

Earlier this year, depending on which one you looked at, you might have seen a person hanging out. Maybe you waved at her.

That was Vivian Cho. She was one of two people that Seattle picked to serve as this year’s Bridge Artists in Residence.

It’s a program that the city runs annually. Artists are invited to hang out in a bridge tower for months, either on the Fremont or the University Bridge. At the end of these stints, they showcase art that they created during their residencies.

Vivian's artwork went up at King Street Station in early June.... so we took a trip back to November, when we visited her in the bridge tower studio.

Guest: Vivian Cho, one of Seattle's Bridge Artists in Residence

Related links:

Big News from the Bridges: Meet the 2025 Bridge Artists in Residence! - Art Beat

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How the Seattle Storm's head coach went from law books to playbooks

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 22:50:14 +0000

For Sonia Raman, becoming head coach of a WNBA basketball team wasn’t originally in the plans.

Sure, she grew up playing the sport. But when her college career ended, she went on to earn a JD/a degree from Boston College Law School. And then, she did what many of us do: she got a regular office job.

So how do you go from working for the US Department of Labor, to starting this year as head coach for the Seattle Storm?

Guest:

Seattle Storm head coach Sonia Raman

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A Seattle immigration lawyer reacts to green card application policy changes

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 23:46:27 +0000

The green card application process has become more confusing in recent weeks.

In May, the Trump administration sent out a memo saying applicants inside the U.S. would need to leave the country and apply from their home country.

The change could have affected tens of thousands of Washington residents, some of whom have waited years to complete the last step to become a U.S. citizen.

But then, the week following that announcement – the Trump administration appeared to partially walk back the change.

The back-to-back announcements panicked many hoping to get their green cards. A lot of unanswered questions remain, so Soundside spoke with a Seattle immigration attorney about how she's working through this moment.

Guest

Tahmina Watson, founding immigration lawyer with Watson Immigration Law

Related Links

Actually, Most Immigrants Won’t Need to Leave U.S. to Get Green Cards, D.H.S. Says - The New York Times

Stephen Miller’s New Attack on Green-Card Applicants Is Simply a Scare Tactic - Slate

What Trump’s dramatic green card announcement means for WA - The Seattle Times

'Confusion and uncertainty.' Washington green card hopefuls react to new policy hurdle - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Councilmember Cathy Moore on Aurora Avenue North, public safety, and SOAP orders

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 23:32:29 +0000

Aurora Avenue North has been the site of escalating gun violence that police say is driven by sex trafficking.

Last week, Mayor Katie Wilson, City Attorney Erika Evans, and Council President Joy Hollingsworth held a news conference to announce next steps.

They include using civil orders to take guns away from sex traffickers and closing side streets.

Hanging over all of this is whether the city should use stay out of areas of prostitution or SOAP law.

Guest:

Former Seattle City Council member and King County Superior Court Judge Cathy Moore

Relevant Links:

KUOW: How three key players view the narrative about sex work and gun violence on Aurora Avenue

Seattle Times: Seattle moves to take guns from traffickers on Aurora as mayor closes streets

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Researchers at the UW are using concrete vibrators to kill pesky shrimp. Why?

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 23:23:09 +0000

Burrowing Shrimp dig into the sand and make tunnels underground. In doing so they kick up about a handful of sand up to the surface everyday, and bury clams and oysters.

That’s a problem for shellfish farmers. Researchers at the University of Washington found a new way to get rid of the pests with the help of concrete vibrators.

Guests:

Jennifer Ruesink, a biology professor at the University of Washington and the senior author of a recent paper on the technique.
Ken Wiegardt, a 5th generation oyster grower with Jolly Roger Oysters in Willapa Bay.

Links:

A new method could help Washington shellfish farmers control a pesky shrimp - UW News

Immobilization of Burrowing Shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis) by Vibrocompaction as a Pest Control Strategy for Shellfish Farms - Journal of Shellfish Research

Shellfish growers’ request to use neonicotinoid pesticide too risky for Washington’s environment - Department of Ecology of Washington State

Jennifer L. Ruesink - University of Washington

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Why people in Seattle are converting to Catholicism

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:51:17 +0000

Even in one of the U.S.'s most non-religious areas, early data suggests more people in the Seattle area are converting to Roman Catholicism.

The archdiocese of Seattle keeps tallies on catechumens, which refers to a person who will be baptized, confirmed and receive Holy Communion. In 2026, the archdiocese already reports over 1070 catechumens, across more than 130 parishes, a 17 percent increase over last year and a 40 percent increase since 2024.

We spoke with a handful of recent converts to Catholicism from around the Seattle area about why each of them converted, and what role faith plays in their lives now.

Guest

Kevin Brown, Graduate Program director and a lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at Gonzaga University. He also currently serves as the editor of the Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

Related Links

Roman Catholic Churches See a Surge of New Converts - The New York Times

National Rise in Catholicism Conversions Makes its Way to the Puget Sound - The Seattle Spectator

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: World Cup, Aurora Ave N, and THE HEAT!

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:50:55 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: Soundside Producer Maleeha Syed

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Celebrating the Stimson-Green Mansion's 125th Birthday

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:02:14 +0000

If you’ve ever walked around First Hill in Seattle, you might have noticed the Stimson Green Mansion on the corner of Seneca and Minor Avenue.

The house is celebrating its 125th year. It used to be home to some of the most influential and first families of Seattle.

Guest:

Chris Moore - Executive Director of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
Abby Armato - Public Programs Specialist of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation

Related Links:

Stimson-Green Mansion - Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
Stimson-Green Mansion - History Link
Joshua Green - History Link
First Hill Park - First Hill Improvement Association

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KC Exec Zahilay has ambitious goals, first he wants the county to rebuild trust

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 23:33:27 +0000

For the first time in 16 years, a new King County Executive gave a state of the county address.

Executive Girmay Zahilay was in Federal Way last night to outline the work he has done in his first six months in office and look forward to what he plans to accomplish in the next 3 and a half years of his term.

Zahilay spoke about new investments in childcare, homelessness, and mental healthcare, amid the rapidly shifting federal environment over the last year and a half.

He also acknowledged the need to build trust after recent troubling audits looking into KCRHA and the county’s Department of Community and Human Services.

Guest:

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: Zahilay wants more King County childcare funding, bus service, housing

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup - Pride Hockey, Viking Biking, and the Furry 5K

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:23:42 +0000

There's so much to do this weekend, so LET'S GET TO IT:

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Seattle's data center ban, KUOW's reporting on trans athlete ballot initiative

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 04:17:15 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Note: Microsoft is a financial supporter of KUOW, but we cover them like we do any other company.

Guest

Catharine Smith, KUOW politics editor

Related Links

Seattle data center ban heads to Mayor Wilson's desk - KUOW

Transgender ballot initiative could require genital exams for WA secondary school students - KUOW

School cellphone ban proposed by WA governor, superintendent - The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network

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Seattle Mayor Wilson on World Cup, CCTV cameras, shelter promise, and Ballard light rail

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:49:15 +0000

We’re just over six months into Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's tenure, which means the honeymoon period’s in the rear view mirror. Voters have gotten a look at how her administration is handling some of the biggest issues facing the city:

How ready is Seattle to host its first World Cup game on Monday?
What happened to those 500 shelter beds that were supposed to be added before the games
How is the Mayor taking criticism from the business community over some of her progressive messaging?
How will Wilson, as a former transit rider organizer, prioritize moving people throughout the city?

Guest:

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: Mayor Wilson agrees to turn on stadium-area cameras ahead of World Cup

Politico: The World Cup’s biggest policy bet

Seattle Times: Seattle mayor pitches sales tax increase to boost bus service

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many parent caregivers are struggling with disability care. Here are their stories.

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:06:26 +0000

In Washington, many families that have children with disabilities are supposed to have help with care. Actually finding that help, though, can be incredibly difficult.

The struggle some families have experienced and the lengths they're going to to try to make it better.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Lori Matsukawa became a Seattle news icon

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:05:00 +0000

If you’re a TV news viewer in Seattle, there’s a REALLY good chance you know this signoff:

“Lori Matsukawa, KING 5 News”

Lori spent 36 years as one of KING 5’s most celebrated news anchors, before retiring in 2019. Now, she has written a memoir which takes readers from rural Oahu, to Stanford University, and from the skies above Mt. St. Helens as it erupted to the Imperial Palace of Japan.

Lori Matsukawa’s book is titled “Being There: Memoir of an Asian American Journalist.”

GUEST: Lori Matsukawa

LINK: Being There: Memoir of an Asian American Journalist by Lori Matsukawa

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: Fare enforcement pilot, Seattle movie news

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 23:45:11 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest

Chase Hutchinson, film critic and journalist

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How three key players view the narrative about sex work and gun violence on Aurora Avenue

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:50:04 +0000

On Saturday night, more than 100 people who live around Aurora Avenue North in Seattle marched to protest gun violence in their neighborhood.

It was organized to call attention to the escalating number of shootings neighbors and law enforcement say are related to sex trafficking in the Aurora corridor.

In desperation, some neighbors recently took matters into their own hands and put up makeshift street barriers to try to stop people from driving through neighborhoods.

The city council has begun working on legislation that would allow the city to close off streets at the discretion of the chief of police. The hope is that this would help curb violence.

But on Saturday, neighbors expressed anger that the city isn’t doing more to stop shootings and to help the victims of sex trafficking.

So what’s happening on Aurora? And what is being done to fix it?

Guests:

Alex Voorhees, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for King County.
Audrey Baedke, executive director of SAFE in Washington.
Amber with Green Light Project.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's Weekend Warmup: PRIDE, Fishsticks, and the Sound of Sunshine!

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:55:58 +0000

It’s Thursday, and like we do every week, we like to look ahead at what there is to do over the weekend.

And we do that by turning to the biggest nerd in the business, Soundside Producer Jason Burrows...

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What made Ada's Technical Books special, according to its co-owner

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:53:34 +0000

For 16 years, Ada’s Technical Books in Capitol Hill was THE place to find eclectic books, grab a coffee and co-work with other folks in the neighborhood, play a game out on the street side tables, or just hang out and read a book.

But like a lot of our favorite books, the ending often arrives before you’re ready, and Ada’s story is no different. The bookstore and cafe will be closing at the end of the week, and many Ada’s faithful will MOURN its loss.

Ada’s was built to be a place of community that encouraged curiosity and learning.

You learn a lot yourself, when you run a business for so long, and Soundside is happy to have the chance to glean wisdom from the co-owner of Ada’s Technical Books.

GUEST: Danielle Hulton

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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This program uses AI to screen Medicare requests. WA lawmakers and medical professionals are worried.

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:12:13 +0000

Washington is more than five months into a new pilot program that has been using AI to screen requested procedures for people enrolled in Medicare.

It’s called the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) program, which incentivizes private companies to deny procedures.

Washington lawmakers and medical professionals say the program has led to denials and delays in care for older residents.

All of this is covered in a new story from KUOW that looks at the pushback to this pilot program.

Guest: Stephen Howie, a senior online editor and reporter at KUOW

Related links:

Washington seniors face denied, delayed care under AI Medicare review program | KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What the Longview disaster tells us about why the paper mill industry is dangerous

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:55:20 +0000

We won’t have a full explanation for the implosion at a Longview paper processing mill for a while.

The disaster left 11 people dead, and released thousands of gallons of white liquor, which is a highly corrosive chemical used to break down wood chips into pulp.

The tragedy highlights the risks when people work in close proximity with large quantities of dangerous chemicals. The plant is one of several big industrial facilities in the area.

Reporter Kyra Buckley looked into the pulp and paper mill industry and its safety record for Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Related Links

Longview mill tragedy highlights dangerous nature of wood product manufacturing - Kyra Buckley, Oregon Public Broadcasting

After Explosion, Mourning Mixes With Dread Over a Paper Mill’s Future - Anna Griffin, Aaron West The New York Times

WA agencies lacked role inspecting failed chemical tank in Longview mill disaster - Washington State Standard

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Front Page: a CCTV fight, a proposed tax hike, and we 'wave' goodbye to a Washington institution

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:31:58 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest:

David Kroman, Seattle Times city hall reporter

Related stories:

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Bill Gates keeps tight control of his public image. Epstein is threatening it.

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:47:23 +0000

Just like many other celebrities, Bill Gates has a stylist. His sweaters, button-downs and glasses are meant to portray someone calm and approachable, current and former employees say.

His clothing choices show how carefully he's crafted an image as a global philanthropist, in the decades since co-founding Microsoft.

But maintaining Gates’s image has become more difficult, due to persistent inquiries about his relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. That relationship is also affecting his major philanthropic efforts with the Seattle-based Gates Foundation.

Reporter Emily Glazer investigated the mounting backlash against Bill Gates over revelations in the Epstein files and the ways Gates’s team has tried to manage his image.

Guest

Emily Glazer, enterprise reporter at The Wall Street Journal

Related Links

Bill Gates Spent Years Crafting His Image. Now It’s Cracking. - The Wall Street Journal

Bill Gates Apologizes to Foundation Staff Over Epstein Ties - The Wall Street Journal

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!

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Ballard light rail is on 'life support' after Sound Transit board vote

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:13:46 +0000

The dream of light rail to Ballard just took a big hit. The Sound Transit Board voted last week on how to move forward with expanding the system and how to cover a $34 billion dollar budget shortfall over the next two decades.

After a marathon voting session, the board moved forward with several major projects. Those include: finishing rail to Everett and Tacoma, building a West Seattle extension, adding a new station at Graham Street, and making a new line between Issaquah and Kirkland (though, the delivery target is now 2050).

You may have heard the board did not, however, prioritize getting light rail to Ballard. Instead, under the new plan, the line will stop at Seattle Center.

Guest:

Seattle City Council Member Dan Strauss

Relevant Links:

The Urbanist: Sound Transit Board OKs Major ST3 Update, Casting Ballard into Limbo

KUOW: Sound Transit board shelves Ballard extension, saves South Seattle stations

Seattle Times: Ballard light rail idea rejected while Sound Transit OKs other lines

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!

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Front Page: North Aurora shootings, white collar slowdown, and "Aviatrix"

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 23:24:14 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest

Angela Poe Russell, a veteran journalist and the playwright behind "Aviatrix."

Related Links

Seattle Times: Seattle officials introduce bill to help residents battle gun violence

Axios: Seattle's economic engine is starting to sputter

Aviatrix | Seattle Public Theater

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!

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Breaking down Seattle's 6 World Cup matches

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:53:35 +0000

The men’s FIFA World Cup starts next week! Seattle will host six games, including one featuring the U.S. team.

Soundside has discussed the politics of the World Cup, how these giant events can impact a city, and other weighty FIFA-related topics. You can find all of those conversations below.

But we haven't talked about the actual game yet.

Who’s playing, who’s expected to do well and could our own US team actually pull out a better-than-expected this year?

Guest

Leander Schaerlaecken, author, The Long Game - U.S. Men's Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts.

How Good Is This World Cup Squad, Really? - The New Yorker

Leander Schaerlaecken's columns for The Guardian

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!

Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you like, what you hate: Tell us your hot takes. kuow.org/feedback.

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The 3 Spokane anti-ICE protesters found guilty of federal conspiracy charges. What does that mean for future protests?

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:47:42 +0000

This case was seen as a test case for harsher enforcement by the Trump administration against protestors, and now there’s a verdict. Three anti-ICE protestors have been found guilty of federal conspiracy charges. The case had to do with a demonstration outside of the Spokane ICE office last June.

The protest was part of a wave of anti-immigration actions that popped up across the country. The day after the protest in Spokane, the Trump Administration started cracking down on immigration protests by instructing prosecutors to charge non-violent demonstrators with conspiracy.

So what happens now to these convicted protestors? And what does this mean for future political marches or demonstrations?

Guest:

Erin Sellers, reporter with RANGE Media, a media organization that covers the Inland Northwest.

Related Links:

Jury finds Spokane 3 protesters guilty of federal conspiracy charges - Range Media
Inside the federal trial of 3 Spokane anti-ICE protesters - KUOW
Conspiracy Trial Will Test Trump’s Aggressive Tactics Against Protesters - New York Times
Six of the Spokane 9 accept plea deals - Range Media
Prosecutors told to prioritize, publicize cases tied to Trump immigration protests - Reuters

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!

Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback.

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Meet the mountain guide who broke a speed record on Mount Rainier

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:37:39 +0000

What do you think of when you see Mount Rainier?

Some of us think, "Oh wow, I can see Mount Rainier. Must be really clear out today. Pretty."

Some people, though, look at its snow-capped peaks and see a challenge, a life goal -- something they may climb one day, braving cold and oxygen deprivation. To able to say they've done it.

And then there is Simon Kearns, who looks at Mount Rainier as something to absolutely dominate.

That's what he did in early May, when he set a new speed record for climbing Washington state’s tallest peak on foot.

He traveled the nearly 9,000 vertical feet to the summit and back in three hours, 43 minutes and 52 seconds.

Kearns joined Soundside to talk about what it was like shattering the previous record by more than half an hour.

Guest: Simon Kearns, a mountain guide at RMI Expeditions.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!

Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback.

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The latest on the deadly implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Plant

Thu, 28 May 2026 21:30:49 +0000

As many as 11 people are dead in Longview, Washington after a chemical tank implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Plant earlier this week.

Officials also confirmed yesterday that the Columbia River is contaminated due to the disaster.

Washington’s governor is calling this the deadliest industrial tragedy in the state’s modern history.

Guest:

Erik Neumann, the Southwest WA Bureau Chief for Oregon Public Broadcasting

Related Links:

Longview paper mill disaster could be ‘deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history,’ governor says - OPB

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Bark! Honk! Battle!

Thu, 28 May 2026 20:43:56 +0000

It’s the FINAL Thursday in May, meaning that we’re just mere MOMENTS away from the BEST WEEKEND OF YOUR LIFE, so far, this week.

Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with more stuff than we can fit in a normal Weekend Warmup:

LINKS:

THE STUFF WE DIDN'T GET TO:

Brandi Carlile - Echoes Through the Canyon
14th Annual Seattle Asian American Film Festival
Trae Crowder at Emerald City Comedy Club
Seattle Mariners vs Arizona D-Backs
Stamp & Scrapbook EXPO
Seattle Spring - Renegade Craft

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask a Doctor: Ketamine

Wed, 27 May 2026 23:15:46 +0000

It’s a drug you see doctors on “The Pitt” give patients in the ER for pain relief or sedation.

It’s also what cast members on the reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” take to connect with their spouses.

And it's what some Americans use to treat their depression.

Ketamine has gotten negative press in the past few years, like in 2023, when “Friends” co-star Matthew Perry died from “the acute effects of ketamine.”

We sat down with a doctor to learn more about this substance that’s showing up more and more in popular culture …and in Seattle, which is home to several ketamine clinics.

This is part of our recurring “Ask a Doctor” segment, where we ask medical professionals to help us understand health news and trends.

Guest: Dr. Nathan Sackett, an assistant professor in the University of Washington School of Medicine and addiction psychiatrist

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!

Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback.

Also, if you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inside the federal trial of 3 Spokane anti-ICE protesters

Wed, 27 May 2026 23:14:20 +0000

In Spokane, an ongoing federal trial is raising questions about the Trump administration’s legal strategy regarding political protesters.

Three people are charged with conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers during an anti-ICE protest last June.

They were part of a demonstration that was trying to stop ICE agents from moving two Venezuelan immigrants from the ICE office in Spokane to the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center.

If convicted, each of the three could face up to six years in federal prison. It’s a test case for the use of conspiracy charges against protestors. The Trump administration has used the tactic several times recently in prosecutions of anti-ICE protestors.

Guest

Erin Sellers, reporter at RANGE Media, a media organization covering the Inland Northwest

Related Links

All of RANGE Media's trial coverage - Erin Sellers,

Conspiracy Trial Will Test Trump’s Aggressive Tactics Against Protesters - Anna Griffin, The New York Times

Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. Fill out our survey! We want to know what you want to hear, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teens & seniors swap tech skills and life skills

Wed, 27 May 2026 21:58:22 +0000

This whole thing started because Sedro-Woolley high school teacher Linsey
Kitchens saw the people in her life struggle with the Internet. Specifically, she saw
them struggle with what to believe and how to engage their critical thinking skills.

Whether that was a teenager in her classroom, convinced that if they bought a
protein powder from their favorite influencer, it would make them stronger and
more popular. Or the senior citizens in her life, who went down rabbit holes of
conspiracy theories online. Or fell for online scams.

So Kitchens became obsessed with teaching media literacy to people of all ages.
She even won a fellowship at the University of Washington’s Center for an
Informed Public where she studied how teachers can incorporate media literacy
into their classrooms.

This past spring, she created a day-long event where teens and seniors could spend
the day together, at what you might call a “giant skills swap.” The teenagers gave
presentations about how AI scrapes information from reliable and unreliable
sources.While the seniors gave presentations about animal rescue and how to fix a
flat tire.

But the event almost didn’t happen, because one of those groups was scared to
engage with the other group.

SoundSide’s Kyle Norris was at the event, called “Ageless Intelligence,” and has
this story.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After damning audit, KCRHA CEO Kelly Kinnison outlines agency response

Tue, 26 May 2026 21:18:43 +0000

The organization charged with managing the regional response to homelessness is facing an existential crisis.

Some local elected leaders have called for the dissolution of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority after a damning forensic audit from consulting firm Clark Nuber released last month.

The audit reported the agency has lost track of at least $8 million dollars, incurred $4 million of questionable administrative costs, and at one point operated with a negative cashflow of $44 million dollars.

The review found the $200 million dollar agency, which started operations in 2021, didn’t have the necessary oversight, accounting practices or internal financial controls to handle large amounts of public money appropriately.

King County and the City of Seattle fund the bulk of KCRHA. Now, the city and county are at a decision point: reform the agency or shut it down. And that decision is likely to come this summer.

KCRHA released a corrective action plan on Friday that outlines steps the agency will take over the next 60 days in response to the audit.

Guest:

Kelly Kinnison, CEO of King County Regional Homelessness Authority

Relevant Links:

KUOW: King County homelessness agency board votes to tighten purse strings following damning audit

AXIOS: Seattle-area homelessness agency at risk after audit

KCRHA Corrective Action Plan

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page gets techy: Meta layoffs, Starlink files to go public, and the Pope comes out as anti-AI

Tue, 26 May 2026 20:53:48 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest

Todd Bishop, editor and co-founder of Geekwire

Related stories

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Ask a Doctor: What are ultra-processed foods (and should we avoid them)?!

Thu, 21 May 2026 23:08:43 +0000

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere. But we aren’t supposed to eat them.

At least, that’s the current discourse around these foods, which can include soda, instant oatmeal and sliced bread.

Research has found that diets high in ultra-processed foods are linked to diabetes, obesity, heart disease and many cancers.

That's a hard pill to swallow, considering that roughly 70% of our grocery store products are ultra-processed, according to the Yale School of Public Health.

So we want a little more clarity on what these foods are, how they could impact us and if it’s really so bad to snack on a granola bar (or order the occasional hot dog at a baseball game).

Guest: Dr. Neelendu Dey, a gastroenterologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and associate professor of gastroenterology at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Books, Books, and MORE BOOKS!

Thu, 21 May 2026 20:54:24 +0000

What a week, right? But hey… We’ve got a long weekend ahead of us, and since Memorial Day is the unofficial start of Summer, it’s exciting to see that there’s… rain in the forecast for Monday.

Well, either way - rain or shine, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with a ton of fun stuff to do this weekend!

LINKS:

Inaugural Ballard Book Crawl
Lost the Plot Mobile Books
Bremerton by the Book
Page 42 Bookstore Smut & Sips
Book Recommendations thanks to @beckybooksandbeads!
Trailhead Direct - Begins Saturday!
Whidbey Ren Faire
Festival | Northwest Folklife

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In her new book, Dr. Kemi Doll says Black women are facing a 'gynecological health crisis'

Thu, 21 May 2026 00:46:09 +0000

Black women face higher rates of uterine fibroids compared to white women. They’re less likely to get accurate diagnoses for endometriosis.

And they’re twice as likely to die from uterine cancer than white women.

Dr. Kemi Doll considers these disparities part of the evidence for a broader health crisis in gynecological care for Black women.

Why hasn’t the medical community done more to address these problems? And how can patients and practitioners navigate a system that consistently overlooks Black women?

Doll's new book, "A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing,” works to answer those questions.

Guest: Dr. Kemi Doll, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington and the author of "A Terrible Strength."

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Murray vs Duffy, West Seattle anti-same sex marriage activist, opposition to "millionaire's tax"

Wed, 20 May 2026 23:39:36 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest

Jim Brunner, political reporter for The Seattle Times

Related Links

Duffy Defends Road Trip Reality Show In Tense Senate Hearing
Foes of WA high-earners income tax launch repeal initiative

Meet the Seattle woman behind a national effort to end same-sex marriage
Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba gets his trophy — but for wrong award

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The Seattle Torrent's first season? It really was about the friends we made along the way.

Wed, 20 May 2026 20:37:43 +0000

Sports superfans may seem to have been born bleeding their teams’ colors, but really, they’re created.

It happens around formative events: a buzzer-beating come-from-behind win, a once-in-a-generation athlete or a championship season.

This year probably saw a few Seattle uberfans get converted during the Seahawks’ dominating Superbowl performance.

Tonight, some more sports fanatics may be formed. Game 4 of the Professional Women’s Hockey League finals begins in a few hours, and new champions could be crowned.

Sadly, Seattle’s PWHL team, the Torrent, is not among those vying for the title. But the team still managed to capture its own share of superfans during their inaugural season.

One of those is our producer Jason Burrows. If you’ve noticed that we mentioned the Torrent a lot this year, it’s because of him.

We decided to let him have one more go, talking about his new favorite team. We were more than a little surprised to learn how far he has fallen.

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Tacoma author grapples with Japanese American incarceration and her father's death

Tue, 19 May 2026 22:40:10 +0000

Tacoma author Tamiko Nimura's father died when she was just 10 years old.

Among the things he left behind was an unpublished manuscript about his family’s incarceration at the Tule Lake camp for Japanese Americans.

Nimura ultimately made a pilgrimage to Tule Lake in 2014, to see where her father was forced to spend part of his childhood.

She used her father's manuscript and her own experience to write a new book called “A Place for What We Lose: A Daughter’s Return to Tule Lake,” which is out now.

Guest

Tamiko Nimura, author, “A Place for What We Lose: A Daughter’s Return to Tule Lake”

Related Links

Exploring Tamiko Nimura’s New Book “A Place For What We Lose” - Densho

Nimura's event in Seattle on June 6th

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A loophole that can allow problem teachers back in class

Tue, 19 May 2026 21:23:46 +0000

In April 2024, the Everett School District launched a third-party investigation into a teacher at Henry M. Jackson High School over allegations of an inappropriate physical relationship with a student.

Later that year, the teacher resigned. Not long after, he voluntarily gave up his K-12 teaching license.

That decision stopped further investigation and the gears of oversight meant to provide transparency about problem teachers. And the teacher soon got a faculty job at a nearby community college.

Guests

Moe Clark, investigative reporter for InvestigateWest
Eliza Aronson, investigative reporter for The Daily Herald in Everett

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the World Cup arrives in Seattle, so do the contradictions

Mon, 18 May 2026 21:41:05 +0000

From high ticket prices to questions about how the games are used by authoritarian leaders to bolster nationalism, the World Cup coming to town raises questions about the organization running the event. FIFA has also been dogged by scandal over host country selection and TV marketing rights.

But, it's the World Cup – probably the biggest sporting event of all – and one that is so fun to watch.

So how do we relate to a game that is both beautiful and run by an entity as complicated as FIFA?

Guest:

Jules Boykoff, professor of Political Science at Pacific University and the author of the forthcoming book Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing and the FIFA Greed Machine

Relevant Links:

Red Card: An excerpt from Jules Boykoff's new book on the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Jules Boykoff’s ‘Kicking’ Is Clear-Eyed And Warm-Hearted

‘Green card for the planet’? Fifa’s World Cup is on pace to be a climate catastrophe

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Juniper Blessing, AI Data Centers, and AI Scams

Mon, 18 May 2026 20:40:45 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: Melissa Santos - Axios

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A live Q&A with SPS Superintendent Ben Shuldiner

Thu, 14 May 2026 22:29:51 +0000

Ben Shuldiner just hit 100 days in his role as the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.... and he’s had to tackle some pretty big issues in that short window.

Like a budget deficit, which could be as much as $100 million.

And student safety, after two Rainier Beach High School students were shot and killed at a bus stop in January.

And screen time in the classrooms (Shuldiner recently implemented a new cell phone policy limiting student screen time during the school day)

Shuldiner sat down for a live interview to answer a whole bunch of questions from us here on Soundside and from our listeners.

Guest: Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Vikings, Saunterers, and the U-District Street Fair!

Thu, 14 May 2026 20:48:45 +0000

It might not be the prettiest weekend, but there ARE a lot of things to do! Go enjoy your weekend!

LINKS:

Seattle International Film Festival
GeekCraft Expo
Viking Fest
Seattle Pierogi Fest 2026 – Polish Home Association
The Seattle Super Saunter
U District Street Fair
Mariners vs San Diego Padres
Reign vs NJ/NY Gotham FC
Sounders vs LA Galaxy
Storm AWAY vs Indiana Fever

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear It Again: What are your rights if Border Patrol wants to search your phone?

Wed, 13 May 2026 23:53:44 +0000

If you’re planning to head across the border to Canada for a weekend trip this summer, you've got to pack the essentials. Keys, wallet and of course your phone.

But you may want to also consider something new – who might want to take a look at that phone as you cross the border.

Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection reported a 16% increase in searches of digital devices compared to 2024.

Should you expect your phone to be searched at the border? And what steps can you take to protect your data?

In February, Soundside broadcast a conversation with New York Times reporter Gabe Castro-Root and talked about some of those questions.

GUEST: Gabe Castro-Root, New York Times

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remembering the OG OMG: Operation Mother Goose

Wed, 13 May 2026 23:50:10 +0000

Spring is here which means a malignant force is around us, stalking our parks, beaches and grassy medians.

I’m talking about the Canada Goose. You turn a corner and you see two geese and small goslings.

They hiss, they honk, they’re aggressive, their poop closes Lake Washington swim spots and, I hate to implicate you, but they are here because of us.

Western Washington wasn’t home to abundant year round Canada Geese until the mid to late 20th century. Humans purposefully moved them here in an operation dubbed “Mother Goose.”

Guest:

David B. Williams, author and historian of books like Wild in Seattle: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature and the newsletter The Streetsmart Naturalist

Relevant Links:

History Link: Operation Mother Goose begins to distribute Canada geese across the state starting on April 11, 1968

The Street Smart Naturalist: Operation Mother Goose

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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In ‘The Life We Leave,’ human composting and grief from an Auburn funeral home

Wed, 13 May 2026 22:24:14 +0000

In 2019, Washington became the first state in the country to legalize human composting as an alternative to burial and cremation.

That same year, entrepreneur Micah Truman founded Return Home, a funeral home that built the world’s first large-scale human composting facility in Auburn, Washington.

A new documentary tells the story of how Truman, who set out to disrupt the funeral industry for profit, discovered meaning in this new vision for death care.

Guest(s)

JJ Gerber, director of "The Life We Leave"

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Laurelhurst residents respond to Seattle Children's helicopter controversy

Tue, 12 May 2026 23:40:20 +0000

Yesterday, we spoke with KUOW reporter Anna Boyro Weyrauch about the social media maelstrom that has taken over Seattle.

I am talking about the drama between the Laurelhurst neighborhood and Seattle Children’s Hospital over helicopter landings.

When we talked about this yesterday – we were curious to hear how the whole saga had unfolded from the perspective of someone living in Laurelhurst. Did the average resident even know about this policy?

How did they feel being at the center of the online firestorm?

Well, I asked for feedback and you delivered.

Relevant Links:

KUOW: How online scrutiny is changing Seattle Children's and Laurelhurst's helipad policy

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Are the Seattle Storm so back?

Tue, 12 May 2026 22:38:22 +0000

Well, yes, they're back on the court. Seattle's WNBA team played their first regular season game Friday night.

But the team has changed a lot since last season. They lost two key veteran players.

But a new coach and two first-round draft picks could mean an exciting year for the Storm.

And as more people are watching the WNBA, the players start this season with a new union contract – with new salary increases and other new benefits to match.

Guest

Maitreyi Anantharaman, staff writer for Defector, an employee-owned sports and culture website.

Related Links

Role Players, Ring Chasers, And A Shadow GM: Your Guide To The 2026 WNBA Season - Defector

How Can You Not Be Romantic About Women’s Basketball? - Defector

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Microsoft set ambitious climate goals. AI is making them hard to meet.

Tue, 12 May 2026 22:02:44 +0000

In 2021, Microsoft set an aggressive emissions goal:

100 percent of its electricity would come from renewable sources or be matched by zero-carbon energy purchases, 100 percent of the time.

This was a big pledge – one that went farther than its existing net-zero emissions goal. But a lot can change in six years … Now, the company appears to be weighing a retreat.

According to recent reporting by Bloomberg, Microsoft is considering delaying or dropping its 100 percent renewable electricity pledge because of energy intensive data center build outs.

This isn't the only scaling back the company has been doing with its carbon goals.

GUEST: Alastair Marsh

LINKS:

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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'My Cham Tongue' isn't your standard cookbook

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A cookbook from a Seattle author takes readers into the food and history of the Cham, an ethnic group in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Nurhaliza Mohamath is a writer, storyteller, culture worker..... and the author of "“My Cham Tongue," which promises readers “a taste of an ancient kingdom through family recipes."

Mohamath stopped by Soundside to share why she wanted to publish the book... and why she wanted it to go beyond the food.

Guest: Nurhaliza Mohamath, the author of "My Cham Tongue"

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How online scrutiny is changing Seattle Children's and Laurelhurst's helipad policy

Mon, 11 May 2026 22:33:08 +0000

For decades, Seattle Children’s Hospital has been restricted from using its helipad except when transporting a child who is critically ill or facing a life-threatening emergency. These restrictions come from an agreement between the hospital and the nearby neighborhood of Laurelhurst. The old agreement became the subject of new scrutiny on Reddit and now a change may be in the works.

Guest

Anna Boiko-Weyrauch, general assignment reporter at KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: Helicopter battles, Light Rail Funding, and the Mystery of the WinCo store

Mon, 11 May 2026 20:36:12 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: Ryan Packer - Contributing Editor at The Urbanist

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup - SIFF, Mother's Day, and MaiFest Leavenworth!

Thu, 07 May 2026 22:01:15 +0000

You know, it really feels like THIS WEEKEND is the first REAL weekend of Spring... Let’s get out & enjoy it!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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"Achieve Optimal Cinelation" at SIFF 2026

Thu, 07 May 2026 21:55:31 +0000

The 52nd Annual Seattle International Film Festival begins this evening, bringing 11 days of movie magic back to the Pacific Northwest.

Over 200 films from more than 70 countries are on the docket, with features, shorts, documentaries, and – for the brave at heart – SECRET screenings on both Sundays of the festival.

It’s been a tough year for SIFF, the organization that runs the festival...

The closure of the Egyptian Theater in Capitol Hill and layoffs loom large, while staffing issues and contract negotiations with SIFF’s Cinema Workers’ Union remain unresolved. Those talks have been put on hold until after the Festival.

This year’s fest kicks off at the Paramount Theater with Boots Riley’s “I Love Boosters,” tonight at 7pm.

GUEST: Megan Leonard - SIFF’s Festival Programming Manager

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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When will new WA ferries set sail?

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:05:39 +0000

After visiting the shipyard in Florida where three new ferries will be built, WSF Executive Director Steve Nevey is feeling optimistic about a new boat coming on line in 2030 to assist with the agency's ailing fleet.

Guest:

Steve Nevey, the Executive Director of the Washington State Ferry System

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: WA gets just 2 bids to build new electric ferries, and the prices are in

Seattle Times: Ferguson selects Florida shipbuilder to build WA fleet of electric ferries

Seattle Times: WA governor’s $1B borrowing plan to buy new ferries sinks in Legislature

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Rep. Jayapal on Iran, ICE funding and progressive Dems vs. establishment Dems

Wed, 06 May 2026 23:24:54 +0000

The House just wrapped a federal government shutdown fight, a deadline to authorize military action against Iran came and passed and further afield a state Senate primary in Indiana has launched predictions about the redistricting fights rippling across the nation.

Soundside talked with Rep. Pramila Jayapal about the latest from the other Washington.

Guest

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, represents Washington's 7th district

Related Links

House Democrats’ Primary Endorsements Divide the Party -The New York Times

‘A betrayal’: Democrats fume at establishment wading into primaries - The Washington Post

Senate GOP unveils $72 billion proposal to fund ICE, Border Patrol through 2029 - The Hill

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Bassist Melissa Auf der Maur on joining Hole and why she stepped away from music

Tue, 05 May 2026 23:58:26 +0000

If you look on the cover of Hole's album "Celebrity Skin," you'll see her right away.

Melissa Auf der Maur is standing to the left of Courtney Love. The 1998 album is the first one she recorded with the band. She joined in 1994 after bassist Kristen Pfaff died, and she played with them around the world, from a music festival in Australia to Tuktoyaktuk, a village in the Arctic Circle.

But after a few years, Auf der Maur left Hole. She went on to have a highly successful career in music, including as bassist for the Smashing Pumpkins. She’s collaborated with many musicians and built a career as a solo artist. She’s also a photographer – a craft she studied in her university days.

And now, she’s an author. Auf der Maur’s new book is called “Even The Good Girls Will Cry: A 90s Rock Memoir.” It chronicles her early life in Montreal and her time with Hole, and how she started making her own music.

She stopped by KUOW while she was in Seattle on her book tour and told us just how she "liv[ed] through this.

Guest

Melissa Auf der Maur - musician, author, photographer

Melissa Auf der Maur's '90s song picks

Tragic Carpet Ride - Polvo

Doe - The Breeders

Out Of Focus - Love Battery

Use Once and Destroy - Hole (the one Courtney calls Melissa's song)

Followed The Waves - Melissa Auf der Maur

Related Links

Auf der Maur's interview with The Ringer's Bandsplain

Melissa Auf der Maur, a ’90s Rock Linchpin, Is Spilling Her Stories - The New York Times

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Why Washington's credit outlook dropped to 'negative'

Tue, 05 May 2026 21:36:02 +0000

What happens when a state spends beyond its means?

Moody’s and Fitch, two of the three major credit rating agencies, recently moved Washington’s credit outlook from “stable” to “negative.”

So it turns out that you're not the only one keeping your spending in check and trying to bump up your credit score...

Because states have to worry about that, too.

Guest: Mike Pellicciotti, Washington State Treasurer

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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What Stacey Abrams thinks about a recent SCOTUS decision and the Voting Rights Act

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:26:04 +0000

The nation is still reckoning with a Supreme Court decision last week that critics say renders a key aspect of the Voting Rights Act useless.

The court ruled that Louisiana illegally used race in the way it drew its district map.

It has wider implications for how all such maps are drawn. Some states, including Florida, have already moved to change their maps. This is all happening mere months before the midterm elections.

KUOW's Paige Browning talked with voting rights activist Stacey Abrams about her take on the decision, about her opinion on voter apathy and why she stepped back from the national stage.

Guest

Stacey Abrams, lawyer, former Georgia Democratic state legislator, founder of the American Pride Rises Network and the 10 Steps Campaign

Related Links

Louisiana v. Callais - Supreme Court decision

Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Map, Another Blow to Voting Rights Act - The New York Times

Stacey Abrams on how voter suppression threatens democracy - Code Switch, NPR

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Hiking and camping could look different this year after budget cuts

Mon, 04 May 2026 23:19:45 +0000

This year, Washington cut more than $500,000 from the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

These budget cuts are going to mean campground closures, less trail maintenance and dirtier bathrooms at a lot of popular trailheads.

Many are wondering how it’ll impact their outdoors time, because the Department of Natural Resources maintains a lot of land.

We checked in with The Mountaineers to hear how they're feeling about these cuts.... and then we called up the Department of Natural Resources to figure out what all this means for outdoor recreation.

Guests:

Tom Vogl, CEO of The Mountaineers
Dave Upthegrove, Commissioner of Public Lands

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Bringing R2-D2 from the screen to real life with Pacific Northwest Droid Builders

Mon, 04 May 2026 20:55:05 +0000

May the Fourth Be With you, because today is Star Wars Day!

For nearly 50 years, the Star Wars franchise has captured the hearts of SO MANY sci-fi and fantasy fans. And for a lot of people, it’s all about the droids… R2-D2 and C-3PO, to be precise.

This past weekend, that love of droids was on full display at both the Museum of Flight, and at Barnes & Noble in Northgate, where we caught up with James Adams of the Pacific Northwest R2 Builders Club.

He and his fellow club members build and demonstrate life-sized replicas of the beloved droids. Some of them can be driven around using remote control. The R2 unit James brought to Northgate looks and sounds just like what you see on the screen. It’s a hit with kids who fawn over it.

"Seeing the kids really light up – and it’s a type of character that is very easy for people to kind of let their imagination fill in the little bit of blank. So when you have a little kid come up, and you just see their eyes light up. They can’t see that there’s somebody remote controlling the device, so to speak, but instead to them it’s just R2-D2, the little guy from the movie that they like. And just seeing that, it’s like, it is them genuinely meeting the character and not standing next to an object, it never, it never gets tiring."

Speaking of kids, droid builders say it’s a great opportunity to get people excited and involved with STEM projects. For this Star Wars Day, we wanted to learn more about the craft and dedication that goes into making these droids, so we’re speaking with Dr. Scott Ransom!

He’s got a lot of expertise in robots. That’s because he’s a Director of a research center at Northwestern University that researches and develops robotic hands.

GUEST: Dr. Scott Ransom is Director of Industry and Innovation at the Center for Human Augmentation via Dexterity at Northwestern University

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Rep. Michael Baumgartner on why he supports Trump's approach to the Iran war

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:26:42 +0000

Members of Congress from Washington state are almost unified in their condemnation of the Iran war, which passed the two-month mark this week.

But the two House Republicans on the east side have been supportive of President Trump’s decision to strike Iran starting Feb. 28th.

One of them is Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican representing Washington's 5th Congressional District.

Baumgartner has been a vocal champion of the war, calling it “important and necessary.”

Guest: Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican who represents Washington’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Spokane, Walla Walla, and Pullman.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Star Wars, Sequim, SEAF!

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:41:32 +0000

If you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: Tacoma ICE facility, AI tech layoffs, City Council on public drug use

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:37:11 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: Cat Smith, KUOW politics editor

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Ask A Doc: What is perfect skin, anyway?

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:55:18 +0000

A plethora of social media influencers and affordable, high-quality products means the quest for so-called “perfect skin” seems more attainable than ever.

Poreless, plump, unwrinkled, acne-free: Companies are ready to sell you something to make those attributes a reality for you.

But does anyone really need a 20-step skincare routine? And when do our efforts start to do us harm – either physically or mentally?

Guests

Dr. Sarah Sung, The Perq Dermatology

Arabelle Sicardi, beauty writer, author of You've Got Lipstick on Your Chin and The House of Beauty: Lessons from the Image Industry

Related Links

The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich - Amanda Mull, The Atlantic

The Classist Implications of ‘Bad Skin’ - Jaya Saxena, Racked

The House of Beauty: Arabelle Sicardi exposes the dark side of the industry - Dazed

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What does the future of Sound Transit light rail look like in the region?

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:50:04 +0000

Sound Transit is looking at potential cuts and readjustments to its ST3 plan. Voters approved the vision for the next phase of regional transit nearly a decade ago.

But last year, Sound Transit announced it was somewhere between 30 and 40 billion dollars in the hole. At a Sound Transit retreat in March, board members were presented with the reality that they may need to drop planned stations or entire lines in Ballard, Issaquah, Everett, and Tacoma.

So what happens next? And how will affected communities respond?

Guest:

Ryan Packer, contributing editor at The Urbanist

Kristina Walker, Tacoma City Councilmember, Chair of the Sound Transit Board Rider Experience and Operations Committee, and chair of Pierce Transit

Mark Mullet, Issaquah Mayor

David Scott, board chair of Seattle Subway

Relevant Links:

The Urbanist: Three More Takeaways from a Pivotal Sound Transit Board Retreat

The Urbanist: Snohomish County Has Sound Transit's Regional Rail Spine Top of Mind

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Marijuana research may reach new heights as Trump Administration reclassifies medical cannabis

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:01:58 +0000

The Trump Administration is changing federal cannabis policy.

On Thursday acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying medical marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug.

That puts the drug in the same category as substances like ketamine and anabolic steroids.

Now, this doesn’t mean cannabis is legal nationwide, and people with convictions related to marijuana won’t see their charges dropped. But officials say it’ll allow for more research into cannabis for medical use.

For distributors in the 40 states that have medical marijuana systems already in place, it could mean tax benefits and less hoops to jump through when selling cannabis.

This reclassification does not impact recreational marijuana. But advocates say it could be a sign of bigger changes to come.

Guest:

Dr. Susan Ferguson, Director of the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute at the University of Washington

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: KCRHA, gig worker pay, and high school accessibility aids

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:07:47 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: David Kroman - Seattle Times City Hall Reporter

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Is it worth it to host the World Cup? It depends.

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:07:04 +0000

In less than two months, Seattle will begin hosting matches for the 2026 World Cup.

And, like in the 10 other U.S. host cities, there is a lot of excitement here about this mega international sporting event coming to town.

... But there's likely some trepidation, too, as people think ahead to the congested streets, possible transit hangups and big crowds.

Seattleites could be tempted to ask, how did we get roped into this and will it be worth it?

We called up a sports economist for answers.

Guest:

Victor Matheson, a professor at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup - Indie Bookstore Day, The Carnival of Cocktails, and the Seattle Torrent's final game of the season!

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:08:45 +0000

Hey, it's your weekly roundup of everything worth going out & doing this weekend!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS:

Seattle/King County Clinic at Seattle Center
Washington State Apple Blossom Festival
Melissa Auf der Maur: Even the Good Girls Will Cry, A '90s Rock Memoir
Professional Bull Riding - Tacoma Dome
The Pancakes & Booze Art Show
Carnival of Cocktails — Seattle Cocktail Week 2026
Seattle Independent Bookstore Day
The Tacoma Flea
Seattle Seawolves Rugby vs Chicago Hounds
Seattle Sounders vs FC Dallas
Seattle Reign vs Utah Royals
Seattle Torrent vs Montreal Victoire
- Pre-game "Tailgate" will be held at the corner of 1st Ave N & Lenny Wilkins Way from 4pm until the doors open at 5:30!

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The PNW-India relationship, from Cosmic Crisp apples to tech

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:22:41 +0000

If you’ve walked through Westlake Park recently, perhaps you’ve noticed the new statue of Swami Vivekananda, a philosopher and Hindu monk.

Vivekananda is credited with introducing yoga and the Vedanta philosophy to a global audience.

That statue is a gift to the city from the government of India.

People from India represent more than 10 percent of Washington’s foreign-born residents. As of 2024, nearly 95,000 King County residents were born there.

The statue is part of a broader cultural diplomacy initiative, according to the consulate general in Seattle.

The diplomatic outpost opened two years ago, and India's consul general in Seattle joined Soundside to talk about the relationship between the Pacific Northwest and India.

Guest

Consul General Prakash Gupta

Related Links

America's First Guru - PBS

Trump’s Changes Lock Some Employers Out of H-1B Visa Program & As H-1B Visa Program Changes, Skilled Foreign Workers Consider Leaving U.S. - The New York Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: UW investigated, data center drama, and pickleball pushback

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:26:22 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: Greg Kim, reporter for the Climate Lab at The Seattle Times who writes about the intersection of climate, energy and business.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American healthcare workers consider careers north of the border

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:13:08 +0000

Canada needs healthcare workers, but there just aren't enough of them in the country. So they've amped up their efforts to recruit medical professionals from other countries, especially the United States.

And Canada is seeing quite a bit of success. Last year, the British Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons reported licensing three times the number of American physicians than they had the year before.

One person trying to recruit Americans to work in Canada is Tod Maffin. Tod is a former national CBC radio host and producer. He now runs a newsletter and podcast called Mirror Falls. And he's one of the organizers of the Nanaimo Healthcare Infusion this weekend.

Guest:

Tod Maffin, former national CBC radio host and producer. He now runs a newsletter and podcast called Mirror Falls

Relevant Links:

KUOW: US healthcare workers encouraged to consider the charms of Canada

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Medical, a new lawsuit and Amazon's ambitions for health care

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:43:24 +0000

A California doctor is suing primary care provider One Medical, claiming she was fired in part for retaliation for raising concerns about patient care.

Amazon owns One Medical, it bought the company in 2023.

The service offers telemedicine and in-person locations and Amazon Prime members are able to access a One Medical membership at a discount.

The company’s goal is to use technology to make primary care as convenient as home delivery.

Our guest writes that this recent lawsuit, however, “pulls back the curtain on Amazon’s entrée into healthcare.”

Guest

Caroline O'Donovan, AI and Big Technology senior Reporter, The San Francisco Standard

Related Links

Amazon’s One Medical fired a doctor who raised safety concerns, lawsuit says - The San Francisco Standard

Leaked documents reveal patient safety issues at Amazon’s One Medical - The Washington Post

Full statement from a OneMedical spokesperson

One Medical is committed to excellent patient care and a supportive workplace. We welcome feedback from our team members every day—it's essential to how we improve. Using general observations from individuals unfamiliar with this matter to attempt to validate lawsuit allegations is misleading. Our investigation into the concerns found no safety issues and patients received quality care, and this is in fact a serious workplace conduct matter, despite attempts to frame it otherwise.

We dispute the allegations in this complaint, and this employee was not terminated in response to raising safety concerns. One Medical is committed to maintaining the highest standards of patient care, and we fully investigate and take appropriate action to resolve concerns and do not retaliate against employees who raise them. While we cannot comment on the specifics of this personnel matter, we work hard to maintain a respectful workplace for all team members and are confident in the thoroughness of our investigation and outcome.

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A split view on surveillance in Seattle's South End

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:07:17 +0000

The January shooting of two teenage boys in Seattle's Rainier Beach neighborhood devastated its residents. The incident also amplified a split between people who believe surveillance cameras could help keep residents safe, and those who remain concerned about how data from the cameras gets used.

Guest

Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero, freelance reporter for the South Seattle Emerald

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Front Page: Data centers, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, 'Aviatrix'

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:59:01 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: Angela Poe Russell, a veteran journalist and the playwright behind "Aviatrix."

Related links:

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New documentary '#SKYKING' revisits the 2018 SeaTac plane theft

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:35:39 +0000

In August 2018, Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 aircraft from SeaTac International Airport. A new documentary tells his story through the eyes of his friends and family, who opened up for the first time since their 2018 statement.

Guest

Patricia E. Gillespie, documentary filmmaker and director of #SKYKING

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The host of 'Adults in the Room' on the impact of the series and what comes next

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:52:52 +0000

KUOW journalist Isolde Raftery has taken us back in time, to Seattle’s Garfield High School 26 years ago.

In her podcast, "Adults in the Room", she tells listeners about a rumor about a teacher named Tom Hudson. The rumor was that Hudson was sexually abusing a student.

Mr. Hudson was a popular teacher at Garfield. He taught biology and led a student outdoors program. At the time, Isolde and her best friend Ella Hushagen reported the rumor of alleged abuse for the Garfield student newspaper.

And just a few months after the news broke, Mr. Hudson died by suicide.

Decades later, Isolde and Ella wanted to know what really happened. So they started to investigate.

That investigation turned into a (so far) seven-episode podcast called "Adults in the Room."

We talked to Isolde about how the podcast is being received and what comes next for "Adults in the Room."

Guest:

Isolde Raftery, a managing editor at KUOW and the host of "Adults in the Room."

Related links:

KUOW - Focus: Adults in the Room

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup - Mariners, Indoor Plants, SIFF SFF SFF, and more!

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:55:08 +0000

Hey, it's your weekly roundup of everything worth going out & doing this weekend!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS:

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'The Orca Show' brings killer whales, killer cabaret and perimenopause to Intiman Theatre

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:05:52 +0000

Looking for something to do this weekend?

How about… a perimenopausal comedy cabaret featuring killer whales?

Intiman Theatre is running a production called "The Orca Show." It’s a play that explores the lead character’s experience with perimenopause.

Along the way she bonds with someone who can truly understand what she’s going through: An orca whale.

The writer and performer behind "The Orca Show" stopped by to share how she came up with the concept for her play, which is showing at The Intiman Cabaret at the Erickson Theatre from April 16 to April 19.

Guest:

Aysan Celik, the writer and performer behind "The Orca Show"

Related links:

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Front Page: The Mayors Wilson, Trump endorses in WA congressional race, Belfair tow driver

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:05:13 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what those stories say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest

Melanie Henshaw, Indigenous affairs reporter at InvestigateWest, Mvskoke (Creek) Nation citizen

Katie Wilson’s big shelter promise has looming deadline, few details - The Seattle Times.

Trump backs Braun to unseat WA’s Gluesenkamp Perez in US House race - Washington State Standard

Washington courts rarely discipline guardians ad litem accused of misconduct in custody cases & Parents, advocates say guardians ad litem need more guardrails. These Washington reforms could help - Kelsey Turner. InvestigateWest

Belfair tow driver hikes into deep woods to rescue Uber Eats driver stranded by GPS - KING 5

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‘Go Gentle’ blends screwball comedy, romance, and stoic philosophy

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:05:04 +0000

A stoic philosopher assembles a coven of middle aged single women in her Manhattan apartment building, she is working for an uber-wealthy family and feeling “wide and well," when she is suddenly drawn into a mysterious romance that takes her into the world of possible art thieves, weapons dealers and double agents, one of whom she happens to be falling for.

This all goes down while she desperately tries to reconcile her beloved Epictetus and Seneca with her increasingly emotional choices.

Okay, maybe you haven’t heard that one.

That’s understandable, because Maria Semple’s new novel, Go Gentle, just came out this week. Semple is the bestselling author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Today Will Be Different, both set in Seattle. And Semple will be appearing at Town Hall Seattle on Saturday, April 18th.

Guest:

Maria Semple, author of Go Gentle

Relevant Links:

Maria Semple with Ken Jennings at Town Hall Seattle on April 18th

The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness by Sharon Lebell

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What "Making It" in the PNW indie music scene looked like

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:19:30 +0000

Artist Bootsy Holler joined Seattle's punk and grunge scene while it was taking off. Then, she documented the genesis of the “post-grunge” independent music boom of the early 2000s.

She photographed many of the bands that would go on to define the “indie” scene: like Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, Gossip, Modest Mouse, Interpol and more.

Whether the bands are onstage or in a portrait, her photos are full of movement, life and quirk. When you see them, you feel like you can almost hear the microphone feedback and smell the sweaty crowd at the Crocodile or El Corazon.

Her new book is "Making It: An Intimate Documentary of the Seattle Indie, Rock & Punk Scene, 1992–2008".

Guest

Bootsy Holler

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Stop motion film 'Tulip' reimagines Thumbelina in our own backyard

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:37:42 +0000

The animated short film ‘Tulip’ opens as many stories do - with "once upon a time."

The tale might sound familiar. It begins with a woman finding a tiny baby girl, curled up at the center of a blooming flower. Soon, Tulip climbs out her window and sets off on an adventure in her own backyard – meeting the many creatures that call it home as she tries to find her way back to her own.

The film is a take on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale Thumbelina. Each scene is awash in bright colors and textures.

Every part of Tulip - from the characters to the sets and backgrounds - is made by hand, most of it in felt, and brought to life using the time-intensive technique of stop motion animation.

And the lush, green backgrounds may look familiar - the co-directors behind the film are based here in Western Washington.

Tulip was originally released in 2020. It screened at film festivals like the Annecy International Animation Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival.

Now, for the first time, anyone can watch the short on YouTube.

Guests:

Andrea Love is a stop motion animator based in Port Townsend. She was co-director for Tulip, and also headed up fabrication & animation.
Phoebe Wahl is an illustrator and children’s book author based in Bellingham. She was the co-director, lead set and character designer, and script writer for Tulip.

Related links:

Watch 'Tulip' on Youtube

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Rep. Pramila Jayapal on Iran, DHS funding, and U.S. blockade of Cuba

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:13:19 +0000

Federal lawmakers are returning from their Spring Break tomorrow, when the House goes back in session. And, what a two week recess it has been.

The President threatened Iran with destruction of its “whole civilization,” and then agreed to a cease fire. That cease fire is now in doubt after peace talks failed in Islamabad over the weekend and the U.S. military began a blockade of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, congress is still battling over whether to fund the Department of Homeland Security with future pay for TSA agents and other workers in doubt.

And Cuba saw a brief respite from a U.S. oil blockade that has led to nationwide blackouts. My next guest says U.S. policy amounts to collective punishment of the Cuban people and she’s calling for formal negotiations to begin.

Guest:

Representative Pramila Jayapal

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The legal argument fueling one challenge to the "millionaires tax"

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:58:25 +0000

Opponents of Washington’s new income tax on high earners are looking to fight the law on a couple of fronts: on the ballot, and in court.

And last week, Citizens Action Defense Fund, a conservative nonprofit, filed a legal challenge to the tax in Klickitat County Superior Court, claiming the tax violates the state’s constitution.

We talk to one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs in that suit against the so-called “millionaires tax.”

Guest

Rob McKenna, former Washington State Attorney General, 2012 Republican candidate for governor

Opponents sue to block WA’s new ‘millionaires tax’ - The Seattle Times

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Front Page: Shelter Housing, World Cup, and Ichiro's Statue

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:22:38 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

GUEST: David Kroman

LINKS:

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How the United States' travel bans, visa restrictions are shaping this year's World Cup

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:14:52 +0000

We’re just a few months away from the World Cup’s kick off. The United States is one of the host countries, along with Mexico and Canada.

Host cities like Seattle are getting ready to welcome players, coaches, officials, families and fans from all around the world…..

At least, the ones who are still comfortable traveling to the United States, which has taken a number of steps many see as unwelcoming to outside visitors.

Travel bans, visa restrictions and expanded immigration arrests have left some people wondering if traveling to the United States right now is worth it… even to see their countries compete.

Guest:

Albert Samaha, a journalist who reported on how players are feeling about this year's World Cup in light of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Related links:

How World Cup Players Are Navigating Trump’s Immigration Crackdown | The New Yorker

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup - Mariners, Sumo Wrestling, and D&D!

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:10:26 +0000

Let's get out & do something this weekend! Here are all the events fit to print!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS:

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What do changes at the US Forest Service mean for the Pacific Northwest?

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:30:58 +0000

The U.S. Forest Service says it’s going ahead with a major overhaul of the way it manages the nation’s forests.

The plans, announced last week, include moving agency headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Forest Service will close or repurpose its regional offices, including the Pacific Northwest one, and create 15 state offices. It will also close dozens of research facilities.

GUEST: Christine Peterson

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Front Page: ICE arrests, Caterpillar bonds and Fred Meyer's handleless bags

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:35:42 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest:

Jane C. Hu, a journalist and the host of City Cast Seattle.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Sounds of the Northwest: Pacific chorus frogs

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:01:37 +0000

On occasion, we welcome field recordists from the area to share a sound they think is exemplary of the Pacific Northwest.

Today, we have a sound from frequent contributor Gordon Hempton aka the Sound Tracker

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Detained over reoffense concerns on McNeil Island, some face victimization

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:56:03 +0000

This segment includes discussion about sexual assault.

Washington state’s Special Commitment Center sits on McNeil Island in the Puget Sound. It’s operated by the Washington Department of Health and Social Services and houses about 150 people who were detained or committed there – sometimes for decades – after they committed acts of sexual violence.

It isn’t a criminal facility, but a civil one. There used to be a prison on the island but that closed in 2011.

Today, many of the people at the facility on McNeil have developmental or other disabilities. They’re supposed to be receiving sex offender treatment. Some lack the ability to understand that treatment or the implications of their actions.

While the state keeps people on McNeil Island for fear they will re-offend, some people at the center have become victims of sexual assault while under state care.

A recent investigation by the Seattle Times looked at so-called vulnerable adults at the Special Commitment Center and how the state decides who warrants protection when someone is both a perpetrator and victim.

Guest:

Rebecca Moss, investigative reporter at the Seattle Times who writes about McNeil Island in a series called “Uncommitted”

Relevant Links:

The Seattle Times: For 23 years, WA has detained a man for a crime he can’t understand

The Seattle Times: Behind The Seattle Times’ investigation into McNeil Island abuses

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"We tend to feel it first" - WA farmers are facing a fertilizer and fuel shock

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:01:57 +0000

Andy Juris grew up on a wheat farm in Klickitat County, in southern Washington near the Oregon border, watching his dad and his grandpa work together on the farm.

Andy is a fourth generation farmer – he understands the difficulties of the industry.

But he says, in the past few months, things have changed.

Andy’s farm machinery uses a lot of diesel, so, like everyone, he’s feeling the pain at the pump. Since the U.S. and Israel started their bombing campaign against Iran, and Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, diesel prices have hit record highs in Washington state.

More than diesel, though, he’s really worried about the global fertilizer supply – much of which comes through the Strait.

Guests:

Andy Juris, a fourth-generation wheat farmer in Klickitat County, Washington
Randy Fortenbery, the Thomas Mick Endowed Chair in Small Grain Economics at Washington State University

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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How to get off your phone for good (or at least use it less).

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:46:44 +0000

This year we’re trading in our smartphones for corded landlines and dial-up internet! Right?

Well, maybe not. But people have definitely been trying to use their phones less.

Digital cameras and refurbished iPods have gotten more popular in the past few years, especially in younger generations.

And on TikTok there’s the trend of “analog bags” – people filling their bags with knitting sets, books and other screen-free activities to avoid the temptation of reaching for their phones.

All of that sounds nice. But at the end of the day it’s really hard to get away from our phones because they do everything for us! And those algorithms are so good at drawing us in.

Meta and YouTube were recently found liable in a landmark case after a woman accused the companies of fueling her social media addiction, beginning when she was a child.

But what’s it like, and how hard is it, to give up on digital convenience? We’re going to ask a couple of experts for tips on how to use our phones a little less.

Guests:

Julianne Bell is a staff culture writer at The Stranger.
Jordan McMahon is a technology writer for The Strategist. He also writes a newsletter called “Rebooting.”

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Front Page: The Big O talks Mayor Wilson and public safety, covering up a Central District icon, and the Seattle Steelheads

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:57:57 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

GUEST: Omari Salisbury – founder of Converge Media and host of The Big O Show

LINKS:

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup - NorWesCon, West Coast Swing, and COMEDY!

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:34:41 +0000

April Fool’s Day is thankfully behind us, and while they DO say that “April Showers bring May Flowers,” it looks like we’ve got a partly sunny weekend ahead…

Let’s check out what there is to do in the next few days!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Ever been abandonded on the trail? There's a name for that.

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:30:25 +0000

Has something like this happened to you before?

You’re on a hike with someone, maybe a romantic partner, and you start slowing down, or want to take a break, but your partner wants to push on.

Eventually, you’re left behind as your partner goes ahead without you. And this situation has consequences for the relationship.

If so, you’re not alone.

The phrase “Alpine Divorce” was coined in a short story about a murderous husband over 100 years ago - but TikTok has lately adopted the label for less dastardly scenarios.

In a recent viral post, a woman sobs as she climbs down a mountain - saying “he left me”.

The video has thousands of comments, many of which share similar stories of being left behind on the trail.

But how common is Alpine Divorce? And is it actually a bad thing to spend some solo time on the trail?

Guest:

Alaina Demopoulos, daily features writer for the Guardian

Related stories:

Women are being abandoned by their partners on hiking trails. What’s behind ‘alpine divorce’? - The Guardian

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King County Council seeks safeguards against federal immigration enforcement

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:08:14 +0000

The King County Council has made some moves lately to limit federal immigration enforcement within the county. Last week, council expanded on Executive Girmay Zahilay’s order that bars ICE and other agencies from using county property to make arrests .

And earlier in the month, the council passed an emergency moratorium on new ICE detention facilities. Those include holding centers for people awaiting deportation.

How much of an impact will these new laws have against the administration’s push for detention and deportation?

Guests:

King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda

King County Councilmember Jorge Barón

Relevant Links:

KUOW: King County bans immigration detention facilities, joining other Western Washington cities

Seattle Times: King County Council votes to ban ICE from county property

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Front Page: Millionaire's tax, Washington ties to Artemis II, new AI laws

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:42:07 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

GUEST: Austin Jenkins, national reporter covering tech policy in the states for Pluribus News, now part of State Affairs and host of Inside Olympia

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Dredge the Nooksack? The debate continues in Whatcom County

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:32:44 +0000

Late last year, an atmospheric river caused devastating flooding across Western Washington.

Today, some estimate the region-wide damages may be over a billion dollars.

For parts of Whatcom County, it was the second major flood in less than five years. And they are looking for solutions.

New reporting from the New York Times highlights how communities around the Nooksack River are debating how to mitigate damage from future flooding:

Dredge the river of sediment now? Or attempt a more ambitious plan to return the river to its natural state?

In many ways the conversation pits farmers’ and homeowners’ concerns against environmental advocacy and tribal rights.

GUEST: Bernard Mokam is a news assistant for the New York Times

LINK: As Northwest Flooding Worsens, Conflicting Interests Stymie Solutions

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Software development in the age of AI

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:15:25 +0000

“Learn to Code.”

A decade ago that slogan was everywhere as computer programming was seen as a job that not only paid well, but almost guaranteed job security, especially in a tech hub like Seattle.

But in the last four years, more than 700,000 tech workers have been laid off.

And while overhiring during the pandemic, and rising interest rates, are believed to have sparked most of these layoffs, another issue is changing coding forever – artificial intelligence.

GUEST: Clive Thompson is a tech and science writer who recently spoke with more than 70 software developers for the New York Times magazine about how AI is reshaping the future.

The piece is called “Coding After Coders: The End of Computer Programming as We Know It”

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Seattle approved higher pay for gig workers. So why didn't their pay change that much?

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:24:21 +0000

A couple years ago, Seattle passed a law to pay delivery drivers more for their labor.

The policy guaranteed these gig workers minimum compensation. The idea was to protect people working for apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash.

…. And it stirred up some big reactions.

Delivery companies protested the change. Restaurant owners said the policy hurt business. And some City Councilmembers considered rolling the law back just a few months after it went into effect.

After all that fuss…. researchers have found that the pay for these drivers hasn’t actually changed that much.

Guest:

Andrew Garin, an Associate Professor of Economics at Carnegie Mellon University.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Front Page: TSA funding, the future of mail-in ballots, and the Crosslake Connection

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:19:04 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

GUEST: Congresswoman Suzan DelBene

RELATED LINKS:

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Mariners' opening weekend brings feelings of enthusiasm, expectation, and JOY!

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:38:29 +0000

It’s Opening Day at T-Mobile Park.

In just hours, Mariners fans will be back in the stands, ready to cheer on the team as they look to improve on last year’s record-breaking playoff run. The M’s won the AL West, but fell agonizingly short of the World Series…

It’s an interesting feeling, being a Mariners fan right now. First of all, our nachos float in a souvenir ferry boat container.

SECONDLY, our expectations are really high! Gone are the days of the tried and true “well, hopefully we’ll make the playoffs.”

NOW, the faithful are expecting greatness, we’ve SEEN how good this team can be, and we’re ready for more…

Here to either temper our expectations -or- bolster our enthusiasm, maybe even make us a bit delusional, is editor-in-chief of Lookout Landing

GUEST: Kate Preusser

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup for Mar 27-Apr 1

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:16:31 +0000

It's beautiful here in the U-District, and as it is when it's nice outside, we want to go do stuff this weekend!

As we do every Thursday, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with all the events fit to print and worthy of your excitement!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Meet the Seattle woman whose $21,684 towing bill inspired a new film with Rose Byrne

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:30:41 +0000

Amanda Ogle's car got stolen in 2017, and she fought for over a year to get it back from a Seattle towing company. Her bill? $21,684.

Ogle was unhoused at the time, so her 1991 Camry wasn’t just a way to get around; it was her home.

Her case attracted coverage in The Seattle Times and elsewhere, and now her saga is the plot of a movie, Tow, starring Rose Byrne.

Guests: Amanda Ogle, her child Avery Ogle and her lawyer Kevin Eggers, who are all portrayed in the film.

A $21,634 bill? How a homeless woman fought her way out of tow-company hell

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The Seattle SuperSonics and why "the king of the latte missed out huge"

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 23:09:48 +0000

Just this morning, the NBA Board of Governors approved exploring two possible expansion teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.

Yes, you’re allowed to squeal, but listen carefully: this is not a done deal, the team is not back yet.

But here's why one sportswriter (and Sonics enthusiast) won't be apologizing to any Thunder fans in Oklahoma City anytime soon.

Guest

Danny O'Neil, sportswriter

Related Links

OKC wants apology before giving back Sonics history? Are you kidding? - The News Tribune

The Dang Apostrophe (Danny's newsletter)

NBA owners vote to explore Vegas, Seattle expansion bids - ESPN

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How Bellevue's Ned Brower got from real-life nursing to 'The Pitt'

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 23:50:58 +0000

If you watch HBO's hit series "The Pitt', you'll actually see a real-life nurse on screen: Ned Brower. He plays nurse Jesse Van Horn.

Brower is an actor with real-life ER experience.

Two careers are usually enough for most people. But he's also a musician. He started working as an EMT and later became a nurse after making his name with the band Rooney.

Brower’s new project is the electro-pop band, Bloodwerk. Listen to one of their singles, Truth Will Tell, here.

Guest

Ned Brower, nurse, actor and musician

Related Links

‘The Pitt’ star Ned Brower strikes balance between nursing and acting - The Seattle Times

On ‘The Pitt,’ Ned Brower’s Nurse Jesse Has Captured the Hearts of Fans — Now He Wants Their Ears - Rolling Stone

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why Sea-Tac has been spared insanely long TSA lines...so far

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 22:56:16 +0000

From New York to Phoenix, at least fourteen major airports across the country will see ICE agents deployed today, according to White House border Czar Tom Homan.

The immigration agents are being sent to bolster TSA staffing amid an ongoing partial federal government shutdown.

In many places, that has led to security checkpoint lines that stretch for blocks and have travelers waiting hours to get to their flights.

But it’s been a different picture at SEA Airport, at least for now.

Guest:

Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho

Related links:

Support SEA TSA Workers During the Government Shutdown! - gofundme

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Hear It Again: This researcher is working on a fentanyl vaccine to curb overdoses and addiction

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:32:51 +0000

Washington, like the entire country, has been hit hard by fentanyl.

in 2025, King County has recorded more than 650 overdose deaths involving the synthetic opioid, which can be 50 times stronger than heroin.

650 is a devastating number but it’s actually down from a peak in 2023, when more than 1,000 people died from fentanyl-related overdoses in the county. The drop mirrors a downward trend that we’ve seen across the entire country…

But the crisis is still overwhelming many communities.

A biotech company called ARMR Sciences is hoping to solve at least one piece of this very complicated puzzle: Instead of reversing these overdoses, they want to stop them from happening in the first place... through a fentanyl vaccine.

This segment first aired in December of 2025.

Also - We wanted to share a response we got from a listener about our update on Kratom.

In case you missed it, Kratom is a plant from Southeast Asia that can have psychoactive effects. You’ve probably seen the signs for it - they’re plastered on just about every smoke shop in the city.

We previously spoke with UW Medicine researcher Caleb Banta Green about what we know about kratom.

And we replayed a short bit of that conversation last week in an update…. Because Spokane and Spokane Valley recently banned the sale of the substance.

We also asked you to give us your thoughts on Kratom and whether it should be a banned substance.

Erik from Bothell responded with a really interesting personal take on the substance, and its effects.

GUESTS:

Dr. Colin Haile, a research associate professor at the University of Houston and he’s also one of the co-founders of ARMR Sciences.
Erik from Bothell

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: The Return of the Seattle Supersonics, reconsidering Cesar Chavez's recognition, and the Light Rail heads across Lake Washington

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:26:54 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

GUEST: Mike Lewis - Freelance Journalist

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Hear It Again: Seattle's first Thai coffee shop

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:26:50 +0000

Seattleites can now buy drinks from the city’s first Thai coffee shop: Nudibranch Coffee, which opened its doors on Capitol Hill in February.

The shop serves drinks that reflect Thailand’s popular flavors and hot climate. We're talking tangerine-iced Americanos and Coconut Clouds (the latter has coconut water, espresso and sweet cream floated on top).

Before the shop officially opened its doors, we were able to steal some time from the busy owners to hear how the vision for Seattle’s first Thai coffee shop came together.

Guests:

Emily Sirisup and Cole Arnesen, two of Nudibranch Coffee's founders

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" for Mar 19-22

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:36:51 +0000

It is GREY and WET here in Western Washington, so let’s get out & do some STUFF this weekend!

As we do every Thursday, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with all the events fit to print and worthy of your excitement!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Mayor Wilson making policy waves, DHS funding is still up in the air, and Venezuela stuns in the World Baseball Classic

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:33:55 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

GUEST: Seattle Times reporter David Kroman

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Meet Brandi Fullwood, the new host of Seattle Eats!

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:29:54 +0000

Listen up food lovers (or KUOW lovers….. You can hear this one, too).

KUOW’s Seattle Eats podcast has a new host. The show covers Seattle’s food scene and digs into topics like the cuisine at the Seahawks’ Lumen Field… the mortadella sandwich renaissance …. and the skyrocketing price tag for coffee.

The show has also gone beyond Seattle, taking listeners to explore Bellevue’s Chinese food scene. And bar hopping in Tacoma.

Now, though, there’ll be a slightly new flavor (ba dum tss), because Brandi Fullwood is taking over hosting duties from Tan Vinh. She sat down with Soundside to talk about stepping into the new role.

Guests:

Brandi Fullwood, the host of Seattle Eats.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Meet the Seattle nonprofit working to help trans people relocate to Washington

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:08:53 +0000

Last month, Kansas passed a law requiring that the gender listed on all driver’s licenses and birth certificates match the person’s sex at birth.

Similar laws have been adopted by other states.

But Kansas is the first state to have made its law retroactive. Meaning that any person who previously changed their gender marker no longer has a valid license or birth certificate. With no grace period. 1,700 Kansans woke up to find their documents were no longer valid.

Invalidating government-issued I.D. is just one of the ways transgender rights have been rolled back by recent state and federal policy changes.

And that’s part of what’s prompting trans people to move to states with more legal protections. Including Washington.

One Seattle nonprofit is working to help trans people living in conservative states to relocate.

Guests:

Adalyn - currently in the process of relocating to Seattle with Traction's help
Michael Woodward - Executive Director of Traction, or “Trans Community Action,” a non-profit based here in Seattle.
Aspen Coyle - Program Manager for Traction’s Project Open Arms, designed to assist trans people moving to Western Washington.

Related Links:

TRACTION website
- How to volunteer with Traction
- Traction events

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renters, pretty soon your lease could say if you're at risk of flooding

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 23:35:58 +0000

It’s only been a few months since historic flooding devastated parts of Western Washington, where affected homeowners are still recovering.

Many renters also suffered losses from the floods. And unlike homeowners, they may have had little idea they were at risk.

In Washington, home sellers are required to tell potential buyers if their properties are located on a flood plain. But landlords don’t have to do the same for renters.

A bill recently passed by state lawmakers could change that, by requiring that rental leases include disclosures if a unit is at risk of flooding.

The bill still needs to be signed by Governor Ferguson. If that happens, landlords will have to add disclosures to leases starting in 2027.

Guests:

Alexis Weisend is a business reporter for the Seattle Times. Her reporting on this gap in renter protection was the inspiration for the legislation.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former WA congressional candidate turned Trump official resigns in protest of Iran war

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:40:55 +0000

Joe Kent, former Washington State congressional candidate and Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned from his position in protest of the Iran war. In his resignation letter to President Trump, Kent said Iran posed no imminent threat to the US and the war serves no benefit to the American people.

He blamed pressure from Israel, and misinformation in the media, which he claimed deceived Trump into striking Iran. This is the first high-profile resignation in the administration tied to the war that is now in its third week. What could this signal both for the war and Trump's as-yet unshakeable base?

Guest: Seattle Times reporter Jim Brunner

Related Articles:

Joe Kent resigns, says Iran posed ‘no imminent threat’

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Author says diversity efforts need to change in the wake of DEI

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:14:30 +0000

The Trump administration is escalating efforts to eliminate “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” programs.

Last Monday, Politico reported that the administration is proposing to change requirements within the General Services Administration so that any entity hoping to receive federal dollars via things like grants, loans, or insurance, would need to fall in line with federal standards that ban DEI based policies and programs.

According to the notice, over 220,000 entities would be impacted by this change.

It’s the latest in a long line of actions by the Trump Administration to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming and policies from both public organizations and private companies.

For many, the moves have been a retreat from the goal of creating more inclusive education and work spaces.

Some argue that DEI programs were flawed to begin with.

Guest:

Dr. Ralina L. Joseph is Vice Provost of Inclusive Excellence and Professor of African American Studies at UCLA. Her newest book is “Racial Exhaustion: how to move through racism in the wake of DEI”.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: Soundside listeners sound off about the Millionaire's Tax, the potential return of the Sonics, and a Golden night at the Oscars

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:19:00 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

GUEST: Melissa Santos - Axios

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A privacy advocate reflects on 30 years of fighting the good (digital) fight

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:03:03 +0000

Cindy Cohn can remember using punched cards for computing during her college years in Iowa. She can tell you about watching the rise of the internet and home computing with her techie friends in San Francisco.

She can also recall the times she’s stood in court, working to protect someone’s right to put encrypted code on the internet, or the fight against the NSA’s mass surveillance system after 9/11 and the Patriot Act.

Cohn has led the Electronic Frontier Foundation for 25 years. That’s a non-profit that advocates for privacy and free speech.

This year, she announced she is leaving her role, but not before putting out a memoir she hopes will inspire others to take up the work…

GUEST: Cindy Cohn, author of Privacy’s Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance.

RELATED LINKS:

Cindy Cohn | Town Hall Seattle - Tues 3/17
Privacy's Defender - Cindy's Book
Cindy Cohn Is Leaving the EFF, but Not the Fight for Digital Rights | WIRED
The Big Idea: Cindy Cohn

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 3/12-15

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:28:13 +0000

How are YOU dealing with the time change? For many of us, it has felt like we’ve been moving through a gelatinous cube all week, but hey!! The Weekend is here!

Let’s shake off the funk, brave the weather, and go do something fun!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS:

Also, let us know - where do you fall in the Quilters vs Golfers venn diagram? AND where is your favorite pie in the region? Email us! - soundside@kuow.org

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's 2026 Oscars Preview!

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:21:28 +0000

The time has finally come: the glitz, the glamor, the many prediction market bets you can place about who will have the most glitz and glamor - The Oscars are this Sunday.

The Academy is expected to hand some sparkly hardware to an auteur director with an expansive vision and biting political critique.

The question is, will it be Ryan Coogler for his historic, lyrical vampire story, Sinners?

Or... Will it be Paul Thomas Anderson, the film bro favorite with a sprawling political thriller about resisting fascism – One Battle After Another?

Sorry to F1 stans but THAT is the race to watch…

GUEST: Seattle film and television critic Chase Hutchinson.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Peptides are everywhere. What are they?

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:44:10 +0000

These days, many internet influencers are promoting a wellness trend that sounds like something you might remember from high school bio: peptides.

They’re being sold as ways to improve skin, reverse aging – basically, peptides have become THE answer to your choice of wellness issues.

But most of what’s hawked on Instagram or TikTok is not approved by the FDA. .

That could change: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently said on Joe Rogan’s podcast that he wants to relax restrictions on many peptides.

In the meantime, people are accessing them through methods that some experts say are…. dangerous.

Guests:

Alex Hogan, a senior multimedia producer at STAT News and the host of STATus Report

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teenage girls keep tearing their ACLs. It doesn't have to be that way.

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:45:33 +0000

According to reporting in the New York Times Magazine, young female athletes are 3 to 6 times more likely than boys to tear their ACLs.

And the recovery period can be grueling. Surgery is usually involved, rehab can take a year or longer. Which is a lot of time, at that age, for players to remain on the sideline. But there are effective ways to prevent so many ACL tears. For example, FIFA, soccer’s governing body, has signed off on a series of exercises and warmups that have proven to reduce injury risk.

Yet that injury prevention protocol hasn’t taken off in girls sports. Even though women’s sports are exploding in popularity, and more girls are playing sports, plenty of coaches and players don’t even know it’s possible to prevent these injuries.

Why do so many teenage girl athletes tear their ACLs? And why do coaches, parents and players often fail to do the prevention work, strength exercises, etc. that might help protect vulnerable limbs?

Guest:

Seattle high schooler and soccer player Edie Welch
Reporter Craig Welch

Related stories:

Why Are So Many Teen Girls Still Tearing Their A.C.L.s? - The New York Times Magazine

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes-

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A ferry ride and an unsettling offer launches us into the new novel, "Whidbey"

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:34:30 +0000

It's not a spoiler to say someone gets murdered in T Kira Madden's new book, "Whidbey." But what happens next? You'll have to read and find out.

Whidbey is expansive, detailed and visceral. It makes readers wonder about questions of justice, forgiveness, belief and unconditional love.

We talk with Madden about how the island inspired her new literary thriller.

Guest

T Kira Madden, author of "Whidbey"

Related Links
Somebody Killed Her Assailant. Was Justice Served? - The New York Times

T Kira Madden Casts a Spell - Elle

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes-

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The push to protect polyamorous families in the Puget Sound

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:25:07 +0000

Last month, Olympia became the first city in Washington, and one of just a handful in the country, to pass explicit protections for polyamorous families.

The city passed two ordinances in late February that establish protections for people in diverse family and relationship structures.

Supporters say the changes are aimed at protecting these community members against discrimination and unfair housing practices.

Similar efforts are underway in multiple cities across the west coast.

More than 60% of people who responded to a 2025 survey on non-monogamy said they experienced discrimination or stigma in at least one domain, like healthcare or employment.

We spoke to an advocate who backed these ordinances -- and who's hoping to bring similar change to Seattle.

Guests:

Jessa Davis is the executive director for the Seattle Coalition for Family and Relationship Equity

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Congressman Adam Smith on war with Iran

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:35:29 +0000

Residents of Tehran were warned to stay indoors yesterday [SUN], as black smoke blanketed parts of the Iranian capital city. It comes after Israel attacked dozens of fuel depots in the city of 10 million people.

The U.S. and Israel continued to launch airstrikes against Iran over the weekend.

And the conflict continues to impact many nations. Today, NATO member Turkey said it shot down a second Iranian missile.

Closer to home: two men have been charged with attempting to support the Islamic state after they tried to set off homemade bombs at a far-right protest near Gracie Mansion, the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

None of the devices detonated.

Obviously, this continues to be a fast-moving situation. This morning, Congressman Adam Smith sat down with Soundside to share his thoughts on what’s been happening so far in Iran and across the globe.

Guest:

Adam Smith represents Washington's 9th congressional district and is the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: Gas Prices, the Millionaire's Tax, Daylight Savings Time, and the Opera

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:07:38 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: KUOW Politics Editor, Cat Smith

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 3/5-8

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:02:10 +0000

We’ve come to the end of another week here at Soundside, the end of Winter is right around the corner, and there is a LOT to do before we ‘Spring Forward’ on Sunday.

Let’s talk about it! Here’s Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthropic–Pentagon contract dispute raises questions about AI's use in the military

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:19:12 +0000

Hours before the United States launched strikes on Iran, there was another big story at the Pentagon:

The Department of Defense designated Anthropic, the U.S.-based AI company, a supply chain risk. This was shortly after President Trump ordered all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic technology.

The announcement came as DoD and the AI company failed to reach a deal on how Anthropic technology could be used in classified networks.

The sticking points in contract negotiations? Two use cases: Mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.

Anthropic had a $200 million contract with the Pentagon – and its Claude AI model was reportedly used in the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Out of the shambles of the Anthropic negotiation.The Pentagon quickly announced a deal with its rival, Open AI.

The contract dispute points to the increasing role of AI in the military and what safeguards may exist for its use both domestically and in war.

Guest:

Bill Howe, associate professor at the University of Washington’s Information School. He runs UW’s Responsibility in AI Systems and Experiences center

Relevant Links:

NYT: How Talks Between Anthropic and the Defense Dept. Fell Apart

WSJ: What’s Really at Stake in the Fight Between Anthropic and the Pentagon

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What a new CEO might signal about XBox's future

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 23:47:41 +0000

There’s a major reshuffling of leadership happening at one of the videogame industry’s top companies.

After 38 years at Microsoft, Phil Spencer is stepping away from his role as CEO of Microsoft Gaming.

His was an incredibly long tenure, and it’s leaving many to wonder what it means for XBox, Microsoft Gaming, and gamers alike.

GUEST: Todd Bishop - Co-Founder of Geekwire

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: the latest from Washington's legislature

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 23:43:15 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest:

Paul Queary - Editor and Publisher at The Washington Observer

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Will the WNBA season get delayed?

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:18:44 +0000

WNBA fans, mark your calendars for March 10th. That's a key deadline that could determine when the teams actually hit the court.

If the league and players can’t shake hands on a new collective bargaining agreement, or CBA, by next Tuesday, the 2026 season could be delayed.

The Seattle Storm's Nneka Ogwumike is president of the WNBA players' union, and she's led the union as labor negotiations have progressed for over a year. The two sides are months past their original deadline for a deal.

We talk about the key issues driving bargaining with a reporter covering the league.

Guest

Sabreena Merchant, staff writer, The Athletic

Related Links

WNBA’s new CBA offer boosts pay, fast-tracks max deals for stars like Caitlin Clark, AP source says - The Associated Press

Kelsey Plum sees WNBA's offer as a 'win,' but CBA talks continue - ESPN

What a March CBA deal would mean for WNBA free agency, expansion and the draft - The Athletic

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The big risk to the global economy hidden in the supply chain of semiconductors

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:06:54 +0000

Much of your technology - your phone, your kid’s ipad, your electric car… wouldn’t function without computer chips.

They’re basically tiny pieces of silicon semiconductor wafers that drive our tech-focused economy.

And their supply chain is highly centralized. Most chips come from just one country, Taiwan. And Taiwan is in a very delicate geopolitical position.

China has claimed sovereignty over the island democracy since the founding of the PRC, in 1949.

If China ever decided to exert its claims using military force – that could put chip production in danger. Potentially leading to the largest economic downfall since the Great Depression.

According to documents obtained by the New York Times, it’s an issue tech companies here in the US have known about for years, and have largely tried to ignore.

Guest:

Tripp Mickle, Silicon Valley reporter for the New York Times

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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It wasn't just Bill Gates. Epstein had ties to several Microsoft executives.

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 22:51:13 +0000

Bill Gates has been under scrutiny since the Justice Department released files that put his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein on display.

….. But these files also show that Epstein’s connections within the company Gates co-founded, Microsoft, were more widespread than previously known.

Epstein built relationships with several of Microsoft’s top executives. He traded gifts and advice with them, and even invited some to his island.

And, through these big players, Epstein also got access to the inner workings of the company.

Guests:

Karen Weise, a technology correspondent for The New York Times who’s based in Seattle

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The antifa spy inside a Washington white nationalist group

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:16:58 +0000

There are many people who would describe themselves as resisting fascism.

But, for a small group, “antifa” is more than just a label.

In his new book, journalist Christopher Mathias reports that for self-identified members of antifa, the bulk of their work actually involves infiltrating right-wing extremist groups.

Often, this takes the form of intelligence gathering online. In some cases it means disguising themselves for in-person operations: becoming members, showing up, getting peoples’ real names and plans.

One man did just that in the Seattle area. Mathias tells his story in a new book.

Guest

Christopher Mathias, journalist covering antifa and the far right, author, "To Catch A Fascist: The Fight to Expose the Radical Right"

Related Link

What’s behind the White House’s anti-antifa order - Soundside, KUOW

White nationalists claimed WA man doxxed them. How a judge responded - Tacoma News Tribune

Antifa used to unmask neo-Nazis, now it’s exposing ICE: ‘Predators don’t get anonymity’ - The Guardian

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle area Iranians process the start of war at vigil for massacred protesters

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 23:02:47 +0000

Local Iranian community members gathered at a vigil Sunday afternoon at Seattle City Hall to share art, music, dance and healing conversation.

The stated purpose of the event was to memorialize those who lost their lives during the Islamic Republic’s deadly crackdown on protesters in January, which had a death toll estimated in the tens of thousands.

With the U.S. and Israel striking Iran over the weekend, the event also provided a place to process the beginning of war.

The event was organized by the Seattle Isfahan Sister City Advocacy group.

ALSO: analysis of the widening conflict in the Middle East with Reşat Kasaba, professor at the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies.

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sound Transit CEO on the Crosslake Connection, the FIFA World Cup, and more

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:23:16 +0000

The Sound Transit system is updating, maybe you've heard.

After three new light rail stations opened up south of Seattle in December, the light rail is set to start running across Lake Washington about a month from now.

But budget issues may complicate plans for the future lines. We'll get into that and much more.

Guest:

Dow Constantine, CEO of Sound Transit

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" for 2/27-3/1

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:00:00 +0000

It’s the FINAL Thursday of February, and MARCH starts this weekend.

Two of our Soundside producers are celebrating their birthdays this weekend, (Happy Birthday Maleeha Syed and Gabi Healy!!)

Women’s hockey is BACK at Climate Pledge Arena, AND it’s the final days of Black History Month, so let’s go out & do some stuff!!

Here’s Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows to get us caught up on all that’s happening!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask a Doctor: Why go to the doc when you could use a chatbot?

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:25:36 +0000

These days people are using AI chatbots for everything.

These chatbots have a wealth of information at their metaphorical fingertips. But the accuracy of the information that they offer us is, well, questionable.

But it makes sense why some people turn to AI for medical advice.

They’re usually free, which gives them an upper hand when healthcare in the United States is so expensive.

They’re also easy to access, so people can get their questions answered immediately, instead of waiting for an opening at their doctor’s office.

And they’re trained to be empathic, which is especially appealing to patients who don’t feel valued in medical settings.

In this "Ask a Doctor" segment, we explore the world of health advice and chatbots with two medical professionals.

Guests:

Angad Singh is a family medicine physician. He's also an Associate Chief Clinical Information Officer and Clinical Associate Professor at UW Medicine.
Danielle Bitterman is an assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and Clinical Lead for Data Science and AI at Mass General Brigham.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: the drama behind Seattle's next City Light CEO, why Washington is moving away from right on red, and more

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:57:46 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest:

Jane C Hu - journalist and host of City Cast Seattle

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A KUOW journalist returns to the story that rocked Garfield High School when she was a student

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 02:31:08 +0000

In 1999, student journalists at Garfield High School heard a rumor. It was about a beloved teacher named Tom Hudson.

He taught biology. He ran a popular outdoors program. And, according to the rumor, he sexually abused students.

The journalists broke the news of these allegations for their school newspaper…. And chaos unfolded.

The reporters faced pressure to step down from the paper. Their schoolmates turned on them. Their teacher was placed on leave.

And, just a few months after everything blew up, Mr. Hudson died by suicide.

“Adults in the Room” is a new series from KUOW that explores the questions that went unanswered 27 years ago: Did Mr. Hudson really abuse these students? Or did these young journalists act irresponsibly, at the expense of a teacher’s life?

Guests:

Isolde Raftery is a managing editor at KUOW. She's also the host of “Adults in the Room" and
one of the student journalists who broke the news on these allegations at Garfield.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A view from Mexico's capital, and the politics behind the country's battle with drug cartels

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:13:38 +0000

Stability appears to have returned in Mexico after days of violence.

On Sunday a Mexican military raid killed cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, more commonly known as El Mencho.

In response, members of his Jalisco New Generation Cartel created havoc throughout the nation - lighting cars and buildings on fire, ransacking businesses, and setting up blockades along major roadways throughout the country.

According to authorities at least 62 people have died since Sunday - including cartel members, security officers, and civilians.

Flights to and from Seatac to various airports in Mexico were cancelled, as the US government recommended that all US citizens and residents shelter in place.

Guest:

Vanessa Freije is an Associate Professor of International Studies, and she’s the chair of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Washington. She's currently based in Mexico City.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: TSA pre-check, a potential Millionaire's Tax, and the latest with the SAVE act

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:39:15 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest:

Seattle Times reporter Jim Brunner

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At Washington State Penitentiary, incarcerated journalists find connection through a news magazine

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:32:04 +0000

Every month at the Washington State Penitentiary, a group of incarcerated journalists meets up to pick a theme for their news magazine.

The paper is called Top of the Mountain. It details the goings on in the prison as well as recipes for the food you can buy at the commissary, advice from long time residents, and interviews with the formerly incarcerated.

Top of The Mountain started after three people committed suicide in the unit. The goal was to be a way to form connection. It has grown into a labor of love.

We spoke with the founder of Top of The Mountain and a reporter there about the paper and what it means to the prison community

Guests:

Jennifer Jaylee, founder of Top of the Mountain

Jeffrey McKee, writer for Top of the Mountain

Relevant Links:

Prison Journalism Project: My Job at a Washington State Prison Newsmagazine

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New play looks at Bruce Lee's formative years in Seattle

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:53:27 +0000

Bruce Lee wasn’t born an icon. First, he was a baby, born in San Francisco and then a kid in Hong Kong who followed his father into acting.

And it wasn’t a straight line from child star to groundbreaking Hollywood action star who broke stereotypes about Asian Americans.

Lee’s adult life in America started when he moved to Seattle, still a teenager – where he studied at the University of Washington, washed dishes at a restaurant, and eventually opened his own gung fu schools. He also met his wife, Linda, once a martial arts student.

His five years in Seattle were formative for Lee both in terms of learning about America, but also about himself and honing his cross-cultural philosophy.

That’s the subject of a new play at Seattle Children’s Theater called Young Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story, it runs through March 22nd.

Guest:

Shannon Lee, founder and chair of the Bruce Lee Foundation and author of Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee

Relevant Links:

Seattle Children's Theater page

Bruce Lee Foundation website

Seattle Times: Seattle Children’s Theatre Bruce Lee play fights on after Kennedy Center canceling

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King County Prosecutors Office prepares for a potential immigration enforcement surge

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:22:22 +0000

Many federal immigration officers are reportedly in the process of packing up and leaving the Twin Cities. Border Czar Tom Homan said Sunday that Operation Metro Surge is drawing down.

The months-long campaign led to intense protest. Two American citizens were shot and killed by immigration enforcement officers during the operation.

Local prosecutors have been trying to investigate those shootings but they say they have been rebuffed by the federal government.

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said it was denied access to evidence by the FBI meanwhile, Hennepin County prosecutors in Minneapolis are crowdsourcing evidence from people who videotaped one of the shootings.

Like local officials everywhere, King County is navigating a shifting relationship with the federal government and the possibility that an immigration enforcement surge could happen here.

Guests:

Leesa Manion, King County Prosecuting Attorney

Gary Ernsdorff, Supervising Attorney at the Special Operations Unit

Relevant Links:

KCPAO: Manion Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting King County from Unlawful Deployment of ICE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Feb 19-22

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:40:49 +0000

Thursdays... What a concept!

Let’s get out of the house this weekend & do some fun stuff!

“What fun stuff?” you may ask… and with that answer is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the Forest Service knew about PFAS in some gear for wildland firefighters

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:11:39 +0000

Fighting wildland fires is dangerous enough. The smoke exposure, changing conditions and mental health risks can be daunting, for even experienced firefighters.

But federal wildland firefighters across the country were also wearing pants containing potentially dangerous PFAS chemicals, according to reporting this month from ProPublica.

Officials at the U.S. Forest Service knew about that risk for years, before it became public knowledge.

In Washington, fire seasons are starting earlier and lasting longer and just last year, western Washington experienced its largest fire in a generation.

Reporter Abe Streep covered all of this for ProPublica, and he talked with KUOW's Paige Browning.

“It Feels Impossible to Stay”: The U.S. Needs Wildland Firefighters More Than Ever, but the Federal Government Is Losing Them

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask a Doctor: All things colon cancer

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:34:05 +0000

Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths for Americans under the age of 50, according to a paper published last month in JAMA.

This research backs up a trend that doctors have been seeing for a while now: Colon cancer isn’t just a disease that affects older people.

Just last week, James Van Der Beek, who played Dawson on “Dawson’s Creek” died of colorectal cancer. He was 48 years old.

In the past few years, more health organizations have followed the American Cancer Society in lowering the recommended age for colon cancer screenings from 50 to 45 years old.

And more recently, there’s been a trend online that encourages people to start “fibermaxxing”... which is just a fancy way of telling them to eat more fiber.

We talk to a doctor about this trend and the symptoms to look out for when it comes to colon cancer.

Guests:

Dr. Rachel Issaka, director of the colorectal cancer screening program for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and UW Medicine

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Seahawks for sale, Seattle's mayor on the state of the city, and future state taxes

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:36:40 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest:

Seattle Times reporter David Kroman

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal government is rolling back greenhouse gas regulations. What's it mean, and what's Washington doing?

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:58:49 +0000

Last week, President Trump announced he was overturning the Environmental Protection Agency’s "endangerment finding.” That finding is a scientific conclusion signed by the EPA in 2009. It determined that greenhouse gases are harmful to people and the environment, and it allowed the EPA to regulate heat trapping emissions like carbon dioxide and methane.

The current Presidential administration says that climate change is a “hoax” and that environmental regulations hinder the economy.

Current EPA head Lee Zeldin is praising the move by Trump. Environmental activists and democratic lawmakers took no time to denounce the decision, saying that it will harm public health and lead to intensifying climate change related catastrophes, such as wildfires, heatwaves, and flooding.

And, of course, there’s a court challenge.

California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that California intends to sue the federal government over this change – potentially leading to a drawn out, years long battle to determine what the EPA can and cannot do when it comes to greenhouse gas regulation. Washington attorney general Nick Brown has promised something similar.

But how could its repeal change climate science and policy in the United States? And what does it mean for Washington?

Guests:

David Battisti - Professor of Atmospheric and Climate Science and Tamaki Endowed Chair at the University of Washington
Former Washington State Governor Jay Inslee

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's going on with the Boeing IMAX Theater?

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:37:22 +0000

Another one of Seattle’s iconic movie theaters has been sold. This time, the Boeing IMAX theater.

The theater’s six story tall and 80 foot wide screen has endeared itself to local movie goers since it opened nearly 30 years ago.

Pacific Science Center sent out an email last week confirming they are selling the Boeing Imax, and a parcel of land equaling nearly a quarter of its footprint at Seattle Center.

The buyer is a familiar neighbor: The Space Needle.

And Space Needle leaders said, through a statement, they intend to keep operating the theater.

GUEST: Chase Hutchinson - Freelance writer & film critic

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You deserve better sex. This UW professor has some suggestions.

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:47:02 +0000

Happy almost-Valentine’s day to all who celebrate.

It’s a time for love, of course. For fancy dinners. Cute notes. And hopefully, for some, a time for intimacy.

We review some of the research, and get some advice, on our burning questions about sex, love and relationships.

Guest

Professor Nicole McNichols, author, You Could Be Having Better Sex: The Definitive Guide to a Happier, Healthier, and Hotter Sex Life, @nicole_thesexprofessor

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Feb 12-16

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:01:43 +0000

What a WEEK!

Are your voices recovering from the Seahawks parade? Or from yelling at the Olympics on t-v like me?

Let’s get out there and do something FUN, or cute and sweet, for Valentine’s Day weekend!

Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows here with almost all of the lovely options we've got for the weekend!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much should we entrust our dating to AI?

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:42:37 +0000

When you use dating apps, there’s a lot of pressure to make an impression in the mere moments you have before someone decides whether you’re worth the effort.

So, as frustrating as it can be, we understand that there’s a fair bit of truth-bending involved in finding love online:

Like pictures with really flattering angles or exaggerations of interests.

All’s fair in love and/or exciting-but-sometimes-brief-and-often-regretted romance.

But is it fair if someone’s using AI to make basic conversation?

A growing number of daters report asking ChatGPT – or one of a flurry of new “AI dating assistant” startups – to craft questions and answers on dating apps.

Was that witty repartee in your DMs generated by a bot? How much has dating been co-opted by digital wingmen, and what does it mean for the future of digital romance?

Guest:

Henry Chandonett, reporter for Business Insider

Relevant Links:

Business Insider: The Rise of the AI Wingman

The Guardian: ‘I realised I’d been ChatGPT-ed into bed’: how ‘Chatfishing’ made finding love on dating apps even weirder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Seahawks Victory Parade Day!

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:38:44 +0000

SEA...HAWKS!

Need we say more? Surely by now, you know that your Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl this year.

KUOW's Noel Gasca was on the scene of the Seahawks Victory Parade in downtown Seattle, she talked with us about what she saw.

Guest

Noel Gasca, reporter, KUOW

Related Links

Seattle's 12s celebrate Super Bowl champion Seahawks

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Valentine's edition with Dan Savage

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:12:43 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest:

Author of the Savage Love column and host of the Savage Lovecast Podcast, Dan Savage

Related Stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reflecting on the legacy of Eddie Bauer

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:36:58 +0000

The retail operator for Eddie Bauer’s North American stores has filed for bankruptcy.

Depending on how things turn out, the outdoor gear brand could see the closure of nearly 200 stores across the United States and Canada. The Seattle Times also reports that the company's store operator plans to close its headquarters in Seattle and lay off 60 workers.

This isn’t the first sign of trouble for the Seattle-based business, which faced bankruptcy proceedings in 2003 and 2009.

This latest filing won’t affect the company’s wholesale, manufacturing or online operations -- so it’s not like the brand’s going away completely.

But the news still feels pretty big….

Because once upon a time, not too long ago, Eddie Bauer was a premiere spot for outdoor gear. It outfitted the first American to summit Mount Everest.

And there was a time when it was quite the fashion statement to walk into work with an Eddie Bauer puffer.

As the company faces an uncertain future, we decided to reflect on its legacy.

Guests:

Clara Berg, a fashion historian and Curator of Collections at MOHAI.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nike's under investigation for allegedly discriminating against white people

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:05:11 +0000

Like many private companies, Nike has implemented diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in its workplace. The Trump Administration has long been a vocal critic of such policies.

On the first day of his second term, President Trump signed an executive order, titled “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.“

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently disclosed it's investigating Nike for “systemic allegations of DEI-related intentional race discrimination” against white workers.

Nike does have regional ties – with headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. But... this is Nike: “Just Do It” and Air Jordans. We’re talking about a global entity, and this investigation could have wide ranging implications for employment practices nationwide.

Guests:

Rebecca Davis O'Brien, a labor reporter at The New York Times

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Evictions cases continue to rise in King County, even as rents stay relatively flat

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:43:43 +0000

Eviction cases hit an all time high in King County last year. It’s the latest data point in an ongoing trend. Since the Covid era eviction moratorium ended in 2022, the number of people facing eviction proceedings has risen every year.

This is happening even as rents have remained relatively flat.

Hanging over all of this is budget tightening in Olympia state lawmakers are planning a multi million dollar cut to legal assistance for tenants.

Are we at a crisis point when it comes to the number of evictions in our state?

Links:

Seattle Times: King County, WA eviction levels hit an all-time high, again

Guest:

Alexis Weisend, real estate reporter at the Seattle Times

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How sports betting has changed the game for fans and athletes

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:05:32 +0000

If you’re a Seahawks fan, Sunday’s big game was glorious domination.

For the rest of the hundred-and-thirty-million plus viewers the defensive showcase was maybe a bit of a snooze.

But football fans had other ways to amp up the excitement:

Betting cold hard cash.

It’s impossible to avoid hearing about betting when you’re watching most sporting events in the US these days -- let alone the biggest game of the year.

According to the American Gambling Association, Americans were expected to wager $1.76 billion dollars on this year’s Super Bowl. That’s a near 27% increase over last year.

Now, sports betting is still illegal in Washington state outside of tribal casinos.

But, as the mobile betting market has expanded legally into more and more states, alternative means for placing bets have become increasingly popular - even in states like Washington.

And according to my next guest, that market isn’t just shaping how we watch the game. It’s changing the game itself.

Guest:

Danny Funt covers sports betting as a contributor at the Washington Post, and he’s the author of the new book “Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling”

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Audio Postcard: The Seattle Seahawks win another Super Bowl

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:55:24 +0000

It’s a whirlwind of emotions this today for Seahawks players and fans.

Seattle wasn’t supposed to dominate its division, or field another historic defense, or win the Super Bowl for the second time in team history.

But that’s exactly what happened this season, culminating in yesterday’s 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots.

From the trophy presentation at Levi's Stadium to the triumphant confines of Seattle bars … KUOW’s Natalie Akane Newcomb brings us this audio postcard.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Seahawks are Super Bowl champs, Bad Bunny riled the right, what all those AI ads were about

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:36:37 +0000

At the start of every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: KUOW Politics Editor Cat Smith

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle, you're about to get a Thai coffee shop

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:05:35 +0000

This weekend, Seattleites will be able to buy drinks from the city’s first Thai coffee shop: Nudibranch Coffee, which is set to open its doors Feb. 7 on Capitol Hill.

The shop will serve drinks that reflect Thailand’s popular flavors and hot climate. Nudibranch also plans to host low-cost community events at the shop, like guest chef nights and gallery walks.

This cafe-slash-community-space is just a few days away from opening its doors...

But we were able to steal some time from the busy owners to hear how the vision for Seattle’s first Thai coffee shop came together.

Guests:

Emily Sirisup and Cole Arnesen, two of Nudibranch Coffee's founders

Related links:

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Feb 5-8

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 21:20:19 +0000

Every Thursday, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows brings you the highlights for how to spend your weekend... And there are a couple of big events happening THIS WEEKEND, right?

Maybe something sports related?

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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To bus or not to bus? That's the 'Revive I-5' question

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:05:30 +0000

From now through 2027, various lanes over the Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle will close, making an already-challenging traffic situation worse.

WSDOT has encouraged travelers to Seattle, especially commuters, to consider using the bus instead of clogging the freeway with more cars.

But that might be a hard sell. Perennial concerns about safety, reliability, and access have plagued King County Metro, and other transit options.

And elsewhere in the city, Mayor Katie Wilson has called for a dedicated lane for the crosstown Route 8 bus.

We're talking about it all, plus putting your questions (and complaints) to the general manager of King County Metro.

Guest

Michelle Allison, general manager, King County Metro

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: an on the ground look at Minnesota, and Bill Gates in the Epstein files

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 23:26:17 +0000

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: Axios Twin Cities newsletter co-author Kyle Stokes

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Should WA restrict access to porn sites based on age?

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 23:59:52 +0000

Should you have to show your ID to watch porn online?

A proposal introduced in the State Legislature this month would require it.

If it passes, Washington will join over 20 states that already require age verification.

Critics have said the law makes users vulnerable to data breaches and that content about LGBTQ people can be flagged as sexual, instead of educational, among other issues.

So far, the bill hasn’t made it out of the House Consumer Protection and Business committee. But meanwhile, the core question remains: What to do about the access kids have to harmful sexual materials on an ever-changing internet?

Guests

Shauna Sowersby, state politics reporter at The Seattle Times

Nicole McNichols, associate teaching professor at the University of Washington, @nicole_thesexprofessor

Links

HB 2112 - 2025-26, establishing an age minimum to access certain adult content online

WA age verification bill targets access to online adult content - The Seattle Times

The Age-Gated Internet Is Sweeping the US. Activists Are Fighting Back - Jason Parham, Wired

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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An investigation into the use of spit hoods in medical settings

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 23:19:23 +0000

In a medical setting, if staffers think a patient is violent or threatening, they may restrain them to a hospital bed. Or inject them with a sedative.

In some cases, they might also use a spit hood.

This is a mesh or cloth covering that goes over a patient’s head. It was patented for law enforcement to use during arrests. Critics of these devices consider them dehumanizing…. And in some cases, dangerous.

In the past decade, at least five people in the United States died in medical care incidents involving spit hoods. And the FDA doesn’t classify them as medical devices, which means they aren’t subjected to safety regulations.

This all comes to us in a new investigation from The Seattle Times. The reporting looks at how spit hoods are used in medical facilities across the country.

Guests:

Hannah Furfaro, a mental health reporter at the Seattle Times and the journalist behind “Shrouded in Secrecy.”

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What are your rights if Border Patrol wants to search your phone?

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 22:05:38 +0000

You’ve heard a lot over the past few weeks about federal agents and how they’re policing the public in Minneapolis.

But let’s talk about how people in Washington are currently most likely to interact with Customs and Border Protection: At the border.

At those crossings, there is the potential, for your phone, or other devices, to be searched.

Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection reported a 16 percent increase in searches of digital devices compared with 2024.

Maybe you’re planning to head to Canada for a weekend trip, or maybe to the warm weather of Mexico during our dark and dreary winter,

Should you expect your phone to be searched at the border? And what steps can you take to protect your data?

GUEST: Gabe Castro-Root, New York Times

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Seattle's new Superintendent on recent shooting, school funding, and more

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:52:57 +0000

Seattle Public Schools has a new Superintendent.

Ben Shuldiner was the only finalist for the position, and the Seattle School Board unanimously approved his contract back in November.

On Sunday he stepped into the role early after two teenagers, who are believed to be SPS students, were shot and killed at a bus stop in Rainier Valley. The shooting happened near both South Shore PK-8, and Rainier Beach High School.

Soundside sat down with Shuldiner to get his response to the shooting, and to preview his priorities for leading the largest school district in Washington.

Guest:

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner

Related stories:

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Front Page: Rainier Beach teens fatally shot, ICE protests in Seattle; Antonio Mays Jr settlement, Zach Top wins a Grammy

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:40:05 +0000

At the start of every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest: KUOW Reporter, Producer, and Documentary Podcast Creator Will James

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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'The Chronology of Water' is a new film based on this Oregon author's memoir

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:53:03 +0000

“The Chronology of Water” is a new movie that dives into the story of a woman’s life, told through scattered memories.

It’s the first feature film directed by Kristen Stewart. And it tackles heavy themes that the protagonist experiences firsthand, like sexual abuse and drug addiction.

But it also explores the beauty in that life, like the escape she finds in competitive swimming, which lands her a college scholarship… And later, a passion for storytelling that she discovers in a creative-writing class.

“The Chronology of Water” may be a work of art, but it isn’t a work of fiction.

It’s adapted from the real-life story of Lidia Yuknavitch, an Oregon author who published a memoir with the same title in 2011.

The film is screening at SIFF on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1.

Guests:

Lidia Yuknavitch, the author of "The Chronology of Water"

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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It's not just the Ship Canal: Another part of I-5 needs a major makeover

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:27:22 +0000

The last few weeks, Seattle commuters have been weathering I-5 maintenance on the Ship Canal Bridge. The traffic is bad, the timeline is long … yeah, it’s not fun.

Maybe this will help ease the frustration while you wait in traffic. It could be worse: we could need a whole new bridge.

That’s the situation for the I-5 span over the Columbia River, at the border of Washington and Oregon. Parts of the crossing are over 100 years old, and local leaders have discussed a replacement for decades.

Planning between Washington and Oregon started twenty years ago … the project hasn’t broken ground yet, and cost estimates have recently ballooned.

But the I-5 bridge replacement got good news from the Coast Guard this month that could make it a tad less pricey.

Guests:

Carley Francis, Interim Program Administrator for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup - Jan 29-Feb 1

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:56:37 +0000

We’re a week away from the start of the OLYMPICS! It’s the final week of January, and I’m amazed that it feels simultaneously like New Year’s Eve was just yesterday, but also that this month has felt like an entire year long.

Let’s do something FUN this weekend! Here with all the stuff to do is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle's City Attorney on ICE, drug prosecutions, and working through a case backlog

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:28:07 +0000

Seattle’s new city attorney, Erika Evans has been on the job for a little over 3 weeks – one of several newly elected officials moving the city in a more progressive direction.

We’re discuss a range of topics - from drug laws and diversion, to federal immigration enforcement in the city.

And a quick reminder about the city attorney’s duties: They enforce Seattle’s laws, prosecute misdemeanor crimes and defend the city in court.

Guest:

Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans

Related storieS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"This is all designed to supress our rights," Rep. Jayapal reflects on immigration operation in Minnesota

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 22:27:01 +0000

The Trump Administration might be dialing down some of its most confrontational immigration enforcement operations focused on the Twin Cities.

Alex Pretti, a 37 year old VA nurse, was shot and killed on Saturday by Customs and Border Patrol agents. It was the second deadly shooting in one month by immigration officers in Minnesota.

Federal officials said Pretti “approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun.” Pretti did have a gun on him, which he was legally licensed to carry. Video of the scene does not show him brandishing the weapon and he appeared to be disarmed before he was shot by CBP.

After several members of his administration spent the weekend defending the agents’ actions, President Trump on Monday relieved Border Patrol’s Gregory Bovino of command duties in Minnesota and put border czar Tom Homan in charge.

Governor Tim Walz said in a statement that he spoke with Homan this morning and they agreed to the need for “an ongoing dialogue.”

Since the Pretti killing, some Republicans in congress have signaled rare criticism of the President’s policies. Some called for an independent investigation and appear to be pushing to de-escalate the situation in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, there is a showdown in Congress this week over funding for DHS – fueled by outrage over the events in Minneapolis – and it’s all leading to a potential federal government shutdown looming on Friday.

Guest:

Rep. Pramila Jayapal - U.S. Representative from Washington's 7th District

Relevant Links:

NPR: In the wake of Alex Pretti's death, Congress appears on track for a partial shutdown

NPR: Tensions escalate in Minnesota after another killing

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can local police arrest ICE if they violate someone’s civil rights?

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 22:08:47 +0000

Minnesota courts are reportedly overwhelmed by the number of civil rights lawsuits being filed by immigrants and observers interacting with ICE and CBP during “Operation Metro Surge.”

Politico has documented more than 2,400 cases across the country, in which judges have rejected the administration’s detention policy.

Across our own state local police departments have put out statements about what they can and cannot do when ICE comes to their communities.

In the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd, many Police Departments were challenged to renew their focus on civil rights – to avoid the kinds of shootings, injuries, and lawsuits we see around ICE and Border Patrol right now.

According to reporting by The Atlantic and the Wall Street Journal, that’s led to a rift between federal agents and police officers, as they see ICE using tactics previously denigrated by the Justice Department in the wake of George Floyd.

But what are police officers able to do when confronting potential civil rights violations by federal agents?

Guest:

Tahir Duckett is the Executive Director of the Center for Innovations in Community Safety at Georgetown Law. The center runs the ABLE project, which teaches police how to intervene during civil rights violations by fellow law enforcement officers

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask a Doctor: To breastfeed or not to breastfeed?

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:15:15 +0000

The federal government wants parents to breastfeed more.

In a press conference last month, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. argued that infant formula falls short in comparison to breast milk.

And in a strategy report published last September called “Make Our Children Healthy Again," the White House said it would “work to increase breastfeeding rates.”

In some corners, these initiatives and comments have ruffled feathers – with critics arguing the emphasis was tantamount to shaming women who can’t or choose not to breastfeed.

But they also got us thinking about the science behind the breast milk versus infant formula debate …. and why it’s still so controversial when people have been feeding their babies since, well… forever.

Guests:

Janelle Guirguis-Blake, a practicing family physician in Tacoma and clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Washington's leaders lay out plan for ICE response, Seahawks head to the Super Bowl

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:05:27 +0000

At the start of every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest:

Seattle Times reporter David Kroman

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 23-25

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 22:15:58 +0000

You know what they say... where there's a weekend, there's a warmup.

And here with all the random stuff you can do this weekend is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!

LINKS:

Edible Books — Shorelake Arts
GameSymphonic with Eímear Noone | Seattle Symphony
Pacific NW Reptile & Exotic Animal Show
Jet City Roller Derby 20th Anniversary Season Game 1
5th Annual Viking Beard Competition
Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken - Fri 1/23 - 7pm
New Jersey Devils at Seattle Kraken - Sun 1/25 - 12pm
Seattle Torrent vs Vancouver Goldeneyes - Sun 1/25 - 3pm IN DENVER
Seahawks NFC Championship Game - Seahawks vs LA Rams - Sun 1/25 - 3:30

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This exhibit challenges how museums portray Native Americans

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 02:45:11 +0000

When you visit the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, you’ll see a red circular structure with a four-letter phrase written across the top: “This Is Native Land.”

It’s the name of the museum’s permanent exhibit that opened in October. The phrase is a reminder that you’ve probably seen many times...

But don’t be lulled into thinking you’ll know what to expect. It has been given a new lens.

We went to Tacoma a few months ago to talk with the curators behind "This Is Native Land" about how the exhibit came together... and how it challenges the typical ways that museums portray Indigenous people.

Guests:

Todd Clark, tribal liaison for the Washington State Historical Society and co-curator of “This Is Native Land.”
Danica Sterud Miller, associate professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Washington Tacoma and co-curator of "This Is Native Land."

Related links

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ira Glass reflects on fame, podcasting, and the future of public radio

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 22:45:43 +0000

For over 30 years (since 1995) Ira Glass has been one of, if not THE voice of public radio.

His show, This American Life, has won Peabody awards, the first ever audio journalism Pulitzer. And it’s also shaped generations of listeners and audio makers. As an early adopter of podcasting (2006), the show was for many a first foray into digital listening. It spawned major hits like Serial, which led to a boom in documentary podcasting.

But the world of audio has changed a lot in recent years.

Ira Glass shares his thoughts with Soundside.

And he’s coming to the Mount Baker Theater in Bellingham this weekend (Saturday, January 24th) to share some of his secrets: the show is called “An Evening with Ira Glass: Seven Things I've Learned”

Guest:

Host and executive producer of This American Life, Ira Glass

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Seattle ready to pay up for a Seattle Center glow up?

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 22:39:46 +0000

There’s not a lot of places like Seattle Center...

Where else can you take in the opera, a professional hockey game, and an iconic tourist attraction (y’know, the pointy one with a disk on top,) plus a world-famous radio station, and Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning on a six story movie screen… all in the same place?

The 13 square block campus draws over 10 million visitors each year, but supporters argue that the city has been taking Seattle Center for granted.

The campus is scattered with aging buildings and creaky infrastructure… And it’s unclear where money to fix up the center will come from.

In short, Seattle Center is in the middle of a crossroads.

David Kroman reports for the Seattle Times. Along with Margo Vansynghel, he co-bylined a story about the issues facing Seattle Center and a proposed path forward.

GUEST: David Kroman

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Front Page: SPD’s ICE policy, Wilson wants to fix the l8 bus, Seahawks demolish 49ers

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:03:18 +0000

At the start of every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Guest:

KUOW reporter Casey Martin

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you feel that? The science behind the Seahawks' "Shaheed Quake"

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 22:50:53 +0000

Seismic activity at sporting events is nothing new to Seattle fans.

Many of us remember Marshawn Lynch’s 2011 BEAST-QUAKE. Seahawks fans revel in Lumen Field’s reputation for noise when opposing teams are on offense…

Even T-Mobile Park has experienced its fair share of shaking. Earlier this year when the Mariners made it to the playoffs, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network was on site to measure the bone rattling when the M’s hit home runs.

And this past weekend, they were at the 49ers game with a live stream where fans could keep tabs on how much shaking was going on...

GUEST: Harold Tobin - Director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and WA State Seismologist

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Washington made it harder for CPS to separate families. Critics say kids are less safe

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 22:26:47 +0000

In recent years, Washington state has made two major policy changes to keep more birth families together.

Since then, fewer kids in Washington have been taken from their birth families, especially infants. But over the same time period, more babies and children from families who’ve been investigated by child welfare workers have died.

That’s why critics say those changes have made children less safe and should be reversed.

Read the full story: Washington made it harder for CPS to separate families. Critics say kids are less safe

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

McClatchy News is experimenting with AI. Union reporters have questions

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:45:01 +0000

How comfortable are you with AI in your news?

The Tacoma News Tribune, Tri-City Herald, Bellingham Herald, the Olympian. For over a century all of these local papers have brought in-depth reporting and local news to their communities.

But new policies instituted by publisher McClatchy Media have left reporters at the papers worried that the company is adopting artificial intelligence tools for efficiency’s sake, at the cost of accurate information.

Union members from the Idaho and Washington State Newsguild, a group of five McClatchy owned papers in the region (that includes the four from WA and The Idaho Statesman), are demanding that the publisher change its policy on how it uses artificial intelligence to produce and collate content.

Guests:

Kristine Sherred is the food reporter at the Tacoma News Tribune, and chair of the WA state newsguild

Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 16-19

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:03:18 +0000

Another week down, only... 50 left to go in 2026.

If you need a bit of distraction from your doom scrolling, we’ve got just the thing…

Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with local events you can check out over the next few days, plus some really great stuff coming up to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day…

LINKS:

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS vs San Francisco 49ers - Saturday 5pm
Seattle Torrent vs Boston Fleet - Sun 7pm
Seattle Kraken vs Pittsburgh Penguins - Mon 2pm
Seattle Retro Fest
Monster Jam | Tacoma Dome
Fat Con
Kidstock! 2026 | Edmonds Center for the Arts
Follow the Yellow Brick Road: An Oz Film Festival
2026 Winterhop Brewfest

MLK Day Events:

Annual Community Celebration of MLK | Seattle Colleges - Fri 1/16
2026 MLK Day March & Celebration on January 17 - Parkways - Sat 1/17
26th Annual Expansions MLK Unity Party and Live Broadcast - Sun 1/18
MLK Celebration 2026 - Bainbridge Island Museum of Art - Sunday 1/18
Events | SCBHC - Everett, WA Sun 1/18 - Celebration + Mon 1/19 - March & Rally
MLK Day — Seattle MLK Jr Organizing Coalition - Mon 1/19
NAAM | Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration 2026 - Mon 1/19

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WA companies pay to emit greenhouse gases, where should that money go?

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:56:48 +0000

The state’s general fund budget is in trouble, as is its transportation budget. Inflation, higher than expected costs, lower than anticipated revenues, state services scheduled to expand. If you listen to KUOW, you’re probably aware of why the state is facing budget shortfalls.

This next segment is about a bright spot in the state’s budget: the money generated from the cap and invest system. That’s part of the Climate Commitment Act which voters upheld in 2024.

Here’s how it works: The state sets a limited amount of emissions allowed each year by major companies that’s the cap.

Companies that emit more than they’re supposed to have to buy an allowance in a state-run auction. The latest auction generated $394 million dollars. The money is supposed to go towards climate investments like air quality monitors, electric vehicle chargers, and public transportation projects.

But Governor Ferguson recently proposed using more than half billion dollars of that money to fund another program: The Working Families Tax Credit. It’s a refund that gives money back to low-and-medium income state residents.

Meanwhile, Republicans, perhaps seeing an opening with the governor’s proposal, want to use the money to offset utility costs for schools.

Environmental groups are already pushing back against the Governor’s proposal.

The budget fight has come for this big pot of money and we’re going to hear two perspectives on this issue today.

Guests:

Todd Myers, Vice President of Research at Washington Policy Center

Reuven Carlyle, Founder of Earth Finance, former state senator, and architect of the Climate Commitment Act

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: A budget ‘rat hole’? Political fight over WA climate money intensifies

Washington State Standard: WA governor calls for tapping reserve fund and climate law cash to fill budget hole

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"We're in a very dangerous moment": Pramila Jayapal talks ICE, Minnesota shooting

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:01:41 +0000

Tensions across the country remain high one week after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

The shooting has sparked nationwide protests, including in the Seattle area. Accounts of what happened have split along political lines.

Since the shooting, the administration is doubling down on its immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. The number of federal immigration enforcement agents deployed to Minnesota is expected to reach 3,000 in the coming days, the largest operation in U.S. history, according to DHS.

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal joined us to share her thoughts on the events that unfolded this past week.

Guests:

Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative for Washington's 7th Congressional District.

Related links:

How 3,000 federal agents would compare to 10 largest Twin Cities police forces - The Minnesota Star Tribune
New poll reveals voter sentiments on fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good - USA TODAY
Trump officials defend federal agents after ICE shooting - The Hill
Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump's Deadly Assault on Minnesota - Rep. Pramila Jayapal's Youtube page

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A WA trans high school track champion and the reporter who followed her

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:06:18 +0000

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments in two cases challenging state bans on trans athletes competing in girls' and women's sports.

Twenty-seven states have bans on trans girls and women competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity.

But Washington passed a law in 2007 that protects trans athletes' participation in school sports. It was the first state to do so.

For more than a decade, that law received very little attention. But in recent years, questions about fairness, the athletic advantages conferred by testosterone, and the sanctity of women’s sports have become fiery political issues.

And for the first time, a few trans athletes have won competitions, including Verónica Garcia, a runner from Spokane Valley. In May, she repeated as the state 2A high school girls champion in the 400 meters.

Last month, she was the subject of an extensive profile in the Washington Post that explored her life as she was finishing high school and competing in track and field for the last time

Reporter Casey Parks followed Verónica for a year.

We spoke to them both for almost two hours. This episode is the condensed version of that conversation.

Guests

Verónica García, college student and runner

Casey Parks, reporter, The Washington Post

Related Links

For young transgender runner, racing wasn’t the hardest thing - The Washington Post (Casey's piece)

Heywood you sign this? Let's Go WA is working on two new initiatives - Soundside, KUOW

WA Democrats won’t hold hearings on parental rights, trans athlete initiatives - Washington State Standard

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cervical cancer screenings... without the speculum?

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:50:29 +0000

Doctors have long recommended regular cervical cancer screenings. Traditionally doctors perform these exams using a speculum, which often say is uncomfortable and, for many, quite painful.

Some recent developments could make a large number of these screenings easier.

In early January, the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, updated its guidelines to say that self-administered tests are an acceptable way to screen for human papillomavirus. HPV is a sexually-transmitted disease that causes the majority of cervical cancer cases.

OB-GYNs are hopeful that at-home testing will make cervical cancer screenings easier to access…. and significantly more comfortable.

Guests:

Dr. Linda Eckert, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: ICE Protests, the State Legislative session gets started, Protests in Iran, and Seahawks vs 49ers part 3

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:18:38 +0000

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

GUEST: Paige Browning - KUOW News Anchor & Podcast Host

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New year, new Washington laws, new legislative session

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:07:40 +0000

From new transportation fees to requirements for closed captions in movie theaters, you might have already noticed the effects of several new laws and taxes with a January 1 start date.

And we’re about to begin a new legislative session on Monday, January 12th.

In Olympia, lawmakers are facing a yawning budget shortfall and uncertain funding from the federal government.

We review the new laws we need to follow and preview the upcoming session.

GUESTS

Jake Goldstein-Street, reporting, Washington State Standard

RELATED LINKS

Gerrymander Washington state? Democrats want to talk about it - KUOW
These new laws and taxes take effect in Washington state on Jan. 1 - Washington State Standard

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 8-11

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 21:00:00 +0000

We’ve reached the end of our first full week of 2026, and it’s time to get out there & do something FUN.

LINKS:

2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour - Northwest Film Forum
David Horsey | Elliott Bay Book Company
OrcaCon Tabletop Games Convention
Seattle Travel and Adventure Show
Great Train Show 2026 - Ridgefield, WA
Seattle Bach Festival
Jules Maes Saloon - Prohibition Party
Seattle Torrent vs Minnesota Frost
- Official Watch Party at Rough & Tumble Ballard

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle's new City Council President shares her goals for 2026

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:10:55 +0000

A lot has changed in Seattle in the last 7 days.

The city has a new mayor, a new city attorney, two new council members, and, as of Tuesday afternoon, a new city council president.

District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth won unanimous support yesterday from her colleagues to lead the council over the next two years.

The stakes of leading the city are always high, but this looks to be an especially packed year: there’s the ongoing project of finishing the city’s growth plan, another budget deficit to contend with…. and the World Cup (and its hordes of fans) landing here in June. Not to mention the potential for federal policy changes that could impact city government.

So - how will the city council navigate 2026 and beyond?

GUEST:

Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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"There's a lot more oversight needed": Rep. Adam Smith, on the U.S., Venezuela and Greenland

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:31:04 +0000

Less than a week after the U.S. captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, the Coast Guard seized two oil tankers accused of violating U.S. sanctions. One of the vessels, seized in the North Atlantic, was registered in Russia.

The Trump Administration is leaning on Venezuela to open up its oil industry to U.S. companies and oust the influence of Russia and China. President Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela will turn over 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S.

As this new era of interventionism unfolds, Greenland also appears to have returned to the top of the White House’s agenda.

We talked to Rep. Adam Smith, the Democratic ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, about all of that and more.

NOTE: News is developing quickly, and we spoke to Rep. Smith just after 10am PT. Head to npr.org or KUOW for the latest updates.

GUEST:

Rep. Adam Smith, Democrat, Washington's 9th district

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After U.S. captures Maduro, what's next for Venezuela and Latin America?

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:37:45 +0000

It has been three days since the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in an audacious military raid.

It was a sudden and intense escalation of an ongoing campaign by the United States to oust Maduro.

Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores, appeared in a Manhattan court yesterday in an arraignment hearing over drug trafficking and weapons charges. Those charges were central to the government’s rationale for capturing Maduro.

But since Maduro’s capture, the Trump administration has focused on the Venezuelan oil industry and threatened other countries in Latin America like Cuba, Columbia and Mexico.

GUESTS:

Jenaro Abraham, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Gonzaga University
Marines Scaramazza, reporter and manager of Latino Herald, based in Lynnwood

Seattle Times: After Maduro’s capture, Venezuelans in WA ask: ‘Should we be happy?’

Al Jazeera: Trump’s bid to commandeer Venezuela’s oil sector faces hurdles, experts say

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Organizational restructuring at SIFF leads to layoffs... again

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:27:27 +0000

Being a movie buff in Seattle feels a little… unsettled right now.

That’s because there’s been a lot of changes at SIFF, the Seattle International Film Festival, which has been the vanguard when it comes to all things movies.

The organization announced Monday, it was undergoing an organizational restructuring, including some layoffs.

This follows a somewhat tumultuous year for SIFF. For more, we're joined by...

GUESTS:

Chase Hutchinson, critic and freelance reporter, who often covers SIFF for the Seattle Times

RELATED LINK:

SIFF announces more layoffs, organizational restructuring | The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One view of Seattle's affordable housing future

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 01:25:07 +0000

There are plenty of headwinds affecting affordable housing construction and maintenance right now. Building costs are going up, and federal funding is uncertain. Affordable housing providers in Seattle and beyond have struggled as COVID-era rent subsidies disappeared.

Colleen Echohawk has been thinking about these issues a lot. She is the new CEO of Community Roots Housing, a Public Development Authority that manages over 2,300 affordable housing units in Seattle. They’re set to open more units in 2026, so we spoke to her about her plans for the organization.

Echohawk is also a member of the transition team for Mayor Katie Wilson, co-chairing the a group working on affordable housing and community needs.

Guest

Colleen Echohawk, CEO, Community Roots Housing

Seattle doubles bailout for ailing affordable housing sector - The Seattle Times (December 4th, 2025)

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Venezuela, Somali daycares, and Seattle's new mayor, Katie Wilson

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:34:10 +0000

Guest:

Geekwire contributing editor, journalist, and owner of the Streamline Tavern - Mike Lewis

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Picks: Sailmaking, Soul Radio, and the Olympic Marmot

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 21:00:00 +0000

It’s New Year’s Eve. At midnight, many of us will be raising glasses, kissing loved ones, and trying to remember the words to “Auld Lang Syne.”

That song, if you don’t recall, begins with a question: “Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?”

We here at Soundside say, NO! We will remember.

This year, we brought on a couple new producers, and they have been fantastic additions to our team! I am super excited to see how they help us grow.

But we will never forget those who helped us get here. So, today, we’re playing back some of the great work by former Soundside producers.

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Producer Picks: Transit & Translators

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 23:51:20 +0000

This week, we’re revisiting some of our favorite segments of the year.

And today, we're talking about transit. And translators.

A now-former King County Metro Bus driver tells us what passengers should know when they ride the bus. But more importantly, we got some insight into why the 8 in downtown Seattle is so often called the late bus.

Plus, we sat down with a Seattle-based translator to discuss her National Book Award-nominated work translating the novel We Computers into English.

She said that translating the poetry and the prose in this book was like running a triathlon.

We're taking a trip with two local women who helped us get from point A to point B in 2025.

Guests

Desiree Andersen, former King County Metro bus driver, @desinthepark
Shelley Fairweather-Vega, Seattle-based translator of Hamid Ismailov's

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Producer Picks: Bruce Lee, the international icon who holds a special place in Seattle's heart

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:31:24 +0000

It’s the holidays and, to round out 2025, the Soundside team is sharing some of our favorite conversations we had on the show this year.

For this episode, we devoted the entire hour to a conversation we originally aired last month on Bruce Lee.

This year, author Jeff Chang published an in-depth biography on Lee’s life. It's called “Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America." In it, Chang shows how the rise of Bruce Lee mirrored the rise of Asian American identity.

In this interview, we talked about Lee’s life in Seattle; his rise in Hollywood; and how his short life left an imprint on Asian Americans that can be felt to this day.

RELATED LINK:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Producer Picks: Tactile Basketball, Costco, Cougar Gold, and the Grand Illusion Cinema

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 17:51:07 +0000

Christmas Eve begins our holiday break here on Soundside. We’re taking some time off to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family… or to just eat lots of good food while staying indoors.

But we’ve still got plenty of jam packed shows ready for you.

Today - we’re focusing on local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest.

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Frankly I love this town" - City Council President Sara Nelson says goodbye

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 21:49:57 +0000

A lot has changed during Sara Nelson’s time in Seattle government.

She was a centrist outlier on a progressive city council when she was first elected in 2021. But the dynamics changed: Nelson became the center of power, and ended up running the show as council president, after a moderate slate of candidates swept the 2023 election.

She helped oversee pandemic-era recovery, worked with two different mayoral administrations and two very different presidential administrations during her time on the council.

Now - her time in office is coming to an end.

Next month, there will be a new, more progressive representative in the citywide Position 9 seat that Nelson’s held the past four years. Nonprofit leader Dionne Foster will take Nelson’s place after winning by a wide margin of votes in November.

Between passing a police contract, approving phase one of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, and putting forward a bill to change how consultants work with the city – Nelson has been busy during her last month in office.

And last week she spent an hour with Soundside to reflect on her tenure and the direction Seattle politics is moving.

GUESTS:

Sara Nelson, outgoing position 9 Seattle City Councilmember and City Council President

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Flooding, affordability and Dave Ross sings

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:24:40 +0000

GUEST: Former KIRO-FM host Dave Ross

TODAY'S TOPICS:

Flooding
- Seattle Times: A damaged King County levee awaited fixes for years. Then it failed.
- NBC News: Federal grants for flood mitigation work sat on hold as storms inundated Washington state
Affordability
- NYTimes: How Democrats Used One Word to Turn the Tide Against Trump
- NYTimes: These Young Adults Make Good Money. But Life, They Say, Is Unaffordable.
Dave Ross parody songs

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiss Merry Kill: Holiday Edition

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 21:37:26 +0000

The holidays: a time to gather with friends and family, to enjoy one another’s company as we light candles or sit by a tree and contemplate the year’s passing.

It’s also a time to argue with said friends and family about some really dumb stuff.

Is Die Hard a holiday movie? Should Mariah Carey officially be crowned “Queen of Christmas?” Has there ever been a good Hanukkah song?

You’ll be debating hard hitting questions like this. And on Soundside, we’re here to help you win the argument.

It’s our gift to you.

Today – We’re pitting three movies, songs, and local events against each other to determine a winner, in a totally original game we’re calling “Kiss Merry Kill.”

And of course that’s merry like Santa is - with an E.

HOLIDAY FARE DISCUSSED:

Movies

Music

Events

GUESTS:

Betty Wetter is a Seattle drag queen, and host of monthly drag variety show Tush! at the Clock-out Lounge
Juno Men is a comedian, and co-host of the Moth Storytelling Slam here in Seattle

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red Light Vintage could close for good. A familiar face is trying to keep it alive.

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:24:20 +0000

Seattle may have to say goodbye to a longstanding vintage shop in the new year.

Red Light Vintage & Costume sits in the heart of the University District. It has been a fixture in Seattle’s fashion scene since it opened in the mid 90s.

Now the shop could close because owner Niz Marar is retiring.

He’s hoping to sell the business before his lease expires at the end of January. If he can’t find a buyer, fashion lovers will have to let go of this cherished spot.

We talk to Marar about his final few weeks at Red Light... and hear from the person who's trying to keep it alive by buying the shop before the lease ends.

GUESTS:

Niz Marar, owner of Red Light Vintage & Costume
Tacee Webb, co-founder of Red Light Vintage & Costume

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yay books! Soundside's 2025 in letters

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 23:22:31 +0000

There are only a few weeks left in 2025. That means for those of you who resolved, at the beginning of the year, to do more reading — it's crunch time.

Did you actually put down your phone long enough to get through a book this year? It's not too late.

Many great books came out this year. If you need suggestions for something to read or to give to someone who really ought to be reading more, we've got you covered.

GUESTS:

Misha Stone, reader services librarian, Seattle Public Library
Spencer Ruchti, author events manager, Third Place Books

RELATED LINKS:

Our list of books we loved! Yes, it's a Google Doc.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Dec 18-21

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 23:08:22 +0000

The end of the year is just around the corner, and with the next two Thursdays each being holidays, this is the final Weekend Warmup of the Year!

LINKS:

TNF! Seahawks vs Rams
- Thurs 12/18
The 29th Annual Model Train Festival - Washington State Historical Society
- Opens Fri 12/19 - runs through Jan 1, 2026
2025 Winter Beer Fest – WA Brewers Guild
- Fri/Sat - 12/19-20
Hell’s Belles at the Croc
- Sat 12/20
United Indians Native Art Market » United Indians of All Tribes Foundation - Daybreak Star
- Sat/Sun - 12/20-21
Seattle Torrent vs Boston Fleet
- Sun 12/21 - 2pm

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flooding in WA: Skagit County's 40-year old flood maps and a dog kennel evacuation

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 01:46:51 +0000

Skagit County has been hit by multiple waves of catastrophic flooding over the past week.

Amid the devastation, there is a bright spot: A floodwall in Mount Vernon successfully held off the Skagit River as it rose to a record 37.7 feet. That floodwall only exists because it sits in an area determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be at highest risk of flooding.

Many residents of Skagit county might be unaware of the current flooding risk to their homes or businesses – because, according to The Seattle Times, Skagit County’s flood maps haven’t been updated in 40 years.

We'll hear from Lulu Ramadan, who reported on these flood maps, before turning to Kristiana de Leon, who had to evacuate malamutes amid flooding along the Puyallup River last week.

GUESTS:

Lulu Ramadan, an investigative reporter at The Seattle Times
Kristiana de Leon of the Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flooding in WA: Pacific evacuation, levee breach and more

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 23:00:26 +0000

Approximately 10,000 people are still under evacuation notice after multiple levee failures across Western Washington.

In King County: flood controls have breached in the last 48 hours. As of this morning, residents in the city of Pacific, east of Tacoma, are under a "go now" evacuation order after a flood control breach on the nearby White River. A levee was breached yesterday in Tukwila and Kent, the evacuation order for the area is no longer in effect.

Guests:

Casey Martin, KUOW reporter

Josh Baldi, water and land resources division director for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Relevant Links:

KUOW live updates

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What might an "in-house" deportation fleet mean for DHS & ICE?

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 22:29:13 +0000

The Department of Homeland Security may be shifting its approach to deportation flights by ICE.

According to reporting by the Washington Post, DHS recently signed a contract to purchase six Boeing 737 planes.

Currently, ICE primarily uses charter planes for deportations. This purchase suggests the agency has plans to expand its capacity to deport people using its own fleet.

What implications does this have for immigration enforcement and the way detainees are moved in and out of the United States?

GUEST:

McKenzie Funk - Reporter at ProPublica covering immigration, privacy and climate change

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Front Page: Flooding, food prices, and one really old quarterback

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:49:38 +0000

GUEST: KUOW Politics Editor Cat Smith

TODAY'S TOPICS:

Flooding
- Live updates: Western Washington braces for more rain and flooding this week - KUOW
Canlis
- A market of extremes: How 2026 will impact restaurant winners and losers - Restaurant Dive
Grandpa Rivers & the Indianapolis Colts
- Philip Rivers hadn't played an NFL game in 5 years. The grandfather nearly upset a Super Bowl contender. - NBC

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes weighs in on the police shooting in Othello and a new mayor-elect

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 22:07:39 +0000

It’s been a busy year for the Seattle Police Department.

A new chief was sworn in, the longstanding federal consent decree ended and the city reached a new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild that changes how it can approach unarmed crisis response.

Plus, a new mayor will take office in January.

Mayor-elect Katie Wilson announced this week that she planned to retain Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, despite some rumors to the contrary.

Soundside's Libby Denkmann talked with Barnes on the morning of Thursday, December 11th, about the incoming administration, the recent policing shooting in Othello, and more.

Note: Starting at 7:45 in the interview, Barnes cites several statistics about a drop in crime. We asked SPD for more information about the decreased crime percentages, and they said Barnes is referencing the first 11 months of 2025 compared to 2024. But in reference to homicides, the information SPD gave us cites 2019 as the last comparable year, and the reduction is actually 36 percent, instead of 35 percent, as Barnes states.

Guest
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes

Seattle City Council Approves Police Contract as South End Mourns Killing in Othello - South Seattle Emerald

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flooding in WA: Skagit County, Gov. Ferguson's emergency response and more

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:33:56 +0000

Catastrophic flooding continues to threaten Washington.

Around 100,000 people in Western Washington have been advised to evacuate.

Hundreds of Washington National Guard members have been tapped to help with response efforts.

And Gov. Ferguson declared a statewide emergency in response to the flooding.

We talked to three KUOW reporters about what they're seeing on the ground and what we need to know about this weather event.

CORRECTION: As of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, approximately 100,000 people were advised to evacuate across Western Washington. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Skagit County issued immediate evacuation orders to 100,000 residents.

GUESTS:

KUOW Reporter Joshua McNichols
KUOW Reporter John Ryan
KUOW Reporter Casey Martin

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Dec 12-14

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:10:44 +0000

Hey Soundside Listeners!

Because our entire show was focused on flood coverage with the Governor's press conference, and live conversations with KUOW reporters Joshua McNichols, John Ryan, and Casey Martin, we decided to skip the Weekend Warmup on the air this week, and drop it here on the podcast feed instead.

Stay safe, check KUOW.org for updates, and look in on your neighbors.

With that said, please enjoy this podcast exclusive Weekend Warmup!

LINKS:

SPORTS!
- Seahawks vs Indianapolis Colts - Sun 1:25pm
- Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken - Sun 5pm
- Seattle Torrent vs Ottawa Charge - Wed 7pm
WildLanterns: Night Owls (21+) - Fri 12/12
Mozart & Mutts: Annual Holiday Concert - Fri 12/12
Jurassic Quest | Washington State Fairgrounds
The Naughty Novel Social Club: Krampus Edition
DEAF SANTA CLAUS - Sun 12/14

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet King County's new Executive: Girmay Zahilay

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:27:38 +0000

At 38 years old, Girmay Zahilay is King County’s youngest-ever executive.

He’s coming in after the long tenure of his predecessor Dow Constantine, who ran the county for nearly 16 years. Zahilay was sworn in early to replace the temporary acting executive who’s been in charge since Constantine stepped down in March.

He says he’s ready to “completely change” the office. The King County Executive oversees all kinds of important services like the sheriff’s department, public health, transportation, public housing, and jails.

So what will that change look like? And what could it mean for King County?

GUESTS:

King County Executive, Girmay Zahilay

RELATED LINKS:

Sworn in early, Exec Zahilay is ready to shake up King County - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Flooding in WA: Updates from Auburn and Carnation

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 02:39:51 +0000

On Wednesday morning, we spoke with the mayor of Auburn and the city manager in Carnation about flooding in their cities and what they expect to happen next.

GUESTS:

Nancy Backus, mayor of Auburn, WA
Rhonda Ender, city manager, Carnation, WA

RELATED LINKS:

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This researcher is working on a fentanyl vaccine to curb overdoses and addiction

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:42:26 +0000

Washington, like the entire country, has been hit hard by fentanyl.

So far this year, King County has recorded more than 650 overdose deaths involving the synthetic opioid, which can be 50 times stronger than heroin.

But the crisis is still overwhelming many communities.

GUESTS:

Dr. Colin Haile, a research associate professor at the University of Houston and he’s also one of the co-founders of ARMR Sciences.

RELATED LINKS:

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Facing uncertain federal landscape, KCRHA looks to adapt

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 23:25:37 +0000

For weeks, King County homelessness service providers have been staring down a majorly disruptive change to how they currently operate.

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development said in November that it intended to redirect billions of dollars in grants that house homeless people. This was in line with President Trump’s rejection of “housing first,” the practice that aims to get people stabilized in long-term housing before addressing mental health issues or addiction. It's guided policy in this region and across the United States for decades.

The Trump Administration’s announcement put $65 million in federal grant money for King County in doubt.

And it left local leaders scrambling. The county called providers together last week to discuss the change. Washington state and roughly 20 states sued, and later, so did King County and local homeless service providers.

But yesterday, 90 minutes before a court hearing, HUD withdrew the new requirements around grants.

Sounds like a rollercoaster, right? Providers in the area are breathing a sigh of relief. Though, the last-minute shift signifies the complicated task of planning homelessness response, one that relies on federal dollars, when massive changes are taking place in Washington, D.C.

GUEST:

Kelly Kinnison, CEO of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority

RELATED LINKS

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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'He wasn't resisting' - WA man mauled by immigration enforcement canine

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 22:06:23 +0000

A disturbing image shared by Senator Patty Murray has been reverberating across the internet.

It shows a man’s torso, his right side covered in wounds - lacerations, scratch marks, bite marks - after he was mauled by an immigration agent’s canine. Blood splatters the sheets below him.

The man, Wilmer Toledo-Martinez of Vancouver, Washington, was detained outside his home last month by federal agents.

Senator Murray and Wilmer’s family are calling for his release – and calling out the violent treatment he received at the hands of immigration officers.

GUEST

Olia Catala is Wilmer Toledo-Martinez’s attorney, and the owner of Catala Immigration PLLC

RELATED LINKS

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Why Native American kids are getting harsher prison sentences in WA

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 22:05:26 +0000

We could tell this next story with numbers. There is a lot of data.

But at its core: This is a story about Native American kids.

And how year after year, law enforcement and lawmakers in Olympia allow these children to be arrested and jailed at far higher rates than their white peers.

Those experiences as children have lasting consequences well into adulthood.

State officials and lawmakers know there’s a problem. But advocates say they haven’t done enough to stop it.

GUEST

Melanie Henshaw - Indigenous affairs reporter, InvestigateWest

RELATED LINKS

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New video found featuring victim of unsolved CHOP killing

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:43:39 +0000

It’s June 26th, 2020, and a group of protesters stands in the midst of the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest. They’re talking to another group of people, including a city employee, about city sanitation workers getting access to the area.

Towards the front of the group stands a 16 year old boy, wearing a grey baseball cap, a hoodie, and a surgical mask. He taps a protest organizer’s shoulder, so they’ll know he wants to speak.

What you’re hearing is some of the last known footage of Antonio Mays Jr before he was shot and killed, just days later, in the CHOP zone.

That death contributed to the end of the Occupied Protest in 2020.

The video - was livestreamed by Omari Salisbury of Converge Media, and remained on Youtube all these years. The fact that it shows Antonio was only recently rediscovered, shortly before a civil trial that could shed more light on Antonio’s death .

That civil trial, stemming from a lawsuit the teen’s father filed against the City of Seattle, is set to begin this week.

Guests:

Omari Salisbury, founder of Converge Media

Will James, KUOW reporter and producer

Relevant Links:

Converge Media: Reflections on the Rediscovered Dignity of Antonio Mays Jr.

Converge Media: The Tape: Rediscovering Humanity in the Shadow of CHOP

KUOW: Victim of unsolved Seattle CHOP killing featured in newly unearthed video

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Front Page: ICE K-9 attack, what a new Montana windfarm means for WA, and the ongoing debate over Frank Gehry's MoPop

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:54:12 +0000

GUEST: Seattle Times city hall reporter David Kroman

TODAY'S TOPICS:

ICE K-9 Attack
- Senator: ICE dog attack on WA man ‘should shock the conscience’ - Seattle Times
Energy troubles loom large
- As WA’s coal ban looms, Montana wind fills only some of the energy gap - Seattle Times
Frank Gehry Dies
- Frank Gehry, Titan of Architecture, Is Dead at 96 - NYT
FIFA World Cup schedule announced
- 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule: Seattle matches’ times, matchups unveiled - Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Ask a Doctor: Ozempic, Wegovy and GLP-1 drugs in general

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 22:08:40 +0000

GLP-1 drugs that are commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity, like Ozempic and Wegovy – are in big demand.

And they’re going to be more affordable.

The Trump administration recently negotiated deals to lower the prices of these drugs. It seems like some details still need to be ironed out…. but from the looks of it, many Americans who use Medicare will be able to access GLP-1s at a fraction of their original cost. According to one of the deals, some Medicare patients will be able to get GLP-1s for a $50 copay.

So it’s safe to assume as costs come down, these drugs are only going to get even more popular….

And we want to know more about them. In this latest “ask a doctor” segment, we’re asking two physicians to answer all of our burning questions.

GUESTS:

Dr. Scott Hagan, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who studies obesity.
Dr. Mara Gordon, a family physician based in Philadelphia. She also writes about the culture of medicine and authors the “Real Talk With a Doc” column for NPR.

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 12/4-8

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 21:38:13 +0000

It’s already the first weekend of December, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some holiday cheer to lighten up these cold, rainy days.

Thankfully, like Santa soaring past with his reindeer, here with all the stuff that’s worth doing this weekend is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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"They're trying to reduce the amount of immigrants here" - Understanding state of immigration policy right now

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 18:40:26 +0000

Shortly after the shooting of two national guard troops in Washington, D.C., the Trump Administration said it was pausing asylum decisions and halting visas for Afghan immigrants.

The alleged shooter is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a Bellingham resident who came to the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2021.

The motive for the attack is unknown. One victim – 20 year old Sarah Beckstrom – was killed in Wednesday’s shooting.

The attack has prompted the Trump administration to supercharge restrictions on migrants from 19 countries, primarily ones in Africa and the Middle East. And it has left many others in this country fearful about their future as the federal government turns new scrutiny on green cards and asylee statuses that have already been granted.

We’re trying to get a sense of how policy actions may impact immigrant communities, so we’re speaking with Luis Cortes Romero. He is an immigration lawyer and managing partner at Novo Legal Group.

A note:

After our taping, on Tuesday evening, the Department of Homeland Security announced a pause for all immigration applications for people from 19 countries deemed "high risk."

Those are the same 19 countries Luis and I discussed that were under some previous restrictions: mainly African and Middle Eastern nations, including Sudan, Somalia and Iran -- also Venezuela, Haiti, and more.

DHS says this requires "all aliens meeting the criteria undergo a thorough re-review process."

GUESTS:

Luis Cortes Romero is an immigration lawyer and managing partner at Novo Legal Group.

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What the length of raccoon snouts has to do with domestication

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:26:46 +0000

Have you ever wanted a pet raccoon?

Well, here’s a possible sign that dream is slowly approaching: a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology suggests raccoons are getting closer to domestication.

The study is not definitive yet, and more research is required. But it all has to do with researchers observing a shorter snout on the animals we affectionately refer to as trash pandas.

GUEST

Marina Wang, freelance journalist

RELATED LINKS

Raccoons Are Showing Early Signs of Domestication - Scientific American

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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No icy reception for Seattle's new professional women's hockey team

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 22:03:19 +0000

Seattle’s brand new Professional Women’s Hockey team, the newly christened Seattle Torrent, faces off against the New York Sirens tonight at Climate Pledge Arena…

Tonight’s game is the third ever for the team, and their growing fan base has both high hopes and big expectations as the season gets started.

Soundside Producer Jason Burrows sat down with Libby Denkmann ahead of tonight's game to talk about how things are going!

RELATED LINKS:

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The WTO/99 protests, filmed by those who were there

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:45:46 +0000

Twenty-six years ago, this week over 40,000 people came to Seattle to protest at the World Trade Organization's ministerial conference.

Labor organizers, farmers, and environmental groups planned and executed peaceful action against what many saw as anti-democratic elements of the WTO, and the profound risks from the unfettered expansion of global trade.

At events from Memorial Stadium to the waterfront and marches in downtown Seattle, advocates for the global south joined arms with American steelworkers, decrying the outsourcing of jobs.

Ultimately, the “Battle of Seattle” pushed trade policy to the front page.

But for many, the enduring memories from that week in Seattle are the clouds of tear gas deployed by police and broken windows at downtown businesses.

A new documentary called WTO/99 tries to capture the events on the ground as they happened. It’s composed entirely of archival footage. And it highlights the way narratives around power and protest are shaped by media images.

GUEST: Ian Bell, director, WTO/99

RELATED LINKS:

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Who's responsible for 'double tap' boat strike? 'We want to find out,' says Rep. Adam Smith

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:29:55 +0000

Some rare bipartisanship is emerging in congress: it focuses on questions about the legality of a September 2nd U.S. strike on a boat in the Caribbean. 11 people were killed, including two men who initially survived the first strike, but were killed by a follow-up attack. This operation was the start of a campaign of strikes the Trump Administration says it is waging to protect Americans from drugs smuggled by narco-terrorists.

GUEST: Representative Adam Smith (WA-09), ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee

RELATED LINKS:

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Front Page: National Guard shooting, Seattle traffic gets worse, and pigeon poop

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 22:24:38 +0000

We have a new thing we’re trying out on Mondays on Soundside. We're calling it Front Page.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

GUEST: KUOW politics reporter Scott Greenstone.

TODAY'S TOPICS:

National Guard Shooting in Washington D.C.
- Noem says National Guard shooting suspect was 'radicalized' in the U.S.
Seattle Traffic
- Why Seattle traffic got worse in 2024
- Light rail’s push to Federal Way gives students, workers front-door access
Pigeons
- Why Sound Transit is waging a ceaseless battle against birds

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How the new UW President plans to navigate the challenges facing U.S. universities

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 22:05:31 +0000

Dr. Robert Jones is the new president of our region’s largest educational and research hub. He took the helm at the University of Washington in August, and when we sat down recently, he shared a bit about his background and path to Seattle.

Jones says his parents were sharecroppers farming peanuts and cotton in southwest Georgia.

“Where most people would tell you the last thing you should have anything to do with if you grew up as a son of sharecroppers. I was innately curious about science, and particularly became very curious about plants”

It’s ultimately what set him on his academic path: Crop physiology.

“And in my case, it was corn, and the whole goal was to understand the impact of environment on physiological processes that would be disrupted and cause a reduction in the yield of a major agricultural crops under a global climate change scenario.

This was before the term global climate change was coined, and so that's what I spent 34 and a half years trying to understand, how do we make corn more tolerant to heat and drought stress?

And that basic physiological research has led to what is now most of the major agricultural crops being able to withstand temperatures and drought longer than they ever had before in the modern history of production agriculture.”

Jones spent more than three decades teaching and doing research at the University of Minnesota. He later led the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where the enrollment grew by 25% and they launched a new medical school during his tenure.

The University of Washington has a similar enrollment size to Illinois – more than 60-thousand students and 30-thousand faculty and staff.

So Soundside wanted to hear from the new university president… Roughly 100 days into his tenure, what’s his read on the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the school?

We should note we are a self-sustaining service of the University of Washington, with editorial independence.

GUEST: University of Washington President, Dr. Robert Jones

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Producer Picks: Foraging in the PNW and Kennections

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 20:53:20 +0000

On the show today, we’re getting you ready for Thanksgiving leftovers with a little leftovers of our own. We’re pulling some of our favorite segments from Soundside past out of the fridge, and warming ‘em up for you.

Up first: edible plants are all around us in the Pacific Northwest. We'll hear how one local author became obsessed with helping people identify tasty greens and stay safe foraging for mushrooms and leafy goodies.

Also on the show: for over 60 years the quiz game show Jeopardy has been a beloved part of people’s lives. Washington native Ken Jennings says, growing up, the show sparked his love of trivia. It’s a passion that led him to a 74 game winning streak in 2004, and eventually a job behind the podium as host.

Meanwhile he’s translated his trivia expertise into his own game - called Kennections. It’s a weekly puzzle he writes for Mental Floss.

GUESTS:

Natalie Hammerquist, herbalist, expert forager, and author of Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest and Medicinal Plants of the Pacific Northwest
Ken Jennings, host of Jeopardy and author of The Complete Kennections: 5,000 questions in 1,000 puzzles

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Producer Picks: Drinking less, honeycrisps and the matcha shortage

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:32:05 +0000

This week we’re going back into the archives to dig up some of our favorite Soundside segments.

And with Thanksgiving just days away, this episode is all about food and drink!

We'll revisit conversations we had this year on the trend of people drinking less alcohol these days....

.... The sweet apple variety that has left a bitter taste in some farmers’ mouths (spoiler: it's the honeycrisp)....

...And the shortage of matcha, which has blown up on social media and dominated coffee shop menus lately.

GUESTS:

Emily Ritchie, executive director of the Northwest Cider Association.
Malcolm Purinton, assistant teaching professor of history at Northeastern University.
Bill Clark runs the Diamondback Acres farm with his wife, Angell, in Chelan.
Jeannie Liu, owner of Miro Tea.
Bettina Makalintal, senior reporter at Eater.

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Producer Picks: PWHL Seattle, Murder by the Book, and POW!

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:00:00 +0000

This week, we’re re-airing some of our favorite stories from the past year.

First up on today's show: The Seattle Torrent played their very first professional women’s hockey game on Friday night, but before they even had a name, we talked with their General Manager Meghan Turner about bringing the team to the city.

Later, we’ll play an interview with the author of the literary mystery “Murder by the Book.”

Finally, we’ll get a peek inside a Pow Wow through the lens of a kid who just wants to play his game!

GUESTS:

Meghan Turner - General Manager, Seattle Torrent
Amie Schaumberg
Joey Clift

RELATED LINKS:

No name, lots of game: Women's pro hockey comes to Seattle
Spoiler Alert: Someone dies in Amie Schaumberg's "Murder by the Book"
Filmmaker Joey Clift talks about the inspiration behind the animated short POW!
- Watch POW! via First Nations Experience - Pow!

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington cities turn off Flock cameras after public records ruling and UW report

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:39:52 +0000

A big controversy is gripping many Washington towns right now: automated license plate readers.

Flock Safety, a technology and surveillance company, operates cameras in cities and counties across the nation.

Those license plate readers take pictures of vehicles and their license plates – pictures that can be used by police to solve crimes.

But questions about who has access to the cameras is leading several jurisdictions to turn off their automated licence plate readers.

GUESTS:

KUOW producer Hans Anderson
Flock Safety chief legal officer, Dan Haley
Phil Neff, a research coordinator at the University of Washington Center for Human Rights
Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe
Beryl Lipton, a senior investigative researcher at the Electronic Frontier Foundation

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Sound It Out: Time to quit the Thanksgiving turkey?

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:08:08 +0000

Yes, turkey is an iconic centerpiece. But it’s a challenge.

Turkeys take hours to cook (let alone, defrost!). The results can be dry, flavorless slabs of meat.

If you believe online discourse, a growing number of bold omnivores are calling it quits on Thanksgiving turkey.

And from an animal welfare perspective, there’s a lot of waste and carnage associated with "the national holiday of meat-eating."

We asked Soundside's audience about whether they're moving on from turkey -- and what they might make instead.

GUESTS: Marina Bolotnikova, deputy editor, Vox's Future Perfect

Thanks to KUOW’s Paige Browning for all her help and hard work on this segment.

RELATED LINKS:

8 million turkeys will be thrown in the trash this Thanksgiving

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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"You don't have to fight me on this" - Gluesenkamp Perez on being booed by her own party

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 22:00:09 +0000

On Monday, Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez stood on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and fought her own party.

The subject of the disagreement? Whether or not a fellow Democratic member of congress, Chuy Garcia of Illinois, had crossed ethical lines and rigged the 2026 election for his chief of staff. By, among other things, announcing his retirement after the filing deadline.

Gluesenkamp Perez introduced a nonbinding resolution to disapprove of the maneuver, to the apparent surprise of Democratic leadership.

After speaking out, she was skewered by many of her fellow party members. One called her opposition a “cheap political stunt”

Gluesenkamp Perez is known for bucking the party. Just last week she was one of only 6 House Democrats who voted to end the federal shutdown.

She also represents one of the few purple districts in the country: Washington’s 3rd, which includes Lewis, Cowlitz, Clark and Skamania County.

GUEST:

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez represents Washington’s 3rd congressional district, which includes Lewis, Cowlitz, Clark and Skamania County

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Nov 20-23 and Nov 28-30

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:37:14 +0000

While it has been so nice being back behind the microphone this week after a little time off, we’ve got Thanksgiving ahead of us!

And since we won’t have a show NEXT Thursday, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is doing double duty this week with an extra large Weekend Warmup…

THIS WEEK:

NEXT WEEK:

SPORTS
- PWHL Home Opener! Seattle Torrent vs Minnesota Frost - Fri 11/28
- UW Men’s Football vs Oregon Ducks - Sat 11/29
- Kraken vs Edmonton - Sat 11/29
- Seahawks vs Vikings - Sun 11/30
- Seattle Marathon - Sun 11/30
GeekCraft Expo
NOVEMBER ART MARKET — Duwamish Tribe

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From pizza to policy: how Katie Wilson won this year's mayoral race

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 21:59:14 +0000

In the week since Katie Wilson officially became Seattle’s mayor-elect, there have suddenly been a lot of think pieces about her from the national press.

Editorial boards at the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal have taken a certain “doom mongering” stance on another socialist winning office. The President of the United States added his two cents, and called her a communist.

Wilson’s election is making waves in a year when both democrats and democratic socialists scored high profile wins across the country.

But let’s be honest: national reporting is usually scant here in the PNW, and pretty late to the game. KUOW listeners – many of them, have been clued into this race for weeks if not months.

What we haven't heard is the inside story of the Wilson campaign – how the team took a newcomer to electoral politics – a policy wonk, whose style she herself has called “pretty dumpy” – and got her elected mayor.

And what does the future look like for progressives in a city with a historically fickle electorate?

Two key figures from the Wilson campaign team joined Soundside to share their view on how it all went down.

GUESTS:

Katie Wilson campaign manager Alex Gallo Brown
WinPower strategies political consultant, and Katie Wilson’s consultant, Jake Simpson

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Common PNW fish, uncommon feature: teeth on its forehead

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:10:48 +0000

Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Washington published a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on the spotted ratfish, sometimes called a ghost shark.

It’s one of the most common fish you’ll find in the Puget Sound and it has teeth in an unexpected place. The study’s authors say that, not only is this unusual, but it also tells us something very interesting about evolution.

GUEST:

Karly Cohen, post-doctoral researcher at Friday Harbor Labs

Smithsonian: This Deep-Sea Fish Has Teeth on Its Forehead—and It Uses Them for Sex

University of Washington: This common fish has an uncommon feature: Forehead teeth, used for mating

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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How air traffic controllers are doing post shutdown

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:09:03 +0000

Air traffic controllers are getting paid again, now that the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over.

Air traffic controllers dominated headlines during the shutdown as they continued to work their stressful jobs without pay. Some of them took on side gigs to make up for lost income. And as the shutdown dragged on, controller shortages led to flight delays and cancellations around the country.

Now things are slowly getting back to normal, as the FAA lifts restrictions on air traffic ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Steph Winder of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association tells us how controllers are doing now that they're out of shutdown mode.

GUEST:

Steph Winder, Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

RELATED LINKS:

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Is Rad Power Bikes powering down?

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:46:29 +0000

If you purchased or rode an e-bike in the last 10 years, there’s a good chance it was a Rad Power Bike.

The company, based in Seattle, was one of the first to popularize e-bikes with the general public, and grew to be the largest electric bike company in North America.

But now, the company is on the brink of collapse. A spokesperson told Geekwire last week that Rad faces potential closure as early as January due to “significant financial challenges.”

After virtually building the e-bike industry, and seeing demand quadruple during the pandemic, what went wrong for Rad Power Bikes?

And can they recover?

GUEST:

Geekwire editor Taylor Soper

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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What's happening in Sudan?

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:20:34 +0000

In 2023, Bellevue organizer Mubarak Elamin made the decision to bring his mother to the United States.

At the time, she was living in Sudan, where a brutal war had broken out between the country’s army, the Sudanese Armed Forces, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The situation deteriorated into what the U.N. has called one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.

Thousands have been killed and millions displaced. Some regions are suffering from famine. In January, the United States declared Sudan was experiencing a genocide.

And despite this upheaval, Mubarak says it seems like a lot of people don’t know what's going on in Sudan.

GUEST:

Mubarak Elamin, a Sudanese community organizer in Bellevue
Nisrin Elamin, assistant professor of Anthropology and African Studies at the University of Toronto

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why your local Starbucks might be closed today

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 22:53:10 +0000

Unionized Starbucks workers have started their fourth day on strike.

Workers walked off the job in over 40 cities last week.

And this year’s strike has gotten attention from high-profile politicians. Both Seattle mayor-elect Katie Wilson and New York's mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani called on customers to boycott the coffee chain.

Last week, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) urged Starbucks to cut a deal with the union.

So what’s holding up negotiations?

GUEST: Casey Martin, KUOW reporter covering the strike

RELATED LINKS:

Unionized Starbucks' workers strike in Seattle, across the country

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Ask a doctor: Microplastics edition

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 21:59:18 +0000

You’re probably heard the term “microplastics.” And you’ve probably also heard that they’re bad for you.

A write up from Stanford Medicine says, quote, “they’re in the water we drink, the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the air we breathe.”

But what exactly are they?

A local doctor is helping us understand what exactly these particals are, and how or if we should avoid them.

GUEST:

Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a professor of pediatrics and adjunct professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington and the Seattle Children's Research Institute

RELATED LINKS:

Microplastics and our health: What the science says - Stanford Medicine

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Lights, Camera, Closures? - The state of independent movie theaters in Seattle

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:23:16 +0000

In early October, film buffs around the region received some bittersweet news…

The historic Egyptian Theater in Capitol Hill – which had been closed for repairs – would not reopen as a public theater. The Seattle International Film Festival decided to end its lease, saying it was a difficult decision but that it just wasn’t financially feasible.

This comes on the back of the closing of the Grand Illusion and AMC 10 theaters in the U-District.

In an era of streaming services and movie studio consolidations… What DOES it take to keep the independent theater scene thriving?

GUESTS:

Beth Barrett - Artistic Director SIFF
Kenny Alhadeff - Owner, Majestic Bay Theater
Chase Hutchinson - Freelance Writer and Movie Critic

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Nov 13-16

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:12:23 +0000

Here at Soundside, we've got lots of plans this weekend. Paige Browning is playing in a Kickball tournament, while Jason is planning on cheering for her... Supervising Producer Sarah Leibovitz is doing LAUNDRY... What joy!

As for YOU, here are all your options from this week's Weekend Warmup...

LINKS:

SIFF Cinema Italian Style 2025
Sew, Quilt, Needlework, Craft, Expo & Festival in Puyallup
Gobble Up Northwest! - Urban Craft Uprising
Seattle International Auto Show
The 2025 DB Cooper Conference
Seattle Kraken vs San Jose Sharks
Gilman Village 2025 Winter Fest
Grit City Comic Show
UW Huskies Men’s Football vs Purdue
Death and Music | Town Hall Seattle

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Imagining a Seattle with fewer cars

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:18:48 +0000

Seattle has been a target of anti-car activism since at least the early 1960s, when the construction of I-5 carved up the Chinatown International District.

Washington architect Paul Thiry said the creation of the freeway signaled when Seattle started to lose its identity as a city.

But what would a less car-centric Seattle actually look like? Whom would it benefit? And is it even feasible?

The hosts of "The War on Cars" podcast join "Soundside" for more. They’ve co-written a new book: “Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves From the Tyranny of the Automobile.”

They’re both based in Brooklyn, New York, but joined KUOW's Paige Browning in our Seattle studio.

GUESTS:

Sarah Goodyear, host, The War on Cars podcast
Doug Gordon, host, The War on Cars podcast

RELATED LINKS:

What Comes After the ‘War on Cars’? - Bloomberg
‘Life After Cars’ with Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon - Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Katie Wilson is likely Seattle's next mayor after latest vote count

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 23:45:13 +0000

Seattleites have been closely watching election results for nearly a week since polls closed. That’s because the city’s mayoral candidates were in a tight race. Longtime Seattle politician and current Mayor Bruce Harrell is trying to win a second term. His challenger is Katie Wilson, a Democratic socialist who has never held elected office before.

Last night’s vote tally gave more clarity about who is likely to lead the city next year.

GUEST: Cat Smith, KUOW Politics Editor

RELATED LINKS:

KUOW: Wilson’s lead increases in Seattle mayoral race, leaving Harrell further behind

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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"Water Mirror Echo" explores the life, and legacy, of Bruce Lee

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:58:47 +0000

Bruce Lee holds a special place in Seattle’s heart – and Seattle played a key role in Bruce Lee’s life.

He attended the University of Washington. He taught martial arts around the city. And after his tragically young death, at the age of 32, Lee was buried at Lake View Cemetery on Capitol Hill.

A biography by author Jeff Chang traces this journey alongside the cultural and political context in which Lee was becoming the international icon he is today.

It’s called “Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America.”

In the book Chang shows how the rise of Bruce Lee mirrored the rise of Asian American identity and the ways that they each shaped each other.

GUEST:

Jeff Chang, author of "Water Mirror Echo"

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Everything we know about Ben Shuldiner, the lone finalist for Seattle Public Schools superintendent

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:52:31 +0000

After a monthslong search, the Seattle Public Schools district finally has a new superintendent.

The Seattle School Board voted to name Ben Shuldiner as the lone finalist for the role. Shuldiner is currently the superintendent of the Lansing School District in Michigan.

He’ll be the fourth superintendent in the last decade.

Back in March, former superintendent Brent Jones announced he was planning to step down from the position … and would have left in September. Instead, he went on medical leave in May and since then the role has been filled by an interim superintendent.

Shuldiner's appointment comes during a period of turmoil for the district, which has been facing a budget shortfall and grappling with issues around school safety. KUOW's Sami West tells us about her takeaways from her conversation with him this week.

Guest:

Sami West, KUOW reporter who has been following the ongoing search for a new superintendent at Seattle Public Schools.

Related Stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Reign on me: Seattle's NWSL team heads back to the playoffs

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:11:03 +0000

Seattle's pro women's soccer team have returned to the National Women's Soccer League playoffs.

Seattle Reign play the Orlando Pride on Friday in a win-or-go-home match. But do the Reign have the potential to make a deep playoff run?

Soundside producer Gabrielle Healy gets into it.

Plus, everything you need to know about coach Laura Harvey and ChatGPTgate.

Guest

Susie Rantz, writer for Sounder at Heart covering Seattle Reign

Related Links

All even in Orlando, 1-1 - Sounder at Heart

The constant amidst chaos: Lauren Barnes’ Reign - Sounder at Heart

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Nov 7-10

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:04:35 +0000

It’s weekends like these where you WANT a solid plan for what to do, so you’re not just stuck sulking about the weather.

And while Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows may be on his way to sunny Florida AS WE SPEAK for a weekend in Tampa, he still left us with a smattering of potential options:

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Tacoma homeless encampment ban expands, critics ask where people will sleep

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:58:32 +0000

It’s getting harder for unhoused people in Tacoma to find a place to spend the night. Last week, the city council there voted narrowly, 5-to-4, to expand buffer zones where encampments are not allowed.

The new ban, which went into effect this week, includes areas within two blocks of public schools, parks, libraries, and most of downtown and Hilltop. Critics say this only makes it harder for people to find a place to sleep.

Guest: Tacoma News Tribune reporter Cameron Sheppard

In a split vote, Tacoma council decides fate of homeless camping-ban expansion

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"HELP ME!!! HELP ME!!!" WA prison kept woman in dark while her husband was dying

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:56:24 +0000

In April, 25-year-old Alex Kuhnhausen died of a bacterial infection he contracted at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. This isn’t unheard of – last year, there were 39 deaths reported in Washington prisons.

But the details of Alex Kuhnhausen’s decline and death raise questions about decisions by prison officials and medical staff; decisions that many believe contributed to his death.

Guest: Reporter Brandon Block

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Anila Quayyum Agha, the artist behind the Seattle Asian Art Museum's latest exhibit

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:44:34 +0000

When you step into the Seattle Asian Art Museum’s new exhibit… you feel small.

You’re surrounded by light, blocks of color reaching across the floor, creeping up the walls. The art takes up space, immersing you in light and shadow, as though you’ve entered another world. Steel cubes carved with meticulous designs hang from the ceiling. Papercraft covered in embroidery line the walls. What looks like a giant doily hangs from strings by the entrance.

All lit to project intricate patterns across the space.

This is "Geometry of Light," an exhibit the museum opened in late August. The artist behind it is Anila Quayyum Agha, the first Pakistani American to ever have a solo exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum.

She talked to Soundside about her art, what it's like to be the first Pakistani American to have an exhibit at the museum and what she hopes people take away from "Geometry of Light."

Guest

Anila Quayyum Agha, the artist behind "Geometry of Light."

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last Seattle mayor to get reelected tells us how he did it

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 23:51:08 +0000

As voters head to the polls amid a contentious mayoral race in Seattle, we’re looking to the past to try to answer a lingering question.

It’s hard to win reelection as a Seattle mayor. The last time it happened was nearly two decades ago.

Why has it been so long?

We're going directly to the source for more: Democrat Greg Nickels was mayor of Seattle for two terms, between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2009. He served on the King County Council for 14 years prior to his election.

KUOW's politics editor Cat Smith brings us that conversation.

Related Links

Outgoing Mayor Greg Nickels leaves stamp on Seattle - The Seattle Times, published in 2009

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A Gig Harbor teen was coerced into suicide -- the group behind it has victimized thousands

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 02:59:57 +0000

TRIGGER WARNING - SELF HARM INVOLVING CHILDREN

In 2022, the body of 13-year-old Jay Taylor was discovered behind a grocery store in Gig Harbor.

Jay had died by suicide, a tragedy that only grew more shocking when police realized he’d livestreamed the act on Instagram, encouraged by the people watching.

Jay Taylor was a victim of 764, a global online group of predators that victimizes kids, some identified to be as young as nine years old. They coerce them to send nude photos, commit self-harm and even take their own lives.

Guest: Barrett Gay, digital research analyst of domestic and international right-wing extremism at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Documentary: Inside ICE Detention

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 17:03:57 +0000

The immigration detention center in Tacoma, Washington has quickly reached capacity this year under the Trump administration’s push to scale up deportations. The population inside nearly doubled in a matter of months, raising some concerns about staffing levels and reported delays for detainees accessing lawyers or medical care.

The experience for those inside detention has also shifted in some profound ways due to new policies, including cuts to legal aid programs, restrictions on who is eligible for bond and increased fees for court filings.

A new KUOW documentary, “Inside ICE Detention,” opens a window into this time of rapid transition at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma and looks into who is getting detained, how they are treated and some of the new pressures people are facing as they try to fight deportation.

The story centers on the experience of a woman named Espinoza, who was arrested during an ICE workplace raid in Kent, WA. Espinoza was four days away from getting married to her partner of 12 years when the raid happened, and she grapples with hopelessness in detention while trying to navigate a way out.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Oct 30-Nov 4

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 21:06:12 +0000

Can you believe that we’re already at the end of October? Time is a weird soup.

This week has been jam packed with things, AND we have an election next Tuesday.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s enjoy the weekend!!

LINKS:

Seattle Short King Contest
Seattle Kraken vs NY Rangers - Sat 11/1
Short Run Comix Festival
Seattle Opera - The Pirates of Penzance
Brewallup 2025
Washington State Toy Show
Sea-Meow Convention
2025 MLS Cup Playoffs - Seattle vs Minnesota - Mon 11/3
Seattle Kraken vs Chicago Blackhawks - Mon 11/3
Seattle Welcome Day - Tues 11/4

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS:

Nov. 1 — El Centro de la Raza
Nov. 1 — Phinney Center
Nov. 1 — Shoreline Recreation Center
Nov. 1 & 2 — Seattle Center
Nov. 1 & 2 — Town Hall Seattle (ticketed event)
Nov. 2 — Tacoma Art Museum

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aid for Gaza remains tenuous despite ceasefire

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:26:22 +0000

Like so many others, Jas Ikeda struggled with the images and stories coming out of Gaza – of the widespread destruction and the growing starvation.

Like others, she felt frustrated that more wasn’t being done to help the people caught in the conflict.

Unlike most others, Ikeda has a lot of sailing experience. So when she heard about the Global Sumud Flotilla, she jumped at the chance.

The flotilla consisted of 42 small to mid-sized vessels, setting out from Spain, carrying food, supplies, and hundreds of activists. The stated goal was to challenge Israel’s blockade and show solidarity with Palestinians.

They were intercepted and detained by the Israeli military on October 1 – an outcome they knew was likely. She and the other activists were held for about six days.

The timing of Ikeda’s voyage, capture and release, coincided with a historic moment.

Just three days after Ikeda was released Israel and Hamas agreed to a deal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. The deal, which was negotiated and pushed by the Trump Administration, included an agreement that - QUOTE - "Full aid will be immediately sent.”

Such aid would be a lifeline for Palestinians. In August, Gaza was confirmed to be under famine conditions. The ceasefire deal gave a lot of hope to aid organizations that have been stymied by the tight control Israel holds over the border.

But flare ups of violence have threatened that aid. On Tuesday, the Israeli military struck targets in Gaza, killing more than a hundred people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of violating terms of the ceasefire.

GUESTS:

Jas Ikeda - Washington resident, and member of the Global Sumud Flotilla
Mara Kronenfeld - Executive Director of the UNRWA USA National Committee

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bridge over troubled Washington: Billions needed for infrastructure repair

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:26:07 +0000

Washington State highways and bridges are in need of a serious refresh. That’s according to a WSDOT official who told the Washington State Transportation Commission this month:

“We are in the early stages of critical failure due to lack of funding.” - Troy Suing, Director, Capital Program Development and Management, Washington State Department of Transportation

“Preservation” generally refers to the long-term work needed to sustain already existing infrastructure. WSDOT says it’ll need an additional $8 billion dollars over the next decade to do that work.

Jerry Cornfield at the Washington State Standard reported that while the Legislature did approve a 15.5 BILLION dollar budget for the next two years…. less than a billion dollars was earmarked for preservation over that time. That’s well short of the $1.6 Billion needed to keep pace with the wear and tear put on our state’s infrastructure.

GUEST: Senator Marko Liias - Chair of the WA State Senate Transportation Committee

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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As SNAP benefit cutoff looms, WA food banks brace for impact

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:04:24 +0000

Update, 11:45 am, 10/31: Two federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to fund SNAP using the USDA's contingency funds. Read more from The Associated Press.

_________________________________________________________________________________

10/29: More than 1 in 10 people in Washington state rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Most of those recipients are in households with children.

And all of them will get cut off from those benefits on October 31st if the partial federal government shutdown doesn’t end by then.

This week, Governor Ferguson said he’d direct over 2 million dollars in weekly food aid to state food banks should the shutdown continue.

That program will start November 3rd.

But is that enough to make up for the loss of SNAP benefits?

Guest

Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks, race and equity reporter, The Seattle Times

WA SNAP benefits to run out Nov. 1 if government shutdown persists - The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why is the U.S. striking boats off the coast of South America?

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 22:12:06 +0000

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed U.S strikes on four more boats in waters near South America. The attacks happened Monday off the coast of Colombia in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Hegseth claimed without citing evidence, “the four vessels were known by our intelligence apparatus, transiting along known narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics.”

Including this week’s, the strikes have killed nearly 60 people. Democrats say the President is using the military to carry out extrajudicial killings.

We get the latest on why these strikes are happening.

Guest

Joshua Keating, senior correspondent covering foreign policy and world news, Vox

A Timeline of Trump’s Strikes on Vessels He Says Are Smuggling Drugs - The New York Times

The Real Target of Trump’s War on Drug Boats - The New Yorker

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Amazon lays off 14,000 people - what's next for the company?

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 21:58:21 +0000

Amazon confirmed this morning it is cutting 14,000 employees from its corporate workforce.

In a letter sent to employees earlier today, the Senior Vice President of “People Experience and Technology” – basically, HR – at Amazon quoted CEO Andy Jassey, saying “we want to operate like the world’s largest startup… by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and helping reduce bureaucracy.”

This may only be the beginning of cuts within the company. According to Reuters, this round of workforce reduction could include as many as 30,000 positions. That would be the largest staffing reduction in the company’s history.

There are indicators that Amazon’s business is booming. Cloud computing sales increased 17.5% in the second quarter.

The company is planning to hire 250,000 seasonal employees, anticipating big holiday sales.

So - why now? What is Amazon’s goal with these cuts, and what are they aiming to build for the future of the company?

Guest:

Todd Bishop, co-founder of Geekwire, and a business and technology reporter

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air traffic controllers lose first full paycheck, adding stress to an already stressful job

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 21:52:29 +0000

It’s Day 28 of the federal government shutdown – just a few days away from this becoming the longest-running shutdown in U.S. history… And air traffic controllers working without pay are feeling it.

Today, the nation’s roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers are getting their first zero-dollar paycheck since the government shutdown began on October 1.

Some of them say they’re considering side gigs, like driving for Uber or DoorDash, to make up for lost income. And thousands of flights have been delayed over the past few days because of controller absences.

The shutdown is only the latest in a long list of frustrations bogging these workers down. Understaffing has been troubling the industry for years – including here in Washington state.

An aviation expert explains what it takes to become an air traffic controller, the hardships that come with this profession and where the shutdown fits into all of this.

Guest:

Margaret Wallace, an assistant professor of Aviation Management at Florida Institute of Technology. Wallace also worked as an air traffic controller for the U.S. Air Force for more than a decade.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New documentary looks at why shipwrecks led to conflict in the PNW

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 02:24:33 +0000

If you’ve ever hung out in Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park, you’ve probably come face to face with the Peter Iredale shipwreck.

The British vessel crashed onto the coast in 1906 and has stayed there ever since. Today it has become quite the tourist attraction.

But for all its notoriety, the Peter Iredale is just one of more than 2,000 shipwrecks that happened along a dangerous stretch of coastline in the Pacific Northwest. And with many of these wrecks came conflict.

A new documentary explores how shipwrecks led to tension - and, sometimes, violence - between Indigenous communities and colonists in the Pacific Northwest.

Guest:

Anna King, a senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting and the director of “WRECKED.”

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will people always love Costco?

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:55:52 +0000

At a time when Starbucks is closing 200 of its stores and Amazon plans to replace half a million jobs with robots, one Seattle business has been surprisingly resilient: Costco.

In 1983, Costco opened its first store in Seattle and today it’s the third largest retailer in the world, with more than 900 stores globally. But while Costco is known for its devoted customer base and generosity towards its employees, how long is that kind of growth, and good will, sustainable?

Guest: New Yorker reporter Molly Fischer

Related Links: Can the Golden Age of Costco Last?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Oct 23-27

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:40:45 +0000

We may not be watching the Mariners in the World Series this weekend, but that doesn't mean there aren't awesome things to do...

LINKS:

SPOOKY STUFF:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What's actually happening in Portland

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:20:43 +0000

It can be easy to make jokes about the split realities of the “Portlandia” sketch you could make out of those images, and the scene President Trump describes when he talks about the Rose City- a place, quote, “where they kill people and destroy the city.”

But, with an appeals court ruling this week clearing the way for Oregon National Guard troops to deploy to Portland – what are things like in the city right now?

And what can we learn from the people attempting to find common ground between the realities described by Portlanders, and the dire tales spun by our President?

Guest

Anna Griffin, Pacific Northwest bureau chief, New York Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

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This Seattle playwright's latest show is about his terminal illness. But don't worry, it's funny.

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 01:18:14 +0000

Consider yourself cordially invited to Brendan Healy’s memorial service.

That’s because the Seattle playwright is sharing his experience of living with, and dying from, a terminal illness.

His newest play is called "Eulogy, or How to Plan Your Own Funeral (and have fun doing it!)" If you go, you’ll get a front-row seat to remembrances of Healy’s life. But the play also promises audiences pictures of puppies, so there’s a little bit of something for everyone.

He’s putting the production on through Pony World Theatre, which he co-founded in 2009. It opens on October 23 at 12th Avenue Arts, so we caught up with Brendan before he hits the stage.

Guest:

Brendan Healy, the Seattle playwright behind "Eulogy, or How to Plan Your Own Funeral (and have fun doing it!)"

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What to know about Seattle's sales tax increase, plus the latest city hall news

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:52:35 +0000

Today, we heard an announcement of a proposed Seattle Police union deal that could open the door to expanded use of police alternatives.

There’s also been some positive news on the city budget – to the tune of about $14 million in unexpected revenue on the horizon. And the City Council recently approved a sales tax increase to fund public safety priorities.

Lots of City Hall business to review with Seattle Times reporter David Kroman — and we also talk elections.

Guest

David Kroman, reporter, The Seattle Times

Seattle council approves sales tax increase for public safety

Seattle officers ‘undermining’ city’s police alternative, report says

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

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The many joys (and a few potential dangers) of foraging in the PNW

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 22:57:52 +0000

What do dwarf mallow and dandelion have in common? Sure, most people would consider both of these plants weeds, but they're also both found in Natalie Hammerquist's new book, Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Hammerquist is an expert forager who makes YouTube videos about plants in the PNW. We took a trip with her to sample a veritable salad bar growing in between pavers and along the path of the Beacon Food Forest.

Guest:

Natalie Hammerquist, herbalist, expert forager, and author of Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest and Medicinal Plants of the Pacific Northwest

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Election 2025: Seattle mayoral candidate debate

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:26:43 +0000

Seattle hasn't had a two term mayor since Greg Nickels, who won a second term nearly two decades ago.

Incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell is trying to break the streak of one term mayors. He was elected to the position in 2021. He previously served on the Seattle city council for 12 years.

His opponent is Katie Wilson. She founded the nonprofit Transit Riders Union and serves as its chair.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Honeycrisp apples are the worst (just kidding, but they are tough to grow)

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 23:04:39 +0000

Wanna scare an apple farmer?

Just say one word: “Honeycrisp.”

We're kidding…. But they do make farmers' lives harder.

That’s according to a recent story in the Wall Street Journal calling the variety a “farmer’s nightmare.” And that’s tough because they’re one of the most popular apples on the market. People can’t seem to resist their sweet, crunchy flavor.

So there’s high demand for the apple… but honeycrisps are pretty demanding in return: They’re apparently thin-skinned. They bruise easily. And they’re susceptible to disease.

Washington is the biggest apple producer in the entire country, so we asked a farmer in Chelan if this apple variety is rotten right to the core.

Guest:

Bill Clark runs the Diamondback Acres farm with his wife, Angell, in Chelan.

Related links:

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Is the future of healthcare decision making in the hands of AI?

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 22:27:20 +0000

In a few months, Washingtonians on Medicare could see additional hurdles when it comes to getting approval for their procedures and care. .

That’s because the Trump Administration is exploring the use of prior authorizations to assess whether medical services are necessary for a patient. If it isn’t, the procedures may not be covered.

Prior authorization is a common practice in the insurance industry but not in Medicare. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says the tool will help weed out waste and fraud. And it says it will use AI to help make eligibility decisions.

Washington is one of six states that will pilot the program, starting in January.

GUEST: Darius Tahir - Correspondent for KFF News

RELATED LINKS:

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A Seattle-based translator on 'We Computers,' dirty jokes and AI-proof careers

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 22:05:05 +0000

Shelley Fairweather-Vega is a Seattle-based translator.

She’s responsible for the English edition of Uzbek writer Hamid Ismailov’s novel “We Computers.”

For that work, Fairweather-Vega is a finalist for a 2025 National Book Award in the translated literature category.

She wrote in the afterword to “We Computers,” that she tried to find room in the plot for the poetry, and room for the poetry in the plot.

We talk with her about her work and the community of translators around the Puget Sound.

Guest

Shelley Fairweather-Vega

2025 National Book Awards: Seattle writer, translator longlisted - The Seattle Times

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Election 2025: Seattle city attorney candidates debate

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 21:11:00 +0000

Who will be Seattle’s next top lawyer?

The city attorney enforces Seattle’s laws, prosecutes misdemeanor crimes and defends the city in court.

After a summer primary, former assistant U.S. attorney Erika Evans emerged as the challenger to incumbent City Attorney Ann Davison.

They debate at KUOW in front of a live studio audience.

Guests

Ann Davison, incumbent Seattle city attorney

Erika Evans, candidate for city attorney

Will Seattle reelect its conservative City Attorney? (published before the summer primary) - Cascade PBS

Trump has become the focal point in Seattle city attorney race - The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Oct 16-20

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 20:29:00 +0000

Your weekend has arrived, we're ALL celebrating HUMPY, and we're anticipating that very first Mariners World Series... But, there are a bunch of other things happening, so let's get to it!

LINKS:

SPORTS!!
- Mariners!! - Thurs/Fri at home, (Sun/Mon in Toronto if needed)
- Reign vs Utah Royals FC
- Seahawks vs Houston - MNF!
SIFF DocFest - starts Thurs 10/16, ends 10/23
Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair
Seattle Oddities & Curiosities Expo 2025
Slack Key Seattle Festival
Seattle No Kings - Oct 18
No Kings - FULL MAP
Seattle Opera - The Pirates of Penzance
Northwest Record Show

SPOOKY STUFF:

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Is Trump an authoritarian? Or a fascist? Two UW professors weigh in

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:39:06 +0000

Demonstrators are gearing up for another nationwide No Kings Day Protest this weekend against President Donald Trump.

If you don’t know what we’re talking about, here’s a tagline on the event’s website to catch you up to speed: “Reclaiming Democracy, Rejecting Authoritarianism.”

For years, Americans on the left have called Trump an authoritarian. And for a lot of people, his second go in the White House has only reinforced these labels.

In the past year, Trump has pardoned rioters who tried to keep him in office after a free and fair election; deployed the National Guard to major U.S. cities against the wishes of state governors; and called for the prosecution of his critics by the U.S. Justice Department.

But does Trump’s expansion of executive authority make him… and authoritarian? Or a fascist, as some argue? Two experts from the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies hash it out with us.

Guest:

Scott Radnitz, Herbert J. Ellison Professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies at the University of Washington
Daniel Bessner, Anne H.H. and Kenneth B. Pyle Associate Professor in American Foreign Policy at the University of Washington and co-host of American Prestige

Related stories:

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Election 2025: Seattle City Council position 9 candidates debate

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:31:13 +0000

Two candidates are running to represent the city of Seattle in one of our two city-wide Council seats.

And 2026 will be a big year for the council – we’ve got a looming budget deficit, potential federal funding cuts, and, of course, the continuous threat of federal troops being sent to our fair city.

The first candidate is a familiar name – incumbent Sara Nelson was elected to the position 9 seat in 2021. She is the city council president, and a co-founder of Fremont Brewing.

Her opponent is Dionne Foster - former executive director of the nonprofit Washington Progress Alliance, which advocated for a statewide capital gains tax. Foster is also a former policy advisor for the city.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Are you reading less these days? Researchers say you're part of a bigger trend

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 02:22:42 +0000

Americans are reading less for pleasure these days.

That’s according to research from the University of Florida and University College London. And it’s not a little dip - we’re talking a 40% drop in daily leisure reading for people 15 and older over the past two decades.

This shift is especially prevalent for specific groups, like Black Americans, people with lower incomes, and people in rural areas.

We dug deeper into the findings from this study... and took a closer look at Seattle's reading habits.

Guest:

Jill Sonke, co-director of the EpiArts Lab at the University of Florida.
Brooke Bosley, co-founder of the Black Futures Book Club.
Spencer Ruchti, author events manager for Third Place Books.

Related stories

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

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What's the difference between a scurfy mouse and a scruffy mouse? A Nobel Prize

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:44:33 +0000

It’s been quite a week for one Seattle scientist, after getting an unexpected late-night call from a Swedish phone number last week.

That call turned out to bring good news: Dr. Mary Brunkow is sharing this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

She’s being honored for research she did decades ago; work that would eventually loom large in developing ways to treat autoimmune disease and cancer.

We’ve asked Dr. Brunkow to reflect a bit on what that work looks like in hindsight, and what it means to share this honor…

GUEST: Dr. Mary Brunkow

RELATED LINKS:

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Election 2025: Seattle District 2 candidates debate

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 05:05:04 +0000

Two candidates are running to represent Southeast Seattle, including Beacon Hill, the Chinatown-International District, Columbia City, and Rainier Beach.

The District 2 seat was left vacant earlier this year when former City Councilmember Tammy Morales left the role. It’s being temporarily filled by Interim Councilmember Mark Solomon, but he’s going to step aside once voters decide which candidate they want to represent their community.

The current candidates for District 2 are campaigning on platforms that prioritize key issues, like gun violence, housing and homelessness.

We'll dig into the ways they differ so you can make an informed decision when you reach for your ballots.

Guests:

Adonis Ducksworth, the communications and policy advisor at the Seattle Department of Transportation
Eddie Lin, an assistant attorney for the Seattle City Attorney’s office

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 10/9-12

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 23:37:42 +0000

We open this weekend's warmup with a fun chat about the TASVEER FILM FESTIVAL.

Soundside's Libby Denkmann spoke with Tasveer Executive Director Rita Meher about what everyone can expect for this year's festival, and what exciting things they've got coming soon!

Then producer Jason Burrows takes it away with the standard issue warmup.

LINKS:

Tasveer Film Festival
SPORTS!
- Mariners vs Tigers - Game 5 - Fri 10/10 5:08p
- Seattle Reign - Fri 10/10 vs Bay FC
- UW Husky Men’s Football - FRI 10/10 vs Rutgers
- Seattle Sounders - SAT 10/11 vs Real Salt Lake
- Seattle Kraken - Sat 10/11 vs LV Golden Knights
Love Letters writing workshop
Roller Boogie at Pier 66
2025 Cascadia Poetry Festival 9
Cider 'n' Gold
HAUNTED - Tacoma Art Museum
Seattle Meowtropolitan - Pumpkin Carving
Halloween Train

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Microsoft protester reflects on campaign to end company’s ties with Israel

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 23:13:30 +0000

Vocal pro-Palestinian protests have been happening within one of the Seattle area’s biggest industries. Groups of tech workers at various companies have campaigned to end their employer’s relationships with the Israeli government. One such group, called No Azure for Apartheid, has occupied the Microsoft campus and disrupted corporate events.

Guests:

Hossam Nasr - former Microsoft employee and organizer with No Azure for Apartheid

Relevant Links:

The Guardian: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its technology in mass surveillance of Palestinians

Geekwire: Inside the Microsoft protests: Fired engineer speaks out on Palestine, Israel, AI, and big tech

KUOW: Microsoft employees protest company’s contract with Israeli intelligence organization

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Starbucks' CEO wants to get customers back to stores. He's also closing them.

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 22:45:15 +0000

The news hit like a gulp of bitter cold brew: Seattle-based Starbucks announced last month the company would be closing hundreds of stores and laying off another 900 corporate employees.

Tuesday, October 7th, it was reported that another 369 employees will be laid off here in Washington State in December due to store “closures.”

This follows a restructuring plan laid out by CEO Brian Niccol.

Here to walk us through the latest out of SBUX HQ is Heather Haddon. She covers restaurants for the Wall Street Journal, and has been following this story all year.

GUEST: Heather Haddon

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How Oct. 7th transformed Israeli politics

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 23:01:01 +0000

Today marks two years since Hamas and several other Palestinian militant groups carried out multiple coordinated attacks in Israel - killing over a thousand people. Around 250 Israelis were taken hostage.

It was a day of unconscionable atrocities and hatred. And war has only made the horrors grow. Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, according to the United Nations. Last month the United Nations Human Rights Commission declared that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.

Locally we see a lot of activism around America’s support for Israel and American business’ involvement in Israel and Gaza.

But, what do things look like inside Israel right now?

And will a ceasefire, if it happens, or the return of hostages, change the picture in Israel?

Guest:

Liora Halperin is a Professor of International Studies and History, and Distinguished Endowed Chair of Jewish Studies, at the University of Washington, and she’s the Director of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.

Related stories:

Israel at War With Itself - NYT

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Ask A Doctor: How to stay healthy as wildfire smoke gets worse

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 20:56:55 +0000

Wildfire smoke is deadly and getting deadlier. A recent study published in Nature estimates that if warming continues at the current rate, smoke exposure could kill 70,000 Americans a year by 2050… and researchers expect that Washington could feel some of the biggest impacts.

Some researchers say the study points to some of the strongest evidence so far that climate change is endangering people in the United States. Smoke pollution can cause coughing and throat irritation, but it can also lead to long-term respiratory and heart issues.

The West Coast in particular is expected to see the biggest increases in smoke pollution.

So we’re bringing you another “ask a doctor” segment, where we ask medical professionals to give us the information we need to stay healthy.

GUEST: Dr. James Wallace, a family medicine physician and the health officer for Okanogan County.

RELATED LINKS:

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The shelter for unhoused people that had empty rooms, despite Seattle spending millions on it

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 02:39:43 +0000

In a bid to make progress on homelessness during the pandemic, Seattle began housing people in a shelter at the Civic Hotel, just a few blocks from the Space Needle. The space offered wraparound services and, unlike some other shelters, didn’t require its clients to be sober.

And all in all, it seemed like things were going pretty well.

Then Seattle stopped sending people there. Rooms were empty, despite the fact that the city had committed millions of dollars to keep using the building.

A new investigation digs into why the city stopped using the Civic Hotel… and the complicated journey to finding a replacement.

Guest:

Ashley Hiruko, an investigative reporter at KUOW and a fellow with ProPublica.

Related stories:

KUOW - Seattle paid for shelter beds that it left vacant despite a massive need for housing

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The interim head of Seattle Public Schools on budgets, protests and beyond

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 22:37:52 +0000

Seattle Public Schools have only been back in session for about a month, but it’s already been a busy year for the district.

We wanted to get caught up on what’s been happening, so we reached out to Interim Superintendent Fred Podesta for a conversation last week.

We talked with him about school lunch protests, the budget, and a proposed pilot program to bring a school engagement officer back to one Seattle high school.

Guest

Fred Podesta, interim superintendent, Seattle Public Schools

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Remembering Jane Goodall

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 21:56:37 +0000

Last week renowned primatologist Jane Goodall died at the age of 91.

Goodall spent 65 years studying wild chimpanzees in Tanzania. Her work showed that chimpanzees make and use tools, and have emotions, empathy and their own culture. She changed our understanding of the world around us.

But it went far beyond just that - in her later life Goodall was an advocate: for conservation, human rights, animal welfare, and a number of other issues.

Myron Shekelle is a primatologist and senior instructor at Western Washington University.

And he previously worked with Goodall - he assisted with founding the Jane Goodall Institute in Singapore.

Guest:

Myron Shekelle, is a primatologist and senior instructor at Western Washington University

Related stories:

WWU primatologist spearheaded campaign to nominate Jane Goodall for Nobel Peace Prize - Cascadia Daily News

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Election 2025: King County Executive candidates debate

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:59:14 +0000

We’re talking about the future of a big job today: King County Executive.

Whichever candidate is elected to this position will oversee the sheriff’s department, manage public health, transportation, public housing, and jails… according to the King County website, they’ll lead one of the largest regional governments in the United States.

The last time we had an open race for King County Executive, Barack Obama was about to become President. And everyone was talking about some new Washington-based movie called “Twilight.”

Today, two county leaders are vying for the job.

Guests:

Claudia Balducci is a member of the King County Council. She represents District 6, which includes Bellevue, Mercer Island, and Redmond. She is an attorney who previously served as Mayor of Bellevue, she was a Bellevue city council member, and Director of the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention for King County.
Girmay Zahilay is chair of the King County Council, representing District 2, which includes Skyway, Allentown, and the University District. He’s also an attorney and founded the non-profit Rising Leaders, which offers mentorship and leadership training for middle school students.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Dan Wilson is prepping the Mariners for their 2025 playoff run

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:40:50 +0000

The Major League Baseball playoffs started this week and the Mariners, once again, did not take the field.

But this year, that’s actually a good thing.

Your Seattle Mariners finished on top of their division for the first time in nearly a quarter century and have a first round bye in the playoffs. The team’s first ALDS game is Saturday.

It has been an absolute rollercoaster of a season. Cal Raleigh led the charge and put up an impressive 60 home runs in the regular season. He’s one of the favorites to win the American League MVP.

The M’s have had a few new faces join the team, notably trade deadline acquisition Josh Naylor, and the vibe got a shot in the arm as the team brought Geno Suarez back…

The last time the Seattle Mariners won the American League West pennant, Ichiro was in his rookie year, the team won 116 games, and a guy named Dan Wilson was the catcher.

Dan Wilson is NOW the Manager of the M’s, and he’s led the team to their first AL West championship since 2001. He sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann Thursday morning.

GUEST: Mariners Manager Dan Wilson

RELATED LINK: Official Seattle Mariners Website

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Oct 2-5

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:29:16 +0000

We didn't have time on the broadcast, but don't worry... Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows has all the events for you to enjoy this weekend.

LINKS:

HAUNTED HOUSES:

Haunted Forest of Maple Valley
Nile Nightmares Haunted House - Mountlake Terrace
Georgetown Morgue - SoDo
My Haunted Forest - Kitsap
Stalker Farms - Snohomish
Maris Farms Haunted Woods | Haunted Adventure in Buckley, WA

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean when a city apologizes?

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 23:36:35 +0000

Who is an apology for?

The answer is more obvious when the person you’re apologizing to is standing in front of you.

You want their forgiveness. Or for them to feel better. Or for you to feel better.

But when the people who were hurt, or those who hurt them, are long gone – what does apologizing actually accomplish?

That’s one of the questions behind a recent essay in the New Yorker. It’s called “The Ritual of Civic Apology,” by Beth Lew-Williams.

Lew-Williams is a Professor of History and Director of the Program in Asian American Studies at Princeton University.

She begins her essay by recounting a talk she gave in Tacoma, a few years ago.

It was about the forced expulsion of Tacoma’s Chinese residents in November 1885. And the city’s attempts to apologize for it, generations later.

Guest:

Beth Lew-Williams is Professor of History and Director of the Program in Asian American Studies at Princeton University. Her new book “John Doe Chinaman: A Forgotten History of Chinese Life under American Racial Law” published in September of this year

Related stories:

The Ritual of Civic Apology - The New Yorker

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are once again asking: Is Seattle fashion that bad?

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 23:31:43 +0000

It’s finally fall, which means the return of colorful flannels, blundstones, and the occasional raincoat.

These are the clothes that have come to define Seattle fashion… which, if you haven’t heard, is bad.

That’s at least according to a longheld stereotype about our city’s aesthetic.

People like to make fun of the way Seattle-ites dress. They’ve labeled our fashion sense as Normie. Uninspired. Boring.

We’re asking two local fashion experts to weigh in on whether Seattle is an unstylish city… or if locals just earned a bad rap in their attempt to stay warm and dry.

Guest:

Clara Berg, a fashion historian and Curator of Collections at the Museum of History & Industry.
Andrew Hoge, a creative director and fashion writer in Seattle.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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As government shutdown approaches, Rep. DelBene reflects on "pivotal" hours ahead

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 23:06:07 +0000

The federal government is headed for a shutdown. Congressional leaders from both parties met with President Trump yesterday at the White House. They failed to make progress towards a funding deal.

Democrats say they want to reverse some Medicaid cuts that Republicans passed earlier this year – and extend tax credits for people on Obamacare plans. Meanwhile, Republicans falsely claim that their colleagues across the aisle are shutting down the government to fund healthcare for unauthorized immigrants.

Barring a last minute breakthrough in the Senate, the government will shut down for the first time in almost 7 years just after midnight tonight.

Guest:

Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01)

Relevant Links:

NPR: Here's what a government shutdown could affect around the country

Politico: Johnson, Jeffries dug in ahead of shutdown deadline

NYT: The deadlock over funding the government is growing uglier.

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What’s behind the White House’s anti-antifa order

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:48:51 +0000

President Trump designated antifa as a domestic terrorist organization last week.

He followed up with a memo directing the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate individuals and groups engaged in political violence and intimidation.

Trump cited antifa as a reason to mobilize 200 Oregon National Guard troops, which are expected to arrive in Portland within the next week.

The president claimed ICE facilities in the city “were under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists.”

So what is behind these anti-antifa moves by the White House? And what exactly is antifa?

Correction: At 15:26, the event Mathias is talking about actually takes place in Forks, the town where Twilight is set. It did not take place in the town in which Twin Peaks was set. Read more about what happened here.

Guest

Christopher Mathias, reporter, author of the upcoming book “To Catch a Fascist”

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Spoiler Alert: Someone dies in Amie Schaumberg's "Murder by the Book"

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:26:26 +0000

When homicide detective Ian Carter arrives at the scene of a murder, the victim is posed to look like Ophelia from Hamlet. Not that any of the detectives on the scene realize that...

The person who will crack open that clue, and other twisted literary references, is on the other side of their Oregon college town; English professor Emma Reilly. She’s struggling to get to class on time, and sensitive about avoiding the “absent minded professor” trope.

It’s the beginning of the new novel “Murder by the Book,” by author Amie Schaumberg… who lives in Spokane and happens to be an English professor herself. The narrative shifts between the perspectives of Detective Carter and Professor Reilly, and as the mystery unfolds, we see the crime through different lenses - Literary, Artistic, and Forensic…

GUEST: Amie Schaumberg

RELATED LINKS:

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Rena Priest’s 'Positively Uncivilized' calls on readers to rethink their perspective on the natural world

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:30:29 +0000

Rena Priest is best known for her poetry. As Washington’s poet laureate between 2021 and 2023, she traveled around the state doing readings and spreading awareness of poetry. She was the first Indigenous poet to hold that role and is a member of the Lummi Nation. Now, she’s bringing her keen observations and sharp wit to non-fiction. She’s the author of a new collection of essays, titled Positively Uncivilized.

In the book Priest explores the history of broken treaties, battles over fishing rights, and struggles with cultural erasure that compose the bedrock of the modern Coast Salish native experience. She also challenges the non-Native reader to experiment with perspective: for example, what if we maintained the kind of spiritual relationship with the natural world that put us in community with salmon, instead of above them?

The title of the book itself speaks to the types of stories Priest tells. “Uncivilized” is a term that was, for generations, used to denigrate native people. But also one that had been reclaimed by Priest’s family and used in a playful way.

Priest is reading at Third Place Books Ravenna on Monday September 29 at 7:00 pm.

Guest:

Rena Priest, author of Positively Uncivilized

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The real land before time: unearthing the Permian Period

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:07:55 +0000

Christian Sidor is a professor in the UW Department of Biology and curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Burke. And for the last 18 years, he’s been traveling back and forth to Zambia and Tanzania, collecting fossils from the Permian period.

The Permian lasted about 47 millions years and ended 252 million years ago with the Triassic Period.

Sidor has found a lot of Permian specimens. Last month he and his collaborators co-edited a series of 14 articles on the animals they’ve discovered during their field work.

So, we wanted to go check out some of these new, ancient animals.

Guest:

Christian Sidor: professor in the UW Department of Biology and curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Burke

Related stories:

Fresh fossil finds in Africa shed light on the era before Earth’s largest mass extinction - UW News

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Pramila Jayapal on government shutdown, threats from Arizona lawmaker

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 22:49:52 +0000

Congress is barreling toward a government shutdown and Democrats are weighing whether they should use their leverage in this negotiation.

They want to extend Obamacare subsidies and potentially roll back some cuts to Medicaid. President Trump has threatened mass firings of federal workers in the event of a shutdown.

All of this is going on as the country is grappling with a rise in political violence – and political rhetoric that blames the other side for the problem.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal joined Soundside to talk more about all of this.

Guest:

Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative for Washington's 7th Congressional District.

Related stories:

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why some of Washington's wine growers are letting their best fruit rot

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:16:07 +0000

It’s crush season in Washington, a time when grape growers and winemakers are usually very busy, working insane hours to make new wine.

But a huge percentage of the state’s highest quality wine won't get made this year.

Sluggish wine sales have meant growers are letting some of their best fruit rot, sometimes right on the vine.

And Washington growers and winemakers alike are concerned about the future of their businesses.

We talk about what's behind the wine glut.

Guest

Anna King, senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" Sept 25-29

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:30:00 +0000

The Mariners have made the playoffs as the AL West champs, and they're facing the Dodgers for the final games of the regular season, but hey... there's ALWAYS more to do this weekend! Check it out:

LINKS:

SPORTS!!
- Mariners vs Dodgers - Final games of the season! Fri/Sat/Sun
- UW Huskies vs The Ohio State Buckeyes Sat 12:30p
- Sounders vs Vancouver Whitecaps Sat 7:30pm
- Reign vs NC Courage Sun 5pm
- Kraken vs Calgary Flames - Preseason Game #2 MON 7pm
Prosser Balloon Rally
Festa Italiana Seattle
Northwest Tea Festival
Enumclaw BBQ, Brews, & Brats
Bellingham SeaFeast
Seattle Opera - Costume Sale
Musical Migration - Crossings
Danny Elfman's Music From the Films of Tim Burton with the Seattle Symphony
Hitchcock Hotel 2025 — Can Can Culinary Cabaret
Unicorn: Burn Relief Fundraiser | Neumos
- Unicorn Staff Fire Relief Fund

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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On The Ballot: State Sen. Victoria Hunt, 5th Legislative District

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 23:18:03 +0000

This week, we're looking at the special election in Washington’s 5th Legislative District, which covers Issaquah to Enumclaw.

State Sen. Victoria Hunt, a Democrat, was appointed to the seat and is running to keep her job this fall.

Republicans think they could flip this district. They’d like to claw back a little power from Democrats, who currently hold majorities in both the state House and Senate.

We talk with Sen. Victoria Hunt about her campaign.

Guest

State Sen. Victoria Hunt, Washington's 5th Legislative District

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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"I will not watch channel four ever again" - your thoughts on Jimmy Kimmel and Sinclair

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 22:51:12 +0000

Did you catch Kimmel last night? It was his first night back after Disney pulled him off air about a week ago.

Most likely, you only saw it after the fact. That's because Sinclair Broadcasting, which owns 38 ABC affiliates, including KOMO here in Seattle, announced earlier this week that they would continue to pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! until further notice.

Kimmel’s show was suspended by ABC after he discussed the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an opening monologue last week, stating that a “MAGA gang” were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

Sinclair had previously demanded Kimmel apologize for his statement, and donate to Kirk’s conservative nonprofit - Turning Point USA.

We asked you how you felt about Sinclair’s decision to pre-empt Kimmel’s show on their stations

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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As Seattle finalizes comprehensive plan, some ask - who will speak for the trees?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 22:40:48 +0000

After a few marathon public comment sessions last week, the Seattle City Council is considering the final version of a comprehensive plan.

This is the document that dictates where and how the city will grow over the next two decades.

Over the last week, balancing tree canopy with growth emerged as one of the most controversial issues in the plan.

And there’s a history here:

In 2023, Mayor Harrell and the Seattle City Council passed a so-called tree protection ordinance that would limit the amount of trees developers could cut down while building new housing.

But, according to tree-canopy advocates, two years since the law went into effect tree-cutting has only increased.

Just in August an average of 73 trees were being cut down each week.

So what went wrong? Or – is the law working exactly as intended?

Guest:

Robert McClure is a journalist and co-founder of InvestigateWest

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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From Sammamish to space: meet NASA’s new astronaut candidate

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:03:35 +0000

NASA announced its next batch of potential astronauts this week. Out of 8,000 applicants, just ten were chosen to attend the two year training program, including Lauren Edgar from Sammamish. When those astronaut candidates complete the training, they will be eligible for missions to low earth orbit, the moon, and Mars.

Guest:

Lauren Edgar, NASA astronaut candidate

Relevant Links:

NASA Selects All-American 2025 Class of Astronaut Candidates

NASA Astronaut Candidate Lauren A. Edgar

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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She was harassed on a national level. And the experience, she says, softened her.

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:50:27 +0000

What happens when you become the target of hate, spread across wide swaths of the media? Of a movement that is as frightening and violent as it is just factually wrong?

You might want life to go back to normal. But those who’ve experienced this know things can’t ever be the same.

A Belligham resident told us about her experience.

Guest:

Jenn Mason, owner of WinkWink sex shop in Bellingham, sex educator, and school board director

Related stories:

Right-wing trolls harassed this Bellingham sex educator. Then she reached across the divide - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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On The Ballot: Chad Magendanz, 5th Legislative District

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 23:18:36 +0000

This week, we're looking at the special election in Washington’s 5th Legislative District, which covers Issaquah to Enumclaw.

State Sen. Victoria Hunt, a Democrat, was appointed to the seat and is running to keep her job this fall.

Republicans are hoping to flip a couple of seats in the legislature and claw back some lawmaking power from Democrats, who currently hold majorities in both the House and Senate

Former State Rep. Chad Magendanz is challenging Hunt for the 5th district’s Senate seat. Magendanz is a Republican and served this district for two terms in the state House until he lost in 2016.

We talk with him about his campaign.

Guest

Chad Magendanz, former state representative, and candidate for state Senate in the 5tth LD

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Using Instagram to sell a house in Seattle

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 03:51:06 +0000

Log onto Instagram and you’ll see videos of celebrity interviews, food recipes and, lately, homes for sale.

These days realtors are leaning more on social media to show property listings. They take their audience on immersive tours and give details about a home’s price, features and neighborhood.

These posts get plenty of attention from casual viewers, but they do also attract potential buyers.

A real estate agent shares how she's using social media to sell homes around the city.

Guest:

Candace Hagen, a real estate agent in Seattle.

Related stories:

Seattle-area real estate agents go where homebuyers scroll | The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Ask a Doctor: What the latest federal vaccine guidance means for your kids

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 03:35:55 +0000

There's a flurry of health news happening these days: Decisions and announcements being made at federal agencies. State governments vowing to fight changes.

It can be hard to know what the impacts will be at the ground level.

We're going to set aside some time every now and then to check in with doctors and medical professionals about the latest developments -- and what they mean for you.

In this segment, we're digging into the latest news on childhood vaccinations: Last week, a vaccine panel formed by Health and Human Services head Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met to discuss policy regarding measles, Covid-19 and Hepatitis B.

There were a variety of actions taken by the panel -- some votes taken, some NOT taken. Two local doctors help us make sense of what all of this means.

Guest:

Dr. Helen Chu, a professor of medicine at UW Medicine.
Dr. Amanda Kost, chief of service of family medicine at Harborview Medical Center.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Affordable Housing vacancies in Seattle rise while the homeless population grows

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:37:12 +0000

There is a disconnect between the high level of homelessness in Seattle and the high number of affordable housing units that are sitting unused at the moment. As of the end of last year, nearly 11% of affordable housing in the city were empty – more than 2700 apartments. .

That’s more than five times the number of vacancies compared to 7 years ago.

So what happened?

Well, for many, affordable housing is, ironically, no longer the affordable option. A flattening of rents overall has made these units less desirable than many other market rate options. But even though these units are sitting empty, it’s unlikely they will be opened for Seattle’s growing homeless population.

Guest: Seattle Times homelessness reporter Greg Kim

Links:

Why thousands of Seattle’s affordable-housing apartments became vacant

Homeless people visited ER less after moving into King County’s hotels

Bracing for cuts, King County Housing Authority pulls back

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Sept 18-21

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 21:09:08 +0000

Well, with Fall officially beginning at 11:19 on Monday morning, we’ve reached the FINAL weekend of the summer. How will YOU be celebrating the end of the season?

Are you sad to see the summer slip away, or are you excited for the Autumnal goodness that the season change brings?

Either way, we’ve got Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows here with nearly EVERY option available!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Hear it Again: The hunt for truth behind Oregon's mysterious cattle mutilations

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 21:01:44 +0000

In 2019, the remote plains of Harney County, Oregon made national news. Scattered amongst groves of ponderosa pine were a handful of mutilated cattle. The cows had an almost surgical removal of their tongues and other organs.

But the most astounding thing is that the scenes where these cattle were found were pristine. No tracks. And not one drop of blood – the carcasses were drained dry.

The documentary will screen at the Northwest Film Forum's Local Sightings film festival in Seattle on Saturday, September 20th.

Guests:

Anna King, senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting
Jackson Devereux and Lachlan Hinton, directors of "Not One Drop of Blood."

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the ballot: Rep. Michelle Caldier - 26th Legislative District

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 01:17:08 +0000

A state Senate seat in Washington’s 26th district is looking like a barn burner. The district covers Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Port Orchard and the Key Peninsula. And Republicans see this race as a way to chip away at the Democratic majority in the Senate. Republican state Representative Michelle Caldier has served the district for 6 terms in the House. She’s trying to unseat Democratic state Senator Deb Krishnadasan who was appointed to the position last year. And the race is tight, 1,000 votes separated the two candidates in the primary election.

Guest:

State Representative Michelle Caldier, candidate for state Senate in the 26th LD

Relevant Links:

WA State Standard: New leader in electoral battle for WA state Senate seat

WA Observer: Mostly-Microsoft money headed for hot legislative races

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump's push to repeal the Roadless Rule gets mixed reaction in the PNW

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:18:00 +0000

Washington’s great outdoors are famous for breathtaking mountain views, crystal blue lakes and…. roads? You could start seeing more of that last one on your hikes and camping trips in the coming years.

That’s because President Trump is trying to get rid of the Roadless Rule. It’s a 2001 federal policy that prohibits road construction and logging in protected national forests and grasslands. A repeal of the policy could impact close to 45 million acres in the United States, including around 2 million in Washington.

The administration says the rule is too restrictive, gets in the way of wildfire risk management and hurts economic development in rural areas. In late August, the federal government opened a public comment period for the proposed rescission. People have until Friday, September 19th, to share their thoughts.

So far, the news has ignited major backlash from wildlife advocates, outdoor enthusiasts, and tribes. But others are in favor of the federal administration's proposal to repeal the rule. A few people share why they're either backing the policy's overturn or fighting for its preservation.

Guest:

Alyssa Macy, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Nick Smith, public affairs director for the American Forest Resource Council
Lia Brewster, Sierra Club conservation campaign strategist

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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AI is probably coming to the classroom, whether you like it or not

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:40:51 +0000

A new school year has started; kids are sharpening pencils and breaking in backpacks. Many are also getting used to another new tool: Artificial Intelligence.

A slew of tech companies have been offering free or low-cost AI products to schools that will purportedly engage students and help them learn, while also aiding teachers with their day-to-day responsibilities. In a survey by the Consortium for School Networking, more than 50% of districts across the nation said they were training teachers in how to use AI.

But are these tools actually creating a better learning environment? And who stands to benefit from their growth in American education? We talk to reporter and author Vauhini Vara about her new deep dive into this issue.

Guest: Reporter and author Vauhini Vara

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What a King County case says about abuse in a national police youth program

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:58:19 +0000

In May, King County prosecutors filed sexual assault charges against a King County sheriff’s deputy.

They said he raped a 17-year-old girl.

Prosecutors claim the abuse started while the two were alone on a ride-along in his police SUV while she was participating in Explorers, a national youth mentorship program, with the Burien Police Department.

And that allegation mirrors a disturbing pattern of abuse within Explorers programs at law enforcement agencies nationwide.

We talk with a reporter who has investigated the program about what she found.

Guest

Lakeidra Chavis, former reporter, The Marshall Project

King County sheriff’s deputy charged with rape, sexual misconduct - The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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On the ballot: Sen. Deb Krishnadasan - 26th Legislative District

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:24:18 +0000

A Senate seat in Washington’s 26th district is looking like a barn burner. The district covers Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Port Orchard and the Key Peninsula. And Democrats are hoping to keep that district from flipping.

Democratic state Senator Deb Krishnadasan is the appointed incumbent in this fight. She finished the primary about 1,000 votes ahead, setting up an incredibly tight race for this November.

She’ll square off against Republican state Representative Michelle Caldier, who has served the district for 6 terms in the House.

It’s a classic Republican versus Democrat race with the potential to diminish Democratic control in the Senate.

Guest:

State Senator Deb Krishnadasan from Washington's 26th Legislative District

Relevant Links:

WA State Standard: New leader in electoral battle for WA state Senate seat

WA Observer: Mostly-Microsoft money headed for hot legislative races

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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She's a trans Seattleite. She did not shoot Charlie Kirk. The internet disagrees.

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 23:12:07 +0000

This is a story about the internet and our country’s political polarization.

It’s also a story about our thirst for answers, and the race to score ideological points following a tragedy.

And that rush to blame and to explain creates an environment where totally innocent people are run over by the runaway train of internet speculation, viral misinformation, and prejudice.

That’s what happened to one Seattleite a few days ago.

She’s a paralegal, and a trans woman – and last week, to a portion of the internet, her photo became the face of the shooter who assassinated Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Her image went viral in right-wing social media circles, along with threatening anti-trans rhetoric.

Obviously all of that was a lie. But the situation also had very true consequences for her life.

Guest:

Michaela, Seattle resident

A note: We are only using Michaela's first name because of concerns about harassment.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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"What do we want? One lunch!" Students protest changing SPD schedule

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:23:13 +0000

At 11am on Monday, September 15th, students at high schools across Seattle walked out of class, and headed to Seattle Public Schools’ district office downtown.

They were protesting changes to lunch times, announced last week by the district, that they say will negatively affect student experience at school.

KUOW reporter Noel Gasca was at the Seattle Public Schools district office, where students are gathering to protest, and joined us to explain.

Guest:

KUOW reporter Noel Gasca

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Hear it Again: New linguistic paper traces the many Indigenous names of Mount Rainier

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:46:30 +0000

Since May 8, 1792, European colonists have called the large volcano just off the coast of Puget Sound "Mount Rainier."

It was given that name by a British explorer, Captain George Vancouver – a gift to his friend, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier.

But prior to Vancouver’s arrival in what eventually became Washington state, the Indigenous peoples in and around the Salish Sea called it by many names.

A linguistic paper from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians traced those many names for the mountain – where they came from, and what they mean.

This conversation originally aired on May 5, 2025.

Guests:

Zalmai ʔəswəli Zahir, linguist and Lushootseed language teacher

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Sept 11-14

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 20:59:44 +0000

You know what time it is. It's WEEKEND WARMUP TIME!

Links:

SPORTS
- Mariners - LA Angels - 9/11-14
- Sounders - LA Galaxy - 9/13
- Reign - Racing Louisville FC - 9/14
- Seahawks - AWAY vs Pittsburgh 10am 9/14
Wallingford Bratwurst Festival
The Chehalis Flying Saucer Party
Seattle — Cider Summit
Hops & Crops Music and Beer Festival - Kent
Sip Suds & Si - North Bend
Autumn Sip & Stroll - Gig Harbor
Historic Downtown Snohomish Wine Walk
Vino in the Village – Magnolia
Black & Loud Fest at The Crocodile
Bite of PhinneyWood | The PNA
Local Sightings 2025 – Not One Drop of Blood - Northwest Film Forum

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Ballot: Alexis Mercedes Rinck - Seattle City Council Position 8

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 20:54:15 +0000

November’s general election could bring a group of new faces to Seattle City Government.

Today we’re diving into the race for City Council’s Position 8 seat. That’s a city-wide post, representing ALL of Seattle, as opposed to just one geographic district.

The incumbent in this race is Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck.

She won the seat after a special election last year. Now, Rinck is widely seen as the most progressive voice on the council. In this summer’s primary, she got a whopping 78% of the vote.

This fall, Rinck is facing off against a REPUBLICAN business owner in the general election: Rachel Savage.

GUEST: Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck

RELATED LINKS:

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Hear it again: Cannonball Arts comes to downtown Seattle

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 23:10:02 +0000

A brand new contemporary art space opened up last month in downtown Seattle.

It's called Cannonball Arts, and Soundside recently got a sneak preview.

GUESTS:

Brent Watanabe, a Seattle based artist who specializes in computer-controlled installations
Greg Lundgren, Creative Director of New Rising Sun

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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On the Ballot: Rachael Savage - Seattle City Council Position 8

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:46:33 +0000

November’s general election could bring a group of new faces to Seattle City Government.

Today we’re diving into the race for City Council’s Position 8 seat. That’s a city-wide post, representing ALL of Seattle, as opposed to just one geographic district.

Our first candidate in this Position 8 race is Rachael Savage. She’s a small business owner in Capitol Hill – she runs a crystal and incense shop on Broadway. And she’s a member of the Broadway Business Improvement Association.

Savage is running the most conservative campaign in city politics this year, as she tries to upset incumbent Alexis Mercedes Rinck’s bid for reelection. Rinck is currently the most progressive member of Seattle’s City Council.

While this is not Savage’s first foray into city politics, it is her first time running for office.

GUEST: Rachael Savage

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Lake City Fred Meyer closure: Lawmakers push back

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 22:40:07 +0000

What will it take to save the Lake City Fred Meyer? Is it even possible?

Lawmakers and local shoppers are asking those questions after Kroger announced last month that the Lake City location would be part of a wave of regional closures.

Local residents remain worried about where people will go for prescriptions and fresh produce, especially elderly and low-income residents, who may not have access to a car.

Guest

Paul Roberts, Seattle Times business reporter

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Brian Heywood launches two new initiatives about K-12 school policy

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:05:50 +0000

He’s back. Well, he never really left. Conservative megadonor Brian Heywood wants to put two new policy proposals in front of the Washington state Legislature next year.

Both deal with kids in schools, specifically, with parents’ access to school records, and trans kids playing sports.

Heywood spent millions of dollars on a slate of initiatives last year. Some of them passed the legislature, like a ban on income taxes, a loosening of restrictions on police car chases, and a law codifying parental rights to information about their kids in school.

Other measures that Heywood sponsored went to the ballot last November. Voters rejected three of them. Those measures would have killed the state’s long-term care program, the Climate Commitment Act, and capital gains tax.

Voters passed a fourth initiative that Heywood backed, this one was about preserving access to natural gas. But that’s been tied up in the courts and hasn’t taken effect yet.

Now, Heywood and his advocacy organization Let’s Go Washington, are announcing two new initiatives involving K-12 school policy:

He’ll be collecting signatures for a revamped parent’s bill of rights and a ban on trans athletes in girl’s sports. Let’s Go Washington has until January to get more than 300,000 signatures. If successful, the initiatives can appear before the Legislature during the session in 2026 and may end up on your ballot after that.

Guest:

Brian Heywood, hedge fund manager and funder behind Let's Go Washington

Relevant Links:

OPB: Washington state GOP megadonor planning new round of initiatives on taxes, parents’ rights

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What Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi's family wants, almost a year after her death

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 23:15:45 +0000

Almost a year ago, an Israeli soldier shot and killed Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank. She was a Seattle resident and a University of Washington graduate.

We spoke to her family about their memories of her and their push for an independent investigation into her killing.

Guest

Hamid Ali, Ayşenur's husband
Ozden Bennett, Ayşenur's sister

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A perspective on the Presidential Fitness Test from an actual physical education teacher

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 20:59:06 +0000

School starts up this week for some districts in our region, others started last week – before Labor Day!

For some students, gym classes may include a surprising throwback: The Presidential Fitness Test.

President Trump reestablished the program over the summer. It had been quietly phased out in 2013 by President Obama, and people are split over the value and impact of this test.

Teachers and fitness experts alike have criticized the test, suggesting it’s not effective in helping students develop healthier lifestyles, and at worst – some argue it encourages bullying and anxiety over body image.

We wanted to talk with an actual physical education teacher – NOT a gym teacher – about the return of the Presidential Fitness Test.

GUEST: Teri Garrett, a P.E. teacher at Lindbergh High School in Renton, with over 30 years of experience teaching Physical Education, around the Puget Sound.

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Sept 4th-7th

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 20:00:55 +0000

All good things must come to an end, and while that includes things like MoPop's Nirvana exhibition, it also means the work week is coming to a close.

With that in mind, here's Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows with all the things you could be doing this weekend!

LINKS:

Seahawks vs 49ers - 1:05 pm Sunday 9/7
Seattle Storm vs NY Liberty - 7:00 pm Friday 9/5
SEA-Nordic Film Festival
Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival
Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival
BrickCon 2025
Nirvana Exhibition Closing | Museum of Pop Culture
Ai Weiwei | Seattle Art Museum

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can ChatGPT be at fault for a teenager's suicide? A new lawsuit argues it can

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 17:27:18 +0000

Last week, the parents of a 16-year-old boy who died by suicide sued OpenAI, the company that owns ChatGPT. They say the bot fed into their son’s suicidal ideation, giving him technical advice on how to commit the act and even encouraging him to hide his plans.

The tragedy highlights the dark side of the emotional dependence some people have developed with AI. What potential power does AI hold over its users, and what safeguards will help us navigate this transitional period in tech history?

Guest: Oren Etzioni, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at the University of Washington

Links:

A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In.

ChatGPT to get parental controls after teen user’s death by suicide

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 200 people in Monroe, WA receive millions after exposure to Monsanto chemicals

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 23:37:23 +0000

Monsanto has settled with more than 200 people in Monroe, Washington, who were exposed to PCBs -- toxic chemicals once produced by the company.

Students, parents and staff at the Sky Valley alternative school in Snohomish County, had filed lawsuits against Monsanto starting in 2018, after reporting significant illnesses. The amount of the settlement has not been revealed, but it looks to possibly be the largest settlement over PCB exposure at a single site.

Guest: Seattle Times reporter Lulu Ramadan

Monsanto must pay $857M in PCB lawsuit at Monroe, WA, school, jury finds

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Breaking down recent immigration arrests, ICE activity in WA

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 22:39:59 +0000

If you’re a news junkie (or social media user) your feeds have likely been inundated lately with headlines and videos of immigration officers taking people into custody across our region.

Like the story about federal agents arresting two people working to tame the Bear Gulch fire near Lake Cushman. Or the arrest of a Washington National Guard veteran who has lived in the U.S. for decades… who was taken into custody during his citizenship interview.

And we might see activity ramp up: Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan recently told reporters that Seattle and other cities with “sanctuary” policies will soon see more immigration raids.

We want to get a better understanding of ICE’s activity in Washington– and if we can expect it to change in the near future.

Guest:

Elizabeth Benki, directing attorney at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why some WA judges won't make accused domestic abusers surrender their guns

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 21:53:16 +0000

In 22 states, people subject to certain domestic violence protection orders must surrender their guns.

Washington State has had that requirement since 2014, when lawmakers unanimously voted to strip abusers of their guns.

But not all judges here have been enforcing that law.

That’s because of a 2022 appeals court decision that led many judges and judicial officers to view it as unconstitutional.

Now, a new ruling in a separate case may provide more clarity and keep more guns out of the hands of alleged abusers. Maybe.

Guest:

Kelsey Turner is an investigative reporter at InvestigateWest

Related stories:

Some Washington judges aren’t ordering accused abusers to surrender guns. A new court ruling could change that. - Investigate West

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'The middle of a major infrastructure emergency:' Wilkeson councilmember fights to fix major bridge closures

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:41:40 +0000

If you’ve driven from Seattle to Mount Rainier this summer, you might’ve had to find a different route from normal – one that misses the town of Wilkeson.

Since April, this Pierce County town of just under 500 people has been cut off from a major source of economic activity: Through traffic, due to the closure of the Fairfax Bridge a few months ago.

And, to add insult to injury, another key bridge is also closed. The White River Bridge was blocked off following a crash involving a semitruck.

Wilkeson Councilmember Jayme Peloli says her town is suffering due to these closures.

She’d been calling for Washington’s governor to issue an emergency proclamation in order to seek federal dollars to reimburse state efforts to fix these bridges.

Yesterday, he did just that, in an effort to address the White River Bridge closure. We talk with Peloli about what's been going on in Wilkeson.

Guest

Jayme Peloli, Wilkeson councilmember

Editor's note: We received a statement from WSDOT after this episode aired on the radio. It reads, in part:

"The Governor’s emergency proclamation is the first step in WSDOT seeking federal funds for repairs to the White River Bridge. While this does not guarantee that WSDOT will receive funding from the Federal Highway Administration, we believe the bridge strike qualifies as a catastrophic failure from an external cause under the statute, and we will actively pursue emergency reimbursement. Securing this funding will help ensure that state dollars can go further as we balance the many pressing needs across our transportation system."

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Aug 29-Sept 1

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 22:50:12 +0000

It’s Thursday, and on Thursdays, we hear from Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows with everything worth doing this weekend... but he's on vacation so here's Producer Shane Mehling instead.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liquor before beer, best to steer clear? Why people are drinking less these days

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 22:48:54 +0000

Have you been at a party recently and found yourself reaching for sparkling water instead of a glass of wine? Join the club.

A new Gallup poll found that Americans are drinking less than ever before. Only 54% of U.S. adults are reporting that they consume alcohol. That’s a record low since the survey company started asking about people’s drinking habits back in 1939.

And young people are drinking less than older Americans, a trend we’re seeing in our region, too: The Seattle Times reports that young people - especially young men - are reporting lower alcohol consumption than other age groups in the area.

We want to know how local businesses are navigating this -- and what could be behind this shift.

Guest:

Emily Ritchie, executive director of the Northwest Cider Association.
Malcolm Purinton, assistant teaching professor of history at Northeastern University.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amanda Knox on empathy in storytelling and working with Monica Lewinsky in new 'Twisted Tale' series

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:33:58 +0000

The story of Amanda Knox has been told many times, and there have been several versions: there were the sensational allegations laid out by an Italian prosecutor, of a University of Washington exchange student who, in 2007, murdered her British roommate as part of a sex-game-gone wrong.

That story landed Knox in Italian prison for almost four years; that story was fiction. Then, there were the clickbaity tabloid exploits of “Foxy Knoxy,” a sex-obsessed “luciferina.” This story, which is also wrong, kept Knox confined in another way: branded with a reputation she couldn’t shake.

There were also Lifetime Movies, documentaries and countless books, including a couple by Knox herself, that told the true story of a young woman wrongly convicted and caught up by legal and media forces larger than herself.

Now, for the first time, she is using a scripted TV series to tell her story the way she wants.

She is the Executive Producer of a new series called The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. By the way, the series is also EP’d by Monica Lewinsky.

The first two episodes are available now on Hulu.

Guest:

Amanda Knox, Executive Producer of The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox

Relevant Links:

New York Times: For a ‘Twisted Tale,’ Amanda Knox and Grace Van Patten Became One

Seattle Times: Amanda Knox reclaims her story in Hulu’s ‘Twisted Tale’ series

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The prison shaped loophole in Washington's sanctuary laws

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:28:27 +0000

Governor Ferguson continues to defy demands from the Trump Administration to end Washington’s “sanctuary state” policies.

But lawmakers say there’s one place here where protections for immigrants are falling short: state prisons.

That, says Tacoma state Representative Sharlett Mena, means the state isn’t doing everything it could to keep Washingtonians safe.

According to reporting from the Washington State Standard, dozens of lawmakers are calling for the state Department of Corrections to change the way it interacts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

That effort may see some headwinds, however. Governor Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown both say they don’t see any need to alter state policy.

Guests:

Washington State Standard reporter Jake Goldstein-Street

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"He doesn't have any authority": WA Sec. of State defends mail-in voting against Trump

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:18:33 +0000

President Trump has threatened to sign an Executive Order that would end mail-in voting in America.

His comments last week come at a time when the President is suggesting multiple ways to help Republicans hold onto Congress in the 2026 midterms. Nearly a third of national ballots came through the mail in the 2024 election. And the Washington State legislature required vote-by-mail starting in 2011.

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs talks to us about what President Trump can do and defends Washington State voting security.

Guest: Secretary of State Steve Hobbs

What the Oregon desert has to do with your Seattle electricity bill

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 22:21:09 +0000

The future of Seattle City Light might run through Oregon.

The city has contracted two solar fields in central Oregon in an effort to meet surging demand for electricity in the city. It’s estimated that by 2033, the utility will need to about double its current production in order to keep up.

But where all of that new power will come from is still unclear.

Guest

David Kroman, Seattle Times reporter

Links

Seattle hopes to build its future in Oregon’s desert — or blackouts may follow - The Seattle Times

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What recent protests tell us about the tech industry and employee power

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 21:50:28 +0000

Recent tech company protests are highlighting the connection between worker power and free speech here in Seattle.

On Sunday, protestors, including current and former Microsoft employees, kayaked across Lake Washington to the homes of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and President Brad Smith. From the water they unfurled banners reading “Microsoft kills kids” and “Satya + Brad = War Criminals”.

This was the latest in a week of action calling for the company to cut ties with the Israeli government and military.

On Tuesday, protestors briefly occupied a plaza in Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters, declaring it a “Liberated Zone” encampment.

On Wednesday, another protest at the campus led to several arrests.

KUOW labor and economy reporter Monica Nickelsburg was at Wednesday’s protest, and is here with us to discuss the specific demands of Microsoft, and how the state of the tech industry is changing employee power.

Guest:

Monica Nickelsburg is KUOW’s labor and economy reporter. She’s also the cohost of Booming: A weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest

Related stories:

Protesters occupy Microsoft HQ, demand it cut ties with Israeli military - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You asked, we answered: On helmets and head protection

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:34:20 +0000

Recently on Soundside, we took a ride into the world of micromobility. Specifically, we wanted to know as more e-bikes and scooters crowd the streets and sidewalks, how are cities like Seattle adapting?

And after that segment, we got an interesting listener question about helmets, inspired by this Slate article. So we decided to investigate.

"I think it's very wise to wear a helmet," our expert guest told us. "But they're not the whole story.. there are so many other public health interventions that are also crucial."

Guest

Kathleen Bachynski, a professor of public health at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania

Links

Shared bikes and scooters are getting more popular. How should cities adapt? - Soundside
The Cult of Bike Helmets - Marion Renault, Slate

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a gallery. It’s a theme park? It’s Cannonball Arts in downtown Seattle!

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:05:32 +0000

A brand new contemporary art space opened up this week in downtown Seattle.

It's called Cannonball Arts, and Soundside recently got a sneak preview.

GUESTS:

Brent Watanabe, a Seattle based artist who specializes in computer-controlled installations
Greg Lundgren, Creative Director of New Rising Sun

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To hear an iconic sound of the Northwest, listen to snow melting on Hurricane Ridge

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 20:50:19 +0000

What does the Pacific Northwest sound like to you?

Is it the tide rolling over a rocky beach? The wind across the Palouse? Or maybe a ferry horn echoing across the Puget Sound?

On Soundside, we occasionally ask field recordists about THEIR iconic sounds of the northwest. Today, we hear from Gordon Hempton, also known as the Sound Tracker.

He sent us a recording of snow melting on Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic Peninsula.

GUEST: Gordon Hempton, acoustic ecologist and Emmy Award winning sound recordist

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Aug 21-24

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 20:45:15 +0000

It’s Thursday, and on Thursdays, we hear from Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows with everything worth doing this weekend!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft employees protest company’s contract with Israeli intelligence organization

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 23:29:26 +0000

A group of current and former Microsoft employees briefly occupied part of the company’s Redmond campus yesterday to protest the relationship between the tech giant and Israel’s military.

The protest was led by a group called No Azure for Apartheid. Their name refers to a cloud computing service that has been contracted for use by Israel’s government.

The demonstration follows recent reporting that Israel uses Azure as a mass surveillance tool against Palestinians, one that has shaped military operations in Gaza.

Yesterday’s protest is the latest action taken by Microsoft employees in speaking out about the company’s business practices.

Guest:

Todd Bishop, co-founder of GeekWire

Relevant Links:

Geekwire: Protesters set up temporary encampment at Microsoft to pressure company on Israel contracts

Geekwire: Microsoft launches formal review into alleged use of its Azure cloud in Palestinian surveillance

Geekwire: Inside the Microsoft protests: Fired engineer speaks out on Palestine, Israel, AI, and big tech

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does your computer science degree still guarantee you a high-paying job?

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:45:09 +0000

For college students, saying you majored in computer science used to be code (excuse the pun) for a six-figure salary and job stability.

Now some fear those days are behind us.

Since 2014, the number of undergraduates majoring in computer science has more than doubled, but the job offers aren’t flowing like they used to.

Natasha Singer, a technology reporter at The New York Times, tells us about her recent story on computer science majors struggling to find employment as their field changes. Then we hear from Ed Lazowska, an emeritus professor at the University of Washington, about what he's seeing in our region.

Guest:

Natasha Singer, technology reporter at The New York Times.
Ed Lazowska, an emeritus professor at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a dementia patient commits a serious crime, what does justice look like?

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:39:27 +0000

In many ways, the homicide of Barbara Innis was a clear cut case. There were witnesses, a weapon, and a suspect immediately taken into custody.

The complication: the suspect, Barbara’s husband, can’t remember the crime.

87 year old George Innis had shown signs of dementia for years prior to the killing of his wife at their Bellevue assisted living center.

His journey through the legal system highlights the questions surrounding prosecution and care of people with degenerative memory loss.

Guest:

Seattle Times lead breaking news reporter Paige Cornwell

Related stories:

A Bellevue man killed his wife. He has dementia. Now what? - Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Inside the latest push to unionize Starbucks workers

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 21:25:16 +0000

If you got your coffee from a Seattle Starbucks this morning, it may have been prepared by a unionized barista.

At least 33 Starbucks in Washington have unions, including the cafe at the company’s headquarters in Sodo and the Reserve Roastery on Capitol Hill, according to The Seattle Times.

It’s the result of an organizing effort that began in 2021 in Buffalo, New York. Starbucks workers across that city kicked off a renewed push to unionize those coffee shops.

Jaz Brisack was one of the lead organizers on that campaign. They began working with unions while they were a student at the University of Mississippi. Brisack is also the author of "Get on the Job and Organize: Standing Up for a Better Workplace and a Better World," which came out earlier this year.

They stopped by the KUOW to talk about their book and why they think that if you have a job, you should have a union.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why this WA school district has the lowest vaccination rate in the state

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 04:03:01 +0000

Across Washington, student vaccination rates have fallen slightly over the past few years, but those statewide figures gloss over some parts that saw pretty big declines --- especially in one southwest Washington school district.

The data showed the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District saw student vaccinations for diseases like tetanus, polio and rubella drop by more than 46%, making it the district with the lowest immunization rate in the state for 2024 to 2025.

But what’s on paper doesn’t tell the whole story.

Guest:

- Lori Ashley, clinical manager for the Pacific County Department of Health and Human Services.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shared bikes and scooters are getting more popular. How should cities adapt?

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 23:26:34 +0000

It’s not just your imagination: There are more shared bikes and scooters zipping around the streets of Seattle.

Data collected by the city's Department of Transportation shows that between January and early August of 2025, the number of trips recorded on shared bikes and scooters jumped nearly 75 percent compared with the same time period last year.

As streets and sidewalks get more crowded – how are cities like Seattle adapting?

Guests

Jeff Bailey, a writer and editor in Denver

Links

From E-Bikes to Scooters, Roads Are Getting More Crowded and Confusing - The Wall Street Journal

Thanks to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The disease we don't talk about: what you should know about endometriosis

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 23:02:23 +0000

Last week, actress Bindi Irwin made a viral post on Instagram. Bindi is the daughter of the late Steve Irwin – the famed “Crocodile Hunter.”

Bindi is also, herself, a conservationist, but her post didn’t have to do with wildlife health. Rather, it was about her own. She said she was recovering from surgery to remove 51 lesions, a cyst, and her appendix. Prior to this, Irwin had suffered 13 years of pain from endometriosis.

She wrote, “I felt utterly ashamed as a teenager and young adult being told that my pain was just part of being a woman. I felt lesser. I felt hurt. I felt weak.”

Several celebrities have spoken up about their experiences with endometriosis.

Padma Lakshmi, Florence Pugh, Whoopi Goldberg, Lena Dunham – the list goes on.

Approximately one in ten women is affected by endometriosis. According to Yale Medicine, it’s present in up to 50% of women who are infertile. And between 50% and 80% of women with pelvic pain. But, it’s a disease that’s rarely discussed - in part because the pain experienced is often dismissed as cramps or period pain.

Guest:

Dr. Cindy Mosbrucker is a nationally recognized expert in minimally-invasive excision of endometriosis, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic pain in women. Her clinic is Pacific Endometriosis and Pelvic Surgery in Gig Harbor.

Related stories:

Nancy's Nook - recommended as a free source of endometriosis information by Dr. Mosbrucker

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Seattle police officers and the Jan. 6 'Stop the Steal' rally: What we know

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:43:43 +0000

For years, Seattle residents have known that several city police officers attended the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally in Washington D.C. on January 6th, 2021.

But the names of most of those police officers were unknown until recently.

After a lengthy court fight, the city in late July disclosed the identities of all the officers who attended the rally.

The city also released records from an investigation of the officers' role in the rally. KUOW reporter Amy Radil combed through those records and joins us to talk about what she found.

Links

Seattle police at Jan. 6 Trump rally told investigators they witnessed no violence, records show - KUOW

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Could the Supreme Court overturn same-sex marriage?

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 21:57:20 +0000

An ex-county clerk in Kentucky who drew nationwide attention for denying marriage licenses for same-sex couples is back in the news.

Kim Davis is asking the Supreme Court to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same sex unions nationwide.

Obergefell v. Hodges was issued in 2015. It officially recognized that queer Americans have a constitutional right to get married.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been married in the 10 years since.

And also since then, Kim Davis has been fighting court battles over her refusal to grant licenses – citing her belief that she should get a religious exemption under the first amendment.

The Supreme Court will decide this fall if they want to consider Davis’ appeal – and experts are skeptical that they will do so.

But what would a serious legal fight to overturn marriage equality look like?

And are legal rights besides marriage at risk for LGBTQ Washingtonians?

Guest:

Professor Alison Gash, Chair of the University of Oregon’s Department of Political Science. She’s also an academic expert in United States courts, sexuality, same-sex marriage, constitutional rights and public policy.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Aug 15-17

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 20:31:41 +0000

On days like today, it’s nice to sit back, enjoy the cloud cover, and think about all the things you want to do this weekend.

Here with a smattering of events to keep you busy is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Worldcon celebrates Sci-Fi in Seattle for the first time since 1961

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 16:34:17 +0000

If there’s a sci-fi movie or TV show that you enjoy, there’s a good chance it’s based on a book, and there’s an even better chance that book has won a HUGO AWARD.

From Afrofuturist Octavia E Butler to Sci-Fi legends Frank Herbert and Ursula Le Guin, the Pacific Northwest has been home to several winners of one of the most prestigious honors in speculative fiction, fantasy and sci-fi.

What you may not realize is that the Hugo Award Ceremony happens each year at a gathering called “Worldcon.” And this year, the convention is being held right here at the Seattle Convention Center.

Worldcon is the is the official convention of the World Science Fiction Society. Events and programming began Wednesday and festivities run through Sunday.

GUEST: Kathy Bond, Chair of WorldCon 2025

RELATED LINKS:

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Why the power struggle between Alaska and Delta Airlines' is heating up at SeaTac

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 15:44:31 +0000

There’s a war being waged in Seattle right now.

But you won’t see it out on the streets, among your fellow citizens.

Instead – look to the sky.

For years, two airlines: Delta and Alaska have battled for supremacy at Seatac. Now, The Wall Street Journal says Alaska Airlines is making a big play to expand international flights – and Delta is striking back.

Guest:

Alison Sider, a reporter covering airlines and air travel for the Wall Street Journal

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The country's got kratom on the brain. What is it exactly?

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:21:58 +0000

The Trump administration is trying to restrict access to a substance you might find at your local smoke shop.

The FDA in late July announced plans to crack down on 7-OH. Commissioner Marty Makary described it as an opioid that can be more potent than morphine and the agency's pushing to get it classified as a Schedule 1 substance -- like ecstasy or heroin.

You may not have heard of 7-OH, but you’ve probably heard of kratom. It’s the substance that 7-OH comes from – and it’s controversial in its own right.

Some states have banned kratom. The federal government tried to classify it as a Schedule 1 substance in 2016 but opted not to after getting a wave of pushback.

This year Washington state regulators withdrew a proposal to designate kratom as a Schedule 1 substance, saying it didn’t meet the criteria. So for now, you can buy kratom products in the state.

We wanted to know more about both kratom and 7-OH, so we checked in with a research professor at the University of Washington for insight.

Guest:

Caleb Banta-Green, research professor at the University of Washington and director of the Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology and Research.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

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'Hopefully this trend will continue': Seattle's seeing less homicides this year

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:53:20 +0000

So far in 2025, Seattle is on track for a decline in homicides for the second year in a row.

The city’s finally catching up to other parts of the country that started to see drops in lethal violence a few years ago, according to a new story published in The Seattle Times.

The country saw a surge in homicides when the pandemic hit. Seattle was no exception, and the violence continued. The city experiencing one of its deadliest years on record in 2023.

But lately things have been trending in a safer direction for the city and King County as a whole.

Guest:

Sara Jean Green, reporter at The Seattle Times.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Remembering the Legion of Boom era of the Seattle Seahawks

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 22:48:52 +0000

Pre-season football is here. The Seattle Seahawks have a rejuvenated roster, but they are far away from being a pre-season favorite for the Superbowl. So, let’s remember some good times: I’m talking a Superbowl win, a Superbowl loss, the Legion of Boom, Beast Mode ... in the early 2010s, the Seahawks were a football juggernaut.

And now, they’re the subject of a new book called The Franchise: Seattle Seahawks: A Curated History of the Legion of Boom Era.

Guest:

Michael-Shawn Dugar, staff writer at The Athletic and author of The Franchise: Seattle Seahawks: A Curated History of the Legion of Boom Era

Michael-Shawn Dugar will be at Elliot Bay Books on Tuesday August 12th and Third Place Books Seward Park on Monday August 25th

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Republican candidates from WA find new political life with federal appointments

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 23:42:42 +0000

Two familiar Republican names from last year’s election are back in the news: Joe Kent and Pete Serrano.

They’re not running for election, but they may be finding success instead with federal appointments.

Kent is a former Green Beret who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House twice in District 3. The Senate approved his appointment as director of the National Counterterrorism Center late last month.

Serrano was the mayor of Pasco and ran for Washington Attorney General against Nick Brown. It was reported last week that he is the presumptive pick to take over as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

For many candidates who lose statewide office, a failed campaign is the end of the line, so how have these GOP candidates from a deep blue state been able to give new life to their political careers?

Guest:

Jim Brunner, Seattle Times political reporter

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: Senate confirms former WA candidate Joe Kent to counterterrorism post

Seattle Times: Former GOP AG candidate chosen as Eastern Washington’s U.S. attorney

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The Sound Transit CEO answers your questions

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 22:07:54 +0000

Sound Transit has a busy few years ahead.

Trains are set to start running to Federal Way in December, but a long-awaited east side expansion across Lake Washington has been delayed again – to at least April 2026.

That comes as riders and public transit enthusiasts alike are clamoring for additional light rail service to Ballard, West Seattle and beyond.

Amid all of this, Sound Transit has a new CEO, former King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Constantine came to KUOW for a long conversation about the future of Sound Transit and to answer several questions from our audience.

Guest

Dow Constantine, CEO of Sound Transit

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The science behind cultivated salmon — and where you can try it

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 21:50:47 +0000

Salmon recovery efforts have had mixed success in Washington, where salmon habitat and spawning routes have been disrupted for generations.

But what if human consumption wasn't part of that equation? What if the salmon we eat were no longer wild-caught in the ocean or pulled out of a farm?

What if that salmon was grown in a lab?

Starting in late August, you could try some at one Seattle restaurant, so we're talking about the future of cultivated fish and meat.

Guests

Frida Garza, staff reporter, Grist
Claire Bomkamp, senior lead scientist for cultivated meat and seafood at The Good Food Institute (GFI), a nonprofit advocating for alternative proteins

Editor's note: A previous version of this text described The Good Food Institute as an advocacy group for alternative proteins. We've updated the Claire's title to note GFI's nonprofit status.

Links

Want to try lab-grown salmon? The US just approved it. - Grist

No bones, no scales, no problem: The first lab-grown salmon sold in the U.S. - The Washington Post

Lab-Grown Salmon Set to Hit the Menu at Hot Seattle Oyster Bar - Bloomberg

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Aug 8-10

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 21:02:58 +0000

The forecast for the weekend is sunshine & 80 degrees, so Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows wants YOU to get outside & DO STUFF!!

LINKS:

MARINERS - Fri/Sat/Sun - vs Tampa Bay
Edmonds Block Party
West Seattle Glass Float Hunt
Ananda Mela
Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival
WA Midsummer Renaissance Faire!
Jacques ze Whipper Secret Show
Festival At Mt Si
Sundae Runday
Tunnel Marathons
Omak Stampede
Issaquah Film Festival
SIFF CatVideoFest 2025
SIFF Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (40th Anniversary)
SIFF 'n' Stitch: 10 Things I Hate About You

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making political decisions with the help of voter guides, pamphlets and... ChatGPT?

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:28:39 +0000

Happy post-election day to all those who celebrate!

Maybe you're the type who eagerly awaits each wave of results, or maybe it's something you've already forgotten about. Regardless, pat on the back to everyone who made the time to turn in a ballot.

Now... we might make you question the way you formed your decisions -- especially if you asked ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok for elections information.

Today the University of Washington announced the results of a study looking at the potential influence artificial intelligence can have on our political decision making.

It’s something that’s coming up a lot these days as AI becomes more prevalent. So we want to know what exactly this new study found - and if we should be worried about the results.

Guest:

Jillian Fisher, lead author of the study.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Scientists finally solve the mystery of melting sea stars

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:09:56 +0000

For 12 years, researchers in Washington and British Columbia have been tracking down a mystery.

Along the Pacific coast, sea stars were dissolving into goo. This phenomenon was given a name: sea star wasting disease and it killed billions of these marine creatures.

For more than a decade, scientists studied the wasting disease but couldn’t figure out why it was happening.

A new paper published this week in Nature Ecology and Evolution details a likely culprit.

Guest:

John Ryan, KUOW environment reporter

Relevant Links:

KUOW: Scientists crack the case of the melting sea stars. It only took a decade

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Getting serious with Seattle’s fake news editor, The Needling’s Lex Vaughn

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:01:33 +0000

If you’ve spent much time on social media here in Washington, you’ve likely seen a headline like this one:

Office Workers Secretly Waiting for Landing Seaplane to Decapitate Paddleboarder

That gem comes from “The Needling,” which describes itself as Seattle’s only real fake news. It’s the comedy creation of Lex Vaughn, the site’s founder and editor since 2018 – longevity enough to lampoon two presidential elections.

Thursday night, she’ll be at SIFF Cinema Downtown, as part of its Talking Pictures series. Vaughn has chosen to screen and discuss Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

Today, Soundside is pleased to have her on to talk about how she came to be Seattle’s fake news maven, as well as what it means to do satire in 2025.

GUEST: Lex Vaughn - Founder & Editor of The Needling

LINK: The Needling

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Could moving local elections to even years boost voter turnout?

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:01:22 +0000

It’s primary election day. If you fail to perform that most sacred civic duty of a free democracy, you won’t be alone. In fact, you’re in the majority.

King County expects that just 35% percent of registered voters will send in a ballot for this primary. Is it fair when so few voters make decisions for everyone else?

Guest:

Zoltan Hajnal, professor of political science at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy

Relevant Links:

New York Times: Why Does No One Vote in Local Elections?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Leaked recording: Ferguson knew about concerns over top aide in 2019

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 21:43:42 +0000

When Governor Bob Ferguson’s chief strategy officer, Mike Webb, left his position in March, Ferguson said in a statement, quote, “I wouldn’t be governor without Mike.”

Webb resigned after allegations surfaced of a hostile work environment.

Ferguson told the Washington State Standard that he takes allegations against a team member seriously, quote “no matter how close that person is to me.”

Now, new reporting by Axios reveals that the Governor may have known about concerns about his longtime aid years before Webb resigned.

Guest:

Melissa Santos, Axios Seattle reporter

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Trump's new tariffs put special emphasis on our neighbors in Canada

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 23:30:44 +0000

Yes, we’re talking about tariffs again.

Many of the world’s countries are awaiting the impact of new American tariffs, which are slated to take effect on Thursday.

One country, however, is experiencing it now. The Trump Administration bumped up tariffs on Canadian goods to 35%, and that new rate went into effect on Friday.

Trump said he made the change, in part, because of Canada’s failure to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the U.S.

Now 35% sounds intense, but a lot of Canadian goods are actually exempt from the increase because of a trade agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

It’s kind of confusing to know exactly what these tariffs mean for our neighbor to the north, so we asked Thomas Davidoff, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia, to help us understand.

Guest:

Thomas Davidoff, an associate professor in the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside "kennects" with Ken Jennings

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 22:41:24 +0000

For over 60 years the quiz game show Jeopardy has been a beloved part of people’s lives.

Washington native Ken Jennings says, growing up, the show sparked his love of trivia. It’s a passion that led him to a 74 game winning streak in 2004, and a victory at the Greatest of All Time tournament – so we can officially call him The GOAT.

Eventually, he even won the title of “host” of Jeopardy.

Meanwhile he’s translated his trivia expertise into his own game - called Kennections. It’s a weekly puzzle he writes for Mental Floss.

And while you can no longer get a home game of Jeopardy, you can bring home Kennections in Jennings’ latest book: The Complete Kennections: 5,000 questions in 1,000 puzzles.

Guest:

Ken Jennings, host of Jeopardy and author of The Complete Kennections: 5,000 questions in 1,000 puzzles

Related stories:

The Complete Kennections: 5,000 Questions in 1,000 Puzzles

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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New report reveals thousands of unfilled federal firefighting jobs

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 20:53:20 +0000

The Western United States is in the midst of fire season. Here in Washington, the Burdoin Fire in the Columbia Gorge has burned more than 10,000 acres. The Bear Gulch Fire on the peninsula has closed portions of Olympic National Park.

Leading up to this summer, governors and lawmakers raised concerns about cuts to the US Forest Service, which fights wildland fires. Brooke Rollins is head of the USDA, which oversees the Forest Service. She told Fox News that the agency’s ability to fight fires hasn’t been affected by the cuts. But new reporting from ProPublica has found that the agency is facing staffing issues that could affect its ability to respond to fires.

Editor's Note: KUOW incorrectly stated that the Burdoin Fire had burned more than 100,00 acres, the correct number was more than 10,000 acres.

Guest:

Abe Streep, reporter at ProPublica's Southwest Bureau

Relevant Links:

ProPublica: The Forest Service Claims It’s Fully Staffed for a Worsening Fire Season. Data Shows Thousands of Unfilled Jobs.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of people love matcha... And that's causing some problems

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 04:21:19 +0000

It’s not just your imagination: Matcha is actually getting harder to track down these days.

The green drink has become a hot commodity in the past few years, blowing up on TikTok and taking up more real estate on your favorite coffee shop’s menu. Japan’s tea industry has struggled to keep pace with the fervor. There’ve been reports of a global shortage and price hikes.

In this episode, we hear about Miro Tea's experience of the shortage before checking in with Bettina Makalintal, a senior reporter at Eater, who gave us a broader look at what's going on with matcha.

Guest:

Jeannie Liu, owner of Miro Tea
Bettina Makalintal, senior reporter at Eater

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Aug 1st-3rd

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 20:34:19 +0000

Do you hear that sound? It’s a bird, it’s a plane… Wait, yep, that is DEFINITELY a plane, because the Blue Angels are practicing. Which reminds me, Seafair Weekend is here!

Let’s get the skinny on all the things to do with Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!!

LINKS:

SEAFAIR WEEKEND FESTIVAL
- Hydroplane Races
- Car Show
- Blue Angels
- Fleet Week
SPORTS!!
Kite Festival | Pierce County, WA - Sat/Sun
Watershed Festival - The Gorge Amphitheater - FRI/SAT/SUN

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Councilmember Solomon on Renters' Commission kerfuffle, District 2 election

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:19:16 +0000

The Seattle City Council confirmed 14 members to the Renters’ Commission on Tuesday, following a controversial delay after Councilmembers Rob Saka and Sara Nelson failed to show up for a previous vote on Commission appointments.

Their absence forced an unusual cancellation of the vote because the housing committee didn’t reach quorum. Some people think this was influenced by an email former councilmember Cathy Moore sent, urging her former colleagues to delay the vote.

In this episode of Soundside, we catch up with Councilmember Mark Solomon, who was appointed to Seattle’s District 2 seat after Tammy Morales left the position in January.

He's also serving as vice chair of the Housing and Human Services Committee... and is one of the people Moore tried to email before that first vote.

Guest:

Mark Solomon, Seattle City Councilmember appointed to represent District 2.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Crystals with a side of conspiracy theory: Washington's role in the spread of new age movements

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 22:26:49 +0000

The NEW AGE movement isn't just about crystals, suburban yoga studios, dubious medical cures and positive affirmations – though there’s plenty of all of that to be found on YouTube.

The concept of changing your mindset, accessing a higher spiritual power or vibration – and ushering in a utopia is a powerful and enduring promise that emerges again and again in America.

And the American New Age movement has deep ties to Washington State and the West.

Journalist Leah Sottile examined the history of several spiritualists and new age leaders – some may say cult leaders – in a new book published earlier this year.

It’s called Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age.

GUEST: Leah Sottile

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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To hear an iconic sound of the Northwest, listen to a driftwood log

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 22:24:32 +0000

What does the Northwest sound like to you?

Is it the tide rolling over a rocky beach? The wind across the Palouse? A ferry horn echoing across the Puget Sound?

On Soundside, we occasionally ask field recordists about their iconic sounds of northwest.

Today, we'll hear from acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton, also known as the Sound Tracker.

He brought a recording from inside a driftwood log on the Washington coast.

Guest:

Gordon Hempton, acoustic ecologist and Emmy Award winning sound recordist

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A peek behind the wheel of a Seattle bus with @desinthepark

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 23:16:02 +0000

When you get on the bus, do you think about the driver behind the wheel?

If you rode the 8 bus recently, your driver might have been Desiree Andersen, otherwise known as @desinthepark. During her more than two years driving, she also went to grad school for social work. That helped give her extra insight into the needs of the people she drives.

And she shared those insights on TikTok, where she started posting during a break between driving shifts.

But Andersen is now shifting gears. This month, she left her job at King County Metro. We talked with her about what's next.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Attack scientific ignorance" - Inslee responds to EPA roll back

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 22:49:33 +0000

A policy change from the Trump Administration could fundamentally change the federal government’s relationship with climate change.

The proposal, announced on Tuesday, would overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s "endangerment finding” – which, in 2009, determined that greenhouse gases are harmful to people and the environment.

It's the basis for emissions regulations on vehicles, power plants, and the oil and gas industries under the Clean Air Act.

Washington has been at the vanguard of climate regulations – last year, voters chose to keep our carbon auction system in place, and our attorney general is fighting to preserve plans to ban sales of most non-electric vehicles in Washington by 2030.

So, what could this EPA proposal mean for Washington’s climate policies? And where does Washington stand amid the flurry of deregulatory moves and cuts to green energy subsidies by the Trump Administration?

Guest:

Jay Inslee, former Governor of Washington state

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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From Frenchies to Foxtails - How to keep your furry friends safe this summer

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:48:10 +0000

Summer is a great season for adventures with your favorite pup.

The sun is shining. The lakes are glistening. The grass is only partially dead.

But – just like your human kids, furry members of the family need you to keep a watchful eye out for warm-weather hazards

Soundside called in an expert here to help.

GUEST: Seattle Humane Society Senior Veterinarian Dr. Lauren Restis

RELATED LINKS:

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Banding together to Save the (Little Red) Hen

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 22:03:51 +0000

People are clucking about the Little Red Hen.

The cherished country music bar in Green Lake could close at the end of July, after nearly 100 years in business.

The Little Red Hen first opened its doors in 1933 in Phinney Ridge, before moving to Green Lake. Today the bar’s a community hub where customers line dance, sing karaoke and enjoy bluegrass jam sessions.

Fun fact, it was also featured in the Stone Temple Pilots’ music video for the song, “Plush.”

Now a lease dispute between the bar’s owner and the landlord could shut it down.

In response, community members - and avid country music and dance fans - have banded together to try to keep the bar open.

Guest:

Gage Clark, a patron trying to save the Little Red Hen.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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President Trump goes after housing first and harm reduction in executive order

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:25:31 +0000

The Trump Administration is attempting to revamp homelessness policy in the United States. Late last week, the president signed an executive order that, among other things, ends federal support for policies that employ the “housing first” model. It also calls for an increase in involuntary commitments for people with mental health conditions or substance use disorders. The order aims to drastically change how cities and states respond to the homelessness crisis.

Guest:

Will James, host of KUOW's Lost Patients, an award-winning podcast about homelessness and mental illness in Seattle

Relevant Links:

NPR: Trump signs an executive order to make it easier to remove homeless people from streets

KUOW: Lost Patients

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Two City Council members missed a vote: a fight over renter representation ensued

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 20:56:05 +0000

Something interesting happened – or rather, didn’t happen – last week at a Seattle City Council committee meeting.

There was supposed to be a vote on member appointments to the Seattle Renters’ Commission. That commission has seats for 15 members but currently only has five.

The vote didn’t happen. That’s because Council President Sara Nelson and Councilmember Rob Saka failed to attend, leaving the committee shy of its three-member quorum. That sparked a lot of outrage, including from Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, who had this to say:

“This isn’t a committee meeting any more. This is just a community meeting. It is council members’ chartered responsibility to be at these meetings. This is literally our job, so I find it deeply frustrating that people took time to leave their jobs in the middle of the day, yet not every member of the committee could show up to do theirs.”

Many people have criticized the council members’ absence – and some are asking whether political motivations were involved.

Soundside sat down with Seattle Times reporter David Kroman, and Seattle Renters' Commission Interim Co-Chair Kate Rubin to discuss.

GUESTS:

David Kroman - Seattle Times City Hall Reporter
Kate Rubin - Interim Co-Chair, Seattle Renters' Commission

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Orcas are trying to feed humans? Here's what we know.

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 23:55:00 +0000

New research published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology documents multiple cases of wild orcas across different oceans – apparently trying to share their prey with humans.

KUOW's Gabriel Spitzer talked with Jared Towers about this research. Towers is the executive director of Bay Cetology, a team of marine biologists based in Alert Bay, British Columbia. He’s one of the authors of the study.

Links

These orcas have been trying to feed people, new research shows - The Seattle Times
Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why? - CNN

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - July 24th-27th

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 21:34:07 +0000

Soundside Producer Jason Burrows here... Libby Denkmann is ON VACATION, and speaking of enriching one's life and existence by engaging in fulfilling activities outside of the work environment, here's the big list of all the cool stuff you can do this weekend:

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What Trump's new crypto bill means for you

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 04:48:40 +0000

Change is coming to our cryptocurrency market.

Last Friday, President Trump signed the GENIUS Act, the country’s first major cryptocurrency law.

It will create a regulatory framework for stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency that’s value is tied to assets like the U.S. dollar. Supporters say the bill will modernize our financial system, but others say the legislation won’t do enough to protect consumers.

Here in Washington, crypto has a… mixed reputation. Last month Spokane’s city council voted to ban crypto ATMs from within city limits. And, in rural Washington, cryptomining operations have led to concerns about environmental impact and energy costs.

But, crypto also has supporters in our tech hub state. And the digital funds have played a part in some of our elections – like last year, when a crypto PAC gave close to $1.5 million for ads supporting Democratic State Senator Emily Randall.

So, what does this new regulation mean for Washington state?

Guest:

Brady Dale, a cryptocurrency reporter at Axios.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why the Seattle School Board is extending its superintendent search

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:19:02 +0000

The Seattle School Board is extending the search for a new superintendent, past the original deadline to hire someone by the fall.

That means the district will not have a permanent leader when its roughly 50,000 students come back in the fall.

We review why the school board wants more time for the search, and what that delay means for students, teachers and parents.

Editor's Note: KUOW incorrectly stated that former Seattle School Board director Vivian Song represented District 2. She represented District 4. Additionally, Song claims the district failed to file for a special election, which could’ve allowed her to continue legally serving. (The district refused to comment on the issue of her residency and whether it failed to file for a special election.)

Guest

Sami West, online editor/reporter, KUOW

Links

When will Seattle Public Schools get its next superintendent? Not this fall - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Why a local union farmworker chose to "voluntarily depart" the United States

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 22:54:11 +0000

Last week, well-known labor organizer Alfredo Juarez Zeferino – nicknamed Lelo – announced he would “voluntarily depart” after being held for months in Tacoma’s ICE processing center.

KUOW Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez was there when Zeferino’s lawyer told supporters outside the ICE facility what Lelo had decided.

Guest:

KUOW Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The race for Seattle Mayor: Joe Mallahan

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 21:27:36 +0000

All this week, Soundside is interviewing the most competitive candidates for Seattle Mayor ahead of the August 5th primary election. Today, we hear from Joe Mallahan, a former T Mobile executive and candidate for mayor in 2009.

Guest:

Joe Mallahan, candidate for Seattle Mayor

Links:

Sound Politics: Bruce Harrell vs. Everyone

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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New report describes Ukraine's "stolen generation"

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 23:05:33 +0000

The war in Ukraine is causing tremendous and likely lasting psychological damage to generations of its young people.

One of those traumas is caused by what’s tantamount to kidnapping by the Russian government. According to a new report by the think tank GlobSec, there have been nearly 20,000 (19,546) cases of what it calls “forcibly transferred or deported children.”

These children are taken from their homes and placed in camps or with Russian families.

I’m talking with two people who are associated with the report:

Eric Trupin is a psychologist and a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He wrote the forward for the report, which is titled “Stolen Generations: a systemic violation of Ukraine’s Future.”

For the last two years, Dr. Trupin also trained mental health providers in Ukraine in how to use poetry and other techniques to help young people process emotions and cope with intense trauma.

It’s a project that was created originally as a way to help rehabilitate young incarcerated people in Seattle.

Guest:

Eric Trupin is a psychologist and a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine
Iuliia Osmolovska is Head of the GLOBSEC Kyiv Office

Related stories:

Stolen Generation a Systematic Violation of Ukraine’s Future - Globsec

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The race for Seattle Mayor: Bruce Harrell

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 19:30:00 +0000

All this week, Soundside is interviewing the most competitive candidates for Seattle Mayor ahead of the August 5th primary election. Today, we hear from current Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.

Guest:

Bruce Harrell, Mayor of Seattle

Links:

Sound Politics: Bruce Harrell vs. Everyone

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The race for Seattle Mayor: Katie Wilson

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 19:30:00 +0000

All this week, Soundside is interviewing the most competitive candidates for Seattle Mayor ahead of the August 5th primary election. Today, we hear from Katie Wilson, the co-founder and executive director of the Transit Rider's Union.

Guest:

Katie Wilson, candidate for Seattle Mayor

Links:

Sound Politics: Bruce Harrell vs. Everyone

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The race for Seattle Mayor: Ry Armstrong

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 19:30:00 +0000

All this week, Soundside is interviewing the most competitive candidates for Seattle mayor ahead of the August 5th primary election. Today, we hear from Ry Armstrong, an actor, union chair, and co-director of the non-profit of Seattle.

Guest:

Ry Armstrong, candidate for Seattle Mayor

Links:

Sound Politics: Bruce Harrell vs. Everyone

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WA food banks, hospitals and more bracing for Big Beautiful Bill

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 23:31:42 +0000

Local and national organizations alike are still absorbing the historic implications of the Republican tax and spending law known as the One Big, Beautiful Bill.

President Trump signed the legislation on July 4th. The law makes the Trump tax cuts of 2017 permanent, and increases spending on border security and energy production, among many other measures.

It also includes significant cuts to government assistance programs, like SNAP and Medicaid.

Soundside reached out to several local leaders to ask how the One Big Beautiful Bill will affect their work.

Guests:

Gloria Hatcher-Mays, executive director of the Rainier Valley Food Bank
Malou Chávez, executive director of Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Bob Ferguson, Washington governor
Jacqueline Barton True, vice president of advocacy and rural health for the Washington State Hospital Association
Cathy Bambrick, administrator for Astria Toppenish Hospital

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does Mount Rainier look more bare than usual?

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 23:29:52 +0000

You might have noticed that Mount Rainier’s been looking a little…. Bald lately.

People on social media have been posting about how Washington’s favorite sight looks less snowy than usual. Some of them are saying they’ve never seen the mountain look this bare in their lives.

Rainier definitely sheds some snow in the warmer months. And Washington has been getting hit with some pretty serious heat lately.

Many of us know that climate change is a thing, so how much of that is playing into the mountain’s sleek peak? (Basically, how much dread should we be feeling about this?)

Soundside asked a glaciologist to explain what's happening up there.

Guest:

Dr. Mauri Pelto, director of the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Cartoon Mess Live’s Tom DesLongchamp on channeling a “rogue wave of creativity”

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 23:04:41 +0000

Imagine a cartoon show where the characters talk back to you. That's the premise for "Cartoon Mess Live", a live comedy show by Seattleite Tom DesLongchamp.

DesLongchamp is basically a puppeteer, doing improv alongside a cohost named Duck. It’s like if you could see the person operating Elmo, and the pair of them had a late night talk show. But also Elmo is a 2-dimensional cartoon.

DesLongchamp sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann to discuss his show, and why it's so hard to describe.

Guest:

Tom DesLongchamp, creator of "Cartoon Mess Live"

Related links:

Cartoon Mess Live at The Rabbit Box

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - July 18-20

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:04:56 +0000

The weekend is upon us, and Soundside producer Jason Burrows is here with all the events fit to broadcast.

LINKS:

SPORTS!
Sandsations Sand Sculpture Festival - Long Beach, WA
Seattle Arab Festival
2025 Seattle Bon Odori
Seafair Chinatown Parade
Indian Days Powwow
CAPITOL HILL BLOCK PARTY
Darrington Bluegrass Festival
Cartoon Mess LIVE
King County Fair - Enumclaw
Seattle Boba Fest
GeekFest West - Everett
TRAFFIC ALERT - NB I-5 totally closed from I-90 to 45th Ave (U-District)

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PBS, KEXP, KUOW: how impending public media cuts could change local stations

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 22:13:37 +0000

We’re closing in on the deadline for President Trump’s rescission package.

Senate Republicans have until this Friday to pass the package with a simple majority. If they don’t, they’ll face a Democratic filibuster that they’ll need 60 votes to overcome.

On Tuesday, the Senate voted to advance rescissions with a 51-50 vote – Vice President JD Vance was the tie breaker. Republican Senators Collins, Murkowski, and McConnell all voted no.

Today, Senators will have up to 10 hours of debate before the final floor vote – if they pass the package, it will then head back to the House for a vote, before going to the President’s desk. Again, this all needs to happen by the end of Friday.

So that’s a lot of procedural details, but let’s get to the nitty gritty:

If this passes, the Administration would claw back $9 billion dollars in previously approved funding – most of which is intended for global health programs and foreign aid projects.

It would also rescind more than $1.1 billion dollars currently budgeted for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB.

You’re listening to public radio right now - so you’re probably well aware that those dollars include funding for KUOW, as well as other local public radio and TV stations, which receive support from the CPB.

What exactly would the impact of rescission be for Seattle stations? Can public media survive these cuts? And, with news becoming increasingly fragmented, should taxpayers still pay for public media?

We’re putting those questions to leaders of local public media organizations.

Guests:

Kerry Swanson is interim CEO of KUOW
Rob Dunlop is CEO and President of Cascade PBS
Ethan Raup is CEO and President of KEXP

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez talks mental acuity in Congress, the BBB, and headlights.

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 21:11:21 +0000

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez represents Washington’s 3rd District, which encompasses Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, and Skamania counties and a smidge of Thurston County.

It’s a relatively rural district that has voted for President Trump three times.

Somehow, she has been able to convince a good number of those Trump voters to ALSO send her, a Democrat, to Congress.

And that’s put Gluesenkamp Perez in a unique and small club of Democrats being asked to diagnose their party’s problems and come up with a vision for the future.

So what does it take to lead from a vulnerable seat, and what are the lessons Democrats can draw from what’s happening in Southwest Washington?

One of those might be – figure out the solution to the gerontocracy in Congress.

GUEST: Rep. Marie Gluesenkam Perez

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why Denny Blaine beachgoers may have to suit up

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 03:29:41 +0000

Yesterday, a King County Judge ordered the city of Seattle to come up with a plan to end “nudity as constituted” at the park.

Denny Blaine has been the city’s most well known nude beach for decades – and is a beloved LGBTQ+ community gathering space.

This order follows a series of attempts by neighbors of the park to end nudity at Denny Blaine.

And it’s a move supporters of the nude beach say would be a “sanitization of queer spaces” in an increasingly gentrified city.

Guests:

Seattle Times City Hall reporter David Kroman

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Actor Matthew Law on 'Abbot Elementary', 'Star Wars' and growing up in Seattle

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 23:08:25 +0000

Actor Matthew Law has walked the halls of ABC's Abbott Elementary, piloted a spaceship in an episode of Star Wars: Ahsoka and played "The Cynic" in the "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story” the Jennifer Lopez movie musical.

Law hails from Washington. He was born in Yakima and grew up in Seattle, where he attended Greenwood Elementary and Ballard High School. And he's a filmmaker too, directing and writing several short films for his “True Story” series.

Soundside caught up with him during a break in his shooting schedule.

Guests

Matthew Law, actor

Links

‘Abbott Elementary’ actor Matthew Law on Seattle upbringing, ‘True Story’ -The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Public health comics are a “huge hit” for King County

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:04:20 +0000

King County’s health department has published innovative and educational comic strips about public health issues for more than 15 years.

The county hires local comics artists to tackle issues such as long term covid, preparing for a natural disaster and how to deal with a failing septic system.

Meredith Li-Vollmer is the heartbeat behind this popular project, which she founded in 2008.

She says the visual and hand drawn style of storytelling helps make potentially dry information palatable. The county has also found that comics are an effective way to communicate with people who speak English as a second language. In fact, some of King County’s comic books have been printed into more than 20 languages.

But the program almost didn’t happen. Had Li-Vollmer listened to her high school art teacher who was unkindly critical of her artwork.

Guest:

Meredith Li-Vollmer, Risk Communication Specialist at Public Health - Seattle & King Countt

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Seattle social housing developer could acquire its first building this year

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 23:08:20 +0000

The Seattle City Council recently approved a $2 million dollar loan for the city’s social housing developer. That’s a public development authority that will manage publicly financed housing in the city. It can serve people who make up to 120% of the area median income.

Voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of the social housing developer in 2023. They also approved a funding plan for the developer in February that pays for it by putting in place a new tax on companies with high income earners. Next year, the social housing developer is anticipated to receive an estimated $50 million dollars from that tax.

In the meantime, Mayor Bruce Harrell requested the $2 million dollar loan, saying the money would go towards keeping the organization running and potentially acquiring new property this year. As of now, the developer doesn’t own any. In its early stages, the developer has been dogged by concerns that it hasn’t proven it can get this money out the door and into housing and questions about whether it’s serving the city’s greatest need by using public money to provide housing for people making more than the median income for the area.

Guest:

Roberto Jimenez, CEO of Seattle’s Social Housing Developer

Links:

KUOW: Why someone earning over $100,000 could qualify for Seattle’s affordable housing

Seattle Times: Seattle’s social housing developer struggles with ‘growing pains’

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No name, lots of game: Women's pro hockey comes to Seattle

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:46:02 +0000

Seattle hockey fans rejoice! There is a new professional women’s team to root for, starting this fall.

The name of the team? Well … that’s yet to be determined, but there are many things we DO know about this upcoming third season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

This year, for the first time, the league is expanding into the Pacific Northwest, with teams in Vancouver and Seattle. There’ll now be 8 teams total vying for the “Walter Cup.”

And things are moving FAST at PWHL Seattle: Players have been drafted, head coach Steve O’Rourke has been hired.

There’s still a lot to be figured out, and the person making many of those decisions will be the new general manager Meghan Turner, who was the assistant GM of the Boston Fleet before being tapped for the head job here in Seattle.

Guest: Meghan Turner, General Manager of PWHL Seattle

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's Producer Picks: Pacific Drive, Ren Faire, MoPop, and the Weekend Warmup

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 20:28:48 +0000

Soundside is taking a break this week. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week.

Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show.

Relevant Links:

WEEKEND WARMUP LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's Producer Picks: Oakville Blobs, Bee Food, and Foosball

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 20:17:07 +0000

Soundside is taking a break this week. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week.

Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Relevant Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's Producer Picks: Know Your Rights and The History of Seattle Rap

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:37:42 +0000

It's summer vacation week on Sounside. But that doesn't mean we're out of your podcast feed.

Senior producer Gabrielle Healy shares some of her favorite recent Soundside segments.

We’re talking about everything from the unsung heroes of the early Seattle rap scene with music writer Novocaine132 to your rights if you encounter ICE.

Plus, Seattle Eats talks about the Emerald City's best slice of pizza.

Guests

Novocaine132, author of "The Birth of Seattle Rap."
Henry Hwang, a directing attorney for Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's producer picks: Seattle's Civic Poet, Deciding to See, and hummingbird bills

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:36:27 +0000

Soundside is taking a break this week. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week.

Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Relevant Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear it again: Finding a 'Storybook Ending' with Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times arts critic

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:14:54 +0000

Have you ever walked into a bookstore, lonely and single, and hoped you’d meet the love of your life?

We know there are at least a few of you out there.

That's part of the setup for Moira Macdonald’s debut novel “Storybook Ending.” It’s a story about loneliness, friendship, reading – and of course, the singular pleasure of spending time between the shelves of a cozy book shop in Seattle.

The spot in question, titled “Read the Room”, is based on Ravenna’s Third Place Books, one of Macdonald's regular haunts.

We talk to Macdonald, the longtime Seattle Times arts critic, about writing her novel, her recommendations for great summer reads and Seattle's best movie theaters.

And a note - this conversation first aired in June.

Guest

Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times arts critic and debut novelist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From security deposits to pet fees, here are your rights as a Seattle renter

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 23:35:48 +0000

From new statewide legislation freezing rent hikes at up to 10 percent for most tenants, to the Seattle City Council banning the use of algorithmic rent fixing, there's a lot of news to keep in mind if you’re a renter or a landlord.

And summer is moving season – prompting lots of questions about the rights for renters regarding repairs, fees and beyond. We review some frequently asked questions for renters in Seattle.

Guest

Teo Popescu, design, graphics, and data editor at KUOW

Note: KUOW's explainer serves as an overview of the most frequently asked questions about renter rights in Seattle. For a complete guide, review the Seattle renters handbook and the Seattle renters resource page, visit nonprofits like the Tenants Union, or call the Renting in Seattle helpline at: 206-684-5700.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - INDEPENDENCE DAY EDITION

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 20:50:05 +0000

Libby may be out today, but … We’ve made it to the end of the work week!

And since tomorrow is a holiday, you’re probably trying to figure out what to do with a whole THREE DAYS of free time in front of you… But don’t worry, I’ve got the big list of everything to do on the 4th of July and BEYOND!

WELCOME to the Weekend Warmup!

LINKS:

FIREWORKS!!!
- Arlington — Quake Park 10 p.m.
- Bellevue — Downtown Park 10:05 p.m.
- Carnation — Remlinger Farms 9:45 p.m.
- Everett — Port Gardner Bay 10:15 p.m.
- Federal Way — Celebration Park 10:15 p.m.
- Kenmore — Log Boom Park 10 p.m.
- Kent — Lake Meridian Park 10 p.m.
- Kingston — Mike Wallace Park 10:15 p.m.
- Marysville — Ebey Waterfront Park 10 p.m.
- Sammamish — Sam. Commons 10 p.m.
- Seattle — Lake Union 10:15 p.m.
- Snoqualmie — Community Park 9:45 p.m.
- Steilacoom — offshore 10:30 p.m.
- Tacoma — Ruston Way 10 p.m.
- Tumwater — Tumwater Valley Golf 10:15 p.m.
PARADES!
- Arlington — 5 p.m. (kids 4:30 p.m.)
- Bainbridge Island — 1 p.m.
- Bothell — 12 p.m. (kids 11:15 a.m.)
- Burien — 11 a.m.
- Carnation — 11:30 a.m. (kids 11 a.m.)
- Dupont — 10 a.m.
- Edmonds — 12 p.m. (kids 11:30 a.m.)
- Enumclaw — noon
- Everett — 11 a.m.
- Issaquah — 11 a.m.
- Kingston — 12 p.m.
- Kirkland — 12 p.m. (kids 11:30 a.m.)
- Tumwater — 11 a.m.
Seattle Center’s 40th Annual Naturalization Ceremony
Civic Engagement! Write your elected officials!
SPORTS!
- Seattle Mariners vs Pittsburgh Pirates
- Seattle Sounders vs Columbus Crew
Pioneer Square Fest
Fairhaven Chicken Festival - Bellingham
The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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WA lawmakers weigh in on Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 23:46:33 +0000

The Senate passed the Big Beautiful Bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives for a final vote on Donald Trump’s sweeping spending package.Aside from extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, the legislation includes cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, caps on student loans, and higher fees on people going through the legal immigration process. It also increases spending on defense and border security, limits taxes on workers who earn tips and increases the child tax credit.Republican lawmakers are quickly trying to pass the bill by July 4, when Trump said he wants to see it on his desk.Soundside checked in with a few Seattle-area Congress members who are trying to stop the bill from passing into law.

Guests:

Suzan DelBene represents Washington’s 1st congressional district and chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Pramila Jayapal represents Washington’s 7th congressional district.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How the latest SCOTUS ruling on religous rights echoes the Scopes trial

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 21:34:14 +0000

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that a Maryland couple could pull their child out of classes where the material involved books with LGBTQ themes.

The six conservative justices ruled that parents should not be required to expose their children to class materials that go against their religious beliefs.

Coincidentally, almost exactly one hundred years ago – in July 1925 – there was another famous legal debate over what kids learn in the classroom that took place in Tennessee.

The so-called Scopes Monkey Trial was ground zero for one of America’s first culture wars: The debate over whether or not evolution should be taught in schools.

Guest:

Alexander Gouzoules, associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Law and co-author of The Hundred Years' Trial: Law, Evolution, and the Long Shadow of Scopes v. Tennessee

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Trans in 2025: Danni Askini answers our questions on sports bans, medical care and beyond

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:14:16 +0000

2025 has been a busy year for Danni Askini.

As Executive Director of the Gender Justice League, Askini is involved in multiple lawsuits fighting Trump Administration policies related to trans rights.

She’s also the co-chair of the Washington Families for Freedom coalition, created this year to fight potential state ballot measures that could impact trans youth.

And – by the way – she’s the Executive Director of Trans Pride Seattle, which just hosted its annual celebration at Seattle’s Volunteer Park on Friday.

Danni Askini and fellow trans rights activists are confronting a rapidly shifting landscape.

Include President Trump’s executive orders banning trans people in the military, targeting funding for hospitals that provide gender affirming care for minors, and declaring the U.S. only recognizes two “immutable biological” sexes

And Supreme Court decisions including last week’s ruling the effectively upholds bans on trans healthcare for minors in 27 states, which has opened the door to re-considering states right to ban Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care for adults.

Day by day, trans rights are changing and eroding, in a way that’s hard for even a plugged in advocate to keep track of.

We sat down on Monday afternoon to talk about it all.

Guest:

Danni Askini: Executive Director of the Gender Justice League, co-chair of the Washington Families for Freedom coalition, and the Executive Director of Trans Pride Seattle.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What we know about Sunday's shooting in Coeur d'Alene

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:03:37 +0000

Idaho’s governor has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff following the killing of two firefighters, and wounding of a third, in Coeur d’Alene yesterday.

Firefighters were responding to a grass fire in a natural area with hiking and mountain biking trails.

When they arrived, a man opened fire, in what the local county sheriff is calling an ambush.

And a note: this interview was taped at 11:30am. Information may have changed by the time you're hearing this.

Guest:

Kaye Thornbrugh is a reporter with Coeur d’Alene Press

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Should hikers have to pay for their own rescue?

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:29:36 +0000

Skamania County Sheriff Summer Scheyer says she has a problem.

As more visitors get into the great outdoors in her rural Washington county, more and more people are calling for help, and requiring search and rescue operations.

Scheyer says things need to change:

She’s announced plans for an ordinance that would impose a fine on anyone who requires a search and rescue due to what she terms “reckless” or “negligent” actions.

But is it fair to expect hikers in need of help to pay for assistance?

We talk with her about that question and more.

Guest

Summer Scheyer, sheriff of Skamania County.

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AG Nick Brown on birthright citizenship, SCOTUS and Washington state

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:11:44 +0000

Civil rights groups are scrambling to get ahead of a looming change to the status of babies born to immigrant parents without permanent legal status.

Unless additional legal actions are successful, there are just a few weeks until the Trump administration’s restrictions on birthright citizenship are set to take effect in a majority of states across the country, following a Supreme Court ruling on Friday.

Washington was one of several states challenging President Trump’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship.

But while the SCOTUS ruling didn't directly address the Trump administration's restrictions on birthright citizenship, the ruling has wide implications for the power of the judicial branch to rein in the executive.

We talk with Washington's Attorney General, Nick Brown, about SCOTUS rulings, universal injunctions and birthright citizenship.

Guest:

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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King County official denies accusations of stalking, says he's still running for office

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 23:17:13 +0000

Voters will pick a new King County Executive this November.

And the race has taken a dramatic turn as candidate and current King County Assessor John Wilson has been repeatedly accused of stalking and harassment. Last month his ex fiancee and domestic partner Lee Keller was granted a second restraining order against him.

Members of the King County Council have called on Wilson to resign, which he has rebuffed.

Wilson has vehemently denied all allegations of domestic violence and stalking. He says he and Keller have a “stormy” relationship and that many of her allegations are incorrect.

Guest:

KUOW politics reporter Scott Greenstone

Related stories:

King County assessor says he won't resign amid stalking allegation scandal - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why a Washington State town has filed for bankruptcy

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 22:14:23 +0000

Bankruptcy is an unfortunate reality for thousands of Americans every year, but cities declaring bankruptcies are far more rare.

Since the 1930s, municipality bankruptcies have only happened around 700 times in the U.S. And in Washington State it’s only happened once, until this week when the city of Cle Elum declared itself insolvent in bankruptcy court, saddled with significant debt.

How significant? 26 million dollars, more than five times the town’s annual budget.

Guest: Seattle Times reporter Jim Brunner

Relevant Links:

Cle Elum considers bankruptcy amid $22M debt in development dispute

Cle Elum declares bankruptcy over $26M debt

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - PRIDE EDITION

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 21:08:41 +0000

We’ve been celebrating Pride all month with a TON of events across the state, but now, we’ve hit critical mass, because it’s PRIDE WEEKEND! There is SO MUCH happening, so let's get to it:

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Republican who brought vote-by-mail to Washington State still believes in it

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 02:34:20 +0000

Washington State started conducting all-mail elections in 2014 and it’s mostly been smooth sailing since then.

But a national explosion of vote-by-mail during the 2020 election due to Covid sparked a partisan backlash against the practice. President Trump made claims that voting by mail would lead to widespread fraud, accusations that grew louder after he lost that election to President Biden. Now the Washington State Republican Party has officially come out against vote-by-mail, with Chairman Jim Walsh saying “We want to get back to in-person voting.”

Sam Reed is a Republican and was the 14th Secretary of State in Washington, retiring in 2013. He's also the godfather of vote-by-mail in Washington State. And he regrets nothing.

Guest: Former WA Secretary of State Sam Reed

Relevant links:

WAGOP Joins Regional Movement to END Vote-By-Mail

The History of Voting and Elections in Washington State

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why this year's Duwamish River Festival is canceled

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 23:26:54 +0000

A festival celebrating the city’s only river won't happen this year.

The organization hosting the Duwamish River Festival shut the August celebration down, due to concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in South Park, the neighborhood where the festival usually takes place.

We talk about the decision with the head of the Duwamish River Community Coalition, the organization that usually runs the festival.

Guest

Paulina Lopez, executive director of the Duwamish River Community Coalition

Related links

Seattle festival canceled due to ICE concerns, The Seattle Times
Envisioning a cleaner Duwamish River in South Park, Soundside (2022)

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WA Supreme Court approves case load limits for public defenders

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 23:33:29 +0000

Over the last three years, the shortage of public defenders in Washington state has built to a crisis. It’s been taking a toll on the lawyers who represent clients that need representation but can’t afford it. Since that representation is promised in the U.S. and state constitutions, these lawyers are a critical aspect of the legal system.

When there aren’t enough lawyers, people wait in jail. Last year, the ACLU of Washington sued Yakima County for denying defendants their sixth amendment right to an attorney. The county has struggled to hire new public defenders for years.

To address the lack, public defenders proposed a counterintuitive solution: lower the number of cases public defenders can take on. They say doing so will reduce burnout and increase recruitment.

This month, the Washington State Supreme Court signed on to dramatically reduced caseload limits for defenders.

Guests:

Daniel Beekman, reporter at the Seattle Times

Bob Boruchowitz, professor from practice at Seattle University School of Law and director of the Defender Initiative

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: WA Supreme Court orders much lower caseloads for public defenders

Seattle Times: WA adds public defender dollars but ‘nowhere near’ enough, counties say

Seattle Times: Washington Bar approves much lower caseloads for public defenders

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"We need a new plan" - Congressman Adam Smith on war with Iran

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 23:25:53 +0000

A ceasefire between Israel and Iran appears to be holding at this hour.

President Trump spoke briefly to reporters this morning on the White House lawn.

He used an expletive and said he was unhappy that the two countries had both initially violated the agreement to pause attacks.

More than a week after Israel kicked off the new war with Iran, Trump intervened on Saturday by ordering a U.S. strike on three Iranian nuclear sites.

This morning the president has been re-posting messages on social media from supporters calling his handling of the conflict “an overwhelming…victory” and “a historic masterclass.”

But a member of Washington's congressional delegation disagrees.

Guest:

Adam Smith is a House Democrat who represents parts of Bellevue and Seattle all the way to Auburn and Federal Way.

Related links:

Democrats Forge Ahead With Efforts to Reach War Powers Vote Amid Shaky Cease-Fire - NYT

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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WA encouraged lower income people to buy electric vehicles, results were mixed

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 22:17:12 +0000

Washington state is taking quick action to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

As part of it, last year the state spent $45 million dollars to help lower income people buy or lease electric vehicles.

To do this, they lowered the barrier for getting a rebate – all you needed to do was self-report your income or say you were enrolled in an assistance program, and the dealer would discount thousands of dollars from the price.

But a new investigation from Cascade PBS has found that some of the money didn’t go towards the people it was intended for.

Guest:

Elizabeth Whitman, freelance journalist

Relevant Links:

Cascade PBS: WA spent $45M to boost electric vehicle use — with mixed results

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Serial killers: Why has the Pacific Northwest had so many?

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 21:00:56 +0000

A new book examines the theory that lead and arsenic poisoning may have affected the brain development of serial killers like Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway.

Childhood exposure to these poisons might provide a partial explanation for these horrific crimes.

The book is “Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers.”

It’s part memoir; part examination of anthropology, criminology, and also the ecological history of the Pacific Northwest.

Guest

Caroline Fraser, author of “Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers.” She grew up on Mercer Island and won the Pulitzer Prize for her biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder in 2018.

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Touring the history of Black music at MoPop's "Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music"

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:12:57 +0000

Upstairs at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture, MoPop, right now you can take a trip through the musical genres and artists that trace the arc of Black history in America, from gospel foremothers like Rosetta Tharpe and Mahalia Jackson, to the soul songs of Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder.

The exhibit is called Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann caught up with curator Adeerya Johnson for a tour of the exhibit.

GUEST: Adeerya Johnson, Associate Curator at MoPop

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - June 18th-22nd

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:03:00 +0000

We are officially in the summer busy season.

Solstice, pride, Juneteenth — if you’re looking for something to do this week, have no fear, there’s something for you.

Soundside is off tomorrow for Juneteenth, so we're bringing you an EARLY edition of the WEEKEND WARMUP.

Here with stuff to do this weekend is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Seattle teen's 1936 horror film was lost for 89 years... now you can watch it

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 21:38:56 +0000

Boys and ghouls, allow me to tell you about the mad doctor who injects himself with an experimental serum, turning the scientist into a hideous monster that terrorizes a hospital.

This twisted tale is from the mind of Richard Lyford, a 19-year-old indie filmmaker in Seattle, who wrote, directed and starred in the short horror film The Scalpel.

But he wasn’t influenced by horror legends like John Carpenter or Wes Craven or George Romero.

No, The Scalpel was filmed in 1936, and film historians considered it lost for almost 90 years.

It’s now been restored and re-edited, and been accepted to more than 150 film festivals throughout the country.

Guest: Composer Ed Hartman

Related Links:

Trailer for The Scalpel

Lost 1936 Seattle film saved by local composer takes festival circuit by storm

Zion Film Fest

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

The Scalpel Festival Run

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Iranian Americans wonder “what is the end game” for war in Iran

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 21:34:07 +0000

Israel and Iran continue to trade missile and drone attacks as the war stretches into its fifth day.

This conflict started last week with Israeli airstrikes that targeted top military commanders and nuclear facilities in Iran.

Here in the Seattle area, members of the Iranian diaspora are experiencing a familiar anxiety: Trying to keep tabs on friends and family during a bloody conflict.

We talk to four members of Seattle's Iranian diaspora and get additional analysis on the conflict from a Washington, D.C.-based expert.

Guests

Omid Roustaei, The Caspian Chef, cookbook author and Iranian-American psychotherapist

Rep. Darya Farivar, Washington state Representative, D-46

Aria Fani, director of the Persian and Iranian Studies Program at the University of Washington

Faraz Zarghami, also known as DJ Dancing Faraz

Alex Vatanka, senior fellow, Middle East Institute

Related links

The Washington Post: Israeli attacks leave Iranians fearful and hopeful

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Finding a 'Storybook Ending' with Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times arts critic

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 22:14:05 +0000

Have you ever walked into a bookstore, lonely and single, and hoped you’d meet the love of your life?

We know there are at least a few of you out there.

The spot in question, titled “Read the Room”, is based on Ravenna’s Third Place Books, one of Macdonald's regular haunts.

We talk to Macdonald, the longtime Seattle Times arts critic, about writing her novel, her recommendations for great summer reads and Seattle's best movie theaters.

Guest

Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times arts critic and debut novelist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The split screen of protests across Washington

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 21:48:33 +0000

Millions of Americans across the country gathered over the weekend in support of “No Kings Day”, a nationwide protest against the Trump Administration.

Marches were planned to contrast with a military parade at the nation’s capital, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Army.

The events also coincided with President Trump’s birthday.

And it all came after a week of escalating tensions between the federal government and California officials, where immigration raids had prompted clashes between protestors and police… and Trump had called in the military against the wishes of the state’s governor.

Across Washington on Saturday, cities from Olympia, to Wenatchee, even passengers on a ferry from Bainbridge island had “No Kings” protests.

We wanted to get a sense of what the protests felt like across the state - and how the momentum of crowd participation could spark further action.

Guests:

KUOW reporter Casey Martin
Seattle University assistant professor of law Pilar Margarita Hernández Escontrías
Former Spokane city council president Ben Stuckart

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington State, SNAP benefits and the 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 23:01:38 +0000

Lawmakers in D.C. are still working on President Trump's big beautiful bill.

That's the budget reconciliation measure focused on extending his first term tax cuts, boosting defense spending and immigration enforcement and cutting some spending.

Should it become law, it's expected to cut into benefits for millions of Americans – specifically, federal food assistance programs. It's expected to slice hundreds of billions from SNAP, or food stamps.

Around 10 percent of Washington state's population get SNAP benefits, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Washington State Standard estimates tens of thousands in the state could lose federal food aid if the bill passes.

We hear from the executive director of a Seattle food bank about the proposed cuts to SNAP and how they could affect the food bank’s operations and clients.

And we get an update on the bill's progress from a D.C.-based reporter.

Guests

Orion Donovan Smith legislative reporter, Washington, D.C. Bureau, The Spokesman-Review

Gloria Hatcher-Mays executive director, Rainier Valley Food Bank

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - June 13th-15th

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 22:18:39 +0000

Well, I don't know about YOU, but President Trump has big weekend plans:

On Saturday, he's going to be enjoying a military parade in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Army, which also happens to fall on his birthday.

There are hundreds of protests planned in cities across the country as counter-programming to this parade. They're organized under the umbrella of the "No Kings" theme. That includes here in Washington State, and the No Kings website says 80 protests are planned in places from Anacortes to Walla Walla.

The Kitsap Sun has a list of where those are happening on Saturday and how to stay safe at KitsapSun.com

But not to worry, there are a TON of other weekend events coming up:

LINKS:

Black Night Market — Friends of Waterfront Park
Brass Screw Consortium - Port Townsend
Maple Valley Days - Lake Wilderness Park
An Evening with John Cusack & Screening of "High Fidelity" - Tacoma
Seattle Flying Dragon Boat Club - South Lake Union Park

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MLS players say they're shut out of FIFA's big-money Club World Cup

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 23:29:50 +0000

This weekend, the FIFA Club World Cup descends on Seattle.This isn’t the big tournament that pits national teams against each other that’s coming in 2026.

Instead, this tournament features club teams from around the world. Spectators in Seattle will be able to see storied squads take the pitch throughout June.

For clubs, there is big money at stake but the majority of that money, at least when it comes to Major League Soccer, is set to go to the clubs’ owners.

U.S. players, including ones with the Seattle Sounders, won’t see much of it. So players have been speaking out about, what they call, a cash grab. U.S. fans of the beautiful game are now following an ugly contract dispute.

Guest:

Pablo Mauer, staff writer at the Athletic

Relevant Links:

The Athletic: Sounders protest MLS’ Club World Cup player payout cap, backed by MLSPA

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, there's trouble brewing at the Renaissance Faire!

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 22:51:59 +0000

The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire is the largest ren faire in the state. It will bring out fairies, pirates, knights in shining armor, and more for five weeks, starting in mid-July, near the Skykomish River outside of Monroe.

It has a whole lot of fans including one of our colleagues at KUOW, Vicky VanHout. She says Ren Faires are all about dressing up in medieval garb, dancing to medieval themed music, archery, and axe throwing. A celebration of cosplay and history together!

But, not everyone is happy with the state of the faire. They say something’s amiss, and it’s not the pirates hitting the grog too hard or Mistress Tiddlywinks’ donkey breaking into the cabbage patch…

The Village of Merriwick, AKA the fictional home of the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire, is at the center of a new investigative report in the summer edition of Seattle Met.

The story details a series of allegations about management’s treatment of volunteer staff and questions about their financial priorities, as well as bigger questions about changes that some argue are sacrificing the “soul” of the Faire.

We reached out to both Washington Renaissance Arts & Education Society and Wandering in Time Productions for their response to Nathalie’s story. They declined an interview, but they did send us a statement:

"Wandering in Time Productions is a Pacific Northwest institution, employing nearly 120 full-time, part-time, and contract staff. Its partnership with the Washington Renaissance Arts & Education Society has WITP providing essential services to help produce a high-quality, immersive event each year. In 2024, WITP assumed responsibility for guild and entertainer payments and transitioned to a more equitable contractor model, reinforcing its commitment to fairness and sustainability.

WITP, in partnership with the WRAES, puts its heart and soul into bringing an extraordinary production to life each summer. Putting on a high-quality event that welcomes approximately 10,000 visitors daily takes time, effort and significant financial resources. Like many businesses across Washington, the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire has felt the impact of rising production costs. As a result, we have had to make difficult decisions, including increases to ticket prices and a more selective vendor invitation process to ensure the Faire’s continued success. We have also adopted policies, such as quiet hours, meant to ensure that the greatest number of our guests and participants are as comfortable as possible.

WITP is also aware that, in past years, a small number of vendors, staff and entertainers have acted in ways that do not reflect the values of our community. When concerns were brought to our attention, WITP responded quickly and decisively based on available information. WITP remains committed to creating a safe, respectful and welcoming environment for all.

WITP and WRAES look forward to welcoming all our guests this summer, especially those who have attended for generations, to create magical and memorable experiences together.

Our focus remains on creating a safe, inclusive and memorable experience for the many guests, vendors, entertainers and staff who make the Faire possible each year."

GUEST: Nathalie Graham - staff writer at The Stranger and freelancer with Seattle Met

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A Seattle family tried self-deporting to Canada -- they ended up in a windowless cell for 24 days

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 22:45:52 +0000

The Trump Administration’s efforts to deport more unauthorized immigrants have led to protests in major cities across the United States. Evidence of stepped-up immigration enforcement can also be seen at the U.S.-Canada border. But it’s not always drawing protests or media attention.

A family of six at the Blaine border crossing was detained earlier this year. The family, originally from southwestern Africa, was held by Customs and Border Protection in a windowless cell, with a toilet, for more than three weeks – with no news stories and few people aware of their situation.

The ACLU is now involved in the case.

Guest: Troy Brynelson, reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting

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How Trump's fight with CA over climate policy impacts WA

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:47:46 +0000

For a long time, if you wanted to know what the future looked like for Washington’s climate policies, you just had to look at California.

The Golden State put a carbon auction in place in 2012. 10 years later, state lawmakers here set up our own cap and trade system.

California passed legally binding emissions goals in 2006. Washington did that about a decade later.

And let’s talk car sales: California passed a law that will ban the sale of most gasoline powered vehicles by 2035. Washington passed a similar law a few years ago.

But now, California’s law has come under the crosshairs of the federal government and that may hamper both states’ ability to meet ambitious goals to decarbonize.

Guest:

Conrad Swanson, climate reporter for the Seattle Times

Stateline: Major legal brawl may decide what types of cars Americans can buy

Cal Matters: US Senate blocks California’s electric car mandate in historic vote

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Outgoing UW president has strong words for Trump Administration and student protesters

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 22:51:39 +0000

When the University of Washington began searching for a new president back in 2015, they did what you might expect:

They started a nationwide hunt, looking for the best fit to lead an institution known at the time, more for its research than for its classes.

It turns out the answer was right at home.

Ana Mari Cauce had been at the University of Washington since 1986, in various teaching and leadership roles, starting as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology.

Cauce entered the office as the first openly gay, first Latina, and first woman to lead the largest University in the state.

And during her time in the office, the UW has changed a lot. There was a global pandemic and move to online learning. Campus-wide Pro-Palestine protests brought national attention to the school as students clashed with university administrators.

Key for sports fans, The Huskies left the PAC-12 conference, joining the Big 10.

Add to that – in the last few months, defunding moves, international student visa cancellations and further threats from the federal government.

Now, Cauce’s ten years at the helm of the University of Washington is coming to the end.

What has she learned from her tenure?

And what advice does she have for her successor as he prepares to take over?

Guest:

Ana Mari Cauce, President of the University of Washington

Related Stories:

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How Seattle is preparing for summer events and protests

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 22:59:22 +0000

Seattle is gearing up to host some big events this summer – from music festivals to early World Cup matches. The Sounders will host their first FIFA Club World Cup match on Sunday June 15 at Lumen Field.

June is also Pride Month, with all kinds of LQBTQ+-focused celebrations planned throughout the city.

It’s a time when law enforcement agencies are tasked with keeping people safe, and respecting free expression.

And that balance has gotten extra difficult in recent weeks here in Seattle, after duelling protests by queer demonstrators and their allies and fundamentalist Christian groups.

So we wanted to invite the Seattle Police Department, and the city of Seattle on to talk about how they’re approaching public safety this summer.

And a note: this conversation was recorded on Friday, prior to this weekend’s protests in Los Angeles, and the mobilization of the National Guard.

Guests:

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes
Seattle Chief Public Safety Officer Natalie Walton-Anderson

Related stories:

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Trump accelerates feud with California by sending troops to L.A.

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 22:31:49 +0000

ICE enforcement raids led to violent clashes between protestors and law enforcement in Los Angeles this weekend.

President Trump mobilized the National Guard in response. This was against the wishes of the state’s Governor, Gavin Newsom -- it’s the first time a President has done so since the 1960s.

Both Newsom and L.A. mayor Karen Bass have vocally criticized the move, with Newsom calling it an “unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”

Over 50 people were arrested this weekend. More protests are planned today.

It’s something we’re watching closely here in Seattle, a Democrat-led city in a heavily Blue state with its own history of showdowns with the Trump Administration.

Relevant Links:

CalMatters: With troops and protests, Trump’s feud with California moves to the streets of LA

CalMatters: Gavin Newsom asks Trump to withdraw troops from Los Angeles as protests intensify

Guest:

Nigel Duara, LA-based reporter for CalMatters

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Attorney General Nick Brown on Trump and the National Guard

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 22:30:44 +0000

President Trump deployed 2,000 California National Guard troops in Los Angeles this weekend.

Protests had broken out in response to aggressive local immigration enforcement activity.

California’s attorney general now says the state will sue the president over this.

But here in Washington, is the state prepared for widespread protests or presidential mobilization of the national guard?

We spoke with Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, a Democrat, on Monday morning about those questions.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - June 6th-9th

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 21:23:01 +0000

If you’re not up for driving all the way to Astoria Oregon for the Goonies, and would rather stick closer to home this weekend, never fear - we’ve got you covered!

Here with almost every event, festival, and concert happening this weekend is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!

LINKS:

Steel Magic Northwest - "Here Comes the Sun"
Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show - Tacoma
Indigenous People Festival - Seattle Center
Kent Nerd Party 2025
Duvall Days Festival
SCOTTISH GATHERING - Blaine
Maritime Gig Festival - Gig Harbor
2025 Anacortes Waterfront Festival
Seattle Pride in the Park 2025
Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival
Fiber Fusion Northwest - Monroe
The Stranger's Burger Week

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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How a Spokane woman became a hall of fame foosball player

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:56:07 +0000

Let’s talk foosball. You know, the table top game with the little soccer guys. Maybe you’re a hot shot at your local bar. You have a few tricks up your sleeve. And maybe they’ve even won you a couple beers over the years.

But we warn you: You are in an entirely different league from Spokane resident Lotus Leong-Chesbrough. She has won real money playing foosball. She’s been coy about saying how much, but it's at least in the six figures.

She’s also claimed two foosball world titles and, in 2018, was inducted into the Table Soccer Hall of Fame. Later this month she's headed to Spain for the World Cup. And she expects to win.

Guest:

Lotus Leong-Chesbrough

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An ex-Republican has rejoined the party to fight for the future of the GOP

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:40:04 +0000

Chris Vance was a Republican for 37 years. During that time he served as the chair for the Washington State Republican Party, a Metropolitan King County Councilmember and a state representative.

But then Donald Trump descended down that golden escalator.

Vance left the GOP in 2017 as President Trump was reshaping the Party in his image. Since then Vance has considered himself in exile… flirting with independent candidates and openly supporting Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

So it might come as a surprise that he is returning to the party and calling himself a Republican once again. This time, though, he’s part of a new group called Our Republican Legacy. They say they want to establish a big tent inside the Party to advance a more traditionally Republican agenda.

Guest:

Chris Vance, a senior adviser for the group Our Republican Legacy

Our Republican Legacy

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Why a Vietnamese man was deported to South Sudan

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:31:11 +0000

Last month Pierce County resident Tuan Thanh Phan was deported.

That wasn’t unexpected for Tuan or his family - he was planning on starting a new life in Vietnam after he was deported. His permanent residency was revoked in 2009, nearly ten years after he was convicted of first degree murder and second degree assault.

The surprise was where he went. He wasn’t going to Vietnam, his birth country.

Instead, Tuan ended up on a flight to South Sudan. That was redirected to Djibouti.

The flight was part of a push by the Trump administration to remove convicted visa holders from the U.S. – back to countries that aren’t their own.

Now Phan's wife is sounding the alarm - she hasn't heard from her husband since he was sent to Djbouti.

Guest:

KUOW Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez

Related Stories:

A Pierce County man expected to be deported to Vietnam. Instead, ICE routed him to South Sudan - KUOW

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Those little red hummingbird feeders are driving the bird's evolution

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 23:00:58 +0000

In D.C. the president’s Big Beautiful Bill is facing a contentious fight in the Senate. Governor Ferguson recently signed over 400 bills into law.

But there was other bill related news in recent weeks and we went to see someone who has been right in the middle of it.

Alejandro Rico Guevara is one of the foremost researchers on hummingbird bills. He has spent years studying how hummingbirds use their beaks to feed and fight.

But his latest research looked at how human actions seem to be driving a high-speed example of evolution in hummingbird bills.

Alejandro is an Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Washington, and he’s the co-author of a study published last month in Global Change Biology. It shows how hummingbird feeders have influenced the size and shape of hummingbird bills in a matter of decades.

Guest:

Alejandro Rico Guevara, Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Washington

Relevant Links:

NPR: Backyard feeders changed the shape of hummingbird beaks, scientists say

Global Change Biology: Supplemental Feeding as a Driver of Population Expansion and Morphological Change in Anna's Hummingbird

Smithsonian: California’s Hummingbirds Have Changed Their Beaks in Response to Backyard Feeders, Study Finds

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Seattle City Councilmember Cathy Moore resigns

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 22:39:01 +0000

Cathy Moore is stepping down from the Seattle City Council.

She announced the decision yesterday afternoon, citing health and personal reasons.

Moore has been in office for a year and a half, and leaves district 5 - which includes Greenwood, North Gate and Lake City - down an elected representative.

Why has Moore decided to step down after such a short tenure, and what does it mean for Seattle’s city council?

Guest:

David Kroman, city hall reporter for the Seattle Times

Related stories:

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How the black market is cashing in on the state's inability to track weed "from seed to sale."

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 22:33:01 +0000

When Washington state legalized marijuana back in 2012, one of the big goals was to displace the black market, bring weed out of the shadows, and take the power away from dealers and traffickers.

But more than a decade later, the ILLEGAL weed industry is still thriving in Washington, and that’s taking a toll on LEGAL cannabis businesses.

Meanwhile, the SYSTEM for keeping track of legally produced weed is broken. That has raised concerns about diversion into the black market, as well as lost money, product safety, and more.

Tim Gruver Wrote about the “fuzzy math of tracking dark weed” for The Washington Observer

GUEST: Tim Gruver - Washington Observer

RELATED LINK: The fuzzy math of tracing dark weed

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Memory loss is lonely; this improv class helps change that.

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 22:18:07 +0000

Fifteen years ago, actor Pam Nolte received a phone call from a friend who worked at the Greenwood Senior Center in Seattle. Her friend asked if she’d be willing to create an improv class specifically for people with early stage memory loss.

Pam was intrigued. She had zero experience with improv. But had personal experience dealing with her mother’s experience with Alzheimer's disease.

Pam eventually created a gentle and slower-paced improv class. Participants play improv games that tap into their long term memories and their senses, and instructors ask them questions like “what are some sounds you hear in the springtime?” or “what was an activity you loved to do as a kid?”

The class then builds off these prompts, to create longer form improv games.

Students and instructors say the class is a unique experience for people with early stage memory loss, who in the real world are often told “no.” For example, when their doctor tells them they can no longer drive. But in improv class, students are met with a resounding “yes!” to whatever ideas they come up with. And they’re given space and time if they forget what they’re saying mid-sentence.

Experts say improv class offers real benefits for anyone who wants to keep their mind and memory in good shape.

GUESTS:

Pam Nolte, actor and co-founder of Taproot Theatre Company
Dr. Danny Fisher, Memory and Brain Wellness Center at Harborview
Students and instructors from the “improv for memory loss” class

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The new food that has beekeepers "buzzing"

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 20:56:29 +0000

When you buy a fruit, a vegetable, a carton of almond milk - you might assume it’s an animal free product.

But all of those foods, and many more, rely on one small but mighty member of the animal kingdom: the bee.

Bees – especially honeybees – are an important part of any working farm. They pollinate everything from papayas to cucumbers to coffee beans.

Like cows, pigs, or chickens, these little buzzy workers are considered livestock: cared for and managed by farmers and beekeepers so that you can have food on your plate.

But, unlike other livestock, there is one thing farmers haven’t been able to do for their bees: provide nutritious, human-made feed when flowers aren’t blooming.

Until now.

Last month scientists unveiled a new food source designed for livestock bee colonies. They say it could help bee survival rates across the world.

Guest:

Brandon Hopkins is the P.F. Thurber Endowed Distinguished Professor of Pollinator Ecology at Washington State University, and ran the trials for this new food. He also co-authored a study on the food source

Related stories:

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You may buy Nintendo's Switch 2, but you won’t own the games

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 20:53:54 +0000

GAMERS REJOICE - The day that Mario, Pokémon, & Zelda fans have been looking forward to is right around the corner: The Switch 2 from Nintendo is out on THURSDAY, June 5th!!

The second generation of Nintendo’s flagship console has been highly anticipated for years, but the launch announcement was NOT without controversy.

Nintendo announced the new console back in January, but it wasn’t until last month that details came out about games, pricing, and licensing.

It was revealed that instead of buying the GAMES THEMSELVES at your friendly local game store, the cartridge you buy is merely a KEY to download the game from Nintendo’s digital storefront, which caused quite the stir among the Nintendo faithful…

We reached out to Nintendo of America last week to get their response to the question about “right to repair” in WA State, and we’ll update this story as soon as they respond.

GUEST: Ryan DiVittorio - Writer at CBR.com

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A Seattle woman dies during a heatwave and a new lawsuit blames oil companies

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 20:49:43 +0000

The day 65-year-old Julie Leon died was the hottest day ever recorded in Washington State history. Her death was officially ruled as hyperthermia, or overheating.

Officially, more than 100 people died in the state due to that extreme 2021 heat wave, but many experts believe the number of deaths exceeds 400. Last week, Julie’s daughter, Misti Leon, filed a lawsuit, pointing the finger at who she thinks is responsible: big oil.

The lawsuit claims that oil and gas companies have been knowingly misleading the public for more than 50 years about the effects of fossil fuels on the climate. It says this deception has made them trillions of dollars, while leading to the deaths of people like Julie Leon.

Guest:

Korey Silverman-Roati, a Senior Fellow at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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New songs for you summer music playlist

Thu, 29 May 2025 22:13:27 +0000

It isn't officially summer, but it sure does feel like it in the Pacific Northwest. The sun is out and maybe you're planning on laying out by the water this weekend. But what to listen to as the warm season nears?

Well, we have something that might help you. We rounded up a panel of local music experts to give you some fresh recommendations for songs to check out.

Michael Reitmulder:

Deep Sea Diver, Billboard Heart

Sea Lemon, Diving for a Prize

Bunnie on the Board:

Sailorr, Soft Girl Summer

Envi Jordan, "Tonight"

Shaboozey, "Horses & Hellcatts"

Cameron Lavi Jones

OBGMS, "Get Up"

Orgone, "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" ft. Cyril Neville

Liv Victorino, "Neighborhood"

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Bunnie on the Board - live and studio audio engineer and Seattle Music Commissioner

Michael Reitmulder - Seattle Times music writer

Cameron Lavi Jones, lead singer and guitarist of Seattle band King Young Blood and co-creator of the Black and Loud music festival

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After years of turbulence, is Boeing ready for takeoff?

Thu, 29 May 2025 21:19:03 +0000

You know who we haven't discussed on this show in a while?

The Boeing company.

They're the 2nd biggest private employer in this state.

It’s good we haven't talked about ’em because when we do, it's usually bad news.
The fatal crashes a few years ago, the door panel blowing out last year, the machinist strike.

The US Senate held a whistleblower hearing and the title was “Examining Boeing’s Broken Safety Culture: Firsthand Accounts.” - Not a great sign.

So how is Boeing doing now?

Well, the stock price is up 20% this year, Qatar Airlines is buying 210 new jets, and Boeing might not face criminal charges after all for those fatal crashes - something the victims’ families are angry about.

Let’s catch up on Boeing...

GUESTS:

Lauren Rosenblatt, Seattle Times business reporter covering Boeing
Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - May 29th-June 1st

Thu, 29 May 2025 21:15:43 +0000

It has been a short week for most of us, thanks to Memorial Day.

Here we already approaching another weekend, nd with ALMOST everything you need to know to keep yourself busy, we've got Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!!

LINKS:

Mariners - Nationals on Thurs, Minnesota Twins on Fri/Sat/Sun
Sounders - Minnesota United FC on Sunday
Storm - Fri vs Atlanta/Sun vs Las Vegas
Salmon Bay FC - FRI vs Tacoma
Rat City Roller Derby - Home Team Championships Saturday
Two Dykes and a Mic - Fri/Sat
Mason County Forest Festival - Fri/Sat/Sun in Shelton, WA
HONK! Fest West
Bite of Greece Seattle
Stamp & Scrapbook EXPO - Puyallup
Paws & Pride Dog Walk - Bellevue Downtown Park

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A UW COVID expert on the latest federal vaccine recommendations

Thu, 29 May 2025 15:52:43 +0000

The Trump Administration’s health policies are upending years of advice about COVID vaccines. Since they’ve been available, experts have recommended the shot to almost everyone. The vaccines are safe and they work.

But now federal agencies are taking a much narrower approach. Health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. just announced the vaccines won't be recommended for children or healthy pregnant people. And the FDA plans to approve booster shots only for older adults and people with extra risk factors.

We talk more about all of that with an expert on COVID-19, Dr. Helen Chu. Chu doesn't agree with the recommendations.

"I think the reason why we have COVID vaccines for young children and for pregnant persons is because they know we know that they work, that they're safe, they're effective," Chu says. "These are populations that are at high risk for severe disease."

Guest

Dr. Helen Chu, professor of medicine at the University of Washington. She’s run several landmark studies of how COVID spreads.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Clock is ticking for scientists to make the case against funding cuts

Tue, 27 May 2025 20:42:48 +0000

Federal funding for research from the National Science Foundation is being awarded at the slowest rate in 35 years, according to an investigation from the New York Times.

Since the start of Trump’s second term, cuts to National Institutes of Health and NSF grants have totaled more than 1.5 billion, according to the research publication Science.

Republicans have justified these cuts by claiming the administration is rooting out wasteful spending, or left-wing ideology run amok.

And these attacks, along with threats of funding freezes for universities, have reportedly created a culture of fear for researchers. It’s left scientists wondering: do I speak up about what’s happening? Or do I stay quiet, in hopes my funding might be restored?

One Seattle researcher with a lot of experience in political communication and information systems is saying: speak up.

Guest:

Kate Starbird is the co-founder of the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public. She’s also a professor at the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE).

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - May 23-26

Thu, 22 May 2025 23:01:34 +0000

Jason Megatron Burrows is out this week, so Shane NoCoolNickname Mehling rattles through some of the best things to do this Memorial weekend.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Deciding to See: The View from Nathan's Bus

Thu, 22 May 2025 22:21:04 +0000

When you ride a Metro bus that Nathan Vass is driving, you might notice a few things.

It starts with when you get on the bus: he makes a point of saying hello to every passenger who climbs aboard.

Once you grab a seat, you’ll see he’s also on the intercom, announcing every single stop. When he isn’t orienting riders, he’s chatty and talks with people sitting at the front of the bus. And when you step off the bus he says goodbye.

What you may not notice is that Nathan is noticing everything happening around him: the conversations he’s having and the regulars who show up every day.

He often writes about his interactions and those stories are compiled in a new book called “Deciding to See: The View from Nathan’s Bus.”

The book is a collection of dozens of narratives of daily interactions across the city, touching on loss, joy, and connection on a King County Metro bus.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

Nathan Vass, author of Deciding to See: The View from Nathan's Bus

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: Nathan Vass brings readers onto his bus in new book ‘Deciding to See’

KUOW: This Seattle bus driver decided to be extra nice to his passengers. Here's how it went

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A new book argues that foster care pushes kids towards prison and homelessness

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:15:42 +0000

The United States spends 30 billion dollars on foster care each year. Yet, according to author Claudia Rowe, the results have too often been damaging for the children in that system.

The award-winning journalist claims our child welfare system is dangerously dysfunctional: by disconnecting kids from their biological families and extended networks, she says, foster care severs attachments that are important for healthy brain development.

Her new book, Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care, is a deep dive into what she says is a pipeline from foster care to crime, drug addiction, homelessness and prison.

Guest:

Claudia Rowe

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A Seattle immigration attorney on ICE and your rights

Wed, 21 May 2025 23:02:50 +0000

Recent ICE enforcement activity has made headlines across the region.

This week, federal immigration agents arrested 17 people at a manufacturer in Kent.

And The Seattle Times reports ICE officers appeared to arrest at least 3 people at a Seattle immigration court.

But if you're stopped by ICE, everyone is entitled to certain rights and protections by law, no matter what your legal status is.

In case you could use help knowing what those rights are, we speak to one Seattle immigration attorney about your rights if ICE shows up at your door, what not to do if you're pulled over by ICE, bystander rights and more.

Guest

Henry Hwang, one of the directing attorneys for Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

Related Links

NPR: What basic rights do people have if ICE stops them? A lawyer explains

WBUR and NPR: 'Never seen anything like this': An immigration attorney on the arrest of a Tufts student

The Seattle Times: Here’s what advocates are telling WA immigrants about ICE raids

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Governor Ferguson leaves most tax increases in place as he signs the budget into law

Wed, 21 May 2025 22:46:03 +0000

Governor Ferguson was kind of a wild card as legislators worked on shoring up a $16 billion budget gap this year.

The Democratic governor had been unusually friendly to Republicans and signaled he was open to their ideas for how to fill the deficit.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the state house and senate have publicly insisted that they have a good relationship with the governor, even as he shot down some of their proposals to generate revenue, like a new wealth tax.

The weeks of wondering whether the Governor would make major changes to the Democrat-passed general fund and transportation budget are finally over. Yesterday afternoon, the Governor gave his approval to nearly all of the budget proposals.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

Paul Queary, editor and publisher of The Washington Observer

Relevant Links:

The Washington Observer: Ferguson tacks left and embraces the Legislature

KUOW: Gov. Ferguson signs new WA budget into law, leaving bulk of tax increases intact

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Why a gun that's been banned from WA's police academy is still being used by officers

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:32:30 +0000

Several law enforcement agencies across the country have decided to replace a popular model of pistol due to concerns about misfires – the guns have been reported to fire accidentally, even when in their holsters.

Washington’s police academy earlier this year banned the firearm at all its training facilities. It’s a move that’s drawn protest from several local police departments.

In some cases, when agencies choose to replace the guns, they aren’t being sent to a landfill, or a recycling center.

Instead, they’re being sold to dealers, who may put them back in circulation to the public.

That’s the latest from a new report from Mother Jones and The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom covering gun violence in America.

Guest:

Ava Sasani is the assistant editor of The Data Hub - an initiative by The Trace, the only newsroom dedicated to reporting on gun violence. She’s also the co-author of the story “A Gun Deemed Too Dangerous for Cops, but Fine for Civilians” - created in partnership with Mother Jones.

Related Stories:

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After deadly climbing accident in North Cascades, here's what one local climbing expert thinks

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:30:32 +0000

In one of the most deadly local climbing accidents in recent memory, four men fell roughly 400 feet while climbing in the Northern Cascades on May 10th.

One man survived, Anton Tselykh.

The tragedy has caused grief – and prompted questions – in the local climbing community.

And while some of the accident’s details are still unclear, it made us wonder about the impact of a loss like this on the climbing community, rock climbing safety, and what climbers should know about the North Cascades.

Guest

James Pierson, director of operations for the American Alpine Institute

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Negotiations stall on Columbia River Treaty

Mon, 19 May 2025 22:26:04 +0000

Signs of the frosty relationship between the United States and Canada are everywhere: from additional checkpoints at border crossings, to fewer Blue Jays fans showing up to T-Mobile Park to see their team play here recently.

Rhetoric from the President about making Canada the 51st state and tariffs have put a wedge between the two countries.

And the effects of this split are spiraling to how we manage natural resources that cross the border.

The Columbia river system - which touches British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana - is a major water and power source for the US. For 61 years, the two countries have worked closely to control floods and manage hydropower on the river.

When President Trump came back into office in January, Canadian and American officials were weeks away from updating the Columbia River Treaty.

But now, discussions have ground to a halt.

Guest:

Karen Weise, technology correspondent with the New York Times

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Is Seattle's port empty?

Mon, 19 May 2025 22:20:38 +0000

If you’ve logged into TikTok or Instagram in recent weeks, you may have heard that the port is empty.

Social media videos have been popping up claiming that Seattle’s port has no cargo ships docked. And Seattlites are pointing the finger at the continuous threat of new tariffs.

But is that actually the case?

KUOW labor and economy reporter Monica Nickelsburg headed to the port to find out in the newest episode of KUOW's Booming podcast.

Guest:

Monica Nickesburg is KUOW’s labor and economy reporter. She’s also the co-host of Booming, KUOW’s economics podcast.

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Amid federal cuts, here's why UW's lab animals could be euthanized

Mon, 19 May 2025 22:15:25 +0000

The Trump administration's federal cuts have put billions of dollars for scientific research and thousands of research jobs at risk.

They could also be imperiling laboratory animals.

Scientists around the country are concerned that funding cuts could mean prematurely ending research involving mice, dogs, nonhuman primates, and more.

Like many others, the University of Washington is a research institution that relies on animal subjects for its studies. If these studies are unable to continue, scientists will have to consider euthanizing these animals.

That could mean setbacks to all sorts of health-related experiments, including ones related to cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Guest

Sally Thompson-Iritani assistant vice provost for Animal Care, Outreach and Three Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement) in the Office of Research at the University of Washington

The Washington Post: Trump’s deep cuts to health research put lab animals at risk, scientists say

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - May 15-18

Thu, 15 May 2025 20:51:51 +0000

If you're looking for exciting things to do this weekend, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with MOST of the stuff you can get up to.

Okay, SOME of the stuff you can get up to.

Also, one quick correction: Jason erroneously said University AVE instead of University WAY when talking about the U-District Street Fair - it's here in the U-District, NOT in Downtown Seattle.

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Filmmaker Joey Clift talks about the inspiration behind the animated short POW!

Thu, 15 May 2025 20:41:24 +0000

It’s a story we can all relate to… Three generations in a car, headed to a family event. The parents are excited; their kid is not. And Grandma? She’s asleep in her wheelchair.

In the short animated film “POW!”, this particular family is Native American, and they’re headed to a powwow, where Jake desperately searches for an outlet to charge his gaming device… as his parents try to get him to participate in the festivities…

“POW!” is a funny, touching slice of life for young Native Americans. It will be screened both this weekend at the Tulalip Reservation, and next week at SIFF as part of the “Family Picture Show!”

GUEST: Filmmaker Joey Clift - Comedian, Emmy and Peabody nominated TV writer, director, as well as an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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WA lags behind other states in green energy growth

Wed, 14 May 2025 23:51:37 +0000

Over the last 10 years Washington has passed a bevy of climate laws aimed at reducing the state’s carbon emissions.

That includes a carbon auction, a ban on coal in the state’s energy mix, and a requirement that the state reach net zero emissions by 2045.

But during that same period, energy production from renewable sources has actually declined slightly.

Oregon has set its sights on net zero emissions by 2050. It, too, has seen sluggish growth in renewable energy.

Both states rely on the Bonneville Power Administration to move energy across the state.

A new investigation from Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network, found that the Bonneville Power Administration's aging grid may be stymieing decarbonization efforts in the Northwest.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Monica Samayoa, climate reporter at OPB

Tony Shick, investigative editor and reporter at OPB

Links:

How the Pacific Northwest’s dream of green energy fell apart

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What we know about the science of consciousness

Wed, 14 May 2025 23:36:39 +0000

New research has brought us a little closer to answering a key question about consciousness: How does the brain create the experience of self-awareness?

The problem was first posed by Aristotle, over 2000 years ago.

KUOW editor and longtime science journalist Gabriel Spitzer tells us more about that research and the Seattle scientist at the center of it.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The end of Bartell Drugs and the rise of pharmacy deserts

Wed, 14 May 2025 23:17:40 +0000

Founded in 1890 in the Central District, Bartell Drugs may be entering its final days.

Its parent company, the national pharmacy chain Rite Aid, exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy late last year, but continues to struggle financially. Now, the fewer than 30 Bartell Drugs and around 100 Rite Aids will be sold or closed forever.

This continued hemorrhaging of retail pharmacy stores will likely be felt most acutely in lower-income neighborhoods. A 2022 UW study already put the number of Washingtonians with low-access to pharmacies at 1.2 million.

Guests:

Alex Halverson, Seattle Times business reporter

Dr. Dima Qato, professor at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy.

Links:

Why the new Rite Aid bankruptcy could kill Seattle’s Bartell Drugs

Filling a prescription in the Seattle area? Put on comfortable shoes and be ready to wait

Reforming Markets to Strengthen Independent Pharmacies

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will it take to curb overcrowding at WA's youth prisons?

Wed, 14 May 2025 02:36:07 +0000

Washington’s youth prisons are facing a crisis of overcrowding.

The state’s two medium and maximum security youth prisons – Green Hill School in Chehalis, and Echo Glenn Children’s Center in Snoqualmie – have both consistently met or surpassed their maximum capacity for residents in recent years.

When the 2025 Washington legislative session began, lawmakers had lots of potential solutions.

From custody transfers, to increased diversion programs, to early release petitions - lawmakers brought a bevy of bills attempting to fix overcrowding at youth detention centers.

But now, with the session at an end… some of those key bills have not passed.

What happened, and where does it leave Washington’s youth detention centers?

Guests:

Jake Goldstein-Street, reporter with the Washington State Standard
Dr. Eric Trupin, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington Medical School. He’s also a child psychologist who has worked with incarcerated youth for decades

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Should Catholic priests in Washington State be forced to break the confessional seal?

Tue, 13 May 2025 22:45:42 +0000

On May 2nd, Governor Bob Ferguson signed into law a new requirement that clergy of all faiths become mandatory reporters of child abuse. It’s a move that’s especially controversial for the Catholic Church because of the sacrament of confession.

Up until now, admitting to crimes during confession, in a private conversation with a priest, retained similar legal protections as attorney-client privilege. In a statement criticizing the new law, Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne said the law violates the “seal of confession," and any priest who reports information received in confession “will be excommunicated from the Church.”

Guest:

Dr. Russell Powell, the Father John Topel Endowed Scholar for Catholic Thought and Justice at the Seattle University School of Law.

Links:

Abuse survivors defend WA law that feds slam as ‘anti-Catholic’

Federal Courts: First Amendment and Religion

‘Excommunicated’: WA Archdiocese pushes back against mandatory reporting law, DOJ investigating

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid concerns about the ‘manosphere’, here’s what three experts think about raising boys in 2025

Mon, 12 May 2025 20:50:24 +0000

Are men okay?

It’s a question sometimes asked in jest, but recent data has caused some experts to worry about American men and boys.

Men are going to and graduating from four year colleges at lower rates than women. Men age 25-54 are participating in the workforce at a lower rate than ever before. And, data from 2023 suggests young men are spending significantly more time alone than they did in 2019.

And this concern comes as influencers like the Tate brothers and Joe Rogan keep taking up space in the manosphere – a network of podcasters and influencers pushing a version of masculinity that many people consider toxic.

So how do you navigate healthy masculinity, and raising young men, in 2025?

We talk with our expert panel about how to raise boys in 2025.

Guests:

Don Cameron, executive director of Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement
Jerad Koepp, Native student program specialist for North Thurston Public Schools, 2022’s Washington Teacher of the Year
Keren Landman, independent reporter, former health reporter for Vox

Related Links:

Mentor sign up form for Seattle CARES, the next mentor trainings take place on May 31st and August 27th
How to talk to boys so they grow into better men, a Vox article by reporter Keren Landman
Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness. A 2023 Washington Post opinion piece on this topic, by Christine Emba

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Remembering Kevin Diers

Thu, 08 May 2025 22:38:53 +0000

Kevin Diers was an announcer and engineer here at KUOW. You could hear his work all over the station, behind shows like Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

He had a big footprint in the radio and music scene here in Seattle, for many years: Kevin was a long time host of Metal Shop and Loud and Local at KISW.

On KISW’s Instagram page, the band The Home Team wrote: "Kevin was the biggest supporter of local bands and music... He put us on when no one else would, and consistently uplifted the local scene with Loud & Local. He will be missed.”

Kevin was also part of the team at DEFY wrestling, a Seattle-area pro-wrestling promoter where he hosted a DEFY podcast.

Kevin was a gentle soul. He was kind and built community wherever he went. And he leaves a huge hole in our hearts. We miss you, Kevin.

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Why Seattle's City Council is considering changing their ethics code

Thu, 08 May 2025 22:35:38 +0000

Should Seattle city council members have to recuse themselves if a policy proposal would directly help or harm their self interests?

That’s been the guidance here in Seattle for the last 40 years.

But a new proposal from City Council member Cathy Moore could change that.

The idea to change ethics rules for the council comes ahead of contentious debates related to tenant protections and eviction laws in the city.

And it’s set to go before the council’s governance committee today, Thursday May 8th.

Guest:

Seattle Times city hall reporter David Kroman

Related stories:

Seattle City Council to consider changing ethics code for votes - Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's Weekend Warmup - Mother's Day! May 8th-11th

Thu, 08 May 2025 22:30:31 +0000

Thanks for checking out the Weekend Warmup - We have a LOT going on this weekend.

First of all, Sunday is Mother's Day. Second of all, the Mariners are starting a home stand against the Blue Jays on Friday. Let's go!

LINKS:

Seattle Mariners Schedule
USAF Band of the Golden West - Bellingham
USAF Band of the Golden West - Mercer Island
Seattle Beer Week
43rd Annual Beat the Bridge
World Migratory Bird Day | Seward Park Audubon Center
Penn Cove Water Festival
Pierogi Fest 2025
Seattle Art Book Fair
BonsaiFEST! | Pacific Bonsai Museum
SIFF 'n' Stitch: Mamma Mia!
Sinners - SIFF Cinema Downtown
NEXT WEEK: Never Turn Back Opening Party: Soul Train Revival | Museum of Pop Culture

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can you solve the mystery of the Oakville blobs?

Thu, 08 May 2025 01:09:33 +0000

More than three decades ago, tiny blobs of gelatinous goo of unknown origin rained down on the small Grays Harbor community and captured national headlines.

The cause of the strange phenomenon, and even what the blobs were made of -- remains an enigma. It was even the subject of an episode of the TV show Unsolved Mysteries. (Watch the episode here.)

No one knows what they were. But last month they returned.

Guests:

Alli McCrite
Tom Paulson, former reporter for the Seattle P-I

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear it Again: Pulitzer Prize winning author Tessa Hulls on her graphic novel 'Feeding Ghosts'

Wed, 07 May 2025 23:10:36 +0000

Yesterday, Seattle-based author Tessa Hulls won a Pulitzer Prize for her graphic novel "Feeding Ghosts."

Hulls' first published book starts with her Chinese grandmother, Sun Yi, a journalist and author who fled Shanghai after the Communist Revolution.

Then, the narrative shifts -- to her mother Rose, the daughter of a Swiss diplomat, essentially raised in a Hong Kong boarding school after her mother was institutionalized.

And finally to Hulls herself, who is trying to bring peace to her family ghosts.

10,000 Things host and author Shin Yu Pai sat down Hulls for Soundside last year. We're re-sharing our original interview to highlight Hulls' big achievement.

Guest:

Tessa Hulls, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Feeding Ghosts

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Federal funding uncertainty? Budget gap? New KC Exec has a plan for that.

Wed, 07 May 2025 22:53:56 +0000

King County has its first new Executive in 15 years.

Dow Constantine, who held the position since 2009, was chosen as the CEO of Sound Transit earlier this year. He stepped away from the Executive job at the end of March.

In his place, Shannon Braddock is leading the county until a new executive is elected this November. Before this she worked mostly behind the scenes in various roles for the county over the last 15 years, including Deputy County Executive.

County business waits for no one and Braddock is holding the position at a challenging time. King County is facing a roughly $150 million dollar general fund budget deficit and is dealing with uncertainty over federal grants.

How does Braddock intend to lead the second largest government in the state of Washington?

Well, she has a blueprint for that. At yesterday’s council meeting, she released her 200 day plan for her time in office.

Guest:

Shannon Braddock, King Count Executive

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: Shannon Braddock is King County’s first new leader in 15 years. Who is she?

Seattle Times : Maneuvering and lack of trust as King County seeks a new executive

The Urbanist: King County Council Appoints Shannon Braddock Acting Executive in Constantine’s Wake

PublicCola: Could a Sales Tax Hike for Criminal Justice Programs Save the County’s Budget?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump Administration vs. Head Start

Tue, 06 May 2025 22:44:44 +0000

In the face of staff cuts, funding freezes, and threats to zero out its budget – Head Start has survived… for now.

This program serves almost 800,000 kids throughout the country –15,000 in Washington State alone. Many of these children are low-income, disabled or in foster care.

A Trump Administration budget proposal leaked in April put all Head Start funding on the chopping block. Providers in multiple states, including Washington, filed a lawsuit last week, aiming to halt the elimination of the program and actions, they say, further undermine it.

But on Friday there was a bit of a reprieve: the Administration’s budget summary did not list Head Start as one of their defunding targets, and an official told reporters there would be no changes to the program.

But the lawsuit will continue. And, according to supporters, this dismantling of the program has been in the works for a while.

Guest:

Joel Ryan, the Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Head Start.

Links:

Head Start survives Trump administration budget proposal

WA Head Start staff locked out and let go due to Trump cuts

Washington ACLU sues Trump administration over attempts to dismantle free Head Start preschool program

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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One UW student's push to regulate "kidfluencing"

Tue, 06 May 2025 21:54:21 +0000

In the new Netflix documentary “Bad Influence”, 11 teenagers recount their experiences working with Piper Rockelle, who was herself a child influencer.

All of the teens were former “squad members” of the Youtuber. They described performing scripted scenes in front of the camera - like fake “dating” scenarios, or pranks.

They also described feeling violated by some of the videos, and behind the scenes interactions with Rockelle’s mother, Tiffany Smith - who’s also her manager. And they described not knowing how to say “no” when placed in a situation where they felt uncomfortable.

“Bad Influence” is one of two recently released documentaries about the impact being a “kidfluencer” can have on children, as well as on their families.

There’s also the new Hulu documentary, “The Devil in the Family: The Ruby Franke Story”.

The documentaries are bringing a lot of attention to the potential dangers of kidfluencing and the work many are doing to rein in the industry.

One person who is pushing for changes is Chris McCarty. They founded “Quit Clicking Kids”, a non-profit dedicated to stopping the monetization of minors on social media, as a high school senior.

Now, as a college student at the University of Washington, McCarty has helped shape legislation in multiple states focused on regulating the kidfluencer industry.

They were also featured in Netflix’s “Bad Influence: the dark side of kidfluencing”.

Guest:

Chris McCarty, founder of Quit Clicking Kids

Related stories:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why the video game industry needs a 1UP

Tue, 06 May 2025 21:18:29 +0000

In the 2010s, the video game industry saw an ENORMOUS boom, with annual revenues jumping from 80 billion dollars to TWO HUNDRED billion over that decade, according to a report by investment research group Epyllion.

But in recent years, that exponential growth hit a plateau.

“Games were so successful both prior to & during 2020 & 2021, that they set kind of impossible standards for 2023 & 2024… And when the uptick flattened, it was seen as a tremendous failure.”

That’s video game writer and creator Alanah Pearce from her recent video titled, “The games industry is screwed.”

While the industry remains profitable, volatility has shaken investors and large game studios – and created major instability for workers.

Last week, EA, which has a local footprint in Kirkland, announced a new round of layoffs – affecting hundreds of employees including workers at Respawn, the studio behind games like Apex Legends and the Star Wars: Jedi series.

Things are changing for consumers, too: Microsoft recently announced that it’s raising prices across the entire XBOX platform, … hot on the heels of Nintendo announcing price hikes for its Switch 2 games.

The gaming industry appears to be at a crossroads.

GUEST: Jason Schreier, author & reporter at Bloomberg

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why there's a good chance your city is facing a budget cliff

Mon, 05 May 2025 23:22:44 +0000

Seattle city leaders were met with some less than ideal news this month: the city is facing a $241 million dollar budget shortfall over the next two years.

And maybe you’re thinking, hey didn’t city council use the Jump Start tax to fill the $250 million budget gap this year? Surprise: that was a whole other budget deficit.

But Seattle is far from the only municipality facing a shortfall. King County is facing a $150 million gap. Tacoma? It had to fill a $24 million hole late last year. Spokane County? $20 million short. Yakima? $9 million. Cle Elum is filing for bankruptcy (a very rare move that has only happened once in the history of the state).

So what is going on with local governments across the state?

Guests:

Candice Bock, director of government relations at the Washington Association of Cities
John Rennie Short, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Related stories:

A fiscal crisis is looming for many US cities - The Conversation

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New linguistic paper traces the many Indigenous names of Mount Rainier

Mon, 05 May 2025 22:53:35 +0000

Since May 8, 1792, European colonists have called the large volcano just off the coast of Puget Sound "Mount Rainier."

It was given that name by a British explorer, Captain George Vancouver – a gift to his friend, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier.

But prior to Vancouver’s arrival in what eventually became Washington state, the Indigenous peoples in and around the Salish Sea called it by many names.

A recent linguistic paper from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians traced those many names for the mountain – where they came from, and what they mean.

Guests:

Zalmai ʔəswəli Zahir, linguist and Lushootseed language teacher

Related Links:

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - May 1st-4th

Thu, 01 May 2025 22:10:56 +0000

After a week of gloom & drizzle, we’ve finally got a 70 degree day or three in the forecast! We won’t talk about what’s happening with Saturday’s weather, it knows what it did…

THAT SAID - if you need a few more excuses to go out & do things, we’ve got you covered!

Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with a VERY SPECIAL Weekend Warmup.

LINKS:

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How a new option for fentanyl treatment is changing lives

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 23:26:20 +0000

For people addicted to fentanyl, the desire to quit is often overshadowed by the fear of withdrawal. Incredible nerve pain, diarrhea, chills, vomiting. It’s been likened to the worst flu you’ve ever experienced.

Buprenorphine, the medication often used to aid in easing addiction, can trigger withdrawal symptoms, making it tough for patients to continue treatment.

Here in Seattle, Downtown Emergency Service Center, or DESC, has been trying a new method of administering buprenorphine to ease treatment and curb cravings -- and it’s showing some promising results.

Guests:

Jeremy Hoog, senior nurse manager at DESC's Opioid Recovery and Care Access.
Carson Bell is a care navigator at DESC.

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Washingtonians may soon have the "right to repair" their technology

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 22:06:55 +0000

A new law waiting to be signed by the governor would give you more options when your technology breaks.

House Bill 1483 establishes a “right to repair” for consumer electronics, including tech like phones, laptops, and home appliances.

Its partner bill in the Senate (SB 5680) also establishes the right to repair electric wheelchairs.

This is part of a larger, nationwide movement to create more accessible technology. If the governor signs these bills into law, Washington will be the seventh state to have a right to repair on the books.

But, what exactly will this mean for Washingtonians? And how could this change things when your phone next takes a dive into Lake Washington?

Guests:

Representative Mia Gregerson was the lead sponsor of House Bill 1483. She represents Washington’s 33rd district, which includes Burien, Normandy Park, Seatac, Des Moines, and parts of Renton
Amanda Miller, Executive Director of South King Tool Library

Related Links:

Repair Economy Washington

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Hear It Again: 'The Adding Machine' asks if AI has a future in the theatre

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 22:04:40 +0000

When tech companies began announcing advanced artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, there was widespread enthusiasm. AI was going to make mundane jobs more efficient; it was going to reshape entire industries and creative processes; and it was going to free up time for humans to do things that were, well, more human – things like creating art.

But in the last few years, it’s been artists themselves raising the alarm around automation. Some see AI as a cool new tool, or another color on the palette; others argue it’s an existential threat to industries that were already struggling to stay afloat.

For local theater director Ryan Guzzo Purcell, the bleeding edge of AI in art is something we can’t approach from an either/or point of view. His latest production with The Feast is a reinterpretation of “The Adding Machine,” a 100 year old play about automation by playwright Elmer Rice.

A new version of the play at Seattle University’s Lee Performing Arts Center updates that notion for modern times, leaning into the question of dealing with automation by incorporating AI at practically every level: the stage design, the production – even the performances.

Soundside producer Alec Cowan spoke with Purcell to learn more about the intersection of technology and stagecraft after attending a showing last October.

GUEST: Ryan Guzzo Purcell, artistic director at The Feast, a Seattle theater company, and director of "The Adding Machine: A Cyborg Morality Play."

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“Disaster.” DelBene on Trump’s (second) first 100 days

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 23:24:43 +0000

Today marks the 100th day of Donald Trump’s presidency.

How about some more numbers:

Since taking office, the President has signed more than 140 executive orders, pushing major policy shifts on issues from immigration, to climate policy, and DEI in schools and workplaces .
As of Monday, court rulings have blocked or paused Trump policies 128 times, according to the New York Times.
The administration enacted high tariffs on around 60 countries before walking that back and going with a much lower rate on most countries – with 1 major exception: China.
Under Trump, immigration authorities have used a 1798 law designed for wartime to deport people accused of being gang members without hearings. Even with these aggressive tactics, experts are skeptical that the administration is on track to expel 1 million people a year, as Trump promised.

And here’s one more number: 0. That’s the branches of government that Democrats control. They’ve been on the sidelines during this rapid and expansive change to the federal government.

Guest:

Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01)

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A conversation with King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 21:14:21 +0000

Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall has headed up the King County Sheriff’s Department since 2022.

The King County Sheriff’s Department serves unincorporated King County and 12 contract cities, in addition to policing King County Metro buses and Sound Transit trains.

Since she took over the role, overall crime numbers have been trending in a positive direction – felony referrals were down by a quarter in 2024 compared to 2019.

And new data from the King County Prosecutor’s office released this morning says that in the first quarter of 2025, the county saw the lowest number of shots fired incidents since 2021.

But Sheriff Cole-Tindall has been sounding the alarm about staffing challenges as King County is facing down a budget shortfall of at least $150 million dollars. Proposed cuts to the sheriff’s department budget total more than 30 million dollars over the next two years.

Sheriff Cole-Tindall joined Soundside host Libby Denkmann in-studio today to discuss these issues, and to answer listener questions on public safety, immigration enforcement, homelessness response and more.

GUEST: King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall

RELATED STORIES:

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After a state Supreme Court ruling, what's next for Spokane's camping ban?

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 23:08:24 +0000

The debate over how to address homelessness in Spokane continues to simmer after a decision this month from Washington’s Supreme Court.

The ruling struck down Proposition 1, a camping ban introduced by a citizen-led initiative that was overwhelmingly passed by Spokane voters in 2023.

The court’s decision wasn’t based on the merits of the camping ban, but rather on whether the citizens of Spokane had the power to take such action in the first place.

Now, the legal ripples of this decision are stirring up fierce emotions over regulating homelessness in Spokane, and are raising questions over how much say citizens can have in local policy at large.

Guests:

Emry Dinman, city hall reporter for the Spokesman Review.

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What is pension spiking, and how is it costing the state of WA millions?

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:19:07 +0000

Companies have increasingly shifted the responsibility of saving for retirement onto workers. Pension plans have mostly disappeared from the private sector, in favor of 401k style plans.

For example, the Boeing Machinist union tried unsuccessfully get their pension plan reinstated during last year’s strike.

For most public employees, including Washington state workers, though, Pensions are still an option.

But not all public pensions are created equal. Some allow workers to potentially increase their pension checks by logging a lot of overtime in their highest paid years.

The result is a big ongoing cost to the state of Washington.

Seattle Times data reporter Manuel Villa combed through 20 years of payroll data on this practice by City of Seattle workers: specifically police and firefighters.

GUEST: Manuel Villa - Seattle Times data reporter on the investigations team

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Google and DOJ face off over remedy for search engine monopoly

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:52:06 +0000

Do you ever wonder why you turn to Google so often to search for a recipe or a news article or how to properly use a semicolon?

If you ask Alphabet, Google’s parent company, they’ll tell you it’s because they just have the best results.

The Department of Justice has a different take: it filed an antitrust case against the company in 2020 accusing Google of using its power as the pre eminent online search engine to stifle competition.

The government won last year, when a federal judge ruled against Google. This week, both the company and the D-O-J have returned to court to argue for what they believe the remedy should be for these monopolistic practices.

Depending on what’s decided in a D.C. courthouse, there could be big changes in store for one of tech’s biggest juggernauts.

Guest:

Douglas Ross, professor of law at the University of Washington

Relevant Links:

New York Times: U.S. Asks Judge to Break Up Google

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 4/24-27

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:41:55 +0000

Have you been outside this week? It’s GORGEOUS.

If you need a few more excuses to go out & do things, then you’re in luck.

We’ve got Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows here with one or two or three more reasons to leave your house

LINKS:

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This author used ChatGPT as a mirror for her life — and for big tech, too

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 23:24:07 +0000

Vauhini Vara’s new essay collection opens with a heart to heart with ChatGPT.

In her prompt, she asks the program to give her feedback on a few chapters of her upcoming book.

“I’m nervous,” she tells it.

“That’s completely understandable,” it responds with a cheery exclamation point. “Sharing your writing can feel really personal, but I’m here to provide a supportive and constructive perspective. Take your time, and whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here to discuss it with you.”

So begins a high tech odyssey through old Google searches, Amazon product reviews, social media profiles and experiments with artificial intelligence. Along the way, Vara explores the technology that came of age alongside her, including her teenage years on Mercer Island and college experience at Stanford, and how her relationship with it has changed over time.

The book is part-memoir, part critique of how tech companies have positioned their products as “collaborators,” or even companions, in our lives.

Every couple chapters, Vara invites the large language model to respond to her writing. It’s just one of the ways she breaks form in the book.

It’s called “SEARCHES: Selfhood in the Digital Age.” Vara will be speaking about the book with the University of Washington's Emily M. Bender at The Elliot Bay Book Company on Wed. April 23 at 7pm.

Guests:

Vauhini Vara, author

Related Links:

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Student loan borrowers are being asked to pony up

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 23:08:58 +0000

On Monday, the Department of Education announced that it will resume collections on defaulted loans on May 5th. That’s after a five year pause started in the midst of the covid pandemic.

More than 42 million people in the United States have student loans through the federal government.

And, according to the Department of Education, five million have not made a payment in the last year.

Experts warn that this push for repayment will put loan holders in difficult financial situations and could have a big impact on an already unstable economy.

GUEST: Stacy Cowley, business reporter for the New York Times

RELATED LINKS:

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The White House killed this one of a kind report. The scientists behind it aren't giving up

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:28:16 +0000

"Our world is changing. It's changing rapidly. Like, we can see climate changing our world as we speak, but also, we're losing nature at unprecedented rates, and there's an equity crisis as well."

That was University of Washington professor Phil Levin two years ago. At the time, he’d just been tapped by the Biden Administration for a one of a kind mission: writing the most all encompassing review ever of nature throughout the entirety of the United States.

“The National Nature Assessment,” as it was called, was to be a wide ranging report on the state of and potential threats to the U.S.’s varied ecosystems.

"Now is the time to break down the silos between climate, nature, and equity and bring them together... and I can't think of anything else I would want to do and anything else that would be more meaningful to me in my life and more valuable I think for the country."

Over two years, Levin worked at the White House and coordinated a massive team of authors and federal agencies. The team was ready to submit their first draft of the assessment in February this year, before they heard from the Trump administration that the whole project was being shut down.

Since then, the scientists involved in the National Nature Assessment have pushed forward to complete their work – with or without the White House’s blessing.

Guests:

Phil Levin, professor in the University of Washington College of the Environment

Related Links:

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What's at stake in the birthright citizenship Supreme Court case

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 22:46:31 +0000

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments over an executive order ending birthright citizenship.

President Trump signed that order in his first days in office. A federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing the order nationwide. And two other legal challenges – in federal courts in Massachusetts and Maryland – also prompted injunctions.

Now the Supreme Court will decide whether a 125 year old constitutional right to citizenship for people born in the United States to non-citizen parents is guaranteed.

Guest:

Luis Cortes Romero, immigration lawyer and partner at Novo Legal

Relevant Links:

SCOTUS Blog: Justices will hear arguments on Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship

NYT: Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Trump Plan to End Birthright Citizenship

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Congressman Adam Smith on the latest Signal chat scandal out of the Pentagon

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 22:45:47 +0000

The Pentagon is roiling over yet another Signal group chat.

No, not that one with the Trump Administration national security team that accidentally included an editor at the Atlantic. This is… another Signal group chat scandal.

The New York Times reports that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared operational details for a March 15th U.S. strike on the Houthis in Yemen with a group of 13 people.

They allegedly included his personal lawyer, brother, and wife.

This comes while Hegseth’s team is dealing with staffing turmoil: Three staffers were recently fired over allegations they leaked to the press.

Another former senior staffer wrote in Politico that there is a “full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon.”

GUEST: Adam Smith represents Washington’s 9th congressional district. It includes parts of Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Kent and Federal Way. He’s also the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.

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New Wing Luke exhibit explores the power of objects with Ten Thousand Things

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 23:39:03 +0000

An old faded rice cooker. A blue two piece suit. A vial of water from the Ganges River.

For the past four years, Poet Shin Yu Pai’s podcast, Ten Thousand Things, has explored how objects – from the extraordinary to the mundane, the literal to the figurative – communicate stories of Asian American meaning, identity, and culture.

As of last month, the stories in the series have broken out of podcast players and become a new exhibit in Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum.

The exhibit includes objects that will be familiar to listeners of the series – as well as some new items that will be featured in upcoming episodes.

Soundside’s Alec Cowan joined Shin Yu Pai at the Wing Luke Museum to talk about the exhibit.

Guests:

Shin Yu Pai, writer, curator, and host of Ten Thousand Things.

Related Links:

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As Trump cuts funding, researchers look for opportunities outside the U.S.

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 23:15:38 +0000

News has not been good lately for research universities in the United States.

The Trump Administration has proposed slashing the National Institutes of Health Budget by about half – eliminating tens of billions of dollars for the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world.

The White House had earlier announced a 15 percent cap on indirect costs for NIH grants. That money goes towards facility maintenance at research institutions and university presidents say the move will greatly hinder their ability to do “critical” research.

And the agency said it would freeze or cancel grants related to vaccine hesitancy, transgender health, and Covid.

The White House has also targeted funding for HHS and the National Science Foundation, and it’s revoked more than a thousand student visas at schools around the country.

As researchers at American universities face an uncertain future, other countries are doing their best to lure scientists away.

Is the U.S, set to face a brain drain as top talent moves overseas or into other fields?

Guests:

Carl Bergstrom, Professor of Biology at the University of Washington

Neel Patel, Opinion Editor at the New York Times

Relevant Links:

New York Times: America’s Brightest Minds Will Walk Away

The Week: America's academic brain drain has begun

WA State Standard: Trump’s research cuts threaten to set off a wave of university brain drain

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Remembering Pope Francis

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 22:48:26 +0000

“With dignity, but like any Christian, because the bishop of Rome is a pastor and a disciple, not a powerful man of this world.”

That’s part of the instructions from Pope Francis to “lighten” the formality of his funeral arrangements. Francis wrote about his wish for a simpler ceremony in his autobiography, published earlier this year.

The attitude reflected his wish that the church move closer to regular people and its mission of serving the marginalized, including migrants and the poor.

Pope Francis died this morning at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. He was 88.

He was a unique figure in Catholic history. He was the first Latin American pontiff, having been a Cardinal in Argentina.

And he was a decided pivot from the previous leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI. Where Pope Benedict was a traditionalist prior to stepping down from the position, Pope Francis spent his years pushing for a more inclusive vision of the Catholic Church.

He was also the first member of the Jesuit order to be elected to the papacy.

Guest:

Dr. Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos, Vice President for Mission Integration at Seattle University

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Trump Administration opens half of national forest land for logging

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 21:48:51 +0000

The Trump administration is pushing for more logging on public land, pledging to boost America’s domestic supply of wood products and increase wildfire resilience.

In March, the President issued an executive order directing federal agencies to begin finding ways to expand timber production by 25% over the next few years.

Last week, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins sent a memo establishing an “emergency situation determination” covering more than 112 million national forest acres. That includes five national forests in Washington state.

Rollins identified these acres as having either high wildfire risk or declining forest health – allowing timber harvesting to be fast-tracked through environmental regulations. The USDA boasted the memo would “increase timber outputs, simplify permitting, remove National Environmental Policy Act processes” and “reduce implementation and contracting burdens.”

Big picture, more than half of the land managed by the U.S. Forest Service is now opening for logging. Soundside spoke with Kristen Boyles from Earthjustice Northwest, Travis Joseph with the American Forest Resource Council, and Tom DeLuca from Oregon State University's College of Forestry to get their thoughts on the recent changes to federal forest management.

Guests:

Kristen Boyles, managing attorney for Earthjustice Northwest, a non-profit environmental law organization.
Travis Joseph, president of the American Forest Resource Council, a trade association representing those who work with public timber in the Western United States.
Thomas DeLuca, dean of the College of Forestry at Oregon State University.

Related links:

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - April 17th-20th

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 21:47:17 +0000

It's CONVENTION WEEKEND... But also Easter Weekend... And the start of Bellingham Beer Week, and National Park Week.

It's the Weekend Warmup! Enjoy!

LINKS:

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The biggest story of the baseball season is ... the bat?

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 23:06:18 +0000

We are three weeks into the Major League Baseball season and one of the main story lines of the nascent season is the bats.

On the second day of the season, the New York Yankees hit 9 home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers. Many of the Yankees players were using a new type of bat – shaped kind of like a bowling pin. This bat bulges at the center and narrows at the end. It’s called a torpedo bat.

Of course, traditionalists don’t love the new bat (let’s be real, some people hate change). But Major League Baseball says the bats do meet regulations … which say bats must be “a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length.”

How does the torpedo bat work? Fortunately for us, there is a wealth of baseball knowledge in our own backyard to answer that question.

The Sports Science Laboratory at Washington State University "specializes in the dynamics of bat and ball collisions."

Guest:

Lloyd Smith, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Sports Science Laboratory

Links:

NPR: How do 'torpedo bats' work? We asked baseball physicists to explain

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Discovering the message of Houlme: how one Orcas Island chef has been nominated for the James Beard award seven times

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 22:42:16 +0000

The James Beard Award has been a kingmaker in the food business since the 1980s. Even getting a nomination can be life-changing.

Chef Jay Blackinton – a punk musician and self-described wannabee skateboarder – has been nominated seven times. He’s self-taught and runs a buzzy two-man kitchen on Orcas Island. And this year, he’s been named a James Beard Award finalist in the Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific category.

Seattle restaurants Archipelago and Atoma are also finalists in the Outstanding Hospitality and Best New Restaurant categories, respectively.

Not a single eatery from Washington state has taken home the big prize in the past three years. If Chef Blackinton wins, it could change the fate of his restaurant, which is both nurtured and challenged by its remote location.

Guest:

Jay Blackinton is the head chef at Houlme in Eastsound on Orcas Island, and is a James Beard Award Finalist for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific category

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One Seattle artist's journey to be seen as more than just "inspiration porn"

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 20:54:02 +0000

Mindie Lind is a Seattle-based musician.

In a new short animated film called "View from the Floor", Lind and co-director Megan Griffiths explore Mindie’s life as an artist grappling with imposter syndrome. Mindie was born without legs. And as she came of age, she couldn’t shake the idea that the praise and attention she received was more about her disability, and people looking to create “inspiration porn,” rather than her talent.

View from the Floor debuted at Sundance this year and is available to view online now through the New York Times.

Guests:

Mindie Lind, co-director of "View from the Floor"
Megan Griffiths, co-director of "View from the Floor"

Related Links:

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Has the U.S. reached a "constitutional crisis"?

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 23:27:29 +0000

Today, a federal judge reprimanded the Trump Administration over its failure to comply with a court order to facilitate the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States.

Abrego Garcia is a 29 year old Salvadoran citizen who is married to a U-S citizen and was living in Maryland when he was mistakenly deported despite being under court-ordered protection from being sent back to El Salvador. The Trump Administration blamed an “administrative error.”

U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis called the administration’s actions “wholly illegal from the moment it happened.”

Her ruling was partially upheld in a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court, released on Thursday – which said the government must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador.

But so far, the Trump administration is not making moves to get him back.

In a court filing on Monday, a Department of Homeland Security official wrote, basically – it’s out of our hands: "DHS does not have authority to forcibly extract an alien from the domestic custody of a foreign sovereign nation."

Yesterday, President Trump met with El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele.

At the meeting, both leaders said they would not act to release Abrego Garcia from prison.

So, is the Administration ignoring a ruling from the highest court in the land? And where does that leave our constitutional democracy?

Guest:

Eric Schnapper, professor of law at the University of Washington

Relevant Links:

WaPo: The deportation standoff sending the U.S. toward a constitutional crisis

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Trump order aims to change our understanding of history

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 21:03:06 +0000

In an executive order called “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” President Trump criticizes Smithsonian exhibits that examine how race interacts with power and privilege. He claims they “portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”

The executive order also threatens to take away funding from exhibitions within the Smithsonian Museum network that promote what the administration is calling “a divisive, race-centered ideology.”

Under President Trump’s order, a number of federally funded museums could lose government support unless they make changes to their programming.

But there are smaller organizations that are forging ahead to preserve American history—including history about race.

Guest:

Stephanie Johnson Toliver, the President of the Black Heritage Society of Washington

Related stories:

The latest battleground in the fight for America’s story - Washington Post

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Why ER doctors are tuning into THE PITT

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:59:56 +0000

A harried emergency room doctor rushes between patients; his waiting room is filled to the brim with sick and injured people, he’s dodging a RAT infestation, all while overseeing a new crop of residents getting up to speed on their ER rotation.

AND oh yes… sparring with a hospital administrator who’s reminding him: He needs to get those patient satisfaction scores up.

It’s all in the day in the life of Dr. Robby of “The Pitt,” the fictional Pittsbourgh Emergency Department at the heart of HBO’s buzzy new streaming show.

The show has received praise from medical pros, and close readings from fans who say it portrays the financial pressure of ERs in a new and compelling way.

One of those fans is the host and creator of the "An Arm and A Leg" podcast - a show about the cost of healthcare in America, co-produced with KFF Health News and distributed in partnership with KUOW.

GUEST: Dan Weismann

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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KUOW Documentary: Fentanyl fuels a persistent ‘hot spot’ at Seattle’s 12th and Jackson. What will it take to fix it?

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 19:45:30 +0000

For years now, members of Seattle's political establishment have been trying to fix one particular street corner: 12th and Jackson, in Little Saigon. This corner is an example of what city leaders call "hot spots" — tiny sections of the city that are home to disproportionate amounts of crime and disorder.

A report by the city last year found there were more than a hundred crimes targeting people and overdoses - mainly from fentanyl - at or around 12th and Jackson over a one-year period.

And it's been this way for years. Leaving residents and business owners in this historically Asian-American community begging for help from the city.

KUOW's Will James wanted to know: What's driving the crisis on display at 12th and Jackson? Why has it persisted for so long? And is there a solution to these problems that seem so intractable?

Will spent months visiting this corner and getting to know some of the people who congregate there, trying to answer these questions.

Read the full story: Fentanyl fuels a persistent ‘hot spot’ at Seattle’s 12th and Jackson. What will it take to fix it?

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Local pride organizations see decline in funding

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 21:15:47 +0000

Pride is one of the events of the summer here in Seattle.

Thousands of people gather in the city throughout the month of June for parties, themed events, and of course a huge parade celebrating and elevating the LGBTQIA+ community here in the Pacific Northwest.

But this year, those events may look a little different. And that may be due to pressure from the other Washington.

In his first few months in office, President Trump has called for an end to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs in both the public and private sector..

He’s also pushed forward multiple executive orders focused on limiting the rights of transgender Americans, including access to healthcare.

Now, Pride organizations across the country are seeing a decline in sponsorship dollars as they prepare for this year’s events.

Guests:

Egan Orion, Executive Director of Seattle PrideFest
Patti Hearn, Executive Director of Seattle Pride
Danni Askini, Executive Director Gender Justice League and Trans Pride Seattle

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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A conversation with the host of Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost its Team

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:17:26 +0000

Certain names linger on the lips of ardent Seattle fans who still rock Supersonics Green & Gold:

Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. Detlef Schrempf and Nate McMillan. Ray Allen and Kevin Durant… Players who evoke wistfulness and nostalgia.

Other names bring notes of bitterness, and regret for Sonics faithful:

Howard Schultz. The man who sold the team… And Clay Bennett – the man who bought them and soon moved them to Oklahoma City.

The team pulled up stakes 16 years, five months, and 12 days ago … but who's counting?

Why are many Seattle-ites still hung up on the team that broke their hearts nearly two decades ago? And what REALLY went wrong to make Seattle lose its NBA franchise?

Most lifelong fans could spin their version of events … but the one we’re asking also happens to be an award-winning journalist and the host of a podcast called “Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost its Team.”

The show was recently re-released by The Ringer, and it remains relevant for anyone who wants to understand the history of the NBA in Seattle and when and how the Sonics could return.

GUEST: Jordan Ritter Conn - Senior Staff Writer at The Ringer

RELATED LINKS:

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - April 10th-14th

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:04:05 +0000

Trapped in the never ending cycle of, “what do YOU want to do? I dunno, what do YOU want to do?”

Well, the weekend is nigh, and Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with everything YOU need to enjoy your time away from work…

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why a Seattle law firm is fighting Trump, while others are giving in

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 01:56:50 +0000

More than 500 law firms across the United States have signed a legal brief supporting Perkins Coie in a fight against President Trump.

The Seattle-based law firm was targeted last month by the Trump Administration with a sweeping Executive Order. The order directs the federal government, in almost all cases, to not hire Perkins Coie or use contractors associated with the firm.

This is just one of the law firms that has recently been targeted by Trump, mostly due to past actions or associations that the President disagrees with.

And not all firms are fighting back.

Guest:

Defense attorney and Serious Trouble co-host Ken White

Judge Halts Trump Order Targeting Law Firm Perkins Coie

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

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How WA decides whether to revoke a doctor's license

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 23:04:51 +0000

“Patient A,” as she is identified in court documents, artificially conceived a child at the University of California San Francisco Center for Reproductive Health.

She had carefully selected the sperm donor – it was the same one used for her other child.

But she later found out through a genetic database and a private investigator that the doctor who oversaw the procedure, Christopher Herndon, had allegedly used his own sperm in the insemination.

By the time "Patient A" learned what he had done, Herndon was practicing in Seattle and would continue to practice for five months after Patient A filed a complaint with the state medical commission.

The case highlights the complicated balance between patients rights and due process for doctors.

Guest:

Katie Campbell, KUOW editor and reporter

Relevant Links:

KUOW - A Seattle doctor was investigated for fertility fraud. The case highlights tension between patient, physician rights

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Five years later, the COVID pandemic is still with us

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 22:41:31 +0000

Five years ago, Washington found itself at the leading edge of a once-in-a-century pandemic. The rapid spread of COVID, and the lockdowns that followed, shaped our communities, our health and our work for years to come.

In this hour long special, we reflect on how the pandemic changed our region and how its effects still show up in our every day lives.

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Egg prices are falling, but the avian flu is not over yet

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 22:17:57 +0000

The price of eggs is the talk of the town, and has been, for months. Earlier this year, a dozen eggs could cost you up to eight dollars a carton. Today, you can find them for cheaper. However, farmers continue to deal with the leading cause of that high price tag: the avian flu.

To get a local perspective on the disease and the strain it’s putting on egg production, we reached out to a few Washington state poultry farmers.

Guests:

Jennie Watkins, owner of Ananda Hills Farm & Fibers

John Bellow, owner of SpringRain Farm & Orchard

Bird flu kills sandhill cranes in northern Indiana

Bird flu Q&A: What to know to help protect yourself and your pets

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

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Starlink has dominated internet satellite service, Amazon wants to change that

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 22:05:05 +0000

Amazon is taking a crack at satellite internet.

On Wednesday, the Seattle based tech company plans to launch the first 27 satellites of Project Kuiper. The company bills this as the start of a “constellation” of satellites providing internet all over the world.

In all, it plans to launch more than 3,000 satellites by 2029.

Amazon is trying to take market share from Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has dominated the satellite internet industry since it came online in 2019.

Guest:

Jonathan O’Callaghan - Science journalist who covers space for Scientific American, NYT, the BBC, and Nature.

Relevant Links:

MIT Technology Review: Amazon is about to go head to head with SpaceX in a battle for satellite internet dominance

GeekWire: Amazon and ULA get set to launch batches of satellites for Project Kuiper network

SciAm: The Risky Rush for Mega Constellations

SciAm: The FCC’s Approval of SpaceX’s Starlink Mega Constellation May Have Been Unlawful

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What it feels like to be targeted by Elon Musk

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 23:28:28 +0000

Troublemakers is one of the groups behind #TeslaTakedown, an escalating campaign of peaceful protests outside Tesla dealerships across the country. They’re targeting Musk as his Department of Government Efficiency continues to slash federal jobs and restructure agencies, purportedly in an effort to root out waste, fraud and abuse.

The peaceful activism, along with scattered incidents of vandalism against Tesla dealerships and cars, appears to be making a dent in the finances of the wealthiest man on earth. Musk has publicly lashed out against these protests, claiming without evidence that wealthy bad actors are paying people to show up.

Valerie Costa, a Seattle-based co-founder of Troublemakers, is familiar with these allegations. Last month, Musk claimed on his platform X that Costa’s group was funded by the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.

The next day he linked to an interview with her and simply stated, “Costa is committing crimes.” This has upended her life but it hasn’t deterred her activism.

Guest:

Valerie Costa

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

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Pramila Jayapal on tariffs, immigration, and the latest news out of Washington D.C.

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 22:22:41 +0000

The Trump Administration is poised to slap worldwide tariffs on friend and foe alike…. Sending Wall Street reeling today.

And the president’s crackdown on unauthorized immigration has arrived in Washington, with the first big ICE raid of a workplace in our state in Bellingham.

There’s plenty of news out of D.C. hitting home for Western Washington, and joining Soundside host Libby Denkmann the view from congress is Pramila Jayapal. She represents WA’s 7th congressional District, including most of Seattle.

GUEST: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA 7th District)

RELATED LINK:

Immigration officials raid Bellingham roofing company, arresting 37 | The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A new Seattle pilot program offers new access to addiction treatment

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 23:43:33 +0000

Seattle has tried, and is still actively trying, many different approaches to addiction treatment: law enforcement diversion programs, housing first, medication assisted treatment, drug court, outreach work, the list goes on.

Now, the city has added another attempt to that list by piloting a new program that aims to get people into treatment faster by expanding access to private rehabs.

Guest:

David Kroman, Seattle Times city hall reporter

Related stories:

Seattle pilot program expands access to private substance use treatment - Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Microsoft at 50: AI, job security, and the future of the tech industry

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 23:38:44 +0000

50 years ago, on Friday, April 4th 1975, two guys from Seattle launched a software company in a strip mall in Albuquerque NM..

That business would soon relocate to Redmond, Washington… and those Lakeside kids, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, did all right. The Windows operating system would go on to dominate the personal computer industry.

Today, Microsoft is one of the most profitable companies in the world. And its presence laid the groundwork for the Puget Sound region as a hub for engineering and technical talent.

The path to where we are now had some bumps: Antitrust problems, and product flops. But after 5 decades the company endures, and thrives – as one of the biggest players in the emerging AI space.

Holding onto that status, and figuring out the next big thing in the tech world, isn’t easy.

In light of the big 50-milestone, KUOW labor and economy reporter Monica Nickelsburg recently sat down with Microsoft’s vice chair and president Brad Smith to discuss the past, and the future, of the company.

Guest:

Monica Nickelsburg, KUOW labor and economy reporter and co-host of the Booming podcast

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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WA Senate rolls out plan to cover $1 billion transporation budget gap

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 23:32:41 +0000

You’ve maybe heard that Washington state’s operating budget has a big hole… in the 12 to 15 billion dollar range?

Well, that’s not the only fiscal crater lawmakers are trying to fill.

The transportation budget is underfunded by around $1 billion dollars right now, with a bigger deficit projected down the road, if nothing changes.

Lawmakers say that would put the brakes on a lot of big projects, including maintenance and highway construction on I-5 and I-90.

A blueprint to fill the budget gap passed the state Senate over the weekend.

The proposal would increase the gas tax by 6 cents.

There are also a bevy of smaller taxes and fees on the table: they could affect you if you ride ferries, drive on 520, go to big concerts, and much more.

Guest:

Senator Marko Liias, represents Washington’s 21st legislative district and is chair of the Senate Transportation Committee

Links:

WA State Standard: WA state Senate OKs gas tax hike and budget built on billions of new taxes

Seattle Times: WA transportation budget lays out options: All cuts or new taxes, fees

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why Adam Smith says the Democrats need a rebrand

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 22:28:41 +0000

President Trump is readying new tariffs that will reportedly be his most aggressive trade policy move yet.

The White House is ready to move PAST a scandal involving the Administration’s top national security officials discussing war plans on the encrypted messaging app Signal.

And meanwhile, Democrats are facing anger from their own voters who are deeply displeased with how the party is responding to Trump and his policies.

One Seattle-area Democrat has emerged as a high profile critic of the direction of his party – he says things need to change. And he’s catching flack from the left for some of his recent interviews.

That’s Congressman Adam Smith.

Guest:

Adam Smith represents Washington’s 9th congressional district. It includes parts of Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Kent and Federal Way. He’s also the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee

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OR lawmakers debate a constitutional right to climate stability

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 21:44:09 +0000

As a resident of a state, you are guaranteed certain rights by your state constitution. In Washington, for example, we have a right to religious freedom and free elections. Oregon is looking at guaranteeing the right for all citizens to live in a healthy environment – including a stable climate. The state legislature is debating whether to have voters weigh in on the change.

If that guarantee does pass, it would allow state residents to sue Oregon if they are denied this right. And it would become part of an international effort to hold governments legally liable for accelerating climate change.

Guest:

Alex Baumhardt, reporter at Oregon Capital Chronicle

Relevant Links:

Oregon Capital Chronicle: Oregonians ask Legislature to let voters decide on constitutional right to healthy climate

Oregon Capital Chronicle: U.S. Supreme Court declines to revive landmark climate suit brought by young Oregonians

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Looming taxes on E-Bike sales threaten to put a damper on local bike shops

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 21:31:19 +0000

The Washington State Legislature is in the process of hammering out the transportation budget, which is estimated to have a BILLION dollar shortfall over the next two years. according to Transportation Committee Chairman Senator Marko Liias.

Down in Olympia, both the House and Senate have each been working on their own respective bills aimed at addressing the funding gap to get things like highway infrastructure built and maintained…

One provision in the Senate’s bill – which passed on Saturday – has raised alarms for folks in the business of selling E-Bikes.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann is joined by Seattle Bike Blog editor & founder, Tom Fucoloro to talk about why E-Bike shop owners aren't excited about the current proposal.

GUEST: Tom Fucoloro

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A tech startup helping the visually impaired "watch" sports with their fingertips

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 23:18:12 +0000

Bellevue-based startup OneCourt says its devices enable the “first tactile sports broadcasts." The goal is to give a deeper game experience for sports fans who are visually impaired, and to deliver it in real time.

A social media influencer recently went viral when he took the tablet for a spin at a Trailblazers game. Portland was the first NBA team to provide OneCourt devices at every home game, but more have followed. And OneCourt's goal is to see its devices at every major sporting event in the world.

Guests:

Kunal Mehta and Jerred Mace from OneCourt

Related Links:

OneCourt website

Blind guy welcoming accessibility to the NBA on a new level

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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As Utah bans fluoride, two Washington cities consider the same

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 22:40:12 +0000

The fight over fluoride in drinking water is not new – it’s been around ever since public programs began in the 1940s.

But now, there is a push to end fluoridation programs. United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr has criticized fluoridation, claiming it contributes to a host of afflictions, including bone cancer and thyroid disease.

Around the country, some areas are taking actions to end fluoridation.

Last week, Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water. That is slated to take effect on May 7th.

Here in Washington, the southwestern cities of Camas and Longview are both considering banning fluoride.

Guest:

Dr. Charlotte Lewis is a pediatrician at Seattle’s Children's Hospital. She’s also a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, where her work is focused on increasing access to dental care and expanding pediatricians' understanding and involvement in oral health.

Relevant Links:

Utah Becomes First State to Ban Fluoride in Public Water - NYT
Longview City Council looking to 'punt' fluoride decision to voters - Lower Columbia Currents
Camas could be the first community in Washington to remove fluoride from drinking water - The Columbian

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A stop-work notice for lawyers aiding unaccompanied minors hits close to home

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 22:28:58 +0000

In the United States, immigrants do not have the right to legal representation in the same way American citizens do. But it’s a different story for children who come to this country alone, thanks to the federally funded Unaccompanied Children Program. It provides legal representation to more than 26,000 children by contracting with non-profit legal aid organizations throughout the country.

On March 21, the Trump Administration sent out a stop-work notice that some organizations are calling a near-termination of the program. The move means children as young as toddlers may be expected to represent themselves in very complicated immigration hearings. In response, a number of organizations that assist kids in the immigration system sued the Trump Administration.\

Thousands of unaccompanied minors have been placed with sponsors across the Pacific Northwest over the past decade, and the ending of contracts supporting them will have very real impacts on people and courts in our region.

Guests:

Matt Adams, Legal Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why does Seattle create a comprehensive plan?

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 22:35:51 +0000

Seattle is taking on one of the more contentious issues to regularly pass through city hall: the Comprehensive Plan. That plan dictates where and how the city will add more people.

And previous plans concentrated new apartments and condos along busy streets with access to transit.

But why do cities like Seattle have to engage in this planning exercise at all? It goes back to a law called the Growth Management Act.

Guests:

Joe Tovar, Associate Professor in the planning department at the University of Washington and Western Washington University

Karen Wolf, Interim Program Director of the College of Built Environments at the University of Washington

John Landis, Professor Emeritus of City & Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania

Relevant Links:

One Seattle Comprehensive Plan: https://www.seattle.gov/opcd/one-seattle-plan

KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-will-the-next-comprehensive-plan-shape-seattle

KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/stories/where-should-seattle-build-homes-for-newcomers-49ae

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - March 27th-31st

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 21:09:23 +0000

It has been a long week, we’ve seen SUNSHINE, we’ve had the threat of TORNADOES, and now it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy our weekend…

Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with everything YOU need to know about what to do to beat the rainy blues…

LINKS:

Seattle Mariners OPENING NIGHT! - First pitch is at 7:10
Book Event - TILT w/ Emma Pattee - Third Place Books Ravenna
The Spokane Rock Rollers 64th Annual Gem & Mineral Show
Bellingham Children’s Film Festival
Helles Belles W Girls N Roses
Spelling Bee 2025 | Town Hall Seattle
Seattle Restaurant Week
Lynnwood Dining Month - Starts Tuesday April 1st!

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why you may want to delete your genetic data off 23andMe today

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 23:34:00 +0000

23andMe, the San Francisco tech company known for its direct-to-consumer genetic testing, announced Sunday it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

That’s raised a lot of privacy concerns over the genetic records it holds of roughly 15 million customers. The company said that while in bankruptcy court, that data will be handled with the same level of privacy.

But California Attorney General Rob Bonta released a statement that suggested Californians should consider “directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material.”

Guest:

Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey Fowler

How to delete your 23andMe data after the company filed for bankruptcy

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How to make sure your garden blossoms this spring

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 23:28:40 +0000

Yesterday was one of those days that makes you feel like maybe, just maybe, winter is finally over.

Here in Seattle, the sun was shining, the cherry trees blossoming, it was in the 60s… And yes, now there are severe thunderstorms and potential tornado level winds heading our way this afternoon.

But – once those storms are over, it’ll be the perfect time to get back out into the garden and clean up the mess those winds will have left behind. And maybe even start planning your planting for the season.

And we’re here to help.

Guest:

Ciscoe Morris, gardening expert, TV and radio personality, and author

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How Section 230 helped create the internet... and why it may go away

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 22:22:54 +0000

"No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."

You may not totally understand what that means, but some say these are the 26 words that made the internet what it is today. And congress may be ready to repeal them.

Written and passed in 1996, the law Section 230 shields websites from being held responsible for the content users post. In other words, platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Reddit can’t be sued for what people share there. But now, a growing bipartisan group of lawmakers believes Section 230 goes too far and are considering a repeal.

The impact? … It could totally reshape the way the internet works.

Guest:

UW Professor of Political Science Victor Menaldo

Relevant Links:

Section 230: Friend, not foe, of free speech

The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Seattle's new Civic Poet finds parallels between political language and verse

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 22:14:27 +0000

Dujie Tahat can be described in many ways: a poet, a critic, podcast host, and political consultant. In addition to all those titles, they can now add a new descriptor: Seattle’s Fifth Civic Poet.

Guest:

Dujie Tahat, Seattle Civic Poet

Links:

Poetry Foundation: salat to be read from right to left

Northwest Review: All American Ghuzal

Four Way Review: BALIKBAYAN FILLED WITH THEORY

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Decent Social Skills is one of Seattle’s answers to the loneliness epidemic

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 21:02:35 +0000

Humans have changed a lot from our cave dwelling days, but one thing that has stayed the same is our need for connections with others.

Maybe it’s not so much the need for protection from animal predators anymore, or cooperating to take down a mammoth. Still, our evolution has instilled in us the need to connect with others. And we don’t do so well when that connection gets tenuous.

Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. Surgeon General, called loneliness an epidemic in this country. Chronic social isolation has been linked to depression, anxiety, heart disease, dementia, and even premature death.

A Gallup poll last year found that one in five people reported feeling lonely every day, making social isolation a public health issue. But there is a cure: making meaningful connections. One program at a Seattle bookshop is stepping in to help.

Guests:

Andrey Sklyar, the creator and host of Decent Social Skills: Steering Personal Conversation

Related Links:

30 Charts That Show How Covid Changed Everything — NYT
Decent Social Skills: Steering Personal Conversations — Ada’s Technical Books
US surgeon general Vivek Murthy: ‘Loneliness is like hunger, a signal we’re lacking something for survival’ — The Guardian

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fulbright is a diplomatic and educational feat, and some of its funding has been frozen

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 22:17:43 +0000

For the past 80 years, the Fulbright Program has supported scholars, artists, writers, and professionals in connecting with international institutions to do cutting-edge work. At its heart, the Fulbright is an exchange program that funds research and projects outside of participants’ countries. It aims to build international relationships and cultural competency between Americans and the rest of the world. However, the recent federal funding freezes and layoffs have impacted several educational exchange programs, bringing its future into question.

Funding has begun to trickle back in, but many have been affected by the freeze on federal grants to the Fulbright and other programs related to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs—including the Gilman Scholarships, the Critical Language Scholarship, and the IDEAS program and some fear the impacts could have long lasting consequences.

In this segment, we discuss what the Fulbright is, why it matters, and who might be affected by funding freezes affecting international research.

Guests:

Nicolás Kisic Aguirre, sound artist and PhD student at the University of Washington
Anita Ramasastry, the Henry M. Jackson Professor of Law and Senior Advisor and Director of Faculty Engagement in the Office of Global Affairs at the University of Washington.

Related Links:

Study-Abroad Funding Is Paused, Leaving Some Students Stranded — NYT
Funding freeze leaves Fulbright and study-abroad scholars stranded — Washington Post

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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1960s politician Wing Luke was ahead of his time

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:34:14 +0000

This Saturday, March 22nd, the Wing Luke Museum will hold a gala that honors its namesake.

Wing Luke was born in 1925 in China. He moved to Seattle at age 6, and grew up helping his family run their laundromat and store. In 1962, he became the first person of color on Seattle’s City Council.

Wing Luke would have turned 100 last month, but he died tragically at an early age.

In his short time, he made lasting impacts to Seattle – many of which are still felt today.

Guests:

Ruby Luke, Wing Luke's sister
Cynthia del Rosario, Wing Luke’s niece
Faith Ireland, former Justice on the Washington State Supreme Court
Ron Chew, journalist and former director of the Wing Luke Museum

Related Links:

The archival audio in that story came from the Seattle Municipal Archives
Wing Luke Legacies: Celebrating Community

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil tells us about the First Amendment

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 23:21:13 +0000

Last year, pro-Palestinian “liberation zones” popped up all over American campuses, demanding that universities divest from Israel and advocating for an end to the war in Gaza. Now, ICE’s arrest and detainment of Mahmoud Khalil, a leader in Columbia University’s student protests, has created a climate of fear and frustration among student protesters across the country.

Khalil was arrested and forced into an unmarked car before being taken to a detention facility in Louisiana. He has not been accused of a crime. This case deals calls norms of immigration law into question. But also, importantly, how the government interprets our constitution’s First Amendment is at stake.

Guest: Juliette Majid, former student activist, and Genevive Lakier, Professor of Law at the University of Chicago.

I am a Palestinian political prisoner in the US. I am being targeted for my activism — The Guardian

The Case of Mahmoud Khalil — The New Yorker

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" Spring Equinox Edition

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 22:00:35 +0000

If you are looking outside, seeing a little sunshine peeking through the rain, some tulip bulbs starting to sprout, maybe you have some buds on your flowering trees...

You might be thinking, "What can I do to really get in the Spring spirit today?"

Well, Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here to help you fill your weekend with whimsy and get out there and enjoy the first day of Spring.

LINKS:

CORRECTION: The Big Climb 2025 is taking place at the Columbia Center downtown, rather than the Space Needle.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Why WA Democrats are trying to repeal parts of a law they passed a year ago

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 01:58:28 +0000

Washington’s Democratic lawmakers are pushing forward with a promise they made last year to change a law they saw as problematic … but that they helped pass anyway.

The law in question came from a voter initiative, commonly known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights. It was a Republican-led effort to increase parents’ ability to monitor their kids’ school records, including medical and mental health and counseling.

Many were concerned that it erodes students’ privacy protections – especially for LGBTQ students. Last week, House Democrats advanced a bill that would amend some of the changes. It follows similar actions taken by Senate Democrats last month.

Republican lawmakers are, unsurprisingly, unhappy about the moves. They say schools will be able to keep parents in the dark about serious issues with their children.

GUEST:

Seattle Times reporter Sofia Schwarzwalder

WA Parents’ Bill of Rights advances out of House after heated debate

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A new podcast explores daily life at Washington State Penitentiary

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 22:44:09 +0000

Every Monday, Demar, Red, Cambo, Anthony and Vik give listeners a glimpse of life inside the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla on their podcast Concrete Mama.

The show focuses on the experience of being incarcerated. Three of the hosts are currently at Washington State Penitentiary, two were formerly incarcerated there. They all share their perspectives and explore the complexities of prison relationships, re-entry, and day to day life for people at the penitentiary.

Guest:

Vik Chopra, co-host and showrunner of Concrete Mama and co-founder of Unincarcerated Productions

Links:

Concrete Mama: The Podcast

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Monisha Harrell alleges a toxic work environment under uncle, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 23:56:08 +0000

For a year and a half, Monisha Harrell served as Senior Deputy Mayor of Seattle – the number two position in the executive office. The last name she shares with the Mayor, Bruce Harrell, is no coincidence. Monisha Harrell is the mayor’s niece.

She was the first Black lesbian senior deputy mayor in the City of Seattle’s history, and she also says that her tenure with the city was marred by bullying and sexism.

Guest:

Ashley Hiruko - KUOW investigative reporter

Links:

KUOW: Monisha Harrell breaks silence on her uncle – and former boss – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell

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Why a program to send UW doctors to rural areas is being threatened in Idaho

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 23:15:57 +0000

WWAMI is an acronym for Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho… and it refers to a program created by the University of Washington that allows dozens of medical students from those states to study at the UW School of Medicine.

The aim is to produce highly-skilled doctors who will go back and practice in rural, underserved areas of the Western U.S. But not everyone is happy with the 54-year-old program.

Two bills have been introduced in the Idaho legislature: one that decreases the state’s participation in WWAMI and one that severs it completely.

Guest:

Emina Gulbis, an Idaho native and WWAMI student and in her fourth-year of medical training, who recently wrote in defense of Idaho’s participation in WWAMI

Relevant Links:

WWAMI has a vital role in the health care infrastructure of the state of Idaho

Idaho considers end to 50-year physician-training partnership with University of Washington over ‘Idaho values’

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Federal forestry changes leave state officials in the lurch

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 22:33:59 +0000

The state’s Department of Natural Resources says it’s coming up with backup plans to address the growing threat of serious wildfires in Washington. This, as it's typically close working relationship with federal forest managers has frayed under the Trump Administration.

Some of this started in mid-February, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut thousands of probationary employees at the U.S. Forest Service. The USDA is in charge of stewarding places like the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest.

Altogether, about 2,000 employees across the country were fired. The USDA emphasized that no “operational firefighters” had been let go, and argued the critical work of responding to wildfires would not be interrupted.

But an organization called Grassroots Wildland Firefighters estimated that three-quarters of the employees laid off had secondary wildland firefighting duties, meaning firefighting wasn’t their primary job, but they were pulled in to fight fires as needed.

Soundside has heard directly from laid off workers at the Forest Service based here in Washington who have wildland firefighting certifications of various levels. They say they are in limbo right now, even after there have been multiple court orders to reinstate fired federal workers -- at least, temporarily. They’re ringing alarm bells about the loss of manpower for this fire season.

All of this puts Washington’s DNR into a tough spot. The department oversees wildfire prevention and response on state lands, usually working closely with the federal government. Soundside was joined by Dave Upthegrove, Washington's Commissioner of Public Lands, and State Forester George Geissler.

Guests:

Dave Upthegrove, Washington's Commissioner of Public Lands
State Forester George Geissler

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Congresswoman Emily Randall on the Democratic backlash to Senator Chuck Schumer

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 21:50:08 +0000

The federal government will be funded through September after several Senate Democrats joined Republicans in passing a continuing resolution late last week. However, the deal provoked a huge backlash against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who organized a handful of Democrats to avert a government shutdown. House Democrats from Nancy Pelosi to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wanted their Senate counterparts to maximize one of the party’s only points of leverage under a Republican-controlled Congress and White House. And if that meant shutting the government down, then so be it. But it was not to be.

Guests:

Congresswoman Emily Randall of Washington’s 6th district.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 3/13-16

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 23:22:45 +0000

TGIF, amirite? I mean, yeah, it’s Thursday, but I know you’re thinking about it.

Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here to help you make your weekend epic.

LINKS:

Taste Washington - Every day, from March 13–17
- The Grand Tasting
Nosferatu with Radiohead: A Silent Synced Film
Seattle Reign FC - Home Opening Match vs Gotham FC
- Seattle Reign FC Game Days | Hatback Sports Bar & Grill - ALL AGES
- Rough & Tumble Pub - ALL AGES
St. Patrick's Day Dash
SIFF 'n' Stitch: Hairspray
A Trip to Outer Space - Seattle Symphony - NEXT SATURDAY

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Bill Gates rethinks climate strategies in the new Trump era

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 22:38:38 +0000

Breakthrough Energy, a collection of organizations founded by Bill Gates in 2015, announced a slew of staffing cuts this week.

These organizations focus on accelerating things like sustainable energy and other environmental technologies. They had a promising beginning with a range of wealthy investors joining Gates to provide funding.

But now, dozens of employees have been let go. And according to some, it’s a signal that one of the world’s most climate-conscious billionaires is rethinking his strategy in the face of an adversarial Congress and President.

Guest:

David Gelles, a climate reporter for The New York Times

Related Links:

Climate Group Funded by Bill Gates Slashes Staff in Major Retreat - The New York Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan could affect people with disabilities

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:54:46 +0000

The One Seattle Comprehensive Plan is working its way through city council. It dictates how the city will grow over the next twenty years, including where density is allowed.

While the details are still being worked out, the comprehensive plan has a new type of zoning: Neighborhood Centers. This part of the plan could affect up to 30 neighborhoods in Seattle – including places like Montlake, Madrona and Queen Anne – and has met with vocal opposition from many residents.

But there is one constituency that sees these neighborhood centers, and more density in general, as a lifeline: people with disabilities.

Guests:

Cecelia Black, organizer with Disability Rights Washington

Related Links:

Why Seattle’s housing density plans are a disability-rights issue | Cascade PBS

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Huckleberries are culturally important food. Tribes say it isn't treated like one

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 23:44:38 +0000

Huckleberries appear in any number of Northwest products like ice cream, syrups, jams, teas, pies, tinctures, and vodka, but they are incredibly difficult to grow on farms.

Instead, huckleberries grow at high elevations in fields, and are found mostly in forests that have recently burned.

Native people have been picking huckleberries for generations and huckleberry harvests in the mountains are one of the major food gathering events for Tribes.

But many say a combination of federal forest management practices and commercial picking operations infringe on their treaty rights.

Guests:

Josephine Woolington, writer based in Portland
Elaine Harvey, Ḱamíłpa band member, one of the 14 bands that comprise the Yakama Nation

Relevant Links:

High Country News: The True Cost of the Huckleberry Industry

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$100 million police hiring bill moves on to the state Senate

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 22:43:47 +0000

The Washington state House on Tuesday approved $100 million in funding aimed at helping local police departments hire more officers.

House Bill 2015 aligns with Governor Bob Ferguson’s priorities, and he’s threatened to torpedo any state budget that doesn’t include increased police funding.

It’s been a contentious budget cycle in Olympia. The state’s facing a massive shortfall -- but the progress on police funding may indicate state democrats’ willingness to cooperate with the new governor.

To break down the police funding bill, Soundside was joined by Jake Goldstein-Street, reporter for the Washington State Standard.

Guests:

Jake Goldstein-Street, reporter with the Washington State Standard

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How Rainier Beer went from an old fashioned brew to an advertising icon

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:36:19 +0000

Behold the Rain-beers, a herd of giant bottles with human legs galloping majestically across the Cascade foothills.

This motif was part advertisement, part cinema — the brainchildren of Heckler Associates, a local ad agency that made Rainier Beer’s personality and brand into the stuff of Seattle legend.

Today Rainier is no longer an entirely local product — it’s owned by Pabst and brewed in California — but go to any antique shop and you’re destined to find beer memorabilia sporting that red calligraphy “R” hearkening from the golden age of Rainier Beer.

It was this mythologizing that drove director Isaac Olsen to make a full documentary film about the commercials and the small firm that put them on the national stage.

Rainier: A Beery Odyssey is showing at SIFF Film Center this week through Thursday, March 13, and other Washington locations through April.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann caught up with Olsen to hear more about his odyssey of making the film.

Guests:

Isaac Olsen, director of Rainier: A Beer Odyssey.

Related Links:

Find showtimes and locations for the film here: https://www.rainierbeermovie.com/

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Pramila Jayapal on federal spending, a potential trade war, and more

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 22:20:06 +0000

The government’s about to run out of money.

There’s an ongoing, multi-fronted showdown in the courts over who has the power to cut federal spending after it’s been appropriated.

And also a little bit of a trade war brewing with new U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel just announced.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal shares her view from the House of Representatives with Soundside.

*Note: since this conversation aired, President Trump has halted his plan to double tariffs on Canadian metals.

Guest:

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal represents Washington’s 7th congressional district, which ranges from Lake Forest Park to White Center

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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CORRECTION: 11 people have died at a South King County jail in the last two years - why?

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:28:15 +0000

On March 10, 2025, Soundside aired a segment about a high number of deaths among people detained at the South Correctional Entity, commonly known as SCORE. After it aired, our staff was contacted by a SCORE official, who objected to two claims made in our broadcast.

One, was an assertion that reports regarding unexpected fatalities that occurred at the facility were not posted within the required timeframe and that some reports remained outstanding. After looking into the Washington State Department of Health website, including searches on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, it appeared that at least some, if not all, of the required reports had been posted in the weeks before our segment aired. The improper labeling of these reports by date of death instead of publication date on DOH’s website may have contributed to the oversight. Members of our team, including the show’s editor, had background discussions with the reporter we interviewed and the SCORE official who raised the issue, and were satisfied that our segment contained errors.

The second assertion was that the mortality rate quoted in the segment for detainees at SCORE was inaccurate, because while 11 deaths in a two year period is arguably high, according to the Department of Justice, it is not enough of a basis to extrapolate a statistically clear comparison with other rates. While the original reporting pointed out this caveat, our broadcast did not.

Because the central framing of our segment was that SCORE “has had over three times the average in-custody death for Washington jails,” we felt it was not possible to correct the errors and decided instead to remove the segment audio from our podcast feed and issue a clarification on the show’s site.

We did not find reason to question the bulk of the reporting that originally aired on SCORE’s recent record of deaths in custody, concerns from family members of those who died, and the troubling reports of conditions at the jail from people who were held there and a former employee of WellPath.

We plan to address this on-air in an episode of Soundside in the near future.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can the artificial really be 'intelligent'? This researcher wants us to think bigger

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 22:50:39 +0000

Artificial intelligence is starting to underpin everything we do, whether we like it or not. And at the highest levels, companies like Google and Open AI are saying their AI is on the verge of crossing a humanlike threshold that we’ve only seen in science fiction.

This is prompting all kinds of conversations about sentience and the possible dangers of a superintelligent computer system.

But the definition of “Artificial General Intelligence,” or AGI, is controversial.

And many researchers aren’t even sure today’s programs have our common understanding of “intelligence” at all. They argue ChatGPT isn’t really thinking -- it's just really good at predicting the next sequence in a pattern (and copying someone else along the way).

So what makes something intelligent? Or alive, for that matter?

For Google’s Blaise Agüera y Arcas, the most interesting piece of examining AI breakthroughs has been how they connect to the evolution of life on earth.

In his new book, What is Life? he argues for a broadened definition of “intelligence,” to include things like single celled organisms and even basic tools. And he says humans’ development of technology -- most recently, AI -- is part of a long history of symbiotic relationships that have pushed our evolution forward.

Guests:

Blaise Agüera y Arcas, Vice President and CTO of Technology and Society at Google, where he leads a team called “Paradigms of Intelligence” researching the intersection of AI, biology, and philosophy. Author of What is Life, the first part of a broader work on intelligence at large.

Related Links:

What is Intelligence? | Antikythera

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 3/6-9

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 03:06:20 +0000

It’s the end of the week for us here at Soundside, and we’ve been making our weekend plans.

That means if you’re searching for something to keep you occupied this weekend, you’re in the right place.

Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here in the nick of time to give you all the highlights.

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Get used to it' - Department of Veterans Affairs announces 70,000 jobs will be cut

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:02:50 +0000

70,000. That’s the number of jobs the Department of Veterans Affairs will cut over the next six months. This comes from an internal VA memo leaked to the public this week.

It’s the latest in a series of mass layoffs conducted by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

In a video released yesterday, VA Secretary Doug Collins said that the changes are necessary to make the department more efficient, accountable, and transparent.

But, In another video released last month Collins promised that health care services and benefits would not be cut, and that 300,000 positions at the department had been labeled “mission critical” to ensure that services would not be interrupted.

Hundreds of thousands of veterans in Washington state receive healthcare, disability compensation or pensions from the VA. The state has five VA hospitals in Seattle, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Spokane and Vancouver, as well as more than a dozen outpatient clinics.

So now, many are wondering - what will these cuts look like, and how will they impact the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States.

Guest:

Orion Donovan Smith, DC Correspondent for the Spokesman Review

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How Seattle's rap scene got its start

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:58:08 +0000

In the 1980s, Seattle's music scene was hooked on disco. The success of "Saturday Night Fever" meant venues opted for groovy vinyl over live band performances, and songs like Chic's "Good Times" were on constant rotation. That made room for a similar but modified version of the song's simple breakbeat by a group called The Sugarhill Gang, who quickly brought "rapping" to a nationwide audience.

As Ben Camp tells the story, “Rapper’s Delight” – rap’s first hit – made an imprint in Seattle and kicked off a vibrant local scene connecting Sir-Mix-A-Lot to Macklemore.

Camp, who writes under the name of Novocaine132, has been covering music in the city since the 1990s – and he recently published his first book, “The Birth of Seattle Rap.”

Soundside producer Alec Cowan caught up with the writer to hear more about the book and Seattle’s pre-grunge music scene – starting with why it was disco that gave way to hip hop.

Guests:

Novocaine132, author of "The Birth of Seattle Rap."

Related Links:

The Birth of Seattle Rap: Novocaine 132

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Should Washington curb rideshare surge pricing?

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:55:24 +0000

Surge pricing. When there is a lot of demand for rideshares, fares can double or triple their usual rate – or even more.

But a first-of-its-kind bill is looking to slow the surge in Washington State. SB 5600 would cap surge pricing and make sure drivers get more of a share of those extra dollars.

The bill was inspired by the expected flood of attendees Seattle will be handling during the 2026 World Cup games, but it would also apply to other large events. Rideshare companies say this will only increase prices for everyone. But drivers, like Kyle Graham, think this will only benefit drivers and passengers.

Guest:

Uber, Lyft and DoorDash driver Kyle Graham.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Hear it Again: Oscar winning costumer Paul Tazewell

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 23:07:05 +0000

On Sunday, comedian Bowen Yang joined other actors onstage at the Academy Awards, dressed in his costume from the movie 'Wicked' -- to praise the artist who dreamed it up.

It’s hard to list all the projects the award-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell has been responsible for on Broadway, but here’s a sample:

Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk, The Color Purple musical, In The Heights, and Hamilton - for which he won a Tony.

On screen, he won an Emmy for his work on The Wiz! Live.

And now, Tazewell has an Oscar to add to his list of accolades.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with Tazewell when he was in town back in February, and in light of his win, we thought we would revisit that conversation.

He was here for a new production at the Pacific Northwest Ballet.... an organization he has a long history with. His costumes for Kent Stowell's Swan Lake, which debuted in 2003, are still in use.

This time around, Paul Tazewell created the lavish costumes for the company's re-imagined Sleeping Beauty -- from ball gowns and dinner jackets to tutus.

Guest:

Costume Designer Paul Tazewell

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Washington Rep Marilyn Strickland on funding cuts, federal firings, and more

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 23:09:47 +0000

President Trump will address a joint session of congress tonight – it is his first major speech since his inauguration.

Washington Democrats have been reeling since he took office a month and a half ago. The latest issue they are sounding the alarm on is tariffs: taxes on Mexican and Canadian goods went into effect this morning. President Trump ordered a 25% tax levied on foreign goods from the United States’ two largest trading partners.

The US also once again raised tariffs on its third largest trading partner, China, with an additional 10% tariff.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency is continuing to fire thousands of federal employees.

Guest:

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland represents Washington’s 10th district and is a member of the Armed Services Committee. She represents areas like Olympia, JBLM, and parts of Tacoma.

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Far from loved ones, Washington’s Congolese community speaks out

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 23:06:48 +0000

The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country in the center of Africa. It’s home to spectacular things, like: a majority of the Congo Basin rainforest, the second largest in the world, with magnificent flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth, and a population of one hundred million people belonging to 250 ethnic groups who speak more than 200 languages. The country also has an estimated $24 trillion worth of untapped minerals.

That fact has put Congo in the center of international conflict for generations. However, over the last few months, a rebel militia called M23 has taken control of multiple cities in Eastern Congo. These conflicts have reverberated far and wide, as Congolese people displaced by fighting have sought refuge around the world. For those escaping conflict, being granted asylum is only the first step in building a new life.

Guests:

Floribert Mubalama, the founder and CEO of the Seattle-based Congolese Integration Network
Francoise Milinganyo, the Executive Director of Congolese Integration Network
University of Washington lecturer Dr. Francis Abugbilla

Related Links:

Why Are Congo and Rwanda at War? —NYT

Martin Gordon, Anglican bishop of Goma, calls for peace in the DRC —NPR

Congolese Integration Network Seattle

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Making history for the Mariners, Angie Mentink joins the broadcast booth

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 00:58:53 +0000

As a Mariner’s fan, it’s tradition to quibble with offseason moves.

But there has been ONE personnel change that the majority of longtime fans are cheering.

Not on the field, mind you… but in the Broadcast booth.

Angie Mentink is joining a roster of former players providing color commentary during TV broadcasts, becoming the first woman in Mariners history to have this regular gig.

There’s been lots of shifting around on the broadcast side for the M’s: Longtime voice of the Mariners Dave Sims left us for the Yankees, (just like Ichiro, THE PAIN,) so Aaron Goldsmith will take over the main play-by-play position.

And joining Angie as analysts are, Mariner Hall of Famer Jay Buhner, former catcher Dave Valle, and former pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith.

Angie Mentink is one of the first women to play professional baseball, in addition to being a hall of fame UW softball player. She’s been a member of the organization for nearly 30 years and is making history as the first permanent female analyst in the booth for the M’s.

GUEST: Angie Mentink

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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How Seattle is preparing for potential federal funding cuts

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 23:19:40 +0000

How much will Seattle change under the Trump administration? And what options does the city have to keep the policies it prioritizes?

The city depends on the feds for millions of dollars in funding -- impacting services like transportation, law enforcement and emergency preparedness.

Threats to cut off federal grants have left some local politicians considering how to prepare for an uncertain future.

This week, Seattle city councilmember Alexis Merceredes Rinck will chair the first meeting of the council’s new Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes.

In other words - she’s gathering together a group of people to try to answer what happens next under the Trump administration’s many changes.

Guest:

Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Position 8 city councilmember

Related Links:

Seattle City Council to host first committee meeting on safeguarding city from federal policy changes - Seattle City Council Blog
How will Seattle prepare for potential Trump cuts? - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Federal funding expires on March 14th—and Senator Murray has a lot to say

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 16:48:50 +0000

There is a lot going on in D.C. right now, and elected officials are working overtime to negotiate ahead of a looming government shutdown deadline.

As the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the senior senator from Washington state, Senator Patty Murray is leading the charge on funding negotiations.

At the same time, budget talks are happening about how much the federal government will spend and on what priorities. Looming over all of this is the question of whether the government will meet its obligations because federal funding expires on March 14th.

Guests:

Senator Patty Murray

Sen. Patty Murray on the state of the Senate —1A

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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This actor found freedom — and refuge — on the Seattle stage

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:30:00 +0000

Clad in a big, bulky menswear suit, “Julia” Mozhdeh Rahmanzaei stomps around the stage at the Theater off Jackson in Seattle’s Chinatown International District.

She glares over a fake beard, holding audience members’ gazes, and shakes the program for this very play in one hand. The actor and playwright is channeling the censorship she experienced in her home country of Iran.

As a young artist in Tehran, her theater work repeatedly ran up against the strict rules of government monitors – who shut down several of her shows, including her master’s thesis and performance, which discussed limitations of physical performance for women actors.

Julia left Iran three and a half years ago to study for a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting at the University of Washington. In Seattle, she’s acted in several local productions, including “The Moors” at the University of Washington and “The Forgotten History of Mastaneh,” at Taproot Theater and Seattle Public Theater.

This weekend is the debut of her autobiographical solo show, called, “I am an Actress, Where is my Country?” It traces her struggle to express herself under Iran’s repressive theocratic regime – and find her place both legally and as an artist in the U.S.

Libby Denkmann sat down with Julia Rahmanzaei and director and dramaturge Leah Adcock-Starr during rehearsals this week.

Guests:

Julia Rahmanzaei, actor and writer for "I am an Actress, Where is my Country?"
Leah Adcock-Starr, director and dramaturge

Related Links:

I am an Actress, Where is my Country? - Theatre Off Jackson

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 2/27-3/2

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 21:56:40 +0000

It’s the end of the week, the sun is shining, and maybe you’re thinking “I’m ready to get out there and explore! Meet new people, make new friends… at least until it starts raining again.”

Well, rain or shine - If you’re searching for something to keep you occupied this weekend, you’re in the right place.

Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here in the nick of time to give you all the highlights.

Nat Geo Live: From Roots to Canopy, Nalini Nadkarni, Thurs 27 February, Port Angeles

A fascinating exploration of the science and wildlife hanging out above us in the forests. Featuring NatGeo explorer & tree canopy ecologist, Nalini Nadkarni, a UW alum and the inspiration for the Explorer Barbie Dolls.

Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE | Meany Center, Thursday 27 February - Sunday 2 March, U-District, Seattle

The performance focuses on the integration of traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word. Brown uses movement as a way to reinforce the importance of community in African American culture and to acquaint audiences with the beauty of traditional African forms and rhythms.

Seattle International Dance Festival, Friday 28 February - Saturday 1 March; Thursday 8 - Friday 9 March, Capitol Hill, Seattle

This year’s mini-fest will fuse Urban, Ballet, Modern, and traditional Indian forms in a riveting mix of cultures and movement.

Good Time Girls History In The Spotlight, Friday 28 February, Bellingham

Sip cocktails in a cabaret setting while these sassy storytellers present well-researched theatrical tales and historic photographs from Bellingham's beloved and only remaining historic playhouse, the Mount Baker Theatre. Enjoy illustrated tales of celebrated moments, iconic performances, colorful characters, and local lore.

James Dean Movies at The SIFF Downtown, Friday 29 February - Thursday 6 March, Downtown, Seattle

If you’ve never seen any of them, like our host Libby Denkmann, get yourself to the theater & check them out. These movies are legends for a reason…

Whatcom Farm Expo, Saturday 29 March, Lynden

A plethora of speakers and events with topics ranging from “Holistic Pasture Management,” to “Buying your first Tractor,” and “Getting started with Beef!”

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supersonic: imagining a new creation myth for Seattle

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:38:43 +0000

Seattle Public Schools is considering closing Stevenson Elementary School amid declining enrollment.

One longtime parent there is pushing back and trying to change its name to better reflect the school’s Japanese-American history.

That’s the kind of opening line you might hear on Soundside if the events of the book Supersonic were real.

The book is fiction, but it reflects the very real ethos of a city constantly reinventing itself through boom and bust cycles across generations.

At the center of the story is Sami Hasegawa-Stalwarth, a PTA president with a deep history in the city.

But Supersonic also takes us through the city’s history, to see the connections across generations. We meet a gold rush conman, aerospace workers building the Supersonic transport, a stay at home dad trying to open the city’s first legal cannabis dispensary, and the Native people who have called this area home since time immemorial.

Guest:

Thomas Kohnstamm, author of Supersonic

Links:

Third Place Books event info for Thomas Kohnstamm reading on Thursday, February 27

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And the winner is... Artificial Intelligence

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 23:32:33 +0000

What do The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez, Dune Part II, and A Complete Unknown have in common?

Yes, they’re all films nominated for Oscars at this Sunday’s ceremony. But they share something else – all of these films used Artificial Intelligence tools in some form during production.

For the Brutalist and Emilia Pérez, AI was employed to alter actor’s voices while singing, or speaking Hungarian. For Dune and A Complete Unknown, AI tools changed actor or stunt double’s appearances.

AI usage in film has been controversial for years. In 2023, both the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, the screen actors guild, went on strike – picketing in part over concerns regarding AI.

But now, the red carpet will be full of directors and producers who relied on AI in small ways in their journey to the Oscars.

So what does this say about the state of the film industry? Will this lead, as some have warned before, to the death of the movies?

Guest:

Brett Halperin is a University of Washington doctoral student in human centered design and engineering, and cinema and media studies.

Related Links:

‘AI is Soulless’: Hollywood Film Workers Strike and Emerging Perceptions of Generative Cinema - ACM Digital Library
Q&A: How AI is changing the film industry - UW News
Oscars Consider Requiring Films to Disclose AI Use After ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ Controversies - Variety

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the Washington flag need a facelift?

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 23:31:33 +0000

Earlier this year Edmonds state Representative Strom Peterson put forward a bill to potentially change the state’s flag.

HB 1938 would have created a committee tasked with redesigning the Washington’s iconic green and yellow banner – which is the only one with a presidential profile on it.

According to the bill’s language, the due date for a new design would be sometime in 2028 – after which, voters would decide through a referendum whether to adopt it.

Peterson says his idea isn’t about controversy over our state’s namesake; it’s mainly about the way it looks. Peterson says that the times, and the state, have changed in the century since then. So maybe it’s time the flag changes too.

But HB 1938 has hit a roadblock. The bill failed to pass out of committee last week, meaning Peterson will have to wait another year before trying again.

There’s been a recent wave of flag redesigns across the United States. Minnesota and Utah adopted new state flags in 2024. Maine voters went the other way and rejected a new sleeker design for their flag. Mississippi also recently updated its state flag – it included the Confederate battle flag up until 2021.

But even with the bill tabled, what makes for a good flag? It’s something that vexillologist Ted Kaye thinks a lot about. Kaye is the author of “Good Flag, Bad Flag: how to Design a Great Flag" and is also the secretary for the North American Vexillological Association.

Soundside was joined by Rep. Peterson and Kaye to discuss the state's banner legislation.

Guests:

State Representative Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, sponsor of HB 1938.
Ted Kaye, secretary for the North American Vexillogical Association and author of "Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag."

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds of incarcerated people in Washington might soon be eligible for a resentencing

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 23:14:34 +0000

Imagine if, after being convicted of a crime as an adult, you were forced to serve additional time for crimes you committed as a minor. That is the reality for many incarcerated people in Washington state.

You might remember hearing about the passing of a state law back in 2023 that prevented people’s juvenile felonies from increasing their sentence terms as an adult. Well, that bill had a catch. It excluded those who are currently incarcerated, leaving behind more than 700 eligible people.

A few weeks ago, a new bill was introduced to amend this oversight. Some say implementing the law could be complicated—and problematic. Others feel strongly that it would help address the disproportionalities in our justice system.

Guests:

Rep. Chris Stearns of Washington’s 47th Legislative District
Investigate West reporter Aspen Ford

Washington lawmakers debate who benefits from juvenile sentencing reforms — KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

City Elections & Democracy Vouchers - What you need to know

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 22:51:47 +0000

Have you checked your mail today? It’s that special time, every two years, when Seattleites get 100 bucks from the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission. I’m talking about democracy vouchers!

That money’s not for you, though. It’s for political candidates you want to support in November’s election.

And it’s a big one: Not only is the Mayor up for reelection. So is the City Attorney. There are also 3 seats on the Seattle City Council in contention.

Two of those are citywide positions, currently held by Council President Sara Nelson and brand new council member Alexis Mercedes Rinck. Both of them are seeking reelection.

The third seat is District 2, in southeast Seattle which is held by newly appointed council member Mark Solomon.

These five races are all eligible to receive campaign funding via Democracy Vouchers…

GUEST: David Kroman | The Seattle Times

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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State schools chief pushes back on federal DEI directives

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:20:44 +0000

Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal has made clear he has no intention of changing course based on one of the new directives from the Trump Administration.

Earlier this month, the Department of Education issued a so-called Dear Colleague letter, which stated that any institutions receiving federal funds from that Department would be required to eliminate all race-based programs – including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs – or risk losing federal funds. Washington’s K-12 schools receive 7 percent of their funding from the Department of Education.

Reykdal responded with his own letter last week, stating in part that he has: “Advised Washington’s school districts that they should not make changes to their existing policies, practices, and programming in accordance with this letter.”

Guest:

Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal

Relevant Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Protests and peace talks mark third anniversary of the war in Ukraine

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 22:26:26 +0000

Today marks the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

More than 500 Ukrainians and supporters gathered this weekend in Downtown Seattle to show solidarity and share their fears about Ukraine’s future.

The third anniversary of the war comes as President Donald Trump has mused over upending America’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense.

U.S and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia last week for bilateral talks, including discussion of the future of Ukraine. Notably absent at the table – anyone from Ukraine.

Trump also falsely said last week that Ukraine started the war – which began with Russia’s invasion.

And in a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Ukraine's President, Volodomir Zelenskyy, of being a “dictator without elections” - writing, “Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.”

The dramatic shift in rhetoric from the U.S. has left European leaders and Ukranians scrambling to understand what will happen next.

Guests:

KUOW producer Natalie Akane Newcomb
Dr. Lena Surzhko Harned, an associate teaching professor of Political Science at Pennsylvania State University. She is also the associate director and a faculty affiliate of the Public Policy Initiative at Penn State Behrend.

Related links:

In pushing for Ukraine elections, Trump is falling into Putin-laid trap to delegitimize Zelenskyy - The Conversation

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Seattle Mayor Harrell says he was racially profiled in 1996 firearm arrest

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 23:34:24 +0000

KUOW has uncovered a controversial period in the life of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell -- one that he's rarely discussed in public.

In 1996, while at a casino in Iowa, Harrell brandished a gun in a late-night confrontation over a parking spot. Harrell was arrested over the incident before the charges were dismissed five months later.

He says he was racially profiled in the events leading up to the arrest.

KUOW’s reporting is the first local coverage of Mayor Harrell’s run-in with the law. It comes at an important moment because this year, Harrell is up for reelection.

The reporting on the incident comes from KUOW investigative reporter Ashley Hiruko, who joined Soundside to share her reporting.

Guests:

Ashley Hiruko, KUOW investigative reporter

Related Links:

KUOW - Seattle Mayor Harrell was arrested in 1996 for pulling gun during parking lot confrontation

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listener Feedback: Political Shopping Decisions

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 23:11:09 +0000

Wednesday on Soundside, host Libby Denkmann asked if your shopping habits had changed in recent months.

Recent polling by the Guardian found that a large portion of Americans have changed where they're purchasing due to their political affiliations or beliefs.

Have you changed where you spend cash based on the political situation?

Lots of you responded, and Soundside shares your comments.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear It Again: Volunteers keep skiing affordable at Badger Mountain

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 23:07:21 +0000

If you enjoy skiing, you probably know it takes more than just some skis, boots and poles to slide down a hill.

It also takes money, sometimes a lot of it.

Tickets at Washington's big ski resorts run from $65 to $150 a day.

That's not the case at Badger Mountain ski area in Central Washington. There, the price is a mere $15 a day.

That's because the hill is a nonprofit entirely run by volunteers.

Alex Rochester, KUOW's digital community outreach coordinator and resident skier, headed up to Badger Mountain to find out how this community keeps skiing ALIVE, in this report which originally aired in March 2023.

Related Links:

Volunteers keep skiing affordable at Badger Mountain

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Feb 20th-24th

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 22:51:56 +0000

It’s the end of the week, and the first time in a while where there’s not a Super Bowl, Valentine, or President’s Day to keep you busy.

If you’re searching for something to keep you occupied this weekend, you’re in the right place.

Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here in the nick of time to give you all the highlights…

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DEI rollbacks highlight the uneasy relationship between corporations and Black consumers

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 01:05:25 +0000

DEI policies – short for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – have been in the crosshairs since President Donald Trump arrived back in the White House.

Many corporations have been proactively choosing to downsize their DEI programs or eliminate them completely. But one company is facing a unique level of backlash: Target.

The retail giant announced last month it would eliminate multiple DEI projects, including hiring goals, and its Racial Equity Action and Change program which focused on investing in and carrying products from Black and minority-owned businesses.

Critics of these moves have been calling for boycotts of the red bullseye but it may end up hurting those businesses Target has helped.

Guests:

Timeka Tounsel, Associate Professor of Black Studies in Communication at the University of Washington.

Relevant Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The local DJ showcasing the survival and resistance of indigenous artists

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:43:52 +0000

KEXP DJ Tory J (AKA Tory Johnston) is the co-host of Sounds of Survivance, a show featuring indigenous artists from all over the world.

Johnston explains how he ended up feeling inspired to host the show, why he feels it's important to showcase these artists, and he plays some of the incredible music that can be heard on his show.

Guest:

Tory Johnston (DJ Tory J), host of Sounds of Survivance on KEXP.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can Democrats actually do about Trump and Musk?

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:28 +0000

It hasn’t even been a month since President Donald Trump was sworn into office, but the sudden and drastic changes he – and Elon Musk – have ordered are being felt at every level of the federal government.

Thousands of federal workers got notice over the weekend that they were being terminated – in departments ranging from the U.S. Forest Service to the CDC and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The judiciary has slowed some of the biggest Trump moves, like ending birthright citizenship or withholding billions in federal funding. But the President’s nominees have been largely confirmed and Musk personnel mostly continue to have access to critical government systems.

So what can the Democratic Party do to put guardrails around this administration?

Guest:

US Representative Rick Larsen (Washington State’s 2nd Congressional District since 2001)

Links:

Rep. Larsen's website

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Legislative carveout would change penalties for assaults on health care workers

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:56 +0000

For decades, a Washington law has empowered prosecutors to pursue felony charges against those who assault healthcare workers. Which, on a base level, makes sense. Healthcare workers don’t want to be harmed while doing their jobs.

But some are worried that a potential felony charge – which would apply to both physical attacks, and typically minor offenses like spitting on someone – doesn’t prevent those attacks from happening and moves those with severe mental health challenges into a criminal justice system that worsens their condition.

That’s led state lawmakers to propose an adjustment to the law broadening the penalties for those who assault healthcare workers – which would exempt people experiencing mental health crisis.

The bill – HB 1220 – passed out of committee last week and is now headed to the full House.

Seattle Times’ investigative reporter Sydney Brownstone has been following the story.

Guests:

Sydney Brownstone, investigative reporter for the Seattle Times

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remembering Soul Radio-o-o-o-o-o-o 1250 KYAC

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:11 +0000

Today, there is a Spotify playlist for any genre, mood, or activity you could ever think of. But, in the not-so-distant past, you’d have to tune your AM or FM radio until you found a sound you liked.

If you wanted to hear soul music in Seattle circa 1970, there was one local station that would never disappoint. It was called KYAC, and it was a true rarity at the time. The station was Black owned and operated from 1965 to 1981.

The small station has an outsized legacy in both our city and the country at large. It was the first station in Seattle to play a rap song — the iconic “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang.

In fact, it was so beloved that when the station was eventually sold, listeners held a funeral for it. For Black History Month, producer Lauren Williams went back in time to 1970s Seattle to ask folks about what it was like to work at and listen to KYAC during its heyday.

Guests:

Vivian Phillips, founder of Arte Noir and former KYAC DJ
Sheila Locke, event DJ and former KYAC DJ
Jas Keimig, Seattle-based arts reporter.

Related Links:

How Seattle rap crashed the mainstream by swimming against the current — NPR
For three decades, this Seattle DJ electrified the airwaves, paving the way for future Black radio personalities. — Black Arts Legacies
Black History of the Northwest — KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hunt for truth behind Oregon's mysterious cattle mutilations

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:28:28 +0000

But the most astounding thing is that the scenes where these cattle were found were pristine. No tracks. And not one drop of blood – the carcasses were drained dry.

That detail became the inspiration for a documentary by co-directors Jackson Devereux and Lachlan Hinton, and reporter Anna King. Their documentary film – three years in the making – is titled “Not one Drop of Blood,” and it’s being announced as the headliner today for the Film Fort festival – part of Tree Fort in Boise.

Soundside was joined by Anna King, alongside co-directors Lachlan Hinton and Jackson Devereux, to discuss the film and the mystery haunting Harney County, Oregon.

Guests:

Anna King, senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting
Jackson Devereux and Lachlan Hinton, directors of "Not One Drop of Blood."

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why the NIH cuts could have a "devastating impact" on medical research

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:03:39 +0000

Universities, cancer centers and hospitals will soon go under the knife, if the Trump Administration gets its way. Last Friday, the National Institutes of Health announced they would immediately slash four billion dollars of funding for research institutes across the country.

This would directly impact at least 70 research facilities in Washington State.

Critics of the plan have said it would severely hamper medical progress in the US that could be felt for decades. 22 attorneys general filed suit to stop the action, and on Monday a federal judge put a hold on the cuts for those 22 states, then made the pause nationwide.

But the fate of this funding is still uncertain.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest(s):

Dr. Helen Chu, a board certified physician with UW Medicine and a UW professor of Medicine and Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

What’s at stake for Washington’s flagship research institutions in the legal battle over NIH funding

Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Valentine's Edition

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 21:48:10 +0000

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend,

So if you’re looking for a great idea for something to do with your sweetie, OR you just want to avoid the love-birds as much as possible, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows has you covered…

EVENTS:

Wonderland Gear Exchange — Pitch-A-Trailmate
Psychic Medium: Travis Holp
FUN & FLIRTY - The Crocodile
Science After Dark: Valentine's Day at Pacific Science Center
Mars Love Affair: A Night with Mary Roach | The Museum of Flight
Noir City - SIFF Cinema Downtown
Wild At Heart - Central Cinema
Akira - SIFF Cinema Uptown
Prom Date Mixtape: "Friday I'm in Love" - 8th Annual Valentines Ball at High Dive
I'm Not Ok!: An Emo & Pop Punk Anti-Valentine's Day Dance Party at High Dive

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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New Lands Commissioner pauses some timber sales to study mature forests

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 22:35:15 +0000

On the campaign trail last year, Dave Upthegrove promised that if elected to Commissioner of Public Lands, he would preserve forests starting on day one.

Well, Upthegrove is now in charge of the state’s Department of Natural Resources – sworn in last month – and he held true to his promise. On Jan. 15 – day one – Upthegrove announced he would be pausing logging sales on what the state calls “mature” forestland. These are forests that were last logged before World War II – not old enough to be designated “old growth, ”but host a diverse range of plants and animals.

While considered a win by conservationists, his plan was met with concern from those dependent on revenue from public trust timber sales to fund schools and county services in the state – something mandated by the state’s constitution.

Commissioner Upthegrove recently spoke with Soundside host Libby Denkmann about his plans to balance preservation with that mandate.

Guests:

Dave Upthegrove, Commissioner of Public Lands

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Hear It Again: Meet the people on a quest to count every Cooper's Hawk in Seattle

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:23 +0000

The Urban Raptor Conservancy's Ed Deal and Patti Loesche are running a decades long study on the population health of Cooper's Hawks in Seattle.

What does that involve? Spending a lot of time looking for and observing the city's hawks.

This piece originally aired in October of 2024.

Guests:

Patti Loesche, co founder of the Urban Raptor Conservancy
Ed Deal, co founder of the Urban Raptor Conservancy

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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This Valentine’s Day, find love in a stack of books

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:47:32 +0000

Have you tucked into a romance novel lately? If not, you might be in the minority of readers.

Romance sales are soaring. Last year, they grew twice as fast as the rest of the fiction market.

In the past, the genre’s commercial value was widely accepted - romance books have always been big sellers. But now, its literary merit is being recognized, too.

So this Valentine’s Day, there’s more reason than ever to find love in a stack of books. And we won’t leave you hunting.

GUESTS:

Charlie Hunts, owner of Charlie’s Queer Books in Seattle
Ren Rice, owner of The Romance Era Bookstore in Vancouver, WA
Jenna Zarzycki, a librarian with the King County Library System

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Understanding Seattle's past and present, one walk at a time

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:45:39 +0000

Local author David B. Williams’ Seattle Walks: Discovering History and Nature in the City leads readers through loops and one-way strolls, traversing terrain ranging pockets of downtown, to North and West Seattle.

Each walk tells a story, exploring how Seattle came to be the city it is today through both big and small details. But in the years since it was first published in 2017, the city has changed -- in more ways than one. Williams wanted his walks to reflect the history of that change too.

A new edition of Seattle Walks releases today with routes both new and familiar. To understand the changes in the book and on the ground, Soundside host Libby Denkmann joined Williams on one of his newly designed walks – a stroll through Seattle's Central District.

Guests:

David B. Williams, author of Seattle Walks: Discovering History and Nature in the City.

Related Links:

Seattle Walks

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Pramila Jayapal says a government shutdown would be GOP's mess. "That's on them"

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 22:37:46 +0000

The Trump Administration’s moves to downsize the federal workforce and reshape agencies around the president’s “America First” agenda are repeatedly running into stop signs as challenges to these policies hit the courts.

But at least one federal judge says it’s not playing out that way in the case he’s overseeing – the Administration is not fully complying with his temporary restraining order to stop the freeze on federal grants.

It sets up a standoff between two branches of government.

Meanwhile, the third branch of government is gearing up for a fight.

Guest:

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is a Democrat who represents Washington’s 7th District, including Seattle and surrounding areas from Shoreline to Burien.

Related Links:

White House Failed to Comply With Court Order, Judge Rules - New York Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Washington has a data center problem

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 22:19:40 +0000

For years, Grant County sat on enough clean hydroelectricity to power more than a million homes. Then came the tech companies, interested in the cheap and plentiful electricity. They built data centers all over rural Washington to help fuel the modern internet.

The data centers use so much energy that in the next few years, Washington state could struggle to keep up with local electricity needs.

Washington’s new governor, Bob Ferguson, has taken notice.

Last week, he signed an executive order to evaluate data centers’ impact on energy use, state tax revenue, and job creation.

The executive order follows a Seattle Times and ProPublica investigation into the impacts of the state’s power-guzzling data center industry.

The report looked into the sustainability of data centers, the jobs surrounding them, and a controversial tax incentive that helps them proliferate.

Guests:

Seattle Times investigative reporters Sydney Brownstone and Lulu Ramadan

Related Links:

WA governor orders team to study data centers’ energy, tax, jobs impact - The Seattle Times
Data centers guzzle power, threatening WA’s clean energy push - The Seattle Times
Gov. Bob Ferguson’s Executive Order - WA.gov

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The struggle to restrict cell phones in Washington schools

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:50:21 +0000

A growing body of research shows that cell phones inhibit learning and distract students in class. But should they be banned in schools? It’s a question that districts across Washington state are struggling with.

Last year State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal issued guidance that basically said… yes. It encouraged districts statewide to adopt policies that would restrict cell phone use by students.

But many districts have yet to adopt these kinds of uniform restrictions, leaving parents, students and teachers in the dark about how this issue will be handled. We speak with some of the lawmakers tangling with this and physician and documentarian who thinks this is a crisis we need to face head on.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests: State Rep. Stephanie McClintock, State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Dr. Delaney Ruston

Relevant Links:

WA bill would limit cellphone use in schools

Banned from school? Teens picture life without cellphones

Screenagers documentary series

Away For The Day

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Meet Mark Solomon - Seattle's newest city councilmember

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 22:08:09 +0000

Mark Solomon might be a new name to you. But it’s time to get to know him if you live in Seattle. Because last month, he was appointed to fill the District 2 seat on the City Council.

He’s taking over from Tammy Morales, who stepped down in January - two years before the end of her term.

After five rounds of voting, Solomon beat out six other finalists for the seat. He will now represent an area spanning from the Chinatown-International District to Rainier Beach.

Solomon has said that he won’t run for the District 2 position in this November’s election.

So - why did he apply for this position? And what does he plan to do during his relatively short time in office?

Guest:
Interim District Two city Councilmember Mark Solomon

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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KUOW's Angela King shares her visit to Altadena, CA

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 21:54:14 +0000

Residents of Altadena, California are facing difficult choices in the wake of the devastating Eaton fire, which started just over a month ago in the foothills northeast of Los Angeles.

Rebuild, or sell their properties to developers and leave the neighborhood?

Angela King is KUOW’s host of Morning Edition, and she grew up in Altadena..

She recently took a trip back to her hometown to take stock of the wildfire damage – and document the resiliency of the community.

Check out Angela's full story here.

GUEST: Angela King

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The lights go down... for now... on the Grand Illusion Cinema

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 23:47:55 +0000

For over 50 years, the little theater at the corner of 50th & University Way has been showing movies to passionate filmgoers.

And in that span, it’s changed owners, it was renamed, and for the past 20 years, has been the longest running completely volunteer run cinema in the country.

But like all good things, the Grand Illusion’s time at its current location has come to an end.

The owners announced back in 2023 that the site was for sale, and that they would not be extending the Grand Illusion’s lease beyond January 31st, 2025.

But that didn’t deter either the volunteers OR patrons from selling out the final week of screenings, with some intrepid fans waiting in the rain for HOURS before the final screening of 1985’s RE-ANIMATOR on 35mm.

And this isn’t the END of the Grand Illusion - the staff have been working hard to find a new location here in the U-District, and they’ve got a few events scheduled in partnership with the Northwest Film Forum and Central Cinema.

Soundside Producer Jason Burrows headed down the street to the Grand Illusion to find out how folks were feeling about the closing of this particular chapter of the storied theater’s history…

GUESTS:

Brian Alter - Executive Director
Richard Gilbert - General Manager
Spencer Sundell - Lead Projectionist
Trevor Brandt - Lead Programmer

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Rick Steves wants you to get out of your comfort zone - in more ways than one

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 23:25:37 +0000

He just may be the most celebrated travel writer and show host of our time.

When he’s not touring the hidden gems of Europe, Rick Steves spends a lot of his days in Edmonds, his hometown since he was 12. Did you know he was in the Husky marching band in college?

Steves may not have known back then that he would dedicate his life to travel writing, but there were hints. One was a journal he kept when he made a life changing trip in his 20’s. That journal has become a new book titled “On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer.” And it came out this week.

We’ve asked the travel guru, philanthropist and social activist to join us to discuss his career, his new book, and his view of geopolitics.

GUEST: Rick Steves

RELATED LINKS:

Istanbul to India by Bus
The Rick Steves guide to life - Washington Post

Book Tour Events:

Feb. 24 at Village Books in Bellingham
Feb. 25 at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park
Feb. 26 at Town Hall Seattle

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rep. Adam Smith on the legality of the foreign aid freeze

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 05:27:49 +0000

U.S. foreign aid is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. Workers at USAID woke up on Wednesday to an order putting nearly all personnel of the foreign assistance agency on administrative leave starting Friday.

This follows a day-one executive order by the President to “reevaluate” foreign aid the United States sends so that it aligns with his “America First” agenda.

Within the week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio put a stop-work order on all foreign aid. That was later amended to exempt “life-saving” assistance like food and medicine, but employees and contractors say it isn’t clear which programs qualify for waivers.

It’s left organizations that provide services like HIV treatment, famine relief, and landmine removals scrambling to make sense of what comes next.

However, there are vocal critics of the new administration’s foreign aid policy. Democratic lawmakers rallied at USAID headquarters on Tuesday and are questioning the legality of the plan.

Guest:
Congressman Adam Smith of Washington’s 9th District and ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

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Understanding Ozempic — how GLP-1 has changed weight loss

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:30:24 +0000

After just a few years on the market, a new wave of GLP-1 drugs approved for weight loss have upended what we know about obesity.

By now, these are household names: Mounjaro. Wegovy. Zepbound… and yes, Ozempic.

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that one in 8 American adults reported trying a GLP-1 medication. “Body by Ozempic” has become a punchline on red carpets.

Doctors and regulators have a strong body of evidence that GLP-1 drugs are remarkably effective at promoting weight loss and controlling diabetes.

But new research looking at millions of patients in the VA medical system has suggested they may have surprising effects on a range of other medical conditions – from cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s to substance use disorder. The new data also found possible side effects that were not previously known.

Soundside spoke with Dr. David Cummings, professor of medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition at the University of Washington, about recent data dives into the widespread use of GLP-1 medications, and what those studies tell us about how we can rethink obesity.

Guests:

Dr. David Cummings, professor of medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition at the University of Washington.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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What does RFK Jr.'s nomination mean for the HPV vaccine?

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 20:47:42 +0000

On Tuesday the Senate Finance Committee voted to move forward with Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

His nomination now heads to the Senate floor, where he’s expected to be confirmed.

As the secretary of the HHS, Kennedy would have oversight over 11 agencies including the FDA, the CDC and the National Institutes of Health.

Kennedy has come under fire from both Democrats and Republicans for some of his controversial beliefs – the most contentious being his extensive history of anti-vaccine work and rhetoric.

Kennedy has in particular focused on Gardasil, the HPV vaccine. A lawyer by trade, he has helped facilitate hundreds of potential lawsuits aimed at pharmaceutical company Merck, which manufactures the drug.

The vaccine is nearly 100% effective against cancers caused by the human papillomavirus – most notably cervical cancer.

Kennedy has criticized the vaccine, calling it ‘dangerous and defective’ and claiming it can ‘increase the risk of cervical cancer.’

Guest:

Dr. Linda Eckert, a professor in the University of Washington School of Medicine, Women's Health Division of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. A leading expert in cervical cancer prevention, she's written a new book titled ENOUGH: Because We Can Stop Cervical Cancer.

Relevant Links:

NYT: Committee Sends R.F.K. Jr.’s Health Secretary Nomination to Full Senate

Associated Press: RFK Jr. kept asking to see the science that vaccines were safe. After he saw it, he dismissed it

BBC: Fact-checking RFK Jr's views on health policy

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Landmine removal group pauses work after foreign aid freeze

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 03:40:38 +0000

The United States is drastically retooling its foreign aid to meet a new presidential administration's “America First” goals.

The State Department will reportedly absorb the foreign aid agency USAID, which is also a target of Elon Musk’s government efficiency agency, DOGE. Democrats say this move by the Trump Administration is illegal and unconstitutional and congress would need to act to make major changes to the agency.

This is only the latest in a series of steps to claw back money Congress has approved to fund agencies helping people outside America’s borders.

Money for a diverse set of causes like HIV prevention, anti-narcotics training, and famine relief immediately stopped flowing after a stop work order was issued by the State Department.

Some of that work has since resumed after a temporary waiver was granted for life saving medical treatment, shelter and food assistance – but the abrupt shutdown had already disrupted many aid organizations ability to pay staff and continue operations.

And the stop work order is still in effect for most organizations, including here in the Pacific Northwest.

Guest:

Crystal Oswald-Herold, program director at PeaceTrees Vietnam

Relevant Links:

NYT: U.S. Halt to Foreign Aid Cripples Programs Worldwide

WaPo: Trump moves to wrest control of USAID as Musk says, ‘We’re shutting it down’

Slate: Why It’s A Huge Deal That Trump Is Trying to Shut Down USAID

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The trade war is off—for now. What would tariffs mean for Washington?

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 23:01:48 +0000

The threat of a trade war against the United States' nearest neighbors is off for now.

Last week President Donald Trump said he was placing a 25% tariff on goods from North American trading partners Mexico and Canada.

In an executive order, Trump said he was using the United States’ economic leverage to push the countries into better border enforcement. He also said he was seeking to balance out a trade deficit. The announcement led to widespread anxiety and confusion across US borders.

However, yesterday we learned that tariffs on Mexico have been paused for a month after negotiations with Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum, who activated 10,000 national guard members to the US border on Monday.

In a last minute deal, Canada also announced their U.S. tariffs were pausing for 30 days after outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he was appointing a “fentanyl czar” to tackle drug trafficking.

The saga has rankled the historic friendship between the two countries—one with which Washington has deep ties.

Guests:

Laurie Trautman, director of the Border Policy Research Institute with Western Washington University based in Bellingham
Joshua McNichols is a reporter here at KUOW and the co-host of “Booming,” a podcast about the local economy

Related Links:

Booming - An economy podcast from a city that (almost) never stops growing

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starbucks implements open door changes as foot traffic continues to slow

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 23:48:34 +0000

When Brian Niccol took the helm as CEO of Starbucks last fall, his mandate was to reverse a decline in customer traffic.

He’s been rolling out changes in recent weeks. Niccol announced last month that the coffee chain would be reversing its open-door policy as part of something called the “Coffee House Code of Conduct.”

That means no more sitting on the coffee house WiFi or squatting at a table without purchasing something. And yes, this will include use of the company’s restrooms (just about the only ones you reliably find on nearly every corner.)

Niccol took the reins of the company last fall amid lagging foot traffic, and the code of conduct is just one of the changes aiming to right the company’s wobbling ship.

To discuss the changes and their impact on Starbucks' business, Soundside was joined by Julie Creswell, business reporter for the New York Times, where she covers the food industry.

Guests:

Julie Creswell, business reporter for the New York Times, where she covers the food industry.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Oscar nominated costume designer returns to PNB for The Sleeping Beauty

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 23:45:50 +0000

In his storied career, Paul Tazewell has dressed American revolutionaries, a scarecrow and a tinman, and witches with a penchant for pink and green. It’s hard to list all the projects the award-winning costume designer has been responsible for on Broadway, but here’s a sample: Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk, The Color Purple musical, In The Heights, and Hamilton, for which he won a Tony.

On screen, he won an Emmy for his work on The Wiz! Live. Tazewell has two Oscar nominations: One for 2021’s West Side Story and most recently for Wicked, Part 1. His relationship with Seattle goes back to the early 2000s – the tutus he created for Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Swan Lake are still in use today.

And Tazewell is back in town with a new PNB collaboration. He’s created the lavish costumes – from ballgowns and dinner jackets to tutus – for the company’s new production of The Sleeping Beauty.

Guest:

Paul Tazewell, costume designer for PNB's The Sleeping Beauty

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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New Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes on accountability, community safety, and "policing forward"

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 23:22:38 +0000

Shon Barnes stepped into the role last week, officially taking the reins from interim Chief Sue Rahr.

Barnes was previously the Chief of Police in Madison, Wisconsin. You may have seen him on the news late last year, when a shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison thrust the community, and its police department, into the spotlight.

In Madison, Barnes was known for his advocacy for community policing, and body cameras.

Now, Barnes will be leading in a city with a population almost three times as large as Madison.

What are his goals for the city of Seattle?

Guest:

Shon Barnes, new Seattle Police Chief

Relevant Links:

"I feel like a foster parent." Outgoing chief Sue Rahr on hiring, leadership, and sexism at SPD - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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A think tank wants to accelerate cleanup at Hanford. Locals, though, aren't in a hurry

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:09:31 +0000

For decades, the Hanford Site in central Washington produced plutonium for the United States’ nuclear arsenal. But since its operations were shuttered, starting in the 1960s, the site has become an ongoing headache for regulators in charge of cleaning up its radioactive waste.

Today, there are 177 underground storage tanks housing 56 million gallons of the country’s most toxic radioactive waste at Hanford. It’s expected to cost billions of dollars over the next several decades to completely dispose of it.

However, Project 2025 – a political initiative authored by a think tank called the Heritage Foundation – could change the current plan for Hanford, and its waste.

Project 2025 is a political initiative considered to be a policy blueprint for the Trump administration, though President Trump ended up distancing himself from some of its policies during the height of its attention during his campaign last year.

Since being elected, however, he’s also brought on some of the project’s architects for cabinet nominees. That includes Russell Vought, who authored a chapter of Project 2025 and is going through confirmation hearings to lead the Office of Management and Budget. While not yet confirmed, Vote’s been credited as the architect of the federal funding freeze that sent many federal agencies into chaos this week.

Soundside was joined by reporters Anna King and Jeanie Lindsay to discuss the project's strategy for dealing with Hanford's waste, and if Project 2025 has any bearing on President Trump's second term in office.

Guests:

Anna King, senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting based in Richland.
Jeanie Lindsay, KUOW's state government reporter based in Olympia.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 1/30-2/2

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 22:16:49 +0000

The weekend is tantalizingly close to being a reality, only a FEW hours away... So, why not get started making plans RIGHT NOW!?

Fortunately, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here as usual to give you a sneak peek at what's happening around town!

LINKS:

5th Annual Fremont Soupocalypse - Thursday through Sunday
Fatlesque Fest NW - Thursday through Saturday at the Triple Door
Strange Brewfest - Friday & Saturday in Port Townsend
Puppy Prov - Saturday at Comedy Sportz
The Gits Seattle Record Release Party - Saturday at Seattle Center

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I feel like a foster parent." Outgoing chief Sue Rahr on hiring, leadership, and sexism at SPD

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 23:55:40 +0000

Sue Rahr’s tenure as Seattle’s Chief of Police is coming to an end.

The interim chief took over the office during a rocky moment for SPD: she inherited a police officer staffing crisis and a workplace where senior staff had filed legal complaints over their treatment, alleging discrimination and sexism on the job .

Rahr’s appointment to the position happened the same week, last June, as a deadly school shooting at Garfield High, setting off a series of discussions about public safety at schools, and in the Central District.

And she was also in the awkward position of taking over the department from a chief who was initially demoted, and then fired for not being truthful about his alleged affair with a subordinate.

It’s been an eventful almost 8 months.

Chief Rahr sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann to discuss what’s changed during her time in leadership, and what still needs to happen at SPD.

Guest:

Outgoing Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Lion Dancing into the Lunar New Year

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 23:25:20 +0000

Happy Lunar New Year!

Today marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake.

And it’s an extra special Lunar New Year in Washington, because this year, for the first time, it’s a state holiday.

Festivities have already been happening in many places, but the festival officially goes for the next 15 days, with celebrations all over the state.

For Chinese and other Asian cultures, a critical part of these celebrations is lion dancing.

Soundside went to 51-year-old lion dancing school Mak Fai Dragon and Lion Dancing Association in Seattle to visit dancers preparing for their busy season.

Guests:

Han Eckleberg, Mak Fai member (lion dancing and kung fu)

Martin Leu, Mak Fai member (lion tail player)

Related Links:

Seattle Lion Dance | Mak Fai

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside listeners sound off about our coverage of Trump 2.0

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 21:57:21 +0000

Journalists are struggling to keep up with the breakneck pace of major policy decisions coming out of the White House.

At Soundside, we have to prioritize how our team approaches the firehose of news. And for the past week we’ve been asking you, the audience, to give us feedback about how you want the show to handle covering the Trump Administration 2.0.

And boy, did you deliver. We’ve been flooded with calls and emails.

Requests ranged from completely skipping coverage, to reporting in moderation, to a mandate to keep our heads down and do the coverage, no matter how tough it is. Soundside has been taking all of your feedback into consideration.

It’s safe to say, most newsrooms are working to figure out how to cover the President. To get the local view we spoke to KUOW News Director Jason Pagano, and to get a look at the national scene, we sat down with Washington Post reporter Jeremy Barr.

GUESTS:

RELATED LINKS:

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Fueling innovation, or exploitation? Trump supporters feud over future of H-1B visas

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 23:47:52 +0000

Most of President Trump’s closest allies appear to be cheering on his major changes to immigration policy – which have been numerous.

These include executive orders suspending America’s refugee resettlement program, ramping up and expediting deportations, halting asylum claims and canceling existing appointments, and more.

But one program has exposed a major rift in MAGA world over the role of foreign workers, especially in tech: H-1B visas.

Trump’s inner circle is feuding over the future of the visas, which let companies hire foreign workers with hard-to-find skills, granting them temporary permission to live and work in the U.S.

There were more than 470,000 applications entered for 85,000 spots in the latest H-1B visa lottery. The battle has been heated and sometimes downright nasty. Elon Musk and similar tech moguls say the visas are vital to fostering innovation. Meanwhile, Steve Bannon and other right-wing influencers argue H-1Bs lets companies replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.

All of this has led to a lot of questions about the future of the program during the second term of a president who once took steps to restrict H-1B visas -- but now says he has “always liked” them.

That’s got big resonance here in the Puget Sound region, where some of the companies with the most approved H-1B petitions are located.

To discuss the climate around H-1B visas, Soundside was joined by Jerry Lopez, CTO of Noise Figure Research, a Renton-based tech company; Andrew Kreighbaum, immigration reporter at Bloomberg Law; and Tahmina Watson, an immigration lawyer with Watson Immigration Law.

Guests:

Jerry Lopez, CTO of Noise Figure Research, a Renton-based tech company
Andrew Kreighbaum, immigration reporter at Bloomberg Law
Tahmina Watson, immigration lawyer with Watson Immigration Law

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle counted trees as protected that may not have been in peril

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 19:21:28 +0000

In 2023, Seattle City Council waded into controversy by passing a long overdue tree protection ordinance. The law regulates whether homeowners can remove trees on their property and designates certain trees as “protected.”

This is all amidst a city goal to increase tree canopy. But that “protected” label is often misleading, according to a new story out in InvestigateWest about how the city is counting its trees.

Guest:

Robert McClure, co-founder of InvestigateWest

Relevant Links:

InvestigateWest: Seattle claims to ‘protect’ hundreds of trees that were never threatened

InvestigateWest: How developers helped shape Seattle’s controversial tree protection ordinance

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Former Auburn cop sentenced for murder

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 23:30:51 +0000

Former Auburn police officer Jeffrey Nelson has been sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison.

The decision was handed down Thursday, after Nelson was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault for the killing of 26 year old Jesse Sarey.

And this represents a milestone: Nelson is the first Washington police officer to be charged and convicted for the use of deadly force while on duty since the passage of the law enforcement reform ballot measure, Initiative 940.

Guest:

Amy Radil, KUOW reporter covering politics, government, and law enforcement

Relevant Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Converge Media wants you to support Black business

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 22:19:36 +0000

What does it take to run a thriving business in Washington?

Lately, for a number of business owners around the Sound , the answer seems to be “too much.”

January has seen the closure of a number of long time Black owned businesses in the Seattle area – including Jackson’s Catfish Corner and Flowers Just-4-U in Seattle’s Central District, Plum Bistro in Capitol Hill, La Familia in Des Moines, and Nate Jackson’s Super Funny Comedy Club in Tacoma.

When faced with a rising number of Black-owned businesses saying “we can’t do this anymore” Converge Media didn’t just stand by. They launched a campaign to turn things around.

This month, the local media organization announced a push to support Black businesses across the Sound.

Converge Media's Besa Gordan tells us about the effort and the struggles she's hearing from Black business owners.

Guest:

Besa Gordon, the host of Back2Besa on Fox13 and FOX Soul/Personality and Digital Manager with Converge Media

Flora & Fauna: A Pioneer Square Gem Struggles Amidst Economic Downturn

Ashanti Mayfield and Creamy Cone Cafe at a Crossroads

Besa's recs:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WA lawmakers again consider cap on rent increases

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 23:15:03 +0000

Washington lawmakers are once again considering legislation to cap rent increases across the state. This year’s iteration would limit rent hikes to 7 percent over a 12 month period – with exemptions like new construction.

A similar bill was introduced last year, it died in committee in the senate. Since then, a couple of those “no” votes have left office. And supporters say that this year is the time to finally pass a rent increase cap into law. But Republicans and trade groups argue that this legislation would deter construction and make the housing shortage worse.

Guests:

Senator Emily Alvarado, represents Washington's 34th Legislative District and introduced the rent stabilization bill (HB 1217)

Greg Cerbana, vice president of public relations and government affairs at Weidner Apartment Homes and volunteer with the Washington Multi-Family Housing Association

Relevant Links:

Axios: Washington Legislature weighs limiting rent increases

Washington State Standard: Washington lawmakers revive plan for state cap on rent increases

Seattle Times: Bill to cap WA rent increases passes first House hurdle

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 23rd-27th

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 22:50:02 +0000

The week isn’t over, but I know a lot of us are wishing it were. Well, if we’re so focused on the weekend, why not get an early start making plans?

Fortunately, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here to give us an early look at what’s happening around town.

LINKS:

OTHER EVENTS NOT MENTIONED:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why medical debt hits Indigenous Washingtonians especially hard

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:55:01 +0000

According to recent government reporting, Native Americans have medical debt that is double the national average.

That’s despite the fact that the federal government is under a legal and moral obligation to provide healthcare to registered members of federally recognized tribes.

In many cases, the debt stems from medical care the Indian Health Service was unable to provide but was supposed to pay for when members sought care elsewhere.

The resulting debt damages credit scores and adds to health disparities that impact many indigenous communities, including high costs and poor access to care.

Indigenous Affairs reporter Melanie Henshaw has been covering problems with healthcare access for InvestigateWest and joins Libby to share her reporting.

Guest:

Melanie Henshaw, InvestigateWest Indigenous Affairs Reporter

Relevant Links:

Native Americans face double the average medical debt, report finds — often for bills that aren’t their responsibility | InvestigateWest

Colville tribal citizens left on the hook when Indian Health Service doesn’t pay medical bills | InvestigateWest

Report lays bare stark disparities in health care outcomes for Native Americans in Washington | InvestigateWest

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resident Orca tells the story of Lummi elders' quest to bring captured whale home

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:47:38 +0000

The new documentary, Resident Orca, brings viewers inside the very personal work of Tribal elder Squil-le-he-le Raynell Morris and her allies as they fight for Sk'aliCh'ehl-tenaut's, also known as Tokitae, release.

In recent years, people of the Lummi Nation tried to secure the return of the orca to her home waters, the Salish Sea. They consider her a family member.

Sk'aliCh'ehl-tenaut's story gained national attention as efforts to get her home ramped up. And you may be familiar with the sad ending to her life – but you’ve never seen Sk'aliCh'ehl-tenaut's story like this. The movie will play at Pickford Film Center on Saturday January 25.

Guest:

Squil-le-he-le Raynell Morris, Tribal Elder with the Lummi Nation

Sarah Sharkey Pierce, co-director of Resident Orca

Simon Schneider, co-director and cinematographer of Resident Orca

Relevant Links:

Resident Orca website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The TikTok ban is delayed... again. What can we learn from the whiplash?

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 19:01:38 +0000

At this hour, TikTok is once again available to its millions of U.S. users – brought back to life, for at least 75 days, by the President who once tried to kill it.

It’s been a long and confusing road to get here.

Congress passed a law last April to force TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the social media app or face a ban in the U.S.. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld that ban, which was set to go into effect on Sunday.

TikTok then went dark on Saturday, when users were greeted with a message that read: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”

Shortly afterwards, a hopeful update appeared in that popup message:
“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.”

The app was back in service Sunday, after about 14 hours offline for U.S. users.

President Trump sealed a reprieve for TikTok with the stroke of his Sharpie on Monday, signing an executive order delaying the enforcement of the federal ban for 75 days.

It’s just another stop on the long road toward a potential all-out ban of the Chinese-owned app for U.S. users -- and the President’s latest actions raise a host of political, legal and cultural questions.

Soundside was joined by a panel of experts to break down what's next.

Guests:

Ben Brody, a technology reporter for Punchbowl News based in D.C.
Jessica Maddox, associate professor of digital media at the University of Alabama.
Joseph Tomain, senior lecturer at Indiana University Bloomington.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WA justices look at "historical tradition" for high capacity magazines in Gator Guns case

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:14:40 +0000

The state supreme court is right now weighing the future of high-capacity gun magazine sales in Washington. Last week, the court heard arguments in Washington v. Gator’s Custom Guns. At issue is whether a 2022 law banning magazines with more than 10 rounds is constitutional. Complicating the matter is a recent U.S. Supreme Court cases that sets out a new originalist rule for restrictions on guns.

Guest:

Jake Goldstein Street, reporter at the Washington State Standard

Relevant Links:

Washington State Standard: State and gun shop clash at WA Supreme Court over high-capacity magazine ban

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington Attorney General sues Trump Administration

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 23:34:31 +0000

Twenty-four hours after returning to office, the Trump administration is already facing its first lawsuit from Washington state.

State Attorney General Nick Brown says he has filed a challenge to President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for the children of unauthorized immigrants.

It was one of dozens of orders President Trump signed during his first day back in the big chair, ranging from renaming a mountain, to pulling the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement.

Guest:

KUOW politics reporter and Sound Politics co-host Scott Greenstone

Relevant Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can you learn from dead birds? With enough volunteers, a lot

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:11:26 +0000

The University of Washington's Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team, or COASST, is a network of nearly a thousand volunteers who walk beaches in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. Those citizen scientists are counting dead birds and their work has been critical to understanding the effects of warming ocean waters on the marine ecosystem.

Guests:

Julia Parrish, Associate Dean at the University of Washington's College for the Environment and founder of COASST

Carl Haynie, COASST volunteer

Relevant Links:

COASST Website

Science: ‘Blob’ heat wave killed millions of seabirds—and they haven’t bounced back

New York Times: Ocean Heat Wiped Out Half These Seabirds Around Alaska

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Roll On, Kalakala' celebrates the beginning, and end, of a Seattle icon

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:18:29 +0000

This month marks 10 years since the Kalakala was removed from the shores of Tacoma and demolished.

The ferry, which looked a little like if the Titanic was mixed with a spaceship, was once the symbol of Seattle - a shiny, chrome vision of the future.

While the Kalakala is gone, it’s far from forgotten.

There’s even a song that follows the journey of the Kalakala: from its creation to its eventual demise.

And the story of the song itself is filled with twists and turns.

We sat down with the people behind this song to hear why they’ve spent years dedicated to remembering the Kalakala

Guests:

Jack Broom, former Seattle Times reporter
Jon Pontrello, Seattle musician

Relevant Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 17th-20th

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 21:59:52 +0000

As we prepare for the holiday weekend, some folks are heading out of town, while others are looking locally for ways to celebrate the life & legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr…

Producers Jason Megatron Burrows & Brooklyn Jamerson-Flowers are here with an early look at what's happening this weekend!

LINKS:

Monster Jam - Tacoma Dome - Tacoma, Fri-Sun
Seattle Sister Cities Soup Sampling - Capitol Hill, Saturday
The Aluminum Show - Olympia, Sunday
NAAM | Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration 2024
Seattle MLK, Jr. Coalition MLK Day 2025
Painting the Town Red: A MLK Day Tribute to Billie Holiday at The Royal Room

Other events we couldn't get to:

MLK Celebration: With Liberty & Justice, For Whom? - Bainbridge Island Museum of Art - Bainbridge Island, Sunday
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration - Washington State Historical Society
Celebrating Dr. King’s Legacy | United Way of King County
An Evening Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy - Olympia, Friday

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pacific Drive captures the creepy of the Olympic Peninsula

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:41:10 +0000

The game “Pacific Drive” came out last year from Seattle-based Ironwood Studios, and it made a BIG splash for the company.

So much so that Hollywood is taking notice: “Saw” creator James Wan’s production company announced last month it has optioned Pacific Drive to develop it into a television series.

The Pacific Northwest is home to some major power players in the videogame industry. But this is a big win for an indie game studio.

The game pays homage to the our region, with a setting that feels familiar: the Olympic Peninsula, in 1998. Albeit an alternate timeline, extra creepy version of the peninsula.

We wanted to learn more about the role of the Pacific Northwest in the game’s creation, and what success means for this local independent company.

GUEST: Cassandra Dracott - CEO & Creative Director of Ironwood Studios, the team behind the game Pacific Drive.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

RELATED LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The California wildfire insurance crisis

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 23:40:43 +0000

For over a week now, Los Angeles has been devastated by aggressive wildfire that are expected to be the most costly in California’s history.

While many have already seen their communities burned, we won’t know the full extent of the damage for weeks.

Already, thousands of families are wondering how they are going to recover and rebuild.

Central to that question is how much of the costs insurance will cover.

And it comes as California is going through a home and renter’s insurance crisis.

Guest Levi Sumagaysay has been covering California’s economy and its insurance market for CalMatters breaks down the crisis and some potential solutions.

Guest:

Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatter Economy Reporter

Relevant Links:

LA fires could worsen California’s stressed insurance market

Can California fix its home insurance market? - CalMatters

California fire insurance: FAIR Plan going through growing pains - CalMatters

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New podcast explores why healthcare can cost "An Arm and a Leg"

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 23:39:05 +0000

It’s as American as Apple Pie:

You come home from the hospital - maybe it was an accidental slice with your kitchen knife, or maybe something more serious. And as you recover… you wait. For thousands of dollars in medical bills.

It’s a problem that radio reporter Dan Weissman had long been familiar with, due to a pre-existing condition.

Learning how to navigate the arcane system behind those bills has become a full time gig for Weissman. He’s the host of An Arm and a Leg, a podcast exploring why healthcare costs so damn much.

The show has been running since 2018, and starting this Thursday we’re very excited to welcome it to the KUOW family of podcasts.

Guest:

Dan Weissman, host of An Arm and A Leg

Relevant Links:

An Arm and a Leg website

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can a river have rights? Everett is finding out

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:31:41 +0000

This past election, voters in Everett approved an initiative (24-03) that granted the Snohomish River watershed legally enforceable "rights."

24-03 is part of a broader legal trend called the “rights of nature" movement, an environmental legal theory gaining traction around the world in places like Ecuador, India, and Australia.

Here in the United States, communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida have tried giving some bodies of water these extended legal designations -- like the right to exist, right to flow, and right to regenerate and flourish -- which proponents say add a layer of protections not covered by regulations. 24-03 passed with 57 percent of the vote.

The success of these efforts, however, has been watered down and challenged by courts and legislatures over issues of jurisdiction and scope -- issues voiced by skeptics of the initiative this past election.

Soundside visited Everett to talk with proponents and opponents about what these new rights could mean for the Snohomish River now that they've been approved by voters. Additionally, Soundside spoke with a global expert in river rights and policy about how this legal theory works, and where Everett's initiative fits within the broader global movement for environmental personhood.

Guests:

Holly James and Abi Ludwig, Standing for Washington, a political action committee advocating for the legal rights of nature in Washington.
David Toyer, Toyer Strategic Advisors, a land use and economic development consulting firm in Everett.

Dr. Erin O'Donnell, a world-renowned expert in water policy and law. She’s a Senior Lecturer and ARC Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School in Australia.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Contentious debate over the Comprehensive Plan comes to city council

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 22:39:26 +0000

The Seattle City Council is starting its year by taking on one of any city’s most controversial policy debates: growth.

The Comprehensive Plan is now in front of the council. It dictates where and how Seattle can grow over the next two decades.

Past comprehensive plans have concentrated growth in areas dubbed “Urban Villages” – places along major arterials, like Columbia City, Othello, Lake City, and Ballard. They largely kept neighborhoods with single family homes unchanged.

The current plan continues that legacy, but allows for more density in around 30 newly designated “neighborhood centers.” This comes as Seattle continues efforts to comply with a state law that mandates denser single family zoning.

Guest:

Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth, who represents Seattle's 3rd District

Relevant Links:

KUOW: How will Seattle's next comprehensive plan shape the city?

KUOW: Seattle's growth plan inches toward more housing, draft by draft

Seattle Times: Fault lines emerge as Seattle council takes up housing plan

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell on city budgets, the comprehensive plan, and more

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 22:22:00 +0000

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is running for re-election in 2025.

He’s hoping to break the long running streak of single term mayors in Seattle like Mike McGinn, Ed Murray, and Jenny Durkin.

The election is still nearly a year away, and in the meantime, the mayor will finish the last year of his term addressing a long list of issues: public safety, the future of downtown, and the implementation of a new comprehensive plan.

The mayor sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann to discuss his plans for 2025.

Guest:

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell

Relevant links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dangerous highs from highly potent cannabis

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 21:52:44 +0000

Marijuana has been recreationally legal here in Washington since 2012, and it's become big business for the state.

Last year sales topped $1 billion, and the state earned hundreds of millions in taxes on marijuana.

As the drug’s popularity in the state has increased, so has its potency.

As this episode's guest would say, it’s not your dad’s weed.

Now, doctors are seeing more harmful, and sometimes fatal consequences from overuse of marijuana.

KUOW online editor and producer Stephen Howie has reported a deep dive on the subject and he’s here to explain how a new generation of weed is impacting a new generation of users.

Guest:

Stephen Howie, KUOW online editor/producer

Relevant link:

KUOW - Weed sick: High-potency cannabis leads to ER visits, illnesses for some users

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 9th-13th

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:10:55 +0000

Our first week back after the holiday break has been jam-packed with all the news that’s fit to print… or read out loud into a microphone, whatever.

Now that the weekend is nearly here, it’s time to sail away & relax a little…

In that spirit, here’s our resident “Cruise Director,” Producer Jason Megatron Burrows live from the Lido Deck with everything exciting happening this weekend!

EVENTS:

As always, if you'd like to suggest an event for future installments of the Weekend Warmup, shoot us an email - SOUNDSIDE@KUOW.ORG

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington state sends firefighters, engines to help battle LA fires

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 23:29:53 +0000

Five people have died and thousands of homes have burned in wildfires sweeping across the Los Angeles area.

Five separate fires are burning in the county - the Palisades fire, Eaton fire, Hurst fire, Lidia and Sunset fires. The Palisades and Eaton Fires are some of the most destructive in the region’s history.

Local resources are stretched thin – but some help is on the way from Washington.

Dozens of engines and more than 100 firefighters from local agencies have committed to travel to help battle the blazes in L.A.

Many are already on their way.

Guests:

Ben Peeler, Assistant Chief for Clark Cowlitz Fire Rescue
Hilary Franz, Washington state's Public Lands Commissioner. She heads the Department of Natural Resources, which is also sending engines to Southern California

Relevant links:

What to know about thousands of evacuations and homes burned in Los Angeles area fires - AP

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington sheriffs may face pressure between federal agencies and state law under Trump administration

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 23:25:06 +0000

President Elect Donald Trump has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants on day one of his administration. Removing the approximately 11.7 million people living in the United States without authorization would take a massive operational effort -- and likely require cooperation from both state and local governments.

Right now, most Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in the U.S. happen because of a hand off from local law enforcement. But that kind of cooperation is restricted in Washington state.

2019’s Keep Washington Working Act broadly limits state and local law enforcement from assisting with federal immigration proceedings. But Trump allies are already ramping up the pressure on local leaders in places like California and D.C. with similar sanctuary laws in place:

Stephen Miller’s America First Legal Foundation announced last month that it had identified hundreds of elected officials in sanctuary jurisdictions who it claimed could be held civilly liable for obstructing federal immigration enforcement.

As the new Trump Administration takes office, Washington state’s elected sheriffs will be among those officials feeling the squeeze between federal agencies, and state law.

Guest:

Steven Strachan, Executive Director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs

Relevant Links:

WASPC Statement on local law enforcement involvement in immigration issues

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Housing First Approach: A Documentary

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 23:22:23 +0000

As the Trump administration prepares to take office, a fight is brewing over the future of homelessness in America.

For about a decade now, the federal government has pushed a strategy called Housing First.

It's designed to get people off the streets and into permanent homes... even when they have serious problems with mental illness or substance use. Seattle was one of the earliest adopters of this approach, back in the nineties.

But, over the past few years, a growing chorus of critics — mostly on the political right — has questioned Housing First.

They want to go back to a time when efforts to fight homelessness focused more on getting people into treatment and having them "earn" access to subsidized housing by changing their behaviors.

Now some of those critics are about to come to power in the White House, like Vice President elect JD Vance.

You've probably heard of Project 2025. It's the conservative Heritage Foundation's plan for Trump's second term. It calls for an end to Housing First — a move that would upend the nation's homelessness strategy.

KUOW's Will James has covered homelessness for years. He wanted to know: What is at the heart of this backlash against Housing First?

And, with homelessness reaching record levels, do the critics have a point? Is it time to change course?

If so, where do we go from here?

Will spent months digging into these questions and brings us this original, freshly-reported documentary, which we're sharing with you for the first time today.

The story starts right here in Seattle... because this city is intertwined with the history of Housing First and now, the movement against it.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:
Will James, KUOW Audio Documentary Producer

Related Links:

KUOW - Lost Patients

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As ShotSpotter rolls out in Tacoma, feelings over gunshot detection technology remain mixed

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:53:59 +0000

In an effort to curb gun crime, Tacoma announced last year that it was turning to a tool called ShotSpotter.

ShotSpotter is a form of Gun Detection Technology (GDT), which uses a series of acoustic microphone sensors to track loud bangs, booms, and pops in a designated area. Once those "dynamic events" are triggered, a human classifier verifies the sound was a gunshot and alerts local police. The entire process happens within 60 seconds or less.

The idea is that it’s a faster and more accurate way to alert police to gunshots, compared with relying on 911 calls. That, then, allows police to get to a more targeted crime scene sooner, and have more evidence to ideally solve the crime.

SoundThinking, the company that runs ShotSpotter, says the technology has been used in more than 180 cities globally.

However, the technology has been controversial in several large cities. Houston’s mayor called ShotSpotter a “gimmick” when he announced plans to scrap the city’s contract. After years of debate over its effectiveness, Chicago ended its use of Shotspotter in September.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell advocated for years for using an acoustic gunshot detection technology in Seattle before backing off his plan to fund a pilot program last year.

Tacoma is moving forward with ShotSpotter, thanks to an $800,000 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. That grant will fund three different kinds of technology aimed at improving the city’s ability to investigate gun crimes. The police department is on the verge of piloting ShotSpotter in a two square mile area around Hosmer Street, in South Tacoma.

Tacoma Police told us the city's ShotSpotter rollout is now slated for Spring 2025.

But some in the city are concerned about the cost and accuracy of ShotSpotter, and say it might lead to greater police presence and surveillance in communities that have long suffered from over policing.

To learn more, Soundside spoke with a group of community advocates who've spoken against the technology at ShotSpotter information sessions in Tacoma; Alfred Lewers Jr., the Senior Director of Trauma Response and Community Engagement at SoundThinking; and Eric Piza, a professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University in Boston who's studied the use of ShotSpotter in major cities like Chicago and Kansas City.

Guests:

Latasha Palmer, community advocate and board secretary of the Hilltop Action Coalition.
Bunchy Carter, minister of defense for the Black Panther Party in Tacoma.
Oneida Arnold, long term member of The Conversation 253, a Tacoma and South Sound community group.
Alfred Lewers Jr., senior director of trauma response and community engagement at SoundThinking, the company that oversees ShotSpotter.
Eric Piza, professor of criminology and criminal justice at Northeastern University in Boston.

Related links:

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A look into Amazon's "Return to Office" mandate

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 22:08:14 +0000

Amazon employees are back in the office five days a week, five years after Covid-19 shook up work as we know it; as the company’s so-called Return-To-Office policy took effect on Thursday, January 2nd.

Amazon is the largest private employer to roll back its pandemic-era work from home policy.

So, what will this mean for both employees AND local businesses in the hubs where Amazon resides?

Monica Nicklesburg tackled this question for KUOW as the resident Labor & Economy Reporter, she’s also the co-host of the KUOW podcast BOOMING, and she joined Soundside host Libby Denkmann to break down how those employees are feeling about this shift.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

RELATED LINK:

Culture-building or cost-cutting? Amazon's return-to-office order raises questions, fears

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A new book looks at how border closures divided lives during COVID

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:30:01 +0000

It’s been five years since Covid 19 began spreading around the world from its origin in Wuhan, China. In that emergent time of the pandemic, there was widespread concern about clusters of the virus, in Italy, then Iran, then an outbreak at a nursing home in the Pacific Northwest. By March of 2020, an unprecedented international phenomenon took place: countries began closing their borders.

When the World Closed its Doors by Laurie Trautman and Edward Alden looks at how this international effort disrupted the lives of people who had grown reliant on movement between countries; from migrant workers to cross-border families.

Guest:

Laurie Trautman, Director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democrats in Olympia plan for massive budget gap

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 23:24:00 +0000

Washington lawmakers are facing an estimated $12 billion dollar budget deficit as they prepare to go back to work next week. How to cover that gap is the big story heading into the session.

Majority Democrats are already floating possibilities for new taxes to bridge the difference between spending and revenue. And while the budget is undoubtedly the biggest challenge – lawmakers are also expected to be tackling sticky issues like rent increase caps and education funding.

Guest:

Washington State Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen (WA 43 - Seattle)

Relevant Links:

KUOW: ‘A perfect storm’: Inside Washington’s massive budget gap

Washington State Standard: Making sense of Washington’s multi-billion dollar budget hole

Seattle Times: WA’s 2025 legislative session will feature new faces, big budget gap

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new governor, budget woes, and pickleball: KUOW's newsroom shares their big stories of 2025

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 22:41:55 +0000

2025 is officially here - and with that comes a whole lotta new: new resolutions, new goals, and a new page a day pull away calendar on your desk at work.

But even with all this new to look forward to - at least one thing will stay the same in 2025: we’ll be here to bring you the news coverage you rely on and trust every day.

Soundside reached out to the KUOW newsroom to ask reporters about the big stories they’ll cover this year.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Kenny G went from local fill-in to global saxophone phenom

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 01:35:50 +0000

He’s no longer rolling up to Franklin High School in a blue Oldsmobile Super 88 with homemade white wall tires, or knocking out accounting tests on the University of Washington campus, but Kenny G is still in touch with his Seattle roots -- even after selling more than 75 million records worldwide.

The iconic sax-man played a run of sold-out shows at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley over the turn of the new year. In case you couldn’t make it to a show, the story of how Kenneth Gorelick of Seward Park became one of the best-selling instrumentalists of all time is chronicled in Kenny G’s new memoir, “Life in the Key of G.”

The book explores the craft of saxophone playing and the mind of a meticulous artist, always striving to improve. Readers also get some unexpected stories -- like how Kenny G once tried his best to get fired from Whitney Houston’s tour, or the time Elton John gave him a “pinch” of approval.

Soundside's Libby Denkmann caught up with Kenny from his LA studio ahead of his return to Jazz Alley.

Guests:

Kenny G

Related Links:

Kenny G

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Soundside's Producer Picks: Jazz clubs, real-life superheroes, and late nights in Pioneer Square

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:08:59 +0000

Soundside will be off the air on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. We will be back with some fresh new stories Jan. 2.

For today, we’ve revisiting a mix of some of Soundside producer Alec Cowan's favorite segments from this past year, including his patrol with a pair Seattle's "real-life superheroes" and the musicians keeping jazz music alive in Seattle.

We also have one new story for you, courtesy of producer Jason Megatron Burrows. 2024 was the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons. Burrows explored how the game is staying up to date after 5 decades of gameplay, and its attempt to stay relevant in 2025.

Hear and read the original stories below.

Stories Featured:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside looks back at the 50th Anniversary of D&D

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:30:00 +0000

The tabletop role playing game Dungeons & Dragons was first published in 1974.

5 decades later, there’s a new ‘edition’ of the game out, and D&D has changed dramatically from its origins in a little house in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

The anniversary is happening at a delicate time for the company, Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro. Arguably the first modern tabletop role playing game is, today, fighting for market share – squaring off against a horde of fierce competitors seeking to lure players away to different adventures.

So what’s the Renton-based publisher doing to remain on top?

Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is our resident “dungeon master” here at Soundside. He spent 2024 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the game at events around the country.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

RELATED LINKS:

GUESTS:

Chris Perkins - Creative Director at Wizards of the Coast
Ginny Di - YouTube D&D Creator

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Libby looks back on her favorite Soundside stories of 2024

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 17:52:43 +0000

The Soundside team is taking the week off to rest and prepare for some upcoming shows we’re working on in the new year.

So in the meantime, we're going to revisit two of Libby's segments from 2024.

And to do that, we're going back in time, to the Seattle of the 1990s.

We’ll look back on the music of grunge band The Gits, and hear from the band’s former drummer about his decision to revisit and reclaim the group's history.

And later, we’ll revisit the story of a bank robber that feels practically ripped from the silver screen.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

STORIES FEATURED:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your favorite sounds of the Pacific Northwest

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 01:59:55 +0000

All this week, Soundside has heard from local sound artists about their quintessential sounds of the Pacific Northwest.

We’ve heard coyotes howling across the Methow Valley, the bygone squeak of a metro bus, and the rhythm of melting snow.

Along the way we’ve asked for your favorite Northwest sounds. You sent us some good ones – the sound of North Cascades rain on a tent, and a chorus of frogs croaking in Marymoor Park.

You also wrote in with your favorites: the grinding of espresso, the crack of Ken Griffey Jr.’s bat, and the mechanical sounds of fog horns, light rail doors, and Boeing airplanes.

Thank you for all your submissions, and happy holidays.

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking back at the best local albums of 2024

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:04:05 +0000

Are your music listening habits stuck in a rut? Did you open your Spotify Wrapped and realize you listened to the same five songs on an endless loop?

Maybe you want to mix it up in 2025, and become more acoustically adventurous.

Soundside is here to help you out - we've rounded up a panel of local music experts to give you some fresh recommendations for albums to check out before we head into the new year.

GUESTS:

Bekah Flynn, senior publicist, international promotions manager, and A&R representative at Sub Pop Records.
Cameron Lavi-Jones, lead singer and guitarist of King Young Blood.
Kevin Diers, host of Metal Shop and Loud and Local on 99.9 KISW.

Bekah's picks:

Frenching the Bully - The Gits
Billboard Heart - Deep Sea Diver
Grim Iconic...(Sadistic Mantra) - J.R.C.G
Exotic Birds of Prey - Shabazz Palaces
Robed in Rareness - Shabazz Palaces
Right Back to It - Waxahatchee

Cam's picks:

Kevin's picks:

For WHAT Reason! - Fastbacks
Guardian of The Universe (The Final Hope) - Oxygen Destroyer
The Crucible of Life - The Home Team
Verses In Oath - Hulder
I Never Lie - Zach Top

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Dec 20th-24th

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 22:47:56 +0000

Soundside is about to take a long and well deserved break, we’ve got some best-of shows planned for the holiday week, and we’re just generally excited to go DO some fun STUFF!

And in that spirit, here’s somebody who has ALL the stuff worth doing: producer Jason Megatron Burrows with a few sneak peeks of things to keep you occupied through Christmas Day!

LINKS:

The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show
Spokane Valley Summer Theatre - Big Band Christmas
Bellingham's Holiday Dockside Market
XMAS ACTION MYSTERY TRIPLE FEATURE | The Beacon
Capitol Hill's Christmas Dive Bar

If you would like to suggest events for us to talk about in upcoming "Weekend Warmups," please send Jason an email at SOUNDSIDE@KUOW.ORG

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it still possible to "fix" Congress? Outgoing Congressman Derek Kilmer has hope

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 22:06:03 +0000

After almost 20 years in public office, Derek Kilmer is stepping down from his role as U.S. Representative for WA's 6th district.

The Representative was chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress - sometimes called the “Fix Congress Committee” - from 2019 to 2023.

He’s also the former chair of the New Democrat Coalition - a caucus of centrist democrats with a pro-businesses, moderate approach to fiscal issues.

In other words - he’s a guy who spent a lot of time trying to figure out ways to make things work in the House, and how to get members to work across the aisle.

Now, Kilmer is moving on to the Rockefeller Foundation in the new year as Senior Vice President for the organizations newly created U.S. Program & Policy team.

But, how does he feel about the congress he’s leaving behind? How do you fix a body that seems to be getting more broken by the day?

Guest:

Derek Kilmer, outgoing US Representative for Washington's 6th district

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transit workers call for safety improvements after fatal stabbing of Metro driver

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:15:11 +0000

Around 3:00am today, a King County Metro driver was fatally stabbed near the 4100 block of University Way in Seattle’s U-District.

At a press conference this morning, King County Executive Dow Constantine said that the loss is being felt by everyone in county transit.

"We are not always able to keep what's happening out on the streets away from the transit that operates on those streets," said Constantine. "We are doing everything that we can, and will continue to ramp up our efforts, to make sure that transit is safe for everyone. Including, especially, for our brave operators who are out on the streets every day."

Greg Woodfill is the local president of the Amalgamated Transit Union #587. He said he’d like to see more regional resources dedicated to transit safety.

"I don't have all the answers. This is a difficult, societal problem. What I know is that we're not doing enough," said Woodfill. "This is bigger than Metro, this is bigger than Seattle, this is the whole community that we serve."

The attack comes just a couple days after Metro cut service to a cluster of stops around 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street in the Chinatown International District because of ongoing “safety concerns.”

For the latest, Soundside was joined by KUOW reporter Ann Dornfeld, who attended a press conference with transit and public officials in Tukwila this morning.

Guests:

Ann Dornfeld, reporter on the KUOW investigations team.

Related links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KUOW's Ashley Hiruko breaks down the latest with Former SPD Chief Diaz

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:59:31 +0000

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has fired former Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz. The decision was announced Tuesday in a letter from the mayor to the Seattle City Council.

Ashley Hiruko is a KUOW investigative reporter who has been covering news about former Chief Diaz for the past year. She joined Soundside's Libby Denkmann to give a little more insight into what’s happening at Seattle's Police Department.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST: Ashley Hiruko

RELATED LINKS:

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Redmond poet Lena Khalaf Tuffaha talks about winning a National Book award, Palestine, and more

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:30:33 +0000

The light touch of tea glasses. Jasmine vines. Cigarette kisses.

These are some of the images the Redmond-based poet, essayist, and translator Lena Khalaf Tuffaha conjures of Palestine in her most recent poetry collection, Something About Living.

Last month, the collection earned Tuffaha the National Book Award for poetry.

Through her poems, Tuffaha chronicles the legacy of violence and colonialism in Palestine’s history, while also bringing readers into a homeland that is rich with beauty, family connections, and vivid storytelling.

GUEST:

Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, author of Something About Living

RELATED LINK:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listening to the rhythm of snow melting in the Pacific Northwest

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:10:22 +0000

What does the Northwest sound like to you? It’s a question we’ve asked local sound artists. And this week, we’ve been sharing some of their sound choices.

Yesterday, Christopher DeLaurenti played a recording of the bygone squeak of a metro bus.

Our next piece of tape comes from Gordon Hempton.

Guest:

Gordon Hempton, acoustic ecologist and Emmy Award winning sound recordist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the NW sound like? Perhaps an old metro bus

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:22:19 +0000

What does the Northwest sound like to you? It’s a question we’re asking local sound artists. And, over the next week, we’ll be hearing some of those sounds.

Yesterday, Perri Lynch Howard shared the sound of coyotes in the Methow Valley.

Today’s sound has a bit more of a metropolitan flare. This sound originally appeared on a compilation called phongraphy.org 1 on and/OAR records

Guest:

Christopher DeLaurenti, Seattle born composer and phonographer

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A grocery mega-merger just failed. Could it shape the future of antitrust?

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:04:30 +0000

Breakups are always hard. Especially when you’re two of the largest grocery mega-conglomerates in the country.

Last week two judges – including a federal judge in Oregon and a superior court judge based in Seattle – officially blocked a merger between grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons. The companies had argued they needed to unite to compete with the likes of Wal-Mart.

While an appeal is possible, Albertsons has backed out of the merger altogether and is now suing Kroger for $600 million over legal fees and the shareholder value it claims it lost in the merger attempt.

It’s a big deal for the state of Washington, and not only because Governor-Elect Bob Ferguson sued to stop the merger as Attorney General. He argued it would lower competition in the industry and raise grocery prices.

It was also a big deal because it would’ve meant the likely sale of 124 grocery stores here – the most of any state – to a third-party company.

So... the big grocery merger is dead a major victory for Ferguson and FTC chair Lina Khan, who’s credited with reviving the federal government’s role in antitrust enforcement.

But this is also an inflection point for the future of antitrust. President Trump has tapped new leaders for the FTC and the Justice Department’s antitrust division.

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee is wrapping up a hearing on “A Bipartisan Path Forward for Antitrust," where Senator Amy Klobuchar says she hopes to highlight the ways Democrats and Republicans can work together on tackling anti-competitive monopolies, including in the tech industry.

So what happened to spoil the Kroger-Albertsons partnership plans, and will the next big merger go forward under Trump?

Soundside spoke with John Kirkwood, a professor at Seattle University School of Law. He’s a nationally-renowned antitrust expert and established the first antitrust policy office at the FTC.

Soundside also spoke with Stacy Mitchell, the co-executive director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. The group opposed the Albertsons-Kroger merger. Mitchell wrote two recent articles in The Atlantic exploring the history of food deserts what the merger's failure means for the FTC going forward.

Guests:

John Kirkwood, professor at Seattle University School of Law. He’s a nationally-renowned antitrust expert and established the first antitrust policy office at the FTC.
Stacy Mitchell, co-executive director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Related links:

Read Stacy Mitchell's story in The Atlantic here: The Hidden Cause of Food Deserts - The Atlantic
Lina Khan Goes Out With a Bang - The Atlantic
Building an oasis in a rural WA ‘food desert’ | The Seattle Times
KUOW - Albertsons calls off merger with Kroger. Now what?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How incoming Congresswoman Emily Randall is planning for Trump's first 100 days in office

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 23:24:28 +0000

Emily Randall has been a “person to watch” in Washington politics for a while now.

Randall’s first electoral victory was in 2018, when she flipped a Republican held state Senate seat in the 26th district.

Now, Randall is headed to Congress. Last month, she won the election to become the U.S. Representative-elect for Washington’s 6th district. That includes both peninsulas, most of Tacoma, and counties including Kitsap, Mason, and Grays Harbor.

Randall is heading to the other Washington where, unlike this one, Republicans control the House, Senate and executive branch. And Democrats are weighing their options for how to maintain any semblance of power in the new administration.

Guest:

Emily Randall, U.S. Representative-elect for Washington's 6th district

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the quintessential NW sound? For Perri Lynch Howard, it's coyotes in the Methow

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 23:51:00 +0000

What does the Northwest sound like to you? Is it light drizzle on you window? The sound of waves pushing against rocky beaches or dry grass blowing in the Palouse.

It’s a question that we’ve asked local sound artists in the area. And, over the next week, we’ll be hearing some of those sounds.

Today, we take you to the Methow Valley.

Guest:

Perri Lynch Howard - Independent artist based in the Methow Valley

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Upper Columbia River in WA designated a Superfund site

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 23:35:57 +0000

Washington State has a brand-new Superfund site: the Upper Columbia River. It’s the latest development in the federal government's attempts to force a Canadian company to pay for pollution that flowed down stream into U.S. waters.

So what’s the next step for cleaning up the river? Well, it’s a long process, which Seattle-ites can see in their own backyard. Cleanup is also beginning on another Superfund site, the Duwamish Waterway, nearly a decade after the EPA released a plan.

Guest:

Isabella Breda, Seattle Times Environment Reporter

Links:

Seattle Times: Upper Columbia River in northeast WA listed as a Superfund site

Seattle Times: Full cleanup begins at Lower Duwamish Superfund site

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could WA achieve universal healthcare? Our new Insurance Commissioner weighs in

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:41:05 +0000

For the first time in 24 years, Washington has a new state Insurance Commissioner stepping into the role.

Patty Kuderer is currently a state senator representing the 48th district, which covers areas including Redmond, Bellevue, and Medina.

She’ll become Washington’s 9th insurance commissioner in January.

It’s a big job - Kuderer will be in charge of licensing and regulation for every insurance industry in the state, as well as handling consumer complaints, and lobbying the legislature to change laws that impact Washingtonian’s insurance policies.

Today, we’re focusing on just one part of the job: health insurance.

Because Kuderer is jumping in at an interesting time: she’ll be taking office at the same time the second Trump term begins – which could have major implications for how healthcare is managed. The president-elect has tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and changes are expected to subsidies and regulation under the new administration.

Meanwhile, the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and subsequent wave of vitriol toward the healthcare industry is bringing problems in the American healthcare industry into sharper focus.

Guest:

Patty Kuderer, currently a state senator representing the 48th district.
She’ll become Washington’s 9th insurance commissioner in January.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Dec 13th-15th

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:49:04 +0000

Once again, thanks for listening to Soundside during our Winter Fundraising Drive!

Here at Soundside, we work really hard to bring you the news, like our conversation with Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson, and shows like Sound Politics, but we also like to keep things fun!

So, in that spirit, here’s somebody who loves fun: producer Jason Megatron Burrows with a few sneak peeks of things to keep you occupied this weekend…

LINKS:

Christmas Parade of Boats - Friday - South Lake Union to the Ballard Bridge & Back!
Back to the Future The Musical - Now through Dec 22nd.
THE SNOW QUEEN - Spokane, Friday Night
Handmade LEGO Ornaments - Bellingham, Saturday
SIFF Cinema Downtown’s First Birthday Bash: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Saturday

If you would like to suggest events for us to talk about in upcoming "Weekend Warmups," please send Jason an email at SOUNDSIDE@KUOW.ORG

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson responds to allegations of 'toxic behavior'

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 22:38:41 +0000

Toxicity. Gaslighting. Undermining.

These are some of the ways Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales has described the behavior of her colleagues since she announced her resignation last week. She’s vacating her position three years before her term ends.

"When I raise the issues on the dais, I am met with this seething anger just for expressing my policy priorities or my perspective," Morales said.

Morales’ resignation letter raised red flags about the inner workings of city hall, and highlighted several concerns she had about the council behind the scenes.

That includes allegations that the current council interfered with non-partisan Council Central Staff who provide objective policy analysis, and an observation that she had witnessed a significant departure of institutional knowledge over the last year because of staff departures.

Now, Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson is responding to Morales' allegations.

GUEST:

Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson

RELATED LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spokane mayor fights plan to move nuclear waste through city

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:09:30 +0000

Spokane mayor Lisa Brown is raising red flags about a plan to move liquid nuclear waste from Hanford through her city.

She wrote a letter to the federal Department of Energy, the EPA, and Washington’s Department of Ecology asking those agencies to reconsider a plan for trucks filled with the waste to travel Eastbound I-90 out of Washington on their way to Utah and Texas.

The 2,000 gallons set to be moved are just a tiny portion of the 56 million gallons sitting under the Hanford site, north of the Tri-Cities, that needs to be disposed of.

This may feel like a Cold War-era legacy but today, nuclear energy is making a comeback. And as the Hanford story shows, even with all of this new buzz around nuclear, there is still no long-term place to put all the radioactive byproduct.

Guests:

John Stang, reporter covering Hanford for Cascade PBS

Allison Macfarlane, director at the University of British Columbia’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and a former chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Links:

Crosscut: Spokane doesn’t want feds to truck nuclear waste through the city

Scientific American: Nuclear Waste Is Piling Up. Does the U.S. Have a Plan?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington's longest-serving House speaker reflects on three decades in Olympia

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 23:47:20 +0000

Come January, when lawmakers sit down for the new legislative term in Olympia , there will be several new faces.

More than a dozen legislators make up the new freshman class, and they’ll be facing what some have described as a ‘perfect storm’: the state is bracing for an anticipated 10 to 12 billion dollar budget gap.

It’s been nearly 15 years since Washington faced a fiscal shortfall this significant.

Back then, at the center of finding the cuts, and compromises, to deal with it -- was state representative and then-Speaker of the House -- Frank Chopp, of Washington’s 43rd Legislative District.

But lawmakers won’t be drawing on Chopp’s negotiating expertise this time around. He announced back in March that he would not be running for reelection.

Throughout his tenure in Olympia, Chopp championed new laws related to housing, homelessness, and mental health – still just as relevant today as when he was first elected, in 1994.

GUEST:

Representative Frank Chopp

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King County expands mobile crisis team

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:41:44 +0000

King County continues to ramp up its behavioral health services following the approval of a $1.25 billion by voters.

With the latest development being the launch of an expanded and streamlined mobile crisis team-program last week.

Guest:

Taylor Blatchford, engagement reporter for the mental health project at the Seattle Times

Relevant links:

Seattle Times: King County expands mobile teams that bring care to people in crisis

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Oregon newspaper died. Then, A.I. technology stole reporting to resurrect it

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 23:47:27 +0000

Stories about the newspaper industry struggling - aren’t necessarily breaking news.

Over the last 10 to 15 years, we’ve read and listened to plenty of coverage about the challenges news organizations are facing: corporate buyouts and layoffs, and the rise of social media misinformation.

But now, there’s another challenge local news journalists have to watch out for - artificial intelligence.

Ryan Haas is a news editor and podcast producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting. He recently reported on an alarming instance of – not just fake news – but rather an entire fake news outlet.

GUEST:

Ryan Haas, news editor and podcast producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting

RELATED LINKS:

AI slop is invading Oregon's local journalism - OPB

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One year later: San Juan County assesses how the 32-hour work week is working

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 22:31:40 +0000

In fall of 2023, San Juan County transitioned to a 32-hour work week for county employees.

It was meant to keep the county within its budget while staying conscious of the cost-of-living in San Juan.

One year later, the county released a check-in report based on resident and employee feedback. So, how’s the new system working out?

San Juan County Manager Jessica Hudson joined Soundside to give us insights into what the county discovered.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUESTS:

Kelsey Venegas
Jessica Hudson - San Juan County Manager

RELATED LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music, copyright, and A.I. — a cocktail for success and suspicion

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 23:52:57 +0000

Pianist Salo was a longtime member of a Seattle post-rock band called “Joy Wants Eternity.” Their music was instrumental -- and all of it was made close to ten years ago. The band went their separate and amicable ways in 2015.

So, imagine Salo’s surprise when just this year, Joy Wants Eternity was listed as a collaborator on a new project: an album from a musician called the “Illusory Explainer. An album they didn’t actually collaborate on.

Both the band and their fans were confused. If the group didn’t help make the music, then who did?

It’s something podcast producer Roddy Nikpour has been looking into. He detailed the possible use of generative music A.I. in a recent story for KEXP.

Guests:

Roddy Nikpour, assistant teaching professor at Arizona State University and a podcast producer for KEXP.

Related Links:

Find Nikpour's story on Joy Wants Eternity here: AI-Generated Music Is Siphoning Streams from Artists in Seattle and Beyond

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle City Council Member Tammy Morales explains why she's leaving the job

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 23:06:52 +0000

Seattle City Council Member Tammy Morales is leaving her post. She announced last week she is resigning from the council.

Morales has represented Seattle’s 2nd District, which includes Yesler Terrace, the CID, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley and Rainier Beach, since 2019.

Her last day in the seat will be January 6th.

It’s a surprise decision considering Morales was re-elected to a four year term just last year.

In a letter to her constituents, Morales leveled criticisms about at toxic environment on the council and the toll the job has taken on her personally over the past year - "For the last 11 months, this Council has eroded our checks and balances as a Legislative department and undermined my work as a policymaker."

Guest:

District 2 Seattle City Council Member Tammy Morales

Relevant Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear it again: What can twins teach us about human nature and personal identity?

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:29:18 +0000

For '90s kids, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were the dominant force in twin fiction. Over the years, other generations have been fascinated by characters like Wrigley's Doublemint Twins, or Hayley Mills and Lindsay Lohan in the 1961 and 1998 versions of the film "The Parent Trap," respectively.

Twins are rich narrative terrain and raise questions about individuality.

"They're a natural kind of hook for a bunch of questions about human life in general," said Helena de Bres, a professor at Wellesley College and author of "How to Be Multiple: The Philosophy of Twins."

Her identical twin, Julia de Bres, illustrated the book. Together, they explored the twin experience through a philosophical lens and examined free will, love, and personal identity.

"I think people are fascinated because we're just kind of cute and unusual and trippy, but also because we raise these really big questions just by standing there," Helena de Bres said.

Stories about twins go back to antiquity: Castor and Pollux, Romulus and Remus, and Hercules and Iphicles all represent binaries that describe human nature.

"You can use twins narratively to explore a whole range of different contrasts, or different ways of living or being," Helena de Bres said. "So they're just really useful for getting at some of these questions. They're also easily used for comic purposes — you know, that whole switcheroo thing [of] twins switching places. Identity confusion is really ideal for theatrical treatments."

Whether twins fit neatly into those binaries is a different story. Helena de Bres said she believes that twin binaries are a created to differentiate between children who people can't tell apart.

"We're going to decide, maybe randomly, maybe on a little bit of a clue that this is the quiet one. And then the quiet one takes that up and starts acting into that role. And it is a self-fulfilling prophecy," she said.

Guest:

Helend de Bres, author of "How to Be Multiple: The Philosophy of Twins"

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Dec 5th-8th

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 23:30:08 +0000

Thanksgiving may be over, but there is still so much to celebrate this month.

We're about 3 weeks out from Christmas and Hanukkah, then there's all the New Year festivities.

If your calendar isn't already packed with wintry, holiday fun, we've got you covered.

Soundside Producer Brooklyn Jamerson-Flowers made a list of weekend events for you to add to your list of end of year goodness. She even checked it twice.

LINKS:

Christmas Tree Lightings:

Friday: Des Moines
Friday: Duvall
Saturday: West Seattle
Saturday: Snoqualmie
Saturday: Redmond
Saturday: Bellingham
Saturday: Port Orchard
Saturday: Vashon

Craft Fairs:

Urban Craft Uprising - Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
Creative Avenue Final Holiday Market - The Depot, Anacortes

Performances:

Billie Eilish - Climate Pledge Arena
God is a Scottish Drag Queen: A Christmas Special - The Washington Center for the Performing Arts & Rialto Theater

ETC:

Krampusnacht Bremerton
Mozart & Mutts - Old Stove Brewing

If you would like to suggest events for us to talk about in upcoming "Weekend Warmups," please send Jason an email at SOUNDSIDE@KUOW.ORG

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bellingham’s mobile van brings therapy to the client

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 23:08:59 +0000

It can be challenging for anyone to stay on top of their mental health.

One organization in Bellingham has come up with a creative solution to make it easier for its clients to access consistent therapy.

Lydia Place has turned a Ford Transit cargo van into a therapy office on wheels.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Cassidy Schroeder, Lydia Place mental health clinician
Amanda Doell, Lydia Place mental health clinician

Relevant Links:

Bellingham nonprofit offers therapy on wheels - KUOW

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What to read when the nights get long

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:38:54 +0000

Winter is here. The nights are long, cold, and let’s face it … dark.

Instead of scrolling endlessly on Netflix, maybe rewatching Hot Frosty (you know, the one about the magical snowman who turns into a hot dude), why not escape into a good book instead?

If you’re not sure where to start, no worries, we got you.

We’ve got a panel of book nerds ready with some book recommendations to help you get through the season.

Guests:

Heidi Daniel, Executive Director of King County Library System

Robert Sindelar, Third Place books managing partner

Katie Campbell, editor and reporter at KUOW who runs the station’s book club

Book Recommendations:

Miss Silver Series by Patricia Wentworth

On the Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

Seattle Samurai: The Book by Kelly Goto

Twenty Four Seconds from Now ...: A Love Story by Jason Reynolds

Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Planet by Geo Rutherford

CABIN: Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman by Patrick Hutchison

Playground by Richard Powers

Horror Movie by Paul G. Tremblay

The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales resigned today

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:34:59 +0000

Today, there was a surprise announcement from Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales.

After 5 years on the council, Morales, the representative for the 2nd District, said she is resigning, effective January 6th.

KUOW Investigative reporter Ashley Hiruko gives us some insight into the decision and the council.

Guest:

Ashley Hiruko, KUOW Investigative Reporter

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports say grease policies may be blocking small business growth in Tacoma

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 23:41:23 +0000

Tacoma can sometimes feel like a place for the little-er guy. Where an aspiring entrepreneur can start a small business without the hyper expensive rents and other daily costs of a city like Seattle.

But, according to recent reporting by the News Tribune, one city regulation may be stifling small food businesses in Grit City.

And it has to do with some of the … greasier parts of the job.

Most cities, including Seattle and Tacoma, require restaurants to install machines that prevent grease, fat, and other materials from washing down the drains and into the sewer system.

But, what those traps look like, and how much they cost, can vary greatly, depending on where a business is located. And that can mean business owners look elsewhere when considering a new space.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

Kristine Sherred, Food Reporter at The News Tribune

Related Links:

Rigging the system.’ Is Tacoma’s grease-trap policy killing its small-restaurant scene? - The News Tribune
Tacoma contends restaurant grease traps are vital. Is its oversight of them lacking? - The News Tribune
As pandemic ravaged restaurants, Tacoma tightened rules for offering food delivery - The News Tribune
City of Tacoma response to grease trap stories, courtesy of Maria Lee (Media & Communications Office):

The City recognizes that for new small business owners, the cost and logistical challenges of installing a GGI can be significant. The policy aims to balance environmental protection with economic development. While the City has worked diligently with this community on outreach, the City also recognizes that the challenges faced by some small business owners suggests a need for ongoing dialogue between the City and the business community to explore potential solutions that support both objectives. At this point in time, staff are analyzing potential changes to the City’s Side-Sewer and Sanitary Sewer Availability Manual and FOG Program. The need for these changes was recognized in 2023 as part of broader City comprehensive planning efforts, and analysis began in earnest as early as the second quarter of 2024. Once staff has completed its analysis, and those recommendations are presented to the City Manager and the City Council, that same information will also be shared with the public.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle Public School's budget woes continue

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:02:37 +0000

Seattle Public Schools continues to stare down a $100 million budget deficit.

It’s a problem that’s sparked frustration, protests, and even a legal battle over the district’s leadership.

Plans to close schools drew a lot of backlash— and have been shelved, for now.

Yet, the question remains: how will the district balance its books?

To help answer that question and a few more is KUOW’s education reporter Sami West.

Guest:

Sami West, KUOW Education Reporter

KUOW - Seattle Public Schools drops contentious closure plan following months of waffling amid backlash

KUOW - What the election means for school funding in Washington state

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$20 for lettuce today, $50 tomorrow — how local food banks are handling inflation

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:01:24 +0000

It’s Giving Tuesday, a day to take a pause from the holiday hustle and bustle, and give back to our community through charitable causes.

One way a lot of people like to give back is by donating food or money to their local food bank.

While grocery prices are stabilizing, grocery prices are up about 20% compared to four years ago.

So how is inflation impacting food banks ahead of this holiday season? We put together a panel of three food bank organizers to get a better understanding of how inflation is impacting their day to day work, and the communities they serve.

GUESTS:

Otis Pimpleton, food services manager for the Rainier Valley Food Bank
Eric Williams, team member at Second Harvest Inland Northwest
Jan Coen, founder and food bank coordinator for the Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank

RELATED LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Northwest loggers, work is a source of pride — and danger

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 23:42:00 +0000

Since the late 1800s, logging has been a major industry in the Pacific Northwest, and its impact on the region's economy and environment have been significant.

For the towns that depend on logging, the profession comes with a lot of pride. But it’s also one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 4 in 100,000 people die from injury at work. For loggers, it’s more than 10 times as much.

Logging has always been dangerous work. But how it can be done safely is still something many are trying to figure out.

To learn more, Soundside spoke with Kurtis Lee, economics correspondent for the New York Times, and the University of Washington's Dr. Marissa Baker.

Guests:

Kurtis Lee, economics correspondent for the New York Times.
Dr. Marissa Baker, assistant professor in the University of Washington’s Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences.

Related Links:

Read Kurtis Lee's story on logging in Oregon here:

Logging Is the Deadliest Job, but Still an Oregon Way of Life - The New York Times

Read Dr. Marissa Baker's research on logging here:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear it again: Remembering the Battle of Seattle, 25 years later

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:27:04 +0000

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the WTO protests in Seattle, a raucous action by 50,000 protesters who descended on the city in the fall of 1999. Their aim? Shutting down a conference of top decision makers at the World Trade Organization.

When this coalition of activists succeeded in stopping the WTO’s opening ceremonies, the “Battle of Seattle” became an inflection point in a growing struggle between advocates for free trade – and groups fighting for the rights of labor, farmers, the environment and more.

Comprising over 100 interviews, author DW Gibson’s book, One Week to Change the World, tells a new oral history of the protest through the eyes of people who participated.

This segment originally aired on Soundside in June.

Guests:

DW Gibson, journalist and author of One Week to Change the World.

Related Links:

One Week to Change the World | Book by DW Gibson | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do WA students have enough time to eat? Investigating the 'lunch crunch'

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:17:04 +0000

If you’re a parent with kids in public school, you’re likely familiar with the "lunch crunch." Across the state, a growing squeeze on lunchtimes is leading many students to eat lunch quickly -- if at all.

A recent investigation from KING 5 reveals that many schools are falling short of meeting recommended lunch time benchmarks. This is critical time that helps kids stay full and focused throughout the day.

Soundside's Diana Opong was joined by Chris Ingalls, KING 5 investigative reporter, to discuss his recent story on how much time students have to eat lunch throughout Washington state.

Guests:

Chris Ingalls, investigative reporter for KING 5.

Related links:

Read Ingalls' KING 5 investigation here: School lunch time crunch for Washington students | king5.com

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For people who are incarcerated, fantasy football creates a connection to the outside world

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 23:43:03 +0000

Fantasy football season is well underway, with many players excited about the upcoming playoffs.

I know next to nothing about fantasy football and had to get a primer from Soundside Producer Alec Cowan, who is playing in KUOW’s league.

He says it’s essentially regular people trying their hand at being NFL managers: drafting players, and forming rosters for each game. There are elaborate points systems based on how NFL players do each week.

There’s a reason why people take part in fantasy leagues – to feel closer to friends, family or to spend time with coworkers.

For people who are incarcerated, fantasy football creates a connection to the outside world.

Guest:

Antoine Davis, an incarcerated journalist in Washington State, pastor, and Inside Director of Organizing for Look2Justice.

Relevant Links:

Defector: What Fantasy Football Means To Incarcerated Managers

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's Producer Picks: AI vs Art, Roller Derby, and Stuntmen

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:00:00 +0000

Soundside is taking a break this week to celebrate Thanksgiving. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week.

Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Stories Featured:

Weekend Warmup Links:

Seattle's Turkey Trot
Spokane "Huffin' for the Stuffin'"
Arlington "Run Your Buns Off"
Other Turkey Trots
- Bellingham
- Mukilteo
- Woodinville
- Gig Harbor
- Tacoma
Seattle’s Christmas Market
WINTERFEST at Seattle Center
Kumail Nanjiani at the Moore Theater
Cyndi Lauper at Climate Pledge Arena

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's producer picks: Sick pay, space umbrellas, and volunteering in Ukraine

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 21:17:27 +0000

Soundside is taking a break this week to celebrate Thanksgiving. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week.

Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Relevant Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canoeing the Columbia River from Montana to the Pacific

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:37:53 +0000

The first days of Robert Lester’s ambitious canoe journey started with a lot of walking. That start was in Butte, Montana on Silver Bow Creek -- the starting point of a 1300-mile trip through the Columbia River basin to the Pacific Ocean.

Lester made the trip in a two seat canoe. He was joined by 18-year-old Braxton Mitchel, who’d never canoed beforehand.

That journey took 55 days and is the focus of a new documentary from Lester and director Neil Larson, titled “The Columbia River Canoe Project.” At its heart is a story about ambition – both from the canoers themselves, and humans who have drastically changed the river with massive projects like dams.

Canoer Robert Lester and director Neil Larson joined Soundside to talk about the project ahead of local screenings in West Seattle, Edmonds, and Bainbridge Island Nov. 22-24.

Guests:

Robert Lester, canoer and focus of "The Columbia River Canoe Project."
Neil Larson, director of "The Columbia River Canoe Project."

Find information about local showings here: Columbia River Canoe Project — Mountain King

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Nov 21st-24th

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:17:24 +0000

It’s been a week! The headlines, the bomb cyclone, being stuck without electricity... A LOT of us could use a way to disconnect and do something FUN this weekend, so to help with that, we’ve enlisted our resident Culture Nerd to find the best events!

So, once again, here’s producer Jason Megatron Burrows with a few sneak peeks of things to keep you occupied this weekend…

LINKS:

Vitamin String Quartet
- Thursday - Seattle
- Friday - Bellingham
- Saturday - Spokane
- Sunday - Portland, OR (SOLD OUT)
Composing Iran - Seattle Symphony
CUDDLE TACOMA - Thresholds Collective, Tacoma
44th Annual Seattle International Comedy Competition - Bellingham
Home Team Harvest Food & Funds Drive - Multiple Locations
WICKED at SIFF Cinema Downtown
GLADIATOR II

If you would like to suggest events for us to talk about in upcoming "Weekend Warmups," please send Jason an email at SOUNDSIDE@KUOW.ORG

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Memory, music, and caretaking take center stage with 'Lucidity'

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:00:04 +0000

Lucidity is a new opera staging its west coast premiere at the Seattle Opera tonight.

The performance takes a deeper look at the personal impacts that a dementia diagnosis has on an individual, and their family.

The opera follows Lili, a former singer who has a bit of a diva streak. Her adopted son, Dante, pauses his career as a pianist to care for his mom.

Together, they navigate Lili’s declining memory, her ability to perform, and her struggle to hold onto the thing at the center of her life: music.

It’s a role that Lucy Shelton, the soprano portraying Lili, was gifted by her friend Laura Kaminsky, who wrote the opera for her.

Shelton does not have dementia, but she has navigated the dynamic between aging and singing over a five decade career.

GUEST: Lucy Shelton, portrays Lili in Lucidity.

RELATED LINKS:

Lucidity - Seattle Opera

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jazz has a storied past in Seattle. But what about its future?

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:22:53 +0000

Seattle has a rich jazz history -- and you can’t talk about it without mentioning legends like Ray Charles and Quincy Jones. Both artists knew each other, as they grew their music chops right here in Seattle. Of course, we can’t forget to mention Kenny G.

In the 1920s and 1930s jazz clubs were an escape during prohibition, and many of them lasted long after prohibition ended. For almost 45 years, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley has not only been one of the preeminent jazz clubs in Seattle, but also in the country.

Whether you’re someone who likes to go out to the club or not, you’ve probably heard of Seattle’s Jazz Alley. Tucked away down a literal alley, the all ages jazz club has showcased performances by jazz greats like Tower of Power, and American Blues Musician Taj Mahal, who will be returning for his annual Thanksgiving residency.

Soundside host Diana Opong caught up with Ari Dimitriou and his father, John Dimitriou – who is still running the club at 75 years old. They discussed the origins of Jazz Alley and the future of the iconic family business.

Plus... while Jazz Alley is undoubtedly the face of the genre in Seattle, it isn’t the only establishment looking to keep jazz alive.

Seattle has a wealth of new talent – local high schools like Bothell, Garfield, and Roosevelt are regular finalists in national competitions. But the journey from a local school band to a big stage like Jazz Alley is long and difficult.

One local organization – the Seattle Jazz Fellowship – is looking to change that. Soundside producer Alec Cowan visited a jam session to hear about the importance of local bandstands for musicians and jazz-enjoyers alike.

Guests:

John and Ari Dimitriou, who founded and operate Jazz Alley in Seattle.
Thomas Marriott, jazz trumpeter and founder of the Seattle Jazz Fellowship, a nonprofit supporting mentorship and playing opportunities for local jazz musicians.
Roman Goron, local jazz pianist.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With notable cases of bird flu in the Northwest, how concerned should Washingtonian's be?

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:05:35 +0000

Bird flu has spread at astonishing speed and with little discretion for what it infects.

Since first emerging, the strain of H5N1 has infected wild birds, commercially raised chickens, seals, dairy cows, and, yes, even humans.

Late last week, Woodland Park Zoo announced that a red breasted goose died in a suspected case of bird flu. The zoo quickly isolated birds and restricted access to them.

Meanwhile, just north of Washington in British Columbia, a teenager was hospitalized in critical condition after contracting bird flu. The teen had no known contact with infected animals.

This comes after 11 Washington farm workers contracted the virus in October.

As the Northwest sees notable bird flu events, how much do we need to be concerned?

Guest:

Dr. Peter Rabinowitz, professor, physician, and director of the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research.

Relevant Links:

KUOW: With the U.S. bird flu outbreak uncontained, scientists see growing risks

KUOW: Bird flu is now spreading to cattle. Should Washington dairy farmers be worried?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A first of its kind state agency faces a slow start, and pushback from police reform advocates

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 23:33:21 +0000

Back in 2021, following calls for police reform after the murder of George Floyd, Washington state did something unique.

Legislators created a state-funded agency to investigate instances of serious or fatal police use of force – even ones that had happened in the past.

Many believe the Office of Independent Investigations has potential to improve trust between marginalized communities and law enforcement.

But some say it’s taking the office too long to get going. So far, the OII hasn’t officially launched a single investigation.

Melanie Henshaw, an Indigenous Affairs reporter at InvestigateWest, spoke to reform advocates and agency officials about the obstacles that are keeping the office from quickly meeting its intended purpose.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST:

Melanie Henshaw, Indigenous Affairs reporter for InvestigateWest

RELATED LINKS:

Three years, no investigations: A slow start for Washington office tasked with probing police violence - InvestigateWest

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exit polls, gender gaps, and religion: understanding Latino voting patterns in the 2024 election

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:34:03 +0000

In the aftermath of the 2024 election, Democrats are confronting a possible existential threat: The erosion of support among important demographic groups, particularly Latinos.

An example close to home helps illustrate the shift: In the 14th Legislative District, in the Yakima Valley, a newly redrawn map was supposed to strengthen Latino representation in the state House and Senate.

Republicans even challenged the map in court, alleging it was built to win seats for Democrats.

But as the dust settles, Republicans are poised to sweep the 14th District, new map and all.

So what’s happening here, and what’s driving changes in Latino voting patterns?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Sophia Jordán Wallace is a political science professor at the University of Washington. She specializes in Latino politics and politics of race and ethnicity, among other things

Relevant Links:

The role of the Latino vote in the 2024 election - NPR
In a purple Pacific Northwest pocket three Latina candidates face tough House races - NPR
Late hardball from the WSRP - Washington Observer

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 22:42:22 +0000

One of the most closely watched congressional races of the 2024 election happened here in Washington State, with Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez facing off once again against Donald Trump-endorsed Republican Joe Kent.

The district went for Trump in the presidential race, but held on to the Auto Shop owner-turned-Congresswoman for another term.

And she’s here to talk about the win, what Democrats can learn from it, and her legislative priorities in office.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST: Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

RELATED LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with Attorney General elect Nick Brown

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:53:45 +0000

Washington state is about to get a new top lawyer.

Former U.S. Attorney Nick Brown defeated Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano earlier this month to become the state’s next Attorney General.

Brown is an Army veteran who also served as general counsel to Governor Jay Inslee.

When he’s sworn in in January, he’ll be stepping into the high-profile job just as the stakes get even higher: Washington state had a history of legal clashes with the last Trump Administration, over everything from the Muslim ban to environmental protections and the Affordable Care Act.

So how is the next Attorney General thinking about confrontations with Trump 2.0?

He sat down with Soundside's Libby Denkmann to discuss the job ahead, his thoughts on Matt Gaetz as the US Attorney General, and his time on the reality show, Survivor.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST: Attorney General elect Nick Brown

RELATED LINKS:

Ferguson and other WA Democrats prepare for new era of showdowns with Trump - Washington State Standard
Four areas where Trump’s policies and WA’s priorities could clash - Washington State Standard
The race for WA Attorney General: Nick Brown - Soundside's interview prior to the election

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What could a capital gains tax mean for Seattle?

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:06:06 +0000

Washington voters just upheld the state’s new capital gains tax — which places a 7% tax on the sale of long-term assets like stocks and bonds.

Now, the Seattle City Council is looking at a proposal to create its own capital gains tax for the city itself. Instead of benefitting schools, like the state tax, this revenue would fund things like rental assistance.

But so far, the idea is not being universally embraced by city leadership. Seattle City Councilmember Cathy Moore sits down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann to discuss why she thinks the capital gains tax idea is right for Seattle.

GUEST: Seattle City Councilmember Cathy Moore (District 5)

RELATED LINKS:

Seattle could get its own baby capital gains tax - KUOW

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With Bullitt Prize, two brothers plan to restart Lummi Youth Canoe Family

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 23:55:34 +0000

Canoe journeys are rigorous, challenging trips that go for hundreds of miles.

Each year, canoe “families” from different tribal nations paddle between villages on the Salish Sea, joining local celebrations and ceremonies along the way. They camp at each stop until reaching that year’s destination tribal site.

For indigenous people who take part, it’s an important way to connect with their culture as well as other tribes. It’s also a chance to explore nature and their own inner strength.

The Lummi Youth Canoe Family took its last journey in 2019. Now, two brothers are trying to revive the group.

Raven and Free Borsey first joined the Lummi Youth Canoe Family in 2013.
The twin brothers say joining the group as teenagers changed their trajectory in life and gave them a better understanding of the natural world.

Now, more than a decade after their first canoe trip, the twin brothers have received the Bullitt Prize, a $100,000 dollar grant from Washington Conservation Action aimed at developing young environmental leaders in the state, under the age of 35.

Their goal is bringing the trips back for new generations of Lummi youth and expanding the programming year round.

Guests:

Raven Borsey, Bullitt Prize Recipient

Free Borsey, Bullitt Prize Recipient

Relevant Links:

Bullitt Prize info

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SPS parents mount a recall effort against Seattle School Board President Liza Rankin

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 22:14:16 +0000

Students, parents, and educators are still waiting to find out how the Seattle School Board will vote on a proposal to close four elementary schools in the district.

But in the meantime - a group of SPS parents believe it's time to take matters into their own hands: they’ve launched an effort to recall school board president Liza Rankin.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST: Sami West - education reporter for KUOW

RELATED LINKS:

Seattle School Board president faces recall over handling of school closures -KUOW

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's Weekend Warmup - Nov 14th -17th

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:51:23 +0000

Soundside host Libby Denkmann is still on a high from her experience at the USHER show on Sunday, but we're looking forward to what’s happening THIS weekend...

Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here to help you get a jump on making plans with “THE WEEKEND WARMUP!”

LINKS:

SIFF Presents SHREK WEEK!!
Shrek the Musical - Spokane
Shrek the Musical - Bellingham
First Annual Veteran Art Show - Spokane
Field Notes: Artists Observe Nature Opening Celebration - Tacoma
Haunted Farmers Market - Tacoma
The DB Cooper Conference - Tukwila

If you would like to suggest events for us to talk about in upcoming "Weekend Warmups," please send Jason an email at SOUNDSIDE@KUOW.ORG

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advocating for WA immigrants under Trump

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:19:03 +0000

Back in 2017, President Donald Trump arrived in office touting big promises about immigration.

Remember building a wall and making Mexico pay for it? Or defunding sanctuary cities?

Trump had mixed success fulfilling those pledges, though not for lack of trying. Many of his policy goals couldn’t get past the courts, or Congress.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump made even more immigration-related promises: mass deportations, ending birthright citizenship for some, and tightening the U.S.’s green card application process.

Now, with more experience and savvy, the Trump administration is positioning itself to hit the ground running.

So are people on the other side of the immigration fight.

Here to discuss lessons from Trump’s first presidency and preparations for a second term are two Puget Sound-area immigrant advocates.

Matt Adams is legal director for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.

And Vanessa Reyes is a policy manager for the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network.

American Immigration Council - Mass Deportation: Devastating Costs to America, Its Budget and Economy

New York Times: Judge Tosses Out Biden Program for Undocumented Spouses

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Post-election, the debate over natural gas access is far from over

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:13:38 +0000

Election results are still coming in for Washington’s tightest races.

Most of the voter initiatives went down to defeat this year. But one -- Initiative 2066 -- is poised for success.

It targets natural gas regulations by rolling back pieces of a big law forcing Puget Sound Energy to explore electrification and likely knocking down new building codes that makes installing natural gas in new construction harder.

It’s passing by a slim margin: just over 3 percentage points.

But not so fast, because opponents of 2066 say they’re gearing up to take the issue of natural gas from the ballot to the courts. They plan to file a legal challenge over the constitutionality of the initiative.

Soundside was joined by guests from both the YES and NO on 2066 campaigns to hear their thoughts on the election results and where the initiative is headed next.

Guests:

Molly Gallagher, Statewide Poverty Action Network, and Leah Missik, the acting Washington Director of the nonprofit Climate Solutions (No 2066)
Jan Himebaugh, director of external affairs at the Building Industry Association of Washington (Yes 2066)

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How a Trump presidency could impact housing

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:12:51 +0000

Donald Trump has vowed to take a number of actions on his first day in the oval office. He’s promised mass deportations, increased tariffs, and deregulation.

While some home builders see a potential silver lining in deregulation, other policies could raise the cost of building and that might affect housing supply in an area with a housing shortage.

Guest:

Heidi Groover, real estate report at the Seattle Times

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: What Seattle-area housing market should expect as Trump returns

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New study investigates bias in AI resume screening

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:47:50 +0000

Getting an interview for a new job has always been tough.

For candidates, the challenge is crafting a cover letter and resume that make you stand out. For employers, the challenge is often volume. Finding the right candidate with the right qualifications – in a stack of applications.

Now, inject AI into the mix. Large Language models (LLMs for short) are being used to help automate some of the tedium of sorting through candidate resumes.

But in a new study from the University of Washington, even the most cutting-edge AI is showing bias.

Soundside was joined by Kyra Wilson, doctoral student at the University of Washington Information School. Wilson co-authored the study with Aylin Caliskan, assistant professor in the iSchool.

Guests:

Kyra Wilson, doctoral student at the University of Washington Information School.

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why did voters reject three anti-tax initiatives? We ask prolific initiative filer Tim Eyman

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:27:18 +0000

Washingtonians voted down three tax-related initiatives that would have repealed the state’s cap and trade program, made the state’s long term care program optional, and repealed the state’s new capital gains tax.

Those lost by large margins. One initiative passed, it protects access to and use of natural gas.

All four initiatives were backed by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who put $6 million into signature gathering. Heywood claimed that the policies he was trying to repeal amounted to taxes on Washingtonians.

And historically, Washington voters have been receptive to initiatives that cut their taxes.

$30 car tabs? Bring it on said voters in 1999, 2002, and again in 2019.

Require a super majority to pass new taxes in the state legislature? We’ll have some of that, said voters in 2007 and 2012.

Limit property tax increases? Why not? Said voters in 2000 and 2001.

So what went wrong this time?

That’s what we’re asking my next guest, a longtime anti-tax activist who has used the initiative process many times to successfully limit local government’s ability to collect money.

Guest:

Tim Eyman, anti-tax activist

Relevant Links:

KUOW: Most of his initiatives failed, but Washington Republicans still call him a winner

KUOW: Washington’s natural gas initiative wins, but court challenges could be next

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An update on the CID stabbings with Friends of Little Saigon

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 21:48:10 +0000

A 37-year old man remains in custody at King County Jail at this hour, held on $2 million dollars bail. He’s awaiting charges connected to the stabbing of up to 9 people in Seattle’s Chinatown International District and South Jackson street on Thursday and Friday.

While setting bail, the judge noted the suspect had a warrant out for his arrest and a history of multiple felonies, including robbery, theft and attempted burglary.

A police spokesman described the attacks as random assaults. Several victims were hospitalized with multiple stab wounds.

CID and Little Saigon community members and business leaders are speaking out after the attacks, saying the community needs more law enforcement and social services support to deal with problem areas like 12th and Jackson – where residents have long complained of safety problems due to crime and rampant drug use.

Quynh Pham is the Executive Director of Friends of Little Saigon, a community development organization focused on the Vietnamese community in the Chinatown/International District, and spoke with Soundside's Libby Denkmann.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST: Quynh Pham - Executive Director of Friends of Little Saigon

RELATED LINKS:

$2M bail set for ‘unprovoked’ mass stabbing suspect in Seattle - Seattle Times
Seattle Chinatown International District mass stabbing: What we know - Seattle Times

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Nov 7th-10th

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:05:37 +0000

It’s been a big week. I know many of you listeners would like it to end. Or maybe you’re just always really excited for the weekend.

Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with the “Weekend Warmup” to help you get a jump on making plans.

LINKS:

SIFF!!

GeekGirlCon
USHER - Saturday & Sunday
BELLINGHAM - Bellwood Farms Cider Festival
SPOKANE - Eddie Izzard - The REMIX Tour: The First 35 Years

If you would like to suggest events for us to talk about in upcoming "Weekend Warmups," please send Jason an email at SOUNDSIDE@KUOW.ORG

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crypto helped Trump win the White House, and WA congressional candidates

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:30:20 +0000

U.S. stocks soared after Donald Trump clinched the presidency early Wednesday morning.

And another market jumped to a record-high as well: cryptocurrency.

The price of Bitcoin has topped $76,000 as of Thursday morning, and behind this record breaking value is a belief from digital currency enthusiasts that the president-elect will roll back Biden-era regulations on cryptocurrency.

And the crypto-industry was far from a passive observer in this year’s election. It spent more than a hundred million dollars on candidates who took cryptocurrency-friendly stances, including here in Washington State.

Guest:

Brady Dale, crypto reporter for Axios

Related links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forecasting the future battles between WA and a second Trump presidency

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:27:56 +0000

As Donald Trump’s transition team gears up for his second administration, Democrats are spending the days after the election processing their major defeats – with a dash of second-guessing and finger-pointing about what went wrong for Kamala Harris.

Here in Washington, Governor-elect Bob Ferguson held a press conference this morning laying out plans to battle Trump on a number of fronts, including immigration, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ protections.

To talk about how those battles could play out, Soundside was joined by Scott Lemieux. Lemieux is an associate teaching professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington.

Guests:

Scott Lemieux, associate teaching professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"We are part of the all": one community member's response to anti-Trans rhetoric from the Trump campaign

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 22:28:24 +0000

“Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you”.

In the weeks before the election, it was a line that echoed over and over in advertisements that ran during football games, the World Series, and prime time network television. It was paired with footage of border crossings, claims about trans girls participating in youth sports, and Vice President Harris talking about federal prisoners having access to gender-affirming medical care.

And, according to reporting from the New York Times, these pro-Trump television spots were highly effective: Ultimately, analysis from Kamala Harris’ leading super PAC found the ad shifted the race 2.7 percentage points in Trump’s favor, among audiences who saw it.

Now that Trump has won the election, local trans community members are worried about what that message means for their future: with another Trump administration on the horizon, will he make good on the promise that he’s not for “they/them”?

Guest:

Eve Palay, a Bainbridge Island resident, and a representative of Rainbow Crew NW, a resource for the West Sound LGBTQ+ community, and she’s a member of other Trans groups around the West Sound.

Relevant Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump wins, but Washington gets bluer: exactly what happened during last night's election

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 23:32:40 +0000

Democrats across the country today are waking up to a sea change in national politics and a realignment of political coalitions once considered solidly blue.

But closer to home, Washington state is moving further to the left.

Local Democrats appear headed for a sweep of statewide offices, and most of the conservative-backed initiatives on the ballot are losing.

But, not everything is so clear cut.

Questions remain, including: Will voters ditch new regulations on natural gas? Will an anti-Trump Republican keep his seat in Congress? And who will join our state Supreme Court?

Discussing what we know, what we don’t, and what it all means, is a panel of political experts.

Guests:

Political consultant with Fincher consulting, and host of the Hacks and Wonks Podcast, Crystal Fincher
Former Washington state attorney general Rob McKenna
Editor and publisher of the Washington Observer, Paul Queary

Relevant Links:

November 5, 2024 General Election Results - Washington Secretary of State

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rep. Jayapal reflects on 'jarring' election for Washington voters

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 22:49:02 +0000

We’re continuing to watch election results today, but many things are clear: Donald Trump will retake the presidency, and he’ll be backed by a Republican controlled Senate. Control of the House of Representatives remains up in the air. Dozens of races around the country are too close to call.

We might not know the outcome of these battleground contests for several days or even weeks, but the potential for Democrats to flip the House is a rare glimmer of hope for a party that experienced crushing defeats on Tuesday.

The picture is very different in Washington state, which, if anything, turned an even deeper shade of blue.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who represents Seattle and the surrounding area, won her reelection bid handily, beating her opponent by about 70 percentage points, as of now.

So how will Representative Jayapal, the Progressive Caucus Chair and outspoken Trump critic, approach the next two years in office?

Guests:

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Election day has arrived, here's what's on the minds of WA voters

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 22:09:12 +0000

It’s election day … officially.

But don’t hold your breath, everyone. We’re still possibly days away from knowing the results of many races, both local and national.

Even so, we wanted to get a sense of how voters in Washington have been feeling and thinking about the choices on the ballot this season. KUOW has been speaking with people across the political spectrum, to get their takes on what’s driving their decisions.

Guest:

Alex Rochester, KUOW digital community outreach producer

Related links:

What do Democratic, Republican, and Independent Washington state voters think about the 2024 ballot? - KUOW

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to destress — and maybe depolarize — after the election

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 22:08:00 +0000

Months and months of anticipation – or maybe dread? – have led to today. Election day.

Over the coming days and weeks, there will continue to be a lot of talk about candidates, polls, the state of democracy. But we also want to recognize the emotional difficulty of election day... of election season.

Politics can leave a lot of people bitter and divided. It’s cost treasured relationships and led to feelings of anger, contempt, and fear. Bridging divides and finding common ground aren’t simple or easy. Over the past year, Mónica Guzmán and April Lawson have been thinking a lot about how to do it.

Mónica Guzmán works with Braver Angels, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to political depolarization. Her podcast – produced in partnership with KUOW – is called "A Braver Way."

Guests:

Mónica Guzmán is a senior fellow at Braver Angels.
April Lawson is the cofounder of Insight Debate and Dialogue.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A final forecast for the 2024 presidential election

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 21:48:38 +0000

Americans are at the polls right now voting for the next president – among a lot of other important state and local races.

And if you’re highly engaged in the outcome of Donald Trump versus Kamala Harris – you’re not just casting a ballot. You’re reading, watching and listening to tons of content about this presidential race, and in some cases agonizing over public polling in the weeks leading up to election day.

This year, the polls are showing one thing: neither candidate holds a clear edge.

So how can you avoid getting burned by faulty expectations?

And how should we prepare for the rush of election night and the cascade of state-by-state returns we’re about to experience?

Guest:

Armin Thomas is a political analyst at Split Ticket, a non-partisan election analysis firm

Relevant Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tribute to music legend Quincy Jones

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 23:59:55 +0000

He was one of the greatest musical minds of the 20th century… and he hailed from Seattle.

Songwriter, composer, arranger and producer Quincy Jones, died yesterday at the age of 91.

The 28-time Grammy winner moved to the Pacific Northwest at the age of 10 and eventually graduated from Garfield High School.
Jones credited Seattle's musical openness with shaping his style. He met Ray Charles here. In a typical night, they would play across the city, from the tony Seattle Tennis Club to hangouts on Jackson Street, which was in the city's red light district, playing classical, jazz, marches, and pop music.

Jones played jazz trumpet.

Quincy Jones described his time in Seattle for PBS' “American Masters” in 2021:

"We had to play everything with school. We played Sousa. And you play classical music and Debussy… on the jobs… Ray Charles, we, played Debussey on some of the jobs and we had to play Big Fat Butterfly parody, a parody on a poor butterfly. We had to play absolutely everything."

That musical openness and genre defying attitude was a thread that he carried throughout his life.

In the 50's, Jones played with some of the jazz greats, including Herbie Mann, Zoot Sims, Hank Jones and Charles Mingus on Evening in Paris from his 1957 LP, “This Is How I Feel About Jazz."

A few years later Jones played with Ray Charles on "One Mint Julep."

But soon, Jones was branching out stylistically.

He left an indelible mark on the music industry through his film scores... And while Soul Bossa Nova wasn't specifically WRITTEN for Austin Powers, it certainly became known as the theme song for the "International Man of Mystery..."

He arranged songs for legends like Frank Sinatra.

And in the 70's, when funk was EVERYWHERE, Jones turned it into gold, including the track "The Streetbeater," which became the theme song to Sanford & Sons...

In the 80's Jones famously produced Michael Jackson's meteoric rise to stardom, with tracks like "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough."

He butted heads with Jackson on the opening to Billie Jean... (He thought it was too long, Jackson disagreed.)

And made the notorious phone call that got Eddie Van Halen in the studio to play guitar on "Beat It..."

Quincy Jones, a giant of American music, is one of few producers to have number one records in three consecutive decades, the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...

Jones passed Sunday night at his home in Los Angeles. He was 91.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The polls are open - for Boeing machinists

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 22:57:22 +0000

Boeing machinists are voting today on a new contract offer that could end their seven week-old strike.

More than 33,000 workers walked off the job on September 13 – after they overwhelmingly voted to reject an offer from Boeing that included a 25 percent pay increase over 4 years.

In late October, Machinists also voted down Boeing’s second offer – which would have raised wages 35 percent over four years.

Boeing says this third deal is their best and final offer. It includes a pay bump of 38 percent over four years, as well as a 12,000 dollar ratification bonus.

IAM District 751, which represents Boeing workers, has endorsed the proposal.

Guest:

Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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School closures, enrollment, and highly capable programs: SPS Superintendent sits down with Soundside

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 22:51:09 +0000

Seattle’s Public School District is grappling with a nearly 100 million dollar budget shortfall, as student enrollment in the district has dropped in recent years.

In a letter last month, Superintendent Brent Jones said that SPS was proposing the closure of North Beach, Sacajawea, Sanislo, and Stevens elementary schools next year, pending school board approval.

The district says the latest plan will save around $5 million dollars - much less, notably, than the close to 30 million the broader closure plan was expected to yield.

So, where will the rest of the money come from to shore up the budget?

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann to talk school closures, highly capable programs, and more.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

Dr. Brent Jones, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent

Relevant Links:

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How medieval monsters got their meaning

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 21:20:39 +0000

Famous fiends like zombies, vampires, and werewolves are hallmarks of All Hallow's Eve. But how much do you know about why that is, and where those creatures come from?

It’s an origin story that’s fascinated University of Washington professor Charity Urbanski. Charity teaches medieval history at the UW, and she wrote a new book based on her research and seminars on the origins and meaning behind some of Europe’s most famous monsters. It's titled "Medieval Monstrosity: Imagining the Monstrous in Medieval Europe."

She joined Soundside to talk about the ways werewolves, revenants, and other monsters came to be popular -- and what they tell us about the people who invented them.

Guests:

Charity Urbanski, teaching professor of history at the University of Washington and author of "Medieval Monstrosity: Imagining the Monstrous in Medieval Europe."

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Early Weekend Guide" - Halloween Edition

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 20:31:33 +0000

Do you have weekend plans yet? On Soundside, we figure it’s never too early to make plans, plus, we’re not on the air Fridays...

We’ve been looking at some of the exciting things happening around the region over the next few days.

Producer Jason Megatron Burrows has this roundup for you, in a segment that, for now, we’re calling the “Early Weekend Guide.”

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUESTS:

Anita Spritzer aka Johnny Marzano - Seattle Opera
Kelly Froh - Short Run Comix & Arts Festival

LINKS TO THE EVENTS LISTED:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How a busy life may help with managing ADHD symptoms

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:19:58 +0000

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is often perceived as a static diagnosis– one that people carry with them throughout their lives with little to no change.

But, new research may just change that view of ADHD all together. A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests that ADHD symptoms can actually fluctuate over time due to influence from environmental factors. In fact, for many individuals, symptoms can mellow out year after year - especially for people who are navigating a busy life.

Guest:

Maggie Sibley, a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. She's also the lead author of the new study.

Relevant Links:

Characteristics and Predictors of Fluctuating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in the Multimodal Treatment of ADHD (MTA) Study - The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

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What's the economic value of a minor league team? Everett looks at financials of proposed AquaSox stadium

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 23:22:04 +0000

The Everett AquaSox's home for 40 years, Funko Field, is no longer in compliance with new stadium regulations implemented when Major League Baseball took over the minor leagues in 2020.

Now the city of Everett is exploring a replacement stadium that could cost up to $120 million. The city isn't shouldering the whole burden of this stadium, the state has chipped in money, along with Snohomish County, and AquaSox ownership has pledged $5 to $10 million.

The city estimates that a new stadium downtown could generate up to $55 million dollars a year, whether that makes the stadium a good investment is up for debate.

Guests:

Will Geschke - General Assignment Reporter at the Everett Herald

Nola Agha - professor at the University of San Francisco’s Sport Management Program

Relevant Links:

Everett Herald: Everett takes next step toward new AquaSox stadium

Everett Herald: Everett faces June deadline to present AquaSox stadium plan

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our NW volcanoes regularly rumble. But when should we start to worry?

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 23:20:36 +0000

Mount Adams has been a little more active than usual lately. That’s according to researchers with the United States Geological Survey.

Now, it’s not uncommon for our northwest volcanoes to shake things up a bit. But Adams tends to be one of the sleepier “chill” giants... until now. So what’s the deal?

To dig into what these seismic shenanigans mean– and hopefully set all of our minds at ease – Soundside was joined by Alex Iezzi. Iezzi is a research geophysicist with the US Geological Survey’s Cascade Volcano Observatory.

Guests:

Alex Iezzi, research geophysicist with the US Geological Survey’s Cascade Volcano Observatory.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ballots burned in apparent arson attack in Clark and Multnomah counties

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:19:08 +0000

The investigation continues into attacks on two ballot drop boxes in Washington and Oregon.

Hundreds of ballots were damaged or destroyed early Monday morning at a drop box at a transit center in Vancouver, Washington, the other attack was on a box outside Multnomah County election officers in Portland.

Washington’s Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs called the incidents “acts of terror that aim to disrupt lawful and fair elections...”

The Vancouver ballot box that was sabotaged is in the highly competitive Third District, where Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is facing off against Republican Joe Kent in one of the closest watched House races in the country.

Soundside got the latest information from Oregon Public Broadcasting's politics and government reporter, Dirk VanderHart, then talked election security with State Elections Director Stuart Holmes.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUESTS:

Dirk VanderHart - OPB Politics & Government Reporter
Stuart Holmes - State Elections Director

RELATED LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz placed on administrative leave

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 22:36:31 +0000

Former Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz was placed on administrative leave yesterday. Diaz, who served as chief for four years, was demoted in May amid allegations that he’d hired a romantic partner to a top level advisor role. Diaz is also the subject of a handful of lawsuits asserting he discriminated against SPD staff.

Guest:

Ashley Hiruko, KUOW Investigative Reporter

Relevant Links:

KUOW: Former Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz placed on paid leave amid watchdog investigations

KUOW: A beef jerky run and alleged romantic hire: Two investigations launched into former Seattle Chief Diaz

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your WA Supreme Court Position 2 candidate: Judge Dave Larson

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 21:14:35 +0000

Three of the seats on our state’s Supreme Court will be on the ballot next week. Two of them have incumbent justices running unopposed; the race Washington voters will actually decide is for Washington Supreme Court Position 2.

The incumbent, Justice Susan Owens, who turned 75 in August, is aging out of the position because of a rule in the state’s constitution.

The position is non-partisan, so you won’t see any party labels next to the candidates’ names - but don’t worry, we’re here to help you make that decision without the “D” or “R” shorthand.

Soundside is talking to both candidates vying for the seat this week. Today, we're interviewing Judge Dave Larson. Larson has been a judge for the Federal Way Municipal Court since 2008.

Guest:

Judge Dave Larson, candidate for Washington Supreme Court Position 2.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A minor was injured during a school work program. Who's to blame is still in question

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 22:54:25 +0000

Derrik was a 16 year old student when he was given a walk-behind trenching machine to guide through through a field.

Derrik was earning school credit with the Battle Ground School District for his work off site with the construction company Rotschy.

With no training or oversight, Derrik was severely injured by the machine, eventually losing both of his legs. He survived the work accident, and is now a senior in high school.

His story highlights big questions about work based learning programs at Washington schools, and whose job it is to make sure that teens exploring the workforce are kept safe.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Lizz Giordano, investigative reporter with Cascade PBS

Relevant Links:

‘Beyond failure’: WA teen loses legs at school-based work program

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workers push to revive pensions after decades-long decline

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 22:23:45 +0000

The Boeing machinist’s strike is now in its seventh week. Last Wednesday, the machinist's union rejected the latest contract from the company. A major sticking point continues to be union members’ insistence that the company reinstate a pension, also called a defined-benefits plan.

This is a long-held grievance. Union president Jon Holden said that the damage from a 2014 agreement— which froze pensions in favor of a 401(k) plan —remains unresolved.

Boeing machinists aren’t alone in this fight.

Striking autoworkers also sought to restore pensions during their 2023 strike, but received only increased contributions to their 401(k)s instead.

So, why are workers so determined to reclaim pensions now and how realistic is this goal?

Guest:

Thomas Gilbert, Professor of Finance at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business

Links:

NPR - At the heart of the Boeing strike, an emotional fight over a lost pension plan

KUOW - Why pensions are a hot button issue in the Boeing machinists' strike

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your WA Supreme Court Position 2 candidate: Sal Mungia

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 21:22:14 +0000

Washington voters will decide next week is who will fill the lone open seat on the Washington Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Position 2 is an open race - the incumbent, Justice Susan Owens, is retiring at the end of this year due to the state constitution’s requirement that all justices retire after the year they turn 75. The position is non-partisan.

Soundside is talking to both candidates vying for the seat on the state's highest court. Up first: attorney Sal Mungia.

Mungia is a partner at Gordon Thomas Honeywell, a law firm based in Seattle and Tacoma. He has specialized in medical malpractice, serious injury, personal injury and real estate litigation. He has also served as the President of the Washington State Bar Association.

Guest:

Sal Mungia, candidate for Washington Supreme Court Position 2.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your Seattle City Council Position 8 Candidates: Tanya Woo

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 22:06:50 +0000

There’s one seat up for grabs on Seattle’s city council this November.

Typically city council seats are filled during odd-year elections.

But, when former councilmember Teresa Mosqueda was elected to the King County Council in 2023, she left a vacancy that needed filling. Tanya Woo was appointed by the council to fill the seat, until this year’s special election could determine a replacement to serve through 2025.

Position 8 represents all of Seattle, as opposed to just one geographic district.

This week, Soundside is speaking with both candidates for the office. Today, we're speaking with incumbent councilmember Tanya Woo.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Tanya Woo, candidate for Seattle city council position 8

Relevant Links:

The Stranger’s Endorsements for the November 5, 2024 General Election

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Your Seattle City Council Position 8 Candidates: Alexis Mercedes Rinck

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 16:22:06 +0000

There’s one seat up for grabs on Seattle’s city council this November.

Typically city council seats are filled during odd-year elections.

This week, Soundside is speaking with both candidates for the office. Up first is Alexis Mercedes Rinck.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Alexis Mercedes Rinck, candidate for Seattle city council position 8

Relevant Links:

The Times recommends: Tanya Woo for Seattle City Council Position 8

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For this Seattle samurai, cartoons were key to illustrating Japanese American perspectives

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 23:15:51 +0000

In 2018, The North American Post, Seattle’s oldest Japanese-language newspaper, printed the final strip of Seattle Tomodachi, a comic created by Sam Goto.

Goto was a second generation Japanese-American, born in the Seattle area in 1933. He raised two girls here, working for most of his life as a dental technician.

He passed away at the age of 84, just a few months before his final comic strip was printed.

For 5 years, Goto used his pen to illustrate the Japanese American experience in the Pacific Northwest.

The strips could be funny and whimsical. But his work could also be somber and reflective, as the main character, a young boy, grows up as an outsider straddling two worlds – caught between assimilating and preserving his heritage.

These are struggles the real Sam Goto faced in his life.

Now, a retrospective of Sam’s art and life has been compiled and published in a new book, called Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist’s Perspective of the Japanese American Experience.

Guest:

Kelly Goto, author of Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist’s Perspective of the Japanese American Experience, and Sam Goto's daughter.

Relevant links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taking on the challenges of fatherhood, one phone call at a time

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 23:30:43 +0000

Perinatal Support Washington is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. The organization was started in 1989 as a way for parents to connect and find support during those really tough and bewildering years after a new baby arrives.

The organization may be best known for its “Warm Line,” where callers are connected with peers to talk about the challenges they face – including postpartum depression and infertility.

Childcare is a central issue in the 2024 presidential election, during the vice presidential debate last month between Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz, there was an extended conversation about the challenges of raising children in the United States.

There was something familiar in the fact that they were two fathers, talking about support for mothers. That’s pretty common on the Warm Line, people who work there say dads often call in with concerns about a partner before realizing they need support, too.

A recent survey from the Washington Fatherhood Council found that dads are in need of emotional and mental health support and face stigma around their roles in families, but dads are often conditioned to suppress or avoid feelings that are challenging around parenthood, which makes acknowledging the need for assistance difficult.

Guests:

Victoria Cherniak, senior warm line manager at Perinatal Support Washington

Nathan Friend, dad specialist at Perinatal Support Washington

Relevant Links:

Perinatal Support Washington (1-888-404-7763)

National Maternal Health Hotline

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The program giving Pierce County jurors a $90 raise

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 22:44:12 +0000

Let’s do a quick exercise. How are you feeling? Heart rate good? Optimistic about the rest of the day?

Now, how do you feel after I say the words: JURY DUTY?

Ugh! What is it about that summons in the mail that makes us cringe so much? The disruption to our schedule? The waiting around? The other jurors?

One thing that certainly doesn’t help is the insultingly low pay. Most jurors in the state of Washington have been paid $10 per day since 1959. For people just getting by, serving can be a huge financial burden. And that’s contributing to a lack of diversity among jury pools.

Pierce County Superior Court is trying out a way to make serving more attractive… by paying jurors $100 per day, in a first-of-its kind state-funded pilot program, running likely through next May.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUESTS:

Chris Gaddis - Pierce County Superior Court Administrator
Laurie Sale - Project Manager with the Administrative Office of the Courts with the Pierce County juror pay pilot program

RELATED LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'A lot of food CEOs have gone away for far less than this': What's behind the crisis at Boar's Head?

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 22:11:37 +0000

For over a century, the deli meat company Boar’s Head has built its brand on a promise to customers - to only sell products based on the most exacting standards.

Boar's Head is ubiquitous in the Pacific Northwest, especially if you shop at Kroger stores. You know that logo.

But in September, Boar's Head liverwurst was uncovered as the source of the deadliest listeria outbreak in over a decade.

The problems at Boar's Head stretch up to the C-suites – where a messy family feud may be affecting the company’s response to the safety crisis.

Guest:

Chloe Sorvino, a staff writer for Forbes covering food and agriculture. She’s also the author of Raw Deal: Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed, and the Fight for the Future of Meat.

Related links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you can't run, hide, or fight: How schools can create safety plans that accommodate everyone

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 22:51:28 +0000

“Run, Hide, Fight."

That's the advice given to many students in the event of an active shooter at their school. Both the U-S Department of Homeland Security and the FBI support run/hide/fight as a safety protocol.

It could save a lot of lives, theoretically. According to the Gun Violence Archive and Education Week this year in the U.S., there have already been 30 school shootings that resulted in injury or death.

But - what happens when you can’t run, hide, or fight? What are you supposed to do in any kind of emergency - especially at school?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Jae Kim, an Information and Referral Program Manager with The ARC of King County.
Michele Gay, co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools, a non-profit school safety advocacy and resource center.
Michael Berkenwald, Principal of Loyal Heights Elementary in Seattle

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How money is changing college athletics, for better and for worse

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 22:40:15 +0000

Halfway through the season, college football has been a whirlwind for local sports fans this season.

Some may still be basking in the glory of the Washington Huskies beating the Michigan Wolverines earlier this month. And the Cougars deserve a tip of the hat for successfully keeping the Pac-2 alive…. or maybe it’s the PAC-6 now? The 6-PAC?

While fans of Washington schools are still wrapping their heads around conference moves and changes to who and where their teams play, the entire college sports world is adjusting to the new reality of how players get paid.

In 2021 it became legal for athletes to make money off of their image. This is called "Name, Image, Likeness" – or NIL. And it’s changed the ability of schools to recruit top talent, in part because of how much boosters are able to offer prospective players.

It’s something Thilo Kunkel has thought a lot about. Kunkel is a professor in the school of sport, tourism, and hospitality management at Temple University. He joined Soundside to discuss the upsides and drawbacks of the new NIL system, and how teams, schools, and the NCAA can keep up with the rapidly growing influence of money on athletics.

Guests:

Thilo Kunkel, professor in the school of sport, tourism, and hospitality management at Temple University.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle's latest growth plan is out. How would it change the city's neighborhoods?

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 22:19:14 +0000

There are some things that just scream Mondays. A fresh pot of coffee, fresh laundry, and a deep dive into the latest proposal for Seattle’s ongoing city growth plan.

If you’re unfamiliar, Seattle’s 20-year growth plan is basically a zoning blueprint showing how the city will make room for new residents. Mayor Bruce Harrell’s first draft came out in March, and the proposal wasn’t exactly what housing advocates were hoping for.

Soundside was joined by Ryan Packer, contributing editor to the Urbanist, who helped break down the latest proposal and how it could reshape Seattle's neighborhood density.

Guests:

Ryan Packer, contributing editor at The Urbanist.

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet the people on a quest to count every Cooper's Hawk in Seattle

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 23:16:25 +0000

The Urban Raptor Conservancy's Ed Deal and Patti Loesche are running a decades long study on the population health of Cooper's Hawks in Seattle. What does that involve? Spending a lot of time looking for and observing the city's hawks.

Guests:

Patti Loesche, co founder of the Urban Raptor Conservency

Ed Deal, co founder of the Urban Raptor Conservancy

Relevant Links:

Urban Raptor Conservancy Website

KUOW: What's that screeching? Maybe a hungry young Cooper's Hawk

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should WA Cares be Optional? The case for NO on I-2124

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 20:51:41 +0000

This election season we’re bringing you conversations on all of the statewide initiatives on this November’s ballot.

This week, we’re taking a deep dive into I-2124, it’s the initiative that would give WA voters the option to OPT-OUT of the WA Cares long term services insurance program.

Yesterday, we talked to Elizabeth New from the WA Policy Center, who urged listeners to vote YES on I-2124.

TODAY, we’re talking to the NO side.

Gov. Inslee signed the bill that created WA Cares back in 2019. It’s a kind of “social insurance plan,” which would extend a one-time benefit of $36,500 to people who pay into the program, to help them cover the cost of long-term care.

Right now, most Washington workers pay about 58 cents into the program for every 100 dollars earned. If you make $50,000 a year, that’s about 24 dollars a month.

There was a delay in getting the payroll deduction started because of COVID, then an opt-out period, so payroll deductions for the plan didn’t actually kick in until July of last year.

The first claims for WA Cares benefits can be filed starting July 1st, 2026.

A “NO” vote on I-2124 would maintain the WA Cares program as is, without an opt-out. It also preserves the legislature’s ability to revise and improve the program.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST: Cathy MacCaul is a member of Washington State’s Long-Term Services & Supports Trust Commission that helps oversee WA Cares, along with being the policy & advocacy director for AARP Washington.

RELATED LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should WA Cares be Optional? The case for YES on I-2124

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 17:22:15 +0000

This election season we’re bringing you conversations on all of the statewide initiatives on the November ballot.

Most recently, we looked at both sides of the Capital Gains Tax Repeal.

This week, we’re taking a deep dive into I-2124: it’s the initiative that would give Washington voters the option to OPT-OUT of the WA Cares long term services insurance program.

Gov. Inslee signed the bill that created WA Cares into law back in 2019. It’s a kind of “social insurance plan,” which would extend a one-time benefit of $36,500 to people who pay into the program, to help them cover the cost of long-term care.

Right now, most Washington workers pay about 58 cents into the program for every 100 dollars earned. If you make $50,000 dollars a year, that’s about 24 dollars a month.

There was a delay in getting the payroll deduction started because of COVID, then an opt-out period, so payroll deductions for the plan didn’t actually kick in until July of last year.

The first claims for WA Cares benefits can be filed starting July 1st, 2026.

A vote of "Yes" on Initiative 2124 would make the program optional, instead of a payroll tax applying to most workers with a W-2.

We’ll hear both sides of I-2124 this week: TODAY, we’re talking to the YES side.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST: Elizabeth New - Policy Analyst and the Director of the Centers for Worker Rights and Health Care at the Washington Policy Center

RELATED LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle Opera brings the spiritual to the stage in "Jubilee"

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 23:12:05 +0000

The world premiere of Jubilee debuted at Seattle Opera with its inaugural performance over the weekend.

Jubilee is a new opera honoring the Fisk Jubilee singers, a group of groundbreaking Black American singers from Fisk University, in Tennessee.

Soundside's Diana Opong sat down with creator and director Tazewell Thompson, who reflected on how the seeds of the opera Jubilee were sown in his early years living in New York. It was during his formative years that he was introduced to the rich tapestry of spirituals through old recordings, a discovery that ignited a profound sense of connection in his life.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Tazewell Thompson, creator and director of the new opera, Jubilee
Marlette Buchanan, Seattle vocalist and former Fisk Jubilee singer
Dr. Agenia Clark, president of Fisk University

Related Links:

Seattle Opera - Jubilee

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Why one Constitutional Sheriff has created a growing volunteer posse

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 23:09:00 +0000

When you think of the wild west, you might imagine a sheriff, keeping watch over a small, dusty town he calls home. And a posse of locals: ready to be called up to fight off cattle rustlers or moonshine smugglers who threaten to cause trouble.

It’s hard to imagine something like that now, in 2024 Washington State.

But, in Klickitat County, down south on the Columbia River, a sheriff's posse has been making the news for its growing size and the number of responsibilities it’s taking on within the community.

Advocates say the posse is filling shortfalls within the Sheriff’s budget.

Critics say it’s empowering citizens to take the law into their own hands – and allowing the sheriff to choose which laws he’ll enforce and which ones he’ll ignore.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

Paul Kiefer, a freelance reporter who covered this story for Investigate West

Related Links:

In a rural stretch of Washington, a ‘constitutional sheriff’ and his growing volunteer posse provoke controversy - Investigate West

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Amid public defender shortage, WA Bar Association suggests caseload limits

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 23:08:05 +0000

Since the 1963 Gideon decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the right to a lawyer has been guaranteed to defendants facing criminal charges – even if they can’t afford to pay.

Advocates say that guarantee is in jeopardy in our state because of a lack of personnel. Washington State public defenders are in short supply and that’s having cascading effects on the criminal legal system.

The Washington State Bar Association is recommending a counterintuitive solution to the shortage: they want to cap the number of cases that public defenders can take on in a year, but the plan has its detractors.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Jason Schwarz, Director of Snohomish County Office of Public Defense and Chair of the Washington State Bar Association, Council on Public Defense

Russell Brown, executive director of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys

Relevant Links:

Washington State Standard: Can smaller caseloads help Washington fill its public defender ranks?

Seattle Times: WA’s public defender system is breaking down, communities reeling

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Boeing announces layoffs amidst ongoing worker strike

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 23:04:38 +0000

Tensions are rising as negotiations between Boeing and the IAM District 751 hit a stalemate. This comes amid a month-long strike, impacting 33,000 workers.

After contract discussions collapsed last week, both sides have traded accusations, leaving the future uncertain. Adding to the conflict, Boeing announced layoffs affecting around 17,000 employees – nearly 10% of its workforce – in a bid to cut costs.

With financial pressure mounting and workers seeking temporary employment, the big question that remains is: how close are we to a resolution, and what will it mean for the future of both the company and its workers?

Soundside was joined by Harry C. Katz, professor of collective bargaining within Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR).

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Harry C. Katz, professor of collective bargaining within Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR).

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have democracy vouchers delivered on their promise to make Seattle elections fairer?

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 21:28:53 +0000

Among the many races Seattle voters will weigh in on during the upcoming election, there’s a city council seat up for grabs. Current Position 8 Councilmember Tanya Woo is looking to defend against challenger Alexis Mercedes Rinck.

While Woo and Rinck try to differentiate themselves down the home stretch, they have at least one thing in common. Both are the latest candidates to take part in an election experiment meant to level the financial playing field for office-seekers: Democracy Vouchers.

If you live in Seattle, there’s a good chance you opened up your mailbox during this election cycle, and pulled out an envelope containing these vouchers.

The bright blue slips of paper are kind of reminiscent of Kohl’s cash. Or Monopoly bucks.

But instead of exchanging them to buy a new sweater or to capture Park Place, you can use them to donate to candidates running for local office, like the city council, mayor, and the city attorney.

Next year, democracy vouchers are turning 10 years old.

Back in 2015, advocates made some ambitious promises about the potential of democracy vouchers: they would revolutionize campaign financing and inspire nontraditional candidates to run for office

Voters will get to decide next year if they want to extend the democracy voucher program.

So - have democracy vouchers delivered on those promises?

Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with one expert, Dr. Jennifer Heerwig, an associate professor at Stony Brook University in New York, to find out. Dr. Heerwig has explored the impact of democracy vouchers in Seattle with a new book she co-authored, called Democracy Vouchers and the Promise of Fairer Elections in Seattle.

Guest

Dr. Jennifer Heerwig, associate professor at Stony Brook University, and co-author of Democracy Vouchers and the Promise of Fairer Elections in Seattle.

Related links:

3 Big Ways Democracy Vouchers Changes Seattle's Elections at Town Hall Seattle

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Commissioner candidates debate over the future of public lands

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 22:01:39 +0000

This year, few Washington races have grabbed as much attention as the one for Commissioner of Public Lands.

The commissioner heads the state Department of Natural Resources, which oversees more than $450 million in revenue and more than 5.5 million acres of public land. The agency is in charge of wildfire preparedness, forest management, and the protection of critical habitat throughout the state.

After a crowded primary and a recount decided by just 49 votes, the top two candidates voters will be asked to decide on are Republican Jaime Herrera-Beutler and Democrat Dave Upthegrove.

Jaime Herrera-Beutler is a former congresswoman representing Washington’s 3rd congressional district in the southwest part of the state. She served from 2011 to 2023.

Dave Upthegrove is chair of the King County Council, which he has served on for 10 years.

They both joined Soundside host Libby Denkmann this week for a lively debate on the future of public lands.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Jaime Herrera-Beutler, former congresswoman and Republican candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands.
Dave Upthegrove, chair of the King County Council and Democratic candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands.

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What it takes for a local theater company to survive 50 years

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:10:21 +0000

For decades, the Seattle Children’s Theatre has introduced young people from all over King County to the joy and wonder of live theater.

You can take your little ones to their first play or musical like “Cat Kid Comic Club,” or maybe an interactive dance performance.

There’s a lot going on there each year. It’s part of what makes the Children’s Theatre such a beloved institution. The theater is celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall.

Soundside talked with Managing Director Kevin Malgesini about what SCT has coming up this season, along with the steps they've taken to keep the theater strong for years to come.

Host Diana Opong also chats with Karan Hanan, Executive Director of the WA State Arts Commission, about the overall health of Seattle's theater ecosystem.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUESTS:

Kevin Malgesini - Managing Director of Seattle Children's Theater
Karen Hanan - Executive Director of the Washington State Arts Commission

RELATED LINKS:

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Microsoft strikes deal to re-open Three Mile Island nuclear plant as energy needs grow

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:00:54 +0000

Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island is the site of the worst commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history. The nuclear plant near Harrisburg officially closed in 2019, but now, Microsoft is making a deal to restart the facility and buy all of its electricity for the next 20 years.

How likely is this to actually happen? And what does this say about the future of energy and tech?

Guests:

Evan Halper, business reporter covering the energy transition for the Washington Post

Relevant Links:

Washington Post: Microsoft deal would reopen Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power AI

Washington Post: Three Mile Island owner seeks taxpayer backing for Microsoft AI deal

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After revising school closure plan, what's next for Seattle Public Schools?

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 23:24:52 +0000

The Seattle School District is now planning to close just 5 schools next year. That’s down from the 21 possible closures the district had proposed earlier.

The district has been teasing school closures for months as a part of its “Well Resourced Schools” plan.

Seattle Schools faces a $94 million dollar budget deficit and Superintendent Brent Jones proposed closing schools to help cover that gap.

After the announcement of which schools would close last month, the push back from parents was swift. And the School Board? Well, they weren’t on-board either. Now, with a scaled back plan, the district will need to explore other options to cover its fiscal deficit.

Guest:

Liza Rankin, President of the Seattle School Board

Links:

KUOW: Seattle Schools' proposed closures trimmed from 21 to just 5 schools after backlash

KUOW: Seattle families brace for school closures. What can we learn from last time?

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How Seattle’s Palestinian community is marking one year since the Israel-Hamas war began

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 22:31:46 +0000

Since Hamas militants attacked Southern Israel on October 7, taking roughly 1200 lives, and capturing hundreds of hostages, the Israeli military has responded with overwhelming force in Gaza.

Bombs and other military actions have killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Most of the homes, businesses, schools and mosques in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed – and millions have been displaced.

And there is no end in sight to the bombardment.

The U.S. State Department says Hamas has refused for weeks to engage in cease-fire talks. Previously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly stalled a cease-fire and hostage deal by adding new conditions to negotiations.

For the past 12 months, Palestinian Americans and the wider Muslim community in the Seattle area have been urging the U.S. to halt weapons transfers and funding to Israel.

On Saturday, roughly 500 protesters gathered at Pier 62 on Seattle’s waterfront to demand change.

Yesterday, we spoke with members of Seattle’s Jewish community about how they’re remembering the first anniversary of the October 7th attack on Israel.

Today, we’re speaking with members of Seattle’s Palestinian and Muslim communities about the effects of the war in Gaza.

Guests:

Akram Baioumy, an Imam with MAPS (Muslim Association of Puget Sound)
Yaz Kader, a Palestinian American and an uncommitted delegate from Washington state at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He’s also the author of a new Op-Ed in Real Change News, called “Silencing the Palestinian voice at the local and national levels”.

Relevant Links:

Silencing the Palestinian voice at the local and national levels - Real Change

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How a housewife turned unlikely activist helped topple Argentina's military dictatorship

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 21:18:49 +0000

How can personal tragedy inspire the most unlikely of people to become activists?

This question is at the heart of Norita, a new documentary screening Oct. 8 at the Seattle Latino Film Festival.

Norita takes a moving look at the life and journey of an Argentinian woman, Nora Cortiñas. She was a mother who became caught in the crosshairs of Argentina’s military dictatorship, which stretched from 1976 to 1983.

Norita’s fearless protest against the government, and search for justice, played a role in toppling the dictatorship, and she spent the rest of her life as a leading voice for human rights.

She died earlier this year in May at the age of 94.

Soundside producer Noel Gasca caught up with Melissa Daniels, a producer of Norita, about the documentary's exploration of Norita's life and legacy.

You can purchase tickets to the Seattle Latino Film Fesitval's screening of Norita here.

Guest:

Melissa Daniel, Norita producer

Related links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From leashing to poop pick up, Dog trainers take on your etiquette questions

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 23:29:11 +0000

The Seattle area gets a bad rap for its “frosty” social climate.

But how can that be true when we live with so many “best friends”? Furry ones, at least. There are more dogs than children in the city.

With all those canines sharing space, things can get a bit tense. Complaints run rampant about dog behavior in public, businesses that do or don’t allow animals, and, of course, politeness when picking up and disposing of their poop.

And let’s be real, this is not a conversation about dogs; it is about people who own dogs.

Today, we have two experts with us to talk about how dogs (and people) navigate space, together.

Guests:

Farrah Branson, certified trainer and the animal training manager at the Seattle Humane Society.

Alexis Devine, certified professional dog trainer and the author of the book “I Am Bunny: How a Talking Dog Taught Me Everything I Need to Know About Being Human”

Links:

I Am Bunny Instagram

Seattle Humane Society

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How Seattle’s Jewish community is marking one year since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 22:34:10 +0000

One year ago, Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and took hundreds more hostage.

Israel’s military response has killed more than 41-thousand Palestinians in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry says more than half were women and children.

A second front has opened in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli military has been bombarding Iran-backed Hezbollah… which began firing rockets into Israel after October 7th.

Today, destruction, hunger, grief and displacement are the only certainties for millions of people in the path of this widening war.

This week also marks the middle of the Jewish High Holy Days.

In Jewish tradition, it’s a time meant for reflection and consideration of the year before, and preparation for the year ahead.

Today, we’re speaking with members of the Seattle-area Jewish community to hear how they’re marking the anniversary of October 7th. Tomorrow, we’ll hear how the local Palestinian community is reflecting on a year of war in Gaza.

Guests:

Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum leads the Kavana Cooperative, an independent Jewish community in Seattle
Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Senior Rabbi of Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle
Kate Raphael, a member of Jewish Voices for Peace Seattle

Relevant Links:

October 7 One Year Later: Seattle's Community Commemoration - Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
October 11th ritual and rally for Yom Kippur at the Federal Building - Jewish Voices for Peace Seattle Instagram page
Prayer of Mothers for Life and Peace - Open Siddur

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The U.S. is in the midst of a gun violence crisis. Medical professionals at Harborview may hold the answers on how to end it

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 21:45:26 +0000

In June, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis.

"Gun violence has become the leading cause of death among kids and teens," Murthy said. "That was not true a decade or two decades ago, but it is true today."

And like many other communities across the country – Seattle is feeling the ripple effects of this crisis.

First Response — a new series from Cascade Public Media’s podcast Northwest Reports — takes a deeper look at how the medical professionals on the front line of this crisis are handling the influx of patients with gunshot wounds, and treating the long-term impacts of gun violence. It also looks at the impact on those medical professionals’ mental health.

Soundside caught up with the co-hosts and producers of Northwest Reports to talk about the series, and how it deepened their understanding of gun violence.

Guests:

Sara Bernard, senior producer and co-host of Northwest Reports
Maleeha Syed, producer and co-host of Northwest Reports

Related links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ditch Washington's Capital Gains Tax? The case for No on I-2109

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 22:13:10 +0000

When you go to vote this November, it won’t just be for President or Governor. You’ll also be voting on a group of initiatives - and these things are complicated. So we’re breaking all of them down here on Soundside this election season.

And this week, we’re turning to I-2109: aka, the measure that seeks to Repeal the Capital Gains Tax.

Passed by the legislature back in 2021, the tax took effect two years ago. It charges a 7% tax on the sales of some types of assets - things like stocks, bonds, and some types of businesses. The tax kicks in on profits exceeding $262,000.

Real estate, retirement accounts, and certain small businesses are exempt. Revenue from the tax goes towards education: the first $500m raised is earmarked for schools, early learning, and child care programs. The rest goes towards school construction and renovation.

This is a tax that’s only paid by an extremely small percentage of Washington taxpayers (.001%). 4,000 people paid Washington state capital gains taxes in 2022 - producing $786m dollars in revenue. Last year, that amount decreased to $433m.

Yesterday, we spoke with former Google engineer Vijay Boyapati about the case to vote “Yes” and repeal the capital gains tax.

Today, we’re speaking with someone from the vote “NO” on I-2109 campaign.

Guest:

Treasure Mackley is executive director of Invest in WA Now, a Seattle-based organization advocating for progressive revenue measures in Washington State - including the Capital Gains tax

Relevant Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remembering Toby Quitsland

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 17:32:00 +0000

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month -- a chance to educate people about the disease and the importance of high-quality care.

Public awareness of breast cancer has greatly improved over the past few decades. For a long time, people diagnosed with the disease tended to keep their experiences to themselves.

That’s why it was groundbreaking, 30 years ago, when NPR health reporter Joanne Silberner profiled a woman named Toby Quitsland, who was experiencing a recurrence of breast cancer.

Her story not only helped build awareness of the disease, it also helped create a special bond between Joanne and Toby’s family.

Toby’s husband Jon recently discovered that he and Joanne both now live on Bainbridge Island. He heard her being interviewed on KUOW, and he decided to mail a letter to the station in hopes of reaching her.

The Washington State Department of Health has launched Vital, a free mobile app tailored for cancer survivors. It provides valuable tools to help patients build skills for their cancer journey and recovery.
You can download the Vital app now on iPhone and Android

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUESTS:

Jon Quitsland
Joanne Silberner

RELATED LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'The Adding Machine' asks if AI has a future in the theatre

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 23:28:34 +0000

Soundside producer Alec Cowan spoke with Purcell to learn more about the intersection of technology and stagecraft after attending a recent showing.

Curious about seeing the play yourself? The show runs through Sunday, Oct. 6. You can find tickets here.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Ryan Guzzo Purcell, artistic director at The Feast, a Seattle theater company, and director of "The Adding Machine: A Cyborg Morality Play."

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ditch Washington's Capital Gains Tax? The case for Yes on I-2109

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 23:18:38 +0000

When you go to vote this November, it won’t just be for President or Governor. You’ll also be voting on a group of state initiatives - and they’re complicated. We’re breaking all of them down here on Soundside this election season.

And this week, we’re turning to I-2109: aka, the measure that seeks to Repeal the Capital Gains Tax.

Revenue from the tax goes towards education: the first $500m raised is earmarked for schools, early learning, and child care programs. The rest goes towards school construction and renovation.

This is a tax that’s only paid by an extremely small percentage of Washington taxpayers (.001). 4,000 people paid Washington state capital gains taxes in 2022 - producing $786m dollars in revenue. Last year, that amount decreased to $433m.

Supporters of the capital gains tax say that it’s providing needed funds for Washington’s education and childcare system.

Detractors say it’s a workaround for an income tax, which is illegal in Washington state. Some also fear it will drive tech entrepreneurs and companies out of the city.

Today, we're hearing from an advocate for Initiative 2109.

Guest:

Vijay Boyapati is a former Google engineer. He’s currently a software engineer and author of the book “The Bullish Case for Bitcoin”

Relevant Links:

Washington Initiative 2109, Repeal Capital Gains Tax Initiative (2024) - Ballotpedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yakama Nation energy project hits a snag as utilities struggle with green energy expansion

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 23:18:02 +0000

The Yakama Nation has found it nearly impossible to access $32 million in a promised federal grant for an irrigation canal conversion project.

The initiative aims to transform old irrigation canals into a solar and small-scale hydropower system, which would lower electricity costs and conserve water in the Yakima Basin.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell celebrated the project earlier this year for its potential benefits.

While incentives for renewable energy are abundant, the bureaucratic processes to implement them can be frustratingly slow.

Soundside caught up with investigative reporter Tony Schick to hear more about why the project is stalling. His recent story on the issue was produced in partnership with OPB, ProPublica, and High Country News.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Tony Schick, investigative reporter and editor at Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Related Links:

The Department of Energy promised this tribal nation a $32 million solar grant. It’s nearly impossible to access - OPB

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A new KUOW investigation uncovers SPD's history of losing guns

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 23:14:56 +0000

In October of 2019, an 18-year-old walked out of a Seattle police training building with an officer’s personal firearm.

It was eventually recovered - but questions remained about how the teen was able to access the firearm in the first place, as well as the quality of security at the training facility.

This isn’t the only time an SPD firearm has gone missing.

In August, SPD reported 23 missing firearms, and the department confirmed that those guns haven’t been accounted for since 2017.

This information comes from a KUOW investigation into the department.

Soundside caught up with KUOW investigative reporter Ashley Hiruko to learn more about how the guns may have gone missing.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What to make of the Mariner's suboptimal season

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 22:52:13 +0000

The 2024 Seattle Mariner's season wasn't just about disappointment, it was a story about fandom, money, masochism, and, sure, losing a 10 game lead in the AL West.

We're breaking down the story lines and commiserating after a long season.

Guests:

Kate Preusser, managing editor of Lookout Landing and host of Meet at the Mitt podcast

Danny O’Neil, author of The Dang Apostrophe, a newsletter on Seattle sports

Relevant Links:

Lookout Landing: Key takeaways from Jerry Dipoto’s Game 161 meeting with the media

Seattle Times: The Mariners say payroll will increase in 2025. How much? | Analysis

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Mayor Harrell looks to payroll expense tax to fix $250 million budget gap

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 23:57:54 +0000

This budget cycle, the city is bracing for what could be a contentious debate over how to fund essential services and set priorities for the coming year.

With an estimated $251 million dollar budget shortfall looming, how it will address that gap has become a pressing concern.

Early last week, Mayor Bruce Harrell unveiled his office’s plan to tackle the large budget shortfall.

Guests:

Kevin Schofield, founder of SCC Insights and author of Weekend Reads in the South Seattle Emerald. Schofield is also a member of KUOW's board of directors, which does not make any editorial decisions or work directly with KUOW's newsroom.

Relevant Links:

Post Alley: Mayor Harrell's New Budget and Windfall Revenue Provoke Big Questions

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'Seattle Eats with Tan Vinh' is bringing you the tastiest tidbits of the PNW

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 22:07:44 +0000

It's time to set aside that uninspired sandwich, or soggy work-from-home salad. You’ll probably also want to cancel any lunch plans you have you have this week, because a new podcast from KUOW and The Seattle Times may convince you to try something new.

Seattle Eats with Tan Vinh is helping listeners find the best bites in Seattle — and beyond.

Soundside caught up with Vinh to find out what inspired the long-time Seattle Times food writer to turn to podcasting, and what he looks for in a good 'ol slice of pizza.

New episodes of Seattle Eats with Tan Vinh drop every other Thursday, and can be heard on the KUOW app — or wherever you get your podcasts.

Guest:

Tan Vinh, Seattle Times food writer and the host of "Seattle Eats with Tan Vinh"

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IAM 751 President Jon Holden gives a strike update

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:51:19 +0000

The Boeing machinists’ strike is in its third week. On Friday, the company and the union were back at the negotiating table.

This came after Boeing made another offer earlier in the week, its “Improved Best and Final” one. It was quickly rejected.

There were criticisms that it didn’t go far enough. Also, that the company had disrespected the negotiating process by releasing the offer’s details to the media.

Meanwhile, the company has begun requiring thousands of managers and non-union employees to take one week off without pay. This will occur every four weeks as part of temporary rolling furloughs.

They’ve also implemented a hiring freeze, cut back on business travel, and reduced spending with suppliers.

Currently, 33,000 machinists are on strike, pushing for higher wages and the restoration of their pensions, among other demands.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST: Jon Holden - President of the International Association of Machinists District 751

RELATED LINKS:

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From SeaTac to the public library, high-profile hacks are plaguing the region. Why?

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:05:11 +0000

It’s been a tough few months for many local IT departments.

Last week, hackers posted a handful of files stolen from SeaTac airport on the dark web. A ransomware gang is attempting to sell a trove of stolen Port of Seattle data for 6 million dollars in Bitcoin – after the Port refused to pay up.

The cyber-attack a little over a month ago snarled travel when it took down ticketing, baggage, and other SeaTac services.

But that’s just the highest profile ransomware case in the Seattle area in recent months.

A few weeks ago, the Highline School District canceled classes because a cyberattack had wormed its way into the local system. There was also a crippling ransomware attack on Seattle Public Libraries back in May, which put their book checkout and online systems in limbo for months

For more on what’s happening – and how organizations can protect themselves –Soundside caught up with Robby Winchester, the vice president of services and a co-founder of SpecterOps, a Seattle cybersecurity company.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Robby Winchester on the line. He’s the vice president of services and a co-founder of SpecterOps, a Seattle cybersecurity company.

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legacy of capital punishment in Washington

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 23:06:07 +0000

Washington state has officially closed the chamber where executions took place, marking the end of capital punishment here in the state. The journey to decommission this chamber involved a lot of moving parts across all branches of government.

First, Governor Jay Inslee put a moratorium on executions in 2014, then the state Supreme Court declared the practice unconstitutional four years later, and finally, the legislature outlawed the practice last year.

Guest:

Nina Shapiro, Seattle Times reporter covering social issues

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: WA death penalty chamber officially closes, ending tumultuous history

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ChatGPT: a useful study buddy, or cheating machine? Educators at the UW are trying to figure that out

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 22:37:04 +0000

Classes at the University of Washington are back in full-swing. And as students try to find their classes, and figure out what to avoid at the dining hall – the university’s administration and faculty are trying to figure out their own conundrum: How to address artificial intelligence– chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini.

For some students and teachers, AI programs can be a useful tool. While for others, it’s another way to cheat on exams and classwork.

KUOW web editor Stephen Howie took a deeper look at the complicated relationship between AI and higher education.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

KUOW web editor Stephen Howie

Relevant Links:

KUOW newsroom: Learning tool or BS machine? How AI is shaking up higher education

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear it again: Ethical mushroom foraging

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 20:30:00 +0000

As we step into fall, and back into the rain... we thought we'd revisit a segment from last year about MUSHROOMS...

Mushroom foraging is a very popular pastime here in the Pacific Northwest.

Our rainy climate helps a wide variety of the fungi thrive, as well as the community that collects them.

After all, who doesn’t love a good mushroom? Producer Alec Cowan, that’s who.

Last fall, Alec took an excursion with some amateur mycologists to learn what it takes to become a good mushroom hunter... and why he should give the fungi another chance.

You can check out Alec's original story HERE, complete with a plethora of wonderful photos from his adventure.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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New study finds pandemic lockdowns prematurely aged teenage brains

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 22:41:33 +0000

Everyone is a current, former, or future teenager.

You probably know this period of life is an especially difficult time for kids. Throw in a deadly pandemic and the subsequent disruption of school and social life? It got a lot more complicated. And new research suggests COVID-19 lockdowns may have had lasting consequences for adolescent minds.

In a new study from the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS for short), researchers found that pandemic isolation actually accelerated the aging of teen brains.

Soundside spoke with the study's lead author about what that means for the mental health of teens post-pandemic, and we can learn about teenage brain development going forward.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Neva Corrigan, the lead author of the study and a research scientist at the University of Washington’s I-LABS.

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Amid harmful lies about Haitian immigrants, members of the diaspora vow to tell their own story

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 22:36:35 +0000

They’re repeated over and over in debates, speeches and media appearances during this presidential campaign: harmful lies about Haitian immigrants.

Springfield, Ohio has been at the center of the fabrications. Former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance have falsely asserted that Haitian immigrants are eating people’s pets.

Despite thorough debunking by local officials, including the Republican Governor of Ohio – Trump and Vance have doubled down on these falsehoods.

The dehumanizing rhetoric didn’t exactly shock members of the Haitian diaspora in the United States, but it has saddened them and put people in Springfield at risk.

Guest:

David Zhu Pierre-Louis, founder of Kay Tita

Relevant Links:

New York Times: Far From Ohio, Haitian Americans Feel the Sting of Threats in Springfield

New York Times: Trump’s Derision of Haitians Goes Back Years

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Seattle Public Schools pauses closure meetings

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 21:31:22 +0000

Seattle Public Schools leadership is taking a minute to think.

Earlier this month, the district released plans to potentially close almost two dozen elementary schools to shore up a budget gap. Unsurprisingly: many parents were not thrilled with the idea. Hundreds packed a school board meeting demanding the district reconsider.

Now, Superintendent Brent Jones says he is pausing further meetings about the closures.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

Sami West, KUOW education reporter

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Microsoft details increased Russian interference in the presidential election

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 22:26:22 +0000

There are just a handful of weeks until the election, reports about outside interference from countries like Iran, China, and Russia are still popping up.

Recently, Microsoft shared new findings about Russian efforts to interfere with the US presidential election, with a focus on the Harris-Walz campaign.

This follows the tech giant’s announcement in August about Iranian-backed efforts aimed at Republican campaigns.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST: Maggie Miller - cybersecurity reporter for POLITICO, covering the intersection of cybersecurity and national security.

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How the director of 'All We Carry' went behind the headlines of the refugee crisis

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 21:43:33 +0000

As candidates prepare to make their final pitch to voters ahead of the 2024 election, former president Donald Trump is once again using lies and hateful rhetoric about immigrants to fuel his pitch to voters.

Trump has doubled down on falsehoods about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, and claimed at a rally on Saturday that migrants are “attacking villages and cities all throughout the Midwest.”

During Trump’s time in the White House, his administration pursued a policy of separating children from their families at the U.S. border to deter would-be migrants.

But even at the height of “zero tolerance,” many families weighed the risks, and made the difficult decision to leave their homes in Central America and make the dangerous trek to seek asylum in the U.S.

The new documentary 'All We Carry' tells the story of one such family: Magdiel, Mirna, and their young son, Joshua.

They fled violence in Honduras, and the camera follows as they make the difficult and dangerous journey through Mexico on foot and on cargo trains. At the U.S. border, they claim asylum.

Eventually, Magdiel, Mirna, and Joshua wind up in Seattle. With the help of a local synagogue, they begin building a new life for themselves.

But looming over them – is the question of whether or not they’ll be able to stay together, in their adopted home.

Soundside talks to journalist and director Cady Voge about 'All We Carry' and the family behind it.

All We Carry is screening this Friday, September 27th at the Northwest Film Forum’s Local Sightings Film Festival.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Cady Voge, journalist and director of 'All We Carry'

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Initiative 2066: Why proponents say you should vote 'Yes'

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 21:05:47 +0000

This election season we’re taking a dive into the big races and big initiatives on your ballot this November. This week we’re taking a look at Initiative 2066 – the "Natural Gas Policies Measure."

For a quick refresher, this initiative aims to keep natural gas as a consumer option as building codes, state policies, and utility companies begin a pivot to green and clean energy.

Yesterday, Soundside heard from Leah Missik, who opposes the initiative to repeal provisions in this year’s natural gas law.

Today, Soundside heard from a supporter of the initiative: Greg Lane, the executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, which is the main sponsor of the initiative.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Greg Lane, executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington.

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Seattle City Council approves 'loitering' penalties for prostitution and drug zones

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 23:11:53 +0000

New criminal penalties for drug and prostitution-related crimes within some of Seattle's busiest areas are on the way.

In an 8 to 1 decision, the Seattle City Council voted in favor of two ordinances on Tuesday, one creates “Stay Out Of Drug Area” zones – or “SODA” zones – in six areas of the city.

A Seattle municipal court judge can now order people who get arrested for drug-related crimes to steer clear of these zones or face a gross misdemeanor charge.

The other establishes a “Stay Out of Area of Prostitution” zone on Aurora Avenue North from 85th to 145th street. This new SOAP ordinance also reinstates a prostitution loitering law as a misdemeanor.

And it creates a new gross misdemeanor offense: promoting “loitering for purposes of prostitution”, meant to target sex traffickers.

Soundside hears from KUOW politics reporter Amy Radil about the enforcement power these zones give the city, and the pushback from critics.

And later, Soundside talks to Madison Zack-Wu, an organizer with Strippers Are Workers, about the concerns sex workers have raised about the legislation.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Amy Radil, KUOW politics and government reporter
Madison Zack-Wu, organizer with Strippers Are Workers

Relevant Links:

New 'loitering' penalties targeting Seattle drug and prostitution zones approved by City Council - Amy Radil, KUOW

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Initiative 2066: Why opponents say you should vote 'No'

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 22:58:28 +0000

This election season we’re bringing you conversations on all of the statewide initiatives on this November’s ballot -- and this year, many of those initiatives have something to do with Washington’s ambitious goals to completely transition off of fossil fuels.

Last week we heard about Initiative 2117, which would repeal a key part of Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. Today, we’re talking about Initiative 2066.

This one’s about natural gas. If passed, the measure would repeal parts of a natural gas law passed earlier this year. In a nutshell, the law was designed to push Puget Sound Energy into developing a plan for transitioning away from natural gas.

This is where Initiative 2066 comes into the picture. It’s supported by many of the critics of this year’s natural gas law – including building and hospitality associations.

Simply speaking, the initiative is aimed at guaranteeing utility customers’ access to natural gas by repealing certain provisions in this year's earlier natural gas bill, 1589, and changing state building codes.

I-2066 would prohibit penalties for using natural gas in construction, limit the ability of building codes to discourage the use of natural gas, and keep utility officials from making planning decisions that make natural gas cost-prohibitive.

Initiative supporters have branded it a “ban” on natural gas bans.

Over the next two days, we’ll hear from a supporter of the initiative to repeal provisions in this year’s natural gas law…. and an opponent of the initiative.

For the "No" side of the issue, Soundside spoke with Leah Missik, the acting Washington Director of the nonprofit “Climate Solutions.” She’s also on the executive team for the "No on 2066" campaign.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Leah Missik, acting Washington Director of the nonprofit “Climate Solutions” and a member on the executive team for the "No on 2066" campaign.

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What can we learn from one man's experience with SODA?

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 23:43:00 +0000

The Seattle City Council is preparing to take a final vote today on a pair of new laws that city attorney Ann Davison and some city council members say could help the city fight drug trafficking and prostitution.

The SODA ordinance – stands for “Stay Out of Drug Areas.” It would create a new gross misdemeanor, punishable up to 364 days in jail, and a $5,000 fine, for being caught inside a designated SODA zone – if you’re subject to a judge’s order to stay out.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann talks to one man who was subject to a similar policy – in his case, a King County judge issued a several-block “Stay Out of Drug Area” order after he was arrested in 2015.

Guests:

Joe Conniff, REACH Reentry Program Supervisor at Evergreen Support Services. Conniff is also the author of Causes and Conditions: A Life Experience in Addiction and Recovery.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human created noise hinders resident orcas' ability to hunt

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 23:14:37 +0000

As humans have built skyscrapers, factories and highways around the Puget Sound, our environment has become much noisier, and not just terrestrially.

Underwater, humans (and our large cargo ships) have a large sonic impact, too.

New research suggests that cacophony is hurting the survival of some of the original inhabitants of the Salish Sea: Southern Resident orca whales.

Orcas use a series of clicks and vocalizations to hunt down their favorite meal: Chinook Salmon. It’s sort of like a bat using echolocation.

A new study published in Global Change Biology by scientists at the University of Washington and NOAA shows how orcas’ hunting is affected by all that sound we create.

Guests:

Jennifer Tennessen, senior research scientist in the University of Washington’s Department of Biology

Relevant Links:

KUOW: Shhh! The orcas can’t hear their dinner

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How one complaint is changing accessibility at Washington state parks

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 22:53:29 +0000

Washington state parks need to be more accessible to people with disabilities.

That’s the conclusion from a U.S. Department of Justice investigation – which prompted a deal announced earlier this month to bring state parks into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Guests:

Laurel Demkovich, Washington State Standard reporter
Syren Nagakyrie, Founder and Director of Disabled Hikers

Related Links:

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The number of striking workers skyrocketed in 2023, what does that mean for Boeing machinists?

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:43:34 +0000

33,000 Boeing factory workers walked off the job Friday, demanding higher wages and for the company to restore pensions. Most are based here in the Pacific Northwest.

The overall labor landscape in the U.S. has changed significantly since the last machinists strike 2008 – nationally, union membership remains at historically low levels, but work stoppages have increased in recent years and the number of striking workers skyrocketed in 2023.The UAW strike late last year won historic concessions for auto workers across the country.

Guests:

Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory

Rebecca Givan, Associate Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: Boeing Machinists reject contract as 96% vote to strike

AP: Boeing machinists vote to strike after rejecting pay increases of 25% over 4 years

New York Times: Boeing’s Strike Halts Airplane Production at Key Plants

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