Soundside

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On the ballot: Rep. Michelle Caldier - 26th Legislative District Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

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 Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is probably coming to the classroom, whether you like it or not Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

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

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/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 a King County case says about abuse in a national police youth program Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the ballot: Sen. Deb Krishnadasan - 26th Legislative District Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She's a trans Seattleite. She did not shoot Charlie Kirk. The internet disagrees. Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"What do we want? One lunch!" Students protest changing SPD schedule Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear it Again: New linguistic paper traces the many Indigenous names of Mount Rainier Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Sept 11-14 Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

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 Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

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:

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.