Soundside

Latest Episodes:

What the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil tells us about the First Amendment Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" Spring Equinox Edition Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why WA Democrats are trying to repeal parts of a law they passed a year ago Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

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 Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monisha Harrell alleges a toxic work environment under uncle, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

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

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/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 program to send UW doctors to rural areas is being threatened in Idaho Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

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 Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

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 hadsecondary 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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congresswoman Emily Randall on the Democratic backlash to Senator Chuck Schumer Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 3/13-16 Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

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 Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

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: