Soundside

Making history for the Mariners, Angie Mentink joins the broadcast booth Mar 04, 2025

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 Mar 03, 2025

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal funding expires on March 14th—and Senator Murray has a lot to say Mar 03, 2025

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This actor found freedom — and refuge — on the Seattle stage Feb 28, 2025

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 2/27-3/2 Feb 27, 2025

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 Feb 27, 2025

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 Feb 26, 2025

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? Feb 25, 2025

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 Feb 25, 2025

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 Feb 25, 2025

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State schools chief pushes back on federal DEI directives Feb 25, 2025

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protests and peace talks mark third anniversary of the war in Ukraine Feb 24, 2025

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle Mayor Harrell says he was racially profiled in 1996 firearm arrest Feb 20, 2025

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 Feb 20, 2025

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 Feb 20, 2025

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 Feb 20, 2025

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 Feb 20, 2025

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 Feb 20, 2025

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? Feb 19, 2025

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legislative carveout would change penalties for assaults on health care workers Feb 18, 2025

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 Feb 18, 2025

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 Feb 13, 2025

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.

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 Feb 13, 2025

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Valentine's Edition Feb 13, 2025

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Lands Commissioner pauses some timber sales to study mature forests Feb 12, 2025

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:

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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: Meet the people on a quest to count every Cooper's Hawk in Seattle Feb 12, 2025

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:

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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 Feb 12, 2025

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 Feb 12, 2025

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" Feb 11, 2025

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

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Washington has a data center problem Feb 11, 2025

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 energythat 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

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The struggle to restrict cell phones in Washington schools Feb 11, 2025

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 Feb 10, 2025

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 Feb 10, 2025

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 Feb 06, 2025

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 Feb 06, 2025

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.

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Rep. Adam Smith on the legality of the foreign aid freeze Feb 06, 2025

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 Feb 06, 2025

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? Feb 05, 2025

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.

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Landmine removal group pauses work after foreign aid freeze Feb 05, 2025

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? Feb 04, 2025

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.

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Starbucks implements open door changes as foot traffic continues to slow Feb 03, 2025

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 Feb 03, 2025

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" Feb 03, 2025

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 Jan 31, 2025

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 Jan 30, 2025

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.

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"I feel like a foster parent." Outgoing chief Sue Rahr on hiring, leadership, and sexism at SPD Jan 29, 2025

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 Jan 29, 2025

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.

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Soundside listeners sound off about our coverage of Trump 2.0 Jan 29, 2025

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:

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

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

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Fueling innovation, or exploitation? Trump supporters feud over future of H-1B visas Jan 28, 2025

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 Jan 28, 2025

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 Jan 27, 2025

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.

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Converge Media wants you to support Black business Jan 27, 2025

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.

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WA lawmakers again consider cap on rent increases Jan 23, 2025

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.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 23rd-27th Jan 23, 2025

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.

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Why medical debt hits Indigenous Washingtonians especially hard Jan 22, 2025

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.

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Resident Orca tells the story of Lummi elders' quest to bring captured whale home Jan 22, 2025

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

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The TikTok ban is delayed... again. What can we learn from the whiplash? Jan 22, 2025

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.

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WA justices look at "historical tradition" for high capacity magazines in Gator Guns case Jan 22, 2025

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.

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Washington Attorney General sues Trump Administration Jan 21, 2025

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.

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What can you learn from dead birds? With enough volunteers, a lot Jan 17, 2025

The University of Washington'sCoastal 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.

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'Roll On, Kalakala' celebrates the beginning, and end, of a Seattle icon Jan 17, 2025

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.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 17th-20th Jan 16, 2025

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 Jan 16, 2025

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:

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The California wildfire insurance crisis Jan 15, 2025

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.

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New podcast explores why healthcare can cost "An Arm and a Leg" Jan 15, 2025

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.

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Can a river have rights? Everett is finding out Jan 15, 2025

This past election, voters in Everett approved an initiative (24-03) that granted the Snohomish Riverwatershed 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 Jan 14, 2025

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.

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Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell on city budgets, the comprehensive plan, and more Jan 13, 2025

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.

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Dangerous highs from highly potent cannabis Jan 13, 2025

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.

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Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 9th-13th Jan 10, 2025

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 Jan 09, 2025

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 Jan 09, 2025

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.

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The Housing First Approach: A Documentary Jan 08, 2025

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 Jan 08, 2025

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:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A look into Amazon's "Return to Office" mandate Jan 07, 2025

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 Jan 07, 2025

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.

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Democrats in Olympia plan for massive budget gap Jan 06, 2025

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.

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A new governor, budget woes, and pickleball: KUOW's newsroom shares their big stories of 2025 Jan 06, 2025

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.

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How Kenny G went from local fill-in to global saxophone phenom Jan 03, 2025

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 Dec 31, 2024

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 newstory 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.

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Soundside looks back at the 50th Anniversary of D&D Dec 30, 2024

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 Dec 27, 2024

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:

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Your favorite sounds of the Pacific Northwest Dec 20, 2024

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:

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Looking back at the best local albums of 2024 Dec 20, 2024

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 Dec 19, 2024

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 Dec 19, 2024

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 Dec 19, 2024

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 Dec 18, 2024

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 Dec 18, 2024

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 Dec 18, 2024

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, international acoustic ecologist and Emmy Award winning sound recordist

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What does the NW sound like? Perhaps an old metro bus Dec 18, 2024

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

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A grocery mega-merger just failed. Could it shape the future of antitrust? Dec 18, 2024

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 Dec 17, 2024

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 Dec 16, 2024

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 Dec 16, 2024

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 Dec 16, 2024

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 Dec 13, 2024

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' Dec 12, 2024

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 Dec 12, 2024

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 Dec 11, 2024

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: