Soundside

How comfortable are you with AI in your news?  The Tacoma News Tribune, Tri-City Herald, Bellingham Herald, the Olympian. For over a century all of these local papers have brought in-depth reporting and local news to their communities. But new policies instituted by publisher McClatchy Media have left reporters at the papers worried that the company is adopting artificial intelligence tools for efficiency’s sake, at the cost of  accurate information. Union members from the Idaho and Washington State Newsguild, a group of five McClatchy owned papers in the region (that includes the four from WA and The Idaho Statesman), are demanding that the publisher change its policy on how it uses artificial intelligence to produce and collate content.   Guests: Kristine Sherred is the food reporter at the Tacoma News Tribune, and chair of the WA state newsguild   Links: To our readers: How we are using AI in our newsrooms - Miami Herald The McClatchy News Group Is Pushing AI. Their Union Is Pushing Back. - The Stranger   Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another week down, only... 50 left to go in 2026.  If you need a bit of distraction from your doom scrolling, we’ve got just the thing…  Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with local events you can check out over the next few days, plus some really great stuff coming up to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day… LINKS: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS vs San Francisco 49ers - Saturday 5pm Seattle Torrent vs Boston Fleet - Sun 7pm Seattle Kraken vs Pittsburgh Penguins - Mon 2pm Seattle Retro Fest Monster Jam | Tacoma Dome Fat Con Kidstock! 2026 | Edmonds Center for the Arts Follow the Yellow Brick Road: An Oz Film Festival 2026 Winterhop Brewfest MLK Day Events: Annual Community Celebration of MLK | Seattle Colleges - Fri 1/16 2026 MLK Day March & Celebration on January 17 - Parkways - Sat 1/17  26th Annual Expansions MLK Unity Party and Live Broadcast - Sun 1/18 MLK Celebration 2026 - Bainbridge Island Museum of Art - Sunday 1/18 Events | SCBHC - Everett, WA Sun 1/18 - Celebration + Mon 1/19 - March & Rally MLK Day — Seattle MLK Jr Organizing Coalition - Mon 1/19 NAAM | Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration 2026 - Mon 1/19 Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The state’s general fund budget is in trouble, as is its transportation budget. Inflation, higher than expected costs, lower than anticipated revenues, state services scheduled to expand. If you listen to KUOW, you’re probably aware of why the state is facing budget shortfalls.  This next segment is about a bright spot in the state’s budget: the money generated from the cap and invest system. That’s part of the Climate Commitment Act which voters upheld in 2024.  Here’s how it works: The state sets a limited amount of emissions allowed each year by major companies that’s the cap. Companies that emit more than they’re supposed to have to buy an allowance in a state-run auction. The latest auction generated $394 million dollars. The money is supposed to go towards climate investments like air quality monitors, electric vehicle chargers, and public transportation projects.  But Governor Ferguson recently proposed using more than half billion dollars of that money to fund another program: The Working Families Tax Credit. It’s a refund that gives money back to low-and-medium income state residents.    Meanwhile, Republicans, perhaps seeing an opening with the governor’s proposal, want to use the money to offset utility costs for schools. Environmental groups are already pushing back against the Governor’s proposal.  The budget fight has come for this big pot of money and we’re going to hear two perspectives on this issue today.  Guests: Todd Myers, Vice President of Research at Washington Policy Center Reuven Carlyle, Founder of Earth Finance, former state senator, and architect of the Climate Commitment Act Relevant Links: Seattle Times: A budget ‘rat hole’? Political fight over WA climate money intensifies Washington State Standard: WA governor calls for tapping reserve fund and climate law cash to fill budget hole Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions across the country remain high one week after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. The shooting has sparked nationwide protests, including in the Seattle area. Accounts of what happened have split along political lines. Since the shooting, the administration is doubling down on its immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. The number of federal immigration enforcement agents deployed to Minnesota is expected to reach 3,000 in the coming days, the largest operation in U.S. history, according to DHS.   U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal joined us to share her thoughts on the events that unfolded this past week.   Guests: Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative for Washington's 7th Congressional District.  Related links:  How 3,000 federal agents would compare to 10 largest Twin Cities police forces - The Minnesota Star Tribune New poll reveals voter sentiments on fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good - USA TODAY  Trump officials defend federal agents after ICE shooting - The Hill  Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump's Deadly Assault on Minnesota - Rep. Pramila Jayapal's Youtube page Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments in two cases challenging state bans on trans athletes competing in girls' and women's sports.Twenty-seven states have bans on trans girls and women competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity.  But Washington passed a law in 2007 that protects trans athletes' participation in school sports. It was the first state to do so. For more than a decade, that law received very little attention. But in recent years, questions about fairness, the athletic advantages conferred by testosterone, and the sanctity of women’s sports have become fiery political issues.  And for the first time, a few trans athletes have won competitions, including Verónica Garcia, a runner from Spokane Valley.  In May, she repeated as the state 2A high school girls champion in the 400 meters. Last month, she was the subject of an extensive profile in the Washington Post that explored her life as she was finishing high school and competing in track and field for the last time Reporter Casey Parks followed Verónica for a year. We spoke to them both for almost two hours. This episode is the condensed version of that conversation.  Guests  Verónica García, college student and runner Casey Parks, reporter, The Washington Post Related Links For young transgender runner, racing wasn’t the hardest thing  - The Washington Post (Casey's piece) Heywood you sign this? Let's Go WA is working on two new initiatives - Soundside, KUOW WA Democrats won’t hold hearings on parental rights, trans athlete initiatives - Washington State Standard Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doctors have long recommended regular cervical cancer screenings. Traditionally doctors perform these exams using a speculum, which often say is uncomfortable and, for many, quite painful.  Some recent developments could make a large number of these screenings easier. In early January, the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, updated its guidelines to say that self-administered tests are an acceptable way to screen for human papillomavirus. HPV is a sexually-transmitted disease that causes the majority of cervical cancer cases.  OB-GYNs are hopeful that at-home testing will make cervical cancer screenings  easier to access…. and significantly more comfortable.  Guests: Dr. Linda Eckert, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine Related links:  New Guidelines Endorse Self-Swab Alternative to Pap Smear for Cervical Cancer Testing - The New York Times Cervical Cancer Risk Factors | Cervical Cancer | CDC The FDA has approved an at-home HPV test. What you need to know : NPR Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. GUEST: Paige Browning - KUOW News Anchor & Podcast Host RELATED LINKS: After Minneapolis killing, protests in Seattle, U.S. demand: ‘ICE out’ Valdez introduces bill to ban face-concealing masks by law enforcement in response to masked ICE raids Gov Bob Ferguson’s 6 Request Bills WA Democrats won’t hold hearings on parental rights, trans athlete initiatives Here’s What to Know About the Protests in Iran Iran Edges Closer to a Revolution That Would Reshape the World NFL playoffs: Seahawks will host 49ers in NFC divisional round Seahawks continue crackdown on resale of season tickets Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From new transportation fees to requirements for closed captions in movie theaters, you might have already noticed the effects of several new laws and taxes with a January 1 start date.  And we’re about to begin a new legislative session on Monday, January 12th.  In Olympia, lawmakers are facing a yawning budget shortfall and uncertain funding from the federal government.  We review the new laws we need to follow and preview the upcoming session. GUESTS Jake Goldstein-Street, reporting, Washington State Standard RELATED LINKS Gerrymander Washington state? Democrats want to talk about it - KUOW These new laws and taxes take effect in Washington state on Jan. 1 - Washington State Standard  Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve reached the end of our first full week of 2026, and it’s time to get out there & do something FUN. LINKS:  2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour - Northwest Film Forum David Horsey | Elliott Bay Book Company OrcaCon Tabletop Games Convention  Seattle Travel and Adventure Show Great Train Show 2026 - Ridgefield, WA Seattle Bach Festival Jules Maes Saloon - Prohibition Party Seattle Torrent vs Minnesota Frost Official Watch Party at Rough & Tumble Ballard Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot has changed in Seattle in the last 7 days. The city has a new mayor, a new city attorney, two new council members, and, as of Tuesday afternoon, a new city council president. District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth won unanimous support yesterday from her colleagues to lead the council over the next two years.  The stakes of leading the city are always high, but this looks to be an especially packed year:  there’s the ongoing project of finishing the city’s growth plan, another budget deficit to contend with…. and the World Cup (and its hordes of fans) landing here in June. Not to mention the potential for federal policy changes that could impact city government. So - how will the city council navigate 2026 and beyond? GUEST: Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth RELATED LINKS:  Councilmember Hollingsworth calls for action after violence on Capitol Hill - Seattle City Council Blog Seattle OKs New Growth Plan, but Biggest Zoning Battles Lie Ahead - The Urbanist Katie Wilson is officially Seattle's mayor. Her agenda: affordability, housing, and workers' rights - 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.

Less than a week after the U.S. captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, the Coast Guard seized two oil tankers accused of violating U.S. sanctions. One of the vessels, seized in the North Atlantic, was registered in Russia. The Trump Administration is leaning on Venezuela to open up its oil industry to U.S. companies and oust the influence of Russia and China. President Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela will turn over 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S. As this new era of interventionism unfolds, Greenland also appears to have returned to the top of the White House’s agenda. We talked to Rep. Adam Smith, the Democratic ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, about all of that and more.  NOTE: News is developing quickly, and we spoke to Rep. Smith just after 10am PT. Head to npr.org or KUOW for the latest updates.  GUEST: Rep. Adam Smith, Democrat, Washington's 9th district Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been three days since the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in an audacious military raid.  It was a sudden and intense escalation of an ongoing campaign by the United States to oust Maduro. Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores, appeared in a Manhattan court yesterday in an arraignment hearing over drug trafficking and weapons charges. Those charges were central to the government’s rationale for capturing Maduro.  But since Maduro’s capture, the Trump administration has focused on the Venezuelan oil industry and threatened other countries in Latin America like Cuba, Columbia and Mexico.  GUESTS: Jenaro Abraham, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Gonzaga University Marines Scaramazza, reporter and manager of Latino Herald, based in Lynnwood RELATED LINKS:  NPR: 7 takeaways from Trump's incursion into Venezuela Seattle Times: After Maduro’s capture, Venezuelans in WA ask: ‘Should we be happy?’  Al Jazeera: Trump’s bid to commandeer Venezuela’s oil sector faces hurdles, experts say Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being a movie buff in Seattle feels a little… unsettled right now. That’s because there’s been a lot of changes at SIFF, the Seattle International Film Festival, which has been the vanguard when it comes to all things movies. The organization announced Monday, it was undergoing an organizational restructuring, including some layoffs. This follows a somewhat tumultuous year for SIFF. For more, we're joined by...  GUESTS: Chase Hutchinson, critic and freelance reporter, who often covers SIFF for the Seattle Times RELATED LINK:  SIFF announces more layoffs, organizational restructuring | The Seattle Times  Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are plenty of headwinds affecting affordable housing construction and maintenance right now. Building costs are going up, and federal funding is uncertain. Affordable housing providers in Seattle and beyond have struggled as COVID-era rent subsidies disappeared. Colleen Echohawk has been thinking about these issues a lot. She is the new CEO of Community Roots Housing, a Public Development Authority that manages over 2,300 affordable housing units in Seattle. They’re set to open more units in 2026, so we spoke to her about her plans for the organization. Echohawk is also a member of the transition team for Mayor Katie Wilson, co-chairing the a group working on affordable housing and community needs.  Guest Colleen Echohawk, CEO, Community Roots Housing Related Links Seattle’s affordable housing industry is in crisis. The city faces tough choices - The Seattle Times (June 2025) Seattle doubles bailout for ailing affordable housing sector - The Seattle Times (December 4th, 2025)Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR NetworkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. Guest: Geekwire contributing editor, journalist, and owner of the Streamline Tavern - Mike Lewis Related stories: Maduro and wife plead not guilty to narco-terrorism charges - NPR Trump wants U.S. oil companies in Venezuela. Here's what to know - KUOW Katie Wilson is officially Seattle's mayor. Her agenda: affordability, housing, and workers' rights - KUOW Seattle-area Somalis seek officials’ help with daycare doxxing, immigration crackdown - 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.

It’s New Year’s Eve. At midnight, many of us will be raising glasses, kissing loved ones, and trying to remember the words to “Auld Lang Syne.”  That song, if you don’t recall, begins with a question: “Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?”  We here at Soundside say, NO! We will remember.  This year, we brought on a couple new producers, and they have been fantastic additions to our team! I am super excited to see how they help us grow.  But we will never forget those who helped us get here. So, today, we’re playing back some of the great work by former Soundside producers. RELATED LINKS:  'Thousands of stiches, all by hand': a look at Puget Sound's artisan sailmakers Remembering Soul Radio-o-o-o-o-o-o 1250 KYAC - Seattle How the Olympic marmot became Washington's fuzziest state symbol   Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/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 week, we’re revisiting some of our favorite segments of the year.  And today, we're talking about transit. And translators.  A now-former King County Metro Bus driver tells us what passengers should know when they ride the bus. But more importantly, we got some insight into why the 8 in downtown Seattle is so often called the late bus. Plus, we sat down with a Seattle-based translator to discuss her National Book Award-nominated work translating the novel We Computers into English.  She said that translating the poetry and the prose in this book was like running a triathlon. We're taking a trip with two local women who helped us get from point A to point B in 2025.  Guests Desiree Andersen, former King County Metro bus driver, @desinthepark Shelley Fairweather-Vega, Seattle-based translator of Hamid Ismailov's  Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the holidays and, to round out 2025, the Soundside team is sharing some of our favorite conversations we had on the show this year. For this episode, we devoted the entire hour to a conversation we originally aired last month on Bruce Lee.   This year, author Jeff Chang published an in-depth biography on Lee’s life. It's called “Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America." In it, Chang shows how the rise of Bruce Lee mirrored the rise of Asian American identity.  In this interview, we talked about Lee’s life in Seattle; his rise in Hollywood; and how his short life left an imprint on Asian Americans that can be felt to this day.  RELATED LINK: "Water Mirror Echo" explores the life, and legacy, of Bruce Lee Book Review: ‘Water Mirror Echo,’ by Jeff Chang - The New York Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas Eve begins our holiday break here on Soundside. We’re taking some time off to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family… or to just eat lots of good food while staying indoors. But we’ve still got plenty of jam packed shows ready for you. Today - we’re focusing on local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest. RELATED LINKS: A tech startup helping the visually impaired "watch" sports with their fingertips Will people always love Costco? At 75, Cougar Gold canned cheese is still a Washington state favorite The lights go down... for now... on the Grand Illusion Cinema Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot has changed during Sara Nelson’s time in Seattle government. She was a centrist outlier on a progressive city council when she was first elected in 2021. But the dynamics changed: Nelson became the center of power, and ended up running the show as council president, after a moderate slate of candidates swept the 2023 election.  She helped oversee pandemic-era recovery, worked with two different mayoral administrations and two very different presidential administrations during her time on the council.  Now - her time in office is coming to an end. Next month, there will be a new, more progressive representative in the citywide Position 9 seat that Nelson’s held the past four years. Nonprofit leader Dionne Foster will take Nelson’s place after winning by a wide margin of votes in November.  Between passing a police contract, approving phase one of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, and putting forward a bill to change how consultants work with the city – Nelson has been busy during her last month in office. And last week she spent an hour with Soundside to reflect on her tenure and the direction Seattle politics is moving. GUESTS: Sara Nelson, outgoing position 9 Seattle City Councilmember and City Council President RELATED LINKS:  Seattle passes new transparency law aimed at political consultants - Seattle Times New Seattle Police contract includes pay boost, increased use of unarmed crisis responders - 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.