Soundside

Have you been at a party recently and found yourself reaching for sparkling water instead of a glass of wine? Join the club. A new Gallup poll found that Americans are drinking less than ever before. Only 54% of U.S. adults are reporting that they consume alcohol. That’s a record low since the survey company started asking about people’s drinking habits back in 1939. And young people are drinking less than older Americans, a trend we’re seeing in our region, too: The Seattle Times reports that young people - especially young men - are reporting lower alcohol consumption than other age groups in the area. We want to know how local businesses are navigating this -- and what could be behind this shift. Guest: Emily Ritchie, executive director of the Northwest Cider Association. Malcolm Purinton, assistant teaching professor of history at Northeastern University. Related stories: U.S. Drinking Rate at New Low as Alcohol Concerns Surge | Gallup How much do adults in Seattle drink? Here’s what new data shows | 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.

The story of Amanda Knox has been told many times, and there have been several versions: there were the sensational allegations laid out by an Italian prosecutor, of a University of Washington exchange student who, in 2007, murdered her British roommate as part of a sex-game-gone wrong. That story landed Knox in Italian prison for almost four years; that story was fiction. Then, there were the clickbaity tabloid exploits of “Foxy Knoxy,” a sex-obsessed “luciferina.” This story, which is also wrong, kept Knox confined in another way: branded with a reputation she couldn’t shake. There were also Lifetime Movies, documentaries and countless books, including a couple by Knox herself, that told the true story of a young woman wrongly convicted and caught up by legal and media forces larger than herself. Now, for the first time, she is using a scripted TV series to tell her story the way she wants. She is the Executive Producer of a new series called The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. By the way, the series is also EP’d by Monica Lewinsky. The first two episodes are available now on Hulu. Guest: Amanda Knox, Executive Producer of The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox Relevant Links: New York Times: For a ‘Twisted Tale,’ Amanda Knox and Grace Van Patten Became One Seattle Times: Amanda Knox reclaims her story in Hulu’s ‘Twisted Tale’ series See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Ferguson continues to defy demands from the Trump Administration to end Washington’s “sanctuary state” policies. But lawmakers say there’s one place here where protections for immigrants are falling short: state prisons. That, says Tacoma state Representative Sharlett Mena, means the state isn’t doing everything it could to keep Washingtonians safe. According to reporting from the Washington State Standard, dozens of lawmakers are calling for the state Department of Corrections to change the way it interacts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That effort may see some headwinds, however. Governor Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown both say they don’t see any need to alter state policy. Guests: Washington State Standard reporter Jake Goldstein-Street Related stories: Washington governor and AG stand by state prison notifications to ICE - Washington State Standard As DOJ threatens WA over sanctuary laws, state officials double down on protections - 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.

President Trump has threatened to sign an Executive Order that would end mail-in voting in America. His comments last week come at a time when the President is suggesting multiple ways to help Republicans hold onto Congress in the 2026 midterms. Nearly a third of national ballots came through the mail in the 2024 election. And the Washington State legislature required vote-by-mail starting in 2011. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs talks to us about what President Trump can do and defends Washington State voting security. Guest: Secretary of State Steve Hobbs Related links: Does Trump have the power to end mail-in voting? Legal scholar weighs in Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/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 future of Seattle City Light might run through Oregon. The city has contracted two solar fields in central Oregon in an effort to meet surging demand for electricity in the city. It’s estimated that by 2033, the utility will need to about double its current production in order to keep up. But where all of that new power will come from is still unclear. Guest David Kroman, Seattle Times reporter Links Seattle hopes to build its future in Oregon’s desert — or blackouts may follow - The Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent tech company protests are highlighting the connection between worker power and free speech here in Seattle. On Sunday, protestors, including current and former Microsoft employees, kayaked across Lake Washington to the homes of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and President Brad Smith. From the water they unfurled banners reading “Microsoft kills kids” and “Satya + Brad = War Criminals”. This was the latest in a week of action calling for the company to cut ties with the Israeli government and military. On Tuesday, protestors briefly occupied a plaza in Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters, declaring it a “Liberated Zone” encampment. On Wednesday, another protest at the campus led to several arrests. KUOW labor and economy reporter Monica Nickelsburg was at Wednesday’s protest, and is here with us to discuss the specific demands of Microsoft, and how the state of the tech industry is changing employee power. Guest: Monica Nickelsburg is KUOW’s labor and economy reporter. She’s also the cohost of Booming: A weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest Related stories: Protesters occupy Microsoft HQ, demand it cut ties with Israeli military - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently on Soundside, we took a ride into the world of micromobility. Specifically, we wanted to know as more e-bikes and scooters crowd the streets and sidewalks, how are cities like Seattle adapting? And after that segment, we got an interesting listener question about helmets, inspired by this Slate article. So we decided to investigate. "I think it's very wise to wear a helmet," our expert guest told us. "But they're not the whole story.. there are so many other public health interventions that are also crucial." Guest Kathleen Bachynski, a professor of public health at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania Links Shared bikes and scooters are getting more popular. How should cities adapt? - Soundside The Cult of Bike Helmets - Marion Renault, Slate Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brand new contemporary art space opened up this week in downtown Seattle. It's called Cannonball Arts, and Soundside recently got a sneak preview. GUESTS: Brent Watanabe, a Seattle based artist who specializes in computer-controlled installations Greg Lundgren, Creative Director of New Rising Sun RELATED LINKS: Cannonball Arts Downtown Seattle’s Bed Bath & Beyond building to become an arts center Real-Deal Out-There Art - 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.

What does the Pacific Northwest sound like to you? Is it the tide rolling over a rocky beach? The wind across the Palouse? Or maybe a ferry horn echoing across the Puget Sound? On Soundside, we occasionally ask field recordists about THEIR iconic sounds of the northwest. Today, we hear from Gordon Hempton, also known as the Sound Tracker. He sent us a recording of snow melting on Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic Peninsula. GUEST: Gordon Hempton, acoustic ecologist and Emmy Award winning sound recordist Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Thursday, and on Thursdays, we hear from Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows with everything worth doing this weekend! LINKS: A Clarinet Concert with Cameron DeLuca Bend It Like Booker WA State Garlic Fest The Evergreen State Fair Get Sauced! ZooTunes Comedy What the Funk Fest Makah Days in Neah Bay Everfree Northwest Dragonflight GameCon Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/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 group of current and former Microsoft employees briefly occupied part of the company’s Redmond campus yesterday to protest the relationship between the tech giant and Israel’s military. The protest was led by a group called No Azure for Apartheid. Their name refers to a cloud computing service that has been contracted for use by Israel’s government. The demonstration follows recent reporting that Israel uses Azure as a mass surveillance tool against Palestinians, one that has shaped military operations in Gaza. Yesterday’s protest is the latest action taken by Microsoft employees in speaking out about the company’s business practices. Guest: Todd Bishop, co-founder of GeekWire Relevant Links: Geekwire: Protesters set up temporary encampment at Microsoft to pressure company on Israel contracts Geekwire: Microsoft launches formal review into alleged use of its Azure cloud in Palestinian surveillance Geekwire: Inside the Microsoft protests: Fired engineer speaks out on Palestine, Israel, AI, and big tech Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For college students, saying you majored in computer science used to be code (excuse the pun) for a six-figure salary and job stability. Now some fear those days are behind us. Since 2014, the number of undergraduates majoring in computer science has more than doubled, but the job offers aren’t flowing like they used to. Natasha Singer, a technology reporter at The New York Times, tells us about her recent story on computer science majors struggling to find employment as their field changes. Then we hear from Ed Lazowska, an emeritus professor at the University of Washington, about what he's seeing in our region. Guest: Natasha Singer, technology reporter at The New York Times. Ed Lazowska, an emeritus professor at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington. Related stories: Goodbye, $165,000 Tech Jobs. Student Coders Seek Work at Chipotle. - The New York Times Ed Lazowska retires after 48 years at UW, reflects on AI, computer science, and what’s next – GeekWire Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In many ways, the homicide of Barbara Innis was a clear cut case. There were witnesses, a weapon, and a suspect immediately taken into custody. The complication: the suspect, Barbara’s husband, can’t remember the crime. 87 year old George Innis had shown signs of dementia for years prior to the killing of his wife at their Bellevue assisted living center. His journey through the legal system highlights the questions surrounding prosecution and care of people with degenerative memory loss. Guest: Seattle Times lead breaking news reporter Paige Cornwell Related stories: A Bellevue man killed his wife. He has dementia. Now what? - Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you got your coffee from a Seattle Starbucks this morning, it may have been prepared by a unionized barista. At least 33 Starbucks in Washington have unions, including the cafe at the company’s headquarters in Sodo and the Reserve Roastery on Capitol Hill, according to The Seattle Times. It’s the result of an organizing effort that began in 2021 in Buffalo, New York. Starbucks workers across that city kicked off a renewed push to unionize those coffee shops. Jaz Brisack was one of the lead organizers on that campaign. They began working with unions while they were a student at the University of Mississippi. Brisack is also the author of "Get on the Job and Organize: Standing Up for a Better Workplace and a Better World," which came out earlier this year. They stopped by the KUOW to talk about their book and why they think that if you have a job, you should have a union. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Across Washington, student vaccination rates have fallen slightly over the past few years, but those statewide figures gloss over some parts that saw pretty big declines --- especially in one southwest Washington school district. The data showed the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District saw student vaccinations for diseases like tetanus, polio and rubella drop by more than 46%, making it the district with the lowest immunization rate in the state for 2024 to 2025. But what’s on paper doesn’t tell the whole story. Guest: Lori Ashley, clinical manager for the Pacific County Department of Health and Human Services. Related stories: K-12 vaccination rates in WA dropped again | The Seattle Times R.F.K. Jr. Cancels mRNA Vaccine Research | 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.

It’s not just your imagination: There are more shared bikes and scooters zipping around the streets of Seattle. Data collected by the city's Department of Transportation shows that between January and early August of 2025, the number of trips recorded on shared bikes and scooters jumped nearly 75 percent compared with the same time period last year. As streets and sidewalks get more crowded – how are cities like Seattle adapting? Guests Jeff Bailey, a writer and editor in Denver Links From E-Bikes to Scooters, Roads Are Getting More Crowded and Confusing - The Wall Street Journal Thanks to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, actress Bindi Irwin made a viral post on Instagram. Bindi is the daughter of the late Steve Irwin – the famed “Crocodile Hunter.” Bindi is also, herself, a conservationist, but her post didn’t have to do with wildlife health. Rather, it was about her own. She said she was recovering from surgery to remove 51 lesions, a cyst, and her appendix. Prior to this, Irwin had suffered 13 years of pain from endometriosis. She wrote, “I felt utterly ashamed as a teenager and young adult being told that my pain was just part of being a woman. I felt lesser. I felt hurt. I felt weak.” Several celebrities have spoken up about their experiences with endometriosis. Padma Lakshmi, Florence Pugh, Whoopi Goldberg, Lena Dunham – the list goes on. Approximately one in ten women is affected by endometriosis. According to Yale Medicine, it’s present in up to 50% of women who are infertile. And between 50% and 80% of women with pelvic pain. But, it’s a disease that’s rarely discussed - in part because the pain experienced is often dismissed as cramps or period pain. Guest: Dr. Cindy Mosbrucker is a nationally recognized expert in minimally-invasive excision of endometriosis, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic pain in women. Her clinic is Pacific Endometriosis and Pelvic Surgery in Gig Harbor. Related stories: Nancy's Nook - recommended as a free source of endometriosis information by Dr. Mosbrucker Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, Seattle residents have known that several city police officers attended the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally in Washington D.C. on January 6th, 2021. But the names of most of those police officers were unknown until recently. After a lengthy court fight, the city in late July disclosed the identities of all the officers who attended the rally. The city also released records from an investigation of the officers' role in the rally. KUOW reporter Amy Radil combed through those records and joins us to talk about what she found. Links Seattle police at Jan. 6 Trump rally told investigators they witnessed no violence, records show - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ex-county clerk in Kentucky who drew nationwide attention for denying marriage licenses for same-sex couples is back in the news. Kim Davis is asking the Supreme Court to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same sex unions nationwide. Obergefell v. Hodges was issued in 2015. It officially recognized that queer Americans have a constitutional right to get married. Hundreds of thousands of people have been married in the 10 years since. And also since then, Kim Davis has been fighting court battles over her refusal to grant licenses – citing her belief that she should get a religious exemption under the first amendment. The Supreme Court will decide this fall if they want to consider Davis’ appeal – and experts are skeptical that they will do so. But what would a serious legal fight to overturn marriage equality look like? And are legal rights besides marriage at risk for LGBTQ Washingtonians? Guest: Professor Alison Gash, Chair of the University of Oregon’s Department of Political Science. She’s also an academic expert in United States courts, sexuality, same-sex marriage, constitutional rights and public policy. Related stories: Supreme Court formally asked to overturn landmark same-sex marriage ruling - ABC News Ten Years After Obergefell: Is Same-Sex Marriage Safe? - Washington Monthly Alito’s Same-Sex Wedding Panic Threatens LGBTQ Rights - Washington Monthly Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On days like today, it’s nice to sit back, enjoy the cloud cover, and think about all the things you want to do this weekend. Here with a smattering of events to keep you busy is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows! LINKS: Movies at the Mural: Say Anything Seattle Tattoo Expo The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire Seattle Worldcon 2025 Chief Seattle Days Arlington SkyFest CHOMP! Celebrate Shoreline A Touch More Live An Evening With Rhett & Link Capitol Hill Garage Sale Phoenix Mercury vs. Seattle Storm Cannonball Arts Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If there’s a sci-fi movie or TV show that you enjoy, there’s a good chance it’s based on a book, and there’s an even better chance that book has won a HUGO AWARD. From Afrofuturist Octavia E Butler to Sci-Fi legends Frank Herbert and Ursula Le Guin, the Pacific Northwest has been home to several winners of one of the most prestigious honors in speculative fiction, fantasy and sci-fi. What you may not realize is that the Hugo Award Ceremony happens each year at a gathering called “Worldcon.” And this year, the convention is being held right here at the Seattle Convention Center. Worldcon is the is the official convention of the World Science Fiction Society. Events and programming began Wednesday and festivities run through Sunday. GUEST: Kathy Bond, Chair of WorldCon 2025 RELATED LINKS: Seattle Worldcon 2025 Worldcon 2025 celebrates the past and future of science fiction — and the part Seattle has played - GeekWire Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/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’s a war being waged in Seattle right now. But you won’t see it out on the streets, among your fellow citizens. Instead – look to the sky. For years, two airlines: Delta and Alaska have battled for supremacy at Seatac. Now, The Wall Street Journal says Alaska Airlines is making a big play to expand international flights – and Delta is striking back. Guest: Alison Sider, a reporter covering airlines and air travel for the Wall Street Journal Related stories: Battle for Seattle: Can Delta Keep Dominating International Flights? - Wall Street Journal Delta Gets Blowback for Using AI to Set Airfares - Wall Street Journal Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration is trying to restrict access to a substance you might find at your local smoke shop. The FDA in late July announced plans to crack down on 7-OH. Commissioner Marty Makary described it as an opioid that can be more potent than morphine and the agency's pushing to get it classified as a Schedule 1 substance -- like ecstasy or heroin. You may not have heard of 7-OH, but you’ve probably heard of kratom. It’s the substance that 7-OH comes from – and it’s controversial in its own right. Some states have banned kratom. The federal government tried to classify it as a Schedule 1 substance in 2016 but opted not to after getting a wave of pushback. This year Washington state regulators withdrew a proposal to designate kratom as a Schedule 1 substance, saying it didn’t meet the criteria. So for now, you can buy kratom products in the state. We wanted to know more about both kratom and 7-OH, so we checked in with a research professor at the University of Washington for insight. Guest: Caleb Banta-Green, research professor at the University of Washington and director of the Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology and Research. Related stories: FDA recommends concentrated Kratom be scheduled as illicit substance | The Hill What to know about changes to kratom sold in Seattle | Axios Seattle Kratom & 7-OH: What do we know about use, safety, and overdose risk? | Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (University of Washington) What is 7-OH? Opioid-like product may get banned by FDA | USA TODAY Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So far in 2025, Seattle is on track for a decline in homicides for the second year in a row. The city’s finally catching up to other parts of the country that started to see drops in lethal violence a few years ago, according to a new story published in the Seattle Times. The country saw a surge in homicides when the pandemic hit. Seattle was no exception, and the violence continued. The city experiencing one of its deadliest years on record in 2023. But lately things have been trending in a safer direction for the city and King County as a whole. Guest: Sara Jean Green, reporter at The Seattle Times. Related stories: Seattle is seeing fewer homicides, catching up with national trend | The Seattle Times KUOW - Seattle passes grim milestone with record high homicides | KUOW Seattle had 'highest number of murders in 26 years' in 2020 | MyNorthwest Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pre-season football is here. The Seattle Seahawks have a rejuvenated roster, but they are far away from being a pre-season favorite for the Superbowl. So, let’s remember some good times: I’m talking a Superbowl win, a Superbowl loss, the Legion of Boom, Beast Mode ... in the early 2010s, the Seahawks were a football juggernaut. And now, they’re the subject of a new book called The Franchise: Seattle Seahawks: A Curated History of the Legion of Boom Era. Guest: Michael-Shawn Dugar, staff writer at The Athletic and author of The Franchise: Seattle Seahawks: A Curated History of the Legion of Boom Era Michael-Shawn Dugar will be at Elliot Bay Books on Tuesday August 12th and Third Place Books Seward Park on Monday August 25thSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two familiar Republican names from last year’s election are back in the news: Joe Kent and Pete Serrano. They’re not running for election, but they may be finding success instead with federal appointments. Kent is a former Green Beret who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House twice in District 3. The Senate approved his appointment as director of the National Counterterrorism Center late last month. Serrano was the mayor of Pasco and ran for Washington Attorney General against Nick Brown. It was reported last week that he is the presumptive pick to take over as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. For many candidates who lose statewide office, a failed campaign is the end of the line, so how have these GOP candidates from a deep blue state been able to give new life to their political careers? Guest: Jim Brunner, Seattle Times political reporter Relevant Links: Seattle Times: Senate confirms former WA candidate Joe Kent to counterterrorism post Seattle Times: Former GOP AG candidate chosen as Eastern Washington’s U.S. attorney Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sound Transit has a busy few years ahead. Trains are set to start running to Federal Way in December, but a long-awaited east side expansion across Lake Washington has been delayed again – to at least April 2026. That comes as riders and public transit enthusiasts alike are clamoring for additional light rail service to Ballard, West Seattle and beyond. Amid all of this, Sound Transit has a new CEO, former King County Executive Dow Constantine. Constantine came to KUOW for a long conversation about the future of Sound Transit and to answer several questions from our audience. Guest Dow Constantine, CEO of Sound Transit Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Salmon recovery efforts have had mixed success in Washington, where salmon habitat and spawning routes have been disrupted for generations. But what if human consumption wasn't part of that equation? What if the salmon we eat were no longer wild-caught in the ocean or pulled out of a farm? What if that salmon was grown in a lab? Starting in late August, you could try some at one Seattle restaurant, so we're talking about the future of cultivated fish and meat. Guests Frida Garza, staff reporter, GristClaire Bomkamp, senior lead scientist for cultivated meat and seafood at The Good Food Institute (GFI), a nonprofit advocating for alternative proteins Editor's note: A previous version of this text described The Good Food Institute as an advocacy group for alternative proteins. We've updated the description to note GFI's nonprofit status. Links Want to try lab-grown salmon? The US just approved it. - Grist No bones, no scales, no problem: The first lab-grown salmon sold in the U.S. - The Washington Post Lab-Grown Salmon Set to Hit the Menu at Hot Seattle Oyster Bar - Bloomberg Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The forecast for the weekend is sunshine & 80 degrees, so Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows wants YOU to get outside & DO STUFF!! LINKS: MARINERS - Fri/Sat/Sun - vs Tampa Bay Edmonds Block Party West Seattle Glass Float Hunt Ananda Mela Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival WA Midsummer Renaissance Faire! Jacques ze Whipper Secret Show Festival At Mt Si Sundae Runday Tunnel Marathons Omak Stampede Issaquah Film Festival SIFF CatVideoFest 2025 SIFF Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (40th Anniversary) SIFF 'n' Stitch: 10 Things I Hate About You Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy post-election day to all those who celebrate! Maybe you're the type who eagerly awaits each wave of results, or maybe it's something you've already forgotten about. Regardless, pat on the back to everyone who made the time to turn in a ballot. Now... we might make you question the way you formed your decisions -- especially if you asked ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok for elections information. Today the University of Washington announced the results of a study looking at the potential influence artificial intelligence can have on our political decision making. It’s something that’s coming up a lot these days as AI becomes more prevalent. So we want to know what exactly this new study found - and if we should be worried about the results. Guest: Jillian Fisher, lead author of the study. Related stories: Could AI tilt the outcome of elections? - The Economist How artificially-generated content could dominate the 2026 campaign - The Boston Globe Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 12 years, researchers in Washington and British Columbia have been tracking down a mystery. Along the Pacific coast, sea stars were dissolving into goo. This phenomenon was given a name: sea star wasting disease and it killed billions of these marine creatures. For more than a decade, scientists studied the wasting disease but couldn’t figure out why it was happening. A new paper published this week in Nature Ecology and Evolution details a likely culprit. Guest: John Ryan, KUOW environment reporter Relevant Links: KUOW: Scientists crack the case of the melting sea stars. It only took a decade Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve spent much time on social media here in Washington, you’ve likely seen a headline like this one: Office Workers Secretly Waiting for Landing Seaplane to Decapitate Paddleboarder That gem comes from “The Needling,” which describes itself as Seattle’s only real fake news. It’s the comedy creation of Lex Vaughn, the site’s founder and editor since 2018 – longevity enough to lampoon two presidential elections. Thursday night, she’ll be at SIFF Cinema Downtown, as part of its Talking Pictures series. Vaughn has chosen to screen and discuss Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Today, Soundside is pleased to have her on to talk about how she came to be Seattle’s fake news maven, as well as what it means to do satire in 2025. GUEST: Lex Vaughn - Founder & Editor of The Needling LINK: The Needling Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s primary election day. If you fail to perform that most sacred civic duty of a free democracy, you won’t be alone. In fact, you’re in the majority.King County expects that just 35% percent of registered voters will send in a ballot for this primary. Is it fair when so few voters make decisions for everyone else? Guest: Zoltan Hajnal, professor of political science at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy Relevant Links: New York Times: Why Does No One Vote in Local Elections? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Governor Bob Ferguson’s chief strategy officer, Mike Webb, left his position in March, Ferguson said in a statement, quote, “I wouldn’t be governor without Mike.” Webb resigned after allegations surfaced of a hostile work environment. Ferguson told the Washington State Standard that he takes allegations against a team member seriously, quote “no matter how close that person is to me.” Now, new reporting by Axios reveals that the Governor may have known about concerns about his longtime aid years before Webb resigned.Guest: Melissa Santos, Axios Seattle reporter Related stories: Gov. Ferguson knew of concerns about top aide years ago, audio confirms - Axios Seattle WA governor admits ‘stupid’ decision to invite former top aide on state plane - Seattle Times Scoop: Ferguson's office was told of allegations against top aide years ago - Axios Seattle Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yes, we’re talking about tariffs again. Many of the world’s countries are awaiting the impact of new American tariffs, which are slated to take effect on Thursday. One country, however, is experiencing it now. The Trump Administration bumped up tariffs on Canadian goods to 35%, and that new rate went into effect on Friday. Trump said he made the change, in part, because of Canada’s failure to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the U.S. Now 35% sounds intense, but a lot of Canadian goods are actually exempt from the increase because of a trade agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It’s kind of confusing to know exactly what these tariffs mean for our neighbor to the north, so we asked Thomas Davidoff, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia, to help us understand. Guest: Thomas Davidoff, an associate professor in the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. Related stories: With new tariffs hitting, WA tallies costs of trade war | The Seattle Times Murray says Trump's Canadian tariffs could cause costly rift with WA - 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.

For over 60 years the quiz game show Jeopardy has been a beloved part of people’s lives. Washington native Ken Jennings says, growing up, the show sparked his love of trivia. It’s a passion that led him to a 74 game winning streak in 2004, and a victory at the Greatest of All Time tournament – so we can officially call him The GOAT. Eventually, he even won the title of “host” of Jeopardy. Meanwhile he’s translated his trivia expertise into his own game - called Kennections. It’s a weekly puzzle he writes for Mental Floss. And while you can no longer get a home game of Jeopardy, you can bring home Kennections in Jennings’ latest book: The Complete Kennections: 5,000 questions in 1,000 puzzles. Guest: Ken Jennings, host of Jeopardy and author of The Complete Kennections: 5,000 questions in 1,000 puzzles Related stories: The Complete Kennections: 5,000 Questions in 1,000 Puzzles Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Western United States is in the midst of fire season. Here in Washington, the Burdoin Fire in the Columbia Gorge has burned more than 100,000 acres. The Bear Gulch Fire on the peninsula has closed portions of Olympic National Park. Leading up to this summer, governors and lawmakers raised concerns about cuts to the US Forest Service, which fights wildland fires. Brooke Rollins is head of the USDA, which oversees the Forest Service. She told Fox News that the agency’s ability to fight fires hasn’t been affected by the cuts. But new reporting from ProPublica has found that the agency is facing staffing issues that could affect its ability to respond to fires. Guest: Abe Streep, reporter at ProPublica's Southwest Bureau Relevant Links: ProPublica: The Forest Service Claims It’s Fully Staffed for a Worsening Fire Season. Data Shows Thousands of Unfilled Jobs. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s not just your imagination: Matcha is actually getting harder to track down these days. The green drink has become a hot commodity in the past few years, blowing up on TikTok and taking up more real estate on your favorite coffee shop’s menu. Japan’s tea industry has struggled to keep pace with the fervor. There’ve been reports of a global shortage and price hikes. In this episode, we hear about Miro Tea's experience of the shortage before checking in with Bettina Makalintal, a senior reporter at Eater, who gave us a broader look at what's going on with matcha. Guest: Jeannie Liu, owner of Miro Tea Bettina Makalintal, senior reporter at Eater Related stories: A Matcha Shortage Hits TikTok’s Favorite Japanese Tea Brands | Eater It’s not easy finding green as matcha shortage hits Seattle shops | The Seattle Times Matcha: World's thirst for the tea swallows global supplies Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you hear that sound? It’s a bird, it’s a plane… Wait, yep, that is DEFINITELY a plane, because the Blue Angels are practicing. Which reminds me, Seafair Weekend is here! Let’s get the skinny on all the things to do with Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!! LINKS: SEAFAIR WEEKEND FESTIVAL Hydroplane Races Car Show Blue Angels Fleet Week SPORTS!! Mariners vs Rangers - Fri/Sat/Sun Reign vs Angel City FC - Fri Storm - vs LA Sparks Fri / Indiana Fever Sun Sounders vs Club Santos Laguna - Sun Kite Festival | Pierce County, WA - Sat/Sun Watershed Festival - The Gorge Amphitheater - FRI/SAT/SUN Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seattle City Council confirmed 14 members to the Renters’ Commission on Tuesday, following a controversial delay after Councilmembers Rob Saka and Sara Nelson failed to show up for a previous vote on Commission appointments. Their absence forced an unusual cancellation of the vote because the housing committee didn’t reach quorum. Some people think this was influenced by an email former councilmember Cathy Moore sent, urging her former colleagues to delay the vote. In this episode of Soundside, we catch up with Councilmember Mark Solomon, who was appointed to Seattle’s District 2 seat after Tammy Morales left the position in January. He's also serving as vice chair of the Housing and Human Services Committee... and is one of the people Moore tried to email before that first vote. Guest: Mark Solomon, Seattle City Councilmember appointed to represent District 2. Related stories: Seattle City Council members stymie appointments to renters commission | The Seattle Times Nelson, Saka Boycott Housing Committee, Blocking Seattle Renters Commission Appointments » The Urbanist Seattle council keeps renter’s commission without landlords | 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.

The NEW AGE movement isn't just about crystals, suburban yoga studios, dubious medical cures and positive affirmations – though there’s plenty of all of that to be found on YouTube. The concept of changing your mindset, accessing a higher spiritual power or vibration – and ushering in a utopia is a powerful and enduring promise that emerges again and again in America. And the American New Age movement has deep ties to Washington State and the West. Journalist Leah Sottile examined the history of several spiritualists and new age leaders – some may say cult leaders – in a new book published earlier this year. It’s called Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age. GUEST: Leah Sottile RELATED LINKS: Book Review: ‘The Instability of Truth,’ by Rebecca Lemov; ‘Blazing Eye Sees All,’ by Leah Sottile Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the Northwest sound like to you? Is it the tide rolling over a rocky beach? The wind across the Palouse? A ferry horn echoing across the Puget Sound? On Soundside, we occasionally ask field recordists about their iconic sounds of northwest. Today, we'll hear from acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton, also known as the Sound Tracker. He brought a recording from inside a driftwood log on the Washington coast. Guest: Gordon Hempton, acoustic ecologist and Emmy Award winning sound recordist Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.