Soundside

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.

When you get on the bus, do you think about the driver behind the wheel? If you rode the 8 bus recently, your driver might have been Desiree Andersen, otherwise known as @desinthepark. During her more than two years driving, she also went to grad school for social work. That helped give her extra insight into the needs of the people she drives. And she shared those insights on TikTok, where she started posting during a break between driving shifts. But Andersen is now shifting gears. This month, she left her job at King County Metro. We talked with her about what's next. 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 policy change from the Trump Administration could fundamentally change the federal government’s relationship with climate change. The proposal, announced on Tuesday, would overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s "endangerment finding” – which, in 2009, determined that greenhouse gases are harmful to people and the environment. It's the basis for emissions regulations on vehicles, power plants, and the oil and gas industries under the Clean Air Act. Washington has been at the vanguard of climate regulations – last year, voters chose to keep our carbon auction system in place, and our attorney general is fighting to preserve plans to ban sales of most non-electric vehicles in Washington by 2030. So, what could this EPA proposal mean for Washington’s climate policies? And where does Washington stand amid the flurry of deregulatory moves and cuts to green energy subsidies by the Trump Administration?Guest: Jay Inslee, former Governor of Washington state Related stories: In Game-Changing Climate Rollback, E.P.A. Aims to Kill a Bedrock Scientific Finding - NYT Democrats can win over young Trump voters. Here’s how. - Washington Post 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.

Summer is a great season for adventures with your favorite pup. The sun is shining. The lakes are glistening. The grass is only partially dead. But – just like your human kids, furry members of the family need you to keep a watchful eye out for warm-weather hazards Soundside called in an expert here to help. GUEST: Seattle Humane Society Senior Veterinarian Dr. Lauren Restis RELATED LINKS: First aid tips for pet owners | American Veterinary Medical Association Seattle dog park to close to remove potentially deadly plant Dogs will be allowed on Seattle’s light rail 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.

People are clucking about the Little Red Hen. The cherished country music bar in Green Lake could close at the end of July, after nearly 100 years in business. The Little Red Hen first opened its doors in 1933 in Phinney Ridge, before moving to Green Lake. Today the bar’s a community hub where customers line dance, sing karaoke and enjoy bluegrass jam sessions. Fun fact, it was also featured in the Stone Temple Pilots’ music video for the song, “Plush.” Now a lease dispute between the bar’s owner and the landlord could shut it down. In response, community members - and avid country music and dance fans - have banded together to try to keep the bar open. Guest: Gage Clark, a patron trying to save the Little Red Hen. Related stories: Fans of Little Red Hen, banjos and fiddles in hand, rally to save Seattle honky-tonk - KUOW At this Green Lake dive bar, karaoke is a cathartic, unifying experience - The Seattle Times Little Red Hen facing closure after 92 years amid lease dispute - KING 5 I Dance To Forget | Freddy Luongo - Bandcamp 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 attempting to revamp homelessness policy in the United States. Late last week, the president signed an executive order that, among other things, ends federal support for policies that employ the “housing first” model. It also calls for an increase in involuntary commitments for people with mental health conditions or substance use disorders. The order aims to drastically change how cities and states respond to the homelessness crisis. Guest: Will James, host of KUOW's Lost Patients, an award-winning podcast about homelessness and mental illness in Seattle Relevant Links: NPR: Trump signs an executive order to make it easier to remove homeless people from streets KUOW: Lost Patients 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.

Something interesting happened – or rather, didn’t happen – last week at a Seattle City Council committee meeting. There was supposed to be a vote on member appointments to the Seattle Renters’ Commission. That commission has seats for 15 members but currently only has five. The vote didn’t happen. That’s because Council President Sara Nelson and Councilmember Rob Saka failed to attend, leaving the committee shy of its three-member quorum. That sparked a lot of outrage, including from Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, who had this to say: “This isn’t a committee meeting any more. This is just a community meeting. It is council members’ chartered responsibility to be at these meetings. This is literally our job, so I find it deeply frustrating that people took time to leave their jobs in the middle of the day, yet not every member of the committee could show up to do theirs.” Many people have criticized the council members’ absence – and some are asking whether political motivations were involved. Soundside sat down with Seattle Times reporter David Kroman, and Seattle Renters' Commission Interim Co-Chair Kate Rubin to discuss. GUESTS: David Kroman - Seattle Times City Hall Reporter Kate Rubin - Interim Co-Chair, Seattle Renters' Commission RELATED LINKS: Seattle City Council members stymie appointments to renters commission Housing & Human Services community discussion Seattle Renters' Commission 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 research published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology documents multiple cases of wild orcas across different oceans – apparently trying to share their prey with humans. KUOW's Gabriel Spitzer talked with Jared Towers about this research. Towers is the executive director of Bay Cetology, a team of marine biologists based in Alert Bay, British Columbia. He’s one of the authors of the study. Links These orcas have been trying to feed people, new research shows - The Seattle TimesOrcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why? - CNNThank 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 Producer Jason Burrows here... Libby Denkmann is ON VACATION, and speaking of enriching one's life and existence by engaging in fulfilling activities outside of the work environment, here's the big list of all the cool stuff you can do this weekend: LINKS: Seafair Torchlight Run 2025 Seafair Torchlight Parade 2025 Bite of Seattle Children's Film Festival Seattle 2025 Renton River Days Urban Craft Uprising Summer Show Front Street Arts Festival | Jansen Art Center Timber! Outdoor Music Festival Emerald City Comedy Club - Ron Funches Seattle Scottish Highland Games 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.

Change is coming to our cryptocurrency market. Last Friday, President Trump signed the GENIUS Act, the country’s first major cryptocurrency law. It will create a regulatory framework for stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency that’s value is tied to assets like the U.S. dollar. Supporters say the bill will modernize our financial system, but others say the legislation won’t do enough to protect consumers. Here in Washington, crypto has a… mixed reputation. Last month Spokane’s city council voted to ban crypto ATMs from within city limits. And, in rural Washington, cryptomining operations have led to concerns about environmental impact and energy costs. But, crypto also has supporters in our tech hub state. And the digital funds have played a part in some of our elections – like last year, when a crypto PAC gave close to $1.5 million for ads supporting Democratic State Senator Emily Randall. So, what does this new regulation mean for Washington state? Guest: Brady Dale, a cryptocurrency reporter at Axios. Related stories: Why PNW officials are only now deciding crypto mining regulation - The Seattle Times 2 Democrats, 1 Republican face off in competitive WA 6th District race - 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 Seattle School Board is extending the search for a new superintendent, past the original deadline to hire someone by the fall. That means the district will not have a permanent leader when its roughly 50,000 students come back in the fall. We review why the school board wants more time for the search, and what that delay means for students, teachers and parents. Editor's Note: KUOW incorrectly stated that former Seattle School Board director Vivian Song represented District 2. She represented District 4. Additionally, Song denies violating state law in continuing to serve her term following a change of address. Guest Sami West, online editor/reporter, KUOW Links When will Seattle Public Schools get its next superintendent? Not this fall - 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.

Last week, well-known labor organizer Alfredo Juarez Zeferino – nicknamed Lelo – announced he would “voluntarily depart” after being held for months in Tacoma’s ICE processing center. KUOW Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez was there when Zeferino’s lawyer told supporters outside the ICE facility what Lelo had decided. Guest: KUOW Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez Related stories: WA farm labor organizer ends his deportation fight after 4 months in ICE detention - KUOW Union farmworker organizer 'Lelo' denied bond to leave Tacoma ICE lockup - 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.

All this week, Soundside is interviewing the most competitive candidates for Seattle Mayor ahead of the August 5th primary election. Today, we hear from Joe Mallahan, a former T Mobile executive and candidate for mayor in 2009. Guest: Joe Mallahan, candidate for Seattle Mayor Links: Sound Politics: Bruce Harrell vs. Everyone 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 war in Ukraine is causing tremendous and likely lasting psychological damage to generations of its young people. One of those traumas is caused by what’s tantamount to kidnapping by the Russian government. According to a new report by the think tank GlobSec, there have been nearly 20,000 (19,546) cases of what it calls “forcibly transferred or deported children.” These children are taken from their homes and placed in camps or with Russian families. I’m talking with two people who are associated with the report: Eric Trupin is a psychologist and a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He wrote the forward for the report, which is titled “Stolen Generations: a systemic violation of Ukraine’s Future.” For the last two years, Dr. Trupin also trained mental health providers in Ukraine in how to use poetry and other techniques to help young people process emotions and cope with intense trauma. It’s a project that was created originally as a way to help rehabilitate young incarcerated people in Seattle. Guest: Eric Trupin is a psychologist and a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine Iuliia Osmolovska is Head of the GLOBSEC Kyiv Office Related stories: Stolen Generation a Systematic Violation of Ukraine’s Future - Globsec 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.

All this week, Soundside is interviewing the most competitive candidates for Seattle Mayor ahead of the August 5th primary election. Today, we hear from current Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. Guest: Bruce Harrell, Mayor of Seattle Links: Sound Politics: Bruce Harrell vs. Everyone 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.

All this week, Soundside is interviewing the most competitive candidates for Seattle Mayor ahead of the August 5th primary election. Today, we hear from Katie Wilson, the co-founder and executive director of the Transit Rider's Union. Guest: Katie Wilson, candidate for Seattle Mayor Links: Sound Politics: Bruce Harrell vs. Everyone 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.

All this week, Soundside is interviewing the most competitive candidates for Seattle mayor ahead of the August 5th primary election. Today, we hear from Ry Armstrong, an actor, union chair, and co-director of the non-profit of Seattle. Guest: Ry Armstrong, candidate for Seattle Mayor Links: Sound Politics: Bruce Harrell vs. Everyone 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.

Local and national organizations alike are still absorbing the historic implications of the Republican tax and spending law known as the One Big, Beautiful Bill. President Trump signed the legislation on July 4th. The law makes the Trump tax cuts of 2017 permanent, and increases spending on border security and energy production, among many other measures. It also includes significant cuts to government assistance programs, like SNAP and Medicaid. Soundside reached out to several local leaders to ask how the One Big Beautiful Bill will affect their work. Guests: Gloria Hatcher-Mays, executive director of the Rainier Valley Food Bank Malou Chávez, executive director of Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Bob Ferguson, Washington governor Jacqueline Barton True, vice president of advocacy and rural health for the Washington State Hospital Association Cathy Bambrick, administrator for Astria Toppenish Hospital Related stories: Potential for 'pretty dire consequences' for WA health care due to Trump's budget bill - Kitsap Sun WA officials warn ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will wreak havoc on Medicaid system - Tacoma News Tribune 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.

You might have noticed that Mount Rainier’s been looking a little…. Bald lately. People on social media have been posting about how Washington’s favorite sight looks less snowy than usual. Some of them are saying they’ve never seen the mountain look this bare in their lives. Rainier definitely sheds some snow in the warmer months. And Washington has been getting hit with some pretty serious heat lately. Many of us know that climate change is a thing, so how much of that is playing into the mountain’s sleek peak? (Basically, how much dread should we be feeling about this?) Soundside asked a glaciologist to explain what's happening up there. Guest: Dr. Mauri Pelto, director of the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project. Related stories: The mountain is out: Mount Rainier shows rocky face after record-breaking heat, snow melt - seattlepi.com Mount Rainier’s glaciers are disappearing. What happens when they’re gone? - Tacoma News Tribune 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.

Imagine a cartoon show where the characters talk back to you. That's the premise for "Cartoon Mess Live", a live comedy show by Seattleite Tom DesLongchamp. DesLongchamp is basically a puppeteer, doing improv alongside a cohost named Duck. It’s like if you could see the person operating Elmo, and the pair of them had a late night talk show. But also Elmo is a 2-dimensional cartoon. DesLongchamp sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann to discuss his show, and why it's so hard to describe. Guest: Tom DesLongchamp, creator of "Cartoon Mess Live" Related links: Cartoon Mess Live at The Rabbit Box 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 weekend is upon us, and Soundside producer Jason Burrows is here with all the events fit to broadcast. LINKS: SPORTS! Seattle Mariners vs Houston Astros Seattle Sounders vs San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Reign vs Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds Sandsations Sand Sculpture Festival - Long Beach, WA Seattle Arab Festival 2025 Seattle Bon Odori Seafair Chinatown Parade Indian Days Powwow CAPITOL HILL BLOCK PARTY Darrington Bluegrass Festival Cartoon Mess LIVE King County Fair - Enumclaw Seattle Boba Fest GeekFest West - Everett TRAFFIC ALERT - NB I-5 totally closed from I-90 to 45th Ave (U-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.

We’re closing in on the deadline for President Trump’s rescission package. Senate Republicans have until this Friday to pass the package with a simple majority. If they don’t, they’ll face a Democratic filibuster that they’ll need 60 votes to overcome. On Tuesday, the Senate voted to advance rescissions with a 51-50 vote – Vice President JD Vance was the tie breaker. Republican Senators Collins, Murkowski, and McConnell all voted no. Today, Senators will have up to 10 hours of debate before the final floor vote – if they pass the package, it will then head back to the House for a vote, before going to the President’s desk. Again, this all needs to happen by the end of Friday. So that’s a lot of procedural details, but let’s get to the nitty gritty: If this passes, the Administration would claw back $9 billion dollars in previously approved funding – most of which is intended for global health programs and foreign aid projects. It would also rescind more than $1.1 billion dollars currently budgeted for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB. You’re listening to public radio right now - so you’re probably well aware that those dollars include funding for KUOW, as well as other local public radio and TV stations, which receive support from the CPB. What exactly would the impact of rescission be for Seattle stations? Can public media survive these cuts? And, with news becoming increasingly fragmented, should taxpayers still pay for public media? We’re putting those questions to leaders of local public media organizations. Guests: Kerry Swanson is interim CEO of KUOW Rob Dunlop is CEO and President of Cascade PBS Ethan Raup is CEO and President of KEXP 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.

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez represents Washington’s 3rd District, which encompasses Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, and Skamania counties and a smidge of Thurston County. It’s a relatively rural district that has voted for President Trump three times. Somehow, she has been able to convince a good number of those Trump voters to ALSO send her, a Democrat, to Congress. And that’s put Gluesenkamp Perez in a unique and small club of Democrats being asked to diagnose their party’s problems and come up with a vision for the future. So what does it take to lead from a vulnerable seat, and what are the lessons Democrats can draw from what’s happening in Southwest Washington? One of those might be – figure out the solution to the gerontocracy in Congress. GUEST: Rep. Marie Gluesenkam Perez RELATED LINKS: House Democrat floats radical solution to Congress' age problem Gluesenkamp Perez Statement on Senate Passage of Budget Reconciliation Bill How a Red-District Democrat Is Navigating Trump | The Ezra Klein Show Yes, Car Headlights Are Too Damn Bright 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.

Yesterday, a King County Judge ordered the city of Seattle to come up with a plan to end “nudity as constituted” at the park. Denny Blaine has been the city’s most well known nude beach for decades – and is a beloved LGBTQ+ community gathering space. This order follows a series of attempts by neighbors of the park to end nudity at Denny Blaine. And it’s a move supporters of the nude beach say would be a “sanitization of queer spaces” in an increasingly gentrified city. Guests: Seattle Times City Hall reporter David Kroman Related stories: Judge orders an end to nudity at Seattle’s Denny Blaine Park, for now - Seattle Times Community members give Denny Blaine Park play area proposal a dressing down - KUOW ‘I share your disgust.’ Texts show Seattle Mayor Harrell, rich neighbor discussing Denny Blaine - 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.

Actor Matthew Law has walked the halls of ABC's Abbott Elementary, piloted a spaceship in an episode of Star Wars: Ahsoka and played "The Cynic" in the "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story” the Jennifer Lopez movie musical. Law hails from Washington. He was born in Yakima and grew up in Seattle, where he attended Greenwood Elementary and Ballard High School. And he's a filmmaker too, directing and writing several short films for his “True Story” series. Soundside caught up with him during a break in his shooting schedule. Guests Matthew Law, actor Links ‘Abbott Elementary’ actor Matthew Law on Seattle upbringing, ‘True Story’ -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.

King County’s health department has published innovative and educational comic strips about public health issues for more than 15 years. The county hires local comics artists to tackle issues such as long term covid, preparing for a natural disaster and how to deal with a failing septic system. Meredith Li-Vollmer is the heartbeat behind this popular project, which she founded in 2008. She says the visual and hand drawn style of storytelling helps make potentially dry information palatable. The county has also found that comics are an effective way to communicate with people who speak English as a second language. In fact, some of King County’s comic books have been printed into more than 20 languages. But the program almost didn’t happen. Had Li-Vollmer listened to her high school art teacher who was unkindly critical of her artwork. Guest: Meredith Li-Vollmer, Risk Communication Specialist at Public Health - Seattle & King Countt Related stories: A comic-book approach to public health. King County's winning formula - KUOW King County Health comics 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 recently approved a $2 million dollar loan for the city’s social housing developer. That’s a public development authority that will manage publicly financed housing in the city. It can serve people who make up to 120% of the area median income. Voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of the social housing developer in 2023. They also approved a funding plan for the developer in February that pays for it by putting in place a new tax on companies with high income earners. Next year, the social housing developer is anticipated to receive an estimated $50 million dollars from that tax. In the meantime, Mayor Bruce Harrell requested the $2 million dollar loan, saying the money would go towards keeping the organization running and potentially acquiring new property this year. As of now, the developer doesn’t own any. In its early stages, the developer has been dogged by concerns that it hasn’t proven it can get this money out the door and into housing and questions about whether it’s serving the city’s greatest need by using public money to provide housing for people making more than the median income for the area. Guest: Roberto Jimenez, CEO of Seattle’s Social Housing Developer Links: KUOW: Why someone earning over $100,000 could qualify for Seattle’s affordable housing Seattle Times: Seattle’s social housing developer struggles with ‘growing pains’ 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 hockey fans rejoice! There is a new professional women’s team to root for, starting this fall. The name of the team? Well … that’s yet to be determined, but there are many things we DO know about this upcoming third season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. This year, for the first time, the league is expanding into the Pacific Northwest, with teams in Vancouver and Seattle. There’ll now be 8 teams total vying for the “Walter Cup.” And things are moving FAST at PWHL Seattle: Players have been drafted, head coach Steve O’Rourke has been hired. There’s still a lot to be figured out, and the person making many of those decisions will be the new general manager Meghan Turner, who was the assistant GM of the Boston Fleet before being tapped for the head job here in Seattle. Guest: Meghan Turner, General Manager of PWHL Seattle Related Links: PWHL Turns To Turner To Lead New Seattle Women’s Team PWHL Seattle GM Meghan Turner working to ‘create a community’ 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 is taking a break this week. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week. Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show. Relevant Links: Pacific Drive captures the creepy of the Olympic Peninsula Hear Ye, Hear Ye, there's trouble brewing at the Renaissance Faire! Touring the history of Black music at MoPop's "Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music" WEEKEND WARMUP LINKS: 2025 Queer and Trans Film Festival — Three Dollar Bill Cinema Ballard SeafoodFest NW Tune-Up Festival Japan Fair West Seattle Summer Fest Redmond Arts Festival Bluegrass From the Forest CID Celebration Summer Celebration 2025 | Mercer Island, Washington Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic 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 is taking a break this week. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week. Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show. 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. Relevant Links: Can you solve the mystery of the Oakville blobs? The new food that has beekeepers "buzzing" How a Spokane woman became a hall of fame foosball player See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's summer vacation week on Sounside. But that doesn't mean we're out of your podcast feed. Senior producer Gabrielle Healy shares some of her favorite recent Soundside segments. We’re talking about everything from the unsung heroes of the early Seattle rap scene with music writer Novocaine132 to your rights if you encounter ICE. Plus, Seattle Eats talks about the Emerald City's best slice of pizza. Guests Novocaine132, author of "The Birth of Seattle Rap." Henry Hwang, a directing attorney for Northwest Immigrant Rights Project 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 is taking a break this week. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week. Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show. 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. Relevant Links: Seattle's new Civic Poet finds parallels between political language and verse Deciding to See: The View from Nathan's Bus Those little red hummingbird feeders are driving the bird's evolution See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever walked into a bookstore, lonely and single, and hoped you’d meet the love of your life? We know there are at least a few of you out there. That's part of the setup for Moira Macdonald’s debut novel “Storybook Ending.” It’s a story about loneliness, friendship, reading – and of course, the singular pleasure of spending time between the shelves of a cozy book shop in Seattle. The spot in question, titled “Read the Room”, is based on Ravenna’s Third Place Books, one of Macdonald's regular haunts. We talk to Macdonald, the longtime Seattle Times arts critic, about writing her novel, her recommendations for great summer reads and Seattle's best movie theaters. And a note - this conversation first aired in June. Guest Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times arts critic and debut novelist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From new statewide legislation freezing rent hikes at up to 10 percent for most tenants, to the Seattle City Council banning the use of algorithmic rent fixing, there's a lot of news to keep in mind if you’re a renter or a landlord. And summer is moving season – prompting lots of questions about the rights for renters regarding repairs, fees and beyond. We review some frequently asked questions for renters in Seattle. Guest Teo Popescu, design, graphics, and data editor at KUOW Related links What are your rights as a Seattle renter? Here are the basics Note: KUOW's explainer serves as an overview of the most frequently asked questions about renter rights in Seattle. For a complete guide, review the Seattle renters handbook and the Seattle renters resource page, visit nonprofits like the Tenants Union, or call the Renting in Seattle helpline at: 206-684-5700. 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.

Libby may be out today, but … We’ve made it to the end of the work week! And since tomorrow is a holiday, you’re probably trying to figure out what to do with a whole THREE DAYS of free time in front of you… But don’t worry, I’ve got the big list of everything to do on the 4th of July and BEYOND! WELCOME to the Weekend Warmup! LINKS: FIREWORKS!!! Arlington — Quake Park 10 p.m. Bellevue — Downtown Park 10:05 p.m. Carnation — Remlinger Farms 9:45 p.m. Everett — Port Gardner Bay 10:15 p.m. Federal Way — Celebration Park 10:15 p.m. Kenmore — Log Boom Park 10 p.m. Kent — Lake Meridian Park 10 p.m. Kingston — Mike Wallace Park 10:15 p.m. Marysville — Ebey Waterfront Park 10 p.m. Sammamish — Sam. Commons 10 p.m. Seattle — Lake Union 10:15 p.m. Snoqualmie — Community Park 9:45 p.m. Steilacoom — offshore 10:30 p.m. Tacoma — Ruston Way 10 p.m. Tumwater — Tumwater Valley Golf 10:15 p.m. PARADES! Arlington — 5 p.m. (kids 4:30 p.m.) Bainbridge Island — 1 p.m. Bothell — 12 p.m. (kids 11:15 a.m.) Burien — 11 a.m. Carnation — 11:30 a.m. (kids 11 a.m.) Dupont — 10 a.m. Edmonds — 12 p.m. (kids 11:30 a.m.) Enumclaw — noon Everett — 11 a.m. Issaquah — 11 a.m. Kingston — 12 p.m. Kirkland — 12 p.m. (kids 11:30 a.m.) Tumwater — 11 a.m. Seattle Center’s 40th Annual Naturalization Ceremony Civic Engagement! Write your elected officials! SPORTS! Seattle Mariners vs Pittsburgh Pirates Seattle Sounders vs Columbus Crew Pioneer Square Fest Fairhaven Chicken Festival - Bellingham The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody 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 Senate passed the Big Beautiful Bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives for a final vote on Donald Trump’s sweeping spending package.Aside from extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, the legislation includes cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, caps on student loans, and higher fees on people going through the legal immigration process. It also increases spending on defense and border security, limits taxes on workers who earn tips and increases the child tax credit.Republican lawmakers are quickly trying to pass the bill by July 4, when Trump said he wants to see it on his desk.Soundside checked in with a few Seattle-area Congress members who are trying to stop the bill from passing into law. Guests: Suzan DelBene represents Washington’s 1st congressional district and chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Pramila Jayapal represents Washington’s 7th congressional district. Related stories: Senate passes Trump’s megabill after pulling all-nighter - POLITICO The winners (and losers) in Trump's 'big beautiful' tax bill - 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.

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that a Maryland couple could pull their child out of classes where the material involved books with LGBTQ themes. The six conservative justices ruled that parents should not be required to expose their children to class materials that go against their religious beliefs. Coincidentally, almost exactly one hundred years ago – in July 1925 – there was another famous legal debate over what kids learn in the classroom that took place in Tennessee. The so-called Scopes Monkey Trial was ground zero for one of America’s first culture wars: The debate over whether or not evolution should be taught in schools. Guest: Alexander Gouzoules, associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Law and co-author of The Hundred Years' Trial: Law, Evolution, and the Long Shadow of Scopes v. Tennessee 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.