Soundside

Israel and Iran continue to trade missile and drone attacks as the war stretches into its fifth day.  This conflict started last week with Israeli airstrikes that targeted top military commanders and nuclear facilities in Iran.  Here in the Seattle area, members of the Iranian diaspora are experiencing a familiar anxiety: Trying to keep tabs on friends and family during a bloody conflict.  We talk to four members of Seattle's Iranian diaspora and get additional analysis on the conflict from a Washington, D.C.-based expert.  Guests Omid Roustaei, The Caspian Chef, cookbook author and Iranian-American psychotherapist Rep. Darya Farivar, Washington state Representative, D-46  Aria Fani, director of the Persian and Iranian Studies Program at the University of Washington  Faraz Zarghami, also known as DJ Dancing Faraz Alex Vatanka, senior fellow, Middle East Institute   Related links The Washington Post: Israeli attacks leave Iranians fearful and hopeful    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.  Guest Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times arts critic and debut novelist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of Americans across the country gathered over the weekend in support of “No Kings Day”, a nationwide protest against the Trump Administration.  Marches were planned to contrast with a military parade at the nation’s capital, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Army. The events also coincided with President Trump’s birthday. And it all came after a week of escalating tensions between the federal government and California officials, where immigration raids had prompted clashes between protestors and police… and Trump had called in the military against the wishes of the state’s governor. Across Washington on Saturday, cities from Olympia, to Wenatchee, even passengers on a ferry from Bainbridge island had “No Kings” protests. We wanted to get a sense of what the protests felt like across the state - and how the momentum of crowd participation could spark further action. Guests: KUOW reporter Casey Martin Seattle University assistant professor of law Pilar Margarita Hernández Escontrías Former Spokane city council president Ben Stuckart Related stories: LIVE: Crowds descend on Seattle for ‘No Kings’ protests - KUOW Mysterious notice tells immigrants to check in at Seattle-area federal building. Several get detained - KUOW Tukwila police fire pepper balls on protesters at unusual ICE check-in - Seattle Times More than 30 arrested at immigration protest in Spokane sparked by arrest of 2 immigrants - Spokesman Review 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.

Lawmakers in D.C. are still working on President Trump's big beautiful bill. That's the budget reconciliation measure focused on extending his first term tax cuts, boosting defense spending and immigration enforcement and cutting some spending. Should it become law, it's expected to cut into benefits for millions of Americans –  specifically, federal food assistance programs. It's expected to slice hundreds of billions from SNAP, or food stamps.  Around 10 percent of Washington state's population get SNAP benefits, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Washington State Standard estimates tens of thousands in the state could lose federal food aid if the bill passes.  We hear from the executive director of a Seattle food bank about the proposed cuts to SNAP and how they could affect the food bank’s operations and clients. And we get an update on the bill's progress from a D.C.-based reporter.  Guests Orion Donovan Smith legislative reporter, Washington, D.C. Bureau, The Spokesman-Review Gloria Hatcher-Mays executive director, Rainier Valley Food Bank 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.

Well, I don't know about YOU, but President Trump has big weekend plans: On Saturday, he's going to be enjoying a military parade in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Army, which also happens to fall on his birthday. There are hundreds of protests planned in cities across the country as counter-programming to this parade. They're organized under the umbrella of the "No Kings" theme. That includes here in Washington State, and the No Kings website says 80 protests are planned in places from Anacortes to Walla Walla.  The Kitsap Sun has a list of where those are happening on Saturday and how to stay safe at KitsapSun.com But not to worry, there are a TON of other weekend events coming up: LINKS: Black Night Market — Friends of Waterfront Park Brass Screw Consortium - Port Townsend Maple Valley Days - Lake Wilderness Park An Evening with John Cusack & Screening of "High Fidelity" - Tacoma Seattle Flying Dragon Boat Club - South Lake Union Park 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 weekend, the FIFA Club World Cup descends on Seattle.This isn’t the big tournament that pits national teams against each other that’s coming in 2026. Instead, this tournament features club teams from around the world. Spectators in Seattle will be able to see storied squads take the pitch throughout June.  For clubs, there is big money at stake but the majority of that money, at least when it comes to Major League Soccer, is set to go to the clubs’ owners. U.S. players, including ones with the Seattle Sounders, won’t see much of it. So players have been speaking out about, what they call, a cash grab. U.S. fans of the beautiful game are now following an ugly contract dispute.  Guest: Pablo Mauer, staff writer at the Athletic Relevant Links: The Athletic: Sounders protest MLS’ Club World Cup player payout cap, backed by MLSPA   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 Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire is the largest ren faire in the state. It will bring out fairies, pirates, knights in shining armor, and more for five weeks, starting in mid-July, near the Skykomish River outside of Monroe. It has a whole lot of fans including one of our colleagues at KUOW,  Vicky VanHout. She says Ren Faires are all about dressing up in medieval garb, dancing to medieval themed music, archery, and axe throwing. A celebration of cosplay and history together! But, not everyone is happy with the state of the faire. They say something’s amiss, and it’s not the pirates hitting the grog too hard or Mistress Tiddlywinks’ donkey breaking into the cabbage patch…  The Village of Merriwick, AKA the fictional home of the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire, is at the center of a new investigative report in the summer edition of Seattle Met. The story details a series of allegations about management’s treatment of volunteer staff and questions about their financial priorities, as well as bigger questions about changes that some argue are sacrificing the “soul” of the Faire.  We reached out to both Washington Renaissance Arts & Education Society and Wandering in Time Productions for their response to Nathalie’s story. They declined an interview, but they did send us a statement: "Wandering in Time Productions is a Pacific Northwest institution, employing nearly 120 full-time, part-time, and contract staff. Its partnership with the Washington Renaissance Arts & Education Society has WITP providing essential services to help produce a high-quality, immersive event each year. In 2024, WITP assumed responsibility for guild and entertainer payments and transitioned to a more equitable contractor model, reinforcing its commitment to fairness and sustainability. WITP, in partnership with the WRAES, puts its heart and soul into bringing an extraordinary production to life each summer. Putting on a high-quality event that welcomes approximately 10,000 visitors daily takes time, effort and significant financial resources. Like many businesses across Washington, the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire has felt the impact of rising production costs. As a result, we have had to make difficult decisions, including increases to ticket prices and a more selective vendor invitation process to ensure the Faire’s continued success. We have also adopted policies, such as quiet hours, meant to ensure that the greatest number of our guests and participants are as comfortable as possible. WITP is also aware that, in past years, a small number of vendors, staff and entertainers have acted in ways that do not reflect the values of our community. When concerns were brought to our attention, WITP responded quickly and decisively based on available information. WITP remains committed to creating a safe, respectful and welcoming environment for all. WITP and WRAES look forward to welcoming all our guests this summer, especially those who have attended for generations, to create magical and memorable experiences together. Our focus remains on creating a safe, inclusive and memorable experience for the many guests, vendors, entertainers and staff who make the Faire possible each year." GUEST: Nathalie Graham - staff writer at The Stranger and freelancer with Seattle Met RELATED LINK: Fear and Loathing at the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire 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’s efforts to deport more unauthorized immigrants have led to protests in major cities across the United States. Evidence of stepped-up immigration enforcement can also be seen at the U.S.-Canada border. But it’s not always drawing protests or media attention. A family of six at the Blaine border crossing was detained earlier this year. The family, originally from southwestern Africa, was held by Customs and Border Protection in a windowless cell, with a toilet, for more than three weeks – with no news stories and few people aware of their situation.  The ACLU is now involved in the case. Guest: Troy Brynelson, reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting Related Links: ‘Like a jail cell’: Family of six detained at Washington state border facility for more than three weeks 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 a long time, if you wanted to know what the future looked like for Washington’s climate policies, you just had to look at California.   The Golden State put a carbon auction in place in 2012. 10 years later, state lawmakers here set up our own cap and trade system. California passed legally binding emissions goals in 2006. Washington did that about a decade later. And let’s talk car sales: California passed a law that will ban the sale of most gasoline powered vehicles by 2035. Washington passed a similar law a few years ago. But now, California’s law has come under the crosshairs of the federal government and that may hamper both states’ ability to meet ambitious goals to decarbonize. Guest: Conrad Swanson, climate reporter for the Seattle Times Related Links:  Seattle Times: Did Congress just revoke WA’s gas car ban?  Stateline: Major legal brawl may decide what types of cars Americans can buy Cal Matters: US Senate blocks California’s electric car mandate in historic vote    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 the University of Washington began searching for a new president back in 2015, they did what you might expect: They started a nationwide hunt, looking for the best fit to lead an institution known at the time, more for its research than for its classes. It turns out the answer was right at home. Ana Mari Cauce had been at the University of Washington since 1986, in various teaching and leadership roles, starting as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology. Cauce entered the office as the first openly gay, first Latina, and first woman to lead the largest University in the state. And during her time in the office, the UW has changed a lot. There was a global pandemic and move to online learning. Campus-wide Pro-Palestine protests brought national attention to the school as students clashed with university administrators. Key for sports fans, The Huskies left the PAC-12 conference, joining the Big 10. Add to that – in the last few months, defunding moves, international student visa cancellations and further threats from the federal government. Now, Cauce’s ten years at the helm of the University of Washington is coming to the end. What has she learned from her tenure? And what advice does she have for her successor as he prepares to take over? Guest: Ana Mari Cauce, President of the University of Washington Related Stories: Trump Has Targeted These Universities. Why? - New York Times UW president warns of budget crisis, potential layoffs - KUOW ED, HHS, and GSA Initiate Review of Anti-Semitic Activity at the University of Washington - HHS.gov What comes next for the pro-Palestine protesters at UW? - 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.