Soundside

When you ride a Metro bus that Nathan Vass is driving, you might notice a few things. It starts with when you get on the bus: he makes a point of saying hello to every passenger who climbs aboard.  Once you grab a seat, you’ll see he’s also on the intercom, announcing every single stop. When he isn’t orienting riders, he’s chatty and talks with people sitting at the front of the bus. And when you step off the bus he says goodbye.  What you may not notice is that Nathan is noticing everything happening around him: the conversations he’s having and the regulars who show up every day.  He often writes about his interactions and those stories are compiled in a new book called “Deciding to See: The View from Nathan’s Bus.”  The book is a collection of dozens of narratives of daily interactions across the city, touching on loss, joy, and connection on a King County Metro bus. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Guest: Nathan Vass, author of Deciding to See: The View from Nathan's Bus Relevant Links: Seattle Times: Nathan Vass brings readers onto his bus in new book ‘Deciding to See’ KUOW: This Seattle bus driver decided to be extra nice to his passengers. Here's how it wentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States spends 30 billion dollars on foster care each year. Yet, according to author Claudia Rowe, the results have too often been damaging for the children in that system.   The award-winning journalist claims our child welfare system is dangerously dysfunctional: by disconnecting kids from their biological families and extended networks, she says, foster care severs attachments that are important for healthy brain development. Her new book, Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care, is a deep dive into what she says is a pipeline from foster care to crime, drug addiction, homelessness and prison. Guest:  Claudia Rowe Related Links: ‘Wards of the State’ is a devastating look at the foster care system 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 ICE enforcement activity has made headlines across the region.  This week, federal immigration agents arrested 17 people at a manufacturer in Kent. And The Seattle Times reports ICE officers appeared to arrest at least 3 people at a Seattle immigration court.  But if you're stopped by ICE, everyone is entitled to certain rights and protections by law, no matter what your legal status is.  In case you could use help knowing what those rights are, we speak to one Seattle immigration attorney about your rights if ICE shows up at your door, what not to do if you're pulled over by ICE, bystander rights and more.  Guest Henry Hwang, one of the directing attorneys for Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Related Links NPR: What basic rights do people have if ICE stops them? A lawyer explains WBUR and NPR: 'Never seen anything like this': An immigration attorney on the arrest of a Tufts student The Seattle Times: Here’s what advocates are telling WA immigrants about ICE raids 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.

Governor Ferguson was kind of a wild card as legislators worked on shoring up a $16 billion budget gap this year.  The Democratic governor had been unusually friendly to Republicans and signaled he was open to their ideas for how to fill the deficit.  Meanwhile, Democrats in the state house and senate have publicly insisted that they have a good relationship with the governor, even as he shot down some of their proposals to generate revenue, like a new wealth tax. The weeks of wondering whether the Governor would make major changes to the Democrat-passed general fund and transportation budget are finally over. Yesterday afternoon, the Governor gave his approval to nearly all of the budget proposals.  Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Guest: Paul Queary, editor and publisher of The Washington Observer Relevant Links: The Washington Observer: Ferguson tacks left and embraces the Legislature KUOW: Gov. Ferguson signs new WA budget into law, leaving bulk of tax increases intactSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several law enforcement agencies across the country have decided to replace a popular model of pistol due to concerns about misfires – the guns have been reported to fire accidentally, even when in their holsters. Washington’s police academy earlier this year banned the firearm at all its training facilities. It’s a move that’s drawn protest from several local police departments. In some cases, when agencies choose to replace the guns, they aren’t being sent to a landfill, or a recycling center. Instead, they’re being sold to dealers, who may put them back in circulation to the public. That’s the latest from a new report from Mother Jones and The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom covering gun violence in America. Guest: Ava Sasani is the assistant editor of The Data Hub - an initiative by The Trace, the only newsroom dedicated to reporting on gun violence. She’s also the co-author of the story “A Gun Deemed Too Dangerous for Cops, but Fine for Civilians” - created in partnership with Mother Jones. Related Stories: A Gun Deemed Too Dangerous for Cops, but Fine for Civilians - Mother Jones One of America’s Favorite Handguns Is Allegedly Firing On Its Owners - The Trace WA police departments oppose academy's 'outrageous' ban on Sig Sauer P320 handguns - King5 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 one of the most deadly local climbing accidents in recent memory, four men fell roughly 400 feet while climbing in the Northern Cascades on May 10th.  One man survived, Anton Tselykh.  The tragedy has caused grief – and prompted questions – in the local climbing community. And while some of the accident’s details are still unclear, it made us wonder about the impact of a loss like this on the climbing community, rock climbing safety, and what climbers should know about the North Cascades.  Guest James Pierson, director of operations for the American Alpine Institute 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.

Signs of the frosty relationship between the United States and Canada are everywhere: from additional checkpoints at border crossings, to fewer Blue Jays fans showing up to T-Mobile Park to see their team play here recently.  Rhetoric from the President about making Canada the 51st state and tariffs have put a wedge between the two countries.  And the effects of this split are spiraling to how we manage natural resources that cross the border.  The Columbia river system - which touches British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana - is a major water and power source for the US. For 61 years, the two countries have worked closely to control floods and manage hydropower on the river.  When President Trump came back into office in January, Canadian and American officials were weeks away from updating the Columbia River Treaty. But now, discussions have ground to a halt. Guest:  Karen Weise, technology correspondent with the New York Times Related stories: A Crucial River Treaty Is Tangled in Trump’s Feud With Canada - New York Times Updates are coming to this 60-year-old treaty guiding the Columbia River - 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.

If you’ve logged into TikTok or Instagram in recent weeks,  you may have heard that the port is empty. Social media videos have been popping up claiming that Seattle’s port has no cargo ships docked. And Seattlites are pointing the finger at the continuous threat of new tariffs. But is that actually the case? KUOW labor and economy reporter Monica Nickelsburg headed to the port to find out in the newest episode of KUOW's Booming podcast. Guest: Monica Nickesburg is KUOW’s labor and economy reporter. She’s also the co-host of Booming, KUOW’s economics podcast. Related stories: Whiplash at the Port of Seattle - KUOW Weekly NWSA Volumes & Metrics Report - Northwest Seaport Alliance 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 federal cuts have put billions of dollars for scientific research and thousands of research jobs at risk.   They could also be imperiling laboratory animals.  Scientists around the country are concerned that funding cuts could mean prematurely ending research involving mice, dogs, nonhuman primates, and more.  Like many others, the University of Washington is a research institution that relies on animal subjects for its studies. If these studies are unable to continue, scientists will have to consider euthanizing these animals.  That could mean setbacks to all sorts of health-related experiments, including ones related to cancer and Alzheimer’s. Guest Sally Thompson-Iritani assistant vice provost for Animal Care, Outreach and Three Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement) in the Office of Research at the University of Washington Related Links The New York Times: Lab Animals Face Being Euthanized as Trump Cuts Research The Washington Post: Trump’s deep cuts to health research put lab animals at risk, scientists say Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're looking for exciting things to do this weekend, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with MOST of the stuff you can get up to. Okay, SOME of the stuff you can get up to. Also, one quick correction: Jason erroneously said University AVE instead of University WAY when talking about the U-District Street Fair - it's here in the U-District, NOT in Downtown Seattle. LINKS: POW! Screening at the Tulalip Reservation Seattle International Film Festival!! Meet Me Here SIFF Episode! Never Turn Back Exhibit Opening Party: Soul Train Revival Smash Putt - FINAL WEEKEND Rig-a-palooza 2025 Dozer Days Amazing Bubble Man POP Cats Seattle 2025 U District Street Fair Viking Fest - Poulsbo, WA The Seattle Super Saunter Gays Eating Garlic Bread in the 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.