Soundside

President Trump is readying new tariffs that will reportedly be his most aggressive trade policy move yet.  The White House is ready to move PAST a scandal involving the Administration’s top national security officials discussing war plans on the encrypted messaging app Signal.  And meanwhile, Democrats are facing anger from their own voters who are deeply displeased with how the party is responding to Trump and his policies.  One Seattle-area Democrat has emerged as a high profile critic of the direction of his party – he says things need to change. And he’s catching flack from the left for some of his recent interviews. That’s Congressman Adam Smith. Guest: Adam Smith represents Washington’s 9th congressional district. It includes parts of Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Kent and Federal Way. He’s also the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a resident of a state, you are guaranteed certain rights by your state constitution. In Washington, for example, we have a right to religious freedom and free elections. Oregon is looking at guaranteeing the right for all citizens to live in a healthy environment  – including a stable climate. The state legislature is debating whether to have voters weigh in on the change.  If that guarantee does pass, it would allow state residents to sue Oregon if they are denied this right. And it would become part of an international effort to hold governments legally liable for accelerating climate change.  Guest: Alex Baumhardt, reporter at Oregon Capital Chronicle  Relevant Links: Oregon Capital Chronicle: Oregonians ask Legislature to let voters decide on constitutional right to healthy climate Oregon Capital Chronicle: U.S. Supreme Court declines to revive landmark climate suit brought by young Oregonians   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 State Legislature is in the process of hammering out the  transportation budget, which is estimated to have a BILLION dollar shortfall over the next two years. according to Transportation Committee Chairman Senator Marko Liias. Down in Olympia, both the House and Senate have each been working on their own respective bills aimed at addressing the funding gap to get things like highway infrastructure built and maintained…  One provision in the Senate’s bill – which passed on Saturday – has raised alarms for folks in the business of selling E-Bikes. Soundside host Libby Denkmann is joined by Seattle Bike Blog editor & founder, Tom Fucoloro to talk about why E-Bike shop owners aren't excited about the current proposal. GUEST: Tom Fucoloro RELATED LINKS: Already facing uncertainty from Trump’s tariff threats, an e-bike tax ‘would be awful’ for Washington’s struggling bike shops – Seattle Bike Blog State Budget Proposals Focus on Highway Expansion in Both Chambers - The Urbanist WA may be getting new highways — for cyclists | The Seattle Times  SB 5801 Washington State Legislature 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.

Bellevue-based startup OneCourt says its devices enable the “first tactile sports broadcasts." The goal is to give a deeper game experience for sports fans who are visually impaired, and to deliver it in real time.  A social media influencer recently went viral when he took the tablet for a spin at a Trailblazers game. Portland was the first NBA team to provide OneCourt devices at every home game, but more have followed. And OneCourt's goal is to see its devices at every major sporting event in the world.  Guests: Kunal Mehta and Jerred Mace from OneCourt Related Links:  OneCourt website Blind guy welcoming accessibility to the NBA on a new level 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 fight over fluoride in drinking water is not new – it’s been around ever since public programs began in the 1940s. But now, there is a push to end fluoridation programs. United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr has criticized fluoridation, claiming it contributes to a host of afflictions, including bone cancer and thyroid disease.  Around the country, some areas are taking actions to end fluoridation.  Last week, Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water. That is slated to take effect on May 7th.  Here in Washington, the southwestern cities of Camas and Longview are both considering banning fluoride. Guest: Dr. Charlotte Lewis is a pediatrician at Seattle’s Children's Hospital. She’s also a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine,  where her work is focused on increasing access to dental care and expanding pediatricians' understanding and involvement in oral health. Relevant Links: Utah Becomes First State to Ban Fluoride in Public Water - NYT Longview City Council looking to 'punt' fluoride decision to voters - Lower Columbia Currents Camas could be the first community in Washington to remove fluoride from drinking water - The Columbian 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 the United States, immigrants do not have the right to legal representation in the same way American citizens do. But it’s a different story for children who come to this country alone, thanks to the federally funded Unaccompanied Children Program. It provides legal representation to more than 26,000 children by contracting with non-profit legal aid organizations throughout the country. On March 21, the Trump Administration sent out a stop-work notice that some organizations are calling a near-termination of the program. The move means children as young as toddlers may be expected to represent themselves in very complicated immigration hearings. In response, a number of organizations that assist kids in the immigration system sued the Trump Administration.\ Thousands of unaccompanied minors have been placed with sponsors across the Pacific Northwest over the past decade, and the ending of contracts supporting them will have very real impacts on people and courts in our region.   Guests: Matt Adams, Legal Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project   Related Links:  Trump Administration Halts Funding for Legal Representation of Migrant Children Coalition of more than 100 Legal Organizations Denounce Government’s Termination of Unaccompanied Kids Program White House reportedly halts funding for legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children 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 is taking on one of the more contentious issues to regularly pass through city hall: the Comprehensive Plan. That plan dictates where and how the city will add more people. And previous plans concentrated new apartments and condos along busy streets with access to transit. But why do cities like Seattle have to engage in this planning exercise at all? It goes back to a law called the Growth Management Act. Guests: Joe Tovar, Associate Professor in the planning department at the University of Washington and Western Washington University Karen Wolf, Interim Program Director of the College of Built Environments at the University of Washington John Landis, Professor Emeritus of City & Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania Relevant Links: One Seattle Comprehensive Plan: https://www.seattle.gov/opcd/one-seattle-plan KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-will-the-next-comprehensive-plan-shape-seattle KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/stories/where-should-seattle-build-homes-for-newcomers-49ae   Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been a long week, we’ve seen SUNSHINE, we’ve had the threat of TORNADOES, and now it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy our weekend…  Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with everything YOU need to know about what to do to beat the rainy blues…  LINKS: Seattle Mariners OPENING NIGHT! - First pitch is at 7:10 Book Event - TILT w/ Emma Pattee - Third Place Books Ravenna The Spokane Rock Rollers 64th Annual Gem & Mineral Show Bellingham Children’s Film Festival Helles Belles W Girls N Roses Spelling Bee 2025 | Town Hall Seattle Seattle Restaurant Week Lynnwood Dining Month - Starts Tuesday April 1st! 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.

23andMe, the San Francisco tech company known for its direct-to-consumer genetic testing, announced Sunday it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  That’s raised a lot of privacy concerns over the genetic records it holds of roughly 15 million customers. The company said that while in bankruptcy court, that data will be handled with the same level of privacy.  But California Attorney General Rob Bonta released a statement that suggested Californians should consider “directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material.” Guest: Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey Fowler Related Links: Delete your DNA data from genetics company 23andMe right now - The Washington Post How to delete your 23andMe data after the company filed for bankruptcy 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 was one of those days that makes you feel like maybe, just maybe, winter is finally over. Here in Seattle, the sun was shining, the cherry trees blossoming, it was in the 60s… And yes, now there are severe thunderstorms and potential tornado level winds heading our way this afternoon. But –  once those storms are over, it’ll be the perfect time to get back out into the garden and clean up the mess those winds will have left behind. And maybe even start planning your planting for the season. And we’re here to help.  Guest: Ciscoe Morris, gardening expert, TV and radio personality, and author 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.