Soundside

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...

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 CHO...

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, fan...

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.  G...

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-O...

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 conti...

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&nb...

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 Cen...

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 Tr...

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 rest...

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 Maratho...

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...

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...

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 2...

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 scienc...

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...

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...

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 “hos...

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 10,000 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 US...

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...

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...

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 e...

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.&nbsp...

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 driftwoo...

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 Ti...