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Jan 27, 2026 • 20min
Can local police arrest ICE if they violate someone’s civil rights?
Minnesota courts are reportedly overwhelmed by the number of civil rights lawsuits being filed by immigrants and observers interacting with ICE and CBP during “Operation Metro Surge.” Politico has documented more than 2,400 cases across the country, in which judges have rejected the administration’s detention policy. Across our own state local police departments have put out statements about what they can and cannot do when ICE comes to their communities. In the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd, many Police Departments were challenged to renew their focus on civil rights – to avoid the kinds of shootings, injuries, and lawsuits we see around ICE and Border Patrol right now. According to reporting by The Atlantic and the Wall Street Journal, that’s led to a rift between federal agents and police officers, as they see ICE using tactics previously denigrated by the Justice Department in the wake of George Floyd. But what are police officers able to do when confronting potential civil rights violations by federal agents? Guest: Tahir Duckett is the Executive Director of the Center for Innovations in Community Safety at Georgetown Law. The center runs the ABLE project, which teaches police how to intervene during civil rights violations by fellow law enforcement officers Related stories: Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project - Georgetown Law Police and ICE Agents Are on a Collision Course - The Atlantic Police Who Once Backed ICE’s Mission Are Losing Faith in Its Tactics - Wall Street Journal 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.

Jan 26, 2026 • 19min
Ask a Doctor: To breastfeed or not to breastfeed?
The federal government wants parents to breastfeed more. In a press conference last month, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. argued that infant formula falls short in comparison to breast milk. And in a strategy report published last September called “Make Our Children Healthy Again," the White House said it would “work to increase breastfeeding rates.” In some corners, these initiatives and comments have ruffled feathers – with critics arguing the emphasis was tantamount to shaming women who can’t or choose not to breastfeed. But they also got us thinking about the science behind the breast milk versus infant formula debate …. and why it’s still so controversial when people have been feeding their babies since, well… forever. Guests: Janelle Guirguis-Blake, a practicing family physician in Tacoma and clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Related links: The-MAHA-Strategy-WH.pdf RFK Jr. is investigating infant formula. Here’s what’s at stake | CNN Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children: A Systematic Review | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics HHS, FDA Announce Operation Stork Speed to Expand Options for Safe, Reliable, and Nutritious Infant Formula for American Families | FDA 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.

Jan 26, 2026 • 33min
Front Page: Washington's leaders lay out plan for ICE response, Seahawks head to the Super Bowl
At the start of every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page. It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. Guest: Seattle Times reporter David Kroman Related stories: 'Not our America.' Washington state leaders condemn federal shootings in Minnesota - KUOW Super Bowl 60 is set and it's a rematch from 11 years ago: Patriots vs. Seahawks - 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.

Jan 22, 2026 • 5min
Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 23-25
You know what they say... where there's a weekend, there's a warmup. And here with all the random stuff you can do this weekend is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows! LINKS: Edible Books — Shorelake Arts GameSymphonic with Eímear Noone | Seattle Symphony Pacific NW Reptile & Exotic Animal Show Jet City Roller Derby 20th Anniversary Season Game 1 5th Annual Viking Beard Competition Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken - Fri 1/23 - 7pm New Jersey Devils at Seattle Kraken - Sun 1/25 - 12pm Seattle Torrent vs Vancouver Goldeneyes - Sun 1/25 - 3pm IN DENVER Seahawks NFC Championship Game - Seahawks vs LA Rams - Sun 1/25 - 3:30 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.

Jan 22, 2026 • 8min
This exhibit challenges how museums portray Native Americans
When you visit the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, you’ll see a red circular structure with a four-letter phrase written across the top: “This Is Native Land.” It’s the name of the museum’s permanent exhibit that opened in October. The phrase is a reminder that you’ve probably seen many times... But don’t be lulled into thinking you’ll know what to expect. It has been given a new lens. We went to Tacoma a few months ago to talk with the curators behind "This Is Native Land" about how the exhibit came together... and how it challenges the typical ways that museums portray Indigenous people. Guests: Todd Clark, tribal liaison for the Washington State Historical Society and co-curator of “This Is Native Land.” Danica Sterud Miller, associate professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Washington Tacoma and co-curator of "This Is Native Land." Related links This Is Native Land - Washington State Historical Society Washington State History Museum opens new exhibit, 'This is Native Land' | Puyallup Tribe ‘This is Native Land' explores Washington state history through contemporary art | KNKX Public Radio 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.

Jan 21, 2026 • 22min
Ira Glass reflects on fame, podcasting, and the future of public radio
For over 30 years (since 1995) Ira Glass has been one of, if not THE voice of public radio. His show, This American Life, has won Peabody awards, the first ever audio journalism Pulitzer. And it’s also shaped generations of listeners and audio makers. As an early adopter of podcasting (2006), the show was for many a first foray into digital listening. It spawned major hits like Serial, which led to a boom in documentary podcasting. But the world of audio has changed a lot in recent years. Ira Glass shares his thoughts with Soundside. And he’s coming to the Mount Baker Theater in Bellingham this weekend (Saturday, January 24th) to share some of his secrets: the show is called “An Evening with Ira Glass: Seven Things I've Learned” Guest: Host and executive producer of This American Life, Ira Glass Related Links: Mount Baker Theatre Presents An Evening with Ira Glass: Seven Things I've Learned Ira Glass Explains Why I’m Listening to Podcasts Wrong | SubwayTakes Uncut - Youtube Ira Glass plays a nicer version of himself on the radio - NPR 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.

Jan 21, 2026 • 16min
Is Seattle ready to pay up for a Seattle Center glow up?
There’s not a lot of places like Seattle Center...Where else can you take in the opera, a professional hockey game, and an iconic tourist attraction (y’know, the pointy one with a disk on top,) plus a world-famous radio station, and Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning on a six story movie screen… all in the same place? The 13 square block campus draws over 10 million visitors each year, but supporters argue that the city has been taking Seattle Center for granted. The campus is scattered with aging buildings and creaky infrastructure… And it’s unclear where money to fix up the center will come from. In short, Seattle Center is in the middle of a crossroads. David Kroman reports for the Seattle Times. Along with Margo Vansynghel, he co-bylined a story about the issues facing Seattle Center and a proposed path forward. GUEST: David Kroman RELATED LINK: Seattle Center is fraying. Will the city pay to fix it? 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.

Jan 21, 2026 • 20min
Front Page: SPD’s ICE policy, Wilson wants to fix the l8 bus, Seahawks demolish 49ers
At the start of every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page. It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. Guest: KUOW reporter Casey Martin Related stories: ICE Arrest of a Citizen, Barely Dressed, Sows Fear in Twin Cities - NYT Seattle police directive clarifies officers’ role as ICE rumors rise - Seattle Times In act of ICE resistance, Seattleites make hundreds of ‘whistle kits’ - Seattle Times Mayor Wilson Announces Executive Orders to Accelerate Shelter and Improve Transit - Office of the Mayor A more clean and comfortable ride: Why Link is moving to vinyl seats - Sound Transit Seahawks had ‘right intent’ with 49ers ticket resale notice that upset fans - 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.

Jan 20, 2026 • 8min
Did you feel that? The science behind the Seahawks' "Shaheed Quake"
Seismic activity at sporting events is nothing new to Seattle fans. Many of us remember Marshawn Lynch’s 2011 BEAST-QUAKE. Seahawks fans revel in Lumen Field’s reputation for noise when opposing teams are on offense… Even T-Mobile Park has experienced its fair share of shaking. Earlier this year when the Mariners made it to the playoffs, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network was on site to measure the bone rattling when the M’s hit home runs. And this past weekend, they were at the 49ers game with a live stream where fans could keep tabs on how much shaking was going on... GUEST: Harold Tobin - Director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and WA State Seismologist RELATED LINKS: PNSN 2026 Seahawks vs 49ers PNSN - Seahawks on Instagram Seahawks fans’ roar over 49ers rivaled ‘Beast Quake,’ 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.

Jan 20, 2026 • 23min
Washington made it harder for CPS to separate families. Critics say kids are less safe
In recent years, Washington state has made two major policy changes to keep more birth families together. Since then, fewer kids in Washington have been taken from their birth families, especially infants. But over the same time period, more babies and children from families who’ve been investigated by child welfare workers have died. That’s why critics say those changes have made children less safe and should be reversed. Read the full story: Washington made it harder for CPS to separate families. Critics say kids are less safe 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.


