Soundside

KUOW News and Information

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Jul 30, 2024 · 14 min
Tumbleweeds, a Northwest nuisance, are taking home decor by storm
The scene opens on a dusty street. Weathered wooden buildings with false fronts line either side of the street, as two gunslingers line up at high noon. A lone tumbleweed drifts across the street… which, actually, is the problem we’re here to discuss today. Tumbleweeds, also known as Russian thistle, are an invasive plant here in the United States. And for people in Central and Eastern Washington, they’re a nuisance that can clog roads and pose a potential fire hazard. So when reporter Anna King found that these invasive plants were being sold online as elegant decor – she was understandably curious about why. She joined Soundside to discuss her recent reporting on how tumbleweeds are managed, and how they spread so far. Guests: Anna King, reporter for the Northwest News Network covering Washington and Oregon mainly East of the Cascades. Related Links: Tumbleweeds sold for big bucks on popular home decor website causes chuckles in the Northwest - Northwest Public Broadcasting (nwpb.org) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 30, 2024 · 14 min
The Columbia River is FULL of Shad!
For generations, native Chinook salmon have made their spring migration up the Columbia River… But over the past few decades, as their population has dwindled, salmon have been overtaken by a non-native species of fish hailing from the East Coast - THE SHAD. Shad runs now number in the millions, while just about 700 thousand native Chinook make the trip up the Columbia each year. What’s behind the rise of this East Coast interloper? Humans, of course. But the effects of Shad on the local ecosystem? Well, that’s a bit more complicated. Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with Seattle Times environment reporter Lynda Mapes to find out more about the "Chrome Tide." GUEST: Seattle Times environment reporter Lynda Mapes RELATED LINK: There’s a new top fish of the Columbia River — and it doesn’t mind the warm water | The Seattle Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 30, 2024 · 18 min
"Harris needs to listen to us" - an uncommitted delegate gets ready for the Democratic Convention
The U.S. presidential race has undergone a big transformation. But has anything changed for Democrats who voted "uncommitted" in Washington state's presidential primary? As the party prepares to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris in a virtual role call vote, an uncommitted delegate says Harris needs to show more separation from President Biden on the war in Gaza before she will earn his support. Guest: Yaz Kader, uncommitted delegate for Washington’s 7th congressional district, which encompasses most of Seattle and Burien, as well as Vashon Island, Lake Forest Park, Shoreline, and Normandy Park. Relevant links: Seattle Times: WA to send 2 ‘uncommitted’ delegates to Democratic National Convention Washington State Standard: Harris snags support of Washington Democratic delegates See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 29, 2024 · 26 min
As companies run out of training data, regulators want more guardrails for AI
Each year we can count on the reliable passing of the seasons: the leaves falling in Autumn, winter blooming into spring, and if you’re following tech, the reliable attempt – yet again – at a federal data privacy bill in the U.S. Congress. Back in April, two Washington legislators – Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell and Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers – announced to much fanfare that they would be leading the charge this year with newly drafted legislation called the American Privacy Rights Act. "Researchers project that if current trends continue, companies training large language models may run out of new publicly available high-quality data to train AI systems as early as 2026," said Senator Cantwell in a hearing on the issue earlier this month. "So without a strong privacy law, when the public data runs out, nothing stopping it from using our private data..." As AI systems and their developers are hungry for more data, companies are starting to ask consumers to provide it -- often without ethical guidelines in place. In the hearing, Senator Cantwell called AI advancements “...fuel on a campfire in the middle of a windstorm," citing concerns with deepfakes, data security, price gauging, and data transparency. "Privacy is not a partisan issue," said Senator Cantwell. "According to Pew Research, the majority of Americans across the political spectrum want more support for regulation. I believe our most important private data should not be bought or sold without our approval..." Will concerns driven by AI be push tech regulation to the finish line? To hear more about this latest attempt and if this effort might make it through, Soundside’s Libby Denkmann caught up with AI researchers Jacob Metcalf and Jennifer King. Guests: Dr. Jacob Metcalf is a researcher at the nonprofit Data & Society, where he studies and consults with companies on ethical AI practices. Dr. Jennifer King is a privacy and Data Policy Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human Centered Artificial Intelligence. Related Links: Lawmakers unveil new bipartisan digital privacy bill after years of impasse - The Verge White Paper Rethinking Privacy in the AI Era: Policy Provocations for a Data-Centric World | Stanford HAI The Ethical Dilemma at the Heart of Big Tech Companies (hbr.org) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 29, 2024 · 19 min
New city legislation takes aim at street racing
In a move aimed at curbing street racing, the Seattle City Council recently approved stricter penalties for people who participate in, or are spectators of, the activity. A blog post by the city specifically noted a street racing event from July of last year as an influence on the legislation. Three people were wounded and one was killed during the race in Capitol Hill, after someone opened fire on a crowd of spectators. City Attorney Ann Davison, who worked in partnership on the bill, called street racing a growing problem in the area. But some have argued that the legislation is overkill, when the state already instituted new laws around street racing earlier this year. Guest: Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) Relevant links: Seattle City Council Blog: Seattle City Council adopts new tools to fight illegal street racing Statement from Councilmember Kettle: While Seattle Police don’t have specific on data on street racing, my constituents have increasingly raised concerns about these incidents. The feedback has been amplified by the media coverage of the late night disruption to neighborhoods, shootings and injuries during these dangerous gatherings. On July 23, 2023, three people were wounded by gunfire and one person was fatally shot during an unlawful racing event in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. And during a weekend in June, a pair of illegal racing events resulted in the tragic shooting death of 22-year-old man, multiple shooting injuries, and a car striking a pedestrian. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 25, 2024 · 27 min
The Race for Governor: Semi Bird
There are 28 candidates running for Governor in the August 6th Primary. So, if you’re a Washington voter and feeling a little overwhelmed, you’re not alone. On Soundside we’re keeping it simple. This week we’re interviewing the top 4 candidates in terms of polling and fundraising. So far, we’ve spoken with Dave Reichert, Bob Ferguson, and Mark Mullet. They all want to replace Democratic Governor Jay Inslee, who’s been in office for almost a dozen years. All these candidates have very different ideas about where the state should be headed. The final candidate is Semi Bird. Bird is a former Richland School Board member and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Army, where he served as a Green Beret and earned a Bronze Star. Guests: Semi Bird, former Richland School Board member Relevant Links: Tri City Herald: Controversial Richland School Board Member Announces Bid for Washington Governor in 2024 Seattle Times: WA GOP endorses Semi Bird for governor at Trump-dominated convention KUOW: Republican gubernatorial candidate Semi Bird responds to accusations of "stolen valor" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 24, 2024 · 18 min
The Race for Governor: Bob Ferguson
All this week we're talking to the top polling candidates running for governor in Washington state. Voters, when you finally crack that August 6th primary ballot envelope open, you will see there are 28 people vying for governor of the Evergreen State, that's a lot so we're talking to the four men who lead the pack in fundraising and polling, and next up is Washington State’s current Attorney General, Bob Ferguson. Ferguson is a Democrat. He was first elected Attorney General in 2012 and before that he was a King County Councilmember. Guests Bob Ferguson, Attorney General of Washington Relevant Links: Washington State Standard: Man in the middle: Ferguson tries to strike a balance on policing Washington State Standard: Attorney General Bob Ferguson formally enters 2024 race for Washington governor Seattle Times: Ferguson laser-focused on Reichert at state Democratic convention See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 24, 2024 · 28 min
The Race for Governor: Mark Mullet
For the first time in 12 years, there is no incumbent running for Governor in the state. And since Gov. Jay Inslee decided he would not seek a fourth term in office, dozens of candidates have thrown their hat in the ring to replace him. This week I’m talking to the four men who lead the pack in fundraising and polling. Next on the list, Democratic state Senator Mark Mullet. Mullet represents Washington's 5th legislative district in Olympia. He also owns an ice cream parlor and pizza shop in Issaquah. Guests: State Senator Mark Mullet (WA-05) Relevant Links Washington State Standard: Mullet looks to seize middle lane in 2024 governor’s race Washington State Standard: Heating up: Mullet goes after Ferguson for once backing drug decriminalization See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 24, 2024 · 12 min
Is Kamala Harris a lock for the Democratic nomination?
Vice President Kamala Harris is quickly gaining momentum as a potential successor for President Joe Biden in November. But there’s still one major event that will define this year’s Democratic campaign: The Democratic National Convention. The convention will take place from August 19-22 in Chicago. President Biden, who clinched his primary victories, would typically seize the opportunity to discuss policy and outline the party's platform for the final stretch of the election. But with his departure from the race, the focus of the convention may be very different. To analyze the implications of Biden’s decision to not run for reelection and how the Democratic could move forward, Soundside was joined by James Long. Long is a professor of political science at the University of Washington, and a co-founder of the Political Economy Forum there. Guests: James Long, professor of political science at the University of Washington, and a co-founder of the Political Economy Forum. Related Links: Washington Post: How Democrats can pick a new candidate, step by step Yahoo News: DNC panel to meet in public to set ‘transparent, fair’ framework to pick presidential nominee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 23, 2024 · 14 min
As Harris steps forward, WA congresswoman says racist and sexist tropes won't hold her back
The political landscape is shifting rapidly this week. Just days after President Biden announced he would not seek re-election, the Democratic party is getting in line behind the Vice President. According to an Associated Press survey, Vice President Kamala Harris has earned enough delegate support to become the Democratic nominee for President. And now, as she takes center stage, the spotlight on Harris has intensified. And the floodgate of criticism from Republicans has opened. Some of these attacks have focused on what you’d expect – like her work on immigration, or the Biden Administration’s record on inflation. But some notable criticism has also focused on factors outside of the Vice President’s control: Harris’ race, and gender. On Monday, Republican Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee called Harris “our DEI Vice President” in a post on X. DEI as in, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” And the Washington State GOP posted yesterday on the same platform that Harris was “unqualified to lead,” adding, “Antimeritocratic DEI is not building back better, it's setting us further back.” With the first Black and Asian woman – and only the second woman ever– headed to be the nominee of a major political party, how will racist and sexist tropes play a role in this campaign season? And how are Black and Asian women gearing up to confront them? Guest: Washington State Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 23, 2024 · 23 min
The Race for Governor: Dave Reichert
For the first time in 12 years, the Governor’s race in Washington is wide open, with no incumbent running. Three-term Governor Jay Inslee is stepping aside, and there are four clear frontrunners to replace him. This week we’ll hear from the men vying to replace Governor Inslee, and first up is Dave Reichert. Reichert formerly served as King County Sheriff and represented Washington’s 8th Congressional district for 14 years. Guests: Dave Reichert, former congressman representing Washington's 8th District Relevant Links: KUOW: Mainstream Republicans strike different tone than official state GOP at annual conference Seattle Times: Reichert emphasizes law-and-order agenda at Yakima GOP conference KUOW: It's official: Dave Reichert enters race for Washington governor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 22, 2024 · 13 min
Polls are everywhere. But which ones can you trust?
Public opinion polling. It’s never been more consequential for the direction of our democracy – or more scrutinized. For weeks, journalists, pundits and politicians have debated the available data on the outcomes of a head-to-head rematch between President Joe Biden and former-President Donald Trump. Those numbers had appeared increasingly troubling for Democrats. And the polling data, in the end, reportedly made the difference for Biden in deciding to step aside. For more insight into the implications and challenges of polling, Soundside was joined by W. Joseph Campbell, professor emeritus of communications at American University and author of “Lost in a Gallup: Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections.” Guests: W. Joseph Campbell, professor emeritus of communications at American University and author of "Lost in a Gallup: Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections." Recommended Links: Homepage - Emerson Polling (emersoncollegepolling.com) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 22, 2024 · 10 min
Can Kamala Harris engage American voters this November?
On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he would not be running for re-election, and would instead endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. A lot of the news coverage in the last twenty four hours has focused on how party officials from both sides of the aisle are considering the President’s decision to step down from race. But those aren’t the people who will ultimately be deciding the outcome of this race in November. The question is: will an influx in Democratic Party fundraising, institutional support – as well as a new narrative – be enough to engage the average American voter? Or does the seeming momentum of the Republican Party sweep former President Tump back into office? Guest: Eric Liu: CEO and co-founder of Citizen University, a cross-partisan non-profit dedicated to reviving civic engagement. He’s also a former foreign policy speech writer and deputy domestic policy advisor under the Clinton Administration. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 22, 2024 · 27 min
As President Biden leaves the race, WA State party chairs weigh in
Vice President Kamala Harris is headed to visit campaign staff in Wilmington, Delaware this afternoon. This of course, comes as she works to consolidate Democratic support for her abbreviated campaign for the party’s presidential nomination. It once seemed beyond the realm of possibility that President Biden would leave the campaign stage. For weeks he insisted he was up to the task of defeating Donald Trump. At one point Biden even said the “Lord Almighty” would have to tell him to quit. Meanwhile, more and more Democratic members of congress felt he needed a “come to Jesus” moment to realize he should quit the race. It looked like a stalemate. But then, a remarkable thing happened over the past week or so. As the President was fighting COVID, he reportedly listened to arguments he didn’t want to hear. Some close aides and longtime allies like Nancy Pelosi brought him data: evidence that showed he was likely headed for defeat. And Biden changed his mind. He was, as they say, "100 percent in, until he was 100 percent out." He joins a small handful of sitting Presidents who have made such a decision. And it’s worth saying: it is incredibly rare to willingly give up what is (arguably) the most powerful job in the world. Now we’re all navigating this uncharted territory together. Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with the Chairs of both the WA State Democrats and WA State Republicans to see how they are navigating this momentous time. GUESTS: Shasti Conrad: chair of the Washington State Democratic Party State Rep Jim Walsh: chair of the Washington State Republican Party RELATED LINKS: https://x.com/washdems/status/1815416981086257185 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harris-campaign-allies-calling-delegates-lock-support-before-convention-sources-2024-07-21/ https://twitter.com/WAGOP/status/1815397774969778307 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 19, 2024 · 19 min
How are Washington Republicans showing up at the RNC in Milwaukee?
Last night in Milwaukee, Ohio senator J.D. Vance accepted the Republican nomination for Vice President of the United States and took his place as former President Donald Trump’s running mate. Vance’s first convention speech possibly - maybe - upstaged the cameo earlier in the night from Babydog, a rotund bulldog owned by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice. This was always going to be a big week for Republican politics – but I think it’s safe to say that there’s been even more eyes and attention on this convention, as it’s marking the first major event for former President Donald Trump since the attempt on his life last Saturday. Here to break down the Republican National Convention so far is Jim Brunner, politics reporter for The Seattle Times. GUEST: Jim Brunner, Seattle Times politics reporter RELATED LINKS: Top WA Republicans absent from Trump-centered RNC in Milwaukee - The Seattle Times WA union leader welcomes Teamsters president's Amazon-bashing RNC speech - The Seattle Times Tree hats worn by WA Republican delegates get the ax at RNC - The Seattle Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 18, 2024 · 25 min
The Race for District 3: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
Washington’s 3rd Congressional District covers the southwest corner of the state, from Long Beach to Mount Adams, and from Yelm down to Vancouver. It’s also the home of one of the most fiercely contested congressional seats in the entire country. In 2022, Republican challenger Joe Kent defeated incumbent Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler in the Primary, but lost to Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in the General election by roughly 2600 votes. This time around, Gluesenkamp Perez is the incumbent. The way this primary race is shaping up, she will likely be facing either Kent or his Republican Party competition, Camas city council member Leslie Lewallen, in November. This week, we’ve invited the leading candidates in the race on the show for interviews, to get a sense of their policy positions and vision for the future. GUEST: Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat in her first term representing the 3rd district of Washington State. RELATED LINKS: The Identity Crisis of Marie Gluesenkamp Perez - Politico The Blue-Collar Democrat Who Wants to Fix the Party’s Other Big Problem - New York Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 18, 2024 · 5 min
Hear it Again: Exploring Seward Park with naturalist Ed Dominguez
To round out today's show, we're going to meet someone who spends nearly all of his time proudly showing off our little corner of the Pacific Northwest. As the lead naturalist for the Seward Park Audubon Center, Ed Domiguez teaches park visitors about local birds, and animals, along with plants and everything in between. Soundside producer Jason Burrows joined Ed on one of his early bird treks back in 2022, and brings us this story of enjoying nature. Ed is still leading guided tours today -- you can learn more about upcoming tours and other programs by going to sewardpark.audubon.org. Guests: Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Environmental Learning Center Related Links: KUOW - Sharing 'a life-sustaining energy,' exploring Seward Park with naturalist Ed Dominguez Seward Park Audubon Center See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 17, 2024 · 16 min
King County launches 100 day effort to confront gun violence
King County is in the midst of a coordinated effort to confront gun violence. Late last week, the county announced a 100-day initiative to combat shootings in the area. Gun violence is a national issue, and it’s the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, surpassing traffic collisions in 2020, and last month U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence a public health crisis. Guests: Eleuthera Lisch - Director of Public Health - Seattle and King County’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention Celia Jackson - Director of Criminal Legal System Transformation in the King County Executive’s Office Relevant Links: King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention: Community-based Resource Guide Axios: Seattle launches initiative to reduce gun violence See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 17, 2024 · 10 min
Anonymous letter says police watchdogs ignored complaints against former police chief
A few months ago, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz was demoted following numerous HR complaints – and legal filings – during his time at the helm of the SPD. Those complaints include claims of discriminatory behavior by Diaz toward women and people of color. There were also rumors of a relationship with an employee. Diaz has denied those allegations, but in May, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that Diaz would no longer lead the department and appointed former-King County Sheriff Sue Rahr to replace him as interim police chief. But in a recent unsigned letter sent to the Seattle City Council, a whistleblower has alleged that the department’s issues could continue even after Diaz -- because the agency tasked with holding SPD accountable hasn’t been doing its job. KUOW’s Ashley Hiruko has been reporting on all of these developments and joined Soundside to discuss a letter confirmed to be written by a whistleblower within the Office of Police Accountability. Guests: Ashley Hiruko, KUOW investigative reporter Recommended Links: KUOW - Seattle Police watchdog heads ignored complaints against former Chief Adrian Diaz: letter to council KUOW - Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is being dismissed KUOW - Interim SPD Chief talks SPD culture, school safety, and whether to bring officers back to campuses See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 17, 2024 · 14 min
WA state suspends intake for convicted juveniles
Where do you put juvenile offenders when correctional facilities won’t take them? That’s the question many county judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials are facing after Washington’s Department of Children, Youth and Families closed both of the state’s youth correctional facilities to new inmates until further notice. To explain what’s happening and what it means for youth who are convicted of serious crimes, Soundside was joined by KUOW investigative reporter Ann Dornfeld. Guests: Ann Dornfeld, KUOW investigative reporter Related Links: KUOW - Conflict and confusion after state suspends intake for convicted juveniles WA suspends taking in sentenced youth at two detention centers | The Seattle Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.