Just this morning, the NBA Board of Governors approved exploring two possible expansion teams in Seattle and Las Vegas. 

Yes, you’re allowed to squeal, but listen carefully: this is not a done deal, the team is not back yet.

But here's why one sportswriter (and Sonics enthusiast) won't be apologizing to any Thunder fans in Oklahoma City anytime soon. 

Guest

Danny O'Neil, sportswriter

Related Links

OKC wants apology before giving back Sonics history? Are you kidding? - The News Tribune

The Dang Apostrophe (Danny's newsletter)

NBA owners vote to explore Vegas, Seattle expansion bids - ESPN

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

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If you watch HBO's hit series "The Pitt', you'll actually see a real-life nurse on screen: Ned Brower. He plays nurse Jesse Van Horn. 

Brower is an actor with real-life ER experience. 

Two careers are usually enough for most people. But he's also a musician. He started working as an EMT and later became a nurse after making his name with the band Rooney.  

Brower’s new project is the electro-pop band, Bloodwerk. Listen to one of their singles, Truth Will Tell, here.

Guest

Ned Brower, nurse, actor and musician

Related Links

‘The Pitt’ star Ned Brower strikes balance between nursing and acting - The Seattle Times

On ‘The Pitt,’ Ned Brower’s Nurse Jesse Has Captured the Hearts of Fans — Now He Wants Their Ears - Rolling Stone

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.

From New York to Phoenix, at least fourteen major airports across the country will see ICE agents deployed today, according to White House border Czar Tom Homan. 

The immigration agents are being sent to bolster TSA staffing amid an ongoing partial federal government shutdown.

In many places, that has led to security checkpoint lines that stretch for blocks and have travelers waiting hours to get to their flights. 

But it’s been a different picture at SEA Airport, at least for now.

Guest:

• Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho

Related links:

• Support SEA TSA Workers During the Government Shutdown! - gofundme

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.

Washington, like the entire country, has been hit hard by fentanyl. 

in 2025, King County has recorded more than 650 overdose deaths involving the synthetic opioid, which can be 50 times stronger than heroin. 

650 is a devastating number but it’s actually down from a peak in 2023, when more than 1,000 people died from fentanyl-related overdoses in the county. The drop mirrors a downward trend that we’ve seen across the entire country… 

But the crisis is still overwhelming many communities. 

A biotech company called ARMR Sciences is hoping to solve at least one piece of this very complicated puzzle: Instead of reversing these overdoses, they want to stop them from happening in the first place... through a fentanyl vaccine. 

This segment first aired in December of 2025. 

Also - We wanted to share a response we got from a listener about our update on Kratom.

In case you missed it, Kratom is a plant from Southeast Asia that can have psychoactive effects. You’ve probably seen the signs for it - they’re plastered on just about every smoke shop in the city.

We previously spoke with UW Medicine researcher Caleb Banta Green about what we know about kratom.

And we replayed a short bit of that conversation last week in an update…. Because Spokane and Spokane Valley recently banned the sale of the substance. 

We also asked you to give us your thoughts on Kratom and whether it should be a banned substance.

Erik from Bothell responded with a really interesting personal take on the substance, and its effects. 

GUESTS:

• Dr. Colin Haile, a research associate professor at the University of Houston and he’s also one of the co-founders of ARMR Sciences.
• Erik from Bothell

RELATED LINKS: 

• A Fentanyl Vaccine Is About to Get Its First Major Test | WIRED
• Scientists Create a Vaccine Against Fentanyl

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.

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: Mike Lewis - Freelance Journalist

RELATED LINKS:

• Is ICE coming to Sea-Tac Airport? Here’s what we know
• Kraken acquire majority stake in Climate Pledge Arena before NBA meeting
• Why the potential return of the Sonics to Seattle has never felt closer
• WA governor prepares to meet with NBA commissioner as hopes rise for Sonics’ return
• Kevin Durant Talks LEAVING OKC Thunder & OWNING the Sonics!

• “It Was Time”: Dolores Huerta’s First Interview After “Devastating” Cesar Chavez Expose - Latino USA
• Cesar Chavez allegations remind us we must hold all abusers accountable
• After shocking revelations, WA leaders reconsider Cesar Chavez recognition
• Seattle light rail is about to do something audacious and unique to transit

• Sound Transit's Budget-Balancing Ideas All Stop Short of Delivering Rail to Ballard

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.

Seattleites can now buy drinks from the city’s first Thai coffee shop: Nudibranch Coffee, which opened its doors on Capitol Hill in February. 

The shop serves drinks that reflect Thailand’s popular flavors and hot climate. We're talking tangerine-iced Americanos and Coconut Clouds (the latter has coconut water, espresso and sweet cream floated on top). 

Before the shop officially opened its doors, we were able to steal some time from the busy owners to hear how the vision for Seattle’s first Thai coffee shop came together. 

Guests: 

• Emily Sirisup and Cole Arnesen, two of Nudibranch Coffee's founders 

Related links: 

• Nudibranch Coffee | Explore Thai Coffee Today
• Nudibranch Wants to Be Seattle’s First Thai Coffee Shop | Eater Seattle
• Nudibranch will bring Thai coffee to former Capitol Hill vegan doughnut shop | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News

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 is GREY and WET here in Western Washington, so let’s get out & do some STUFF this weekend! 

As we do every Thursday, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with all the events fit to print and worthy of your excitement!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS: 

• Taste of Iceland Seattle 2026 | A Festival of Food, Music & Culture
• Plate of Nations
• BrainFest with Allen Institute - Pacific Science Center
• Steamy in Seattle 2026 - Clarion West
• Torrent vs Boston
• U-District NIGHT BLOSSOM Festival
• Columbia City Night Market | Go All Night!
• Bands Stand With Gaza - The Vera Project
• Band of Horses at the Showbox
• Seattle's French Fest
• PROJECT HAIL MARY - Jason says GO SEE 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.

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 LINKS: 

• Katie Wilson pauses Seattle city employees’ AI tool rollout
• Slow downtown recovery testing Seattle’s pragmatic progressives
• 2026 State of Downtown: Mayor Katie Wilson
• Senate Democrats Block D.H.S. Funding Again Over Enforcement Guardrails
• NYTimes breaks down the White House’s latest offer
• POLITICO: One month later, WH and Democrats no closer to ending the DHS shutdown
• Mariners’ Randy Arozarena issues statement after WBC drama with Cal Raleigh
• Josh Naylor Explains Canada/USA Exchange With Mariners Teammate Cal Raleigh, Tough Loss vs. USA
• GENOOO! Eugenio Suárez rocks a GO-AHEAD DOUBLE in the 9th inning for Team Venezuela

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.

Listen up food lovers (or KUOW lovers….. You can hear this one, too).

KUOW’s Seattle Eats podcast has a new host. The show covers Seattle’s food scene and digs into topics like the cuisine at the Seahawks’ Lumen Field… the mortadella sandwich renaissance ….   and the skyrocketing price tag for coffee. 

The show has also gone beyond Seattle, taking listeners to explore Bellevue’s Chinese food scene. And bar hopping in Tacoma. 

Now, though, there’ll be a slightly new flavor (ba dum tss), because Brandi Fullwood is taking over hosting duties from Tan Vinh. She sat down with Soundside to talk about stepping into the new role.

Guests:

• Brandi Fullwood, the host of Seattle Eats. 

Related links:

• KUOW - Seattle Eats
• KUOW - KUOW announces Brandi Fullwood as new host of "Seattle Eats"
• Bar Bayonne
• L'Oursin
• George Coffee & Pastries
• Szechuan Fish 
• THE HIDEOUT
• Lenox
• Pantry & Deli — Greenbank Store

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.

Last month, Kansas passed a law requiring that the gender listed on all driver’s licenses and birth certificates match the person’s sex at birth. 

Similar laws have been adopted by other states.

But Kansas is the first state to have made its law retroactive. Meaning that any person who previously changed their gender marker no longer has a valid license or birth certificate. With no grace period. 1,700 Kansans woke up to find their documents were no longer valid.

Invalidating government-issued I.D. is just one of the ways transgender rights have been rolled back by recent state and federal policy changes. 

And that’s part of what’s prompting trans people to move to states with more legal protections. Including Washington. 

One Seattle nonprofit is working to help trans people living in conservative states to relocate.

Guests:

• Adalyn - currently in the process of relocating to Seattle with Traction's help

• Michael Woodward - Executive Director of Traction, or “Trans Community Action,” a non-profit based here in Seattle.

• Aspen Coyle - Program Manager for Traction’s Project Open Arms, designed to assist trans people moving to Western Washington.

Related Links:

• TRACTION website
  • How to volunteer with Traction
  • Traction events

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.