Soundside

In Renton, a heated fight over whether to keep Flock cameras mirrors the national angst people are feeling about surveillance, government, and big tech. These license plate readers are pitting law enforcement and public safety advocates against people concerned about immigration enforcement and government intrusion into privacy and personal liberties.

Today on the show:

• 4 a Better Renton organizer Sheryl Friesz
• Tukwila Police Chief Eric Lund
• Renton City Councilmember James Alberson
• Renton City Councilmember Carmen Rivera

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.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 has two neighboring states with very close races on very issues that show interesting fault lines in the electorate. In deep blue Oregon, Democratic Governor Tina Kotek is in an extremely tight race with her Republican opponent, Christine Drazan.  And in deep red Idaho, a proposition to overturn the state’s abortion ban is bringing in a lot of money and interest.

Plus: a look at a successful write in campaign in Skagit County.

Today on the show:

• James Dawson of Boise State Public Radio
• Dirk VanderHart of OPB
• Isaac Simonelli of Cascadia Daily News

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.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.

Listeners, it's time to lock in on the races for the Washington Supreme Court. Why? Five out of nine seats are up for grabs, a rare number of seas. We’re expecting some pretty big rulings from the justices in the years to come.  

In the last two elections, five out of the six candidates for Washington Supreme Court ran unopposed.

We take a look at some of the court's biggest recent rulings and get to know the candidates. 

Plus: Two conversations including critiques of and praise for the state Supreme Court's track record. 

Guests

Amy Radil, KUOW reporter

Todd Myers, vice president of research at the Washington Policy Center

Jessica Levin, associate teaching professor and senior director, Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice at Seattle University School of Law

Related Links

WA Supreme Court candidates make their case as high-profile election nears - Washington State Standard

Court watchers have eyes on races to reshape Washington Supreme Court - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.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 could change the rules for parking RVs in the city. The councilmember pushing for this change is hoping it will eventually get them off the streets and people connected to housing.   

Yet critics worry this could create hardship for Seattleites who live in these vehicles. 

Plus: co-hosts Libby Denkmann and David Kroman break down today’s top headlines.

Today on the show:

• Dan Strauss, who represents Seattle's District 6 
• Neal Lampi, who lived in an RV for years 
• Alison Eisinger, executive director for the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.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.

Massive federal cuts to Medicaid are playing out here in King County. 4,000 lawfully present immigrants lost their coverage this month, and over 200,000 more could see their coverage affected soon. King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda joins Soundside to talk about the county’s response to these cuts. 

Plus: co-hosts Libby Denkmann and David Kroman break down today’s top headlines, the latest on 12th and Jackson, and your weekend warmup.

Today on the show:

• Teresa Mosqueda, King County Councilmember District 8
• Connor Nash, politics reporter for the South Seattle Emerald

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.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 fate of the high earners income tax, sometimes called the “Millionaire’s Tax," is in the hands of Washington voters. This year, Democrats in Olympia passed a nearly 10 percent tax on every dollar of household income over $1 million. 

Almost immediately after the legislature passed it, the tax was challenged; both in court and with an initiative on this November’s ballot. 

The legal battle is ongoing, today, we're focusing on you, the voters. We have two people ready to debate whether voters should repeal the income tax by passing  Initiative 645. 

Plus: We hear from you about yesterdays segment on eldercare and AI.

Today on the show:

• Rian Watt, executive director of the Economic Opportunity Institute 
• Jaime Herrera Beutler, former congresswoman for WA-03

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.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.

There is a crisis in elder care worldwide. 

The population of people aged 65 and older is expected to nearly double by 2060 and many countries are facing serious questions about how to support such a huge increase in elderly community members. 

In America, nursing homes are both expensive and linked to significant declines in mental health, leading states like Washington to prioritize at-home caretakers. 

But at-home care is facing its own crisis, which has the state turning to a new solution: An at-home AI companion called ElliQ. 

Earlier this year Washington became the first state to have these devices fully subsidized by Medicaid.

And so far they’ve made it into the hands of more than 50 residents.

Is this a solution to the elder care crisis? Or another sign of an AI dystopia?

Plus: Why one of the biggest immigrant support networks in Washington just laid off half its staff, and David and Libby on their top stories of the day.

Today on the show: tech journalist Jacob Robbins, and KUOW immigration reporter Gustavo Sagrero Alvarez

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.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 month Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson sits down with Soundside to discuss the latest news and answer your questions. This month: the budget, public safety, and homelessness policy.

Plus: Libby and David break down the latest on the Washington State Ferry cancellations

Today on the show: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.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.

This election season, State Sen. Jesse Salomon is defending his seat against a challenger who believes he's not progressive enough, Rep. Cindy Ryu. Legislative District 32, which they both represent now, is a safe seat for Democrats. LD 32 includes Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood and also parts of northwest Seattle, Edmonds and Woodway.

Both have been in local and state politics for a while, but why is Ryu running against Salomon now? The two sat down for a debate with "Soundside" in front of a live audience. 

Plus: Co-hosts Libby Denkmann and David Kroman talk today's top headlines and Shane Mehling takes on the Weekend Warmup. 

Today on the show:

• Jesse Salomon, state senator for Legislative District 32
• Cindy Ryu, position 1 representative for Legislative District 32 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.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 University of Washington's Board of Regents almost voted on a change to the school's Student Conduct Code in early September, which led to a wave of pushback from students and faculty who read it as an effort to crackdown on certain kinds of protests. The school delayed that original vote and extended its feedback period to December. 

Soundside spoke to students, as well as an organization that advocates for free speech, about what all of this signals about the state of protests at the University of Washington. 

Also, KUOW is a self-sustaining service of the University of Washington, meaning we fundraise separately and maintain editorial independence from the school.

Today on the show:

• Radcliffe Cushman, an undergraduate student at the University of Washington
• Francisco Dojenia, a graduate student at the University of Washington 
• Laura Beltz, the director of policy reform at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.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.