Soundside

KUOW News and Information

Get to know the PNW and each other.

  1. 12/23/2025

    "Frankly I love this town" - City Council President Sara Nelson says goodbye

    A lot has changed during Sara Nelson’s time in Seattle government. She was a centrist outlier on a progressive city council when she was first elected in 2021. But the dynamics changed: Nelson became the center of power, and ended up running the show as council president, after a moderate slate of candidates swept the 2023 election.  She helped oversee pandemic-era recovery, worked with two different mayoral administrations and two very different presidential administrations during her time on the council.  Now - her time in office is coming to an end. Next month, there will be a new, more progressive representative in the citywide Position 9 seat that Nelson’s held the past four years. Nonprofit leader Dionne Foster will take Nelson’s place after winning by a wide margin of votes in November.  Between passing a police contract, approving phase one of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, and putting forward a bill to change how consultants work with the city – Nelson has been busy during her last month in office. And last week she spent an hour with Soundside to reflect on her tenure and the direction Seattle politics is moving. GUESTS: Sara Nelson, outgoing position 9 Seattle City Councilmember and City Council President RELATED LINKS:  Seattle passes new transparency law aimed at political consultants - Seattle Times New Seattle Police contract includes pay boost, increased use of unarmed crisis responders - 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.

    51 min
  2. 12/22/2025

    Kiss Merry Kill: Holiday Edition

    The holidays: a time to gather with friends and family, to enjoy one another’s company as we light candles or sit by a tree and contemplate the year’s passing. It’s also a time to argue with said friends and family about some really dumb stuff. Is Die Hard a holiday movie? Should Mariah Carey officially be crowned “Queen of Christmas?” Has there ever been a good Hanukkah song?  You’ll be debating hard hitting questions like this. And on Soundside, we’re here to help you win the argument. It’s our gift to you. Today – We’re pitting three movies, songs, and local events against each other to determine a winner, in a totally original game we’re calling “Kiss Merry Kill.” And of course that’s merry like Santa is - with an E.   HOLIDAY FARE DISCUSSED: Movies Deck the Halls (2006) The Happiest Season (2020) A Diva’s Christmas Carol (2000) Music The Christmas Shoes by NewSong Mistletoe by Justin Bieber Puppy for Hanukkah by Daveed Diggs Events The Bait Shop holiday light show SantaCon The Seattle Christmas Market Sitting on Santa's lap at the Bellevue Square Mall   GUESTS: Betty Wetter is a Seattle drag queen, and host of monthly drag variety show Tush! at the Clock-out Lounge Juno Men is a comedian, and co-host of the Moth Storytelling Slam here in Seattle   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.

    32 min
4.7
out of 5
68 Ratings

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Get to know the PNW and each other.

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