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Democrats claimed big wins in this year's midterm election, which some have dubbed a "blue tsunami." Amid these victories on the left, how are Republicans in Washington state thinking about the future of their party?  Guests: Jim Walsh, chair of Washington State's Republican Party  Chris Vance, former chair of Washington State's Republican Party  Chad Minnick, a Republican strategist 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 inevitable court challenge to I-638 is here. That initiative bars trans girls from playing girls K-12 sports in Washington. It passed with over 55 percent of the vote. And opponents vowed to fight it in court as soon as it became clear that voters would pass it. Last night, they did just that – the ACLU of Washington, Legal Voice, and Pacifica Law Group filed a lawsuit to block the measure from going into effect.  Plus, Senator Patty Murray on her plans for a Democrat controlled Senate and you can weigh in on the state ferry's interior design. 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.

Starting today, no more Minecraft in most Seattle classrooms. It’s part of a technology overhaul that includes new limits on YouTube and AI chatbots. We catch up with SPS Superintendent Ben Shuldiner to talk about the changes. Plus, we hear about next steps on potential legal action against the new ban on trans girls in girls sports, I-638, and get an update on a plan to merge up to 21 schools.  Also on the show: Dems win a supermajority in the WA statehouse, what does it mean?  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.

Democrats are still basking in the glow of their sweeping electoral wins. You have to go back a half a century, to the post-Watergate era, to find a similar landslide victory by either party in the House.  And the New York Times reports there may be no modern precedent for the wave of GOP-leaning Senate seats that flipped to Democratic control Tuesday. In two months, they’ll take control of both chambers of congress. How will they lead? Soundside caught up with Representative Pramila Jayapal from Washington’s 7th district to talk about legislative priorities.  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 Soundside and Sound Politics teams broke down the biggest takeaways from Election Day. They dug into the initial results on ballot initiatives, national races and more -- with the help of guests who weighed in on what this year's election could mean for Washington Democrats and Republicans.   Guests: Brian Heywood of Let's Go Washington  Shasti Conrad, chair of the Washington State Democratic Party  Congressman Adam Smith, who represents Washington's 9th District  Chad Minnick, Republican political consultant and strategist  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.

In the 2026 fiscal year alone, the state paid out over $600 million in judgements, settlements and legal costs. It’s an issue that goes way beyond dollars on a spreadsheet – and gets to the heart of who should be held responsible when someone suffers harm? And how far should that responsibility go? Plus: What a new Native-owned birthing center means for south Seattle. 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: Housing policy, the budget, the search for a new Seattle police chief, and as always, your questions.  Plus: Libby and David break down today’s top headlines. 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.

Kitsap County relies on Puget Sound Energy for it's electricity. The private, investor owned utility is looking at a 30% rate increase over the next three years. So, the Kitsap PUD is asking voters whether they should consider leaving PSE to start their own electric utility.   Plus: Libby and David read your responses to Initiative 638, the initiative banning trans girls from competing in K-12 sports.  Guests Fran Korten, Unplug PSE Matt Steuerwalt, PSE Angela Bennink, Kitsap PUD Randy Hardy, former head of Bonneville Power Authority and Seattle City Light 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.

We are bombarded every day with headlines about the latest in artificial intelligence.  There’s a battle between AI doomers: the people warning of the technology’s capability to end humanity, and the techno-optimists who see AI ushering in a post-disease, post-scarcity world. As news consumers (and civilians!) most of us fall somewhere in the uneasy, confused middle. How should we separate the hype from reality? We're trying to figure it out on our new monthly segment, Aye Yai AI. What's behind the name? Throw up your hands and think Ai Yai Yai. Plus: Libby and David discuss potential closures at some Seattle elementary schools, affordable housing, and who is "hopping mad" over being included in an ad in favor of repealing the income tax.  Guests Destiny Muller, AI reporter at The Seattle Times Chirag Shah, professor in the Information School at the University of Washington, where he studies how to build intelligent and responsible AI for information access, author of Raising AI: How Artificial Intelligence Is Shaping Us—and How We Shape It Rolanda Fu, investor at Madrona, a venture capital group based in Seattle and Palo Alto 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 year, Washington voters will decide if they want to ban transgender girls from participating in girls' sports. Initiative 638 has become one of the state's most contentious topics and it reflects a broader cultural divide on this issue across the country. Parents, lawmakers and more share their thoughts on what this initiative would mean for girls' sports.  Guests Verónica García, a former high school athlete  Elizabeth Wilson, a parent who supports I-638 Lauren Hipp, a parent who opposes I-638 Senator Yasmin Trudeau, a lawmaker who opposes I-638 Representative April Connors, a lawmaker who supports I-638 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.