After an 8 month search, the Seattle Art Museum has a new director and CEO: Scott Stulen comes to Seattle from Tulsa, Oklahoma where he led the Philbrook Museum. 

In their announcement, SAM touted Stulen’s work expanding the role of museums in civic life by using the Philbrook as a polling place and vegetable garden. 

Stulen’s hire comes at an important time for the SAM, arts organizations are still recovering from the pandemic, the museum is engaged in union negotiations with security guards, and carrying out a new strategic plan.

Guests:
Scott Stulen, incoming director and CEO of the Seattle Art Museum

Relevant Links:
KUOW: Seattle Art Museum has a new leader after 8-month CEO search
GeekWire: Seattle Art Museum’s new CEO brings innovation mindset — with an openness to AI and other tech

After an 8 month search, the Seattle Art Museum has a new director and CEO: Scott Stulen comes to Seattle from Tulsa, Oklahoma where he led the Philbrook Museum. In their announcement, SAM touted Stulen’s work expanding the role of museums in civic life by using the Philbrook as a polling place and vegetable garden. 
Stulen’s hire comes at an important time for the SAM, arts organizations are still recovering from the pandemic, the museum is engaged in union negotiations with security guards, and carrying out a new strategic plan.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Scott Stulen, incoming director and CEO of the Seattle Art Museum</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links:
<ul>
<li>KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-art-museum-has-a-new-leader-after-8-month-ceo-search">Seattle Art Museum has a new leader after 8-month CEO search</a></li>
<li>GeekWire: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/seattle-art-museums-new-ceo-brings-innovation-mindset-with-an-openness-to-ai-and-other-tech/">Seattle Art Museum’s new CEO brings innovation mindset — with an openness to AI and other tech</a></li>
</ul>

Soundside

After 8 month search, Seattle Art Museum names new director and CEO

Members of Congress from Washington state are almost unified in their condemnation of the Iran war, which passed the two-month mark this week.

But the two House Republicans on the east side have been supportive of President Trump’s decision to strike Iran starting Feb. 28th.

One of them is Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican representing Washington's 5th Congressional District.

Baumgartner has been a vocal champion of the war, calling it “important and necessary.”

Guest: Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican who represents Washington’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Spokane, Walla Walla, and Pullman. 

Related links:
Washington lawmakers react to U.S. attacks on Iran | KREM 2
Trump threatened to wipe out Iran. Here’s how WA lawmakers responded | The Seattle Times
Rep. Michael Baumgartner on U.S. Strategy in War With Iran | Video | C-SPAN

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.

Members of Congress from Washington state are almost unified in their condemnation of the Iran war, which passed the two-month mark this week.
But the two House Republicans on the east side have been supportive of President Trump&rsquo;s decision to strike Iran starting Feb. 28th.
One of them is Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican representing Washington's 5th Congressional District.
Baumgartner has been a vocal champion of the war, calling it &ldquo;important and necessary.&rdquo;
Guest:&nbsp;Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican who represents Washington&rsquo;s 5th Congressional District, which includes Spokane, Walla Walla, and Pullman.&nbsp;
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.krem.com/article/news/politics/washington-lawmakers-react-to-us-attacks-on-iran/293-85500aa7-95d7-4295-8ae4-a9da67f30ecf">Washington lawmakers react to U.S. attacks on Iran | KREM 2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/trump-threatened-to-wipe-out-iran-heres-how-wa-lawmakers-responded/">Trump threatened to wipe out Iran. Here&rsquo;s how WA lawmakers responded | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/rep-michael-baumgartner-on-us-strategy-in-war-with-iran/676381">Rep. Michael Baumgartner on U.S. Strategy in War With Iran | Video | C-SPAN</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Members of Congress from Washington state are almost unified in their condemnation of the Iran war. But Rep. Michael Baumgartner has been a vocal champion of the war. 

Rep. Michael Baumgartner on why he supports Trump's approach to the Iran war 

If you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.

LINKS: 
Seattle May Day 2026
Seattle Black Film Festival
Sequim Irrigation Festival
Mariners vs KC Royals
Kentucky Derby Day Party at Emerald Downs
May the Fourth | The Museum of Flight
Seattle Erotic Art Festival
PNW Burlesque Festival

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.

If you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.
LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattlemayday.org/">Seattle May Day 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.langstonseattle.org/seattle-black-film-festival/">Seattle Black Film Festival</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.irrigationfestival.com/">Sequim Irrigation Festival</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/schedule/2026-05">Mariners vs KC Royals</a></li>
<li><a href="https://emeralddowns.com/event/kentucky-derby-day-party-2026/">Kentucky Derby Day Party at Emerald Downs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://pages.museumofflight.org/en/may-the-fourth-be-with-you">May the Fourth | The Museum of Flight</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seaf.art/">Seattle Erotic Art Festival</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://pnwburlesquefestival.com/">PNW Burlesque Festival</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out,&nbsp;go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/podcasts/soundside">Soundside</a>&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside presents the Weekend Warmup! Find all the events worthy of YOUR time off with host Jason Megatron Burrows.

Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Star Wars, Sequim, SEAF!

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: Cat Smith, KUOW politics editor 

Related links:
Public Safety Committee 4/28/2026 | Seattle Channel
Washington state says Geo Group refuses to let health inspectors into detention facility | KING 5
Behind Meta’s Huge Layoffs Is a Relentless Shift Toward AI | WSJ

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.

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&rsquo;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:&nbsp;Cat Smith, KUOW politics editor&nbsp;
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aASppjEKc8M">Public Safety Committee 4/28/2026 | Seattle Channel</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.king5.com/article/local/associatedpress/washington-state-says-geo-group-refuses-to-let-health-inspectors-into-detention-facility/616-5673983a-4cd5-4878-a0d1-e198a188ad87">Washington state says Geo Group refuses to let health inspectors into detention facility | KING 5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/behind-metas-huge-layoffs-is-a-relentless-shift-toward-ai-97d99b54?mod=WSJ_TJPOD">Behind Meta&rsquo;s Huge Layoffs Is a Relentless Shift Toward AI | WSJ</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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.

After 8 month search, Seattle Art Museum names new director and CEO

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