Seattle hasn't had a two term mayor since Greg Nickels, who won a second term nearly two decades ago. 

Incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell is trying to break the streak of one term mayors. He was elected to the position in 2021. He previously served on the Seattle city council for 12 years. 

His opponent is Katie Wilson. She founded the nonprofit Transit Riders Union and serves as its chair. 

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.

Seattle hasn't had a two term mayor since Greg Nickels, who won a second term nearly two decades ago.&nbsp;
Incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell is trying to break the streak of one term mayors. He was elected to the position in 2021. He previously served on the Seattle city council for 12 years.&nbsp;
His opponent is Katie Wilson. She founded the nonprofit Transit Riders Union and serves as its chair.&nbsp;
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.

Soundside

Incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell is looking to fend off Transit Rider Union chair Katie Wilson

Election 2025: Seattle mayoral candidate debate

Ben Shuldiner just hit 100 days in his role as the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.... and he’s had to tackle some pretty big issues in that short window.  

Like a budget deficit, which could be as much as $100 million.

And student safety, after two Rainier Beach High School students were shot and killed at a bus stop in January. 

And screen time in the classrooms (Shuldiner recently implemented a new cell phone policy limiting student screen time during the school day)

Shuldiner sat down for a live interview to answer a whole bunch of questions from us here on Soundside and from our listeners.

Guest: Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner 

Related links: 
Can new superintendent Shuldiner the burden of Seattle Public Schools? | KUOW
100 days for Seattle’s new superintendent. How is he doing? | The Seattle Times
Seattle’s new superintendent takes aim at administrative bloat | The Seattle Times
Why U.S. Test Scores Are in a ‘Generation-Long Decline’ | The New York Times

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.

Ben Shuldiner&nbsp;just hit 100 days in his role as the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.... and he&rsquo;s had to tackle some pretty big issues in that short window.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Like a budget deficit, which could be as much as $100 million.
And student safety, after two Rainier Beach High School students were shot and killed at a bus stop in January.&nbsp;
And screen time in the classrooms (Shuldiner recently implemented a new cell phone policy limiting student screen time during the school day)
Shuldiner sat down for a live interview to answer a whole bunch of questions from us here on Soundside and from our listeners.
Guest:&nbsp;Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner&nbsp;
Related links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/can-new-superintendent-shuldiner-the-burden-of-seattle-public-schools">Can new superintendent Shuldiner the burden of Seattle Public Schools? | KUOW</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/100-days-for-seattles-new-superintendent-how-is-he-doing/">100 days for Seattle&rsquo;s new superintendent. How is he doing? | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/seattles-new-superintendent-takes-aim-at-administrative-bloat/">Seattle&rsquo;s new superintendent takes aim at administrative bloat | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/upshot/test-scores-school-districts-us.html">Why U.S. Test Scores Are in a &lsquo;Generation-Long Decline&rsquo; | The New York Times</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.

Ben Shuldiner just hit the 100-day mark in his new role as the superintendent for Seattle Public Schools. He joined Soundside for a live interview to answer our (and our listeners') burning questions. 

A live Q&A with SPS Superintendent Ben Shuldiner

It might not be the prettiest weekend, but there ARE a lot of things to do! Go enjoy your weekend!

LINKS:
Seattle International Film Festival
GeekCraft Expo
Viking Fest
Seattle Pierogi Fest 2026 – Polish Home Association
The Seattle Super Saunter
U District Street Fair
Mariners vs San Diego Padres
Reign vs NJ/NY Gotham FC
Sounders vs LA Galaxy
Storm AWAY vs Indiana Fever

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.

It might not be the prettiest weekend, but there ARE a lot of things to do! Go enjoy your weekend!
LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.siff.net/festival">Seattle International Film Festival</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekcraftexpo.com/">GeekCraft Expo</a></li>
<li><a href="https://vikingfest.org/">Viking Fest</a></li>
<li><a href="https://polishhome.org/blog/2026/04/23/seattle-pierogi-fest-2026/">Seattle Pierogi Fest 2026 &ndash; Polish Home Association</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattlesupersaunter.com/">The Seattle Super Saunter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://udistrictseattle.com/streetfair">U District Street Fair</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/schedule/2026-05">Mariners vs San Diego Padres</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.reignfc.com/match-hub">Reign vs NJ/NY Gotham FC</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.soundersfc.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2026/matches/seavsla-05-16-2026/">Sounders vs LA Galaxy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wnba.com/game/1022600027">Storm AWAY vs Indiana Fever</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.

It kinda feels like it's the first REAL weekend of Spring - let's get out & do stuff with this weekend's warmup!

Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Vikings, Saunterers, and the U-District Street Fair!

If you’re planning to head across the border to Canada for a weekend trip this summer, you've got to pack the essentials. Keys, wallet and of course your phone.

But you may want to also consider something new – who might want to take a look at that phone as you cross the border.

Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection reported a 16% increase in searches of digital devices compared to 2024.

Should you expect your phone to be searched at the border? And what steps can you take to protect your data?

In February, Soundside broadcast a conversation with New York Times reporter Gabe Castro-Root and talked about some of those questions.


GUEST:Gabe Castro-Root, New York Times

RELATED LINKS: 
Phone Searches at the Border Are Up: How to Protect Your Privacy
Traveling to the U.S. Under Trump: Visas, Border Control and What to Know
Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry

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&rsquo;re planning to head across the border to Canada for a weekend trip this summer, you've got to pack the essentials. Keys, wallet and of course your phone.
But you may want to also consider something new &ndash; who might want to take a look at that phone as you cross the border.
Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection reported a 16% increase in searches of digital devices compared to 2024.
Should you expect your phone to be searched at the border? And what steps can you take to protect your data?
In February, Soundside broadcast a conversation with New York Times reporter Gabe Castro-Root and talked about some of those questions. 
GUEST: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/gabe-castro-root">Gabe Castro-Root</a>, New York Times
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/travel/airport-border-phone-search.html">Phone Searches at the Border Are Up: How to Protect Your Privacy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/travel/us-travel-border-customs-visa-trump.html">Traveling to the U.S. Under Trump: Visas, Border Control and What to Know</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.cbp.gov/travel/cbp-search-authority/border-search-electronic-devices">Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <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.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

It's still unlikely you'll be searched: but if you are, what should you know about keeping your data private and secure? 

Election 2025: Seattle mayoral candidate debate

In 1 playlist(s)

Soundside

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips