Approximately 10,000 people are still under evacuation notice after multiple levee failures across Western Washington.

In King County: flood controls have breached in the last 48 hours. As of this morning, residents in the city of Pacific, east of Tacoma, are under a "go now" evacuation order after a flood control breach on the nearby White River. A levee was breached yesterday in Tukwila and Kent, the evacuation order for the area is no longer in effect. 

Guests:

Casey Martin, KUOW reporter

Josh Baldi, water and land resources division director for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Relevant Links: 

KUOW live updates

 

Approximately 10,000 people are still under evacuation notice after multiple levee failures across Western Washington.
In King County: flood controls have breached in the last 48 hours. As of this morning, residents in the city of Pacific, east of Tacoma, are under a "go now" evacuation order after a flood control breach on the nearby White River. A levee was breached yesterday in Tukwila and Kent, the evacuation order for the area is no longer in effect.&nbsp;
Guests:
Casey Martin, KUOW reporter
Josh Baldi, water and land resources division director for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
Relevant Links:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/rivers-have-crested-but-western-washington-flood-threat-continues-to-loom">KUOW live updates</a>
&nbsp;

Soundside

Approximately 10,000 people are still under evacuation notice after multiple levee failures across Western Washington.

Flooding in WA: Pacific evacuation, levee breach and more

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. 

A lot has changed during Sara Nelson&rsquo;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.&nbsp;
She helped oversee pandemic-era recovery, worked with two different mayoral administrations and two very different presidential administrations during her time on the council.&nbsp;
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&rsquo;s held the past four years. Nonprofit leader Dionne Foster will take Nelson&rsquo;s place after winning by a wide margin of votes in November.&nbsp;
Between passing a police contract, approving phase one of the city&rsquo;s Comprehensive Plan, and putting forward a bill to change how consultants work with the city &ndash; 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:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sara Nelson, outgoing position 9 Seattle City Councilmember and City Council President</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-passes-new-transparency-law-aimed-at-political-consultants/">Seattle passes new transparency law aimed at political consultants - Seattle Times</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/new-seattle-police-contract-includes-pay-boost-increased-use-of-unarmed-crisis-response">New Seattle Police contract includes pay boost, increased use of unarmed crisis responders - KUOW</a><a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/amy-radil"></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 is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Sara Nelson reflects on her tenure, and the direction Seattle politics is moving.

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

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.

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: Former KIRO-FM host Dave Ross

TODAY'S TOPICS:
Flooding

Seattle Times: A damaged King County levee awaited fixes for years. Then it failed.
NBC News: Federal grants for flood mitigation work sat on hold as storms inundated Washington state
Affordability

NYTimes: How Democrats Used One Word to Turn the Tide Against Trump
NYTimes: These Young Adults Make Good Money. But Life, They Say, Is Unaffordable.
Dave Ross parody songs

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 Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now &ndash; and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. 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: Former KIRO-FM host Dave Ross
TODAY'S TOPICS:
<ul>
<li>Flooding
<ul>
<li>Seattle Times:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/a-damaged-king-county-levee-awaited-fixes-for-years-then-it-failed/#:~:text=The%20Desimone%20levee%20has%20been,long%20after%20the%202020%20flood.">A damaged King County levee awaited fixes for years. Then it failed.</a></li>
<li>NBC News: <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/washington-state-floods-federal-grants-on-hold-rcna250132">Federal grants for flood mitigation work sat on hold as storms inundated Washington state</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Affordability
<ul>
<li>NYTimes: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/20/upshot/affordability-democrats-trump.html">How Democrats Used One Word to Turn the Tide Against Trump</a></li>
<li>NYTimes: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/20/us/politics/middle-class-us-economy-affordability.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share">These Young Adults Make Good Money. But Life, They Say, Is Unaffordable.</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="http://daveross.com/index.html">Dave Ross parody songs</a><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nfl/philip-rivers-colts-nfl-seahawks-rcna249182"></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 Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.

Front Page: Flooding, affordability and Dave Ross sings

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.

The holidays: a time to gather with friends and family, to enjoy one another&rsquo;s company as we light candles or sit by a tree and contemplate the year&rsquo;s passing.
It&rsquo;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 &ldquo;Queen of Christmas?&rdquo; Has there ever been a good Hanukkah song?&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll be debating hard hitting questions like this. And on Soundside, we&rsquo;re here to help you win the argument.
It&rsquo;s our gift to you.
Today &ndash; We&rsquo;re pitting three movies, songs, and local events against each other to determine a winner, in a totally original game we&rsquo;re calling &ldquo;Kiss Merry Kill.&rdquo;
And of course that&rsquo;s merry like Santa is - with an E.
&nbsp;
HOLIDAY FARE DISCUSSED:
Movies
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790604/">Deck the Halls (2006)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8522006/">The Happiest Season (2020)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0270317/">A Diva&rsquo;s Christmas Carol (2000)</a></li>
</ul>
Music
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJcPVB-we7g">The Christmas Shoes by NewSong</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUjn3RpkcKY">Mistletoe by Justin Bieber</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbxyZAduGvY">Puppy for Hanukkah by Daveed Diggs</a></li>
</ul>
Events
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/baitshopseattle/?hl=en">The Bait Shop holiday light show</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/seattlesantacon/?hl=en">SantaCon</a></li>
<li><a href="https://seattlechristmasmarket.com/">The Seattle Christmas Market</a></li>
<li><a href="https://bellevuecollection.com/tenant/snowflake-lane-factory/#/cat/all">Sitting on Santa's lap at the Bellevue Square Mall</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Betty Wetter is a Seattle drag queen, and host of monthly drag variety show Tush! at the Clock-out Lounge</li>
<li aria-level="1">Juno Men is a comedian, and co-host of the Moth Storytelling Slam here in Seattle</li>
</ul>
&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.

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.”

Flooding in WA: Pacific evacuation, levee breach and more

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