It’s Opening Day at T-Mobile Park.

In just hours, Mariners fans will be back in the stands, ready to cheer on the team as they look to improve on last year’s record-breaking playoff run. The M’s won the AL West, but fell agonizingly short of the World Series… 

It’s an interesting feeling, being a Mariners fan right now. First of all, our nachos float in a souvenir ferry boat container. 

SECONDLY, our expectations are really high! Gone are the days of the tried and true “well, hopefully we’ll make the playoffs.”

NOW, the faithful are expecting greatness, we’ve SEEN how good this team can be, and we’re ready for more… 

Here to either temper our expectations -or- bolster our enthusiasm, maybe even make us a bit delusional, is editor-in-chief of Lookout Landing

GUEST: Kate Preusser

RELATED LINKS: 
Mariners Opening Weekend
Opening Day Power Rankings
If it all goes right | Lookout Landing 
If it all goes wrong | Lookout Landing

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&rsquo;s Opening Day at T-Mobile Park.
In just hours, Mariners fans will be back in the stands, ready to cheer on the team as they look to improve on last year&rsquo;s record-breaking playoff run. The M&rsquo;s won the AL West, but fell agonizingly short of the World Series&hellip;&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s an interesting feeling, being a Mariners fan right now. First of all, our nachos float in a souvenir ferry boat container.&nbsp; SECONDLY, our expectations are really high! Gone are the days of the tried and true &ldquo;well, hopefully we&rsquo;ll make the playoffs.&rdquo;
NOW, the faithful are expecting greatness, we&rsquo;ve SEEN how good this team can be, and we&rsquo;re ready for more&hellip;&nbsp;
Here to either temper our expectations -or- bolster our enthusiasm, maybe even make us a bit delusional, is editor-in-chief of Lookout Landing
GUEST: <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Kate Preusser</a>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/guardians-mariners-2026-opening-day-faq">Mariners Opening Weekend</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-power-rankings-before-opening-day-2026">Opening Day Power Rankings</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/seattle-mariners-analysis/140760/if-it-all-goes-right">If it all goes right | Lookout Landing</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/seattle-mariners-analysis/140584/if-it-all-goes-wrong">If it all goes wrong | Lookout Landing</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>
<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

Lookout Landing's editor in chief Kate Preusser breaks down expectations and observations as the Mariners kick off their 2026 season with a 7 game stretch at T-Mobile Park!

Mariners' opening weekend brings feelings of enthusiasm, expectation, and JOY!

Here on Soundside, we're covering Washington’s most competitive races ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election. 

Historically, one of the tightest in the state is the 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington. This area includes Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania Counties. It also covers a small part of Thurston County.

It’s one of the few swing districts left in the country. Voters there have gone for Trump, but they have also repeatedly chosen a Democrat to represent the district in the House.... over a Republican. 

Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez currently holds the seat and is running for re-election. She faces a few challengers, like Brent Hennrich. He's campaigning to her left as a progressive alternative. 

Guest: Brent Hennrich, a progressive challenger running to represent Washington's 3rd Congressional District

Related links:
Minority Democrats in 20th District endorse progressive alternative for Congress | The Daily Chronicle
What’s fueling the far-left surge? ‘Democrats themselves hate the party’ | The Seattle Times
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez challenged from left, right, center | The Columbian

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.

Here on Soundside, we're covering Washington&rsquo;s most competitive races ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election.&nbsp;
Historically, one of the tightest in the state is the 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington. This area includes Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania Counties. It also covers a small part of Thurston County.
It&rsquo;s one of the few swing districts left in the country. Voters there have gone for Trump, but they have also repeatedly chosen a Democrat to represent the district in the House.... over a Republican.&nbsp;
Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez currently holds the seat and is running for re-election. She faces a few challengers, like Brent Hennrich. He's campaigning to her left as a progressive alternative.&nbsp;
Guest:&nbsp;Brent Hennrich, a progressive challenger running to represent Washington's 3rd Congressional District
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.chronline.com/stories/minority-democrats-in-20th-district-endorse-progressive-alternative-for-congress,404711">Minority Democrats in 20th District endorse progressive alternative for Congress | The Daily Chronicle</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/whats-fueling-the-far-left-surge-democrats-themselves-hate-the-party/">What&rsquo;s fueling the far-left surge? &lsquo;Democrats themselves hate the party&rsquo; | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/jul/18/rep-marie-gluesenkamp-perez-challenged-from-left-right-center/">Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez challenged from left, right, center | The Columbian</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://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Brent Hennrich is running as a progressive challenger to unseat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in the 3rd Congressional District, which is one of the most competitive races in Washington. 

 Primary Elections 2026: Brent Hennrich, candidate for Washington's 3rd Congressional District 

State regulators are still investigating the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant to see what went wrong and whether the catastrophe that killed 11 workers in Longview could have been prevented. 

The investigation is expected to be concluded by the end of the year ans it’ll determine whether the facility could face penalties or even criminal charges. It will also likely face civil lawsuits on behalf of workers and families. 

Guest:

Vanessa Waldref, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington who is representing families and workers affected by the disaster.

Related links:

‘Something dramatically wrong’: Questions but few answers after Longview mill tragedy

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/pay-longview-workers-implosion

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.

 

State regulators are still investigating the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant to see what went wrong and whether the catastrophe that killed 11 workers in Longview could have been prevented.&nbsp;
The investigation is expected to be concluded by the end of the year ans it&rsquo;ll determine whether the facility could face penalties or even criminal charges. It will also likely face civil lawsuits on behalf of workers and families.&nbsp;
Guest:
Vanessa Waldref, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington who is representing families and workers affected by the disaster.
Related links:
<a href="https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/30/what-caused-longview-mill-chemical-plant-questions/">&lsquo;Something dramatically wrong&rsquo;: Questions but few answers after Longview mill tragedy</a>
<a href="https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/pay-longview-workers-implosion">https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/pay-longview-workers-implosion</a>
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;

State regulators are still investigating the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant to see what went wrong and whether the catastrophe that killed 11 workers in Longview could have been prevented. 

What justice might look like after the deadly implosion in Longview

After a lull earlier this year, we’re seeing a surge of immigration arrests in recent weeks across the U.S. 
In the wake of two fatal shootings by ICE agents this month, the Trump administration has issued conflicting policies about how officers will conduct arrests.

Fears of detainment and deportation remain high among immigrants – especially in Washington’s agricultural communities.

The situation has pushed some undocumented immigrants to consider voluntarily leaving the United States. It’s an act the Trump administration calls “self deportation”.

A recent story by RANGE Media documented the journey of one orchard worker based in Sunnyside, Washington who chose to return to her home country of Mexico – and the impact immigration enforcement has had on Yakima County’s farming community.

Guests:
Hal Bernton - an independent journalist based in Portland. He reported for the Seattle Times for over 20 years. 
Daisy Zavala Magaña - a reporter with Range Media

Related stories:
For a Yakima Valley farmworker, Trump’s immigration crackdown prompts a wrenching decision to self-deport - RANGE Media

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.

After a lull earlier this year, we&rsquo;re seeing a surge of immigration arrests in recent weeks across the U.S.&nbsp; In the wake of two fatal shootings by ICE agents this month, the Trump administration has issued conflicting policies about how officers will conduct arrests.
Fears of detainment and deportation remain high among immigrants &ndash; especially in Washington&rsquo;s agricultural communities.
The situation has pushed some undocumented immigrants to consider voluntarily leaving the United States. It&rsquo;s an act the Trump administration calls &ldquo;self deportation&rdquo;.
A <a href="https://www.rangemedia.co/yakima-valley-farmworker-self-deports/">recent story by RANGE Media </a>documented the journey of one orchard worker based in Sunnyside, Washington who chose to return to her home country of Mexico &ndash; and the impact immigration enforcement has had on Yakima County&rsquo;s farming community.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Hal Bernton - an independent journalist based in Portland. He reported for the Seattle Times for over 20 years.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Daisy Zavala Maga&ntilde;a - a reporter with Range Media</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.rangemedia.co/yakima-valley-farmworker-self-deports/">For a Yakima Valley farmworker, Trump&rsquo;s immigration crackdown prompts a wrenching decision to self-deport - RANGE Media</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 is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

A recent story by RANGE Media documented the journey of one orchard worker based in Sunnyside, Washington who chose to return to her home country of Mexico – and the impact immigration enforcement has had on Yakima County’s farming community.

Mariners' opening weekend brings feelings of enthusiasm, expectation, and JOY!

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