From new transportation fees to requirements for closed captions in movie theaters, you might have already noticed the effects of several new laws and taxes with a January 1 start date. 

And we’re about to begin a new legislative session on Monday, January 12th. 

In Olympia, lawmakers are facing a yawning budget shortfall and uncertain funding from the federal government. 

We review the new laws we need to follow and preview the upcoming session.

GUESTS
Jake Goldstein-Street, reporting, Washington State Standard

RELATED LINKS
Gerrymander Washington state? Democrats want to talk about it - KUOW

These new laws and taxes take effect in Washington state on Jan. 1 - Washington State Standard 

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.

From new transportation fees to requirements for closed captions in movie theaters, you might have already noticed the effects of several new laws and taxes with a January 1 start date.&nbsp;
And we&rsquo;re about to begin a new legislative session on Monday, January 12th.&nbsp;
In Olympia, lawmakers are facing a yawning budget shortfall and uncertain funding from the federal government.&nbsp;
We review the new laws we need to follow and preview the upcoming session.
GUESTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Jake Goldstein-Street, reporting, Washington State Standard</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/gerrymander-washington-democrats-want-to-talk-about-it">Gerrymander Washington state? Democrats want to talk about it</a> - KUOW <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/scott-greenstone"></a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/12/30/these-new-laws-and-taxes-take-effect-in-washington-state-on-jan-1/">These new laws and taxes take effect in Washington state on Jan. 1</a> - Washington State Standard&nbsp;</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.

Soundside

You like laws? We got some new ones in 2026. And taxes. 

New year, new Washington laws, new legislative session

We’ve reached the end of our first full week of 2026, and it’s time to get out there & do something FUN.

LINKS: 
2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour - Northwest Film Forum
David Horsey | Elliott Bay Book Company
OrcaCon Tabletop Games Convention 
Seattle Travel and Adventure Show
Great Train Show 2026 - Ridgefield, WA
Seattle Bach Festival
Jules Maes Saloon - Prohibition Party
Seattle Torrent vs Minnesota Frost
Official Watch Party at Rough & Tumble Ballard

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.

We&rsquo;ve reached the end of our first full week of 2026, and it&rsquo;s time to get out there &amp; do something FUN.
LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://nwfilmforum.org/films/2025-sundance-film-festival-short-film-tour/">2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour - Northwest Film Forum</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.elliottbaybook.com/events/49057">David Horsey | Elliott Bay Book Company</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.orcacon.org/">OrcaCon Tabletop Games Convention</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://travelshows.com/shows/seattle/">Seattle Travel and Adventure Show</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.greattrainshow.com/gts-show-landing-pages/ridgefield-01-26">Great Train Show 2026</a> - Ridgefield, WA</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://seattlebachfestival.org/">Seattle Bach Festival</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://tickets.venuepilot.com/e/jules-maes-prohibition-party-2026-01-10-jules-maes-seattle-68fe25">Jules Maes Saloon - Prohibition Party</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.thepwhl.com/en/stats/game-center/252">Seattle Torrent vs Minnesota Frost</a>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Official Watch Party at <a href="https://www.roughandtumblepub.com/">Rough &amp; Tumble Ballard</a></li>
</ul>
</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.

Our first Weekend Warmup of 2026 brings you an entire weekend's worth of events, including a couple of conventions, but no jazz...

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Jan 8-11

A lot has changed in Seattle in the last 7 days.

The city has a new mayor, a new city attorney, two new council members, and, as of Tuesday afternoon, a new city council president.

District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth won unanimous support yesterday from her colleagues to lead the council over the next two years. 

The stakes of leading the city are always high, but this looks to be an especially packed year:  there’s the ongoing project of finishing the city’s growth plan, another budget deficit to contend with…. and the World Cup (and its hordes of fans) landing here in June. Not to mention the potential for federal policy changes that could impact city government.

So - how will the city council navigate 2026 and beyond?

GUEST:
Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth

RELATED LINKS: 
Councilmember Hollingsworth calls for action after violence on Capitol Hill - Seattle City Council Blog
Seattle OKs New Growth Plan, but Biggest Zoning Battles Lie Ahead - The Urbanist
Katie Wilson is officially Seattle's mayor. Her agenda: affordability, housing, and workers' rights - 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 in Seattle in the last 7 days.
The city has a new mayor, a new city attorney, two new council members, and, as of Tuesday afternoon, a new city council president.
District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth won unanimous support yesterday from her colleagues to lead the council over the next two years.&nbsp;
The stakes of leading the city are always high, but this looks to be an especially packed year:&nbsp; there&rsquo;s the ongoing project of finishing the city&rsquo;s growth plan, another budget deficit to contend with&hellip;. and the World Cup (and its hordes of fans) landing here in June. Not to mention the potential for federal policy changes that could impact city government.
So - how will the city council navigate 2026 and beyond?
GUEST:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://council.seattle.gov/2025/10/10/councilmember-hollingsworth-calls-for-action-after-violence-on-capitol-hill/">Councilmember Hollingsworth calls for action after violence on Capitol Hill - Seattle City Council Blog</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/17/seattle-oks-new-growth-plan-but-biggest-zoning-battles-lie-ahead/">Seattle OKs New Growth Plan, but Biggest Zoning Battles Lie Ahead - The Urbanist</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/katie-wilson-is-officially-seattle-s-mayor-her-agenda-affordability-housing-and-workers-rights">Katie Wilson is officially Seattle's mayor. Her agenda: affordability, housing, and workers' rights - KUOW</a><a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/eilis-oneill"></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.&nbsp;

District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth won unanimous support yesterday from her colleagues to lead the council over the next two years. She explains how the city council will navigate 2026 and beyond. 

Seattle's new City Council President shares her goals for 2026

Less than a week after the U.S. captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, the Coast Guard seized two oil tankers accused of violating U.S. sanctions. One of the vessels, seized in the North Atlantic, was registered in Russia.

The Trump Administration is leaning on Venezuela to open up its oil industry to U.S. companies and oust the influence of Russia and China. President Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela will turn over 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S.

As this new era of interventionism unfolds, Greenland also appears to have returned to the top of the White House’s agenda.

We talked to Rep. Adam Smith, the Democratic ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, about all of that and more. 

NOTE: News is developing quickly, and we spoke to Rep. Smith just after 10am PT. Head to npr.org or KUOW for the latest updates. 

GUEST:
Rep. Adam Smith, Democrat, Washington's 9th district

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. 

Less than a week after the U.S. captured Venezuela&rsquo;s President Nicolas Maduro, the Coast Guard seized two oil tankers accused of violating U.S. sanctions. One of the vessels, seized in the North Atlantic, was registered in Russia.
The Trump Administration is leaning on Venezuela to open up its oil industry to U.S. companies and oust the influence of Russia and China. President Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela will turn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/06/world/venezuela-maduro-us-trump/heres-the-latest?smid=url-share">over 30 to 50 million barrels of oil</a> to the U.S.
As this new era of interventionism unfolds, Greenland also appears to have returned to the top of the White House&rsquo;s agenda.
We talked to Rep. Adam Smith, the Democratic ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, about all of that and more.&nbsp;
NOTE: News is developing quickly, and we spoke to Rep. Smith just after 10am PT. Head to npr.org or KUOW for the latest updates.&nbsp;
GUEST:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Rep. Adam Smith, Democrat, Washington's 9th district</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.&nbsp;

The Seattle-area Congressman tells us what he's heard from the Trump adminstration about its plans for Venezuela and Greenland.

New year, new Washington laws, new legislative session

In 1 playlist(s)

Soundside

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips