Being a movie buff in Seattle feels a little… unsettled right now.

That’s because there’s been a lot of changes at SIFF, the Seattle International Film Festival, which has been the vanguard when it comes to all things movies.

The organization announced Monday, it was undergoing an organizational restructuring, including some layoffs.

This follows a somewhat tumultuous year for SIFF. For more, we're joined by... 

GUESTS:
Chase Hutchinson, critic and freelance reporter, who often covers SIFF for the Seattle Times

RELATED LINK: 


SIFF announces more layoffs, organizational restructuring | The Seattle 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.

Being a movie buff in Seattle feels a little&hellip; unsettled right now.
That&rsquo;s because there&rsquo;s been a lot of changes at SIFF, the Seattle International Film Festival, which has been the vanguard when it comes to all things movies.
The organization announced Monday, it was undergoing an organizational restructuring, including some layoffs.
This follows a somewhat tumultuous year for SIFF. For more, we're joined by...&nbsp;
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/author/chase-hutchinson/">Chase Hutchinson</a>, critic and freelance reporter, who often covers SIFF for the Seattle Times</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINK:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">
<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/siff-announces-more-layoffs-organizational-restructuring/">SIFF announces more layoffs, organizational restructuring | The Seattle Times</a>&nbsp;
</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.

Soundside

Seattle film critic and freelance reporter Chase Hutchinson joins Soundside to talk about the latest news out of SIFF and what to expect as we move into 2026.

Organizational restructuring at SIFF leads to layoffs... Again.

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.

"There's a lot more oversight needed": Rep. Adam Smith, on the U.S., Venezuela and Greenland 

Jenaro Abraham

Marines Scaramazza

It has been three days since the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in an audacious military raid. 

It was a sudden and intense escalation of an ongoing campaign by the United States to oust Maduro.

Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores, appeared in a Manhattan court yesterday in an arraignment hearing over drug trafficking and weapons charges. Those charges were central to the government’s rationale for capturing Maduro. 

But since Maduro’s capture, the Trump administration has focused on the Venezuelan oil industry and threatened other countries in Latin America like Cuba, Columbia and Mexico. 

GUESTS:
Jenaro Abraham, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Gonzaga University
Marines Scaramazza, reporter and manager of Latino Herald, based in Lynnwood

RELATED LINKS: 

NPR: 7 takeaways from Trump's incursion into Venezuela

Seattle Times: After Maduro’s capture, Venezuelans in WA ask: ‘Should we be happy?’ 

Al Jazeera: Trump’s bid to commandeer Venezuela’s oil sector faces hurdles, experts say

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 has been three days since the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicol&aacute;s Maduro in an audacious military raid.&nbsp;
It was a sudden and intense escalation of an ongoing campaign by the United States to oust Maduro.
Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores, appeared in a Manhattan court yesterday in an arraignment hearing over drug trafficking and weapons charges. Those charges were central to the government&rsquo;s rationale for capturing Maduro.&nbsp;
But since Maduro&rsquo;s capture, the Trump administration has focused on the Venezuelan oil industry and threatened other countries in Latin America like Cuba, Columbia and Mexico.&nbsp;
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Jenaro Abraham, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Gonzaga University</li>
<li aria-level="1">Marines Scaramazza, reporter and manager of <a href="https://latinoherald.com/">Latino Herald</a>, based in Lynnwood</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
NPR:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/05/nx-s1-5666331/trump-politics-venezuela-republicans-democrats">7 takeaways from Trump's incursion into Venezuela</a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/04/world/trump-us-venezuela-maduro"></a>
Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/after-maduros-capture-venezuelans-in-wa-ask-should-we-be-happy/">After Maduro&rsquo;s capture, Venezuelans in WA ask: &lsquo;Should we be happy?&rsquo;&nbsp;</a>
Al Jazeera: <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/1/5/trumps-bid-to-commandeer-venezuelas-oil-sector-faces-hurdles-experts-say">Trump&rsquo;s bid to commandeer Venezuela&rsquo;s oil sector faces hurdles, experts say</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&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Libby Denkmann speaks with Gonzaga University Professor Jenaro Abraham and Latino Heral reporter Marines Scaramazza about the latest in Venezuela

After capture of Maduro, what's next for Venezuela and Latin America? 

There are plenty of headwinds affecting affordable housing construction and maintenance right now. Building costs are going up, and federal funding is uncertain. Affordable housing providers in Seattle and beyond have struggled as COVID-era rent subsidies disappeared.

Colleen Echohawk has been thinking about these issues a lot. She is the new CEO of Community Roots Housing, a Public Development Authority that manages over 2,300 affordable housing units in Seattle. They’re set to open more units in 2026, so we spoke to her about her plans for the organization.

Echohawk is also a member of the transition team for Mayor Katie Wilson, co-chairing the a group working on affordable housing and community needs. 

Guest


Colleen Echohawk, CEO, Community Roots Housing

Related Links


Seattle’s affordable housing industry is in crisis. The city faces tough choices - The Seattle Times (June 2025)

Seattle doubles bailout for ailing affordable housing sector - The Seattle Times (December 4th, 2025)

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

There are plenty of headwinds affecting affordable housing construction and maintenance right now. Building costs are going up, and federal funding is uncertain. Affordable housing providers in Seattle and beyond have struggled as COVID-era rent subsidies disappeared.
Colleen Echohawk has been thinking about these issues a lot. She is the new CEO of Community Roots Housing, a Public Development Authority that manages over 2,300 affordable housing units in Seattle. They&rsquo;re set to open more units in 2026, so we spoke to her about her plans for the organization.
Echohawk is also a member of&nbsp;the transition team for Mayor Katie Wilson, co-chairing the a group working on affordable housing and community needs.&nbsp;
Guest <a href="https://communityrootshousing.org/2025/09/announcing-ceo-colleen-echohawk/"></a>
<a href="https://communityrootshousing.org/2025/09/announcing-ceo-colleen-echohawk/">Colleen Echohawk, CEO, Community Roots Housing</a>
Related Links 
<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/seattles-affordable-housing-industry-is-in-crisis-city-faces-tough-choices/">Seattle&rsquo;s affordable housing industry is in crisis. The city faces tough choices</a> - The Seattle Times (June 2025)
<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/seattle-doubles-bailout-for-ailing-affordable-housing-sector/">Seattle doubles bailout for ailing affordable housing sector</a> - The Seattle Times (December 4th, 2025) 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

Colleen Echohawk is the CEO of Community Roots Housing, managing over 2,300 affordable housing units in Seattle.

Organizational restructuring at SIFF leads to layoffs... Again.

In 1 playlist(s)

Soundside

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips