Seattle's pro women's soccer team have returned to the National Women's Soccer League playoffs.

Seattle Reign play the Orlando Pride on Friday in a win-or-go-home match. But do the Reign have the potential to make a deep playoff run? 

Soundside producer Gabrielle Healy gets into it.

Plus, everything you need to know about coach Laura Harvey and ChatGPTgate. 

Guest
Susie Rantz, writer for Sounder at Heart covering Seattle Reign

Related Links

All even in Orlando, 1-1 - Sounder at Heart

The constant amidst chaos: Lauren Barnes’ Reign - Sounder at Heart

Seattle's pro women's soccer team have returned to the National Women's Soccer League playoffs.
Seattle Reign play the Orlando Pride on Friday in a win-or-go-home match. But do the Reign have the potential to make a deep playoff run?&nbsp;
Soundside producer Gabrielle Healy gets into it.
Plus, everything you need to know <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/30/laura-harvey-chatgpt-seattle-reign-nwsl-tactics">about coach Laura Harvey and ChatGPTgate</a>.&nbsp;
Guest
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/author/susie/">Susie Rantz</a>, writer for Sounder at Heart covering Seattle Reign</li>
</ul>
Related Links
<a href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/2025/11/all-even-in-orlando-reign-recap/">All even in Orlando, 1-1</a> - Sounder at Heart
<a href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/2025/10/the-constant-amidst-chaos-lauren-barnes-reign/">The constant amidst chaos: Lauren Barnes&rsquo; Reign</a> - Sounder at Heart

Soundside

The Seattle Reign play the Orlando Pride in a win-or-go-home match this week. Do they have the potential for a deep playoff run? 

Reign on me: Seattle's NWSL team heads back to the playoffs

Doctors have long recommended regular cervical cancer screenings. Traditionally doctors perform these exams using a speculum, which often say is uncomfortable and, for many, quite painful. 

Some recent developments could make a large number of these screenings easier.

In early January, the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, updated its guidelines to say that self-administered tests are an acceptable way to screen for human papillomavirus. HPV is a sexually-transmitted disease that causes the majority of cervical cancer cases. 

OB-GYNs are hopeful that at-home testing will make cervical cancer screenings  easier to access…. and significantly more comfortable. 

Guests:
Dr. Linda Eckert, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine

Related links: 
New Guidelines Endorse Self-Swab Alternative to Pap Smear for Cervical Cancer Testing - The New York Times
Cervical Cancer Risk Factors | Cervical Cancer | CDC
The FDA has approved an at-home HPV test. What you need to know : NPR

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.

Doctors have long recommended regular cervical cancer screenings.&nbsp;Traditionally doctors perform these exams using a speculum, which often say is uncomfortable and, for many, quite painful.&nbsp;
Some recent developments could make a large number of these screenings easier.
In early January, the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, updated its guidelines to say that self-administered tests are an acceptable way to screen for human papillomavirus. HPV is a sexually-transmitted disease that causes the majority of cervical cancer cases.&nbsp;
OB-GYNs are hopeful that at-home testing will make cervical cancer screenings&nbsp; easier to access&hellip;. and significantly more comfortable.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Dr. Linda Eckert, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine</li>
</ul>
Related links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/well/self-swab-tests-cervical-cancer.html">New Guidelines Endorse Self-Swab Alternative to Pap Smear for Cervical Cancer Testing - The New York Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cervical-cancer/risk-factors/index.html">Cervical Cancer Risk Factors | Cervical Cancer | CDC</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/07/nx-s1-5668259/the-fda-has-approved-an-at-home-hpv-test-what-you-need-to-know">The FDA has approved an at-home HPV test. What you need to know : NPR</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.

Many patients find cervical cancer screenings uncomfortable and, sometimes, painful. New health guidelines offer patients an alternative.  

Cervical cancer screenings... without the speculum? 

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: Paige Browning - KUOW News Anchor & Podcast Host

RELATED LINKS:
After Minneapolis killing, protests in Seattle, U.S. demand: ‘ICE out’
Valdez introduces bill to ban face-concealing masks by law enforcement in response to masked ICE raids
Gov Bob Ferguson’s 6 Request Bills
WA Democrats won’t hold hearings on parental rights, trans athlete initiatives
Here’s What to Know About the Protests in Iran
Iran Edges Closer to a Revolution That Would Reshape the World
NFL playoffs: Seahawks will host 49ers in NFC divisional round
Seahawks continue crackdown on resale of season tickets

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:&nbsp;Paige Browning - KUOW News Anchor &amp; Podcast Host
RELATED LINKS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="3"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/after-minneapolis-killing-protests-in-seattle-u-s-demand-ice-out/">After Minneapolis killing, protests in Seattle, U.S. demand: &lsquo;ICE out&rsquo;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/masked-ice-agents-reportedly-arrest-3-on-seattles-aurora-avenue-north/"></a><a href="https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/valdez/2025/12/08/valdez-introduces-bill-to-ban-face-concealing-masks-by-law-enforcement-in-response-to-masked-ice-raids/">Valdez introduces bill to ban face-concealing masks by law enforcement in response to masked ICE raids</a></li>
<li><a href="https://governor.wa.gov/news/2026/governor-ferguson-announces-slate-6-governor-request-bills-2026">Gov Bob Ferguson&rsquo;s 6 Request Bills</a></li>
<li><a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/01/09/wa-democrats-wont-hold-hearings-on-parental-rights-trans-athlete-initiatives/">WA Democrats won&rsquo;t hold hearings on parental rights, trans athlete initiatives</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/iran-protests-inflation-currency.html">Here&rsquo;s What to Know About the Protests in Iran</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/iran-edges-closer-to-a-revolution-that-would-reshape-the-world/">Iran Edges Closer to a Revolution That Would Reshape the World</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/nfl-playoffs-seahawks-will-host-49ers-in-nfc-divisional-round/">NFL playoffs: Seahawks will host 49ers in NFC divisional round</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-continue-crack-down-on-resale-of-season-tickets/">Seahawks continue crackdown on resale of season tickets</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: ICE Protests, the State Legislative session gets started, Protests in Iran, and Seahawks vs 49ers part 3

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.

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

Reign on me: Seattle's NWSL team heads back to the playoffs

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