It’s already the first weekend of December, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some holiday cheer to lighten up these cold, rainy days.

Thankfully, like Santa soaring past with his reindeer, here with all the stuff that’s worth doing this weekend is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!!

LINKS: 
Year in Review 2025 | Town Hall Seattle
WTO/99 - Northwest Film Forum
21st Annual Urban Craft Uprising Winter Show
Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition | PMSC-FB
KRAMPUS BREMERTON
Seattle SantaCon
Scintillating sci-fi striptease
Kraken vs Detroit - Sat 12/6
Kraken vs Minnesota - Mon 12/8

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 already the first weekend of December, and I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I&rsquo;m ready for some holiday cheer to lighten up these cold, rainy days.
Thankfully, like Santa soaring past with his reindeer, here with all the stuff that&rsquo;s worth doing this weekend is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!!
LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://townhallseattle.org/event/year-in-review-2025/">Year in Review 2025 | Town Hall Seattle</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://nwfilmforum.org/films/wto-99/">WTO/99 - Northwest Film Forum</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://urbancraftuprising.com/ucu-winter-show/">21st Annual Urban Craft Uprising Winter Show</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.pmsc-fb.org/figgy">Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition | PMSC-FB</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://krampusbremerton.com/events">KRAMPUS BREMERTON</a><a href="https://scarlettgaleauthor.com/unnaturalredheadproductions"></a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://seattlesantacon.org/">Seattle SantaCon</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://scarlettgaleauthor.com/unnaturalredheadproductions">Scintillating sci-fi striptease</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-sea/2025/12/06/2025020452">Kraken vs Detroit - Sat 12/6</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/min-vs-sea/2025/12/08/2025020465">Kraken vs Minnesota - Mon 12/8</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;

Soundside

Santa and Krampus and Carolers, OH MY! It's the Weekend Warmup, with everything worth braving the rain for this weekend!

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 12/4-8

GLP-1 drugs that are commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity, like Ozempic and Wegovy – are in big demand.

And they’re going to be more affordable. 

The Trump administration recently negotiated deals to lower the prices of these drugs. It seems like some details still need to be ironed out….  but from the looks of it, many Americans who use Medicare will be able to access GLP-1s at a fraction of their original cost. According to one of the deals, some Medicare patients will be able to get GLP-1s for a $50 copay.

So it’s safe to assume as costs come down, these drugs are only going to get even more popular….

And we want to know more about them. In this latest “ask a doctor” segment, we’re asking two physicians to answer all of our burning questions. 

GUESTS:
Dr. Scott Hagan, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who studies obesity.
Dr. Mara Gordon, a family physician based in Philadelphia. She also writes about the culture of medicine and authors the “Real Talk With a Doc” column for NPR.

RELATED LINKS: 
Medicare negotiated lower prices for 15 drugs, including 71% off Ozempic and Wegovy : Shots - Health News : NPR
Ozempic is making me rethink how to be a body-positive doctor : Shots - Health News : 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.

GLP-1 drugs that are commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity, like Ozempic and Wegovy &ndash; are in big demand.
And they&rsquo;re going to be more affordable.&nbsp;
The Trump administration recently negotiated deals to lower the prices of these drugs. It seems like <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/trumps-ozempic-deal-will-supersede-medicare-negotiated-price">some details still need to be ironed out</a>&hellip;.&nbsp; but from the looks of it, many Americans who use Medicare will be able to access GLP-1s at a fraction of their original cost. According to one of the deals, some Medicare patients will be able to get GLP-1s for a <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/11/06/nx-s1-5599122/wegovy-zepbound-price-deal">$50 copay</a>.
So it&rsquo;s safe to assume as costs come down, these drugs are only going to get even more popular&hellip;.
And we want to know more about them.&nbsp;In this latest &ldquo;ask a doctor&rdquo; segment, we&rsquo;re asking two physicians to answer all of our burning questions.&nbsp;
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Dr. Scott Hagan, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who studies obesity.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Dr. Mara Gordon, a family physician based in Philadelphia. She also writes about the culture of medicine and authors the &ldquo;Real Talk With a Doc&rdquo; column for NPR.</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/10/04/1202723479/ozempic-body-positive-medicine-weight-stigma"></a><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/11/26/nx-s1-5621944/medicare-drug-prices-ozempic-and-wegovy">Medicare negotiated lower prices for 15 drugs, including 71% off Ozempic and Wegovy : Shots - Health News : NPR</a><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/10/04/1202723479/ozempic-body-positive-medicine-weight-stigma"></a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/10/04/1202723479/ozempic-body-positive-medicine-weight-stigma">Ozempic is making me rethink how to be a body-positive doctor : Shots - Health News : NPR</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.

GLP-1 drugs like, Ozempic and Wegovy, are in big demand... And they’re going to be more affordable. Two physicians answer the questions we still have about GLP-1s. 

Ask a Doctor:  Ozempic, Wegovy and GLP-1 drugs in general 

Shortly after the shooting of two national guard troops in Washington, D.C., the Trump Administration said it was pausing asylum decisions and halting visas for Afghan immigrants. 

The alleged shooter is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a Bellingham resident who came to the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2021.

The motive for the attack is unknown. One victim – 20 year old Sarah Beckstrom – was killed in Wednesday’s shooting.

The attack has prompted the Trump administration to supercharge restrictions on migrants from 19 countries, primarily ones in Africa and the Middle East. And it has left many others in this country fearful about their future as the federal government turns new scrutiny on green cards and asylee statuses that have already been granted. 

We’re trying to get a sense of how policy actions may impact immigrant communities, so we’re speaking with Luis Cortes Romero. He is an immigration lawyer and managing partner at Novo Legal Group.

A note: 

After our taping, on Tuesday evening, the Department of Homeland Security announced a pause for all immigration applications for people from 19 countries deemed "high risk." 

Those are the same 19 countries Luis and I discussed that were under some previous restrictions: mainly African and Middle Eastern nations, including Sudan, Somalia and Iran -- also Venezuela, Haiti, and more.

DHS says this requires "all aliens meeting the criteria undergo a thorough re-review process."

GUESTS:
Luis Cortes Romero is an immigration lawyer and managing partner at Novo Legal Group. 

RELATED LINKS: 
Shooting of National Guard members prompts flurry of U.S. immigration restrictions - PBS
Trump pauses immigration applications for 19 nations on travel ban list - Washington Post

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.

Shortly after the shooting of two national guard troops in Washington, D.C., the Trump Administration said it was pausing asylum decisions and halting visas for Afghan immigrants.&nbsp;
The alleged shooter is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a Bellingham resident who came to the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2021.
The motive for the attack is unknown. One victim &ndash; 20 year old Sarah Beckstrom &ndash; was killed in Wednesday&rsquo;s shooting.
The attack has prompted the Trump administration to supercharge restrictions on migrants from 19 countries, primarily ones in Africa and the Middle East. And it has left many others in this country fearful about their future as the federal government turns new scrutiny on green cards and asylee statuses that have already been granted.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;re trying to get a sense of how policy actions may impact immigrant communities, so we&rsquo;re speaking with Luis Cortes Romero. He is an immigration lawyer and managing partner at Novo Legal Group.
A note:&nbsp;
After our taping, on Tuesday evening, the Department of Homeland Security announced a pause for all immigration applications for people from 19 countries deemed "high risk."&nbsp;
Those are the same 19 countries Luis and I discussed that were under some previous restrictions: mainly African and Middle Eastern nations, including Sudan, Somalia and Iran -- also Venezuela, Haiti, and more.
DHS says this requires "all aliens meeting the criteria undergo a thorough re-review process."
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Luis Cortes Romero is an immigration lawyer and managing partner at Novo Legal Group.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/shooting-of-national-guard-members-prompts-flurry-of-u-s-immigration-restrictions">Shooting of National Guard members prompts flurry of U.S. immigration restrictions</a> - PBS</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/12/02/trump-immigration-applications-paused-19-countries/">Trump pauses immigration applications for 19 nations on travel ban list</a> - Washington Post</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.

There's been a flurry of changes to our immigration system in the week since the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington D.C - allegedly by an Afghan national. A local immigration attorney helps us sort through it all, and how people here in our region may be affected. 

"They're trying to reduce the amount of immigrants here" - Understanding state of immigration policy right now

Have you ever wanted a pet raccoon? 

Well, here’s a possible sign that dream is slowly approaching:  a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology suggests raccoons are getting closer to domestication. 

The study is not definitive yet, and more research is required. But it all has to do with researchers observing a shorter snout on the animals we affectionately refer to as trash pandas. 

GUEST
Marina Wang, freelance journalist

RELATED LINKS
Raccoons Are Showing Early Signs of Domestication - Scientific American

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.

Have you ever wanted a pet raccoon?&nbsp;
Well, here&rsquo;s a possible sign that dream is slowly approaching:&nbsp; <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12983-025-00583-1">a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology</a> suggests raccoons are getting closer to domestication.&nbsp;
The study is not definitive yet, and more research is required. But it all has to do with researchers observing a shorter snout on the animals we affectionately refer to as trash pandas.&nbsp;
GUEST
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.marina-wang.com/">Marina Wang, freelance journalist</a></li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/raccoons-are-showing-early-signs-of-domestication/">Raccoons Are Showing Early Signs of Domestication </a>- Scientific American</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.

A new study suggests that urban raccoons are developing slightly shorter snouts than their rural counterparts. 

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - 12/4-8

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