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"OPB Politics Now" is a weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into the hottest political topics in Oregon and the Northwest. Every Friday, OPB’s political reporters and special guests offer in-depth analysis, discussion and insight into candidates, events and issues.
141 Episodes
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One of the highest courts in the land is once again focused on a tiny area of Portland. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Troy Brynelson and Conrad Wilson discuss the latest legal drama. This week saw federal appeals judges hear debate on the use of tear gas near the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland will continue to be restricted. Plus, we dive into more data on ICE detentions in the Pacific Northwest. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson entered office last year, promising to end unsheltered homelessness in the city. He opened several overnight shelters. And on most nights, the shelters are full. Wilson sees this as evidence that homelessness is decreasing.
But the actual evidence -- the numbers we have -- say there are thousands more people sleeping on the streets each night compared to when Wilson entered the scene
We are going to explain why once again officials from city of Portland and Multnomah County disagree and why the effort to quantify who is without housing is so fraught. Plus we’ll discuss the Portland arts tax and some recent OPB reporting as well. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Earlier this week, The US Supreme Court heard arguments in a case challenging a Mississippi law related to voting by mail. At the same time, President Donald Trump is pushing Congress to pass a new law that would require proof of citizenship for all voters, including those who vote by mail. Oregon is very proud of its history as the first state to pivot to voting only by mail in the early 2000s, and has done a lot to cement that legacy in the years since. On the latest episode of “OPB Politics Now,” we explore how this case and proposed legislation could upend some of that work. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
On this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, we hand the mic to our friends at The Evergreen. Producer Julie Sabatier went to Salem with OPB politics reporter Lauren Dake to see what session was like. Take a listen. We'll be back next week with a new episode.
The 2026 short legislative session is over. In just over a month, lawmakers passed so many bills it was nearly impossible to keep track of it all. They moved a gas tax vote to the May election. They spent big to keep the Trail Blazers in Portland. They filled state budget holes and even bought a waterfall. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Bryce Dole, Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss all that and more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts. (edited)
Each year, Oregon school districts look to the state legislature to help patch funding gaps, maintain academic standards, and not create more budget problems with new mandates. As the sun sets on this year’s legislative session in Salem, it appears there are going to be few wins for schools. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we explore how this year's session fared for Oregon educators and students. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Three years ago, Pacific Northwest tribes reached a landmark deal with the Biden administration aimed at saving salmon populations. Then President Trump came back into the office and killed the whole thing. But that’s not the end of the story. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Tony Schick and Dirk VanderHart discuss the federal judge ruling, plus we hit on a legislative potpourri with roughly a week to go in this year’s session. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Tensions are rising in the Oregon State Capitol as the legislative session nears the halfway mark. Republicans boycotted a floor session, a House leader resigned his post, and a Representative accused her Democratic colleague of creating a hostile working environment. And that was all just this week. How will lawmakers manage the political drama and keep their legislative priorities on track? We’ll give you the latest on the latest episode of OPB Politics Now. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
The city of Portland has recently uncovered several piles of money no one knew was there. At the same time, the city is looking at a pot of money that some say should be off limits to keep the Portland Trail Blazers in town.
We are living in a time of meager public budgets. Look pretty much anywhere in Oregon these days, and you find school districts preparing cuts, state budget writers figuring out what has to go, and cities looking at tough choices.
So it’s been notable in recent months to see the city of Portland stumbling over piles of money that no one knew was there. At the same time, the city is scrambling to make sure it keeps the Portland Trail Blazers in town, and to do so it’s looking at a pot of money that some say should be off limits.
We are diving into the city’s bank accounts today – with a side of sports talk.
Lawmakers wasted no time this week, considering substantive policy bills in their first week in the 35-day legislative sprint. Plus, activity escalated around the South Portland ICE building last weekend, with tear gas use from the federal officials prompting outcry and a legal response. On this week’s OPB politics now, we’ll talk about how much money the state is expecting to have in Salem, their efforts to push back on the federal govt and the latest on the ICE building and the politics surrounding it. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.
Oregon lawmakers are heading back to Salem next week for the short legislative session. They have big issues to tackle this session, including immigration, transportation and a looming hole in the state budget.
Plus, the race to be the Republican candidate for Oregon’s governor is heating up. It now features two new candidates who will run in the upcoming May primary.
We’ll discuss all that and more on the latest episode of OPB politics now. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
President Trump’s second term hit the one-year mark this week and – surprise! – Oregonians and Southwest Washington residents have divergent takes on how things are going. On this week’s episode of the podcast, we hear about what OPB learned when our reporters fanned out to check in with people all over the region.
Portland City Council continued this week to choose a leader, before finally settling on one of its own who admitted he wanted nothing to do with the job. Meanwhile, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is hiring a former Republican rival, who is best known for shutting down the Legislature, to be her chief prosperity officer. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we break down the week that was. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Promo: Portland City Council chose a new leader this week. And the new leader doesn’t really want the job. And Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek hired a former Republican rival, who once led the state’s longest legislative walkout, to be her chief prosperity officer. I’m Lauren Dake. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we will break down the state and city politics of the week. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Last year was a tumultuous one in Oregon politics. The city of Portland had an entirely new government and mayor. The U.S. president started talking a lot about Portland and mobilized members of the National Guard to the state. And the “big beautiful bill” blew an $890-million dollar hole in Oregon’s budget. Just a few days into 2026, it appears another rocky year is in the cards. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Alex Zielinski and Dirk VanderHart discuss the major stories to come and how 2026 already began with Democratic leaders in Portland and Salem struggling to find their footing. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
As 2025 comes to a close, the OPB Politics Now team is taking a look at the top political stories of the year. It was a year. We saw the Trump administration return to power, Mayor Keith Wilson and a new government enter the scene in Portland, and Democratic state officials fumble and stumble through a legislative session. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we’ll discuss the big stories of 2025 and the year ahead. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
The redrawing of political maps is perhaps one of the most intensely political acts elected officials undertake. In Central Oregon, the effort is prompting the familiar outcry of gerrymandering. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we’re heading east of the Cascades. We’ll discuss the redrawing of the Deschutes County maps and the contaminated groundwater water in Eastern Oregon. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.
On the latest livestream episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Alex Zielinski talk about two of the biggest topics in Oregon politics - the state’s handling of the overall business climate and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson’s long shot effort to end unsheltered homelessness. If you have questions please share them and we will try and answer as we go.
As the school calendar shifts into holiday mode, many public school students are about to be out of the classroom for a long time. And as families brace for time off, educators are bracing too – for potential budget cuts. And that’s as Oregon’s education system remains one of the worst performing in the nation.
On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Ellizabeth Miller and Tiffany Camhi discuss some major education issues facing Oregon’s K-12 system and higher education world.
Plus, if you have not checked it out, they discussed Miller’s Class of 2025 project, an OPB endeavor that was 13 years in the making.
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is entering a new chapter in Oregon. A judge has permanently blocked the president from sending the National Guard to protect the ICE building in Portland. But the legal fight may not be over. And now, the federal government may be looking to the Oregon coast to run a new immigration facility. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we recap the last week of developments surrounding ICE in Oregon. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
On the latest live stream edition of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart, Alex Zielinski and Holly Bartholomew discuss a range of political topics. Portland is finally enforcing its ban on homeless camping. How is that playing out? Plus, a rise in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity is shaking the Willamette Valley. We discuss what that looks like in suburban communities. Also, we hit on some election results. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
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Leadership in the state of Oregon is so misguided, they don't even realize the stress they are putting on their citizens. Oregon needs better. More people need to pay attention.