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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.
116 Episodes
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If you weren’t in front of a computer or on the Internet, it was truly spectacular in Portland last weekend. It was clear and sunny, but not too warm. People were out and about. Running errands, doing yard work or just hanging out with friends and family. But meanwhile in the background, President Trump was taking aim at the city.. We are still piecing together what it all means, what might happen next and when National Guard troops may arrive in the Rose City. We’ll discuss what we know and what we are learning and maybe take some questions along the way. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson sailed into City Hall this year on the back of an ambitious pledge to end unsheltered homelessness. That plan relies heavily on swiftly opening a bunch of overnight-only shelters across town. We’re now nine months into Wilson’s term, and quickly approaching his self-imposed deadline to get everyone off the streets. So let’s check in on the system and its progress. Join us on the latest episode of OPB Politics Now.
It’s been five years now since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Oregon and a global pandemic shook our lives and our politics.The virus is now endemic. A permanent feature of life. Causing less destruction and loss than it did, but still capable of sending people to the hospital and worse.This is the time of year when boosters for COVID and the flu are typically available. But this year, those boosters have been caught up in fights at the Centers for Disease Control and allegations the agency’s scientists are being sidelined by politicians. The controversy has prompted West Coast states like Oregon to create their own COVID-19 vaccine guidelines. All of that has rekindled a simmering political debate around the effectiveness of these vaccines. What could this mean for Oregon’s role in health care? We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now.
Last week, two Oregon lawmakers bucked their respective parties in a major vote on transportation taxes. This week, both of them face very different political futures. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we look at what their votes mean for the Democratic and Republican parties in Oregon. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
The special session that was supposed to funnel billions of dollars into the state’s roads and prevent hundreds of layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation…well similar to a crumbling bridge, it fell apart. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the last week of politics in Salem. Democratic state lawmakers said they will be back later this month to pass a transportation package, because despite holding supermajorities in both chambers, the full package has not crossed the finish line.
Lawmakers will be back in Salem this week to consider a proposal that would help stave off layoffs for hundreds of transportation workers. But it would also raise taxes at a time when a lot of Oregonians are already hurting financially. Does this sound familiar? Yes, we’ve been here before but this time Gov. Tina Kotek said she’s confident lawmakers will approve a transportation package that will raise billions for the state’s road and bridge upkeep. We’ll discuss the politics at play on both sides of the aisle. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Much of Oregon relies on our forests to generate cash for roads, bridges, law enforcement and more. But for decades, that money has faded as the timber industry has struggled. Now those problems are coming to a head in a whole new way.. On the latest episode of OPB politics now, we explore how Oregon’s timber counties are bracing for losses after the passage of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill and the complex history of logging, federal lands and politics mix. Find the show anywhere you get your podcast.
Gov. Tina Kotek’s office released an analysis this week detailing how much money Oregon stands to lose in federal funding. The state could lose more than $15 billion it uses to pay for health care and food assistance programs and a whole lot more. But Republicans have a different take: It’s not the big beautiful bill that’s going to hit Oregon’s economy, it’s the overtaxing of Oregonians that is hurting the working class. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the latest.
1Portland and other Democratic-leaning cities are trying to figure out how to respond to Trump administration 2.0. On the latest live edition of "OPB Politics Now," reporters Bryce Dole and Alex Zielinski talk about what the city did before, what it's doing now and what observers have to say about it.
Oregon has some of the strictest land-use policies in the nation. And those laws have made Oregon what is today. They’ve protected farmlands and preserved coastlines. They’ve pushed developers to build up - not out - in an effort to avoid sprawl. And they have prompted endless battles as housing becomes more expensive and farm land becomes less available. The latest land-use battle pits farm stands - think U-pick, corn mazes, and concerts -- up against some of the state’s biggest conservation groups. We’ll discuss all that and more on the latest episode of OPB Politics Now.
President Donald Trump has spent his first six months back in the White House using broad executive orders and aggressive raids and deportations to overhaul longstanding immigration practices. The unpredictability of these actions has stoked fear and confusion among immigrant communities across the country – and in Oregon.On this week’s OPB Politics Now, reporters Conrad Wilson, Troy Brynelson and Alex Zielinski help us understand how federal immigration policies under this administration are impacting the lives of Oregonians – and how advocates, lawyers and the courts are stepping in.
For months, there has been speculation that U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley would not seek re-election. But we learned last week that one of the U.S. Senate’s most outspoken progressives will indeed seek a fourth term. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we’ll break that down and dig into the latest rumblings about a possible special legislative session in Salem.
Oregon lawmakers have finished their more than five-month session, where they debate, pass laws and approve a budget for the next two years. The session ended with drama, intrigue and one major political failure by the majority party. On this week's OPB Politics Now livestream, political reporters Dirk VanderHart, Bryce Dole and Alex Zielinski help us understand why the transportation package failed and what it may mean for your commute. They also discussed new gun laws, changes to how the state handles mental illness, and what’s being done to pay Oregon's wildfire bills.
The past few days of the legislative session have produced a lot: drama, vetoes, people removed and added to a key committee. The mad dash to sine die continues. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss the major events of the week. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Oregon lawmakers have less than two weeks left in this year’s legislative session. What have they done to tackle the state’s lagging education system? I’m Bryce Dole. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we dive into the major education topics in Salem this session. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Oregon is rarely a major player on the national political scene, but the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill could play an outsized role in the Beaver State. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, politics editor Andrew Theen and reporters Amelia Templeton and Dirk VanderHart discussed what the bill might mean for people who depend on the Oregon Health Plan. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Bryce Dole and Dirk VanderHart discussed the major things happening in Salem, as lawmakers race to a conclusion in the coming weeks. This episode was available live on OPB.org/livestream or on OPB's YouTube page. They discussed the transportation package, gun legislation, foster care bills, the budget, the overall tone of the session and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
An issue that once prompted a Republican legislative walkout and derailed two legislative sessions is back. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we’ll discuss why a controversial climate proposal has suddenly re-emerged and what happens next. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.
The Oregon Legislature is racing toward a conclusion in the coming weeks. On this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, we’re going to bring you a special episode from our OPB colleagues and friends at The Evergreen podcast. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at what our lives are like down at the state Capitol in Salem. Usually, OPB Politics reporter Dirk Vanderhart is bringing you the news on this podcast. This week, you’re going to get a glimpse into how he finds it. Enjoy the show!
Oregon’s most important revenue forecast, the one that lawmakers used to write the two-year budget, was released this week. It showed that the state is expecting more money to roll in, but significantly less than the amount predicted just three months ago. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Alex Zielinski discuss the revenue outlook, what it says about the state political situation and much more. 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.