OPB Politics Now

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. 

During his campaign to be Portland’s next mayor, Keith Wilson had an idyllic pitch for the city’s future. Now the mayor is up against his first major challenge: balancing the budget. With a huge funding gap, how does Wilson hope to confront the city’s problems? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Bryce Dole and Alex Zielinski discuss Wilson’s plans, the political tradeoffs and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Oregon lawmakers are increasingly relying on bills that are not what they initially seem. Lawmakers this session filed a record number of placeholder bills, which are often just empty vessels of legislation that morph into something more significant later in the legislative process. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the rise of placeholders, why lawmakers use them and why transparency advocates and citizens are concerned. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Portland lost one of its most active and knowledgeable advocates for police accountability earlier this month. Dan Handelman spent decades of his life keeping track of the actions of the Portland police bureau, and pushing for reform. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss Handelman’s life, death and what happens when an institutional watchdog is no longer there. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Tariffs have been one of the dominant themes of the first few months of the Trump administration. And Oregon businesses are feeling the pinch, and the uncertainty. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss how Oregon businesses are responding to the tariffs and what it could mean for consumers. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.  

Oregon’s legislative session is at the midway point. I’m Lauren Dake. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss what the Legislature has accomplished so far, how the Trump administration has affected Salem and much more. Find the show where ever you get your podcasts  

The Pacific Northwest’s rugged beauty - our mountains, forests, deserts and rivers - is a draw for many of us who call this region home. For decades, many of our most powerful rivers have been tamed - by dams. But in recent years we’ve seen some major dams come down. And it’s possible more big changes are afoot. Is that good? Bad? We’ll discuss the politics of dam removal on the latest episode of OPB Politics Now. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

Democrat Melissa Fireside came out of nowhere in November to win a key election in Oregon’s third most populous county. But the Clackamas County commissioner’s sudden rise came with an even quicker downfall. It’s just the latest change on a county board that’s seen the political pendulum go back and forth many times in the past decade.  Settle in and turn up your volume- it’s time for a Fireside chat. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek stopped by the OPB studio this week for an extended interview with Think Out Loud. She talked about her housing policy, what she views as her role in responding to the Trump administration and much more. It was a meaty conversation. Here’s governor Kotek with OPB’s Dave Miller  

Many Oregon students are struggling to pass tests and graduate. State lawmakers and Gov. Tina Kotek are trying to do something about it. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we talk about the state of Oregon schools and the policies proposed during this year’s legislative session. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Having trouble with your finances? Well, Multnomah County and the city of Portland feel your pain. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we discuss the challenging budget cycle facing two of the state’s largest governments – and why the situation for state government is vastly different. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

Oregon’s congressional delegation got an earful at recent town halls, and strong feelings seem to be growing. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we talk about the town halls, what constituents are saying about the Trump administration’s policies and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

Lori Chavez-DeRemer returned to Washington D.C. this week. The Happy Valley Republican is no longer a member of Congress, but she may soon be a member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet as the nation’ labor secretary. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we dig into Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation hearing and what made it stand out from others.  Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

The first month of the 2025 legislative session may have been overshadowed, a bit, by the flurry of federal action underway in Trump administration 2.0. But there’s plenty to dig into. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski and Dirk VanderHart and Alex Zielinski discuss the first month of the session, what’s emerged and what hasn’t, and what to expect in the coming weeks. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has been consistent about her priorities since entering the governor’s mansion: housing, homelessness and healthcare. That’s left some wondering where she stands on climate and environmental issues. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Monica Samayoa discuss Kotek’s priorities and vision on the climate beat. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

What happens when the federal money faucet is turned off? Week two of the second Trump administration started with an effort to find out. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Dirk VanderHart and Bryce Dole discuss how the brief funding freeze played out in Oregon. Then, they also dive deep into the state’s growing eviction crisis and why Oregon continues to struggle to build enough housing.  

What does the second Trump administration mean for the Pacific Northwest? In the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we get a sense of what people had to say in the days before the inauguration and what happens next. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts and read our full coverage about the new administration at OPB.org.    

We are only a few days away from the 2025 long legislative session kicking off in Salem. State lawmakers' paramount duty is passing the next two-year budget.  But they likely won’t stop there.  On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we will dig into how the state will fund wildfires and ease the housing crisis. Plus, will there be new taxes? How will the legislative leaders get along in this new era? We’ll discuss. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts

New year, new government. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Alex Zielinski discuss the fascinating start of the new era of governance in Portland City Hall. They talked about the political fault lines emerging, the personalities on the council and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Keith Wilson seemed to come out of nowhere. Until earlier last year, he was a trucking company president whose one previous attempt at elected office got paltry results. Then, suddenly, he was a frontrunner in Portland’s high-stakes mayoral race, with an audacious pitch to solve the city’s most difficult issue. Now, he’s the mayor.  Given that swift turn of events, you might be asking yourself: Who is Keith Wilson? That's the topic of this week's episode of OPB Politics Now. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Earl Blumenauer is one of the longest-serving elected officials in Oregon history – if not the longest. He first won election to the Oregon House of Representatives in his early 20s, and over the course of five decades went on to serve on the Multnomah County Commission, Portland City Council and, most famously, for nearly 30 years representing Portland in Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District.In that time, Blumenauer has stood out for any number of reasons: his bow tie, his enthusiasm for bicycles, and his passion for cannabis legalization to name a few. But now he’s saying goodbye to public office, and looking forward to a role helping his hometown find its feet.Blumenauer came into OPB on December 13 to chat with reporter Dirk VanderHart. They chatted about Blumenauer's career, his take on national politics, and what comes next. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts. And if you have a question for the OPB Politics Now team as we head into 2025, shoot us an email at opbpoliticsnow@opb.org. (edited)  8:03 Andrew Theen fyi we're gonna start asking for reader questions via email/voice memo to see if we get any engagement.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has just over a week left in the mayor’s office. And he’s in a reflective mood. This week on the podcast we’re letting him look back on his eight years in office, give advice to his successors, and talk about what’s next. OPB Portland city government reporter Alex Zielinski sat down with Wheeler. He spent nearly two decades in elected office – starting as Multnomah County board chair, then as state treasurer. He entered the mayor’s office in 2017, and has overseen a uniquely tumultuous period of time that included the COVID-19 pandemic, massive racial justice protests, an explosion of deadly street drugs and a spike in homelessness. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts. And if you have a question for the OPB Politics Now team as we head into 2025, shoot us an email at opbpoliticsnow@opb.org.

The rising cost of wildfires has left Oregon lawmakers scrambling to pay their bills on time. On this week’s show, we look at the problem and the results of this week’s special session to pay 2024 fire costs.

Republican Christine Drazan is returning to a leadership role in Salem and she’s not the only change in the legislative power structure. Democrats switched things around as well. In Portland,  the new City Council is already putting in work, and part of that is cajoling colleagues to support their run for a new powerful position. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Earlier this week, Think out Loud and the Politics Now team joined forces for an election roundtable. And we tried something new. The episode was aired live – On camera – On OPB dot org and our YouTube page. It was fun! So fun we are sharing the audio for you here as well.

Keith Wilson will be Portland’s next mayor. And the 12 person city council is coming into focus. I’m Andrew Theen. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we talk about Wilson’s victory, the new faces coming to city council and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts

Democrats nationally are in disarray – but here in Oregon – the party appears poised for another cycle of big victories. On the next episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss what to make of the local versus national disconnect and other major takeaways from statewide races. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

The Portland area found itself in the national spotlight this week for a not particularly flattering reason: Repeated arson attacks on ballot boxes. We’ll be going over what we know about those attacks, but first we’re going to take a close look at the many races this year for a spot in Portland City Hall. A massive governance shift approved by voters two years ago has upended how campaigning for city council and mayor works – with some pretty interesting results. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

The Legislature doesn’t get as much attention in this hotly-contested election cycle, but there are a number of key races and candidates are making their final arguments to voters. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart delve into the legislative races to watch and what Democrats may do if they land a supermajority in both chambers in Salem. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Central Oregon will be decisive in the state’s most competitive congressional race this year, but there’s a lot more political intrigue just east of the Cascades. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we check in on the most dramatic and notable races in Bend and beyond. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

On this special live episode, OPB's political team runs through the biggest items on Oregon and Southwest Washington ballots.

It has been a long time since Oregon voters have elected a Republican to a statewide office. But this election cycle, voters will pick a new secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer. Will voters finally choose a Republican to serve in the upper echelons of state government? We’ll discuss on the latest episode of OPB Politics Now. Reporters Lauren Dake, Conrad Wilson and Kyra Buckley analyze the races. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Oregon is home to one of the nation’s most consequential Congressional races. OPB’s Bryce Dole took a deep dive – and drive – through the district in recent weeks where he visited the fire-ravaged Santiam Canyon, talked housing in Deschutes County and delved into the issues on the urban/rural divide in Clackamas County.  On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we take a deeper dive into the 5th Congressional District and what voters say are their top issues. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

In Oregon, we’ve been using vote-by-mail for more than 20 years without evidence of systemic fraud. So, it’s been easy for Democrats to dismiss conservatives who have been raising questions about the system. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart discuss the history of Oregon’s voting system and its various tweaks, the revelation that hundreds of people were automatically registered to vote who shouldn’t have been and what the political fallout may be. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Greg Walden has been a major feature of Oregon politics for decades. Now the former congressman has emerged as the most-influential figure in helping Republicans win back power in the state Capitol.  On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Alex Zielinski discuss the state of Republican fundraising in Oregon, Walden’s influence and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

Oregon Democrats and Republicans are locked in battle this year over a number of high profile congressional seats in the state. So why has the Oregon GOP been focusing so much on the tiny Libertarian Party of Oregon? On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we talk with Julia Shumway of the Oregon Capital Chronicle about her recent reporting. We discussed Republicans’ mission to clear the ballot of spoiler candidates, and why it might be a longshot. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.  

Oregon’s experiment with decriminalization is over. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Conrad Wilson are joined by editor Michelle Wiley to discuss the new world beginning on September 1st and beyond. Subscribe to OPB Politics Now anywhere you get your podcasts – or watch it on YouTube – to get the latest episodes each Friday.  

Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but two elected officials in Multnomah County had a public dispute in recent weeks over how to address homeless camping. This time the elected sheriff of the state’s most populous county was at loggerheads with Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, but now they appear to be on the same page. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski and Dirk VanderHart discuss the latest on the issue and what comes next. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Portland’s government makeover will fundamentally alter how things work inside City Hall. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski and Dirk VanderHart go deep into how the City Council will introduce legislation, engage the public and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts

We're taking a break from the normal pod this week, but with good reason. OPB's Think Out Loud host Dave Miller recently sat down with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for a lengthy discussion that touches on cell phones in schools, the controversy over first lady Aimee Kotek Wilson and lots more. We'll be back with a new episode next week.