Podcast appearances and mentions of tina kotek

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Lars Larson argues in his column that Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's refusal of federal help during Portland riots mirrors Orval Faubus's historic defiance of federal law. He blasts her handling of ICE attacks and National Guard deployment. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-tina-kotek-goes-orval-faubus-on-us/ #Opinion #LarsLarson #TinaKotek #Portland #Antifa #ICE #NationalGuard #FederalLaw #PacificNorthwest #Politics

Oregon is suing to block President Trump's order deploying 200 National Guard members to Portland. Gov. Tina Kotek, Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and the Oregon DOJ argue the federal move is unconstitutional and unnecessary as protests outside ICE facilities remain mostly peaceful. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/oregon-sues-to-block-trump-from-sending-national-guard-to-portland/ #Oregon #Portland #Trump #NationalGuard #TinaKotek #PeteHegseth #DanRayfield #ICE #Protests #Politics

Deadly weekend in America, as a church is attacked in Michigan and a bar is attacked in North Carolina. United Nations delegates walk out on Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Body positivity" activist has a message for those against a "Palestinian" state. ICE facilities under attack nationwide, and here comes the federal response. Bad Bunny to provide Super Bowl halftime entertainment. NASA to nuke an asteroid headed toward the moon? James Comey is facing the music, and the Left is losing its collective mind. Here comes the government shutdown! What we know about the Michigan church shooter. Big change in New York City mayoral race, as Eric Adams gives up bid for re-election. Digital ID is absolutely coming to Great Britain, says Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Serena Williams implies racism over cotton plant artwork?? Kamala Harris is on her book tour and is as pathetic as ever. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) gives an update on the J6 pipe bomber. Is the truth about Amelia Earhart going to come out? Bill Maher explains difference between Republicans and Democrats as guests on his show. 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED! 00:28 Another Church Shooting in Michigan 06:12 Delegates Walk Out in Protest of Netanyahu 08:31 Netanyahu Starts his Speech 10:46 Netanyahu Talks about 'Operation Beeper' 11:34 Netanyahu Discusses the "Woke Right" & TikTok 14:24 Tess Holliday on Palestine 20:54 Ice Cube's Bus is on Fire 22:52 Let's Look Inside of Portland, Oregon 24:10 Portland ICE Facility Attacked! 24:41 Tina Kotek on ICE Issue in Oregon 27:55 Illinois ICE Facility Gets an Indigenous People Dance 29:08 Portland ICE Facility Attacked AGAIN! 30:15 Fat Five 42:21 Asteroid Heading to the Moon? 46:31 Stephen Miller's Message to James Comey 48:17 Kris is Wearing Pajamas to Work? 54:14 Stop Mocking Mormons 56:50 President Trump Finds a 'Weird Shell Formation' 57:48 Former CIA Director John Brennan on James Comey's Indictment 59:17 JD Vance on Looming Government Shutdown 1:05:05 Michigan Church Shooter Update 1:06:26 Eric Adams Drops Out of NYC Mayoral Race 1:08:40 Digital ID is Mandatory for the United Kingdom 1:12:55 Serena Williams is Trying WAY Too Hard 1:18:22 Kamala Harris Kisses Babies? 1:22:17 Is Kamala Harris Drunk?! 1:26:30 Barry Loudermilk on J6 Pipe Bomb 1:31:01 Amelia Earhart Government Files? 1:34:10 Bill Maher on Republicans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jody Hamilton guest hosts for Stephanie. She talks about the State of Oregon and the city of Portland suing Trump to stop him from deploying National Guard troops into the city. The lawsuit names Trump, Pete Hegseth, and Kristi Noem as defendants. She also discusses the mass shooting at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. Guest - The Rude Pundit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Sunday, the Trump administration sent a memo to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek authorizing the deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard members in Portland immediately for 60 days. The memo says the troops will be deployed to protect federal property and personnel in Portland, which President Trump has called a “war-ravaged city.” Portland and state officials responded by filing a lawsuit and, on Monday, a temporary restraining order to block the Trump administration’s federalization of the Oregon National Guard.    Gov. Kotek, AG Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson held a news conference on Sunday to announce the lawsuit and counter President Trump’s characterization of Portland. “To bring this narrative to Portland, to say that we are anything but a city on the rise, is counter what truth is,” Wilson said. Gov. Kotek said she had spoken with President Trump and told him that there was no public safety threat that required military intervention in Portland.    Several hundred people gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland on Sunday afternoon and evening to protest the deployment of federal troops in the city. More than a dozen counterprotesters verbally clashed with protesters, several of whom were hit with pepper balls as ICE agents attempted to escort cars into the building. On Monday morning, Portland Police announced the arrest of two people on assault charges during the protest on Sunday evening.    OPB reporters Conrad Wilson and Troy Brynelson join us to discuss the latest developments.  

Portland's Tina Kotek is the latest sanctuary city Mayor to oppose troops which are being deployed to protect ICE facilities and Federal Buildings.

Oregon filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump after his order to send 200 National Guard troops to Portland. Gov. Tina Kotek and state officials argue the deployment represents federal overreach and will only escalate tensions. The lawsuit follows a similar challenge from California earlier this year. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, city leaders are saying ICE may have violated city code and might revoke the federal agency's permit to operate in South Waterfront. Also, the Oregon Senate has once again delayed their vote on Gov. Tina Kotek's massive transportation package. And there's a new oral history out about one of Portland's most storied music venues. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are Oregonian courts reporter Zane Sparling and Portland Mercury arts and culture editor Suzette Smith. Discussed in Today's Episode: ICE Violated Portland Policies With Detention Practices, City Leaders Say [Portland Mercury] Final Vote on Oregon Transportation Tax Hike Delayed Again [Oregonian] Satyricon: An Oral History [Portland Mercury] Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 19th episode: pFriem Family Brewers Window Nation DUER - Mention code CCPDX for 15% of Visit Walla Walla HUEL - Save 15% with code PORTLAND Cascadia Getaways

The new school year means that once again some kids are walking or biking through neighborhoods and on busy streets to get to class. Safe Routes to School is a nationwide, federally funded initiative that works to educate and encourage students to bike and walk to school safely. There are Safe Routes to School programs across Oregon, including one serving students in the Salem-Keizer School District.    The Salem-Keizer Safe Routes to School program started five years ago, but because of the pandemic, and the inability to reach students in schools, it didn’t really take off until fall 2022 when Beth Schmidt was hired to lead it. Since then, Schmidt has worked with the district and other partners to teach bus, pedestrian and bike safety, including PE classes that started last year in partnership with Cycle Oregon to help kids learn how to ride bikes and follow the rules of the road.  Next month, the Portland-based nonprofit The Street Trust will be giving Schmidt an award for her efforts to advocate for the successful passage of SB 450, which Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law in June. It designates Nov. 14 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in Oregon to honor Bridges’ courage in helping end school segregation in the U.S. Schmidt joins us to talk about her work in Salem and Keizer to make streets safer for students.

Last Friday, Oregon lawmakers convened in Salem for a special legislative session called by Gov. Tina Kotek to pass a transportation funding bill. The special session will now likely not end until later this month to allow Democrats to muster the necessary votes to pass the bill in the Oregon Senate. On Monday, the House passed a bill that would raise gas taxes by 6 cents per gallon, hike vehicle registration and titling fees, raise costs for drivers of EVs, and temporarily double a payroll tax that funds public transit. The bill contains many elements of one introduced earlier this year by Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, who is currently recovering from surgery and is seen as a critical vote for the passage of the new transportation funding bill to avert mass layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation and cuts in the agency’s services. That earlier bill failed during the regularly scheduled legislative session which ended in June.   OPB political reporter Dirk VanderHart joins us for the latest developments about the special legislative session and the political rifts that have emerged as it nears conclusion.  

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.

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.   

Oregon stands to lose more than $15 billion in federal funding for health care, food assistance and other purposes in coming years, under the sweeping spending bill congressional Republicans passed earlier this year. That’s the preliminary conclusion by Gov. Tina Kotek’s office, which in recent weeks asked state agencies to crunch the numbers for what the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act might mean for their ability to provide services. OPB political reporter Dirk VanderHart joins us to explain.

Lars Larson calls out Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek for what he describes as an extortion tactic — threatening ODOT layoffs to push for higher transportation taxes. He points to continued high-salary hiring at ODOT and urges lawmakers to reject new taxes, saying the move impacts the I-5 Bridge replacement project. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-message-received-give-us-more-money-or-else/ #Opinion #Oregon #TinaKotek #ODOT #TransportationFunding #I5Bridge #PublicSpending #Taxes #Budget #PacificNorthwest

The Oregon Youth Authority is under heightened scrutiny following a wave of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse and a culture of neglect in the state’s youth correctional facilities. The agency, which has faced criticism for mishandling abuse complaints, now has a new appointed leader — Michael Tessean — who takes over from interim director Jana McLellan. That's after Gov. Tina Kotek fired longtime director Joe O’Leary earlier this year over a backlog of unaddressed abuse reports.   OPB politics reporter Lauren Dake joins us to discuss the recent lawsuits, the agency’s troubled history and what new leadership could mean for the future of juvenile justice in Oregon.  

Governor Tina Kotek has long expressed support for wind power. In 2024, the Biden administration approved 195,000acres off the southern Oregon coast for wind farm construction (Wind Energy Areas) as part of its push to grow offshore wind power capacity, which gave her the means to enact this vision. However, widespread opposition from residents, including fishermen, tribal nations, and local politicians, expressed concern over the harm it would bring to the ecosystem and local industry. When these wind farms started to look like a possibility, Kotek asked Biden to halt the project for further research into the potential effects of offshore wind farms on the localcommunity. By requesting the delay, she could torpedo the plan without appearing to backpedal on her previous platform.However, Kotek was recently tossed a lifeline from an unexpected source. The Trump administration's Bureau ofOcean Energy Management, or BOEM, has rescinded all wind power plans for the southern Oregon coast, to the relief of communities in those areas. This new Kotek and Trump alliance has handed the governor the pause on offshore wind she likely wanted. Don't hold your breath, however, waiting for the Governor to send Trump a thank-you note.

The Trail Blazers are up for sale for the first time in 37 years. And there’s a real fear among fans — and elected officials —that if Portland doesn’t play its cards right, the new owner could move the team to another city. Gov. Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson sent a letter recently to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stating their emphatic support for keeping the team here. Marshall Glickman, whose father founded the team and served as the president of the organization, along with former player and gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley are among those who created Rip City Forever to advocate for doing whatever it takes to keep the Blazers in Portland. Specifically, the team will need a new or upgraded arena. Glickman and Dudley join us to tell us how they hope to help the city avoid losing the economic boost and civic pride that the Blazers bring.

Portland Public Schools' new board is facing an uphill battle, local farms are grappling with potential new restrictions, and Gov. Tina Kotek is proposing a new financial strategy to keep ODOT afloat. Joining host Claudia Meza for the Friday news round-up are Willamette Week reporter and author, Brianna Wheeler, and our executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Claudia Meza Brings Humor and Precision to City Cast Podcast [Willamette Week] At Portland Public Schools, a ‘Mom Takeover' and a Brewing Storm [Oregonian

Earlier this month the Oregon Department of Transportation announced it would need to lay off nearly 500 workers. This came after lawmakers failed to pass a transportation package to help boost the budget of the agency responsible for road maintenance around the state. Now, Gov. Tina Kotek has announced a special session will be held in late August with the hopes of finding the funds for the state’s transportation agency and has also shared she will delay impending layoffs. OPB politics reporter Dirk Vanderhart joins us to share more on what to expect from the upcoming special session.

Gov. Tina Kotek has aimed for a goal of 36,000 homes being built a year. As part of her housing development plans, Kotek’s office announced the launch of the Housing Accountability and Production Office, a joint office between the Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Building Codes Division. The agency will provide technical assistance and enforce state housing production laws. Joel Madsen and Tony Rocco, the office's joint managers, join us with more about the goals of the agency and what it means for Oregon’s housing crisis.

Last week, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency due to “the imminent and ongoing threat of wildfire.” The emergency declaration will last until the end of the year. It directs the Office of Emergency Management to coordinate personnel, equipment and resources in collaboration with the State Fire Marshal and Oregon Department of Forestry to respond to the wildfires that have burned more than 100,000 acres in the state so far. The Oregon National Guard will also be mobilized as needed to assist with fighting wildland fires for the remainder of the fire season.The National Interagency Fire Center lists six large, active wildfires burning in Oregon. That includes the Cram Fire, which broke out on July 13 and has burned more than 95,000 acres northeast of Madras and triggered evacuation orders in Jefferson and Wasco counties. It is now the largest wildfire burning in the contiguous U.S., with more than 900 personnel responding to it.Joining us for an update on the wildfire season are Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz Temple and Kyle Williams, deputy director of fire operations at Oregon Department of Forestry.

After a marathon session on Wednesday night, Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are poised to pass a massive tax and spending bill which President Trump has said he wants to sign on July 4. On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate passed their version of the bill after a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance. The bill passed by the Senate is expected to add $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit, according to the Congressional Budget Office, while making steep cuts to Medicaid benefits to help pay for trillions of dollars in tax cuts.    In Oregon, roughly 1 in 3 residents get their insurance through Medicaid. According to Oregon Health Authority’s Medicaid director Emma Sandoe, an estimated  100,000 to 200,000 Oregonians could lose their Medicaid benefits under the bill. On Wednesday, Gov. Tina Kotek and former Gov. John Kitzhaber, the architect of Oregon’s state Medicaid program, urged U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz of Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District to vote against the bill. Bentz is the sole Republican member of Oregon’s Congressional delegation and roughly 40% of the residents in his district are enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan. Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter of Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District is a pulmonary and critical care physician by training who testified against the bill on Capitol Hill and introduced amendments to it which were blocked by Republicans. She joins us to talk about the impacts of the Medicaid cuts for Oregonians and the new work and recertification requirements for Medicaid enrollees. “Think Out Loud” also made multiple attempts to request Rep. Bentz to participate in this conversation.

Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay, joins the Exchange.

Tina Kotek's Executive Order banning cell phones in schools is unconstitutional: https://katu.com/news/local/teachers-parents-oregon-governor-cell-phone-ban-schools-reactions-students-learning-education-distraction-mental-health-bully-grades ODOT's VOODOO accounting system is no excuse for raising our cost of living by raising taxes and fees: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/07/oregon_s_voodot_accounting_system.html Merkley lies in fundraising letter about SCOTUS ruling favoring Trump: https://oregoncatalyst.com/89029-decode-sen-merkeleys-supreme-court-scare.html 

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek recently signed a piece of legislation that makes notable changes to Oregon’s landmark Bottle Bill. The new rules allow grocery and convenience stores across the state to reduce the hours that customers can redeem cans and bottles for cash. They also allow retailers in downtown Portland to stop accepting containers altogether if they’re close enough to an “alternative redemption site” such as The People’s Depot, which processes returns from people whose primary income comes from redeeming beverage containers. Taylor Cass Talbott is the co-founder and co-executive director of Ground Score Association, which operates The People’s Depot. Kris Brown is the operational manager for The People’s Depot. They both join us to talk about the changes and about ongoing concerns around how the Bottle Bill is interacting with the state’s homelessness and drug crises.

A foster care bill in the Oregon legislature is controversial, but unlike other hotly contested issues, it’s not one that breaks along party lines. House Bill 3835 would allow kids in the child welfare system to be sent out of state to receive services —  a practice Oregon stopped several years ago after documented incidents of abuse. Democratic governor Tina Kotek has publicly spoken in favor of the bill, and it’s sponsored by Rep. Rob Nosse, D - Portland. But Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D - Corvallis, is among those in her party who vehemently oppose it. We hear from both lawmakers to get their perspectives on how the bill would — or would not —  meet the needs of some of Oregon’s most vulnerable children. 

Tell us whatcha' think! Send a text to us, here! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on our podcast. BEST of the BEST!! July 14, 2023OREGON: GENDER TRANSITION CAPITALTell us whatcha' think! Send a text to us, here! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on our podcast.Longest Drag Show Ever!PORTLAND, Ore. — The City Council on Thursday unanimously approved the renaming of O'Bryant Square to Darcelle XV Plaza, located at Southwest Harvey Milk Street and Park Avenue.The change honors the life and legacy of Walter Cole, who dazzled people on stage for five decades as Darcelle.“By renaming O'Bryant Square to Darcelle Plaza, we send a resounding message of support and recognition to the LGBTQI+ community, reminding them that they are valued, and they are cherished members of our Portland family,” said City Commissioner Dan Ryan.Darcelle was the oldest working drag queen until her death this March at the age of 92.PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The bill that sparked the longest Oregon Senate walkout in state history were quietly signed by Gov. Tina Kotek on Thursday, officials say.The governor's office confirmed HB 2002  – was signed into law and will receive a ceremonial signing at a later date.Provides Dangerous Gender Affirming Counseling and Treatments Without Parents' Knowledge or Consent at Taxpayer Expense!The law guarantees Oregonians ages 15 or older can access reproductive health care, including abortion. It also allows people of the same age to access care without parental permission in some cases and protects healthcare providers from out-of-state investigations and legal action.The bill also backs more gender-affirming procedures in insurance coverage — including facial feminization surgery and hair removal treatments — and implements a fine of up to $6,250 and a prison sentence of up to 364 days for anyone who interferes with health care facilities.•          Eliminates any age of consent requirements for Gender-affirming treatment and procedures. •          Requires written permission from a child of any age for a parent to know what health services—including Gender-affirming treatment—are provided by a health care provider.•          Pharmacists will be authorized to provide Gender-Affirming Treatment medications without regard to the age of the patient.•          By mandating insurance coverage and protecting doctors, this bill sets Oregon up to provide treatments to patients from other states. Republicans returned to the Senate floor June 15 after a multi-week walkout that stalled dozens of bills and left at least nine RepubSupport the showIf you need assistance with a situation in your area, please fill out our free consultation form.DONATE TODAY!www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com

Portland Archbishop Alexander Sample condemned what he described as a “celebration of death” after Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed a proclamation to make March 10 an “appreciation day” for abortionists. “There are moments when words fail,” Sample wrote in a letter that also offered a pastoral teaching about the sanctity of human life. Deacon Harold expands this more today. Also looking into Soulf Psalm 78:49-51

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  

Since our last conversation with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, President Trump has enacted tariffs and mass layoffs that could significantly impact Oregon’s federal workforce and economy. The Oregon Legislature has also begun its biennial session, taking up issues around education, transportation and housing. Kotek joins us in the studio to talk about all of that and more.

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.

Hour 2 Segment 1 Tony starts the second hour of the show talking more about the American and Canadian tariffs. Tony also talks about Oregon Governor, Tina Kotek, declaring March 10th Abortion Provider Appreciation Day. Hour 2 Segment 2 Tony plays the latest White House press briefing from Karoline Leavitt as she talks about Lori Chavez-DeRemer and pro-Hamas supporters. Hour 2 Segment 3 Tony continues to play Leavitt’s White House press briefing. Hour 2 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the second hour of the show talking about the massive cyber-attack from Dark Storm that took down X yesterday. Tony also talks more about Bill Burr going off on Elon Musk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 Segment 1 Tony starts the show talking about President Donald Trump raising Canadian steel and aluminum tariffs to 50% as Ontario’s government put a 25% tax on electricity. Hour 1 Segment 2 Tony talks about Thomas Massie will be voting no on the continuing resolution. Hour 1 Segment 3 Tony talks about Dylan Mulvaney going on The View. Tony also talks about an article from National Review is President Trump can deport a green card holding, pro-Hamas Columbia grad. Hour 1 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the first hour of the show talking about Bill Burr going off on Elon Musk. Hour 2 Segment 1 Tony starts the second hour of the show talking more about the American and Canadian tariffs. Tony also talks about Oregon Governor, Tina Kotek, declaring March 10th Abortion Provider Appreciation Day. Hour 2 Segment 2 Tony plays the latest White House press briefing from Karoline Leavitt as she talks about Lori Chavez-DeRemer and pro-Hamas supporters. Hour 2 Segment 3 Tony continues to play Leavitt’s White House press briefing. Hour 2 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the second hour of the show talking about the massive cyber-attack from Dark Storm that took down X yesterday. Tony also talks more about Bill Burr going off on Elon Musk. Hour 3 Segment 1 Tony starts the final hour of the show joined with William Jacobson of the Cornell Law School, to talk about the green card holding, pro-Hamas Columbia grad. Hour 3 Segment 2 Tony talks about Pope Francis’ prognosis has been lifted on his 25th consecutive day in the hospital after overcoming bilateral pneumonia. Hour 3 Segment 3 Tony talks about Randi Weingarten saying she doesn’t want the department of education to be abolished Hour 3 Segment 4 Tony wraps up another edition of the show talking about Ukraine willing to accept a 30-day ceasefire with Russia as the U.S. lifts freeze on aid and intelligence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

It's no secret that Oregon has an affordable housing problem. Gov. Tina Kotek has set an ambitious goal of building 36,000 units of housing a year, but so far, the state is nowhere close to hitting that target. Housing and real estate reporter Jonathan Bach recently went to Bend to spotlight a small but meaningful piece of the affordable housing puzzle: Community land trusts. He dissects them on this week's episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, and also checks in on other strategies the state is using to chip away at its housing backlog. And don't miss the end of the episode, where Bach discusses the commercial real estate projects that are set to break big in 2025, including the new James Beard Public Market in Portland. Pike Place, Portland's coming for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Camarillo, Executive Secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss a recent executive order from Gov. Tina Kotek mandating Project Labor Agreements on certain state-funded construction projects. Tom Buffenbarger, former International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to share his insights on the evolving landscape of labor rights and the challenges posed by the new Trump administration.

Republican Cliff Bentz represents Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District in Congress. It’s the largest district in Oregon, and represents around two-thirds of the state. It encompasses the Owyhee Canyonlands, one of the state’s most-known but — as of yet — unprotected natural places. Conservationists and others, including Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, have called on President Joe Biden to create a national monument here but so far that hasn’t happened. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has been working since 2019 on a bill to create a national monument on 1.1 million acres of land. The legislation was co-sponsored by Oregon’s other Democratic U.S. Senator, Jeff Merkley. The bill passed the Senate last year but died in the House. Bentz proposed his own version last fall, but says he’ll work with the senators on a new plan that can pass both chambers. We talk with Bentz about the way forward for Owyhee protection.

At the end of September, when the federal government canceled Oregon's first-ever offshore wind lease sale, many people were left with questions about why and what's next. The announcement from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management came after Gov. Tina Kotek sent a letter to the agency asking it to stop the Oct. 15 auction. Kotek cited tribal opposition and a tribal lawsuit among the reasons for halting the lease sale. That lawsuit was filed by the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, which has emerged over the past two years as one of the most vocal opponents of offshore wind, demanding the bureau conduct in-depth reviews of the impacts of floating turbines on marine life and fishing areas. Despite the lawsuit and the canceled auction, the tribal confederation has continued talks with the federal agency. Because the reality is that the turbines are badly needed to generate clean electricity and help achieve state and federal climate goals. The questions remain: how and where should these projects be built? Brad Kneaper, Tribal Council chair with the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians and Rick Eichstaedt, the tribes' attorney, talked on Beat Check about why his tribes decided to sue to halt the auction and what the path forward for Oregon's offshore wind is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 70% of high school teachers in the U.S. say cell phones are a major classroom distraction, according to The Pew Research Center. Across the nation schools are adapting new bans on phones as they continue to cause issues in student learning. A number of Oregon schools have been adapting new practices to minimize the use of phones in class, ranging from cell phone pouches to new district wide policies. Before the school year began, Gov. Tina Kotek said this summer she’d like to see a statewide approach on the issue. Nick Lupo is the principal for Taft 7 - 12 Middle and High School in the Lincoln County School District. His school has been using Yondr pouches since last year. Gabe Pagano is a principal at Cascade Middle School in the Bend-La Pine School District, where a new “silent and away” policy has been put in place across the district. They join us  to share more on these policies and phone use has changed over the years in Oregon schools.

A lot has changed statewide since Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek last appeared on “Think Out Loud” in October 2023. Since then, the state’s three-year experiment with drug decriminalization has ended, a state of emergency was declared to address the fentanyl overdose crisis in Multnomah County, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on a homelessness case out of Grants Pass and the governor faced backlash for the prominent role her wife has played in her administration.We spent an hour in Salem recently to get an update from the governor on all of those developments and more.

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.

Authorities in Oregon have known for over three decades that groundwater in the eastern part of the state, a rural region where many people rely on domestic wells for drinking water, is contaminated with high levels of nitrates and unsafe to drink – yet, until recently, have done little to address the problem. Until 2022, many people in the region had no idea they had been drinking contaminated water for years. Some still don't know it because the state has tested only about half the affected domestic wells despite a 2023 deadline to finish the testing. Research has linked high nitrate consumption over long periods to stomach, bladder and intestinal cancers, miscarriages, as well as thyroid issues. It is especially dangerous to infants who can quickly develop “blue baby syndrome,” a fatal illness. In May and again earlier this month, three dozen nonprofits and two retired Oregon Department of Environmental Quality administrators sent a letter to Gov. Tina Kotek asking her to make good on her promises to test all domestic wells in the region, find a permanent source of water for those forced to rely on bottled water and take action to clean up the groundwater. Kotek had visited the area after becoming governor.The letter called the nitrate contamination in the Lower Umatilla Basin “among the most pressing environmental justice issues in Oregon.” Most of the population in the region is poor, Latino or Indigenous. Late on Friday, Kotek sent a response. In her letter, the governor said she has directed the Oregon Health Authority to, among other actions, complete the testing of the remaining wells and the retesting of some households identified as being at high risk by June 30, 2025.Kristin Anderson Ostrom, the executive director of Oregon Rural Action, and Kaleb Lay, the group's director of policy and research, talked on Beat Check about why the contamination has taken so long to address, what can be done about it in the short and long term and what the crisis says about Oregon's approach to environmental justice. The eastern Oregon nonprofit, alongside the Morrow County public health department, has been instrumental in testing domestic wells in the region and pushing the state to do more testing and to limit nitrate pollution.Allowing another full year to test the remaining wells and setting the bar low on retesting is not an adequate response, Ostrom said. And the state needs to take substantive action to rein in the sources of pollution, she added. Much of the nitrate contamination comes from farm fertilizer, animal manure and wastewater that are constantly applied to farm fields. “This is an ongoing emergency and it needs to be recognized as one – the lives and health of thousands of our neighbors are at risk and it's the State's responsibility to protect them from further harm,” Ostrom told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Across Oregon, county and city leaders say they don't have the money to maintain their streets and sidewalks. In the Portland area, a pair of mega transportation projects years in the making remain unfinished and drastically underfunded. All the while, the Oregon Department of Transportation says will require an annual $1.8 billion boost to meet a growing list of transit needs throughout the state. The agency's director recently said the entire system is “hemorrhaging.” On the latest Beat Check, reporters Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and Carlos Fuentes discuss Oregon's transportation woes, attempts by state leaders to address them and the messy politics in the middle of it all. Read More: Oregon lawmakers want to fix roads and beef up transit. Where will they find the money? ODOT pumps brakes on two major freeway projects amid budget crisis, tolling pause Gov. Tina Kotek shelves plans for I-5, I-205 tolls in Portland area Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, we introduced you to OPB’s Class of 2025 project, where we are following a class of kindergarteners on their journey all the way through high school. The idea stems from a goal Oregon set more than a decade ago – a 100% high school graduation rate by 2025.    As the Class of 2025 has grown, so has Oregon. That once tall order of a 100% high school graduation rate is no longer the goal. Oregon’s new governor Tina Kotek has another goal in mind: 90% high school graduation rate by 2027.    This week, we want to ask some of the tough questions raised by the reporting OPB has done over the last decade with this project. The biggest ones: Why is Oregon's graduation rate still lower than other states, even after focusing on improving it all these years? And maybe more broadly - is trying to get to 100 percent even the right goal? If it's not, what is? Education reporter Elizabeth Miller is back with us this week to help answer these questions.   Check out OPB’s Class of 2025 podcast.   Check out OPB’s Class of 2025 reporting. For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

In April, members of the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers Association gave testimony at a Wasco County Commissioners meeting over potential rule changes to Oregon’s agricultural labor housing standards. The growers claim many of the changes are too costly to implement and unrelated to health and safety. Columbia Gorge News recently reported on the meeting amid the yearslong effort by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division to update agricultural labor housing rules, some of which haven’t changed in nearly four decades.  Also in April, a coalition of labor unions, racial justice and farmworker advocacy groups sent a letter to Gov. Tina Kotek and the Oregon OSHA administrator expressing their disappointment in what they characterized as a “lack of priority” given to improving the “alarmingly outdated” labor housing standards. Aileen Hymas, a freelance journalist based in Southern Oregon, joins us to share more

Earlier this year, Gov. Tina Kotek, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a 90-day state of emergency to address what has become widely seen as a fentanyl crisis in downtown Portland. The idea was to bring more coordination and resources to bear on the crisis that is claiming lives through fatal drug overdoses and draining the resources of law enforcement, first responders, public health and medical professionals. The 90-day period ended April 29, and the official report on the progress that was made was released today. We talk with Multnomah County Health Officer Dr. Richard Bruno to get the details.  

Governor Tina Kotek apologized this week and said she would not create an office of the first spouse . But what does that actually mean, and did Kotek answer all the questions? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we delve deep into that story and more.. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Our colleague Fred Lucas reports that newly released records offer a glimpse of how federal public health officials reacted when questioned by Congress about an illegal, China-tied biolab in California. https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/04/01/how-cdc-handled-congress-probe-of-china-tied-lab-in-california/ Democratic Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed legislation on Monday that reverses a law known as Measure 110. In world news, seven aid workers have […]

Our colleague Fred Lucas reports that newly released records offer a glimpse of how federal public health officials reacted when questioned by Congress about an illegal, China-tied biolab in California. https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/04/01/how-cdc-handled-congress-probe-of-china-tied-lab-in-california/ Democratic Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed legislation on Monday that reverses a law known as Measure 110. In world news, seven aid workers have been killed by an Israeli airstrike. The Florida Supreme Court handed down a decision on Monday to uphold the state's 15-week abortion ban. The ruling also allows for the state's 6 week abortion ban to also take effect. Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcastsSign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.