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.

On this week's show, reporters Lauren Dake, Troy Brynelson and Jeanie Lindsay discuss the big races in next week's Washington state primary.

On this week's show, OPB reporters Lauren Dake and Bryce Dole examine Democratic responses in Oregon to President Joe Biden's decision to exit the race.

Peter Courtney, the longest-serving state lawmaker in Oregon history, and arguably the most consequential one died this week. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart talk about Courtney’s legacy and the influence he had over policies that now shape our state.

Oregon’s top transportation officials said they need billions of dollars to maintain the state’s roadways. Without it there will be more potholes, more traffic and worse driving conditions for everyone. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we’ll dig into the politics and ask what it will take to make Portland great for bikes again. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

In April, United States Supreme Court Justices heard arguments in one of the most widely watched cases out of Oregon in recent memory. The question at the heart of Grants Pass v Johnson was whether cities can regulate where and when people can sleep outside, especially if there isn’t shelter space available.  The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had held that the city’s ordinance was in violation of the basic principle established in Martin v. Boise from 2018: “A person cannot be prosecuted for involuntary conduct if it is an unavoidable consequence of one’s status.” But on Friday the Supreme Court issued its ruling siding with Grants Pass, saying that it is not cruel or unusual punishment to penalize people from living outdoors even if they have nowhere else to go.  We get reaction and analysis from Grants Pass Mayor Sara Bristol and Sara Rankin, associate professor at Seattle University School of Law and the director of the Homeless Rights Advocacy Project. 

 Oregon’s scenic beauty is one of its main draws and some rural communities are trying to bring tourists to their region with the promise of an elite mountain biking experience. But not everyone is thrilled. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we will look at the complex push and pull as some former timber communities try to reinvent themselves. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

The two new leaders of Oregon’s Planned Parenthood affiliates are pushing to dissolve the political arm of their organization in a move that has blindsided some long-time advocates and has them worried about the future of reproductive rights in the state. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, Alex Zielinski and Lauren Dake discuss Planned Parenthood’s inner turmoil

Oregon has a long history of struggling to help kids in foster care and a high profile trial was supposed to put those struggles on center stage. But a settlement put that case on ice at the last minute. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we’ll discuss what that settlement means plus we’ll dive into the latest shakeup in Salem leadership circles. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.   

Is progressivism on life support in Portland politics or was the Multnomah County District Attorney’s race an isolated event? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart, Alex Zielinski and Conrad Wilson discuss the DA’s race and what it may mean for Portland’s city council races this fall. Plus, how will Vasquez approach the job differently than Schmidt? Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.  

Results are still trickling in from the May election but we know who won some key races. We know Earl Blumenauer’s successor. We know two Clackamas County politicians will have a third election battle and we now know Mike Schmidt’s political fate. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we break down all that and more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Dark money is flooding into the race to replace longtime Congressman Earl Blumenauer in Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District. And the stakes are high in the 5th Congressional District where it could ultimately determine who holds power in Congress. On this week’s OPB Politics Now we’ll discuss two of the hottest Congressional races and give you what you need to know before next weeks’ primary election.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt sailed into office four years ago with what looked like a mandate from voters. Four years later he’s in a dogfight for his political life with one of his top deputies, Nathan Vasquez. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we’ll walk you through Portland’s hottest race in the May 21 primary. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

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.

Should politics be a family affair? One Oregon community will put that issue to voters. I’m Lauren Dake. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we talk about a ballot proposal in Redmond plus how drug recriminalization may look in rural Oregon. We also address Gov. Kotek’s recent trip to Boardman to discuss nitrates. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

The OPB politics team is working hard on stories ahead of next month’s Oregon primary election. We’re going to have all sorts of coverage on this podcast, on OPB.org and on the radio in the coming days and weeks. That's a long way of saying - we're taking a break this week. But we’re not leaving you hanging. In case you missed it, here' a Think Out Loud debate featuring three of the candidates for Oregon’s Third Congressional Seat – that’s the one held by Earl Blumenauer for decades. This episode features Maxine Dexter, Susheela Jayapal and Eddy Morales.

Right 2 Dream Too used to dominate headlines in Portland, but the homeless community is largely overlooked these days. Also, one of the city’s newest outdoor shelters is nearing the one-year mark but finding housing remains a challenge. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Alex Zielinski and Bryce Dole discuss Right 2 Dream Too and the Clinton Triangle. Find the show anywhere you5 get your podcasts

Last year, Portland’s city council passed a new ban on unsanctioned homeless camping within the city during daytime hours. Almost a year later, it’s stalled and now Mayor Ted Wheeler has a new plan. On this week’s OPB Politics Now we walk you through the latest on Portland’s push and pull with addressing camps. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.   

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s wife Aimee wants a larger role in state politics. What should Oregonians think of that? Does it matter? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss why several top staffers left Kotek’s office and what other state’s do when it comes to first spouses. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Oregon lawmakers accomplished many things during the short session, but environmental policies were not at the top of the docket. But that doesn’t mean nothing passed the legislative finish line. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Alejandro Figueroa and April Ehrlich discuss what passed, what didn’t and what it means. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Rene Gonzalez wants to be mayor of Portland. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we took a look at Gonzalez’s first year. Plus, will the latest plan to solve homelessness work or is it more of the same?  Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

Oregon lawmakers finished their short session this week - with big bipartisan bills crossing the finish line and a surprise or two. I’m Andrew Theen. On the next episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss the biggest takeaways from the session. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Oregon lawmakers are tackling some major issues in the short session. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we focus on the housing bill moving through Salem. We discuss the political fault lines animating the bill, whether it will actually be used and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Oregon lawmakers have a lot on their plate, but they are shuffling to act as quickly as possible during the short session in some cases to avoid a larger fight at the ballot box. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the sudden interest in campaign finance limits and the latest on the efforts to unravel Measure 110. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Oregon lawmakers already had a big agenda to tackle in the short legislative session, but a surprise wrinkle entered the fray. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the session’s first two weeks, Gov. Tina Kotek’s housing bill and its changes and why there’s a sudden bipartisan effort to finally address campaign finance limits statewide. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Alex Zielinski discuss why some Portland police officers continue to use force at greater levels than their colleagues, what the bureau says about it and why some experts say it's a problematic trend. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Oregon lawmakers return to the Capitol on Monday for a frenetic 35-day session. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart talk about the major issues, the key Oregon Supreme Court ruling and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Oregon’s landmark drug decriminalization law is now in the crosshairs of Democratic leaders. Republicans and other Measure 110 opponents say the proposal doesn’t go far enough, while drug recovery advocates say this is not the way. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart, Lauren Dake and Alex Zielinski talk about the fight to come and they discuss why Portland and Multnomah County leaders continue to squabble over how to respond to weather emergencies.

Gov. Tina Kotek will once again push for a bill to make it easier for cities to add land for housing. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the bill, how it was derailed in the Legislature and why the governor thinks this time may be different. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Tina Kotek is no stranger to Oregon politics, but her perception inside and outside Salem may have changed as she traded in the speaker’s gavel for the governor’s office. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss their deep dive into Kotek’s first year. They discussed how the progressive has shifted to the middle, what her political opponents have to say and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

It’s going to be a busy year for politics in Oregon and beyond. There’s a presidential election, a coveted and presumably safe Democratic seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is up for grabs and Portland is embarking on a historic election.  On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski and Dirk VanderHart discuss all that and more. Dive into the busy year to come. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Oregon loves to be an outlier, and its special kicker tax rebate is yet another example. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Kyra Buckley and Dirk VanderHart go deep on why Oregon's kicker continues to hit unprecedented dollar figures, how the state compares nationally and much more. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Did Tina Kotek fix downtown Portland or did the governor just convene a big to-do task force with little to show for it? Or is the truth somewhere in between? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski, Dirk VanderHart and Kyra Buckley discuss the task force, the business community’s reaction to it and much more. Find the show wherever you listen to podcasts.

On this week's show, OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake go deep on the state of Oregon's continuing failure to find safe, consistent housing for the most vulnerable children.

The fight over how Oregon funds K-12 education isn’t new, but in the wake of a nearly monthlong strike in Portland Public Schools the longtime issue is back in the limelight. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart explain the history, the present and what lawmakers and school insiders are saying about whether Oregon schools are getting enough money. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Portland has struggled for years with how to oversee matters of police discipline and the controversy appears to be continuing. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Alex Zielinski discuss how the City Council appears to be changing elements of the police oversight system that was overwhelmingly supported by voters three years ago. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Tribes in Central Oregon are fighting a county-approved plan to build a luxury resort on their ancestral lands, which could further deplete the region's shrinking groundwater supply. This week, an appeals court is hearing arguments over whether that development may violate treaty rights.  On this week’s OPB Politics Now, politics reporter Alex Zielinski talks about the project with Central Oregon bureau chief Emily Cureton Cook. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Portland public schools are on strike for the first time in history. It’s early days and it’s already turning political. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Dirk VanderHart and Natalie Pate discuss the politics surrounding the strike and whether Democratic lawmakers will wade in to the dispute. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

The battle over who can pump gas legally in Oregon may not be fully settled. Plus, Portland City Council members continue to bicker as the transition to a new government looms. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski and Dirk VanderHart discuss those issues. Find the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

What happens when an Oregon town's government implodesDescription: Baker City's government and political system essentially ceased to exist for weeks this year, and the pieces are just now getting put back together. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, editor Ryan Haas and reporter Antonio Sierra discuss the political acrimony in Baker City and much more.

Homelessness may be the biggest political story in this state. And it’s complicated; intertwined so closely with other big issues like the housing shortage, a lack of mental health care options and a surging drug crisis. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Alex Zielinski take a deep dive into the history of houselessness in Oregon. They also discuss the solutions that some communities are pursuing. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

During the 2023 legislative session, Democrats were not interested in making system-wide changes to the state’s drug decriminalization experiment. Now, that seems to have changed. On this week’s episode of OPB’s Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart talk about the politics behind the sudden change of heart and what it means for the future of the state’s drug policies.

Fentanyl use in Portland and other cities is a national crisis, but in Oregon the passage of Measure 110 harkened something entirely different. Now the political repercussions about that measure continue to reverberate. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart, Lauren Dake and Jonathan Levinson discuss fentanyl, Measure 110's critics and much more.

 Recall efforts aren't unusual in Oregon politics these days, but it is odd to have a contest led by former allies. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski and Dirk VanderHart discuss the union-led effort to recall Paul Holvey. Plus, they address why Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell is leaving and what to make of his short-term successor.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler won't run for reelection, but does this free him up to accomplish more in his last 15 months? On the latest episode o OPB Politics now,  reporters Alex Zielinski, Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss Wheeler's decision, his legacy and whether he can do anything notable. Plus, they discuss the candidates entering races for state treasurer and secretary of state.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is not seeking a third term. On this bonus episode of OPB Politics Now, Wheeler chats with Think out Loud's Dave Miller about that decision, what he hopes to accomplish in the next 15 months and much more. We'll be back Friday with a regular podcast episode

Portland wants to ban public drug use on sidewalks or public property, but it isn’t a simple fix. And the state’s largest homeless shelter, which was founded with assurances no public money was needed, is suddenly saved by Multnomah County. All that and more on this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now.

On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, politics reporter Dirk VanderHart explains the history of Oregon’s kicker tax rebate, why taxpayers will see a record return next year and the politics surrounding it.

The massive task force convened by Gov. Tina Kotek, which aims to address Portland’s many issues, met for the first time this week. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, politics reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart discuss the meeting, what people had to say and what might come out of the process.

With two quiet vetoes, Governor Tina Kotek has slowed the push to decriminalize sex work in Oregon. And it turns out the city of Portland’s top public safety official has been living in Sin City, not Stumptown. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, Anna Griffin, Jonathan Levinson and Alex Zielinski tackle those two topics.

Oregon lawmakers wrapped up the legislative session earlier this summer with a flurry of bills. Plenty of topics were discussed in the final days of session, but one wasn’t at all: How, and why a mega project to renovate the Capitol was nearly $100 million over budget. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart discuss that project and Gov. Tina Kotek swooping in to try and solve Portland’s problems.

Intel growing, gas pumping, Congresswoman Hoyle testifyingOn the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, politics reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart discuss a surprisingly busy week despite the dog days of summer. They discussed Intel's big expansion and the state role, Oregon's new gas pumping future and a Congresswoman testifying.

On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, there's an inter-party skirmish happening among some of the biggest political entities in the state. Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the effort to recall Rep. Paul Holvey and what it says about the labor world and the Democratic Party.

On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Alex Zielinski discuss the controversial idea from two Portland City Council members to ask voters to unwind the government overhaul package before it even took effect.

On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, Dirk VanderHart, Jonathan Levinson and Alex Zielinski discuss the Newport mayor’s resignation and the happenings inside Portland City Hall as the mayor’s race is already heating up.

On this week's show, OPB city reporter Alex Zielinski explains why Mayor Ted Wheeler pulled back a plan to get tough on public drug use and why supporters of the Portland Street Response program are worried about its future.

On a special bonus episode, OPB political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake review the accomplishments of the 2023 Oregon Legislature and which priorities lawmakers didn't achieve.

On this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, politics reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the race to the finish line in Salem.

The walkout is over, but is it really smooth-sailing to the finish line? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, politics reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the deal, the end of the session and the potential wrinkles to come.

The walkout is over, but is it really smooth-sailing to the finish line? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, politics reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the deal, the end of the session and the potential wrinkles to come.

On a special bonus episode of OPB Politics Now, politics reporter Lauren Dake chats with Think Out Loud's Dave Miller about the potential framework for a deal to bring an end to the longest walkout in state history.

More than 100 years ago, Multnomah and Clark Counties paid $1.7 million dollars to build the northbound span of the Interstate-5 Bridge connecting Vancouver to Portland. That bridge still stands today. On this week’s OPB Politics now we’ll talk about the latest push underway to replace the bridge and whether the politics will get in the way.

Homelessness remains a key issue across Oregon and new rules governing how, when and where people can sleep outdoors are racing toward approval. On this week’s new episode of OPB Politics Now, we hear how new tent camping bans are playing out across the state.

On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden chats with OPB's Lillian Karabaic about the semiconductor industry, the debt ceiling fight and Damian Lillard's future in Portland.

The Republican walkout in the Oregon state senate hit a critical point this week. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss whether the Legislative session is over, the personality conflicts at play between rivals in Salem and much more.

You're forgiven if you haven't voted yet, and you're in good company with the vast majority of registered Oregonians. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, Tiffany Camhi and Alex Zielinski discuss the sleepy election before next year's main event.

On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart discuss the latest Republican walkout and what it may mean for pending legislation in Salem, the lawmakers who are nearing their 10th unexcused absence and much more.

Shemia Fagan was supposed to be the next Democratic star in Oregon politics, but now she's about to be out of office due to a spectacularly fast moving scandal in Salem. On the latest OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart talk about Fagan's rise to prominence and sudden resignation as Secretary of State.

On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss Phil Knight’s $400 million gift to a new investment fund that aims to benefit Black Portlanders. Also, we discuss the history of campaign finance reform in Oregon.

In 2020, Portland City Council promised millions for a new racial justice group formed to help Black Portlanders. Last week it appeared the city would renege on its promise to Reimagine Oregon. On this week’s show, we examine why the city changed course at the last second, why the budget proposal prompted outrage and what it means for the city’s relationships with communities of color.

It's been a complicated week for people tracking access to abortion services. On this week's show, we explain what recent court rulings mean in Oregon and Washington.

State legislators have sent the governor a big piece of legislation aimed at attracting more semiconductor production. On this week's show, we'll examine the tools they'll use to do that -- and the broader philosophical choices they're making about Oregon land use policy.

Oregon lawmakers have been so busy this session working up major packages on housing and semiconductors that the two parties have barely had time to fight over the issues that most bitterly divide them. That changed this week, as Democrats called up three bills that would expand gun regulation in the state. OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Jonathan Levinson break them down on the new episode.

It’s very possible Oregon state government has never been as focused on housing and homelessness as it is at this moment. The state’s housing shortage is acute. The number of people without homes is swelling. Oregon's new governor, Tina Kotek, is successfully pushing lawmakers to pass major funding and policy changes a little more than two months after taking office. But cities are saying they are at risk of actually losing shelter space.

On this week's show, we catch you up on a hectic week in Oregon politics. Among the news: Portland struggles to find homeless camp sites, Oregon loses its chief financial officer and state lawmakers look at ways to help prevent organized shoplifting.

Oregon leaders are pushing local governments to build more affordable housing and to build it quickly. But on this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, we’re going to look at the realities of actually managing that housing once it's built. We have a case study in how hard that can be: Portland’s Milepost 5. It started as an artist’s dream – but is now embroiled in a class-action lawsuit.

On this special bonus episode of OPB Politics Now, the team at Think Out Loud sits down with Gov. Tina Kotek to talk about her first two months on the job.

Oregon lawmakers have begun revealing their plan for solving the state’s housing crisis. It’s going to require a big philosophical shift in how Oregon thinks about its land. On this week's show, we examine Oregon’s half-century old land use system and why even progressives' are now saying it’s time to make it easier to build here.

On this week's show, we'll explain new Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez's decision to stop letting his bureaus hand out to tents to people sleeping outside. And we'll bring you the latest fallout in the state liquor commission's rare bourbon scandal.

On this week's show, we'll explain the unfurling scandal over rare alcohol and how state regulators may have abused their access. And we'll look at the growing call for changes in how Oregon spends cannabis taxes under Measure 110, the historic drug decriminalization law.

On this week's show, OPB political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake explain why Oregon legislators exempt from a state law banning public officials from hiring family members -- and why one influential Democrat wants to change that this session.

On this week's show, OPB political reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart look at the Republican agenda in the 2023 Oregon legislative session.

On this week's show, OPB reporters Alex Zielinski and Lauren Dake talk about the 2023 Oregon legislature session and Mayor Ted Wheeler's decision to fire a top aide -- and former mayor -- Sam Adams.

On this week's episode, OPB political reporter Lauren Dake and editor Anna Griffin review new Gov. Tina Kotek's first week in office, including her big push to end homelessness.

On this week's show, we bring you two conversations about a very newsy week in Pacific Northwest Politics: Lauren Dake discusses outgoing Gov. Kate Brown's legacy and Jonathan Levinson explains what's next for Measure 114.

On this episode, OPB editor Anna Griffin and political reporter Lauren Dake explain and analyze Gov. Kate Brown's decision to commute the sentences of everyone awaiting execution in Oregon.

On this week's show, we hear from Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield and Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp about their plans for the 2023 Legislative session.

Once again, Republicans in Oregon failed to capture the governor’s office, either chamber of the state legislature or any statewide office. Yet coming out of the November election, GOP leaders say they feel surprisingly optimistic. On this week's show OPB reporter Lauren Dake and editor Anna Griffin debate the future of the GOP in Oregon.

On this special election results editor, OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake and OPB editor Anna Griffin break down what we do and don't know about the 2022 election.

On this week's show, OPB reporter Rebecca Ellis and editor Anna Griffin dive deep on the Portland City Council's new approach to homelessness -- and the political firestorm it's generating.

On this special election preview episode, OPB reporter Rebecca Ellis explains the decision Portland voters must make on the city's form of government and how city leaders are selected.

The OPB Politics Now team talk through the 2022 campaigns in front of a live audience at Beaverton's Patricia Reser Center for the Arts.

On this special election preview episode, OPB reporters Joni Auden Land, April Ehrlich and Troy Brynelson break down three Pacific Northwest Congressional races that will help decide who controls the U.S. House next year.

On this special election preview episode of OPB Politics Now, OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake examine unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson's campaign for Oregon governor

On this special election preview episode of OPB Politics now, OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake examine Republican Christine Drazan's campaign for Oregon governor

On this special election preview episode, OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake examine Democrat Tina Kotek's campaign for Oregon governor

Oregon voters will consider four big ballot measures when ballots arrive this fall. On this special election preview episode, OPB reporters and editors break down Measures 111, 112, 113 and 114.

On this special election preview episode of OPB Politics Now, reporter Rebecca Ellis previews the race between Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty and challenger Rene Gonzalez.

On this week's show, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake explain why so many people think Ballot Measure 110, Oregon's effort to decriminalize illicit drugs, is failing.

On this week's show, OPB political reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart explain why Oregon is struggling to find someone to run its new system for handling harassment complaints at the state legislature.

For years now, Oregon leaders have pushed an aggressive approach to fighting climate change. But the next governor could change that. On this week's episode, OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake look at where Christine Drazan, Betsy Johnson and Tina Kotek stand on climate change, carbon emissions and role government should play.

On this week's show, OPB reporter Rebecca Ellis explains how the city of Portland lost $1.4 million in money meant to build more affordable housing -- and what it says about the state of city government.

On this week's show, reporters Conrad Wilson and Dirk VanderHart look at the big problems facing Oregon's public defender system and why they exploded into public view this month.

Oregon’s revolutionary system for managing growth has done a lot of what its creators envisioned. Vast parts of the state remain pristine, and even suburban communities feel more urban – more walkable and environmentally friendly – than in other states. But the rules that have kept Oregon so special have also led to many of the land use fights we’re waging today – political battles over how dense town and cities should be, how much of an influence tight growth laws have on housing prices and where all these people moving into Oregon over the next half century are going to live and work. In the final part of this special OPB Politics Now series, senior political reporter Jeff Mapes shows us how the quality of life debates of the 1960s and ‘70s led to the different, but no less heated, debates over how we live today.

Property owners and developers have been fighting Oregon’s unique – and unique restrictive – land use laws since their inception almost a half century ago. In the fifth part of this special OPB Politics Now series, senior political reporter Jeff Mapes tells the story of the closest opponents ever came to gutting the system – and the little old lady who became that effort’s champion.

Oregon’s initial rules for growth governed where we should live and work, but they didn’t say much about how we should get from one place to another. In the fourth part of this special OPB Politics Now series, senior political reporter looks at the state’s complicated relationship with roads and the fight that helped state leaders figure out how they should manage freeways: Washington County’s proposed Westside Bypass.

Political giants like Tom McCall built Oregon’s land use system. But it took several generations of unlikely advocates – neighborhood activists, planners, property owners and lawyers – to figure out how it would actually work. In the third part of this special OPB Politics Now series, senior political reporter Jeff Mapes tells the story of a Eugene homemaker and a Connecticut reporter and how they helped ensure housing access for everyone.

On this special election preview episode of OPB Politics Now, Washington reporters Austin Jenkins and Troy Brynelson tell you what you need to know to vote in the Aug. 2 primary, which includes races for secretary of state, the U.S. House and a slew of legislative seats.

As the rest of America boomed into suburbia in the 1960s and '70s, Oregonians worried. State leaders saw the problem -- without tighter controls on where and how development could occur, Oregon risked losing its forests and farmland. But coming up with a plan to limit sprawl was controversial. Oregonians love their land. And they hate being told what they can and can't do with it. In this second part of a special OPB Politics Now series, senior political reporter Jeff Mapes tells the story of Senate Bill 100, the law that made Oregon different from everywhere else.

If you think Oregon looks and feels different from other parts of the United States, you’re right. Over the past 50 years, we’ve managed to maintain a comparatively stunning amount of farmland and open space despite rapid population growth. And that’s largely because of our strict controls on where new homes, businesses and roads can go. In the first part of this special OPB Politics Now series, senior political reporter Jeff Mapes takes us back to the moment when Oregon leaders saw the threat suburban sprawl and unchecked growth posed -- but realized they were powerless to stop it.

On this week’s show, OPB political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Rebecca Ellis look at ballot measures that would expand who can vote in Multnomah County and make GOP state legislators pay for walking out of Salem.

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe vs. Wade, advocates and state leaders in Oregon and Washington are scrambling to figure out a response. OPB political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake and health reporter Amelia Templeton examine what the decision means and what fights are coming next.

On this week's show, OPB journalists Dirk VanderHart, Rebecca Ellis and Anna Griffin dive deep on Portland's unique commission form of government. Voters will consider whether to scrap the controversial system in November. But they've refused to do that seven times in a century. So is this year different?

On this week's show, OPB political reporter Lauren Dake takes a deep look at how the election counting mess in Clackamas County occurs and why who runs local elections varies wildly from county to county.

On this week's show, OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Rebecca Ellis look into the city of Portland's missing $1.4 million and Oregon school districts' complicated relationship with guns.

On this special election results episode, OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Rebecca Ellis and politics editor Anna Griffin talk through the possible three-woman race for governor, the staggering amount a cryptocurrency billionaire spent on a losing House candidate and the Portland City Council runoff.

In this special election preview episode, OPB reporter Dirk VanderHart examines a strange new trend in the 2022 election: Democrats bashing Portland.

For the first time in nearly 40 years, the district attorney’s office in Marion County is being contested. Incumbent District Attorney Paige Clarkson is facing a challenge from Spencer Todd, a 33-year-old public defender from Salem. Clarkson has been the county’s top law enforcement official for four years and has blamed state leaders, including the governor, of undermining public safety by pursuing criminal justice reforms. Spencer Todd has worked as a public defender in Marion County for eight years and supports criminal justice reforms that focus on mental health services and treatment for nonviolent emergencies and offenses. Clarkson and Todd join us to share their perspectives on criminal justice, policing and public safety.

This year, Oregon voters will be able to cast their ballots in a new Congressional district created as a result of the 2020 Census. Oregon’s 6th District stretches from suburbs southwest of Portland to Salem, and includes all of Yamhill and Polk counties, as well as portions of Marion, Washington and Clackamas counties. Joining us now for a debate are three prominent candidates running in the Democratic primary for the 6th District. Andrea Salinas is an Oregon state representative from Lake Oswego. Teresa Alonso Leon is also a state representative from Woodburn. Loretta Smith is a former Multnomah County commissioner.

U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio announced last year he would not seek re-election. This means for the first time in more than 30 years, Oregon’s 4th congressional district will not have an incumbent candidate. We hear from three Democratic candidates vying for the spot: Doyle Canning, Andrew Kalloch and Val Hoyle. The Democratic primary winner will face off against Republican candidate Alek Skarlatos.

This year, Oregon voters will be able to cast their ballots in a new Congressional district created as a result of the 2020 Census. Oregon’s 6th Congressional District includes the southwest suburbs of Portland, Salem, Yamhill and Polk counties, as well as parts of Marion, Washington and Clackamas counties. Joining us now for a debate are two candidates running in the Republican primary for the 6th Congressional District. Ron Noble is an Oregon state Representative from McMinnville. Nate Sandvig is a vice-president at Rye Development, a company which develops hydropower projects.

Oregon picked up a sixth House seat after the 2020 U.S. Census. In this election preview episode, political reporter Sam Stites introduces us to the candidates and explains why this is one of the most expensive Congressional races in the country.

This month, we’re hearing from nine of the candidates vying to be Oregon's next governor. It's an open seat for the first time since 2015. Tina Kotek served a democratic state representative for Northeast Portland since 2004, and as Speaker of the House from 2013-2022, before she resigned to focus on her run for Governor.

On this special election preview episode, Portland city government reporter Rebecca Ellis looks at the two races for Portland City Council. Jo Ann Hardesty faces two challengers who want to pull the city back toward the political center. And Dan Ryan faces a challenge from the left.

In this special election preview episode, OPB reporter Sam Stites looks at the four major candidates vying to become Multnomah County's next Board of Commissioners chair.

OPB political reporter Dirk VanderHart looks at the Democratic candidates vying to replace Gov. Kate Brown. Ballots are due May 17.

OPB political reporter Lauren Dake breaks down the big names and big issues in the GOP primary for governor – and the impact Betsy Johnson’s looming candidacy is having. Ballots are due May 17.

OPB Central Oregon bureau chief Emily Cureton explains the complicated primaries to represent the state’s 5th U.S. House District, including why incumbent Rep. Kurt Schrader suddenly looks in jeopardy.

This month, we invited nine of the candidates vying to be Oregon's next governor for interviews. The seat is open for the first time since 2015. Jessica Gomez is seeking the Republican nomination. She is the founder and CEO of a small microelectronics manufacturer in Medford and the only candidate who identifies publicly as Latina.

This month, we’re hearing from nine of the candidates vying to be Oregon's next governor. It's an open seat for the first time since 2015. Tobias Read is currently serving his second term as state treasurer. He also served in the State Legislature from 2007-2016, representing House District 27.

With primary elections just one month away, we hear from three candidates vying for a spot on city council. Jo Ann Hardesty is currently the Portland City Commissioner Position 3 incumbent. Rene Gonzalez is the owner and managing partner of Eastbank Artifex, a technology consulting company. Vadim Mozyrsky is an administrative law judge. They both will be challenging Hardesty for her seat. Hardesty, Gonzalez and Mozyrsky join us to make their case for why Portlanders should vote for them.

With primary elections just one month away, we hear from two candidates vying for a spot on city council. Dan Ryan currently is the Portland City Commissioner Position 2 incumbent and running for reelection. AJ McCreary is challenging him for the seat. She’s the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Equitable Giving Circle. McCreary and Ryan join us to make their case for why Portlanders should vote for them.

This month, we’re hearing from nine of the candidates vying to be Oregon's next governor. It's an open seat for the first time since 2015. Starnes is a cabinet maker and home restorer who ran on the Independent Party ticket in 2018. Starnes’ primary issue is putting a cap on campaign donations.

This month, we’re hearing from nine of the candidates vying to be Oregon's next governor. It's an open seat for the first time since 2015. Bob Tiernan is seeking the Republican nomination. He lives in Lake Oswego and works as a business consultant. He served in the Oregon Legislature in the 1990s and was chair of the Oregon Republican Party from 2009-2011. In 1994, he was a chief petitioner of Measure 11, which created mandatory minimum sentences for many violent crimes.

This month, we’re hearing from nine of the candidates vying to be Oregon's next governor. It's an open seat for the first time since 2015. Stan Pulliam is seeking the Republican nomination. He’s currently the mayor of Sandy, where he grew up. He has also worked as a legislative staffer. In 2020, Pulliam pushed back against statewide COVID-19 restrictions as a prominent voice in the Main Street Mayors coalition.

This month, we’re hearing from nine of the candidates vying to be Oregon's next governor. It's an open seat for the first time since 2015. Bridget Barton is seeking the Republican nomination. Barton lives in West Linn, and has worked as a conservative writer and political consultant for many years.

For the second time this year, Yamhill County residents voted this week on whether to recall a conservative elected official. And just as happened in the earlier recall election -- focusing on two right-wing members of the Newberg School Board -- it looks like this recall effort has also failed.

On this week's show, we'll look at the shockingly high number of Oregon lawmakers not seeking reelection and a new effort to save a dying breed: Moderate Democrats.

The Oregon Legislature has just finished its 2022 session. On this week's show, reporters Dirk VanderHart, Lauren Dake and Sam Stites look at what lawmakers did achieve - farmworker overtime and a lot of new spending - and what they did not - bad news for Oregonians who want to pump their own gas.

On this special bonus episode of OPB Politics Now, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler talks to OPB's Dave Miller about his new approach on homelessness.

State lawmakers have $2.5 billion more than they expected. And they've got big plans to spend it. On this week's show, we break down a Democratic plan to make a dent in homelessness and a financial olive branch extended to Republicans.

Nick Kristof is officially out of the race for Oregon governor and will not appear on the May primary ballot as a candidate in that race. The former New York Times columnist quit his job to run for Oregon’s top job. On Thursday, the Oregon Supreme Court issued an opinion affirming Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s determination that Kristof cannot legally vie for the governorship because he does not meet the state’s three-year residency requirement. Kristof joins us to talk about what’s next for him.

Nick Kristof is officially out of the race for Oregon governor and will not appear on the May primary ballot as a candidate in that race. The former New York Times columnist quit his job to run for Oregon’s top job. On Thursday, the Oregon Supreme Court issued an opinion affirming Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s determination that Kristof cannot legally vie for the governorship because he does not meet the state’s three-year residency requirement. Kristof joins us to talk about what’s next for him.

Portland leaders have taken care of one big problem on their to do list: This week, they reached a labor deal with the union representing rank-and-file police officers. But Mayor Ted Wheeler’s efforts to curb public camping by people experiencing homelessness has a long way to go.On this week’s show, Lauren Dake, Rebecca Ellis and Jonathan Levinson talk about the political of policing and homelessness.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has high hopes for her last legislative session as the state’s chief executive. She’s asking lawmakers to pass an ambitious workforce development plan called “Future Ready Oregon” and wants to see significant investments in affordable housing as well. We hear from her about her legislative priorities and her plans for whatever comes next in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oregon lawmakers gather this week for their biennial short session. On this special episode, OPB's political team examines some of the hotter topics on their agenda for the next 35 days.

Nick Kristof says he’s been a resident of Oregon his entire life. State election officials say: No he hasn’t. Now it’s up to the Oregon Supreme Court to decide whether he can run for governor. I’m Dirk VanderHart. On this week’s “OPB Politics Now,” we’ll break down the legal arguments for and against Kristof’s candidacy. And we’ll tell you what happens next.

Oregon's longtime senate president is retiring. Peter Courtney is the longest-serving lawmaker in state history. The 78-year-old has presided over countless legislative sessions where he championed issues such as mental health parity and school funding, beseeched lawmakers to return after a dramatic walkout, and played a key role in former Governor Kitzhaber’s resignation. Now, he’s preparing for his last legislative session in office. We talk with him about his goals and his legacy.

Interstate 5 is a key part of the transportation system that moves both people and goods up and down the West Coast. But the highway has problems as it winds through Portland to Washington State. On this week's show, we'll look at the politics of transportation in Oregon and Southwest Washington -- and why fixing I-5 is as much a political debate as a planning one.

It’s been a week of seismic change in Oregon politics: House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney both announced their departures, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nick Kristof lost his place on the ballot.On this week’s show, OPB political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Sam Stites break down all three of those big major stories and what they mean for Oregonians.

Oregon lawmakers were back at the Capitol this week to prevent an eviction crisis. And Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty is suing the union representing city police officers. On this week’s show, we catch you up on a remarkably drama-free week in Salem and a drama-filled week in Portland.

The Oregon legislature returns to Salem next week to prevent mass evictions. On this special episode, we'll look at the problem lawmakers will try to solve and the proposed solution.

Last year, Oregon voters changed the state Constitution to allow limits on how much donors can give to political campaigns. But now the progressive groups that pushed to reign in spending can’t agree on who and what those new rules should include. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we’ll look at why the debate over money is so hard -- and what new rules might cover.

Oregon’s longest serving member of Congress is retiring. A firebrand Trump-style Republican is trying to take out an incumbent. And we now have a lot more clarity on what 2022 Congressional races will look like in the Pacific Northwest.On this week’s episode, we’ll look at how this week’s big news changes next year’s fight for control of the U.S. House.

On a special episode, U.S. Rep Earl Blumenauer talks with OPB's Dave Miller about the Glasgow, Scotland, U.N. Climate Change Conference.

On this week's show, OPB reporter Dirk VanderHart and Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Noelle Crombie take a deep dive into Measure 110, the drug decriminalization measure voters approved last year. So far, the results haven't been as significant or widespread as supporters hoped.

On this week's episode, OPB reporters Lauren Dake, Sam Stites and Rebecca Ellis look at how two big 2022 campaigns are heating up and at the troubling news Portland leaders received this week about satisfaction among Black employees.

It’s been a big week in Portland City Hall -- with developments that touch on three of the most contentious issues of the day: homelessness, recent political protests and abortion. On this week's episode, OPB reporters Rebecca Ellis and Dirk VanderHart catch you up.

On this election preview episode, OPB Southwest Washington bureau chief Troy Brynelson takes a deep dive into several local races with much broader implications.

In this special episode of OPB's Politics Now, we bring you a conversation with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Oregon legislature concluded its special session to redraw the state’s political maps. The question now is whether those maps -- and civility in the statehouse -- can survive. This week, we’ll walk you through what happened, and what’s next.

After months of preparation, hours of hearings and hundreds of pieces of public testimony, Oregon lawmakers finally convened this week to take up the very important job of redrawing political maps. And practically right away, things descended into chaos. OPB political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Sam Stites have been trying to make sense of it all.

The city of Portland made a national splash a few weeks ago when the city council announced it would be boycotting the entire state of Texas. But after the city made the headlines, the plan changed. This week, we run down the details of how the city’s confused response to Texas’s near-total ban on abortions. We’ll also touch on the redistricting fight state lawmakers are gearing up for.

Oregon’s battle over how to draw new political maps got real late last week, when Democrats and Republicans in Salem unveiled dueling redistricting plans. Now, it’s unclear whether they can find agreement before time runs out. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we look at the state’s redistricting fight, and how it could reshape Oregon politics.

Oregon schoolchildren are beginning to head back into the classroom. But with the delta variant exploding throughout Oregon, this school year is looking far different than what many students, parents and teachers had hoped. This week, we’ll take a look at the things complicating the return to in-person learning in Oregon, and offer our best notion of what the school year will look like.

After months of delay, the Census Bureau has finally released the detailed data that will help lawmakers create new political districts this year. Now, the interesting part begins. This week, we’ll explore what the census says about our changing state, and preview the fights that are sure to follow.

Since last year, calls for police reform have led to meaningful policy changes in Portland and other cities throughout the country. But less scrutiny has gone to a sector that often crops up when police aren’t around: Private security.

The official who handles harassment complaints among lawmakers in the state Capitol recently resigned in an explosive fashion. As he left, he lobbed serious allegations of dysfunction within the office. This week, we dive into the accusations and see how lawmakers are responding.

Critics of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler are collecting signatures to attempt to recall him. On this week's episode, OPB reporter Rebecca Ellis and Portland Mercury news editor Alex Zielinski talk with OPB editor Anna Griffin about the process for recalling a city official, the people behind the campaign and the chances it actually succeeds.

After fifteen months of COVID restrictions, Oregon is open again. But almost 2800 Oregonians have died, and our state will never be the same. We talk about the last year and a half, and the path forward, with Oregon Governor Kate Brown.

House Speaker Tina Kotek, a Portland Democrat, spoke to OPB about the legislative session and what comes next.

The Oregon Legislature has concluded an unprecedented session. Lawmakers passed legislation addressing the pandemic, wildfires, social equity issues and more. This week, we review the most significant bills passed by lawmakers -- and what they missed.

In this week’s episode, we discuss what lawmakers have accomplished in this year’s legislative session and what work remains with one week left in the session.

Nearly half a year after an Oregon lawmaker allowed a crowd of far right protesters to enter the capitol building, new evidence emerged showing that Polk County Republican Mike Nearman had explained to them days earlier how to breach the capitol. On this week’s OPB’s Politics Now, we unpack the latest and discuss what potential punishment awaits the lawmaker.

In this episode, we discuss two state lawmakers who have been accused of creating an unsafe work environment in the Oregon capitol. Two separate investigations have been launched. Lawmakers are reviewing the findings and considering possible punishments.

After a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd, Oregon leaders made ambitious promises to change the state’s criminal justice system and policing standards. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we examine whether leaders have delivered on those promises and how policing and racial justice have changed in the state.

On this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, editor Anna Griffin talks to reporters Dirk VanderHart and Sam Stites about Oregon's surprisingly rosy financial outlook. State economists had predicted big budget problems because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, lawmakers are looking at a fight over the state kicker rule and how to spend a surprisingly large amount of tax revenue.

Portland city hall saw a shakeup this week, when a controversial bureau head announced she was leaving. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we’ll look at the ongoing saga in the city’s civic life bureau.

While Oregon is still in the dramatic throes of a legislative session, our neighbors to the north are all finished with their work. In this episode, we talk through some of the highlights of Washington’s most memorable legislative session in years. And we’ll check in on Oregon’s session, where progress has been halting.

The new census numbers are in. And as expected, Oregon will receive a new congressional seat for the first time in 40 years. We talk about what the addition of the sixth seat could mean for the state’s political maps.

It was a big week at the Oregon Legislature with some familiar themes: yet another lawmaker was accused of sexual harassment, there were more cases of the coronavirus and House floor sessions were once again delayed.

In this special episode, we bring you a conversation from OPB’s “Think Out Loud” with Oregon Republican Senator Bill Hansell who is facing heat for not walking out to deny a vote on a Democratic measure to ban firearms in state buildings. OPB host Dave Miller talk with him about why -- in his words -- he chose to “stay and fight” rather than “run and hide.”

On this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart talk through the deal Oregon lawmakers reached this week. Democrats agreed to parity on a committee handling the redrawing of political lines in exchange for Republican willingness to stop slowing down the legislative process. It's a gamble for both parties.

On this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart, Rebecca Ellis and Jonathan Levinson dissect the city of Portland's new deal on gun violence prevention.

In this episode, we examine why the Oregon state Legislature seems to be in a state of perpetual dysfunction, while Washington’s legislature, by comparison, has somehow managed to look like a model of respectful bipartisanship.

Oregon House Republicans have been slowing legislative progress in that chamber down to a crawl. Early this week, House Republicans gave their first list of demands they wanted met, possibly kicking off negotiations. But by the afternoon, their list was an afterthought, pushed aside by a much more pressing matter: a COVID-19 exposure in the chamber.

Someone within the Portland Police Bureau is trying to smear Jo Ann Hardesty, and now city leaders say they’re investigating. In this episode, we look at the bitter relationship between a city commissioner and the city’s police force -- and the role the police union and a series of media leaks have played in making things even more tense.

Democrats kicked off a big housing push this week. We’ll talk about their plans for easing the state’s ongoing crisis, and how some controversial ideas to tamp down diesel emissions could generate backlash.

In this special episode, we hear from OPB reporter Rebecca Ellis about her report on longstanding issues at Portland’s Office of Community & Civic Life.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown says students need to go back to school this spring. On this special episode of OPB Politics Now, education editor Rob Manning breaks down the news with Think Out Loud host Dave Miller.

On this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Dirk VanderHart and Jonathan Levinson go deep on a number of gun control bills begin considered this session.

This week we are going to discuss what seems like a pretty major shakeup within the Oregon Republican party. Small town mayor Bill Currier is out as chair of the state GOP. Conservative State Sen. Dallas Heard - and a number of his senate colleagues - are in. What does this leadership swap say about where the state’s GOP is heading?

Three days before Representative Diego Hernandez’s colleagues were set to vote on his possible expulsion, he resigned.

On this week’s episode, political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake look at an unusual effort to unionize state legislative employees – what it says about the legislature and about the role public employee unions play in Oregon.

State Rep. Diego Hernandez is under fire, after a panel of lawmakers determined he created a hostile work environment for women in the Capitol. And the Legislature’s plans to redraw the state’s political map are in big trouble. We’ll talk about how they might save the process.

This week we discuss a split between Oregon Republican lawmakers - those who serve as elected officials in the state Capitol - and their own party.

On this week’s show, we look at the start of contract negotiations between the city of Portland and its rank and file police officers. The union contract is among the most important — and most contentious — steps in Portland’s ongoing effort to change the way police oversight is handled.

On this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, we look at the role a Republican state legislators played in a recent riot at the Oregon Capitol, the possible consequences and concerns about safety during the upcoming long session.

In this special bonus episode of OPB Politics Now, Crystal Ligori talks to U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden about his hopes for Joe Biden, how he thinks Donald Trump will be remembered and how the 2020 reckoning over racial justice changed his view of his own job.

In this special extra episode of OPB Politics Now, OPB political reporter Rebecca Ellis sits down with outgoing Commissioner Amanda Fritz for an exit interview. Fritz is retiring this year after 12 years on the Portland City Council.

In this special episode, we’re sharing an extended conversation with Portland City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, who is leaving office this week after one term in City Hall.

he Oregon legislature met in a special one-day session this week. On paper, it was a remarkably smooth day of lawmaking. But in person, it was scary and chaotic and said some worrisome things about what 2021 could bring. In this episode, we look at the COVID-19 relief coming for Oregonians. And the protests that could lead to security changes at the state Capitol.

The new year is coming, and with it a lot of potential pain for renters, landlords, business owners, and pretty much everyone. This week, we’ll look at the measures lawmakers are hoping to pass in an upcoming special session, and how they might help.

While the pandemic continues to batter Oregon, a moratorium on evictions expires at the end of this year if legislators don’t act. But Oregon Governor Kate Brown and state legislators haven’t yet settled on a plan.

Gov. Kate Brown just laid out her vision for Oregon’s next two year budget, but is it a rosier picture than the state can hope for in a pandemic? This week, we’ll look at the budget, plus an email spat in Portland City Hall and a tragic death in Salem.

We have another special episode for you. It’s a conversation with OPB’s Dave Miller and Khanh Pham

We’re taking a break this week, but we’re giving you a special episode from OPB’s Timber Wars.

In this episode, we discuss the possibility of a special session to deal with the ongoing pandemic and the battle for House speaker.

Oregon Democrats retained control of the both chambers of the state legislature on Election Day. But now they’re fighting over who should lead the state House. And this week, the man who runs elections for Oregon is out of job. But the precise reasons are cloudy.

The dust is still settling -- and the ballots are still being counted -- from Tuesday’s election. But we’ve learned a lot about how the specific results this week impact the broader picture of Oregon politics.

Democrats have taken back the state’s second highest office. Portland has a two-term mayor for the first time in a generation. And voters made a huge change in campaign finance laws. On the latest episode of OPB politics now, we break down Tuesday night’s results and what it means for the future of Oregon.

Four years ago, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump promised to kick start the timber industry, cut regulations for farmers and give more voice to rural parts of the Northwest. So … did he? On this episode, we look back on the Trump Administration and its impact on Oregon and Washington.

On this special election episode of OPB Politics Now, we look at the calculus of the Oregon legislature in this campaign cycle. Can Democrats add to their majorities -- and make the 2021 session walk out-proof? Or will Republicans make up some of the ground they've lost in recent years, and in turn stymie Gov. Kate Brown's efforts to leave a legacy?

The Portland metro area’s regionally elected government is asking voters to consider a measure that would fund roughly 150 transportation-focused programs and projects spanning the next 15 to 20 years. If passed, the measure would tax the payrolls of certain employers starting in 2022.

On this special election episode of OPB Politics Now, our campaign team looks at Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler's attempt to become the first two-term mayor in almost a generation. And they break down Commissioner Chloe Eudaly's fight to keep her seat.

On this special election preview episode of OPB Politics Now, our reporters break down the four statewide ballot measures on the November ballot. They include limits on campaign finance donations, higher taxes on cigarettes and two big changes in state drug policy.

On this special live episode of OPB Politics Now, our team of campaign reporters tell you everything you need to know to vote this year. From Olympia to Salem, from Congressional races to school bonds, we've got it covered.

On this special election preview episode of OPB Politics Now, we look at the two state senators running for Oregon's second-highest office, secretary of state. We also look at the campaigns for treasurer and attorney general.

In this special election preview episode, OPB reporters Rebecca Ellis and Jonathan Levinson explain Ballot Measure 26-217, which would change the process for overseeing the Portland Police Bureau.

As right wing demonstrators prepared to rally in Portland last month, dozens of police officers were deputized as federal officers. Now, the U.S. attorney has refused requests to reverse that distinction. This week, we look into the latest intergovernmental tussle over Portland protests, and one city official’s ideas for an overhaul of the police.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley faces Jo Rae Perkins in the race for Senate. On this special episode, OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes breaks down the two campaigns.

In this special election preview episode, OPB reporters Troy Brynelson, Jeff Mapes and Emily Cureton talk to host Tiffany Camhi about the region’s three hottest campaigns for U.S. House.

In this special election preview episode, OPB education reporter Elizabeth Miller and host Geoff Norcross break down two November ballot items: The Portland Public Schools $1.2 million bond measure and a Multnomah County tax levy that would provide free preschool for everyone.

We’re catching up on an assortment of Oregon politics this week. Governor Kate Brown announced she will veto budget bills -- but those vetoes might not be legal. And the Oregon Republican Party will appear in your voter pamphlet after all-- because nobody is quite sure what constitutes a deadline these days.

Three months after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, the U.S. is continuing to grapple with how to address police violence and systemic racism against Black Americans. For four Oregonians whose loved ones were killed by police, the past few months have been a time of processing grief, building community and coming up with strategies to end police violence. Joe Keller’s son Deontae Keller was killed by Portland police in 1996. Kayla Washington’s father Jason Washington was killed by Portland State University police in 2018. Donna Hayes’ grandson Quanice Hayes was killed by Portland police in 2017. Stephanie Babb’s brother Brian Babb was killed by Eugene police in 2015.

Oregon is dominated by Democrats, but Portland played an important role this week in the Republican National Convention. This week, we look at GOP efforts to make Portland a symbol in President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. And we’ll examine whether there are any benefits for Republicans hoping to eat away at Democratic majorities in Oregon.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler says he doesn’t see a clear path to ending the nightly violence between police and protesters that have capped daily demonstrations for racial equity for more than two months now. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, reporters Rebecca Ellis and Dirk VanderHart talk through Ellis’ recent interview with the mayor, in which he acknowledged that he hasn’t figured out how to balance the public’s right to protest with a need to stop a small subgroup of demonstrators from committing vandalism.

Oregon lawmakers finished a whirlwind legislative session on Monday. They worked 15 hours. They passed 11 bills. And they managed to close a $1.5 billion budget shortfall.

Portlanders have just a few more days to decide who they want to fill the City Council seat previously held by Commissioner Nick Fish, who died in January. This week, the candidates spoke to OPB Think Out Loud host Dave Miller about their stances on everything ranging from policing to the pandemic.

There’s a new sheriff in town when it comes to protecting the federal courthouse in downtown Portland. Gov. Kate Brown struck a deal with the Trump administration to remove federal officers whose presence has brought massive protests back downtown. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of that deal, and talk about what’s next.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler waded into the crowd of protesters fighting for racial justice this week -- and he got tear gassed by federal officers. But did that wash away his political problems?

This week, federal officials described Portland as a city under siege. Local leaders say the only occupying force is federal law enforcement. In this episode, we’re examining the ongoing fight over downtown protests -- and Portland’s emerging role as a political symbol for President Trump.

For a month and a half, protests over police abuse have led to clashes on Portland streets. And with no end to the demonstrations in sight, the debate over how police react is fiercer than ever. This week, we take a look at the protests, and the growing war of words they’ve created.

Oregon lawmakers met for an unusual special session last week focused on COVID-19 and racial justice. But there’s a lot they didn’t get done. This week, we look at what has and hasn’t changed in police accountability and the big questions still to come on Oregon’s coronavirus response.

Oregon legislators are going back to work next week for the first time since the pandemic began and protests against police became two of the biggest issues of our time. This week, we discuss what the governor and legislators want to accomplish at this special session.

Protests against racial injustice and police brutality are leading to big policy shifts around the country. Oregon’s Capital is no different. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we discuss the police accountability push that’s spurring quick action in Salem, and what challenges lie ahead.

After a wild few days, Sens. Shemia Fagan and Kim Thatcher have emerged as the Democatic and Republican candidates for secretary of state, Oregon’s second-highest office. On this week’s show, OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes, Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake break down their philosophical differences and the potential impact this campaign will on state audits, redistricting and future races for governor.

It’s a special post-election episode of OPB Politics Now, and we have election results to analyze -- or at least some of them.

regon’s primary election is just days away. This week, we discuss questionable claims on mailers, negative ads and strange trends in endorsements.

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden is retiring this year, giving up the only Congressional seat in Oregon held by a Republican. It’s a once-in-a-career opportunity for GOP politicians, and crowded ballot faces voters. OPB’s Emily Cureton and Jeff Mapes look at the leading candidates – and why Democrats are not all in – in this special election preview episode.

Ted Wheeler is trying to accomplish something no one in Portland has managed in almost a generation -- win a second term as mayor. He faces a crowded field of challengers -- most coming at Wheeler from the left -- and challenges from COVID-19. OPB’s Geoff Norcross, Rebecca Ellis and Dirk VanderHart break down this campaign in a special election preview.

Two candidates are vying to be Multnomah County district attorney. They bring similar backgrounds, but different approaches to the job. OPB's Conrad Wilson and Tiffany Camhi break down the race between Mike Schmidt and Ethan Knight in this special election preview episode.

The death of longtime Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish earlier this year created a void on the Portland City Council. But for the nearly 20 hopefuls who have tossed their hats into the ring to run for his seat -- it has presented an opportunity. OPB reporters Lauren Dake and Rebecca Ellis join Geoff Norcross now to preview this race.

In this episode, we lay out a ballot measure that Portland-area voters are considering in the upcoming primary election that is expected to generate about $250 million a year to help expand homeless services in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties.

Commissioner Chloe Eudaly stunned an incumbent four years ago to win her seat on the Portland City Council. Now she’s the one facing serious challengers, including former Portland Mayor Sam Adams. We preview the May 19 primary.

Secretary of state is the number two statewide office in Oregon. And it’s the only statewide office currently held by Republicans. We break down the crowded Democratic primary, and the far less-crowded GOP race.

It’s hard for unknown candidates to win elections in normal times. But how about when the only way to campaign is at a distance? This week, we talk about how coronavirus is changing politics as we head into Oregon’s May primary.

Oregonians are slowly growing used to social distancing, but there are some places where staying six feet from your neighbor isn’t possible. This week, we look at what Gov. Kate Brown and others are doing to stem an outbreak in the state’s prison system.

The Oregon legislature will not come back for a special session to deal with COVID-19 -- at least not yet. And despite coronavirus, the most controversial public works project in the state got a bright green light this week.

The coronavirus pandemic has upended life in the Pacific Northwest -- including campaign politics in Oregon. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we’ll look at how your May and November ballots are changing.

The coronavirus pandemic has Oregon leaders scrambling to help people who have lost their jobs. And they’re facing pressure to do more to help -- and help curb the spread.

Our reporters are busy covering COVID-19. In the meantime, please wash your hands!

The Oregon Legislature ended its 2020 session this week in a complete failure after Republicans walked out.

Oregon Republican legislators from both the House and Senate walked off the job this week in protest of a major climate bill.

The Oregon legislature crept closer to a vote on a controversial plan to fight climate change this week. And it crept closer to a Republican walkout. This week, we look at where things stand with cap and trade legislation -- and whether GOP lawmakers already have their bags packed.

Logging trucks circled the Oregon Capitol this week. They were the centerpiece of a big timber community protest against a major climate bill. This week, we look at the politics of timber and climate change.

Oregon Legislature’s new session starts Monday. And the threat of another Republican walkout looms large. We talk about what to look out for in the new session.

An already chaotic season in Portland city politics ratcheted way up recently when Sam Adams entered the fray. The former Portland mayor brings a deep bench of allies into the race -- and he’s got one of the city’s most liberal commissioners in his sights. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we talk about the upcoming political fight between Sam Adams and Chloe Eudaly.

This week, we talk about the AP Legislative Preview and what we can expect to see from lawmakers in the 2020 Oregon legislative session that begins February 3.

For the past year, OPB and the Northwest News Network have been documenting the rising death toll inside county jails across Oregon and Washington. In this special episode, Conrad Wilson and Austin Jenkins compile the best of their reporting and tell new stories that reveal who is dying in jail, why they’re dying and who is being held responsible.

This week brought two stunning changes to Oregon’s largest city. Police Chief Danielle Outlaw left for Philadelphia. And we reflect on Commissioner Nick Fish’s life and legacy. We examine these two seismic changes and explain what they mean for Portland politics going forward.

In this episode, we discuss the growing political fight over the plan to widen Interstate 5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter.

The race to replace U.S. Rep. Greg Walden get even more interesting this week as former gubernatorial candidate Knute Buehler joined what is proving to be a crowded Republican field. On this week's episode of "OPB Politics Now," political reporters Dirk VanderHart, Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake look at the dynamics of Walden's district, the potential field to replace him and whether Buehler has any damage to repair after his failed 2018 run for governor.

Historically, the tobacco industry has spent millions of dollars to protect itself from new regulations and tax increases. But now health care providers are pledging big money to a ballot measure that would raise the price of cigarettes in Oregon and impose the state’s first ever tax on vaping products. We look at what could be the most costly measure on your 2020 Oregon ballot.

Just five months ago, an unprecedented drama over climate change legislation shook the state Capitol. Now lawmakers are gearing up to meet again in three months — and the rush is on to avoid a similar outcome. And Oregon and Washington officials are once again in serious talks about a new Columbia River bridge on I-5. This time, they say they can get the job done.

The Portland region is headed for big fights over how it gets its water. And we’re also about to see much higher bills. This week, we dive deep into expensive problems facing Portland-area leaders — and the almost 1 million people who drink the city’s water.

Oregon’s only Republican in Congress announced he’s retiring next year. We break down Greg Walden’s announcement and talk about the battle in Washington over affirmative action.

In this special episode, we share a conversation from OPB's Think Out Loud that features four women of color who share their experiences in running for office in Oregon.

Governor Kate Brown’s job is safe for now. We can’t say the same for Ambassador Gordon Sondland. Ted Wheeler wants to be the mayor of Portland for four more years. And a bunch of people are applying to become Oregon’s next secretary of state.

Public employee unions have historically been one of the reasons Democrats enjoy a stranglehold on Oregon politics. But that might be changing. In this episode, we look at how a vote on state employee pensions is coming back to bite Democratic legislators.

National news was dominated by impeachment talk this week, but amid all the conversation about the Trump administration and Ukraine, there’s an Oregon angle. We’ll tell you how a Portland hotel owner found himself at the center of the fight.

The cannabis industry is booming in the Pacific Northwest -- and now state leaders and industry advocates want banks to get involved. Plus, there’s a move afoot to ask Oregon voters to decriminalize all drugs.

This week we discuss Governor Kate Brown’s proclaimed commitment to government transparency -- including in how she picks her judges. We also discuss a shakeup in House Republican leadership.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown promised to improve transparency when she was elected. But this week the state’s first-ever public records advocate quit. This week we talk about the state of transparency in Oregon and whether Brown has been a help or hindrance to transparency in the state.

It’s Labor Day weekend, otherwise known as the ceremonial start of the upcoming campaign year. We give you a rundown of what to watch for as the state and local campaigns heat up.

Governor Kate Brown can't seek reelection again, yet her future was the big question in Oregon politics this week. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Dirk VanderHart and Jeff Mapes explore her recent big fundraising push and the dueling campaigns to recall her from office.

This week, OPB politics reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart and Jeff Mapes discuss some of the repercussions we’re already seeing from the 2019 legislative session.

the recent horrific mass shootings have once again prompted the gun control debate to take center stage. This week, we localize the national conversation around gun control and talk about what has - or hasn’t happened - in Oregon.

We’re taking a break at OPB Politics Now to recover from the 2019 Oregon legislature and prepare for the 2020 campaign cycle. While we’re off, here’s a special look at season 2 of Bundyville, a podcast from OPB and Longreads that chronicles the rise of the so-called patriot moving and how extreme rhetoric is going mainstream. In this episode, freelance journalist Leah Sottile looks at Washington Rep. Matt Shea and his push for a 51st state — a place governed by biblical law and made up of white people.

We’re taking some time off to recover from the legislative session, but in the meantime here’s a spirited conversation from our friends at Think Out Loud about the future of Oregon’s efforts to fight climate change. They talked to Senators Michael Dembrow, a Democrat, and Cliff Bentz, a Republican.

Once again, protests in downtown Portland have ended in brawls between the far left and far right. And once again, Portland leaders face criticism for their inability to prevent violence. This week, we look at what police can and can’t do -- and why ending the fighting is so politically difficult.

OPB’s Dave Miller spoke to Oregon Governor Kate Brown in this special episode of OPB Politics Now.

The Oregon legislature finished its work this weekend with a flurry of votes. And despite the nine-day Republican walkout, Democrats left Salem with a lot of what they wanted. On a special episode of OPB Politics Now, OPB reporters Jeff Mapes, Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart break down the 2019 session and look at how it will change life for Oregonians.

After skipping work for nine days, the 11 Senate Republicans are coming back to town. Victorious.

Senate President Peter Courtney is vowing to fine Republican senators who walked off the job. And he’s getting Governor Kate Brown’s help to send out the state police to round up the errant lawmakers. And one Republican senator warned that the state police better send bachelors because he won’t be taken into custody.

Oregon leaders are poised to take a crack at fighting climate change with legislators on the verge of passing a landmark cap-and-trade bill that aims to significantly curb the state’s carbons emissions. But can it work? And will it even pass? OPB reporters Jeff Mapes, Dirk Vanderhart and Cassandra Profita look at the potential impact of this sweeping legislation on our latest episode of OPB Politics Now.

The Oregon legislature is headed into its final weeks, and there is too much happening to fit into one podcast. So we’re doing things a little differently. It’s legislative pop quiz time.

This week at the Oregon legislature, lawmakers started work on campaign finance limits that don’t go quite as far as you might expect. And they mourned one of their own. We look at how much those campaign finance changes might change elections and examine Senator Jackie Winters’ life and legacy.

Portland’s city council just passed its yearly budget, and things got ugly. This week, we unpack the budget, and how it’s setting the stage for a very unpleasant 2020 campaign season in Oregon’s largest city.

Bills on vaccines and guns are out. Landmark school funding is in, and this year’s Legislative session shows no sign of slowing down. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we hash out a hectic week in Salem, and why you might, or might not, have some money coming your way.

Republican members of the Oregon Senate walked off the job this week to prevent a vote on a $2-billion tax plan for public schools. In the latest edition of the OPB Politics Now podcast, political reporters Jeff Mapes, Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake explain what’s behind their walkout and what they hope to accomplish.

The Oregon House this week approved billions of dollars in new business taxes that would help fund education in the state. We explain how it would work in this week’s episode.

On this week’s “OPB Politics Now,” OPB News Editor Anna Griffin talks to OPB healthcare reporter Kristian Foden-Vencil and OPB political reporter Dirk VanderHart about the politics of vaccines and a bill in the legislature that would eliminate mon-medical exemptions to vaccines.

On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we’re talking about the intersection of politics and criminal justice — including how Oregon should treat young offenders who are convicted of committing the most extreme crimes.

The 2019 Legislative session is already halfway through, and Oregon lawmakers still have an insane amount of work to do. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we take the temperature of this very ambitious session. And we run down the Governor’s brand new plan for tackling Oregon’s pension problems.

Security in the state Capitol was extra tight this week as lawmakers considered whether to expand the state’s gun control laws. And we have a new Secretary of State. Now four of five statewide offices in Oregon are held by women for the first time in the state’s history. We’ll bring you all the details on this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now.

Oregon lawmakers were busy in Salem again this week. We’ll talk cap and trade and the Columbia River Crossing. Plus, we’ll discuss how lawmakers are trying to address the use of so-called dark money.

OPB has spent months digging deep on how Oregon handles its most vulnerable children. In this episode, we take a closer look at what’s plaguing the state’s child welfare system.

Portland is changing—and it’s fighting about how it changes every step of the way. We look at the debates over new housing and congested highways that are sweeping over the Rose City. And we’ll talk about why they might be coming to other parts of Oregon.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee is out on the presidential campaign trail. But Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley has decided it’s not in the cards for him. We explain what’s up with these two prominent Northwest Democrats in our latest edition of OPB Politics Now.

It’s been an intense week in the Capitol. Oregon became the first in the nation to pass statewide rent control. Senate President Peter Courtney has found himself under increasing pressure over how he handles sexual harassment. And Oregon’s Secretary of State Dennis Richardson died. I’m Lauren Dake. In this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we will catch up on what’s been happening in your statehouse.

The Oregon Republican Party is struggling with irrelevancy. There’s only one Republican in statewide office, and only one in the state congressional delegation. Can this party be saved? We look at the past and the potential future of the GOP in the age of Donald Trump and Democratic dominance on the West Coast.

The Oregon Republican Party is struggling with irrelevancy. There’s only one Republican in statewide office, and only one in the state congressional delegation. Can this party be saved? We look at the past and the potential future of the GOP in the age of Donald Trump and Democratic dominance on the West Coast.

The Portland City Council reconsidered its relationship with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force this week. But is this really the best form of government for making these kinds of decisions? An influential advocacy group says no.

For years, it’s been up to cities to solve their own housing problems. But Oregon’s housing crisis is now a statewide issue, and legislative leaders are rushing to respond. Two bills being considered in this year’s Legislative session would mean huge changes in how cities and towns handle the lack of affordable housing and rising rents.

The Oregon legislature is back at work, and they’re considering two big changes to help the environment. This week, we talk cap and trade and plastic straws, plus take a look at ways to make the Pacific Northwest more relevant in the 2020 presidential race.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown is pushing legislators to adopt new limits on big money in state campaigns. We explain what she’s up to, and the big hurdles standing in her way in this episode.

The Oregon Legislature takes up a jam-packed agenda when it gets underway next week. We’ll give you a quick rundown of the major issues.

It’s a new era at Portland City Hall as Commissioner Jo An Hardesty replaces Dan Saltzman, one of the longest-serving city officials ever. We’ll look at what this big change says about Portland politics. And we’ll examine the aftermath of the Oregon labor department’s scathing report on work conditions at the state legislature.

In June, Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson announced he had brain cancer. In this week’s OPB Politics Now, we’ll discuss the delicate balance between a person’s right to privacy and the public’s right to know how an elected official is doing.

Legislators in Oregon and Washington promise to clean up their act next year when it comes to combating sexual harassment in their own ranks. In this episode, we look at what’s changing and whether it will really make a difference.

We take a look at the political ramification of three works in progress: The push to toll several roads in the Portland region, the pursuit of Major League Baseball for Oregon and the Bureau of Labor and Industries’ investigation of sexual harassment at the state Legislature.

The economy is buzzing. Unemployment rates are low. Yet, the state of Oregon is facing a budget shortfall. In this week’s OPB Politics Now, we dig into the governor’s $23.6 billion budget proposal and discuss how a tax hike could be in Oregonian’s future.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler had perhaps the worst week of his tenure. First, his colleagues on the Portland City Council refused to give him more power over where and when political protests can be held. Then, after a forum on homelessness, he was heard muttering a suggestion that he may not want another term in office. Is the problem this particular mayor or Portland’s unique form of government? We dissect Wheeler’s very bad week and the city’s legacy of one-term mayors.

Next year, Oregon lawmakers plan to take up gun control and climate change. And coincidentally, Washington voters just considered the same issues. We’ll look at the Evergreen State’s recent fights over guns and carbon, and what they can tell us about Oregon’s future.

It’s Finally Election Day, And We Have Winners — And Losers. In this special late-night edition of OPB Politics Now, our team of reporters breaks down the results in the Oregon governor’s race, Portland City Council and state and local ballot measures and talk about what it means for the 2019 Legislature and beyond.

We’ve talked a lot about national politics this year, but local races matter too. Oregon voters are deciding whether Democrats will take back a supermajority -- and face an easier path to raising taxes -- in the state legislature. And in 10 counties, they’re considering whether to give sheriffs more power when it comes to the second amendment.

This year’s campaign for Oregon governor is the most expensive in state history. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we compare Governor Kate Brown and Republican challenger Knute Buehler on the issues— and look at what they both need to do to win.

Oregon voters face big decisions this election on abortion, immigration and tax policy. In this special episode, OPB reporters explain the history and ramifications of four measures on the Nov. 6 ballot. Measures 103 and 104 have to do with tax policy – should grocery taxes be banned and should it be harder for legislators to raise revenue. Measure 105 would overturn the state’s 30-year-old sanctuary state law, which limits how much local police can aid federal immigration enforcement. Measure 106 would bar public money from being used to pay for abortion, essentially barring women using Oregon’s version of Medicaid and many government workers from paying for abortions with their health insurance.

Ballots have hit the mail in Oregon. On this live episode of OPB Politics Now, the team breaks down the big issues on Oregon and Southwest Washington ballots, including all five statewide Oregon measures, the governor’s race, Congressional races in Washington and Southern Oregon and the Portland City Council race. No matter your politics, this wide-ranging conversation between OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and political reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart will help you figure out your ballot. News director Anna Griffin hosts.

Democrats are trying to take back control of the US House. Two of the Republican incumbents they’re targeting are in the Pacific Northwest. We discuss hot Congressional races in Southwest Washington and Southern Oregon.

Hear from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kate Brown in this special episode of OPB Politics now.

Hear from Republican gubernatorial candidate Knute Buehler in this special episode of OPB Politics now.

Hear from Independent gubernatorial candidate Patrick Starnes in this special episode of OPB Politics now.

We discuss the historic runoff election for the open Portland City Council seat.

Oregon voters have two tax measures to consider when ballots arrive later this month. One would ban taxes on groceries. Another would make it harder for legislators to raise revenue.

Oregon is a consistently liberal state. Yet conservative activists have succeeded in putting measures on the November ballot that would change state law on abortion and immigration. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, OPB news director Anna Griffin, senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and reporters Dirk VanderHart and Conrad Wilson break down Measures 105 and 106.

Portland City Council candidate JoAnn Hardesty is facing some big questions about her financial past. We’ll discuss that, along with the ins and outs of a regional housing measure and a proposed Portland clean energy tax.

The west coast has been ravaged by wildfires. And it turns out the way we have been fighting fires for the last century has been wrong.

Recent history has shown that star power can help you get elected to public office. But can it work when the office you want is county commissioner? And, do sports fans care which party Paul Allen and Phil Knight support with the money they spend on tickets, t-shirts and shoes?

Southwest Washington’s teachers are on strike, and almost half of Oregon’s sheriff’s despise one of the country’s oldest sanctuary laws.

A US House candidate’s entire campaign staff resigns. A state House candidate ignores calls from his own party to step aside. And the president of the United States berates the mayor of Portland.

On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, deep-dive conversations with the Republican and Democratic candidates for Oregon governor about their lives beyond politics.

On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, deep-dive conversations with the Republican and Democratic candidates for Oregon governor about their lives beyond politics.

The big political news this week was north of the Columbia River as Washington voters held their primary. It suddenly became very clear that we could have three very close congressional races in the Evergreen State.

In the last year, allegations of sexual harassment have rocked the Oregon Legislature. Now there’s new controversy. Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian has accused legislative leaders of permitting a culture that downplays harassment, and overlooks victims. We explain the complaint—and its political implications.

It’s a new world for the powerful public employee unions in Oregon now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled states can’t require public employees to pay dues to unions that represent them in the workplace. The fight over the future of Oregon unions has already begun.

No issue has plagued Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler like homelessness. Now, a new analysis of police arrests has both activists and the city’s police union lobbing fresh criticism at the mayor. I’m Dirk VanderHart. In this week’s Politics Now Podcast, we’ll explain the outcry, and try to figure out what it means for Wheeler’s political future.

In Central Oregon, accusations of harassment against one candidate could sink Democratic hopes of a supermajority in the Oregon House. And in the suburbs of Portland, the lone African American woman in the state house goes canvassing for votes -- and gets a visit from police.

Between Supreme Court decisions in Washington D-C and ballot measures in Salem, this was a tough week for progressives and a good one for conservatives in the Pacific Northwest.

Oregon’s attorney general is joining yet another lawsuit against the Trump Administration, this time over the family separation policy.We’ll look what happens politically when a Democratic-led state government becomes parts of the resistance and the potential disaster the immigration controversy presents for Oregon Republicans.

Of all the ballot fights Oregonians could expect later this year, abortion may be the most surprising. Hyper blue Oregon has repeatedly shot down new restrictions on abortion over the years. But now, a conservative group is hoping to call the question again. On this week’s episode, we’ll look at what that fight’s all about—and what it might mean for one candidate for governor.

When it comes to presidential politics, Oregon and Washington aren’t exactly battleground states. This week, we’ll discuss some Pacific Northwesterners who seem to be positioning themselves for a run at the White House.

It was a big week for tax news in Oregon. This week, we bring you inside the special session on a business tax break. And we talk about why Oregon income taxpayers might be getting another one of those “kicker” tax rebates.

Pundits are calling this the year of the woman in politics. But in Oregon, this demographic shift has been years in the making. On this week’s episode of OPB politics now, we examine the changing demographics of state politics and whether more diversity makes a difference in policy.

On this special edition of OPB Politics Now, news director Anna Griffin and senior political reporter Jeff Mapes walk through the May primary results and the general election to come.

Oregon’s primary election is days away, and candidates are making their final frantic pleas to voters. And in some races, that’s taking a negative turn. In this week’s Politics Now podcast, we look at some of the state’s most-heated contests. We’ll also preview a controversial special legislative session being called by Governor Kate Brown.

The primary election is a week and a half away, and some of Oregon’s most fascinating races are happening on the local level. Will Portland elect its first woman of color to city council? Who’s poised to round out Multnomah County’s commission? And what’s all this national money doing in a race for district attorney? This week’s podcast explores these topics and more.

Ballots for the May 15th primary are arriving, and and we’ve got you covered on the latest OPB Politics Now podcast. OPB political reporters talk about some of the key legislative races and the statewide contest for Oregon labor commissioner. Subscribe to OPB Politics Now in Apple Podcasts, the NPR One app, or at OPB-dot-ORG

State Representative Knute Buehler has been crowned the likely GOP front-runner for governor and he has virtually ignored the Republican primary. His opponents say he’s not conservative enough for Oregon. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we’ll take a look at the Republican primary and what a November matchup between Buehler and Governor Kate Brown could look like.

Sometimes the structure of government voters choose is just as important as who they elect. We’ll look at why Bend may get a stronger mayor, Eugene voters have two different auditor measures to consider and Portland’s form of government remains … strange.

Multnomah County leaders thought they finally had to deal to sell off the Wapato Jail. But when it comes to this particular large government white elephant, things are never easy. OPB News Director Anna Griffin and OPB reporters Dir Vanderhart and Amelia Templeton unravel the roiling ball of snakes that is Wapato.

Students and an interfaith group are launching a last-minute attempt to get a measure on the Oregon ballot to ban military-style guns. OPB reporters Jeff Mapes and Dirk VanderHart and Claire Withycombe, state capitol reporter for The East Oregonian and Pamplin Media, dissect the initiative and tell us what other measures are being circulated for signatures right now.

On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we’ll wrap up the 2018 legislative session and examine the state of the Oregon Republican Party going into primary season.

Oregon lawmakers are rushing toward adjourning the 2018 session, so we’re taking a last-minute look at the prospects for several of the major bills still in the pipeline. Jeff Mapes, OPB’s senior political reporter, talks with OPB politics reporter Lauren Dake and Paris Achen, capital correspondent for the Portland Tribune.

The mass shooting in Florida has reignited the debate over gun control. Washington and Oregon are solidly blue states. But guns are one issue where Democratic lawmakers have struggled to build consensus. On this week’s OPB Politics Now podcast, OPB News Director Anna Griffin talks to OPB political reporter Lauren Dake and Olympia reporter Austin Jenkins about the politics of guns in the northwest.

The Oregon House this week passed a resolution that would ask voters to create a constitutional right providing “access to effective, medically appropriate and affordable health care.” As the resolution heads to the Senate, OPB Politics Now looks at both the policy and the politics of the “health care for all” measure. Kristian Foden-Vencil, who covers health care for OPB, and Jeff Mapes, OPB’s senior political reporter, grapple with an issue that could be headed for the November ballot.

This week on "OPB Politics Now," we’ll discuss the policies both Oregon and Washington are considering to tackle climate change at the state level. OPB political reporter Lauren Dake talks with Cassandra Profita, an EarthFix reporter for OPB; Austin Jenkins, Olympia correspondent for the Northwest News Network; and Jeff Mapes, OPB’s senior political reporter.

Oregon legislators will be starting their short session that they hold in even years. We talk about what’s on the agenda in the latest episode of OPB Politics Now.

Oregon voters have overwhelmingly approved a package of health care taxes to ensure low-income Oregonians will keep their health coverage. We discuss the aftermath of the $320 million referendum that will tax hospitals and certain health insurers. Who wins, who loses and what’s the future of health care -- and health care politics -- in Oregon?

Since Donald Trump’s presidential victory, Oregon’s lone Republican congressman, Greg Walden, has enjoyed a higher profile and more power. But with more influence comes extra scrutiny. OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake, along with Central Oregon reporter Amanda Peacher discuss Walden’s tenure representing the state’s 2nd Congressional District with Trump in the Oval Office.

Oregon voters will decide on Jan. 23 whether or not to approve up to $320 million in hospital and insurance taxes to help pay for the state’s share of Medicaid. The system funded by both federal and state dollars covers more than a million Oregonians. We explain how the taxes help pay for Medicaid and what supporters and opponents are saying. And we explore what the Legislature will do when it meets in February if voters reject Measure 101. Host Anna Griffin is joined by OPB political reporters Lauren Dake and Jeff Mapes and by Courtney Sherwood, editor-in-chief of The Lund Report.

There are many questions facing Oregonians in 2018. Who will be Oregon’s next governor? Should any Congressional representatives worry about midterm elections? Will Oregon highways get tolls? We look into the big political stories of 2018 with OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake, and news director Anna Griffin. Geoff Norcross hosts.

Please fill out our survey and tell us what you want to hear in 2018: http://opb.org/politicsnowVera Katz was small in stature, but she had a big influence on Oregon politics. She was elected to three terms as Portland’s mayor and was the first woman to serve as speaker of the Oregon House. She died earlier this month at the age of 84 after a long battle with cancer.We talked a bit about Katz and her political legacy on a recent episode, but this is a woman who did so much that it’s hard to capture in one conversation. So today, we’re bringing you a more in-depth look at Vera Katz.

The deadly crash of Amtrak train 501 near Tacoma Monday is drawing new scrutiny of passenger rail funding and oversight. Communities have been voicing concerns about the rerouting of the Cascades line for years, and Congressional efforts to make train travel safer haven’t materialized yet. Geoff Norcross is joined by OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake, and Seattle Times transportation reporter Mike Lindblom. We’ll also discuss the $1.5 trillion tax bill, and how it will be felt in Oregon.

Vera Katz passed away this week at age 84. She served three terms as Portland mayor, which has become a rare accomplishment.Every mayor since has only served one term. She was also the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House in the Oregon Legislature.We look back on Katz’s legacy in both roles.We also dive into Columbia Sportswear’s role in the Portland homelessness debate.Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB news director Anna Griffin and senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, and Dirk VanderHart of the Portland Mercury.

President Trump ordered the shrinking of two national monuments in Utah this week. Attention immediately shifted to the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, which Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says should also be smaller. We talk through the politics of these moves, and get into Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's actions on the thorny issues of the state budget and PERS. Short answer: task forces!

Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson has just released an audit that shows the Oregon Health Authority misspent millions in taxpayer dollars. OHA oversees medical coverage for more than a quarter of all Oregonians and, according to the audit, the agency has failed to enact rigorous financial controls and properly determine who is eligible for coverage. But the audit also says Oregon isn’t alone in struggling to run the complex program – and supporters say it has done an heroic job of bringing coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income Oregonians.OPB political reporters Lauren Dake and Jeff Mapes join OPB news editor Anna Griffin to discuss the ups and downs of one of the biggest agencies in state government – and the impact the audit will have on the governor’s race and the health-care tax vote that will go before Oregonians in January.

We’re bringing you a conversation with an Oregon political figure that you might have missed when it originally aired. Secretary of State Dennis Richardson opened up to OPB host Kate Davidson as part of her “backstory” series, where she explores the pivotal experiences that shape the views of people in the public eye.

Oregon State Senator Jeff Kruse faces explosive new allegations of sexual misconduct. Former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber has agreed to pay a $1,000 fine for ethics violations surrounding his resignation from office nearly three years ago. And Portland City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly is engaged in an unusual Facebook feud with the local news media.OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake, OPB news editor Anna Griffin, and Laura Gunderson, editorial page editor for the Oregonian/OregonLive discuss these three very different stories of Oregon politicians in the news this week

In Oregon, voters said "yes" to money for Portland Community College and "no" to a major structural change in Douglas County government. Washington voters elected a candidate to the Port of Vancouver board that likely spells the end of the proposed oil terminal there. And a key legislative race in Washington solidified the "blue wall" of Democratic control up and down the west coast. Host Julie Sabatier is joined OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake, and Jefferson Public Radio reporter April Ehrlich to wrap up the 2017 special election.

The November 7 special election will decide the balance of power in the Washington Legislature. It will also determine if Portland Community College gets $185 million for expansion. We talk about the important issues before voters on both sides of the Columbia. Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake, and OPB’s SW Washington reporter Molly Solomon.

The current nationwide discussion about sexual harassment that started with allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has spread far and wide, including to the Oregon Capital. State Senator Sara Gelser accused fellow senator Jeff Kruse of touching her inappropriately. A second unnamed senator made a similar accusation, and Sen. Kruse was stripped of his committee assignments. We'll talk about the allegations, and more broadly about the culture of harassment in Salem. Host Julie Sabatier is joined by OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake, and Gordon Friedman, politics reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive.

This November, Douglas County voters will be asked to approve a Home Rule charter. It would dramatically change how the county is governed. The county commission would expand from three to five members, and a county manager position would be created for the day-to-day running of the county. Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman, and Jefferson Public Radio’s April Ehrlich about the nitty-gritty of the charter, and what lessons it might have for local governments around the state.

A proposed I-5 expansion through the Rose Quarter has become about MUCH more than a few more highway lanes. It touches on racism, privilege, Portland’s relationship with the state and how leaders envision the city.We talk about where the battle lines are being drawn and dig into the history of Portland's difficult relationship with freeway projects. Host Julie Sabatier talks to OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Portland Mercury news editor Dirk VanderHart.

Oregonians might have the opportunity to vote on a controversial new tax that’s designed to prop up the state’s Medicaid program. But they won’t get to weigh in on a new law that allows the confiscation of guns belonging to certain people deemed an extreme risk to themselves or others. This time, we dig into the ballot referendum process in Oregon and how it could affect two of the most divisive issues of our time. OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, and Oregonian/OregonLive editorial pages editor Laura Gunderson join host Geoff Norcross.

Analysts predicted Oregon would lose more than any other state if the latest attempt to roll back the Affordable Care Act was enacted. It won’t be, though. The bill known was Graham-Cassidy was shelved after failing to earn enough support from Senate Republicans. We look at what Oregon stands to lose if this isn’t the last hurrah for the repeal effort. We’ll also get a status update on the effort to repeal a new state tax on health care providers. Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, and Courtney Sherwood, editor-in-chief of The Lund Report.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions visited Portland this week, and railed against Oregon’s law that prohibits state law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal immigration agents. He said these policies, “…have serious consequences for the law-abiding residents of Oregon.” At the same time, groups are gathering signatures for a ballot measure to repeal that state law. Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, and Dirk Vanderhart, editor for the Portland Mercury.

Commissioner Dan Saltzman sent ripples through Portland city government when he announced he would not run next year. His replacement could be a woman of color, which would be a first for the council. Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB reporters Jeff Mapes and Amelia Templeton about the how the race is shaping up. We’ll also analyze Mayor Ted Wheeler’s response to a video that appears to show a police officer lobbing a distraction grenade at demonstrators last weekend.

Wildfires have scorched over 800 square miles in Oregon this year. Our lawmakers are trying to get more federal money to help the firefighting effort. Hurricanes have focused the federal government on disaster relief and that could mean big changes in the way fire funding works. OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman join host Julie Sabatier to talk about the political, financial, and environmental complexities of wildfire.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown is under pressure to reduce the state’s liability for the public pension system. This week, the governor's task force on the pension deficit put forth several ideas for how to do that. Many of those ideas would end up costing all Oregonians. Not surprisingly, Republican lawmakers pounced.Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman about some of the options on the table. We’ll also answer some basic questions about PERS, like how it got to be such a money pit in the first place.

Oregon’s unique “kicker” law means taxpayers will get $464 million in rebates next year. The news comes shortly after a legislative session that worked to close a $1.4 million spending gap. Yep, it’s a weird way to manage the state’s money.OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman join host Julie Sabatier to answer your questions about the kicker, such as where it came from and why it’s so hard to change.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight gave GOP candidate for Oregon governor Knute Buehler’s campaign $500,000 this week. Even with that huge cash infusion, Buehler has way less money on hand than incumbent Kate Brown, who hasn’t even declared she’s running yet.Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes about the big money that’s already flowing into the gubernatorial race. We’ll also hear what Governor Brown vetoed and what she signed this week.

You may think of August as a slow month for political news, but some of Oregon’s 2018 races are already heating up. OPB’s senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and news director Anna Griffin join host Julie Sabatier to talk about political gamesmanship in the race for governor, a state senator who is facing two interesting challengers and a former lawmaker who’s taking on a longtime Portland City Commissioner.

There’s a lot going on in the Portland Police Bureau these days. There’s the search for a permanent chief. The mayor has also proposed a new model for community oversight, which is attracting criticism.This time, we’re listening to a couple of recent conversation’s on OPB’s "Think Out Loud." Host Dave Miller spoke with Mayor Ted Wheeler and T. Allen Bethel, president of the Albina Ministerial Alliance.

This week, the Washington Post posted an interview with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, who is an anomaly these days: a woman governor leading a state with a Democratic majority in the statehouse. Only Rhode Island can make the same claim.Host Geoff Norcross and OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes talk with Washington Post reporter Amber Phillips about her piece on Gov. Brown, and why East Coast journalists view Oregon as the center of resistance to President Trump and his policies. We also talk with Oregonian/OregonLive political reporter Hillary Borrud about accusations of sexism in state politics.

We’re taking advantage of a slow week in Oregon politics to bring you a recent conversation with Oregon Governor Kate Brown on OPB’s "Think Out Loud."Host Dave Miller sat down with Brown after the legislative session ended in Salem to take stock of her agenda and look ahead to 2018. We’re back next week with a brand new episode.

Now that Oregon lawmakers are finished with passing bills for a while, they have time to consider their next moves. We dig into the election maneuvering now taking wing. We’ll talk about which politicos might file for which offices and look ahead to the next statewide ballot, which could be stuffed with measures for you to vote on. This week, host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, and Saul Hubbard, who covers politics for the Register-Guard.

The 2017 Oregon legislative session is finally over! On this special episode, we talk about what passed, what didn’t, and where all of that leaves Oregon politics. OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Oregonian/Oregonlive reporter Hillary Borrud join host Julie Sabatier.

***As of our taping Friday morning, the Oregon Legislature is still in session. Look for a special episode Monday, July 10 recapping the highlights once the session wraps up.*** While Congress continues to negotiate rolling back the Affordable Care Act, Oregon lawmakers are going the other way. Both chambers approved controversial bills. One would extend health insurance to children who are in the country illegally. Another would require insurance companies to cover reproductive care, including abortions.We talk about why Oregon lawmakers are so willing to counter the federal government on such hot-button issues. Host Geoff Norcross is joined by OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and news director Anna Griffin.

Oregon lawmakers are making their way to the end of the session in fits and starts. They have to wrap up by July 10, and billions of dollars in transportation funding still hangs in the balance. What will it take to dedicate money to Oregon’s roads and bridges? Why is it so hard for lawmakers to agree on something that both sides say should be a top priority? OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Register-Guard reporter Saul Hubbard attempt to answer these and other questions, including some listener mail! Julie Sabatier hosts.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced she and her fellow Democrats are abandoning efforts to increase corporate tax revenue. As a deadline looms to close a $1.4 billion budget gap, Brown and lawmakers are instead focusing their efforts on a healthcare provider tax and spending cuts. Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman about the failed effort to reform corporate taxes. They’ll also have an update on the $8 billion transportation package, and Oregon Ethics Commission review of former Gov. John Kitzhaber and his fiancée, former First Lady Cylvia Hayes.

Former Governor John Kitzhaber was a giant of Oregon politics until he resigned amidst an influence-peddling scandal in 2015. Two years later, the federal investigation into Kitzhaber and his fiancée Cylvia Hayes has concluded with no criminal charges. Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Willamette Week reporter Nigel Jaquiss, who broke the original story about allegations Kitzhaber and Hayes used government resources to generate more than $200,000 in contracts for Hayes’s private consulting business.

Wyden and Merkley made national news this week, albeit for different reasons. During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Ron Wyden got into an exchange with Attorney General Jeff Sessions that was called “testy” and “heated.” As for Jeff Merkley, CNN wrote a story suggesting Oregon’s junior senator could be a strong contender in the presidential primary in 2020.This week, OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and host Geoff Norcross talk about how the senators are performing in the national spotlight. We also hear from OPB reporter Conrad Wilson about a Supreme Court hearing for Marion County Judge Vance Day, who could be removed from the bench.

On the latest episode of "OPB Politics Now," we discuss Oregon lawmaker's proposals for closing the state's $1.4 billion budget shortfall. Democratic leaders announced a corporate tax plan that would raise nearly $900 million over the next two years. They also have a proposal to shift some of the burden of Oregon’s pension plan to its recipients. Geoff Norcross talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Hillary Borrud, political reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive. And we get the highlights from political scientist Paul Gronke's survey findings about the affect of the state’s Motor Voter law on the the turnout and diversity of the Oregon electorate.

On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we talk about the political aftermath of the recent attack on a MAX train that left two men dead and one seriously injured. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s response brought up some serious questions about free speech vs hate speech. And two competing political rallies are planned for this weekend.

This week, the Portland Water Bureau and the Washington Legislature were told to stop lollygagging on critical issues. The Oregon Health Authority ordered the City of Portland to treat its water for cryptosporidium, which it has refused to do for over a decade. And Washington Governor Jay Inslee called lawmakers back to Olympia for another special session to fix its infamous school funding problem.Host Geoff Norcross and OPB news director Anna Griffin will talk with Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins and Portland Mercury reporter Dirk Vanderhart.

Depending on their party, lawmakers saw very different things in the quarterly economic and revenue forecast that came out this week. Either we have a broken tax system or more tax revenue than the state has ever seen. Can it be both? Meanwhile, voters just passed the largest school bond measure in Oregon history. It means $790 million to upgrades for four Portland schools and getting lead out of the drinking water. Voters in the Bend-La Pine district also passed a measure to finance 159 projects in the district. But smaller districts weren't so lucky. This week, host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB news director Anna Griffin, education reporter Rob Manning, and Gordon Friedman, political reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Oregon lawmakers unveiled an $8.2 billion transportation package, which will widen highways and shore up bridges. The money will come from a combination of gas and sales taxes, and maybe even tolls. We’ll dig into the details of the proposal. We’ll also hear why the state Land Board changed its mind and voted not to sell the Elliott State Forest. Plus we find out what flavor is in the running to become the official state pie. Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, Oregonian reporter Anna Marum, and EarthFix reporter Cassandra Profita.

This week, the U.S. House took up a replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act, a protest in Portland got violent, and the Oregon Legislature released a corporate tax proposal. Sound familiar?Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB news director Anna Griffin and senior political reporter Jeff Mapes about these recurring themes in the news, and what's different this time.

Voters across Oregon will decide whether to devote millions to new school construction this May. At the same time, the Legislature is trying to come up with school funding for the next two years. We talk to OPB education reporter Rob Manning about a proposed $790 million construction bond in the Portland Public School district. Senior political reporter Jeff Mapes also updates us on the budget negotiations in Salem. Geoff Norcross hosts.

Now that we’re about halfway through this legislative session, OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman join host Julie Sabatier to talk about which bills are dead and which ones are moving forward. And how budget negotiations heated up this week.

Oregon’s only Republican member of Congress is holding six town hall meetings in his district this month, and boy do his constituents have a lot to say! This time, host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Bend reporter Amanda Peacher about the raucous reception Rep. Greg Walden has gotten so far, and what it might mean for his reelection bid next year.

With Tax Day approaching, we dig into tax reform efforts at the national, state and local levels. OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes brings us input from former Oregon Sen. Bob Packwood on the joys and pitfalls of overhauling the federal tax code. We’ll also talk with Oregonian reporter Anna Marum about the big fight brewing over a proposed state tax on corporations. And Multnomah County government wants to protect us all from the dangers of sugary drinks the only way it knows how... with taxes of course! Julie Sabatier hosts.

We bring you a wide-ranging interview with Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney from OPB's Think Out Loud. As you'll discover right away, he's not only a fixture in Oregon politics — he's a real character.

Oregon’s leaders are picking fights with the Trump administration on a number of issues. The administration is pushing back, threatening to withhold grants from states that don’t get in line. Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB’s senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and EarthFix reporter Jes Burns about Oregon's differences with the federal government on immigration, environmental regulations, and marijuana legalization.

Portland commissioners are trying to enact a progressive agenda, but activists in council chambers are yelling at them to focus more on police reform and homelessness. With supporters of liberal causes pitted against one another, who wins? And we’ll touch on the Northwest’s role in the stalled effort to repeal Obamacare. Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB news director Anna Griffin and senior political reporter Jeff Mapes.

Description: Oregon GOP Congressman Greg Walden is at the center of Republican efforts to replace the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). The bill his committee came up with is not universally loved by Republicans, and it might not even make it to the president’s desk. This time, host Geoff Norcross talks with Bloomberg News health reporter Anna Edney and OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes about the political consequences of this effort.

Republicans in Oregon are feeling pretty good about themselves these days. The party holds the second-highest office in the state, and is expecting to mount a serious challenge to the Democrats’ hold on power in Salem. This time, host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and news director Anna Griffin about why Oregon Republicans are feeling so energized.

President Trump said in a speech before Congress that he wants $1 trillion for infrastructure projects. Oregon lawmakers would love to get a cut of that. A transportation package is one of their top priorities this session. Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Salem reporter Chris Lehman about which roads and bridges are likely to be prioritized, and how a transportation package could be funded.

Economists say Oregon will have an extra $200 million to spend in the next budget cycle. That sounds like a lot of money, until you realize that lawmakers are facing a budget gap of nearly $2 billion. Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB political reporters Chris Lehman and Jeff Mapes about Oregon’s budget picture, and how it could be affected by federal action on health care and international trade.

This week, the podcast takes up a controversial issue in Portland and around the state: renter protections. We dig into the new city ordinance that requires landlords to assist tenants with relocation costs in the case of a no-cause eviction. We'll also talk about how the state legislature is grappling with housing issues. Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Dirk VanderHart, news editor for the Portland Mercury.

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson has become the face of the resistance to President Trump’s travel ban. As a federal court considers his lawsuit against the administration, we talk more about Ferguson’s quest and how Washington was poised to challenge Trump. Host Geoff Norcross is joined by OPB's senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, and Austin Jenkins, Olympia correspondent for the Northwest News Network.

Both of Oregon's U.S. senators are working against President Trump's nominees, including his pick for the Supreme Court. Host Julie Sabatier and senior political reporter Jeff Mapes talk about the stands Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are taking against the nominees. We talk about the lone Republican in Oregon's Congressional delegation — Rep. Greg Walden — and his approach to health care reform.

This week, OPB Politics Now digs into the upcoming legislative session in Salem. It begins in a few days, and it’s going to be tough sledding. Lawmakers have to close a nearly $2 billion budget gap, and that’s before any laws are made. OPB News Director Anna Griffin, and Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes spent some time in Salem Thursday for a preview of the upcoming legislative session.

Oregon Historical Society executive director Kerry Tymchuk, who worked as a speechwriter for former U.S. senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole and an aide to former U.S. Senator for Oregon Gordon Smith, joins OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and host Geoff Norcross to examine Donald Trump's inaugural address. The trio also gets into why some of Oregon’s Congressional representatives decided not to attend.

Amid a busy news week, you might have missed Kate Brown being sworn in as Oregon’s Governor. On this episode, OPB reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman talk with host Julie Sabatier about what Brown hopes to accomplish over the next two years. Her agenda touches on taxes, guns, and PERS reform.

Will Ted Wheeler buck the trend of one-term mayors in Portland? For our first episode of 2017, we look at the challenges of running the city at a time when incivility is rampant at council meetings. This time, we're joined by OPB's Amelia Templeton, who covers City Hall, and OPB's Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes. Geoff Norcross hosts.

We're still technically off this week, but we’ve got a little treat for you: a feature produced by OPB News Director (and frequent OPB Politics Now guest) Anna Griffin about the political rise and fall — for now, at least — of outgoing Portland City Commissioner Steve Novick. Enjoy!

Donald Trump has picked Montana Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke to be the next Secretary of the Interior. Eric Whitney of Montana Public Radio joins OPB’s Julie Sabatier and Jeff Mapes to discuss Zinke's approach to land management, logging, and the federal government’s relationship with Native tribes.

How will Oregon's Congressional delegation deal with the new political realities in Washington D.C.? This time, OPB's Jeff Mapes and David Sarasohn of The Oregonian join Geoff Norcross to consider how the seven members of the delegation will navigate the Republican dominance of the Legislative and Executive branches of the federal government.

What will a Donald Trump presidency mean for the Northwest? Host Julie Sabatier, OPB's senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and news director Anna Griffin talk over how the Trump administration might come down on immigration, recreational marijuana, climate change, and public land management.

It’s a short, mid-week edition of the podcast because…Thanksgiving. We’re talking about a really interesting item we didn’t get to in our post-election coverage: Portland’s newest city commissioner — Chloe Eudaly. The bookstore owner and housing advocate ran a modest campaign and pulled off a surprising win against incumbent Steve Novick. Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB reporter Amelia Templeton about Eudaly’s triumph, and how the political makeup of the City Council will change.

We dig into the post-election protests in Portland, the way they have been covered by national media outlets, and some responses from Oregon political leaders. We also take up an effort at the state level to change the national electoral system. Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and digital producer Bradley Parks, who covered the protests.

The GOP had its own triumph in Oregon, with Dennis Richardson winning the Secretary of State’s race. In this episode, host Geoff Norcross, OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Olympia reporter Austin Jenkins wrap up the 2016 election and discuss the state of the urban/rural divide in the Pacific Northwest.

OPB's Dave Miller and Jeff Mapes have a short election night update on state and local races including ballot measures, governor, and more.

Still not sure how to vote on Measure 97? This episode is for you! OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes and News Director Anna Griffin join host Geoff Norcross to dig into the substance of the controversial corporate tax measure. We consider what could happen if the measure passes or fails. We also answer more of your questions about other measures and the voting process. And we highlight a few entertaining local races, in which candidates sing, yell, and write themselves in.

The election is a week away and you may still be wondering about all those measures on your Oregon ballot. For a special Tuesday edition of Politics Now, we bring you this recent segment from OPB's Think Out Loud to help answer some of your questions. And if you're still struggling with something in particular, please email us: [email protected] We'll be back on Friday with a regular episode, including answers to listener questions.

OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Statesman Journal reporter Gordon Friedman join host Julie Sabatier to talk about incumbent Oregon Governor Kate Brown — what she’s like as a person, as a politician, and how Measure 97 could shape her next two years in office if she wins. (We took similar in-depth look at Brown’s Republican challenger Bud Pierce in our Sept. 23 episode.) This week, we also answer some listener questions on ballot measures and the rules about helping someone else fill out their ballot.

Host Geoff Norcross along with OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman talk about the Secretary of State’s race, which is surprisingly interesting this year! It’s an open seat and Republican Dennis Richardson is facing off against Democrat Brad Avakian and Green Party candidate Alan Zundel. Richardson has garnered a lot of endorsements, including from the usually left-leaning Willamette Week. If he wins, he’ll be the first Republican to take statewide office since 2002 and the first Republican Secretary of State since 1984.

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes, News Director Anna Griffin, and Austin Jenkins, Olympia Correspondent for the Northwest News Network dig into presidential politics, new polling on Oregon races, and some fascinating ballot measures in Washington. This special episode of OPB Politics now was recorded in front of a live audience of OPB donors.

This week is all about Portland city politics. Host Geoff Norcross along with Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes and reporter Amelia Templeton dig into the Portland Police union contract that sparked protests earlier this week when the City Council voted to approve it. You'll also hear about one of the more interesting local races on the 2016 ballot between City Commissioner Steve Novick and challenger Chloe Eudaly. And we'll end with some news of the weird with our "That's So Oregon" segment.

OPB's Dave Miller and Jeff Mapes discuss Thursday night's debate in Eugene between three candidates for Oregon governor: incumbent Democrat Kate Brown, Republican Bud Pierce, and Independent Party candidate Cliff Thomason. Domestic violence, health care, and the very unpopular idea of a sales tax all came up.

On this special Monday edition of the podcast, host Geoff Norcross is joined by OPB News Director Anna Griffin and Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes to talk about some controversial comments on domestic violence that came up in Friday's gubernatorial debate at the City Club of Portland.

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes and Salem Reporter Chris Lehman. We analyze the ads trying to convince voters to reject or approve the corporate tax measure on Oregon's November ballot. We hear why Donald Trump's lone paid staffer in Oregon is leaving for Michigan and what that says about where the presidential race stands here.

Senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Statesman Journal state government reporter Gordon Friedman join guest host Julie Sabatier to talk about Oregon Republican candidate for governor Bud Pierce — what he’s like as a person, as a first-time politician, and why he says he’s no longer supporting Donald Trump. (We’ll take a similar in-depth look at his opponent, Governor Kate Brown, in a future episode.) This week, we also talk about Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley’s role in grilling Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf on Capitol Hill. And, as always, we have a little fun at our state’s expense with our “That’s So Oregon” segment at the end of the show.

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, OPB Capital reporter Chris Lehman, and Laura Gunderson, editorial pages editor at The Oregonian. We discuss the $100 million settlement between Oracle and the state over Cover Oregon and a shakeup in staffing for Governor Kate Brown's reelection campaign. We hear about the possible impact of the Motor Voter law on the election. And we have a little fun at our state's expense, with our "That's So Oregon" segment.

Host Geoff Norcross talks to OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes, Education Reporter Rob Manning and EO Media Group/Capital Media Group Reporter Paris Achen. We'll look at new polling on the races for president and governor in Oregon. We'll hear why Portland voters won't decide on a school funding bond this year, despite protests from students and principals. And we dig into some quintessential Oregon stories of the week with our "That's So Oregon" segment.

This week, OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes and News Director Anna Griffin join host Geoff Norcross to discuss Donald Trump's recent visit to Washington state and dig into the policies designed to address the increasingly difficult homelessness problem in Portland. We also look at who is donating to presidential and gubernatorial campaigns in Oregon and talk about why a state senator refused to meet with a constituent who was part of the armed occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge earlier this year. And, of course, we make fun of the state we love with our "That’s So Oregon" segment.

Host Geoff Norcross is joined by OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, state political reporter Chris Lehman, and news director Anna Griffin. This week, we discuss some new information about which Oregon Republicans are – and aren’t – supporting Donald Trump. We’ll explore the cross-state tension inspired by U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s support for designating the Owyhee National Monument. And our "That’s So Oregon" segment includes a rooster, rap music on school buses, and how Oregonians are like Usain Bolt when it comes to voter registration.

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes and News Director Anna Griffin, along with Gordon Friedman, who covers state government for the Statesman Journal. We’ll talk about the uneasiness some Oregon Republicans have about Donald Trump. We’ll discuss alleged election violations in ballot measure campaigns and two different outcomes in recall elections this week in rural Oregon. We'll end, as we always do, by digging into some quintessential Oregon stories of the week, with our "That’s So Oregon" segment.

OPB Education reporter Rob Manning and Oregonian/OregonLive political reporter Hillary Borrud join host Geoff Norcross. This week, we talk about why some Oregon Republicans are distancing themselves from Donald Trump. We dig into the dysfunctional internal politics at Portland Public Schools and hear about a bipartisan effort among Oregon lawmakers to push for changes to marijuana policies at the federal level. And of course our "That's So Oregon" segment has a little fun at our state's expense, highlighting some of the quintessential Oregon stories of the week.

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes and OPB Reporter Amelia Templeton. This week, we consider the political fallout from the homelessness problem in Portland. We look at Gov. Brown’s endorsement of Measure 97. And we poke fun at our state with “That’s So Oregon!”

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes, OPB News Director Anna Griffin, and Statesman Journal reporter Gordon Friedman. We wrap up the Democratic National Convention with a look at what Bernie Sanders's Oregon delegates might do next. We also examine the politics of homelessness in Portland and how Measure 97 (formerly IP28) could impact discretionary spending in the state. And our regular “That's So Oregon” segment highlight the quintessential Oregon stories from the week.

Think Out Loud host Dave Miller and senior political reporter Jeff Mapes discuss the themes that Hillary Clinton hit in her acceptance speech, what her historic candidacy means for women, and which party is more divided.

Think Out Loud host Dave Miller and OPB's senior political reporter Jeff Mapes discuss Barack Obama's passing the torch and Michael Bloomberg's pitch to independents.

Senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Think Out Loud host Dave Miller talk about Bill Clinton, Kate Brown and what may be the new third rail of politics: the TPP.

Think Out Loud Host Dave Miller and senior political reporter Jeff Mapes discuss the action-packed and boo-filled first day of the DNC.

OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Think Out Loud host Dave Miller preview the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes, Editor Anna Griffin, and Education Reporter Rob Manning. We get some perspective on the news out of the Republican National Convention, we dig into the possible reasons for the sudden retirement announcement from Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith, and we learn about the plethora of candidates on Washington state’s ballot. As always, we also highlight some quintessential Oregon stories of the week with That’s So Oregon!

From the roof of the Quicken Loans Arena parking garage, Think Out Loud Host Dave Miller and OPB's political reporter Jeff Mapes look at Donald Trump's acceptance speech in Cleveland through a Northwest lens.

Think Out Loud Host Dave Miller and OPB's Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes react to speeches at the GOP Convention and highlight some Oregon connections to this national event.

From Cleveland's Progressive Field, Think Out Loud Host Dave Miller and OPB's Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes discuss some highlights from Day 2 of the Republican National Convention.

Think Out Loud Host Dave Miller and OPB's Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes rehash some of the highlights from the first day of the Republican Convention in Cleveland.

Think Out Loud Host Dave Miller and Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes sit down for a quick chat in Cleveland the night before the Republican Convention begins.

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Political Analyst Bill Lunch, Capitol reporter Chris Lehman and Think Out Loud/OPB Politics Now producer Julie Sabatier. We talk about the big money being raised to defeat the measure that would mean a major tax increase on Oregon corporations. We also dig into the federal action on oil train safety. And we highlight some quintessential Oregon stories of the week with "That’s So Oregon!"

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes, reporter Amelia Templeton and News Director Anna Griffin. We’ll discuss the local repercussions of police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana and the deaths of five police officers in Dallas Thursday. We'll also dig into the controversial measures headed for the Oregon and Washington ballots and kick around the remote possibility of Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley as Hillary Clinton’s running mate. And this week's "That's So Oregon" segment includes a heartwarming story of a citizenship naturalization ceremony at Crater Lake on July 4.

OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes, Capitol reporter Chris Lehman and reporter Amelia Templeton join host Geoff Norcross. We dig into why retirement seems to be the new resignation among disgraced local public officials lately — most recently Portland Police Chief Larry O’Dea. We ask what the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the former Virginia governor's corruption conviction could mean for John Kitzhaber. And we look at how the November ballot seems to be shaping up, with a focus on two measures designed to shake up the Democratic political establishment in Oregon. We end with "That’s So Oregon," taking up the hot cannabis real estate market, topographically accurate mountain-shaped candles, and other quintessentially Oregon stories from the week.

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Senior Political Reporter Jeff Mapes, Political Analyst Bill Lunch, and News Director Anna Griffin. We explore the politics of oil trains in the Columbia River Gorge and discuss what to expect from the fall debates between the major candidates for Oregon Governor.And our "That's So Oregon" segment includes coffee delivered by drone, a Ron Wyden character in an off-Broadway play, and Oregon’s representative at a “healthy kids” state dinner (which involves kale, of course).

OPB reporters Jeff Mapes and Kristian Foden-Vencil, and Oregonian/OregonLive Capitol reporter Hillary Borrud join host Geoff Norcross to dig into the criticism that's been heaped on Oregon Gov. Kate Brown lately from newspaper editorials and fellow politicians. We also discuss Oregon leaders’ reactions to the deadly shooting in Orlando, and we’ll learn more about a ruling this week allowing a transgender person to legally claim “gender non-binary” rather than checking a “male” or “female” box on a DMV form. And our "That's So Oregon" segment includes a new video from a passive-aggressive Oregon PAC and a bike thief thwarted by an expertly wielded lasso.

Host Geoff Norcross talks regional politics with OPB political analyst Bill Lunch, senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and reporter Amelia Templeton. We look into the response from Oregon’s political leaders to the recent oil train derailment in Mosier. We also hear how the Oregon business community is responding to what could be a major corporate tax increase and get acquainted with Oregon’s delegates to the Republican National Convention next month.

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Political Analyst Bill Lunch, News Director Anna Griffin and reporter Rob Manning. We’ll chart the political consequences of the discovery of lead in the drinking water at Portland Public Schools. We’ll dig into the lawsuit filed by nine Oregon counties over the state’s paid sick leave law. And we’ll also take up the failure by Portland city government to recoup costs from presidential candidates visiting the Rose City. We end with our "That's So Oregon" segment, which this week includes a lawmaker who was fined for polluting the air inside the capitol.

Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB Political Analyst Bill Lunch, and OPB reporters Amelia Templeton and Conrad Wilson. We dig into dueling reports from a Congressional panel about who's to blame for the notorious failure of the Cover Oregon health insurance enrollment website and get a preview of the brewing fight over a proposed state corporate tax increase, which could be the most contentious item on the November ballot. We also take up Portland Police Chief Larry O’Dea’s troubles, after he accidentally shot a friend during a hunting trip last month and Washington's bipolar Democratic caucus and primary results. We end with our "That's So Oregon" segment, which this week includes a defense of Portland donuts and a ban on textbooks that appear to question climate change.

Join host Kate Davidson as she talks with OPB news director Anna Griffin, senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and reporter Amelia Templeton. We continue to mull over the results of the Oregon primary and discuss Governor Kate Brown's comments this week about what it was like to be labeled the nation's first openly bisexual governor. Looking ahead to the general election, we’ll dig into the meaning of Bernie Sanders’s big win in Oregon and Portland Commissioner Steve Novick’s surprise runoff opponent.

It’s a special mid-week edition of the podcast! Think Out Loud host Dave Miller and OPB’s senior political reporter Jeff Mapes discuss the results of Oregon’s primary election from the presidential race to the Portland mayoral contest and more.

Join host Kate Davidson, OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, OPB reporter Kristian Foden-Vencil and Brad Schmidt, The Oregonian’s City Hall reporter as we dissect a new Oregon political poll that looks at races ranging from the presidency to Portland mayor. We also discuss the politics of the death penalty and our “That’s So Oregon” segment includes Donald Trump’s intriguing interpretation of how to pronounce the state’s name.

Thanks for downloading our inaugural episode! OPB Morning Edition host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB senior reporter Jeff Mapes, OPB political analyst Bill Lunch and OPB reporter Amelia Templeton. We discuss the presidential race in Oregon, a suddenly hot secretary of state's race, Portland mayoral politics — and end with a fun segment we're calling, "That's So Oregon."

A preview of OPB's new politics podcast.