This podcast was recorded July 15. Some details may have changed since.

Our friend Zack Surmacz is back to give us an end of session legislative update on bills that got passed. But first, we're all over the place in three things. And just for kicks and giggles, we continue to try to help people understand that our tax system has two legs on it's stool and needs a third leg. Don't worry, we made you a little jingle to explain this and how we can get there in a fair way.

Please support our friends at Gursha Eats - their young daughter was just recently diagnosed with geoblastoma. In lieu of donations, they have requested the community support them by eating at their restaurant. It is delicious, authentic Ethiopian food and we are so fortunate to have them in our community! Find them at 2138 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem, OR 97305, USA.

Get out there and stay loud.

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This podcast was recorded July 11. Some details may have changed since. A special legislative session has been scheduled for August 29th.

In this very special episode, Virginia gives us the rundown on the history of ODOT. If you know V, you know this is her favorite subject. But first, we give you a little update on the Keizer never ending saga. We also help you understand the transportation package as it last existed in the long legislative session. We look forward to the legislature getting back to work to pass a transportation package.

The governor released her transportation package July 23rd. Read more about it here: https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/07/23/koteks-transportation-plan-6-cent-gas-tax-increase-registration-fee-hikes-and-doubled-transit-tax/

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RJ Navarro, local veteran and public transportation champion joins Virginia to discuss the challenges veterans are facing in Oregon today. They also discuss what it was like to run for office in Keizer and Salem. Fun fact: they both ran against Kevin Mannix. If you're unaware, Kevin Mannix has some problematic history with a certain veterans organization that is no longer in existence. If you're unaware, two prominent local Republican figures, Tim Knopp and Gregory Warnock, co-founded a veterans organization that was investigated by the Oregon Department of Justice. This organization once honored Kevin Mannix. Kevin Mannix was allegedly involved with this organization and the Department of Justice pursued him in their investigation of this charity. We'd show you their website, but its since been taken down. If you want to learn more about this incident that goes back to 2011, here you go:

https://www.doj.state.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/owva_complaint_021511.pdf

https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/lawsuit-accuses-charities-and-founder-of-illegally-diverting-money-raised-to-benefit-veterans/

https://www.oregonlive.com/oregonatwar/2013/01/state_goes_to_court_to_seek_co.html

https://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-29699-oregon-department-of-justice-closing-in-on-mannix.html

https://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/2015/07/attorney_general_accuses_kevin.html

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/oregon-justice-department-files-bar-complaint-against-kevin-mannix/

If you want to elevate the voices of vets. Check out https://votevets.org/

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This week on the pod, State Representative for HD 22 (Woodburn) and Labor Champion, Lesly Muñoz joins us to talk about her run for office (it was a close one) and her first session as a State Representative. Lesly is a fighter, a local legend, and one of our favorite humans. We are so excited to share her with all of you!

Get out there and stay loud.

If you have questions, topics you'd love discussed, or want to advertise on the pod, contact us:

BUY MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://demobrats.printify.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: VirginiaStapleton / TellYourFriendsV

Bluesky: Demobrats

Instagram:VoteVirginiaStapleton // Tellyourfriendsoregon

Facebook: Elect Virginia Stapleton

email us: [email protected]

Join us Mondays at 8 AM for Willamette Wake-Up on KMUZ Radio! 100.7 FM / 88.5 FM

Stream demobrats on Youtube on the CC Media Channel

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This week on the pod, State Representative for HD 22 (Woodburn) and Labor Champion, Lesly Muñoz​ joins us to talk about her run for office (it was a close one) and her first session as a State Representative. Lesly is a fighter, a local legend, and one of our favorite humans. We are so excited to share her with all of you!

Get out there and stay loud.

If you have questions, topics you'd love discussed, or want to advertise on the pod, contact us:

BUY MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://demobrats.printify.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: VirginiaStapleton / TellYourFriendsV

Bluesky: Demobrats

Instagram:VoteVirginiaStapleton // Tellyourfriendsoregon // Rep.LeslyMunoz

Facebook: Elect Virginia Stapleton

email us: [email protected]

Join us Mondays at 8 AM for Willamette Wake-Up on KMUZ Radio! 100.7 FM / 88.5 FM

Stream demobrats on Youtube on the CC Media Channel

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*Note: The Christmas Tree Bill HB 5006 has not yet been signed into law by the governor.* The Keizer Times has reported the funding in the Christmas Tree bill is for infrastructure at the fields, not the fields itself. Regardless...we need money for emergency services.

We've been a bit behind on the local news, but we're here to catch you up. What's been happening in Keizer and Salem and why is it problematic as ever?! Enjoy this update on Christmas Tree Bill gifts, Proclamations, City Council Norms, and the new gatekeeper to downtown Salem. Oh, and we have included a fantastic review of the pod just for kicks and giggles.

ICE has been spotted in Salem. Salem and Oregon remain a sanctuary city and state. We have learned since this recording that the detentions were targeted incidents. Download the ICEBlock app free to report any sightings of ICE you encounter in our community.

Get out there and stay loud.

If you have questions, topics you'd love discussed, or want to advertise on the pod, contact us:

BUY MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://demobrats.printify.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: VirginiaStapleton / TellYourFriendsV

Bluesky: Demobrats

Instagram:VoteVirginiaStapleton // Tellyourfriendsoregon

Facebook: Elect Virginia Stapleton

email us: [email protected]

Join us Mondays at 8 AM for Willamette Wake-Up on KMUZ Radio! 100.7 FM / 88.5 FM

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I don't know what you were doing at 8, but it probably wasn't organizing to save critical city services. This week we have Salem's favorite tiny community organizer, Zoey, with us on the pod to talk about her experience working tirelessly to get the most recent Livability Levy across the finish line. We can't wait to see what Zoey does next in local politics, but no doubt, she will be in the room where it happens. Zoey for Mayor! 💚🩷💚

Get out there and stay loud.

If you have questions, topics you'd love discussed, or want to advertise on the pod, contact us:

BUY MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://demobrats.printify.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: VirginiaStapleton / TellYourFriendsV

Bluesky: Demobrats

Instagram:VoteVirginiaStapleton // Tellyourfriendsoregon

Facebook: Elect Virginia Stapleton

email us: [email protected]

Join us Mondays at 8 AM for Willamette Wake-Up on KMUZ Radio! 100.7 FM / 88.5 FM

Stream demobrats on Youtube on the CC Media Channel

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*a note, the flag Councilor Day mentioned was a Confederate flag. Sorry our audio dropped out*

Hey Brat Pack! In this bonus episode, we can't wait to share the recent round up and long term history of political antics in Keizer. From the recent citing of a current councilor, to the cancellation of the community-led Pride event, to the problematic history of other local officials, it's a lot. We'd say enjoy...but none of us are enjoying this.

Sources:

https://www.keizertimes.com/2024/03/14/ethics-investigation-into-juran-underway/

https://leftcoastrightwatch.org/articles/keizer-or-pride-fair-canceled-after-doxxing-harassment-citys-support-of-far-right/

https://www.salemreporter.com/2021/05/17/internal-investigation-keizer-city-manager-told-others-he-was-breaking-policy-on-firearms/

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/13/keizer-investigate-after-city-manager-discharges-gun-city-hall-office/4687526001/

https://www.keizertimes.com/2025/05/01/flareup-at-council-reveals-continuing-strains-between-mayor-councilor/

https://www.keizertimes.com/2025/04/16/keizer-councilors-oust-diversity-panel-members/

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/01/far-right-reawaken-america-tour-canceled-in-redmond-moved-to-salem.html

Get out there and stay loud.

If you have questions, topics you'd love discussed, or want to advertise on the pod, contact us:

BUY MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://demobrats.printify.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: VirginiaStapleton

Bluesky: Demobrats

Instagram:VoteVirginiaStapleton

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email us: [email protected]

Join us Mondays at 8 AM for Willamette Wake-Up on KMUZ Radio! 100.7 FM / 88.5 FM

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In this brat pack bonus we just want to ask the really hard questions to our billionaire counterparts.

Vik is back y'all! We know, you forgot she existed...but she's here. And we're joined by Zack Surmacz today to talk about rising up the next generation of Democrats to lead the party across the country! What is it going to take to win young voters to our side and how do we share our values through our messaging and policy creation? We also tackle other important conundrums like are you for or against using a top sheet and do you embrace watching videos in 2x speed? Season 2 of demobrats will make your dreams come true. Stay brat.

Get out there and stay loud.

If you have questions, topics you'd love discussed, or want to advertise on the pod, contact us:

BUY MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://demobrats.printify.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: VirginiaStapleton

Bluesky: Demobrats

Instagram:VoteVirginiaStapleton // Tellyourfriendsoregon

Facebook: Elect Virginia Stapleton

email us: [email protected]

Join us Mondays at 8 AM for Willamette Wake-Up on KMUZ Radio! 100.7 FM / 88.5 FM

Stream demobrats on Youtube on the CC Media Channel

Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!