KGW’s Straight Talk

Rep. Earl Blumenauer spoke with KGW’s Laural Porter about his call for the federal government to help in the housing crisis, why he’s calling for a climate emergency, and why he thinks marijuana could be legalized nationwide in the upcoming Congressional session. This episode originally aired on KGW.

KGW's Laural Porter hosted a discussion with Sen. Jeff Merkley at Revolution Hall in Portland on Aug. 26. They discussed Sen. Merkley's new book, 'America is Better Than This: Trump's War Against Migrant Families.' They also took questions from the audience about foreign aid and what Democrats plan to do to flip the Senate in 2020.

Milwaukie Mayor Mark Gamba, a former National Geographic photographer, is challenging incumbent Kurt Schrader for Oregon's 5th District in 2020. He talked about his passion to battle climate change, not taking corporate PAC money during the campaign, and his efforts to improve safe routes to school. 

Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury and Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meiren talk about what steps the county is taking to address homelessness. This episode originally aired on June 22, 2019.  

The chair of the Oregon GOP Bill Currier talks about Republican efforts to recall Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, as well as the future of the Oregon Republican Party. This episode originally aired on July 27, 2019.  

Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read and Executive Director of the Rose City Rollers Kim Stegeman talk about “Oregon Saves,” a first-of its kind work-and-save program. Read says the program is getting nation-wide attention, while Stegeman talked about the Rose City Rollers using Oregon Saves. This episode originally aired on KGW News on Aug. 3, 2019.  

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) discuss the immigration crisis and his experience seeing the detention camps in person. Sen. Merkley also talks about reducing gun violence, the Democratic presidential candidates, and his plan to stop price-gouging on prescription drugs. This episode originally aired on KGW News on Aug. 10, 2019.  

Oregon State Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-5th District) talked with KGW’s Laural Porter about gun laws, the NRA and the immigration crisis at the border. They also discussed his primary opponent, Milwaukie Mayor Mark Gamba (D). This episode originally aired on KGW News on Aug. 17, 2019.