OPB Politics Now

By Oregon Public Broadcasting

What's OPB Politics Now about?

"OPB Politics Now" is a weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into the hottest political topics in Oregon and the Northwest. Every Friday, OPB’s political reporters and special guests offer in-depth analysis, discussion and insight into candidates, events and issues.

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OPB Politics Now episodes:

04.19.2024
3 top candidates for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District
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...
04.12.2024
The tale of two homeless communities: Right 2 Dream Too and Clinton Triangle
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...
04.05.2024
Portland tries again to ban certain activities tied to homeless camps
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...
03.29.2024
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s wife wants a larger role, does that matter?
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...
03.22.2024
Environmental takeaways from Oregon’s legislative session
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...
03.15.2024
Who is Rene Gonzalez, plus will the latest homelessness plan actually work?
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? ...
03.08.2024
Recapping the 2024 Oregon Legislative session
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...
03.01.2024
Will cities take advantage of Kotek’s housing bill?
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...
02.23.2024
Threat of ballot measures spurs action in Salem
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...
02.16.2024
Campaign finance reform emerges as unlikely presence in Salem
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...
02.09.2024
Why some Portland police struggle with use of force and what experts say
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...
02.02.2024
A political lightning round ahead of the Legislative session
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...
01.26.2024
Is Oregon’s drug decriminalization experiment nearing its end?
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...
01.19.2024
Oregon’s land use laws and the Kotek’s housing push
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...
01.12.2024
What to make of Tina Kotek’s first year as Oregon’s governor
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...
01.05.2024
The political stories to watch in 2024
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...
12.22.2023
Why Oregon’s kicker tax rebate just keeps growing
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...
12.15.2023
The political and business reaction to Kotek’s downtown Portland task force
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...
12.08.2023
OPB Politics Now: Oregon keeps struggling with foster care
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.
12.01.2023
The political fight over K-12 education funding is just getting started
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...
11.17.2023
Portland's police oversight controversy continues
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...
11.10.2023
Tribes, a proposed destination resort and treaty rights collide
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...
11.02.2023
The politics of the PPS strike
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...
10.27.2023
Oregon's battle over pumping gas refuels, plus Portland City Council transition drama
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...
10.20.2023
What happens when an Oregon town's government implodes
What happens when an Oregon town's government implodes Description: 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,...
10.13.2023
How homelessness became a statewide crisis in Oregon
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...
10.06.2023
Why Democrats are now willing to tackle Measure 110 reforms
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...
09.29.2023
Fentanyl, overdoses and Measure 110 in the spotlight
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...
09.22.2023
A deep dive into the unusual and personal Paul Holvey recall
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...
09.15.2023
Ted Talk: What can Wheeler accomplish as a lame duck?
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...
09.14.2023
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler talks about his future
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...
09.08.2023
Portland public drug use ban awaits state action, Bybee Lakes gets more public cash
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....
09.01.2023
Oregon’s ‘kicker’ hits a new record
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.
08.25.2023
The task force to save Portland met for the first time, but will it work?
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...
08.18.2023
The sex work vetoes and the Portland leader who lived and worked from Vegas
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...
08.11.2023
The costly Capitol renovation, plus Kotek’s task force to save Portland
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...
08.04.2023
Intel growing, gas pumping, Congresswoman Hoyle testifying
Intel growing, gas pumping, Congresswoman Hoyle testifying On 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...
07.28.2023
The union battle in Lane County
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...
07.21.2023
Why the effort to unwind Portland’s government overhaul unraveled
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.
07.14.2023
The Newport mayor’s Facebook posts, plus Portland City Hall happenings
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.
06.30.2023
OPB Politics Now: Portland's continuing struggle over homelessness policy
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.
06.26.2023
OPB Politics Now: Oregon legislators wrap it up
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.
06.23.2023
A topsy-turvy end to the 2023 legislative session
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.
06.16.2023
The political fallout from the longest walkout in Oregon history
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...
06.12.2023
Is the Republican walkout about to end?
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.
06.09.2023
The Interstate Bridge project on the brink...again
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...
06.02.2023
OPB Politics Now - The Politics of Camping Bans
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...
05.26.2023
Senator Ron Wyden
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.
05.19.2023
The elephants not in the room
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...
05.15.2023
Previewing a sleepy election cycle
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...

What's OPB Politics Now about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

OPB Politics Now episodes:

3 top candidates for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District

The tale of two homeless communities: Right 2 Dream Too and Clinton Triangle

Portland tries again to ban certain activities tied to homeless camps

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s wife wants a larger role, does that matter?

Environmental takeaways from Oregon’s legislative session

Who is Rene Gonzalez, plus will the latest homelessness plan actually work?

Recapping the 2024 Oregon Legislative session

Will cities take advantage of Kotek’s housing bill?

Threat of ballot measures spurs action in Salem

Campaign finance reform emerges as unlikely presence in Salem

Why some Portland police struggle with use of force and what experts say

A political lightning round ahead of the Legislative session

Is Oregon’s drug decriminalization experiment nearing its end?

Oregon’s land use laws and the Kotek’s housing push

What to make of Tina Kotek’s first year as Oregon’s governor

The political stories to watch in 2024

Why Oregon’s kicker tax rebate just keeps growing

The political and business reaction to Kotek’s downtown Portland task force

OPB Politics Now: Oregon keeps struggling with foster care

The political fight over K-12 education funding is just getting started

Portland's police oversight controversy continues

Tribes, a proposed destination resort and treaty rights collide

The politics of the PPS strike

Oregon's battle over pumping gas refuels, plus Portland City Council transition drama

What happens when an Oregon town's government implodes

How homelessness became a statewide crisis in Oregon

Why Democrats are now willing to tackle Measure 110 reforms

Fentanyl, overdoses and Measure 110 in the spotlight

A deep dive into the unusual and personal Paul Holvey recall

Ted Talk: What can Wheeler accomplish as a lame duck?

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler talks about his future

Portland public drug use ban awaits state action, Bybee Lakes gets more public cash

Oregon’s ‘kicker’ hits a new record

The task force to save Portland met for the first time, but will it work?

The sex work vetoes and the Portland leader who lived and worked from Vegas

The costly Capitol renovation, plus Kotek’s task force to save Portland

Intel growing, gas pumping, Congresswoman Hoyle testifying

The union battle in Lane County

Why the effort to unwind Portland’s government overhaul unraveled

The Newport mayor’s Facebook posts, plus Portland City Hall happenings

OPB Politics Now: Portland's continuing struggle over homelessness policy

OPB Politics Now: Oregon legislators wrap it up

A topsy-turvy end to the 2023 legislative session

The political fallout from the longest walkout in Oregon history

Is the Republican walkout about to end?

The Interstate Bridge project on the brink...again

OPB Politics Now - The Politics of Camping Bans

Senator Ron Wyden

The elephants not in the room

Previewing a sleepy election cycle