OPB Politics Now

One of the most competitive U.S. House races in the country is Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. Blue-collar Democratic incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is facing a challenge from a Republican state Senator who is more mainstream than her previous political opponent. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Erik Neumann and Elena Neale-Sacks discuss the hottest races in Southwest Washington primary and what to watch in Clark County. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Oregon’s gubernatorial race features a high-profile race rematch between Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan. Just like the 2022 race between the two political rivals, at least one more person will be on the ballot, this time from the Pacific Green Party. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart discuss the role of third party politicians in gubernatorial races in the past two decades, what another candidate may portend about this race and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

A surge in enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has led to two fatal shootings by ICE agents in recent weeks. Those occurred in Texas and Maine, but Oregon continues to grapple with immigration enforcement as well.

The Portland ICE building that was a focal point of protests much of last year is back in the news, as lawsuits and land-use cases surrounding the property come to a head. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart, Alex Zielinski and Conrad Wilson discuss the latest on this lingering fight here in South Portland just up the road from OPB headquarters. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

It’s been clear for a year at this point that major changes are coming to Oregon’s state sponsored health plan. Ever since President Trump signed HR1, his massive tax cut and spending bill, the state’s top health officials have been trying to figure out how much federal funding for health care will be cut – and how to respond. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Amelia Templeton break down the possibilities and the politics surrounding the conversation. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

The Supreme Court seemed on the verge of barring Oregon, Washington and other vote-by-mail states from accepting ballots that arrive after Election Day. But the court ruled this week – and those changes are not coming. This week, we'll take a look at the latest developments that dictate how elections in the Pacific Northwest will play out.

The Moda Center has a packed summer lineup with performances by Chance the Rapper, Benson Boone and others. The arena is no longer devoid of basketball in the summer thanks to the triumphant return of the Portland Fire.

But this week the building is taking center stage for other reasons. Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon is in town for an annual business summit at Moda Center. Meanwhile city and county leaders discussed the plan to renovate the arena with public cash – there was spiciness. Reporters Lauren Dake, Kyra Buckley and Alex Zielinski discussed all that and more this week on the latest episode of OPB Politics Now.

Portland’s elected leaders entered this budget season with a $170 million funding hole. Finally, after weeks of painstaking deliberation, they passed the city’s budget Wednesday. Once again, no one seems pleased. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski and Bryce Dole break down where the city landed and what the deliberations say about how Portland’s new council is working in its sophomore year. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

There was an era in Oregon politics where moderate Republicans were very influential. One of them was Bob Packwood. Packwood died last week and he leaves a very messy legacy. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Dirk VanderHart and special guest Jeff Mapes talk about Packwood’s political history and his downfall, which was one of the more stunning scandals in Congressional history. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Last month, Southwest Washington was struck by tragedy when 11 people were killed at a Longview paper mill. But as the community tries to find out what happened, an investigation into the incident may be jeopardized by national politics. On the latest episode of  OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart, Lauren Dake and Erik Neumann talk about the fallout from the tragedy – and the jockeying over the federal agency that’s looking for answers. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

OPB reporters recently spent months looking into Lakeview, a tiny southern Oregon town with huge financial problems. They were interested in what went wrong in Lakeview, and what lessons the town could offer other places facing similar dynamics. OPB’s podcast The Evergreen just dropped an entire episode looking at this, and it’s so good, we’re putting it in your Politics Now feed this week.