OPB Politics Now

The primary election is over. Oregon voters shot down a statewide gas tax proposal and Christine Drazan won the Republican nod for governor. That sets up a rematch between Drazan and Gov. Tina Kotek. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Bryce Dole, Lauren Dake and Elizabeth Miller dive into the local taxes that did pass and explain what we can glean from the election and the gubernatorial rematch. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Voters across Oregon are probably scrounging at this point to find their ballots as Election Day is just a few days away. The main event awaits in November as Oregonians will select their next governor. But for voters in Central and Eastern Oregon, there are some key races on the May ballot and big issues driving the politics behind the scenes. We spent last week talking about the suburbs and this week we are taking a closer look at the politics playing out east of the Cascades. Reporters Bryce Dole, Kathryn Styer Martinez and Antonio Sierra break down the issues of note. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

This year’s primary election doesn’t have many statewide races of note, but the Portland suburbs have a bevy of interesting races. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we dive into the dynamics at play on the Clackamas and Washington County commissions. Plus we hit on the Metro Council seats up for grabs. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Ballots should be arriving any day now for Oregon voters. And in a matter of weeks, we will know who will be facing Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek in the November election. It’s one of the more competitive GOP primaries we have seen in recent years. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake take a deep dive into each of the top candidates. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Local governments in the Portland metro area are having serious money problems. To fill their massive budget gaps, leaders are proposing to cut hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars for government programs. What will this mean for the Rose City and the region’s future? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski and Bryce Dole discuss the budget happenings. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

 Oregon’s top four Republicans vying to be their party’s nominee in the gubernatorial election squared off in Hillsboro on Thursday night. It was the first time the four appeared on stage to answer questions. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss how the candidates did, what they said to differentiate from one another and much more.  Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

One of the highest courts in the land is once again focused on a tiny area of Portland. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Troy Brynelson and Conrad Wilson discuss the latest legal drama. This week saw federal appeals judges hear debate on the use of tear gas near the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland will continue to be restricted. Plus, we dive into more data on ICE detentions in the Pacific Northwest. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson entered office last year, promising to end unsheltered homelessness in the city. He opened several overnight shelters. And on most nights, the shelters are full. Wilson sees this as evidence that homelessness is decreasing. 

But the actual evidence -- the numbers we have -- say there are thousands more people sleeping on the streets each night compared to when Wilson entered the scene

We are going to explain why once again officials from city of Portland and Multnomah County disagree and why the effort to quantify who is without housing is so fraught. Plus we’ll discuss the Portland arts tax and some recent OPB reporting as well. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts. 

Earlier this week, The US Supreme Court heard arguments in a case challenging a Mississippi law related to voting by mail. At the same time, President Donald Trump is pushing Congress to pass a new law that would require proof of citizenship for all voters, including those who vote by mail. Oregon is very proud of its history as the first state to pivot to voting only by mail in the early 2000s, and has done a lot to cement that legacy in the years since. On the latest episode of “OPB Politics Now,” we explore how this case and proposed legislation could upend some of that work. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

On this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, we hand the mic to our friends at The Evergreen.  Producer Julie Sabatier went to Salem with OPB politics reporter Lauren Dake to see what session was like. Take a listen. We'll be back next week with a new episode.