The Bridge by OR360

The Bridge by OR360

By Alex Titus, Ben Bowman, & Reagan KnoppNewsEducationGovernmentPolitics
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The Bridge by OR360 episodes

  • When will be the next red wave in Oregon? | EP 140

    Republican political strategist Bryan Iverson has over two decades of experience in media and politics. In this episode he joins Reagan to talk about what makes a good candidate as well as some of teh challenges republican candidates face in Oregon as well as teh obstacles that revolve around recruiting new candidate to the party.

     

    For more information on Bryan and his work you can check out https://iversonmedia.com/

    57 min
  • A different way of thinking about governance, with Daniel Kemmis | EP 139
    Daniel Kemmis is a giant figure in the politics of the American West. A former Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives and twice-elected Mayor of Missoula, Kemmis is also an author and political theorist. President Bill Clinton awarded him the Charles Frankel Prize for "outstanding contribution to the field of the humanities," and he also one the Wallace Stegner Prize from the Center of the American West. 
     
    His first book, Community and the Politics of Place, was published in 1990, and his most recent came out in 2020, Citizens Uniting to Restore Our Democracy. In this episode, we discuss Kemmis' framework for community-based decision making, the importance of geography in politics, and his advice for elected officials navigating a polarized political landscape. For more information about Daniel Kemmis, visit his website: https://citizens-uniting.org/
    40 min
  • Olivia Clark brings an impressive resume to the PDX Council race | EP 138
    Olivia Clark has worked in state, local, and regional politics and policy for decades, including stints working with cities, DEQ, the Kitzhaber Administration, and TriMet. In this episode, she reflects on how her previous work will inform her approach as a Portland City Councilor. We discuss her work for Gov. Kitzhaber, the challenges she navigated in that period, and why she stayed for nearly two full terms. 
     
    Olivia also offers her explanation for what went wrong in Portland over the last decade or two--and what can be done to fix it. She gives her vision for making the layers of government work together more effectively, and how she would approach the job of councilor in this new form of government.
    42 min
  • How does civility foster healthier politics? | EP 137 Part 2

    In the second half of this conversation with George Fox's Civility project, the Oregon Bridge is doing a deep dive on what civility means in the context of politics and how creating a more civil political environment can lead to more productive bipartisan policy and discourse. 

    A huge thank you to George Fox for inviting the Oregon Bridge out to be on this panel and for helping provide this programming.

    You can learn more about the Civility Project here: https://sites.google.com/georgefox.edu/gfcivilityproject/home

     

    36 min
  • The tables have turned. Ben & Reagan reflect on the Oregon Bridge with Ron Mock | EP 136 Part 1

    In this special two part episode, recent guest Ron Mock returns to the Oregon Bridge but this time Ben and Reagan are the interviewees.

    In this first half of the conversation, the team unpacks the history, thesis and origin of the Oregon Bridge Podcast, how that has evolved over time, and also the role that the podcast plays in both Ben and Reagan's Lives.

    A huge thank you to George Fox for inviting the Oregon Bridge out to be on this panel and for helping provide this programming.

    You can learn more about the Civility Project here: https://sites.google.com/georgefox.edu/gfcivilityproject/home

     

    41 min
  • What happened in Newberg? | EP 135
    Ron Mock is Director of the George Fox University Civility Project and Professor Emeritus of Politics and Peace Studies. He is also a former Newberg School Board Member, serving for nearly. His loss in 2021 triggered a conservative board majority that made international headlines for attempting to ban pride flags and BLM symbols--and ultimately for firing their superintendent. 
     
    In this episode, Ron explains exactly what happened and why it happened. We talk about political polarization and divisiveness--and how it impacts communities. He shares what lessons other communities can learn from Newberg--and provides some specific examples of proactive steps community leaders can take to build a more productive political culture locally. We also discuss the occasional tension between being an advocate and being a convener--and whether "civility" is always the right framework for politics, or if today's political environment requires something different.
     
    You can learn more about the Civility Project here: https://sites.google.com/georgefox.edu/gfcivilityproject/home
    1 hr 1 min
  • Tony Morse is the ”recovery candidate” for Portland City Council
    Tony Morse is a candidate for Portland City Council's District 4 (the west side and a small slice of inner east Portland). Tony is an attorney by training and has worked in real estate and political organizing. He describes himself as "center left" and willing to work those who disagree with him to get things done. 
     
    In this episode, we talk about Tony's recovery story and what it means to be a "recovery candidate" for the Council--including some specific ideas about how the City can help resolve the crisis. We talk about Ballot Measure 110, harm reduction strategies, public consumption of drugs, and his views on "safe use" sites. Finally, we talk about what it's like running to serve in a new form of government with a totally new way of electing leaders in Portland.
    55 min
  • Metro Councilor Christine Lewis on housing, climate, and transportation | EP 133
    Metro Councilor Christine Lewis has had an extensive career in Oregon politics. A Portland Business Journal "40 Under 40" honoree, she graduated from Reed College and quickly entered the world of political organizing. She has worked as campaign manager for former Senate President Peter Courtney, former State Rep. and Multnomah County Commissioner Jules Bailey, and several ballot measures. She also worked on the "official side" (non-campaign) for then-Speaker Tina Kotek, the City of Portland, and the Bureau of Labor and Industries. In 2018, she was elected as a Metro Councilor representing a large district including much of Clackamas County and parts of Multnomah and Washington. 
     
    In this episode, we talk about Christine's career in politics and how Metro intersects with the most important policy issues facing the Portland area today: housing, homelessness, transportation, and more.
    55 min
  • Phil Keisling on Tom McCall, Vera Katz, and vote-by-mail | EP 132
    Former legislator and Secretary of State Phil Keisling has had a truly remarkable career in Oregon politics. Prior to his own tenure in elected office, he worked on the campaign of Gov. Tom McCall (McCall's third and only unsuccessful attempt) and for then-Speaker Vera Katz. Elected to the legislature in 1988 after a career in journalism, Gov. Barbara Roberts appointed him as a freshman legislator to assume the office of Secretary of State (it is an incredible story, involving Phil arriving an hour and a half late for his interview with the Governor). He was subsequently elected to two full terms. 

    In this episode, we talk about Phil's career, the changing nature of Oregon politics (with an emphasis on policy over administration), the true story of how Oregon launched vote-by-mail (and the strange bedfellows who made it happen), and why attempts to open Oregon's primaries have failed.
    1 hr 3 min

About The Bridge by OR360

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OR360 Media presents The Bridge, a podcast hosted by Alex Titus, Ben Bowman, & Reagan Knopp.