The Bridge by OR360

Micah Meadowcroft and Nate Hochman are two leading young conservative voices (millenial and zoomer, respectively) with national profiles, both with roots in the Pacific Northwest. This conversation starts by discussing what "conservatism" means for the Republican Party in the age of Trumpism and the nuanced differences between conservative factions. We also talk about the GOP's challenge with younger voters. We wrap with focus on the political environment in Oregon (and Portland!) and discuss what it will take for Republicans to win again.

Micah is the managing editor of the American Conservative magazine and previously served as the White house Liaison for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Nate is an Associate Contributor for Young Voices and a 2021 Publius Fellow (joining the ranks of our co-host, Alex Titus). He has written for National Review, City Journal, and others.

Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read, the "de facto Chief Financial Officer" of the state, has served in both the state and federal governments. He worked for Larry Summers and Sheryl Sandberg during the Clinton Administration before returning to the Pacific Northwest (he graduated from Willamette University and then earned an MBA from the University of Washington). He served in the State House before being elected Treasurer.

In this episode, Treasurer Read discusses his policy accomplishments at Treasury (like the national-leading OregonSaves initiative) and his views on the evolution of Democratic Party/where he fits in. He also discusses his op-ed in The Oregonian, which criticized the State Legislature and Governor for the lack of strategic reopening plan for Oregon's economy post-pandemic, saying: "We need to stop reacting and start leading." Treasurer Read is often cited as a potential candidate for Governor in 2022 -- we ask him about that, too.

Senator Dallas Heard is a rising figure in Oregon Republican politics with a growing influence on the political right. He has deep ties in Southern Oregon, where he is a business owner and represents Roseburg in the state senate (he previously served in the state house). Recently, he was elected Chair of the Oregon Republican Party on a populist, Trump-aligned agenda. Senator Heard has gained national attention for ripping off his mask on the floor of the senate and sparring with colleagues. He answers questions about the "Citizens Against Tyranny" group that earned headlines for resisting COVID-19 public health rules, the future of the GOP in Oregon, and how the Party might compete at the statewide level in a post-Trump world. Senator Heard is considered a potential candidate for statewide office, including Oregon Governor, in 2022 and beyond.

On election night 2020, NBC news declared: "America's war on drugs is finally ending." Buzzfeed wrote: "Drugs Won The 2020 Presidential Election." Across the United States, drug legalization and decriminalization efforts are winning -- from deep blue to ruby red states. With the overwhelming passage of Ballot Measure 110, Oregon solidified its position as a national leader on drug reform. Both proponents and opponents are looking to Oregon to see what the fallout will be. Matt Sutton of the Drug Policy Alliance joins the pod to explain Measure 110, discuss how Oregon fits into the national trends, and debate whether there is an emerging bipartisan realignment on drug issues.

Jamie McLeod Skinner is one of the most interesting figures in Oregon politics. She gained prominence by challenging longtime GOP congressman Greg Walden in Oregon's deep-red second congressional district in 2018 -- and coming closer to beating him than any other candidate in his two decade career. She then ran a competitive race for Oregon Secretary of State in the 2020 Democratic Primary. Jamie has unique insight on Oregon's urban-rural divide, living in central Oregon and serving as interim city manager for Talent (a town recovering from devastating wildfires). In this episode, Jamie offers honest critiques of Oregon's political institutions and systems and talks about racial justice from a rural perspective.

Rep. Christine Drazan is a state representative from rural Clackamas County, serving as the House Republican Leader (a position she was elected to after only 9 months in the legislature, a remarkable feat). She joined the pod to talk about the differences in the Oregon Legislature from when she worked as a staffer in the 1990s to today, sexual harassment in the workplace, and and Oregon's response to the pandemic. Rep. Drazan has a unique perspective on how the GOP could regain traction in Oregon in a post-Trump political landscape.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer is a former mayor of Happy Valley, a two-time Republican nominee for the state legislature, and a small business owner. She joins the Oregon Bridge to discuss former Rep. Knute Buehler's exodus from the Republican Party, why more mayors should run for higher office, race and "identity politics", and Governor Kate Brown's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Kevin Frazier is a law student who has founded several nonprofits and ventures, including The Oregon Way, a SubStack newsletter that serves as a virtual op-ed page for Oregon politics. In this episode, Kevin talks about the place for moderates in our polarized political system, feeling disenfranchised from the Democratic Party, and the future of local journalism. 

In the 2020 election, 28-year-old Alek Skarlatos came closer to beating longtime Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-Eugene) than anyone else has in the last three decades. He earned international recognition for helping stop a terrorist attack in Paris, and went on to play himself in a Clint Eastwood-directed film about the event. In this episode, Alek talks about the January 6th Capitol Insurrection, big tech, Oregon's urban-rural divide, and the future of the GOP in Oregon. 

Rep. Wlnsvey Campos is the youngest woman ever elected to the Oregon State Legislature and is an emerging leader in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party in Oregon. Ben and Alex ask her about how she got endorsed by Bernie Sanders, her views on race in politics, and how she plans to advance a progressive agenda in the Oregon legislature (including some news on a new caucus and PAC to support like-minded candidates).