The Bridge by OR360

The Bridge by OR360

By Alex Titus, Ben Bowman, & Reagan KnoppNewsEducationGovernmentPolitics
Download on the App Store

The Bridge by OR360 episodes

  • John Frohnmayer on polarization, ethics, and why third party candidates fail | EP 120
    John Frohnmayer served as the fifth chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1989. He has held numerous civic leadership roles and briefly ran as an Independent candidate for the United States Senate in 2008 (the election where Jeff Merkley defeated incumbent Senator Gordon Smith). Frohnmayer is the author of seven books, including memoirs from his saga leading the NEA during a particularly turbulent time that still impacts contemporary politics ("Behind the right’s loathing of the NEA: Two ‘despicable’ exhibits almost 30 years ago" from the Washington Post). His latest book is a novel, Blood and Faith, and a sequel will be released shortly.
     
    In this episode, we talk about what it was like growing up as Frohnmayer alongside his brother (future Attorney General Dave). We talk about the role of athletics in his life (and his thoughts on the PAC-12 shake-up), and the confusion of being a young person who isn't quite sure what they want to do. We also talk about him getting "canned" from the NEA, the first amendment, polarization, ethics, and what we might do to make our politics work better.
    55 min
  • Will Lathrop is the first Republican candidate to declare for Oregon’s Attorney General race | EP 119

    Will Lathrop is running for the position of Oregon's Attorney General. In this episode Reagan and Will discuss his top priorities as a candidate as well as his perspective on some of Oregon's most hot button issues including Measure 110, Measure 11, and non-unanimous jury verdicts. Lathrop has an extensive background as a prosecutor and believes that solving the 'drug crisis' in Oregon should be a top priority for the AG, as well as Government corruption and crime.

    To follow Lathrop's campaign visit: https://www.willlathrop.com/ 

    27 min
  • Author Marc Johnson on how Mansfield and Dirksen used political power to solve big problems in turbulent times | EP118
    Majority Leader Mike Mansfield and Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, with opposing parties, leadership styles, and personalities, were two of the most impactful figures in America in the 1960s. During a period of political turmoil--global superpowers on the brink of nuclear war, the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK Jr., war, and racial strife--two men from different parties shepherded monumental legislation (the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the Great Society, etc.) through the Senate with bipartisan consensus. How did they pull it off?
     
    In this episode, we talk with author and historian Marc Johnson about these two men, their leadership styles, their relationship with each other (and with Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson), and their accomplishments. Importantly, though, we talk about whether or not it's possible in today's political environment to do what they did the way they did it. We talk about the lessons that political leaders, including those in Oregon politics, can learn from these two men--and how specifically their approach might have been fundamentally different than most politicians' today. 
     
    If you enjoy The Oregon Bridge podcast, you will love this book ("Mansfield and Dirksen: Bipartisan Giants of the Senate"). For young people who have only ever known a dysfunctional Congress, it's a beautiful portrait of two fascinating leaders who guided the US Senate during turbulent times. For everyone, it's a reminder of what's possible when exceptional leaders use political power to solve big problems.
    1 hr 3 min
  • The Scramble for Statewide Office | EP 117

    Ben and Reagan are giving the rundown on who you might expect to be in the running for Oregon state-wide positions of Attorney General, State Treasurer, and Secretary of State in the 2024 election cycle. 

    For more information check out the article here and be sure to subscribe to the Liftoff weekly newsletter : 

    https://theoregonway.substack.com/p/the-liftoff-the-scramble-for-statewide

     

    31 min
  • Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps is running for Mayor! | EP 116

    This week the Oregon Bridge is welcoming back Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps who has announced his candidacy for Mayor of Portland! In this episode Mapps lays out his optimistic outlook for the future of the city of Portland, as ell as shed some light on the current structure of the city council and the ways in which the city's governance is expected to change in the coming years. 

     

    You can check out our previous conversation with Mapps here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E468Vpotf0

    40 min
  • Introducing Reagan’s Candidate Tracker | EP 115

    Host Reagan Knopp is bringing the candidate tracker to OR360 subscribers! The candidate tracker will be updating subscribers with real time information about new candidates as they declare and/or make changes to their campaign trail. Be sure to check out the tracker here: https://theoregonway.substack.com/p/or360-launches-candidate-tracker

    And also be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel! 

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3t7BqGHYlwrGo2pYX_-W4Q

     

    13 min
  • What it’s like to be a Republican National Committeeman with Solomon Yue | EP 114
    Solomon Yue is a long-time Republican Party official and Oregon's Republican National Committeeman (RNC). Escaping from Communist China during Mao's cultural revolution, Yue found himself as an immigrant to the US by way of Alaska before ending up in Oregon. Once in Oregon, he slowly began to rise through the ranks eventually culminating in to the peak of GOP influence as a Republican National Committeeman. 
     
    Solomon walks us through his time upbringing including his time in a Chinese re-education camp, how being an immigrant shaped his views on politics and policy, and what it's like in a day-to-day capacity as an RNC. We also talk about the Oregon GOP and changes that Solomon would like to see with the party going forward. Solomon also shares his take on a number of newsy topics -- such as the 2024 Republican presidential primary and if he thinks Trump will skip the first debate.
    48 min
  • What the life and legacy of Steve ”Pre” Prefontaine mean to Oregon with Tom Jordan | EP 113
    Steve "Pre" Prefontaine is an Oregon legend. Pre was charismatic, controversial, magnetic, gritty, outspoken, and iconic. One of the most talented athletes in Oregon history, Pre was a runner on Bill Bowerman and Bill Delinger's track team at the University of Oregon. He grew up in Coos Bay (which helped shape who he was) and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated by the time he was 18. He was the first athlete ever paid to wear Nike shoes. Pre's life was cut short in a tragic and somewhat mysterious car accident when he was 24-years-old on Skyline Boulevard in Eugene--his death remains the source of conspiracy theories and unanswered questions over 50 years later. 
     
    In this episode we talk to Tom Jordan, a giant in the Oregon Track and Field world in his own right, who directed the Prefontaine Classic for 37 years--and who literally wrote the book on Pre. We discuss Pre's life--his childhood in Coos Bay, his swagger as an athlete, his battles against the AAU, his relationship with Nike, the legendary 1972 Olympics, and his untimely death. As a former athlete, reporter, and a contemporary of Pre's, Tom had a front-row seat for many of Pre's accomplishments. We conclude by talking about Pre's legacy and why he matters to Oregon.
    44 min
  • The ”Three Act Play” of the 2023 Legislative Session | EP 112
    The 2023 Legislative Session is officially over! After a six-month rollercoaster ride, the legislature adjourned on Sunday, June 25 (the absolute last day possible!). 
     
    In this episode, we offer a framework for how to think about the session (a three act play!)--and we also cover some of the major pieces of legislation and budget investments that were passed. We talk about the constitutional referrals (elected official compensation, ranked choice voting, and impeachment) and some of the more highly-publicized bills (e.g. "the potato bill" and self-serve gas). We also discuss what bipartisanship looked like in a politically fraught legislative session (which might surprise you).
    43 min
  • Explaining the ”Greater Idaho” Movement with Matt McCaw | EP 111
    Matt McCaw is the spokesman for Greater Idaho, a grassroots organization seeking to allow Idaho to absorb a number of rural Oregon counties. The organization was started a number of years ago in response to the urban-rural divide and what Matt explains are irreconcilable  differences politically and culturally between different parts of the state. Greater Idaho has gained significant international and national media attraction including write ups in the New York Times, CNN, and other major publications.
     
    Matt walks us through exactly what the Greater Idaho movement is, why folks like him are pushing for this proposal, and his political reasoning for the cause -- some of which are certain to surprise listeners. He also walks us through the course of action it would take to redraw state borders, resolutions different counties have passed supporting the measure, and common questions he gets. This is an episode you won't want to miss.
    47 min

About The Bridge by OR360

From the publisher's feed

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