
OPB Politics Now
‘OPB Politics Now’: A chat with Oregon US Sen. Ron Wyden
On the latest episode of "OPB Politics Now," U.S. Senator Ron Wyden chats with OPB's Lillian Karabaic about the semiconductor industry, the debt ceiling fight and Damian Lillard's future in Portland.
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‘OPB Politics Now’: The elephants not in the room
The Republican walkout in the Oregon state senate hit a critical point this week. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss whether the Legislative session is over, the personality conflicts at play between rivals in Salem and much more.

‘OPB Politics Now’: The GOP walkout in plain sight
On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart discuss the latest Republican walkout and what it may mean for pending legislation in Salem, the lawmakers who are nearing their 10th unexcused absence and much more.

‘OPB Politics Now’: The Rise and Fall of Shemia Fagan
Shemia Fagan was supposed to be the next Democratic star in Oregon politics, but now she's about to be out of office due to a spectacularly fast-moving scandal in Salem. Reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart talk about Fagan's rise to prominence and sudden resignation as Secretary of State.

‘OPB Politics Now’: Phil Knight’s $400 million gift and the fate of campaign contributions
On this week’s episode of "OPB Politics Now," we discuss Phil Knight’s $400 million gift to a new investment fund that aims to benefit Black Portlanders. Also, we discuss the history of campaign finance reform in Oregon.

‘OPB Politics Now’: Inside Portland’s Reimagine Oregon funding flip-flop
In 2020, Portland City Council promised millions for a new racial justice group formed to help Black Portlanders. Last week it appeared the city would renege on its promise to Reimagine Oregon. On this week’s show, we examine why the city changed course at the last second, why the budget proposal prompted outrage and what it means for the city’s relationships with communities of color.

‘OPB Politics Now’: Abortion in the Pacific Northwest
On this week's show, we break down a complicated week of court actions and legislative maneuvering in the Pacific Northwest on the topic of abortion access.

‘OPB Politics Now’: Oregon’s scramble for semiconductors
State legislators have sent the governor a big piece of legislation aimed at attracting more semiconductor production. On this week's show, we'll examine the tools they'll use to do that, and the broader philosophical choices they're making about Oregon land use policy.

‘OPB Politics Now’: The gun regulation debate begins ... again
Oregon lawmakers have been so busy this session working up major packages on housing and semiconductors that the two parties have barely had time to fight over the issues that most bitterly divide them. That changed this week, as Democrats called up three bills that would expand gun regulation in the state. OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Jonathan Levinson break them down on the new episode.

‘OPB Politics Now’: A hectic week in Portland and Salem
On this week's show, we catch you up on a hectic week in Oregon politics. Among the highlights: Portland struggles to find homeless camp sites, Oregon loses its chief financial officer and state lawmakers look at ways to help prevent organized shoplifting.

‘OPB Politics Now’: Milepost 5 and the challenges of affordable housing
Oregon leaders are pushing local governments to build more affordable housing and to build it quickly. But on this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, we’re going to look at the realities of actually managing that housing once it's built. We have a case study in how hard that can be: Portland’s Milepost 5. It started as an artist’s dream – but is now embroiled in a class-action lawsuit.

Growing Oregon
OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes spent more than a year researching, reporting and producing “Growing Oregon,” a six-part podcast and web series looking at the evolution of Oregon’s unique approach to growth and the impact it has on our lives today. You can find the full series here.