Best OPB Podcasts (2024)

1
Portland’s new political era has arrived 19:40

1h ago19:40

19:40

Keith Wilson will be Portland’s next mayor. And the 12 person city council is coming into focus. I’m Andrew Theen. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we talk about Wilson’s victory, the new faces coming to city council and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts

1
Multnomah County Election Night Behind the Scenes 3:25

6m ago3:25

3:25

Multnomah County Elections Behind the Scenes Audio postcard on election night.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Portland election analysis: What’s next for the city with new elected leadership 14:20

31m ago14:20

14:20

From homelessness to a budget crisis, Portland officials will have a lot to navigate as they take office. This year, Portlanders used ranked choice voting to decide the next mayor and council. And the city council has expanded from five seats to 12 across four geographic districts. We check in on how the election went and what’s next for the city w…

1
Multnomah County Chair is ready to work with new city leadership in partnership to fight homelessness 12:53

31m ago12:53

12:53

On Wednesday, three Portland Commissioners - Mingus Mapps, Rene Gonzalez and Dan Ryan - decided to pull an ordinance they had filed to end the city’s 8-year partnership with Multnomah County to fight homelessness. The decision was made as Portland is poised to elect Keith Wilson, the owner of a trucking company as its next mayor, who opposes the ci…

1
Portland's newly elected mayor Keith Wilson shares vision for city, tackling big challenges 25:33

31m ago25:33

25:33

After the second release of preliminary election results from Multnomah County on Wednesday night, Keith Wilson maintained his lead in the mayoral race. The Oregonian has already called the race, and opponents Carmen Rubio and Rene Gonzalez have both conceded to him. Wilson is the CEO of a local trucking company and ran on a platform to end homeles…

1
Post election, colleges encourage students to decompress 3:48

3m ago3:48

3:48

Post election, colleges encourage students to decompressBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
The Rose City Rollers clinch their fifth championship win 5:59

27m ago5:59

5:59

Last weekend, 13 of the best roller derby teams in the world were in Portland competing in the International World Flat Track Derby Association championships. It was hosted (and WON!) by Portland’s own Rose City Rollers who this year celebrated their 20th anniversary.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
A look at ranked choice voting in Portland 5:47

21m ago5:47

5:47

For the first time, Portlanders used ranked choice voting to select their mayor and city council members. They ranked candidates in order of preference, and their votes got distributed as candidates were eliminated. So how did it go?By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Oregon county clerks president shares perspective on recent general election 11:56

4h ago11:56

11:56

The general election is now over, wrapping up months of planning, assistance and coordination among the state’s 36 county clerks. They are responsible for mailing off ballots, registering voters and overseeing elections in local, state and federal races in Oregon. More than a third of them this year also administered a presidential election in Oreg…

1
Election response: Cliff Bentz, Jeff Merkley, Meghan Moyer, Craig Roberts 41:06

4h ago41:06

41:06

Republican Cliff Bentz has won his reelection for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District, the largest congressional district in Oregon that represents around two-thirds of the state, comprising everything east of the Willamette Valley. We hear from Bentz and others in response to this week’s election results. Meghan Moyer won a position on Multnomah C…

1
A big night for Republicans, but not in Oregon 25:11

2h ago25:11

25:11

Democrats nationally are in disarray – but here in Oregon – the party appears poised for another cycle of big victories. On the next episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss what to make of the local versus national disconnect and other major takeaways from statewide races. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.…

1
Central Oregon returns show strong leads in state Senate, sheriff and Bend city races 4:52

8m ago4:52

4:52

Broadman claims victory in his Oregon Senate race, Vander Kamp leads the Deschutes sheriff race, and Bend City Council has two new members.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Next day election analysis: from Oregon ballot measures to statewide offices and congressional races 52:17

2h ago52:17

52:17

Members of OPB’s politics team join us to provide analysis and share the latest updates on Oregon races in the general election. They’ll discuss the results of statewide ballot measures and analyze some of the congressional district races, as well as the latest developments in Portland’s historic elections to choose a new mayor and expand the city …

1
Oregon’s second-largest school district to put weapons detectors in high schools 4:45

7m ago4:45

4:45

Salem-Keizer will have weapon detection systems operating in all six comprehensive high schools this school year, with a likely expansion to middle schools next year. Here’s what you need to know.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Understanding Earth as a living system 34:53

3d ago34:53

34:53

In the 1970s, some scientists proposed that Earth and its life forms are a single, self-regulating system. At the time, the "Gaia hypothesis" was widely criticized. But since then, the concept of Earth as a vast interconnected living system has gained acceptance. Portland-based science writer Ferris Jabr’s new book, “Becoming Earth: How Our Planet …

1
Bonneville Power Administration proposes 13 new projects to expand the regional grid 18:18

2h ago18:18

18:18

The BPA owns 75% of the transmission lines in the Northwest. It has proposed 13 new projects to upgrade and expand the region’s power grid to accommodate growing energy needs. Oregon and other Northwest states have ambitious carbon emissions reduction targets that they can’t hit unless the power grid expands. Those goals will be impossible to meet …

1
Oregon launches prescribed fire liability pilot program 17:41

3h ago17:41

17:41

Oregon recently launched a pilot program to provide liability coverage for prescribed burns that don’t go as intended. The program covers up to $1 million in damages per burn. It’s being managed in tandem with the state’s certified burn manager program, which provides training on how to safely and effectively use prescribed fire on a variety of lan…

1
Newport adopts Oregon Coast’s first new estuary management plan in decades 16:28

5h ago16:28

16:28

Newport is the first city on the Oregon Coast to adopt a new estuary management plan in more than 40 years. The city jointly manages the Yaquina Bay Estuary with Lincoln County and the city of Toledo. The three entities use the plan to determine what kind of development can happen in what parts of the estuary. The updated version requires developer…

1
UW researcher shares more on the strategy and spread of misinformation as we approach Election Day 18:40

19m ago18:40

18:40

Misinformation around election season has been spreading, including false claims that Donald Trump is not appearing as a candidate on Oregon’s Voter Pamphlet to some Pennsylvania ballots being destroyed. Stephen Prochaska is a doctoral student at the University of Washington Information School and a graduate research assistant at the Center for an …

1
Oregon conservationist Bob Sallinger dead at 57 4:18

19m ago4:18

4:18

Oregon conservationist Bob Sallinger dead at 57By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Stop Requested: Christmas Valley to La Pine 5:38

9m ago5:38

5:38

Stop Requested joins the weekly Christmas Valley Shopper Bus into La Pine.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Electrical Boxes Supply Hiccups 7:13

13m ago7:13

7:13

Oregon needs more housing, but challenges getting electrical equipment could hurt the effort.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Ducks excitement covers University of Oregon campus, city of Eugene and beyond 3:41

3d ago3:41

3:41

The Oregon Ducks’ #1 national ranking has led a supportive fanbase of students to new emotional highs for the green and yellow.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Miss Trans Oregon Billie McBride vies for national Miss Trans USA title 12:35

1h ago12:35

12:35

Astoria’s Billie McBride was crowned Miss Trans Oregon earlier this year. That means she’ll be vying for the Miss Trans USA title at the national pageant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from Nov. 7-10. A former business owner and an avid figure skater, McBride now spends her time advocating against anti-trans legislation. She joins us in the studio to tal…

1
Portland police share security measures and preparation for possible civil unrest on election day and after 20:19

1h ago20:19

20:19

This week, a coalition of over 100 elected officials, arts organizations, labor unions and chambers of commerce signed a letter urging calm and “thoughtful civic engagement” on election day, and to preserve the “hard-won but still fragile progress” in Downtown Portland. Amid rising concerns about possible civil unrest next week, Portland Police Chi…

1
$2 million state grant helps effort to create new drug and alcohol recovery center in Columbia Gorge 19:50

1h ago19:50

19:50

Derek Greenwood is an adjunct faculty member at Columbia Gorge Community College and a certified drug and alcohol counselor. As someone with lived experience, he credits having a safe space he could go to socialize when he was recovering from drug addiction as a young adult. But finding safe, sober spaces to form those connections with other people…

1
Let's do the time change together -- it's DST time again 4:41

14m ago4:41

4:41

Let's do the time change together -- it's DST time againBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
How Portland’s campaigns have changed, plus the ballot box fires 27:19

7d ago27:19

27:19

The Portland area found itself in the national spotlight this week for a not particularly flattering reason: Repeated arson attacks on ballot boxes. We’ll be going over what we know about those attacks, but first we’re going to take a close look at the many races this year for a spot in Portland City Hall. A massive governance shift approved by vot…

1
Photogenic Oregon bats vie for third consecutive win at bat beauty contest 13:55

2h ago13:55

13:55

The weeklong Bureau of Land Management’s annual Bat Beauty Contest closes, appropriately enough, on Halloween this year. Voting has taken place on the BLM’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. The competition features photos of bats taken primarily by government biologists who survey and work with bats on public lands in 12 western states, including O…

1
OHSU study finds many patients aren’t receiving treatment for menopause symptoms 21:43

2h ago21:43

21:43

Menopause can present a wide range of symptoms, from hot flashes and sleep disturbances to brain fog and loss of bone density. Though several safe and effective therapies are available, many patients still aren’t receiving the help they need. A new study from Oregon Health & Science University found that more than 60% of respondents with moderate t…

1
How AI could help us locate and study threatened birds 17:12

8h ago17:12

17:12

For researchers, endangered and threatened birds like the Northern Spotted Owl and the Marbled Murrelet can be incredibly hard to find and study in the wild. Now new research shows that artificial intelligence may be able to help. As first reported in Hakai Magazine, researchers have been training AI to correctly identify elusive species of birds i…

1
Weekend Edition host Lillian Karabaic interviews a haunted house actor for OPB's At Work With series 4:30

19h ago4:30

4:30

Weekend Edition host Lillian Karabaic interviews a haunted house actor for OPB's At Work With seriesBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Rare plant plowed under at Camas golf course leaves researchers worried 4:25

1h ago4:25

4:25

The majority of the world’s population of the once-endangered Bradshaw’s lomatium was destroyed a few weeks ago on a golf course in Camas, Washington. Some experts are worried that the removal is a sign of species losing federal protections too soon.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
UO analysis finds link between legal sports gambling and higher rates of intimate partner violence 15:18

2h ago15:18

15:18

Research into domestic violence has found that when a professional football team has an unexpected loss in its hometown, intimate partner violence can increase by 10%. A new analysis from researchers at the University of Oregon found that this effect is amplified in states with legalized sports betting. Sports gambling is currently legal in 38 stat…

1
Oregon approves plan to enroll entire Elliott State Forest in carbon credit market 16:57

2h ago16:57

16:57

The Oregon State Land Board recently approved a plan to enroll the Elliott State Forest in the voluntary carbon credit market. The forest spans more than 80,000 acres in southwestern Oregon near Coos Bay. Oregon is the second state behind Michigan to dedicate an entire state forest to storing harmful carbon emissions and selling the credits. State …

1
Multnomah County elections director on ballot box fires, ranked choice voting and more 20:33

9d ago20:33

20:33

Even if you’re among the county’s most engaged and informed voters, there’s a lot to keep track of this election cycle. And that’s not even counting the recent fires at ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington. With Election Day less than a week out, we invited Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott on to give us the latest about ballot se…

1
Portland facility works to break down cultural barriers to psilocybin access for marginalized groups 5:14

37m ago5:14

5:14

The Cora Center is the first psilocybin facility in the state that is run by majority BIPOC and LGBTQ+ facilitators. They help clients from those groups get over cultural barriers to treatment, like trauma and stigma.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Should we be taking our dogs everywhere we go? A Portland writer shares her thoughts 24:19

13h ago24:19

24:19

From grocery stores to breweries, we are taking our pet dogs to places more and more. But do our furry companions actually enjoy being dragged alongside our own adventures to cafes and bookstores? Tove Danovich is a Portland-based writer and author of “Under the Henfluence.” She wrote a recent opinion piece arguing that maybe we should leave our do…

1
Multnomah County Commissioner District 2 debate: Sam Adams & Shannon Singleton 27:53

3d ago27:53

27:53

Sam Adams and Shannon Singleton are in a runoff to represent North and Northeast Portland, District 2, on the Multnomah County Commission. Neither candidate got over 50% in the May primary. The seat opened up when Susheela Jayapal stepped down last fall to run for Congress. Sam Adams is a former mayor of the city of Portland and previously held a p…

1
Voting for president while Black and mixed race in Bend 4:35

17h ago4:35

4:35

Voting for president while Black and mixed race in BendBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
How candidates — and their donors — are navigating a first-of-its-kind election season in Portland 4:14

3d ago4:14

4:14

Candidates running for office in Portland this fall are navigating uncharted waters, and that means trying out different strategies.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Portland City Council District 4 candidates forum 52:21

1d ago52:21

52:21

In 2022, Portland residents voted to overhaul the city’s form of government. That includes using ranked choice voting to expand the number of seats on city council from five to 12. Another major change is the creation of four geographic districts in the city. Voters within each district will now elect three candidates to represent them on the new c…

1
Proposed shipping container terminal in Coos Bay could boost the economy there 5:18

1d ago5:18

5:18

Proposed shipping container terminal in Coos Bay could boost the economy thereBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
At Work With: Haunted House Actor 6:08

3d ago6:08

6:08

For At Work With, we follow haunted house actor Shell Galloway.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Stop Requested goes to Lakeview 6:25

4d ago6:25

6:25

Stop Requested goes to Oregon's Mile High City, Lakeview. By bus.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
All of Oregon's statewide races, explained 5:21

4d ago5:21

5:21

Starting next year, Oregon will have a new attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer. All three seats are open with no incumbent running, and Republicans believe they have a shot in one of the three.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Offshore wind looked like a sure thing for Oregon — until it wasn’t. What went wrong? 4:48

10d ago4:48

4:48

The federal government postponed a floating offshore wind auction off the coast of Southern Oregon. Many still see the potential, but the state must first tackle a combination of issues that led to the postponement.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
Portland City Council District 2 candidates forum 51:53

5d ago51:53

51:53

In 2022, Portland residents voted to drastically change the city’s form of government. That includes using ranked choice voting to expand the city council from five seats to 12. Another change is the creation of four geographic districts, with voters in each district electing three candidates to represent them on the new council. District 2 covers …

1
The Gresham program growing the next generation of farmers 4:14

5d ago4:14

4:14

The Gresham program growing the next generation of farmersBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

1
These Oregon legislative races could determine the balance of power in Salem 20:06

5d ago20:06

20:06

The Legislature doesn’t get as much attention in this hotly-contested election cycle, but there are a number of key races and candidates are making their final arguments to voters. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart delve into the legislative races to watch and what Democrats may do if they land a s…

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