Best OPB Podcasts (2026)

Last year was a tumultuous one in Oregon politics. The city of Portland had an entirely new government and mayor. The U.S. president started talking a lot about Portland and mobilized members of the National Guard to the state. And the “big beautiful bill” blew an $890-million dollar hole in Oregon’s budget. Just a few days into 2026, it appears an…

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What is the point of an art critic? Oregon arts writers shares their thoughts 16:46

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5h ago16:46

16:46

Do we need art critics? If you ask Bob Hicks, executive editor of Oregon ArtsWatch, he says “critic” is a dumb word. As he argues in his recently published piece, the role of art criticism isn’t to be the final say in whether a piece of work is good or bad, but rather to be the start of a conversation. At the same time, arts journalism as a whole h…

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Cannabis and hemp industry might be looking at a sea change 20:36

5h ago20:36

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Last month, President Trump signed an executive order seeking to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug. Cannabis is currently Schedule I, alongside drugs the DEA defines as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Trump’s order fast-tracks the reclassification, and it could significantly change the industry, op…

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What Harney County officials and residents think about the 10-year anniversary of Malheur occupation 15:06

5h ago15:06

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On Jan. 2, 2016, a dozen armed anti-government militants led by Ammon Bundy and his brother, Ryan, took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters outside of Burns in Harney County. The 41-day siege at the bird sanctuary in rural Eastern Oregon attracted national and international media attention. On Jan. 26, one of the militants, Arizo…

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Fatal helicopter crash ignites criticism of slacklining oversight 5:31

7m ago5:31

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Pilots say ‘meaningless’ messages clutter a federal aviation warning system.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Attorneys for US DOJ, Portland clash over police records related to ICE protests 4:40

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Since 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice has helped Portland police rewrite some of its policies surrounding treatment of people experiencing behavioral health crises. Does that entitle it to recent police records?By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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New director of University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer art museum shares her vision and goals 16:23

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In September, Olivia Miller returned to Eugene to start her new position as the executive director of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon. She earned a master’s degree in art history from UO in 2009 and most recently served as the director of the University of Arizona’s Museum of Art in Tucson. Miller curated two exhibits…

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Oregon ecologist on state's efforts to create safe wildlife corridors over busy roadways 19:07

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The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates 14.5 million wild vertebrate animals are killed on Oregon’s roadways each year. Data shows it’s difficult to control driver behavior with things like road signs and traffic regulations. A more effective way to mitigate animal fatalities is by redirecting the animals themselves. Wildlife crossings…

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State program helps Oregonians with brain injuries navigate support services 16:52

5h ago16:52

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According to the Oregon Health Authority, nearly 35,000 Oregonians visited emergency rooms in 2023 for issues related to a brain injury. These injuries can result in a range of symptoms, from confusion and short-term memory loss to depression, anger issues and lack of impulse control. Depending on the severity of the injury, survivors may need acce…

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Hundreds of federalized National Guard members demobilized in Oregon, Illinois and California 3:57

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The troops were part of the Trump administration’s plan to support immigration enforcement operations.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Portlander combines art and activism to advocate for brain injury survivors 23:07

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It’s estimated that more than 80,000 Oregonians are living with disabilities related to a brain injury. That includes Portlander Cheryl Green, who sustained a brain injury in 2010. Since then, Green has showcased the experiences of brain injury survivors through a number of projects, including a podcast, documentary film, short videos and her work …

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Astoria library remodel honors legendary female architect Ebba Wicks Brown 13:51

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The Astoria library reopened in the fall of 2025 after a major renovation. When discussions about remodeling the library surfaced, it begged the question: What exactly does a community need from a public space? The same kinds of questions were posed when the original library was designed. Trailblazing Astorian architect Ebba Wicks Brown, the first …

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It’s been one year since Portland welcomed its new City Council. Here’s what’s changed 15:14

2h ago15:14

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It’s been one year since Portland welcomed its new 12-member city council, which was a part of a major voter-approved overhaul of the city’s government. Since January 2, 2025, the city has seen 48 council meetings, more than 190 pieces of legislation passed and nearly 40 resolutions. The new council has seen some wins, such as broader representatio…

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Portland author says we can harness our grief about climate change 52:10

9h ago52:10

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Wildfires, extreme heat, ice storms and other weather events have Oregonians thinking about climate change in a much more personal way. We talk with clinical psychologist Thomas Doherty, who helps people cope with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues brought on by the climate crisis. His new book, “Surviving Climate Anxiety,” teaches …

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10 years after the Malheur occupation, Harney County is moving on 7:57

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A remote corner of southeast Oregon was the backdrop when a group of armed, anti-government militants took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters on Jan. 2, 2016.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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10 years after the armed occupation of Malheur Wildlife Refuge 52:28

4d ago52:28

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On Jan. 2, 2016 a dozen armed men took over the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Oregon. Today we listen back to a documentary OPB reporters made about the 41 days that followed.

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Searching for slave shipwrecks and healing 52:12

6d ago52:12

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In 2016, Tara Roberts was living in Washington D.C. and working at a nonprofit when she visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture and a photograph she saw there changed her life. The image was of Black scuba divers from the group Diving with a Purpose which searches for and documents slave shipwrecks around the world. Robe…

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Poets Reginald Dwayne Betts and Mai Der Vang in conversation 52:57

5d ago52:57

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What can animals teach us about ourselves? That’s part of what poets Reginald Dwayne Betts and Mai Der Vang are both exploring in their new collections. “Doggerel” is Bett’s collection about the relationship between dogs and their humans. “Primordial” by Der Vang tells of a nearly extinct deer-like creature that lives in the jungles of Laos. They s…

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A grip of new Oregon laws will start in 2026 5:02

7d ago5:02

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Oregon lawmakers passed hundreds of bills in 2025, but only now will we see the impact many will have on our lives. That’s because barring any special directive, after bills are passed, they go into effect the following Jan. 1st. OPB's politics and government reporterDirk VanderHart breaks down some of the most notable new laws.…

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Summing up the biggest Pacific Northwest news of 2025 52:14

6d ago52:14

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It was a big year in news for the Pacific Northwest. The president attempted to send the National Guard into Portland, plans for a potential ICE facility caused unrest in Newport, and communities across the region saw an uptick in aggressive immigration enforcement activity. Meanwhile, a significant road funding bill died — then was resurrected — i…

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Inside ICE Detention in Tacoma 46:52

8d ago46:52

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The immigration detention center in Tacoma, WA is one of the largest detention centers in the country. This prison-like facility has rapidly filled to capacity as a new era of ICE enforcement gains steam and brings profound changes for people locked inside detention — many who are longtime residents of Oregon and Washington. Today we bring you a do…

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Clark County residents say they’ll get all the burdens and none of the benefits of proposed PacifiCorp transmission line 5:20

8d ago5:20

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Clark County residents say they’ll get all the burdens and none of the benefits of proposed PacifiCorp transmission lineBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Authors Kristen Arnett and Jess Walter at the Portland Book Festival 52:05

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Sometimes laughter can be the best way to make it through difficult times. And a good joke can go a long way to connecting with another person, no matter how different they are. Those are themes in the two new books “Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One” by Kristen Arnett and “So Far Gone” by Jess Walter. OPB’s Jess Hazel talked to Walter and Arnett ab…

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Leni Zumas and Cleyvis Natera in conversation at the Portland Book Festival 52:29

12d ago52:29

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What does survival look like if it comes at the expense of freedom? How can we build safe places in an increasingly unstable world? These questions are at the heart of two new books by authors Leni Zumas and Cleyvis Natera. Zumas’s book “Wolf Bells” tells the story of an intergenerational group home determined to make a space for people who fall th…

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Author Emma Donoghue talks about her novel 'The Paris Express' 52:25

13d ago52:25

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Irish-Canadian author Emma Donoghue is perhaps best known for her novel “Room,” told from the perspective of a 5-year-old boy held captive with his mother. Most of Donoghue’s work, however, is rooted in historical fiction. She frequently writes about characters and perspectives that are often erased from history. Her latest novel, “The Paris Expres…

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Underground mutual aid group helps feed Hillsboro’s immigrant families in hiding 5:04

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Underground mutual aid group helps feed Hillsboro’s immigrant families in hidingBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Owyhee Canyonlands protection effort remains in limbo 52:34

14d ago52:34

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The Owyhee Canyonlands area encompasses millions of acres along the Owyhee River on the borders of Oregon, Idaho and Nevada. The land is rugged and remote and beautiful, and efforts to to protect it in some way have dragged out for years. There were pushes for the last two Democratic presidents to designate the area a national monument and most rec…

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OregonSaves has $430M in assets, but people keep taking money out 4:49

14d ago4:49

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OregonSaves has $430M in assets, but people keep taking money outBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Under Trump, Northwest immigration detainees are traveling farther from families, legal help 3:50

15d ago3:50

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The Trump administration has sent five times more people at least 1,000 miles compared to the last year of former president Joe Biden’s term.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Portland author's new book celebrates threatened ponderosa pine trees 52:03

15d ago52:03

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Ponderosa pine trees dominate parts of Eastern Oregon and Washington and have long been an icon of the American West, but in the past decade more than two hundred million ponderosa have died. Particularly in the Southwest, scientists estimate that by mid-century less than 5% of the ponderosa trees may remain. Portland author Gary Ferguson explores …

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Rail speeders on Oregon Coast 4:30

16d ago4:30

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Rail enthusiasts use rail speeder cars to collect toys for children on the Oregon Coast.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Clackamas River Flooding 3:40

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Homeowners inspect the damage after Clackamas River flooding on December 18, 2025.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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OPB’s sixth year of music holiday cheer! 8:10

18d ago8:10

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JT Griffith joins OPB’s Crystal Ligori for our annual Christmas music conversation.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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The best ‘Think Out Loud’ stories of 2025 52:16

18d ago52:16

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As 2025 comes to a close, the staff of OPB's "Think Out Loud" look back on some of their favorite conversations from the past year. Producers Sage Van Wing, Gemma DiCarlo, Rolie Hernandez, Sheraz Sadiq, Riley Martinez and Malya Fass join host Dave Miller in conversation.

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Kelly Ma (Chinese Mandarin) 1:34

19d ago1:34

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Kelly Ma has two children in PPS. She speaks some English but has needed the help of a Chinese language specialist for her oldest. Ma’s son, who goes to Woodstock Elementary School, is on the autism spectrum. Ma was still trying to understand the U.S. education system when she realized her family needed help.…

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Trang Nguyễn (Vietnamese) 1:10

19d ago1:10

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Trang Nguyen has two children in PPS. For her, having the help of a Vietnamese language specialist was invaluable when her son was struggling with his speech. But Trang considers herself one of the lucky ones — she got support when her children were still little. She and other parents who’ve worked with the LAS team are worried about what might hap…

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Nancy (Spanish) 0:35

19d ago0:35

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When Nancy’s family moved from Mexico to Oregon, she barely spoke any English. So when the youngest of her three sons was identified with a disability, she needed help. That’s when Nancy began working with a Spanish language specialist for Portland Public Schools’ Language Access Services team. But in the most recent round of multi-million dollar b…

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M110 implementation struggled due to lack of stability and coordination, audit shows 13:50

19d ago13:50

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A new audit from the Secretary of State found that the implementation of Measure 110, the drug discrimination ballot initiative, faced a number of challenges with unclear results. The audit notes that despite the roughly $800 million dedicated to programs aimed at helping in-recovery and substance-use treatment, the outcomes — including the number …

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Policy expert, district superintendent weigh in on Oregon’s push to improve reading scores 19:50

19d ago19:50

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In 2023, Oregon lawmakers passed HB 3198, which created the Early Literacy Success Initiative, an effort to address the state’s dismal reading test scores. The bill aimed to more fully adopt a phonics-based teaching approach — often referred to as "the science of reading" — in schools across the state. Education experts broadly agree this approach …

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Beaverton schools official on how district is supporting students and families amid concerns over ICE activity 18:33

19d ago18:33

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Last Monday, hundreds of students in Beaverton, Forest Grove and Hillsboro walked out of classes to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in their communities in Washington County. The Beaverton School District has made available resources to assist immigrant and refugee students and their families, including reminders of its on…

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Oregon’s big political stories of the 2025, looking ahead to 2026 36:00

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As 2025 comes to a close, the OPB Politics Now team is taking a look at the top political stories of the year. It was a year. We saw the Trump administration return to power, Mayor Keith Wilson and a new government enter the scene in Portland, and Democratic state officials fumble and stumble through a legislative session. On the latest episode of …

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When cheaper isn't actually cheaper for health insurance 4:20

19d ago4:20

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Insurers love to cut costs — but they’re also looking at what happens after a medication is used. In some cases, paying more upfront can reduce emergency care and hospital bills later. A life-saving - and talking - allergy injector helps explain the economics.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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In West Linn, a tough lesson on how not to close a school 4:36

19d ago4:36

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The West Linn-Wilsonville school board will take up a vote this week to move forward with a school closure plan.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Families, former Portland Public Schools employees fight cuts to language services 5:48

22d ago5:48

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PPS dismantled the Language Access Services team last year amid millions of dollars in budget cuts. They say needed services are still provided, but some argue vulnerable families are worse off.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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University of Oregon psychologists share tips for navigating stress during the holidays 18:46

20d ago18:46

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It’s that time of year when many of us are getting ready to celebrate the holidays, whether that’s finalizing travel plans, preparing to host visitors or buying last minute gifts. But the holidays can also stir up stress, from parents struggling to maintain some semblance of routine for kids out of school to intergenerational conflicts over expecta…

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Coffin Butte Landfill in Benton County inches toward expansion. Opponents are still trying to stop it 18:12

20d ago18:12

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The Coffin Butte Landfill, located about 10 miles north of Corvallis, takes in trash from around two dozen Oregon counties and accepts more than a million tons of waste every year. But its shelf life is expiring, and Republic Services, the company that owns and operates the landfill, is trying to expand it. Now, it’s one step closer. Last month, Re…

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How federal funding cuts are impacting conservation efforts in Oregon 15:21

20d ago15:21

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This fall, the U.S. Department of the Interior cancelled nearly 80 grants to organizations that focus on habitat restoration, species conservation and other ecological work. According to a social media post from the Department of Government Efficiency, the cuts were made because the organizations supported diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. M…

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Portland band Karaoke from Hell has been backing up karaoke singers live since 1992 19:41

21d ago19:41

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If you’ve always dreamed of singing in a band, a karaoke night might scratch the itch. But on Monday nights in Portland, you can actually sing karaoke with a live band at Dante’s pub. Karaoke from Hell is now a 33-year-old tradition featured in a new documentary of the same name. The documentary will be screened on Wednesday, Dec. 17th at the Star …

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University of Oregon Researcher shares advice on parenting in the digital age 21:37

21d ago21:37

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As social media and AI advance, it can be hard to know how to best help kids navigate the ever-changing digital landscape and keep them safe online. Jen Doty, an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services at the University of Oregon, has studied cyberbullying since 2013 and has recently developed a program for…