Best OPB Podcasts (2026)

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

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5h ago5:02

5:02

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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Political Coffee 12-19-25 small referendum error rate so far, Dems want to raise taxes in Feb session, OPB hit piece on R's, Romainian SNAP fraud, WI judge guilty of obstructing ICE, no one above the law ... 42:42

11d ago42:42

42:42

Small error rate on gas tax petition so far: https://oregoncatalyst.com/93263-error-rate-gas-tax-referendum.html Dems want to raise your taxes in February short session: https://oregoncatalyst.com/93250-2026-legislature-flirts-2-tax-hikes-6-weeks.html OPB hit piece on R’s who fought Dems not to raise taxes: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/18/wi…

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

7d ago36:00

36:00

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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Political Coffee 12-31-25: Gas tax referral makes the ballot, 7 OR conservative wins in 25, top 25 leftist lies of 25, 10 biggest media hoaxes of 25, 200m for OR rural health, TSA agent video of Billions ... 43:12

13h ago43:12

43:12

Gas tax referral officially makes the ballot for Nov: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/12/oregonians-wont-see-gas-tax-transportation-fee-hikes-in-january-as-opponents-secure-enough-signatures-to-send-issue-to-ballot.html 7 conservative wins in OR for 2025 https://oregoncatalyst.com/93529-7-conservative-wins-oregon-2025.html The left’s top 2…

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

5h ago52:14

52:14

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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Political Coffee 12-30-25: Kotax gas tax repeal petition hits 250,900, nominate taxpayer worst waste, politician, scandal of 2025, Historic OR job cuts, OR loosens voter reg rules, Somali daycare fraud ... 43:13

1d ago43:13

43:13

Victory for common sense: Kotax gas tax repeal petitions tops 250,900 turned into SOS: https://oregoncatalyst.com/93513-petition-tops-quarter-million-final-turn.html Nominees for worst politician, scandal and waste by Taxpayers Association: https://oregoncatalyst.com/93497-nominees-2025-tax-awards-worst-politician-scandal-waste.html Historic job cu…

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Inside ICE Detention in Tacoma 46:52

16h ago46:52

46:52

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

7h ago5:20

5:20

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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Political Coffee 12-29-25: Another bad Kotax idea repeal? state employees paid 4.4B last year, editorial parrots D ODOT talking points, Somali fraud is tip of iceberg, Omar's wealth went from 0 to 30M ... 43:10

3d ago43:10

43:10

Another bad Kotax idea may get repealed by the people: https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2025/12/26/effort-to-erase-homeless-camping-protections-moves-closer-to-the-ballot/ State employees earned by 4.4B last year, more than 500M more than previous year: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/12/oregon-state-employees-earned-44-billion-last-year-s…

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

5h ago52:05

52:05

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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Political Coffee 12-26-25: 43:11

1h ago43:11

43:11

By Jeff Kropf

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Political Coffee 12-25-25: 43:10

1h ago43:10

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By Jeff Kropf

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Political Coffee 12-24-25: 43:12

2d ago43:12

43:12

By Jeff Kropf

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

4h ago52:29

52:29

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

2d ago52:25

52:25

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

21h ago5:04

5:04

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

4d ago52:34

52:34

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

2d ago4:49

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

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Political Coffee 12-23-25: Trump's economy booms! Newport sues to stop DHS non existent ICE detention center, Portland homeless dude mocks free drug supply handouts, GA election law violations could be ... 43:10

9d ago43:10

43:10

Trump economy booms! https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2025/12/23/trump-boom-u-s-economy-grows-4-3-smashing-expectations/ Newport sues DHS to stop non existent ICE detention center: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/12/oregon-coast-city-sues-feds-to-halt-ice-detention-center.html Portland homeless dude mocks free drug supply handouts: https:…

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

3d ago3:50

3:50

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

9d ago52:03

52:03

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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Political Coffee 12-22-25 OR D's playing rope a dope with R's by floating gas tax repeal if R's will work with them and Coast Guard only wants IBR comments from people who use the river 43:10

10d ago43:10

43:10

Dems playing rope a dope with R’s by saying they are gonna repeal Kotax’s gas tax increase if R’s will work with them: https://www.sweethomenews.com/confronted-by-a-grassroots-backlash-democrats-consider-repealing-unpopular-gas-tax-hike/ Coast Guard only wants IBR comments from people who will use the bridge for maritime traffic and not the rest of…

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Rail speeders on Oregon Coast 4:30

4d 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

10d ago3:40

3:40

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

5d ago8:10

8:10

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

6d ago52:16

52:16

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

7d ago1:34

1:34

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

7d ago1:10

1:10

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

7d ago0:35

0:35

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

7d ago13:50

13:50

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

7d ago19:50

19:50

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

13d ago18:33

18:33

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

7d ago4:20

4:20

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

7d ago4:36

4:36

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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Political Coffee 12-18-25: SOS decries $7,000 per drug addiction call, Kotax to blame for 98% food stamp fraud, Greg Smith guilty of breaking laws, voter rolls not Fed compliant, Dems to wipe out FFA ... 43:11

14d ago43:11

43:11

Governor wannabe SOS Read says ‘enough is enough’ about $7,000 drug hotline calls: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/12/enough-is-enough-oregons-secretary-of-state-demands-accountability-for-the-states-failed-addiction-response.html Kotax’s failures lead to 98% of food stamp fraud is out of state: https://oregoncatalyst.com/93224-98-food-sta…

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

8d ago5:48

5:48

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

8d ago18:46

18:46

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

8d ago18:12

18:12

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

8d ago15:21

15:21

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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Political Coffee 12-17-25: 20 hours a week to work and get food stamps? US House votes on bill to lower Obamacare premiums by 11%, 98% SNAP fraud is out of state, Ethics probe in fake union lobbying, hit ... 43:09

15d ago43:09

43:09

Able boded adults must now work 20 hrs per week to keep getting food stamps: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/12/able-bodied-adults-must-work-or-lose-food-stamps-under-new-federal-rules-that-affect-37000-oregonians.html US House votes today on healthcare bill that CBO says lowers ObamaCare premiums by 11%: https://www.breitbart.com/politics…

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

9d ago19:41

19:41

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

9d ago21:37

21:37

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…

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Portland may limit fuel storage on the Willamette 11:14

9d ago11:14

11:14

More than 90% of all liquid fuel in Oregon is stored along a 6 mile stretch of the Willamette River just north of downtown Portland known as the Critical Energy Infrastructure hub. Studies have shown that a major earthquake could cause the release of as much toxic liquid as the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, with oil reaching all the way to the mo…

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Washington craft flour company partners with Umatilla Tribes to open mill in Eastern Oregon 20:10

10d ago20:10

20:10

Sparked by pandemic-era baking trends, interest in small-batch, locally-milled flour is growing among commercial and home bakers. Operations like Camas Country Mill in Oregon and Cairnspring Mills in Washington supply restaurants, bakeries and amateur bakers with high-quality flour sourced from local farmers who use regenerative growing practices. …

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How changes to the federal student loan program will impact borrowers in Oregon 18:14

10d ago18:14

18:14

Big changes are in store for the federal student loan program. President Trump’s tax and spending bill, which was signed into law last summer, ends a supplemental loan for graduate students and caps the amount they can borrow from the government. It also allows students in professional programs, such as law and medicine, to borrow more than student…

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What Portland’s new government looked like for the city administrator 14:48

10d ago14:48

14:48

After months of searching, Portland has officially named Raymond Lee as the first long-term city administrator. The position, which was created with the city’s new form of government, oversees thousands of city employees and the day-to-day public services including public safety, public works and city operations to name a few. But Lee isn’t the fir…

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Women’s sports could be an economic win for Portland 4:24

10d ago4:24

4:24

Women’s sports could be an economic win for PortlandBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Political Coffee 12-15-25: Coffee Klatch tonight with Rep Diehl, Chris Cummings and Nick Hill, Mississippi Miracle in K-12 education in OR? Rayfield sues Trump for 49th time, did political rage kill Rob ... 43:10

17d ago43:10

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Coffee Klatch tonight with Rep Ed Diehl, Chris Cummings and Nick Hill from 6-8pm at Bo and Vine Restaurant Salem Only massive political change can produce a K-12 “Mississippi Miracle” in OR: https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/education/2025/12/13/mississippis-reading-turnaround-may-hold-lessons-for-oregon-schools/ Dan Rayfield sues Trump w…

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Celebrating the festival of lights with... glow sticks? 4:39

13d ago4:39

4:39

Assaf Mevorach is planning an unusual way to help start the Hanukkah season, a black light rave on Saturday ahead of the first night of Hanukkah.By Oregon Public Broadcasting

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At Work With: A Forest Ranger 5:59

13d ago5:59

5:59

At Work With an Oregon state park forest ranger, Rhett Wilkins, at Tryon Creek State Natural Area.By Oregon Public Broadcasting