George Floyd's murder sparked a movement, forcing this nation to acknowledge and confront systemic racism. But how much has changed in the year since Floyd was killed? Seattle Times Assistant Managing Editor Naomi Ishisaka tells host Joni Balter, "this is part of an arc of work that's been ongoing... and while momentum has slowed, progress has been…

After struggling through the pandemic, social unrest, and an ongoing homelessness crisis, what is the state of downtown Seattle? Bob Donegan, president of Ivar's restaurants tells host Joni Balter that 2020 was grim, but he's encouraged by the crowds returning to the city. The number of visitors to Pike Place Market is a good example. Donegan says,…

The President and Congressional Democrats are moving fast to work through a list of major projects demanded by the American public. Two U.S. House members from Washington state, helping to lead the way, speak to host Joni Balter about the challenges ahead. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Progressive Caucus, says "I just watched the American Resc…

A new president has established a different tone, but politics nationally remains as contentious as ever. Is the same true in this state? The leaders of Washington's two major political parties join host Joni Balter to discuss bridging the political divide. The conversation revealed there's still work to be done. "I think Republicans, at this point…

After losing both the White House and control of the U.S. Senate, even longtime Republicans are wondering, what's the future of the GOP? Lincoln Project Co-founder Rick Wilson and 2016 GOP nominee for Washington governor Bill Bryant share strong opinions with host Joni Balter on what they see on the road ahead. Wilson says the Republican party is a…

One day after Americans cast their ballots in record numbers, we are joined by a prominent Democrat and Republican who share their perspectives on our divided nation. Congressmember-elect Marilyn Strickland tells host Joni Balter, no matter who becomes president, we must find a way to come together to begin solving problems. She says she'll start b…

As Senate Republicans push to confirm President Trump's conservative Supreme Court nominee, how will that be received? Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik tells host Joni Balter politics should stay out of the process and we should avoid any temptation to load the court. He says, "...it is a bad idea, frankly, to tinker with the nine we have."…

DHM Research asked Oregonians whether they thought the state was on the right track and what it means to be an "American." Join us to dig into the data with John Horvick. Dan Rivas is our host. The music is by Max McGrath-Riecke. Episode PartnersDe către City Club of Portland

The Portland Diamond Project is trying to bring Major League Baseball to Portland. What questions do we need to be asking as this effort moves forward? Is there a path for baseball in Portland that enriches our entire community? (And not just a few people with deep pockets.) In this episode we talk to John Horvick of DHM Research for our segment "T…

Homelessness is again on the rise in Portland. Are Portlanders ready to rise to the challenge? And what is the street response plan Street Roots proposed recently and that's currently in Mayor Wheeler's budget? In this episode, we'll hear from John Horvick of DHM Research as part of our recurring segment "The Margins," which looks at what Oregonian…

Oregon is seen by many as an ecotopia, but have we gotten complacent about environmental issues? We'll look at survey data of environmental attitudes with John Horvick of DHM Research in a regular segment we call "The Margins." Then we'll zero in on how climate change might affect East Portland with Portland State University professor Heejun Chang.…

For more than 100 years, Portland's commission form of government has been inequitable, inefficient, and ineffective. City Club's new research report recommends that Portlanders rethink our system of government. In this episode of "Next at the Mic," Dan Rivas talks to Ken Fairfax and Christopher Bacher, two of the researchers who produced City Club…

Black students face significant barriers in public schools. In this episode, we talk about the Friday Forum on November 30, 2018, "How Oregon Is Failing Black Students and What We Can Do About it." We also meet Amarien Simmons from Rosemary Anderson High School to hear about his experiences in school. And we'll break down survey data about school e…

Oregon saw record turnout this election season. What do all these new voters tell us about the future of our state? Joining us to answer these and other questions is John Horvick, vice president and political director at DHM Research. Dan Rivas is our host. DHM is our sponsor. The music was composed by Max McGrath-Riecke. You can hear more of Max's…

Measure 103 claims it is trying to protect your groceries, but a closer look at the ballot language makes it clear that this is about a lot more than just groceries. Join us as we take a look at Oregon's ballot measure. We'll also talk to Washington State Senator Reuven Carlyle about Initiative 1634 in Washington, a nearly identical initiative in W…

Portland's Clean Energy initiative (Measure 26-201) is being led by frontline communities and a diverse coalition of grassroots leaders. It's a big step for the environmental community in Portland and is part of a trend happening across the country. In this episode, we'll outline City Club's research findings on Measure 26-201. We'll also talk to K…

Maybe a better question is: What's a newspaper now? In this episode, we explore the shape of alternative media with Douglas Tsoi of Portland Underground Graduate School and Andrew DeVigal, a professor at the Unversity of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication. We'll discuss how journalism shapes the stories we tell ourselves about our comm…

The race to become the next Portland City Commissioner for Position 3 has been fascinating and substantive. This diverse group of candidates all come with impressive qualifications and a little bit of baggage. How do they answer voter concerns? What will they do to address Portland's biggest challenges? Listen in to find out! Steph Routh and Christ…

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler participated in a special two-part State of the City event. Join Todd Kimball and Dan Rivas as they unpack the two events and dig deeper into the issues, including the commission form of government and Mayor Wheeler's conflicted roles as both mayor and police commissioner. This episode is a response show to City Club's St…

The candidates for Multnomah County's District 2 seat argued about endorsements, government accountability, housing, guns in schools, and more. Join Justice Rajee and Dan Rivas as we sort out their talking points and fill you in on what you missed. This episode is a response show to "Up for Debate: Multnomah County District 2." You can listen to th…