OPB Politics Now

On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Alex Zielinski discuss why some Portland police officers continue to use force at greater levels than their colleagues, what the bureau says about it and why some experts say it's a problematic trend. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Oregon lawmakers return to the Capitol on Monday for a frenetic 35-day session. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart talk about the major issues, the key Oregon Supreme Court ruling and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Oregon’s landmark drug decriminalization law is now in the crosshairs of Democratic leaders. Republicans and other Measure 110 opponents say the proposal doesn’t go far enough, while drug recovery advocates say this is not the way. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart, Lauren Dake and Alex Zielinski talk about the fight to come and they discuss why Portland and Multnomah County leaders continue to squabble over how to respond to weather emergencies.

Gov. Tina Kotek will once again push for a bill to make it easier for cities to add land for housing. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the bill, how it was derailed in the Legislature and why the governor thinks this time may be different. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Tina Kotek is no stranger to Oregon politics, but her perception inside and outside Salem may have changed as she traded in the speaker’s gavel for the governor’s office. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss their deep dive into Kotek’s first year. They discussed how the progressive has shifted to the middle, what her political opponents have to say and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Discussion of upcoming legislative session in Oregon, drug policy debate, upcoming Oregon elections, potential ballot measures, and changes in Portland's government.

Oregon loves to be an outlier, and its special kicker tax rebate is yet another example. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Kyra Buckley and Dirk VanderHart go deep on why Oregon's kicker continues to hit unprecedented dollar figures, how the state compares nationally and much more. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Did Tina Kotek fix downtown Portland or did the governor just convene a big to-do task force with little to show for it? Or is the truth somewhere in between? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski, Dirk VanderHart and Kyra Buckley discuss the task force, the business community’s reaction to it and much more. Find the show wherever you listen to podcasts.

On this week's show, OPB reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake go deep on the state of Oregon's continuing failure to find safe, consistent housing for the most vulnerable children.

The fight over how Oregon funds K-12 education isn’t new, but in the wake of a nearly monthlong strike in Portland Public Schools the longtime issue is back in the limelight. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart explain the history, the present and what lawmakers and school insiders are saying about whether Oregon schools are getting enough money. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.