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Artwork for OPB Politics Now
Oregon
Homelessness
Portland
Trump Administration
Climate Change
Oregon Legislature
Oregon Legislative Session
Tina Kotek
Measure 110
Multnomah County
Oregon Politics
Oregon Education System
Donald Trump
Keith Wilson
Governor Tina Kotek
Federal Funding
Governor Tina Kotec
Deschutes County
Janelle Bynum
Transportation Funding

"OPB Politics Now" is a weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into the hottest political topics in Oregon and the Northwest. Every Friday, OPB’s political reporters and special guests offer in-depth analysis, discussion and insight into candidates, events and issues.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes414Founded10 years ago
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Artwork for OPB Politics Now

Latest Episodes

The Moda Center has a packed summer lineup with performances by Chance the Rapper, Benson Boone and others. The arena is no longer devoid of basketball in the summer thanks to the triumphant return of the Portland Fire.

  But this week the building... more

Portland’s elected leaders entered this budget season with a $170 million funding hole. Finally, after weeks of painstaking deliberation, they passed the city’s budget Wednesday. Once again, no one seems pleased. On the latest episode of OPB Politics... more

There was an era in Oregon politics where moderate Republicans were very influential. One of them was Bob Packwood. Packwood died last week and he leaves a very messy legacy. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Dirk Van... more

Last month, Southwest Washington was struck by tragedy when 11 people were killed at a Longview paper mill. But as the community tries to find out what happened, an investigation into the incident may be jeopardized by national politics. On the lates... more

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Recent Guests

Jeff Mapes
Former OPB senior political reporter
OPB
Episode: The messy legacy of Bob Packwood
Dag Robinson
Clerk in Harney County; President of the Oregon Association of County Clerks
Harney County Clerk; Oregon Association of County Clerks
Episode: Vote by mail remains in the national conversation: Is it safe?
Tim Scott
Election director in Multnomah County
Multnomah County Elections
Episode: Vote by mail remains in the national conversation: Is it safe?
Read Reid
Election official/advocate quoted on postmark rule education
Episode: Vote by mail remains in the national conversation: Is it safe?
Cassie Wilson
Legislative manager for 1000 Friends of Oregon
1000 Friends of Oregon
Episode: Going behind the scenes at the Oregon State Capitol
Elizabeth Snyder
State Treasurer of Oregon
Oregon State Treasury
Episode: Going behind the scenes at the Oregon State Capitol
Lucio Vasquez
Breaking news reporter in Texas for The Texas Newsroom
Texas Newsroom
Episode: OPB Politics Now: President Trump's push for the military in U.S. cities ramps up in courts, streets
Arceli Gómez-Aldana
Reporter at WBEZ, Chicago Public Media
WBEZ
Episode: OPB Politics Now: President Trump's push for the military in U.S. cities ramps up in courts, streets
Dim Abels
Owner of Topaz Farm
Topaz Farm
Episode: Explaining Oregon’s farm stand rules kerfuffle

Hosts

Lauren Dake
OPB Politics Reporter; host of Evergreen segments
Dirk VanderHart
OPB Politics Reporter; co-host or panelist
Alex Zelinsky
Host of OPB Politics Now; Portland City Government Reporter

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 251 ratings
  • Oregon Timber

    Oregon is a beautiful state and the people are hospitable and generous in deed and thought BUT I honestly do not feel any sympathy for the mostly Republican voters in the Oregon timber industry.

    Trump told you outright (twice) he wanted to gut federal funding to states and sell off public lands for profit, stop public land management, end federal funding of forestry, emergency funding and management, and gut education, gut medicaid, and sell all the gold in Fort Knox, etc...

    Trump’s adminis... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Windy13007
    United States10 months ago
  • Must follow if you live in Oregon

    Fantastic show that is a must listen to if you live in Oregon.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mulderc
    United Statesa year ago
  • Informative Facts Checked

    Refreshing fact checked local and national news. Minus the advertising, NPR & OPB are my go to evening and morning news addiction. Good solid reporting. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Windy13007
    United States2 years ago
  • Disappointing

    Always assumes the left view is the only and right view.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Seize the coffee
    United States2 years ago
  • Crisp Conversations

    Important, informed reporting. Your conversations will improve when everyone dumps the lazy lingo: “Pretty much,” “you know,” “right?” Be clear, crisp, concise.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    425w
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Critics say some hosts can come off as partisan; many praise balance and depth.
Listeners appreciate the local Oregon focus and authoritative reporting on state and regional politics.
Fans value crisp, practical election coverage and on-the-ground reporting from Salem and Portland.

Top Politics Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Portland’s divided City Council passed another budget no one is pleased with
Q: How did this year compare to last year in terms of the budget process and the new form of government?
Last year, a brand-new cohort of councilors faced a steep learning curve with many amendments and a chaotic start; this year, they knew what to expect but still faced long meetings, dozens of amendments, and a deadlock pattern driven by ideological divisions between progressives and moderates, which limited major policy changes despite more time to discuss.
Portland’s divided City Council passed another budget no one is pleased with
Q: What did that budget look like, remind us, and what were some of the forces that were shaping it?
Portland entered this cycle with a grim outlook—a roughly $170 million gap driven by inflation, expiring one-time funds, and declining tax revenue, and the mayor proposed using the City's Overnight Shelters program as a major balancing tool while making significant cuts to public safety and staffing. The council softened some blows but could not fully restore the shelter network or restore the unarmed public-safety positions, resulting in a budget that many counselors found disappointing and still full of hard tradeoffs.
The messy legacy of Bob Packwood
Q: What role did the ethics investigation and diaries play in Packwood's downfall?
The diary revelations provided damning personal detail that bolstered the ethics case, showing a pattern of misconduct and a deliberate attempt to obfuscate the truth, which together with corroborated accounts drove the investigation forward.
The messy legacy of Bob Packwood
Q: What is Jeff's assessment of Oregon's current GOP landscape compared to Packwood's era?
He suggests today's GOP in Oregon is more ideologically sorted and less willing to tolerate moderates, contrasting with Packwood's 50% cross-aisle positioning, which helped him navigate multiple interest groups.
The politics of Gov. Kotek’s special session on transportation funding
Q: What do we know about the chances that this bill just gets referred to voters?
If this bill passes, there might be momentum for a signature-gathering campaign to refer the bill to voters, although past similar proposals have failed substantially.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About OPB Politics Now

What is OPB Politics Now about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A locally focused political show examining Oregon and the Northwest, with reporters and guests unpacking elections, policy, and governance. Episodes routinely cover state budgeting, housing and urban planning, taxation and ballot measures, and legislative maneuvering, often featuring on-the-ground reporting from reporters in Salem and Portland. Notable strengths include clear, issue-driven analysis, a steady roster of experienced reporters, and a willingness to host diverse perspectives from election officials, policymakers, and advocates. Potential listeners should expect in-depth context on state and regional politics, plus timely takes on ballot measures, lawmaking, and public policy that impact Oregonians day-to-day.

Where can I find podcast stats for OPB Politics Now?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for OPB Politics Now. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to OPB Politics Now and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does OPB Politics Now get?

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What are the audience demographics for OPB Politics Now?

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How many subscribers and views does OPB Politics Now have?

To see how many followers or subscribers OPB Politics Now has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to OPB Politics Now?

These podcasts share a similar audience with OPB Politics Now:

1. Think Out Loud
2. City Cast Portland
3. Fresh Air
4. Throughline
5. Radio Atlantic

How many episodes of OPB Politics Now are there?

OPB Politics Now launched 10 years ago and published 414 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact OPB Politics Now?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for OPB Politics Now?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for OPB Politics Now from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for OPB Politics Now?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of OPB Politics Now. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on OPB Politics Now?

Recent guests on OPB Politics Now include:

1. Jeff Mapes
2. Dag Robinson
3. Tim Scott
4. Read Reid
5. Cassie Wilson
6. Elizabeth Snyder
7. Lucio Vasquez
8. Arceli Gómez-Aldana

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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