The Bridge by OR360

Les Zaitz is a well-respected figure in the Oregon journalism world (and beyond, as we discuss), having spent decades working in the industry both as a reporter and, more recently, as a media entrepreneur. He is retiring from his post as the founding editor of the Oregon Capital Chronicle and will continue to lead two local publications, the Malheur Enterprise and the Salem Reporter. This was a fun episode--Les is funny, knowledgeable, and direct. We cover many aspects of journalism (local vs. national news, business models, the rise of "creators", whether the state should fund news, etc.), as well as the recent controversies involving the Enterprise and Rep. Greg Smith and some new ideas on closing the urban/rural divide.   Here is his bio, courtesy of the Chronicle:    "Les Zaitz is a veteran editor and investigative reporter, serving Oregon for more than 45 years. He reported for The Oregonian for 25 years and owns community newspapers and a digital news service. He is a national SPJ fellow, two-time Pulitzer finalist, including for a lengthy investigation of Mexican drug cartels in Oregon and five-time winner of Oregon’s top investigative reporting award. He has investigated corrupt state legislators, phony charities, and an international cult that moved to Oregon, and the biggest bank failure in Oregon history. He also has been active in reforming the state’s public records law and was appointed by the governor to the Oregon Public Records Advisory Council. In his spare time, he operates a ranch nestled in a national forest, feeding horses and assorted animals."   You can support Les' work at the Enterprise, the Reporter, and the (free!) Chronicle. 

Oregon360 Media, the parent company for The Oregon Bridge podcast, also puts out a weekly newsletter (The Liftoff) and a weekly collection of opinion pieces (The Oregon Way)--both available on our Substack.   Brad Phelps, an Oregon native who recently graduated from Princeton, will be editing The Oregon Way this summer -- and he's got ideas to improve the way civic leaders share their ideas. Brad grew up outside Lyons, Oregon. In this episode, Brad talks about losing his childhood home during the Beachie Creek Fire as well as his ideas for revamping The Oregon Way.    Thank you for listening, and if you haven't yet, make sure you subscribe to the newsletters and our YouTube page to stay up to date!

Mike Rogoway is an award-winning journalist who has covered business and technology for the Oregonian since 2004. Rogoway is among the most senior reporters at The Oregonian and has broken major national stories during his time at The O; he is well-sourced with a deep knowledge of Oregon's economy and business environment.    In this episode, we ask Mike about the most pressing issues that our audience (of politically engaged listeners) should know about. We talk about the big trends in Oregon's business community, which industries are thriving and which are declining, and why Oregon's publicly-traded companies have suffered worse than the broader stock market. We talk about inflation, whether a recession is on the horizon--and whether Portland and Oregon can be resilient or not. Finally, we cover some specific sectors--agriculture and technology--and why they matter so much for the state's future.

Brian Clem is a well-known figure in Oregon politics. He was first elected to the state legislature in 2006 and served for twelve years before retiring late last year. Clem was one of the leading moderate Democrats in the state house, known for his candor and willingness to buck his own leadership (e.g. he is one of the only Democrats who didn’t vote for any of the major PERS reform bills in the last decade). In his retirement from the legislature, he helped launch a PAC called Oregonians Are Ready, which supported more moderate or business-friendly Democrats during the 2022 primary election with over $125,000 in spending. Clem actively considered running for Congress this cycle before declining to run (which we talk about in the episode).   As a legislator, Clem was a dealmaker and had several high-profile accomplishments, including a landmark bill to protect the Metolius River, expanding Oregon’s “farm to school” program, and crafting the “land use grand bargain” of 2014. In this episode, we talk about his legislative service, why he started his new PAC, and his advice to Democrats running in rural areas in this year’s tough political environment. We also cover how Clem’s rural background informed his political views–and his close relationship with the late Rep. Vic Gilliam (including the infamous story of every member of the House, Republican and Democrat, marching to Senate President Peter Courtney’s office in protest).

This week, GOP political consultant Reagan Knopp returns to help us digest the results of the 2022 primary election. We talk about the highlights, surprises, winners, and losers from across the state--and why they matter for the general election. We start with a high-level discussion about the major takeaways and themes from the election. Races include: Democratic and GOP primaries for Governor and Congress, the statewide BOLI race, Portland metro-area races, and legislative highlights. 

Cheri Helt is a candidate for Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industry (Labor Commissioner) and a former state representative from Bend. On May 17, she finished in second place in the primary, meaning she will move to the general election in November and face civil rights attorney Christina Stephenson.    While this statewide position is nonpartisan, Cheri is a moderate Republican and business owner. Previously, she served on the Bend-La Pine School Board for nearly a decade. In this episode, we talk about her experience as a moderate Republican in the legislature (including a couple of difficult votes she took on the Student Success Act and vaccines). We also cover her vision for the role of Labor Commissioner (apprenticeships, workforce development, BOLI staffing, etc). We have an interesting exchange on the famous "Sweet Cakes by Melissa" decision on LGBTQ+ rights and religious freedom (which played out under Commissioners Brad Avakian and Val Hoyle, but may be resolved by the next Commissioner) where Helt describes how she would approach the decision.   You can learn more about Cheri Helt on her website: www.cherihelt.com

Political consultant and Oregon Catalyst editor Reagan Knopp joins the pod to discuss everything you need to know on the Republican side of the aisle heading into the 2022 primary election (don’t worry, we also cover some Democratic primaries). The GOP has excellent pick up opportunities across the state and a strong slate of candidates in key races. But who will actually be on the ticket come November? Reagan provides analysis on key races for the GOP ranging from the races for governor, congress, and the legislature — including who’s up, who’s down, and why. Reagan, Alex, and Ben also discuss how they think the Supreme Court’s potential decision on Roe v. Wade will impact elections in Oregon (spoiler: they disagree).

John Horvick is one of the top pollsters in the state of Oregon. If there's anyone with their finger on the pulse of public opinion in Oregon, it's John. He is a Senior Vice President for DHM Research (where he's worked for over a decade), a nonpartisan polling firm that works for government agencies, media companies, and nonprofits across the state. His personal Twitter account, @Horvick, is highly recommended for those interested in the intersection of Oregon politics and public opinion research. This episode is a must-listen for those engaged in the campaign world. In this episode, we talk about John's personal background and some of the basics of polling (e.g. what are some of the indicators to look for to determine if a poll is reliable?). Then we then talk about how voters are feeling and what they're thinking about as we head into the 2022 election. We cover the nature of a three-person race for governor (Democrat vs. Republican vs. Betsy Johnson), how we should think about the largest bloc of voters in Oregon (non-affiliated voters or NAVs), and the challenges/opportunities for both parties in the current political landscape. It's a fascinating and revealing conversation that will help you think about the upcoming election.