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Good morning, Portland! We’re getting a break from the rain for a few days, but it’ll be back later this week. For now, enjoy the puddle-free streets. Clean out a storm drain or two. Or stay inside and read the news. I’ll help you get started on that last one.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• The director of Portland State University’s Women’s Resource Center was terminated last spring, without being given a cause. The former director, Nic Francisco-Kaho’onei, believes their Palestinian activism played a role in their firing, which had a ripple effect throughout the campus community. While PSU says it values the Women’s Resource Center (and maintains it did not retaliate against Francisco-Kaho’onei), the firing came at a troubled time for the university, which also recently shuttered its DEI office with aims to restructure, laid off a program coordinator in the Native American Student & Community Center, and lost employees after mandating they return to office, among other issues. The changes have PSU students and faculty members on edge. Read the full story from Kevin Foster here.
• It’s the beginning of the week, which means you need stuff to do, and we have some ideas in this week’s Do This, Do That. FOR EXAMPLE…Samantha Bee will perform at the Keller Auditorium tomorrow. Life After Cars authors Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon (also from The War on Cars podcast) will be speaking at Powell’s on Thursday. (Read the Mercury‘s review of their book and grab a ticket. You can also see them at BikePortland‘s Bike Happy Hour tomorrow. More info in the aforementioned review.) Also, Sigur Rós at the Moda Center on Friday. AND MORE! Read all about this week’s activities here.
As they ramp up enforcement in Oregon, federal immigration authorities may be planning to expand their presence on the central coast.
— OPB (@opb.org) November 10, 2025 at 6:36 PM
• Once again, counting the Seattle mayor’s race as local news. Votes for progressive Katie Wilson have finally surpassed those for incumbent Bruce Harrell—but it’s extremely tight. I’m talking 91 votes tight. And there are fewer than 10,000 ballots left. AHH! You can find out everything you need to know about this race (and whether or not Seattle will get a K. Wilson mayor of their own, which could be confusing), by reading The Stranger.
• Self-serve alcoholic beverage stores are causing problems at the Moda Center, with workers continuously bringing up OLCC problems with the service model. If workers let someone consume alcohol illegally, they could be held responsible for it, so the stakes are high. But it doesn’t seem like their bosses are that concerned. Find out more in Abe Asher’s most recent story.
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• When the abyss stared at Senate Democrats, they blinked. That’s right: A small group of Democrats helped approve legislation to reopen the government, getting absolutely nothing in return except for the disdain of the American people. The legislation was officially approved last night and has now been sent to the House, where leaders expect it to be taken up Wednesday. Democrats were holding the line for so long in an attempt to get Republicans to compromise on extending Affordable Health Act tax credits, which are expiring at the end of this year. Republicans wouldn’t do that, spreading falsehoods about undocumented immigrants accessing ACA services and lying about Democrats’ role in the government shutdown. Last week’s elections were a resounding win for Democrats, seemingly indicating the American people appreciate a party that stands on business. There was no reason to give in, and the Democrats did it anyway, because they hate life and themselves. And they can’t govern. (The Republicans, of course, want what’s worst for everyone and are just plain evil.)
DONALD TRUMP: [asleep, drooling on long red tie]
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
— born miserable (@bornmiserable.bsky.social) November 9, 2025 at 6:37 PM
• The government shutdown has appeared to separate the wheat from the chaff, in a sense. House members were already announcing their retirement from the chamber en masse, but the shutdown has seemingly made existing burnout even worse. As of now, 31 House members have announced plans to leave the chamber (some are running for another office and some are just retiring altogether), including one Democrat who cited the shutdown as a big motivator for his decision to leave. Bye, then.
• There’s a lot of extremely bad news when it comes to the climate, especially considering the United States’ approach to the climate crisis under the Trump administration. A ray of light: In China, the world’s most populous country and historically its biggest polluter, a new analysis reveals carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months. This is because of major advances in solar and wind power in the country. It’s not enough to feel comfortable—not by a long shot—but it does show what’s possible when you have a government that isn’t actively trying to destroy the environment.
• 87-year-old writer Joyce Carol Oates has been repeatedly destroying Elon Musk on his own website this week. And he seems to be completely crashing out over it. It’s awesome.
Found the tweet that Joyce Carol Oates bodied Elon Musk with and it’s so beautiful in its eloquent, simple take down. So much so he’s crashing out trying to prove he reads books now. Put this in the Louvre.
— Akela Cooper (@akelacooper.bsky.social) November 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
• Finally, perhaps we can all take lessons from this cat. What those lessons are is up to you to decide. Have a good Tuesday!!
Taylor Griggs
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