Portland doesn’t just debate policy—we debate reality. Journalist Donovan Scribes joins me to break down his “Top 10 Takeaways” from a chaotic 2025, and we talk about how vibes (and media narratives) can drive big decisions on Measure 110, police budgets, and the so-called “doom loop”—plus what feels genuinely hopeful heading into 2026.
What we cover
Vibes vs. evidence: how hype forms, spreads, and becomes policy
Portland’s journalism landscape: where Donovan goes to get grounded and verify what’s real
2025 in review: the moments and patterns Donovan thinks mattered most
Memory, protest, and power: what Portland learned (and didn’t) since 2020
Hopeful 2026 governance bets: “boring competence” wins that could change daily life—sidewalks, storefronts, AI accountability, and harm reduction tools
Portland 2026: initiatives we highlight
Sidewalk Improvement & Paving Program (Loretta Smith / Mitch Green / Olivia Clark)
Small business storefront support (Dan Ryan)
AI + housing / algorithmic systems (Angelita Morillo)
ERPO focus + youth suicide prevention framing (Steve Novick), including discussion of emerging “smart gun” concepts
Referenced work from Donovan
Donovan’s Portland Mercury piece: “THE BLACK BYLINE: Top 10 Takeaways from 2025, A Wild Year in Portland”
The Portland Mercury x Donovan Scribes project: BlackOut — A Five-Year Retrospective on Portland’s Racial Justice Movement
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