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Good morning, Portland! It’ll be another crisp morning and semi-chilly day today, with temps in the low 60s. According to my weather app, that is exactly what the weather is supposed to be like this time of year. We will be seeing another bout of unseasonable warmth at the end of this week, but it isn’t expected to last long. The people of Portland are going crazy because the sun won’t stop coming out! We’re yearning for chilly autumn days. But let’s get to the news.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• There are three candidates running to lead the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, each of them with experience serving on the board. The three candidates—Julia Brim-Edwards, Sharon Meieran, and Shannon Singleton—are all hoping to succeed current county chair Jessica Vega Pederson, who has served two terms and isn’t running again. Find out more about each of the candidates in the Mercury‘s helpful roundup!
• Ah, Portland, Oregon. Famous for rainy weather, tall trees, quirky populace, and…wicked delicious lobster rolls? Good enough, according to a national GOP group, which didn’t bother to learn the difference between the Atlantic and Pacific Portlands before spending nearly $25,000 on attack ads against Troy Jackson, the Maine Democrat hoping to unseat Republican Susan Collins. Turns out, they bought the ads (which called Jackson “taxin’ Troy Jackson”—good one) in Oregon, not Maine. The ads have now been pulled and the Republican group that bought them has apparently been refunded. Damn—those of us here in Oregon appreciated the break from the onslaught of ads for Tina Kotek/Christine Drazan. (Those ads, summarized: Kotek is boring but supports abortion, Drazan, who’s trying to hide her love for Trump, will massively screw you over in ways you never could’ve imagined.)
• For the Portland history heads:
• Speaking of Oregon’s contentious governor’s race, Governor Tina Kotek and Republican Oregon Senator Christine Drazan will meet this evening for their third and final debate. Drazan and Kotek have participated in two prior debates, both of which can essentially be summarized as I described their ads. At tonight’s debate, you can expect Kotek to continue tying her opponent to the very unpopular President Donald Trump, despite Drazan’s best efforts to distance herself from the guy. You can also expect Drazan to slam Kotek for “taking Oregon backwards” through her (supposedly) wily progressive ways, while offering no substantive ideas for how to take the state in a new direction. Who’s making a bingo card?
• Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention the data center scuffles between the two gubernatorial candidates (both of whom have, in fact, shown an interest in allowing data centers to set up shop in the state). Add that to the bingo card.
• This week’s Do This, Do That includes many great events, some of them perfectly spooky to get you in the Halloween spirit. Among the offerings: the Cinema of Horrors Drive-In at the Clark County Fairgrounds (Wednesday), a showing of The Devils in 35 mm at the Hollywood Theatre (Thursday), Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra (also Thursday), the PNW Miniature Show (Friday-Sunday), and the Portland Zine Symposium (Saturday). ALL THAT AND MORE…simply by clicking this here link.
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• You’re welcome, journalists—the Trump administration has a new press secretary. Her name is Katie Zacharia and she’s apparently a “devoted fan and member of MAGA!,” per the president himself. Trump also wrote, very eloquently, about Zacharia: “She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning.” Just what you want from a media contact. Obviously, Trump hates an honest and free press, so it’s not like I was expecting any integrity here. Let’s get these condescending press conferences started!
• Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump’s former (almost) daughter-in-law who is also the US envoy to Greece for some reason, is in trouble for (shocker!) being really corrupt and bad at her job. Before and during her time in Greece, Guilfoyle has allegedly threatened other global leaders, accepted improper gifts, and offered bribes. Now, she’s been fired (or “asked to resign”), which I find unfair. I mean, when in Rome/Athens/the Trump White House, right? How could Guilfoyle, a member of the Trump administration, be expected to know she’s not supposed to lie, cheat, and steal? Justice for Kimberly, who was only ever trying to be like her beloved mentor, Donald Trump.
• RJ Mitte, the actor who played Walter White’s son in Breaking Bad, died yesterday at just 34. Mitte, who was born with cerebral palsy, was an advocate for disability rights and representation.
• Category 3 storm Hurricane Simon has been pounding Mexico’s Pacific coast for the past couple days, particularly hitting tourist destination Puerto Vallarta. The hurricane has remained just offshore, but still produced powerful winds and rain on land. Forecasters expect the storm to continue impacting western Mexico through Thursday.
• Reminder: this guy sucks so much.
• The world can be so beautiful. (Tip: send this photo to your girlfriend/partner/wife/situationship with the caption “us.” Thank me later.)
