Stay up to date on Portland news and politics. Looking for fun? Here are the best Things to Do in Portland today.

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WESLEY HAMILTON

Obamacare at Risk: A federal judge in Texas did the most stereotypically Texas thing and upheld a lawsuit deeming the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. While a group of progressive states, led by California, intend to appeal the decision, the Trump-approved ruling could easily find its way in a Trump-approved Supreme Court and sentence low-income Americans to a aTrump-approved death.

Off the Wall: Weā€™re ending the year the same way it began, with a looming government shutdown over Trumpā€™s border wall. Few Republicans are backing him. And yet! Since an unbuilt border wall is truly the only way Trump can keep his base in a state of constant, vote-getting fear, donā€™t expect a resolution anytime soon.

Anti-Immigrant Protest in Brussels: More than 5,000 right-wing protesters clashed with police on the streets of Brussels Sunday to oppose a progressive UN agreement to meant improve immigration policies. Only 1,000 showed to counter the far-right protest.


Death on the Border: The family of a Guatemalan girl who died in ICE custody are disputing allegations by US officials that 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin was starving and dehydrated before reaching the US border earlier this month. The contradicting stories raise questions about conditions at the child detention facilities.

Zeroed In: A US Senate report on Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election shows that Russian hackers used social media to target and influence African-American voters expected to vote Democrat.

Housing Hero: Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek is brewing up legislation that could make Oregon the first state to ban single-family residential zoning in major metro areas. For non-zoning nerds, this means more multi-unit homes could fit on a single property, promising cheaper rents. Joy!

Outlaw'd: The Oregonian has published a year-end critique of Mayor Ted Wheeler. The review includes some biting commentary from Wheelerā€™s peers, and pits the mayor against Portland Police Chief Danielle Outlaw. Outlaw issued a press release Sunday afternoon, softening her comments.


Newfangled Movie House: A new movie theater is coming to Southeast Powell and itā€™s FANCY. By that, I mean it has a kind of high-tech audio system I have never heard of before but the Mercuryā€™s film whiz Erik Henriksen assures me is FANCY. Also, it will have ā€œpenthouse theaters,ā€ which sounds like some gentrifying bullshit which is FANCY.

Scandal? An Oregonian investigation into when a relationship between two mayoral staffers beganā€”and if the relationship impacted their recent promotionsā€”didnā€™t find any obvious legal problems.

Longread of the Day: The ballad of H-E-B, your favorite Texas grocery store.