If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s news reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND!👋

Here's your OH-SO-GENTLE reminder to pick up the Mercury's 25th Anniversary Issue, which contains the funniest and wildest stories from our quarter century in print. It's available in more than 500 spots around town, and (pssst!) it might come in very handy when you're answering this week's upcoming Pop Quiz PDX... publishing very soon! And now, here's your OH-SO-GENTLE reminder that NEWS is happening.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Mayor Keith Wilson has been blasted (and rightly so) by Portland NAACP president James Posey in an absolutely blistering letter that chides the mayor for capitulating to President Trump's clearly racist order to strip away language from the city's programs and policies surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dubiously claiming it was the only way for the city to continue receiving $349 million in federal funds, Wilson issued the order last week, taking (in the view of many) the most convenient route rather than working on creative ways to protect Portland's historically marginalized communities. As Posey wrote, "[This] action fits into a broader historical pattern. For decades, successive administrations... have issued proclamations condemning racism while failing to follow through with policies that truly address the disparities faced by Black and Brown communities." So in short, while the mayor claims that the city will still center equity in their policies, if they can't "walk the walk," why should anyone—particularly marginalized communities—believe him?

• Today in "this is what actual bravery looks like": Three cheers for local U.S. District Judge Michael Simon, who has successfully blocked a Trump rule to freeze more than $200 million in funds that was already earmarked for state and local humanities councils whose programs are critical for all, but especially to rural communities. As Simon wrote, “the Executive Branch is not at liberty to rewrite a statute or unilaterally refuse to spend appropriated funds as directed,” and the order will stop them from using the money elsewhere... such as funding Trump's personal Gestapo, ICE.

• In much more positive news coming from the mayor's office, two new daytime centers are set to open (and/or be expanded) to help houseless people get the services they need. These centers are meant to complement the nighttime shelters by offering spaces to use in the daytime hours that offer showers, bathrooms, a kitchen, and employment assistance. One is an outdoors center set up in an Old Town parking lot which will be open from 6 am to 10 pm daily, and is scheduled to kick off later this summer, while the other is an expansion of an existing shelter at NE 81st and Halsey, which already serves 100 people per day.

A new documentary by Amy Berg (Deliver Us from Evil) captures songwriter Jeff Buckley's vivid youth cut short.
via @mudede.bsky.social

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— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith.bsky.social) August 6, 2025 at 11:21 AM

• While it may be a drop in the bucket, the Metro regional government is awarding Multnomah County with $10 million (out of the $895 million needed) to go toward rebuilding and earthquake-proofing the Burnside Bridge. The county is seeking an additional $447 million from the federal government for the costly project—and as you already probably suspect, that funding is in question thanks to a federal government currently run by blithering goons and criminals. 

• Did you miss the musical majesty of Pickathon this past weekend? Well fear not, our music editor Nolan Parker was on the scene, and has the scoop on the best of the best musical acts that you should definitely not miss next time around!

Note: Preparation is *extremely* important for successfully eating your way through the Portland Mercury's Burger Week. And so? BEHOLD: "Your How-To Guide for Burger Week 2025!" (Coming at you this coming Monday, August 11!) 🍔😍

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— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) August 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• Just in time for Americans to start noticing skyrocketing prices, Trump's economy-wrecking tariffs are going into effect today. Nations that do business with the US will immediately begin seeing taxes of up to 39 percent on their goods, which most smart people know will result in increasingly higher prices that will be passed on to the American consumer (that's you) and businesses. And perhaps unsurprisingly, Trump's trying to make a terrible situation monumentally worse by threatening to enact a 100 percent (!) tariff on all computer chips, unless the companies move to the US. (Hope your laptop, unlike the one I'm using to write this, was made after 2018.)

Dean Cain begins his Steven Seagal arc

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— Jeff Yang (@originalsp.in) August 6, 2025 at 7:48 PM

• In a plan that failed during his first administration, King Fool is once again attempting to exclude undocumented immigrants from the US census. In an attempt to pretend these people simply don't exist (despite his attempts to arrest and deport them), the change could make sweeping (negative) changes to how local jurisdictions get money for roads, poverty programs, and how congressional districts are redrawn (so even more corrupt Republicans can be elected). The good news is that, even if he's successful, the census is only conducted once per decade—meaning that to begin a new census before any upcoming major election will be next to impossible. 

• And just in case you were thinking "there's no good news today":

Excellent news.

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— Alan Baxter (@alanbaxter.bsky.social) August 6, 2025 at 3:09 PM

• Meanwhile in Texas, the FBI has agreed to help their corrupt Republican party track down "runaway" Democrats who fled the state to slow down the GOP's plan to redraw their congressional maps and unfairly award themselves five more districts in their already overwhelmingly red state. Just yesterday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said they did not need the FBI's help and that he "can handle his own state." Apparently the quick abolition of democracy overrules his personal pride.

• After Trump's casual, performative threats against Russia's continuing aggression toward Ukraine, his former best friend Vladimir Putin is reportedly calling King Fool to the principal's office, and is expected to meet with Trump next week. While the topic is expected to primarily revolve around the Ukraine conflict, the probable real purpose is for Putin to remind Trump that he has an alleged videotape of the US president watching prostitutes pee on a bed.

• And finally... in case you missed it, Dorothy Gale has finally broken her silence about her trip to Oz, and she's REALLY spilling the tea! 

@bequietjoe

Dorothy breaks her silence on the wicked rumors and nasty allegations making their way from Oz to Kansas.

♬ original sound - joe hegyes