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Good morning, Portland! It's going to be another (unseasonably) warm day today, quite possibly the last day of the year to wear a t-shirt. That's good, because it's October. Enough with the sun! 

And onto the news.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Go off, Portland City Attorney Robert Taylor, who began a letter to the US Department of Justice with this mic drop moment: “Does the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice care about the Constitution anymore? Many in Portland and across America have reason to be concerned about the answer to that question." The letter was a response to the US Department of Justice's "investigation" into the Portland Police Bureau's recent arrest of conservative influencer Nick Sortor outside the ICE building last week, which the US government said is proof PPB discriminates against right-wing activists. (BTW, Sortor's disorderly conduct charges were dropped by Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez. Not so for the two other protesters arrested alongside him.) 

In his letter, Taylor threw the accusation right back at the US DOJ, pointing out that the federal government appears to be "providing special access to the ICE facility for social media 'influencers' who favor the federal administration, while targeting with force those who use social media to document the conduct of the federal government.” He also pointed to the Department of Homeland Security's use of excessive (and apparently unconstitutional) force against peaceful protesters outside Portland's ICE facility, citing three recent instances of federal agents pushing elderly people to the ground, using impact munitions against peaceful protesters, and to disperse a large, mostly peaceful crowd, and pepper spraying a 19-year-old woman at extremely close range while she was attempting to converse with them. It was a strong rebuttal to the federal government's current insanity. They won't listen, but Portlanders appreciate it. 

• Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is apparently going to be in Portland today, with conservative influencer Benny Johnson in tow. She's expected to visit the ICE facility. We know little else at this moment, but stay tuned. 

• The Oregon Republican Party is drawing national attention for a little stunt it pulled over the weekend. Seemingly in an attempt to convince people the National Guard is needed in Portland, the Oregon GOP posted a photo on Twitter depicting a very chaotic and fiery protest scene, implying it was a current look at the situation in Portland. However, reporters from The Guardian discovered the image was a combination of two photos from South American protests (not even the same ones), which the Oregon GOP seems to have downloaded on Getty to better make their point. There are plenty of images available of the current protests outside Portland's ICE facility, but I guess those weren't crazy enough, huh? In response to a request for comment on the issue, the Oregon Republican Party replied: “We’re not reporters, just bad memers.” Oh. I forgot about the "bad memer" defense, which absolves anyone of criticism for deliberately creating propaganda in hopes that federal troops will invade the largest city in your state. 

• The Mercury's "Do This, Do That" has a bunch of great suggestions to fill out your week, from the Portland Fermentation Festival (Thursday, October 9) to a discussion on local political cartooning (also on Thursday, October 9) to the Parallel Worlds Bookshop Grand Reopening (events scheduled from Friday, October 10 through Sunday, October 12). See more here! 

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• The US government is still shut down, and it's screwing over workers and the American people generally. But what else did you expect? 

SCOOP: Furloughed federal workers aren't guaranteed compensation for their forced time off during the government shutdown, according to a draft White House memo described to Axios by three sources.

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— Axios (@axios.com) October 7, 2025 at 4:05 AM

• The US Supreme Court is hearing a case that may open the doors for more LGBTQ+ conversion therapy throughout the country. Just what we needed! (Not.) The case was brought by conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, who says the ban on conversion therapy on minors in some states violates a therapist's right of free speech. 😐 Honestly, there are no words. To be clear, the practice of conversion therapy is rejected by every major medical organization in the country and LGBTQ+ people and advocates everywhere, who say not only does the "therapy" not work (and it doesn't need to!) but it causes depression and can lead to suicide. Keep in mind that the abusive "treatment" is not actually banned in all states (though it should be), so this case seemingly seeks to make it legal nationwide, limiting states' rights to intervene. 

• Trump is tanking in popularity, particularly among young people, by making all sorts of horrible decisions that nobody likes. In response, some of the online grifters/"podcast bros" who helped him win in 2024 are publicly distancing themselves from him. It's too late, guys! I mean, okay, better to change your mind, but don't expect praise for it. 

“I voted for none of this."

Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House.

Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

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— Rolling Stone (@rollingstone.com) October 6, 2025 at 12:33 PM

• I guess there's political upheaval all the world 'round, huh? The latest French Prime Minister in a string of new French Prime Ministers has resigned after less than a month in the job. 

For just 49.99 a month, we'll deliver a fresh French Prime Minister to your door every week.

— John Bull (@garius.bsky.social) October 6, 2025 at 1:01 AM

• Should this be my new mode of transportation? I need to do my part in helping Portland look like a war zone, and I think this could do the trick.Â