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Good morning, Portland! It's been a wild ride this past week. We're all trying to keep up and keep sane. Luckily, we're in for a gorgeous, sunny fall day, with a high of 64 degrees. 🍂🍁

 

In LOCAL NEWS:

• Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (affectionately known as “ICE Barbie”) decided to pay Portland a visit yesterday. The trip was unexpected by city and state officials. Noem toured the local ICE facility, which meant a whole street was closed, and the facility abruptly canceled scheduled immigration appointments. Noem was followed around by prominent right-wing social media figures, including David Medina, of Sherwood, who previously faced charges for taking part in the Oregon Capitol riots and later the Jan 6 US Capitol riots before he was pardoned by Trump on his federal charges. Another MAGA influencer who had access to the DHS secretary: Nick Sortor. Sortor was just arrested last week by Portland Police on assault charges, though the charges were dismissed. Still, the federal government launched an investigation into the Portland Police Bureau after Sortor’s arrest, alleging discrimination in who its officers arrest. As we reported Monday, the city attorney shot back at the investigation, citing multiple examples of DHS agents using excessive force on protesters, and DHS engaging in its own discrimination by allowing only right-wing media influencers to tour the ICE facility and gain access to its rooftop. Noem was featured on camera calling protesters "uneducated and ill-informed." That's riiiich! 

   

   

   

   

   

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• After praying with federal agents before noshing on Burgerville, Noem later gave an interview to Fox News from inside the ICE facility on Monday, describing her meetings earlier that day with local leaders including Governor Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, and Portland Police Chief Bob Day. She told Fox News that if the mayor doesn’t force Portland Police Bureau to send more of its officers to help secure the ICE building and protect federal agents, she’ll “cover him up with more federal resources” and send “four times” the amount of federal officers here. Noem seems to assert that its local police’s job to protect federal police, and act as de facto security for the ICE building, as if PPB doesn’t have a whole city to respond to. During the interview, she called local leaders “pansies” who refuse to take action to keep Portland safe. Noem likely expected to see chaotic protests. Instead, she got this. 

Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.

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— Courtney Vaughn (@courtneyvaughn.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 8:31 PM

• Portlanders can snag free trees. Portland Parks & Recreation's Urban Forestry department is giving away 4,000 trees for people to plant on their properties. It's part of an effort to add shade across the city and insulate residents from the effects of extreme summer heat, which has been deadly in the last few years. Those who qualify (meaning they have the space in a front, side, or back yard) can get up to three free trees. 

• An ordinance that would ban the use of AI rental pricing software is headed to Portland City Council. The Housing and Homelessness Committee voted Tuesday to approve an amended version of the ordinance, introduced earlier this year by Councilor Angelita Morillo. The ordinance now heads to the Council for a full vote. If approved, the legislation will make it illegal for landlords and property management companies to use software like RealPage to set rental rates. Morillo says the software, which utilizes AI, amounts to anti-competitive price-fixing that artificially inflates market rate rents. The councilor previously told the Mercury that rental pricing software like this often encourages landlords not to charge competitive rates for units, and instead keep monthly lease rates as high as the market will support, even if that means leaving units empty. 

In NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• Oregon isn’t the only entity suing the Trump administration over its response to anti-ICE protests. Journalists from several media associations and outlets, along with protesters, are suing the president, DHS, and ICE over indiscriminate and “wanton” use of force against protesters and press covering protests in Chicago. The lawsuit alleges federal agents are violating the First Amendment rights of press and protesters alike. Federal agents in Chicago have used notable force against unarmed, peaceful protesters, including shooting a pastor in the head with pepper balls as he proselytized and invited them to repent.

• The Washington Post has a new report on how Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council is pushing coal and fossil fuel projects, while sidelining renewable energy like solar and wind. The lede says it all: “The White House is offering ‘concierge, white glove service’ to oil, coal and other fossil fuel companies that are seeking to gain fast approval for their projects, according to an energy official, while simultaneously slowing down or blocking solar and wind projects.’” The Trump administration’s approach is an attempt to undo President Biden’s “war” on fossil fuel projects. 

• House Speaker Mike Johnson says he won’t swear-in a newly elected Democrat from Arizona until the government shutdown is over, in what CNN calls “an extraordinary power play to deny a sitting member a seat.” Rep.-Elect Adelita Grijalva was elected two weeks ago but has yet to be sworn-in, meaning she can’t start executing the duties of office yet. Worth noting: Once she’s seated, Grijalva can add her signature to a petition to force a House vote on releasing the Epstein files. Johnson swears that has nothing to do with his delay. 

Americans, when they find out the government wants to send National Guard troops to Portland...

@morganevelyncook Just let them hang off the sides of mountains in peace #oregon #relatable ♬ original sound - Morgan Evelyn Cook