If you appreciate the Mercury's interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can also subscribe and have our papers delivered!
Good Morning, Portland: Get out your booties, 'brellas, and clear ponchos, Portland. We're looking at a rainy weekend. Temps are unlikely to crack into even 60 degrees, forecasters expect around half an inch of sky water on Sunday. If you are new to the rainy Pacific Northwest, please take my advice and pack a spare pair of dry socks. Wet feet sap vitality from the burliest babes. Okay sweeties, it's time for THE NEWS.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Oregon lost a representative in state legislature this week; Rep. Hòa Nguyễn died from cancer on Thursday. Nguyễn had announced she would begin treatment for stage four cancer in February, but returned in June to support Oregon Democrats' attempts to pass the transportation package. Elected in 2022, Nguyễn represented District 48, which includes areas of East Portland and North Clackamas County. She was one of five Vietnamese American lawmakers, casually called the "Phab Five" and held as a symbol of growing diversity in the Oregon legislature.
• Reports from yesterday's hearing at US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit suggest that two of the three judges on that panel lean towards President Trump's view on whether he has a legal justification to deploy National Guard troops in Portland. The two judges who appear to favor his view were appointed by him. The court hasn't yet officially ruled and until they do, they have allowed the President to federalize National Guard troops, but not to deploy them.
• Remember the days when the story of a man who asked for only a bottle of Baja Blast Mountain Dew to compensate him for the theft of his Toyota Camry would be a top story? Alas.
Portland suspect pops sweet deal — a judicial order to pay her victim with Mountain Dew https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/10/portland-suspect-pops-sweet-deal-a-judicial-order-to-pay-her-victim-with-mountain-dew.html
— The Oregonian (@oregonian.com) October 9, 2025 at 1:50 PM
[image or embed]
• Oregon politicians and political analysts are responding to President Trump's antifa roundtable from Wednesday, which perpetuated a wide range of disproven conspiracy theories about Portland, protests at the South Portland ICE facility, and the... detention status of the founder of antifa's girlfriend? The Oregonian published a rundown of seven claims that were even possible to fact check. Councilor Angelita Morillo moved to match the tone, but stayed factual in her response. No one can seem to offer more details about whether or not antifa's girlfriend has been arrested.
lest anyone think the girlfriend line was a hilarious joke I concocted...
— Bobby Silverman (@robertsilverman.bsky.social) October 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM
[image or embed]
• Organizers of the World Naked Bike Ride are planning a protest for Sunday afternoon, to ask the city to revoke the permit for the South Portland ICE Facility. We're hearing a lot of chatter about "clear ponchos," but the ride itself is open to folks "in any state of dress." The ride begins at 2:30 pm, and we should hear more about the starting point today.
• UPDATE: We learned the location a little after we posted the morning news.
• Doja Cat's Tour Ma Vie world tour will hit Portland in a... LITTLE OVER A YEAR. but you can grab tickets now. Check that and other Friday morning ticket drops via EverOut's round-up of shows on sale!
IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
• A ceasefire in Gaza tentatively unfolded this morning. NPR reports that residents said they could still hear tank shelling in the southern Gaza Strip. As the two previous US-backed deals fell apart, those in Gaza met news of the ceasefire with some skepticism, even as thousands set out on foot, trying to find what was left of their homes.
• The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced today that it has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 to Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela for "her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."
María Corina Machado of Venezuela, the opposition leader who built a powerful social movement challenging President Nicolás Maduro and has been living in hiding since last year, was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Here's what to know: nyti.ms/47iFxzh
— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) October 10, 2025 at 5:55 AM
[image or embed]
• From our sister paper, Chicago Reader:
From our sister paper @chicagoreader.com, a trio of stories about how the incursion of ICE and federal agents in Chicago makes life extremely difficult for the unhoused, immigrants, and anyone who believes in free speech.
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) October 9, 2025 at 12:11 PM
[image or embed]
• Sending you into the weekend with Toro Y Moi's advice "bring a coat."
