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Good morning, Portland! It's set to be the last chilly, rainy day for a little while. Temperatures will be in the high 40s today, and get warmer starting tomorrow. Also...next week is the Mercury's sandwich week. So get hyped, and we'll share more with you soon. 

IN LOCAL NEWS: 

• Oregon House Republicans walked out yesterday, stalling multiple bills during the state's five-week legislative short session. Their walkout was partially over a vote by Senate Democrats to advance a bill that would place the controversial gas tax referendum on the May ballot, instead of waiting until the November election, which Republicans think is a nefarious tactic to stop them from killing the transportation bill. House Republicans were also mad they didn't get a chance to condemn Rep. Jason Kropf, a Democrat who was accused by his colleague (another Democrat) of creating a "hostile working environment" during a vote on a gun control bill. So, they deployed their usual tactic: Walk out and delay everything. Among other things, yesterday's walkout delayed a vote on a bill that would increase funding for wildlife and nature conservation. Here's what House Majority Leader Ben Bowman said: “Oregonians want a government that works. They don’t want gridlock. They don’t want partisan bickering. Today, the House Republicans once again staged a walkout and refused to do the job they were elected to do. This kind of political theater may be normal in DC, but it doesn’t belong in Oregon.” 

• President Trump is holding is State of the Union tonight, and it's sure to be a disaster. So Portland's US Rep. Maxine Dexter isn't going—but she is sending one of Jeffrey Epstein's survivors to take her place, hoping to send a clear message that "Epstein survivors will not be silenced."

The survivor, Lisa Phillips, said she was "deeply grateful to Representative Dexter for this honor." 

"I sit in this seat not for myself, but for the girls who were never given a voice — and for the accountability they deserve,” Phillips said. 

Meanwhile, most of Oregon's US representatives in the House and Senate are boycotting the SOTU. US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley will co-host an online live town hall ("The Fate of the Union) starting at 2:30 pm. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Andrea Salinas are also staying home. But Democratic Reps. Val Hoyle and Janelle Bynum will be there, as will Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz. (Bynum said she "can't win the battle for Oregon by staying home" and plans to "call out his nonsense" at the event tonight. Okay.) 

• This week’s Do This, Do That contains all of this week's must-do events. Here are a few of them: MonsterBox Comedy appears for just one night at Portland Center Stage. The Portland Trail Blazers play the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Moda Center this evening. Comedic genuses Adam Pasi and Nariko Ott will argue at Topic Thunder. Do you want to attend a fest with over 100 Asian zinesters or let the Sun Ra Arkestra fill you with visions of stellar light? We’ve got you sorted. Scroll forth! 

• PDX Live announced their summer concerts at The Square today and it's kooky-good! Booked again by the TrueWest folks, this year's series features a heavy lineup of cult classics and indie legends. Vince Staples, Acid Bath, Tomahawk, Japanese Breakfast, The Breeders, Team Dresch, Ani DiFranco, Modest Mouse, The Melvins, Yob, and more descend on Pioneer Courthouse Square this August. Read the Mercury's picks for the series here. 

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• In today's shocking (not really) news: An NPR investigation found the US Justice Department withheld Epstein files related to allegations against Trump, including one that accuses him of sexually abusing a minor. In redacting or removing entire documents mentioning Trump, the US DOJ has failed to comply with a law that mandates the files be released. They're protecting their boy, of course! Again, this is not surprising, but it is important. Don't let them get away with lying to the American people, and completely disrespecting the victims that were most impacted. 

• Oh yeah, and speaking of the US Department of Justice being completely compromised: The DOJ recently unfurled a large banner of Trump's face with the words "Make America Safe Again" over its headquarters in Washington, DC. That reads more like a threat to me, especially with his creepy mug so front and center. This is not normal, people!!! Don't let anyone tell you it is. 

• In other news about liars and frauds, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is being called out for her ridiculous lies demonizing immigrants, including one story she told last summer about deporting a supposed cannibal. (In addition to eating others, Noem alleged, he also began eating himself on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation flight.) This dehumanizing nonsense sounded like bullshit from the start, and now officials from federal law enforcement agencies have confirmed it is. Noem, for her part, says she just relayed claims she heard from an air marshal. Even if that's true, gotta do some thinking before repeating that kind of ludicrous nonsense in the future, ok? (I know she's not listening, and even if she was, she isn't necessarily capable of complying with that request.) 

• In more SOTU news, the Democrats have chosen Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to respond publicly to the president's speech tonight, with the hope Spanberger will stand out as a clear contrast to Trump. Hopefully, she'll be sufficiently hard on him. By the way, Trump's speech isn't worth watching. It's going to be unhinged and incoherent. IMO, you'd be better off doing almost anything else. Your gray matter will thank you. 

 

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver Democrats' response on Tuesday following President Trump's State of the Union address. n.pr/3MRJBiu

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— NPR (@npr.org) February 24, 2026 at 6:23 AM

 

• Finally, a reminder there is still beauty in the world. Let's do our best to keep it that way 😭😭😭😭😭