Local podcast host and video producer Andy Chandler was hired as a part-time videographer by City Councilor Dan Ryan, then fired soon afterward when Ryan’s office discovered Chandler’s public political views.

“We had hired Andy Chandler to work as a videographer for us part-time, but as some information about his past expressions of personal views have come forward that are not in alignment with our office values, we have decided to end this employment arrangement,” Kezia Wanner, Councilor Ryan’s chief of staff, told the Mercury.

Wanner confirmed Chandler’s employment start date was July 14 and that the end date was today, July 17. 

Chandler is best known as the firebrand personality behind the NW Fresh podcast, where he hosts a range of guests from local politicians, including Ryan himself, to anti-trans activists like Maia Poet. Wanner has also been a guest on the podcast.

 

 

He’s also been open about his own anti-trans and right-wing views. To list just a few of Chandler’s online comments, he labeled Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)’s gender-affirming care “illegal and damaging youth malpractice.” In a social media post on April 4, Chandler called the Oregon Department of Education’s DEI policies "discrimination based on race," appearing to support President Donald Trump’s push to end equity-based programs, and on more than one occasion he alluded to racial discrimination against white people in Portland as “pretty common.”

 

Chandler’s comments are consistent with provocative right-wing internet personalities, including Andy Ngo, a well known right-wing influencer. Chandler has left agreeable comments on at least two of Ngo’s posts on X and featured Ngo on an episode of his NW Fresh podcast.

The news of Chandler’s hire was surprising. Many of Chandler's posts seem to conflict with Councilor Ryan’s stated grounding values of “equity, inclusion, and justice.” Ryan is openly gay and has a non-binary spouse.

The podcaster frequently dissects local politics, and offers critiques of politicians and policies, particularly those of left-leaning and progressive elected officials. The day before starting his new part-time gig with the city, Chandler lambasted Ryan's colleague, City Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane, for her campaign strategies before she was elected to Council. "Want to know how to reach the measly 25% threshold of a Portland voting district and get elected to city council?" Chandler wrote in a social media post, implying that Koyama Lane's victory was due in large part to heavy spending on YouTube campaign ads.

Chandler could not immediately be reached for comment.