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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Expect a cloudy start to the work week with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s, and perhaps an occasional shower if the sky feels like it. (There’s a reason people call the weather mercurial.) But! The sun is expected to show its face once more by Wednesday—again, if it feels like it. (Man… the sun and clouds are as entitled as these crybaby Republicans.) And now, I think I feel like some NEWS!
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Despite the answer staring them right in the face, local conservatives remain extremely confused and butthurt about last week’s election, in which progressives held on to their city council seats, and snagged the Multnomah County Chair position as well. Sadly, these monied conservatives are unwilling to accept that Portland is sick of loudmouth rich white dudes and lobbyists pushing their unpopular ideas on the city, and instead are tripling down on their theory that the problem isn’t them, it’s YOU and more generally, charter reform. For example, the misnamed, right-leaning political action group Partnership for Progress (headed up by Bob Weinstein, along with failed political candidates Vadim Mozyrsky and cop Eli Arnold) are now trying to push the wildly incorrect theory that ranked choice voting gives incumbents an advantage during the election—a stupid theory the Oregonian is platforming without providing evidence… because of course they are. What these butthurt conservatives (along with the mayor and Metro Chamber who also supported losing candidates) fail to understand is that Portlanders are now beginning to see the tricks and unearned influence that the wealthy class has been exerting on city government, and have had enough of these cynical shenanigans. That’s why the people voted to keep Councilor Mitch Green in office (despite, and perhaps because of, his 2020 tweets against violent, racist policing), while saying “no thank you” to cop Eli Arnold (who has consistently made the list of officers with the most reported incidents of force against citizens). Of course, the wealthy conservatives realize this deep in their hearts, but can’t and won’t admit it because THE GRIFT™ is, and always will be, in their blood. Check out more reporting on how progressives and the DSA fared during this past election from our Taylor Griggs.
• After a late-evening bargaining session on Sunday (and 10 months of wrangling), city leadership failed to reach an agreement on a labor contract with Portland city workers, which means roughly 800 city employees represented by City of Portland Professional Workers Union (CPPW) will be going on strike starting today. Some city services, including some emergency services, may be impacted due to the city’s inability to meet the demands of labor, as city workers continue to demand cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), standard wage increases, and layoff protections on par with other union contracts. So what city services might be affected? Our Jeremiah Hayden has the details on this and a lot more.
• Miah Hergert, an inclusion educational assistant who survived a tragic Bend elementary school shooting on October 15, has issued a public statement on the tragedy. Hergert was in the classroom at the time a 16-year-old shooter entered and murdered three students and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School before being shot and killed by a parent. In a statement issued through the school district, Hergert wrote, “October 15 changed my life forever. Everything happened so fast, I witnessed both unimaginable darkness and extraordinary love. To the angels who saved my life, thank you. I will carry you in my heart forever. My heart aches for the families who lost their loved ones.” Classes at Silver Rail Elementary are expected to resume for some students on November 12.
• It was a tough, and heartbreaking loss for our Portland Thorns, who were defeated 4-1 by the Washington Spirit yesterday in a bitter quarterfinal match that ended their season. While the team fought mightily, it’s been an uphill battle the entire season, as both players and coaching staff can attest. And yet, hope remains as the Thorns are already looking forward to next year. Stephanie Kaloi has the details.
IN NATIONAL AND WORLD NEWS:
• The board for artificial intelligence computer chip company Nvidia has announced an investigation into its leather jacket-wearing CEO Jensen Huang, after the married man admitted to having an affair with a suspected Chinese spy. Huang is one of the most powerful figures in the skyrocketing AI industry, as well as being a supporter and close associate to President Trump, who—*checks notes*—learned of the titan’s affair a year ago, and chose to do nothing about it. “The more I learn about the insane relationship between the Trump Administration, Chinese spies, and AI billionaires, the more I’m convinced there is nothing this administration does that isn’t corrupt,” wrote Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) on social media this weekend. “Congress will investigate and get answers.” (Jeez! How many investigations into Trump can one Democratic congress launch??)
• Seriously… that leather jacket, tho.
• Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009. While Brand admitted to the jury that he’d used his fame to attract women, he maintained that the resulting acts were consensual. Apparently the jury did not buy that line of reasoning, particularly after prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told the court that Brand was a “ruthless, calculating and manipulative” sexual predator who treated women as a “disposable commodity.” Brand is currently under investigation for two additional rape allegations.
• Back to the always-complicit Trump: In an interview that aired on 60 Minutes last night, the president begrudgingly agreed that his absolutely cruel and monstrous deportation policy might have been “too tough” and is one of the reasons why Republicans got wiped out during last week’s election. He then announced he would be willing to work with Democrats on the subject… before leaving the interview and immediately promoting the architect of the cruel immigration policy, Stephen “Nosferatu” Miller to White House Chief of Staff. (Which actually might make Miller easier to prosecute during the upcoming Nuremberg 2.0 trials… so I’ll allow it!)
• Meanwhile, Republicans on Capitol Hill are returning to the job today after their monumental election wipeout last week, and are reportedly “furious” with their dear leader Trump for being the cause of their electoral troubles. (And Trump’s promotion of Staff Nosferatu Stephen Miller to White House Chief of Staff, along with his pursuit of unwinnable wars, and lack of interest in the economy have only aggravated the situation.) According to prominent Republican pollster Whit Ayres, “Trump will clearly remain the leader of the party for the next two years—but I also think the knee-jerk obeisance to whatever his whims are at the moment is likely over.” Yeah, maybe… and maybe not. Never underestimate the spineless-ness of Republicans who refuse to think for themselves.
• And finally… here’s some energy to help you launch into the work week. Enjoy as much as I did.
