Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley on troops in PDX, and enjoyable fall occasions

For an inventory of fall actions, go to the KLCC Shortcut right here.

The following transcript was generated utilizing automated transcription software program for the accessibility and comfort of our viewers. While we attempt for accuracy, the automated course of could introduce errors, omissions, or misinterpretations. This transcript is meant as a useful companion to the unique audio and shouldn’t be thought-about a verbatim report. For probably the most correct illustration, please consult with the audio recording.

MICHAEL DUNNE: I’m Michael Dunne. It’s fall. There’s a chill within the air. The leaves are altering. Football season is in excessive gear, and National Guard troops are massing in Portland?! Okay. One of this stuff just isn’t just like the others, and it illustrates simply how weird this fall is for Oregon and the remainder of the nation. Today, on the present, we’ll speak concerning the low lights and highlights of this fall season in our neighborhood. First, we’ll verify in with Senator Jeff Merkley and get his perspective on the federal government shutdown and the Trump administration’s try and ship troops into the state’s largest metropolis. But then we’ll change course and discuss all the nice occasions and happenings locally this fall with our arts and tradition reporter. It’s the nice, unhealthy and spooky for fall, and it is subsequent on Oregon On The Record. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, all the time nice to speak to you. Thanks a lot for approaching.

SENATOR MERKLEY: You wager Michael, excellent to be with you.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Let’s simply dive. From your perspective, let’s speak concerning the two large tales, the federal government shutdown and the proposal to ship in or federalized National Guard troops to Portland. What are you seeing? What are you listening to?

SENATOR MERKLEY: Well, the Republican shutdown continues as a result of the Republicans do not wish to handle what they did within the large, ugly betrayal of a invoice that’s savaging well being look after households throughout America. In Oregon, will probably be about October 15 that the entire new plans will likely be introduced on the trade we’re anticipating. It is projected that they will see some improve of about 68% or $1,300 an individual, in the price of well being care, and 68% let’s simply be clear, individuals get fairly upset when there’s inflation of 5% that is 68% on prime of upper grocery prices on prime of upper utility prices. The one factor that is occurred over the past 9 months is Trump has made America poor and sicker, and this assault on well being care goes proper to the center of whether or not or not our households succeed.

MICHAEL DUNNE: The Republicans management all three branches of presidency, President, each homes of Congress and the judiciary. Yet, you understand, they’re making an attempt to forged this as it is the Democrats fault. I’d like to get your response to that.

SENATOR MERKLEY: Well, they’re in cost, and as Trump stated when he was commenting on President Obama being the workplace is accountable with the President, convey individuals collectively. But on this case, Trump did not wish to meet. He lastly met as soon as, very briefly beneath public strain. The House of Representatives has been out for 19 days, 19 days when they need to be right here negotiating, and as an alternative there, I do not know. They’re vacationing on some Bahama Island or one thing. I do not know what occurred to them, however right here within the Senate, we’re, we’re right here, and we’re voting periodically on the Democratic plan and the Republican plan. And what is the distinction between these plans? The Democrats say, repair these credit in order that households do not face huge will increase in well being prices and understand not simply individuals on the trade. What we’re speaking about is the final insurance coverage business will likely be elevating costs to compensate for the change within the insurance coverage pool, so individuals who purchase common insurance coverage are anticipated to have greater than 10% improve, after which there will likely be of us who cannot afford the insurance coverage and do not have it. That’s unhealthy for them, nevertheless it additionally implies that there will be fewer revenues flowing into our hospitals and clinics, and particularly in rural Oregon, that may be a large deal. We’re typically a clinic or a hospital hanging on by a thread.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Right now, polling appears to point out that almost all Americans are placing the blame for the shutdown on the Republicans. And I do know it is arduous to say you possibly can win a shutdown, however provided that they do management the Republicans management a lot of the federal government. Is this a difficulty that you simply really feel is resonating with Democrats and potential unbiased voters?

SENATOR MERKLEY: It’s very a lot resonating as a result of each household is affected by well being care and in addition whether or not they even when their insurance coverage is ok, if, in the event that they employer pays for one thing, however they nonetheless care about whether or not they have a clinic or a hospital of their neighborhood, you lose that, and everyone locally loses entry to well being care. But it is also proper. Fascinating, as a result of throughout this 12 months there’s felt like there’s two to a few new points on daily basis. Maybe it offers with Ukraine or the Middle East or capturing boats within the Caribbean which are coming from Colombia, Venezuela. It’s identical to on daily basis it is one thing, its tariffs, 50% tariff on Brazil, and so individuals simply have a tough time maintaining, like, oh my goodness, why did not we discuss that subject? But at the moment, there’s two or three new points. Now the nation is concentrated on one subject, well being care, and that is superb for our nation, for residents to have the ability to say, Okay, we’re beginning to perceive this debate. Republicans wish to savage healthcare. They proceeded to do it with a view to improve tax advantages for the richest Americans. They proceeded to savage little one vitamin, to do tax giveaways to billionaires. They proceeded to pile 30 trillion in extra debt on our nation over the subsequent 30 years to do these tax advantages for billionaires. What’s occurring right here? This is a household’s loss, billionaires’ win, agenda, and that is loopy. Shouldn’t we in a republic be doing an agenda that is extra of households thrive and the prosperous pay their justifiable share.

MICHAEL DUNNE: The President has additionally made overtures that this shutdown offers him a chance to fireside a bunch of individuals within the federal authorities or not return people who find themselves furloughed. I’d like to get your feedback on that.

SENATOR MERKLEY: Well, this plan to fireside was going ahead with or with no shutdown, and it is of their undertaking 2025, and naturally, it did tons of firings earlier than the shutdown. There’s no authorized energy that modifications beneath shutdown. In truth, it turns into legally tougher to fireside, as a result of there’s legal guidelines that say you place individuals on furlough, not firing them throughout a shutdown. And to fireside, it’s a must to have this course of, this in depth course of, the place you submit a plan for discount in drive or a RIF. And these plans, making these plans just isn’t important, in order that work just isn’t even alleged to be achieved throughout a shutdown. So legally, our staff are extra protected now than ever. But hear, it’s a large imposition on our staff that their paychecks are frozen. I’m having my paycheck frozen in partnership with those that are experiencing this. But let’s acknowledge what the pinnacle of OMB stated as he was placing this plan collectively through the interim through the Biden administration beneath his undertaking. He stated, hey, I wish to traumatize our federal staff, and I would like them to really feel so unhealthy about themselves, that they do not even wish to come to work, that that’s the philosophy guiding this angle in the direction of our staff. I’ve a really completely different angle. I a lot admire individuals, whether or not they’re working in our nationwide parks, they’re working conserving our communication system going, whether or not they’re working within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau getting equity on monetary merchandise or our client security division, or any of all of the work that is achieved to construct our infrastructure and course of our permits, all of the work, I thank our federal workers for his or her arduous work to make Our nation higher.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Let’s change gears and discuss what would possibly occur in Portland. If you could possibly give us, you understand, one of the best intelligence you might have on the place what’s taking place and what would possibly occur with regard to federalizing National Guard troops to deploy in Portland.

SENATOR MERKLEY: Well, the President put out a very faux story about Portland. There had been over a number of months, there have been just a few scuffles that the native police dealt with, identical to they deal with different police work. But what Trump is making an attempt to do is recreate what occurred in 2020 when there was a whole lot of battle between federal forces and residents, as a result of his plan is to create a justification for the rebellion act by which he can ship troops into our cities. And to have that justification, he wants violence. So, he despatched these of us out saying, mainly, assault the peaceable protesters. And we have seen this each on reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting. We’ve seen it additionally reporting the Oregonian of the reporters themselves witnessing peaceable protesters being attacked by these federal forces. And then on prime of that, they proceeded, just a few nights in the past, to say to protesters, you have to transfer three blocks away. And the protesters did. There was no interplay between the protests fairly than commentaries, however not bodily interplay. March them three blocks away, had a line, had skilled videographers behind them, after which they proceeded to say, Okay, do it. And they throw down flash bangs, which sound like gunfire going off, and pepper balls and tear fuel. And after all. Disperses a crowd, they usually filmed this making an attempt to make individuals in America suppose they had been disrupting a riot. This kind of faux presentation, type of a wag the canine state of affairs of the federal government faking a riot, or not a conflict, however a riot. This has by no means been achieved in America. To my data, it is a new degree of the administration mendacity to the American individuals, placing out disinformation and making an attempt to do it with a view to justify sending the navy into our cities. Understand how harmful that is. This is the ability of an authoritarian authorities that claims we wish to get the navy accustomed to being deployed internally towards Americans, and we would like court docket selections that give deferential interpretation to the president, so even when there is no such thing as a revolt or rebellion, they hope for a court docket determination that claims, if the President says there’s we’ll enable him to do that that opens The gate to enduring authoritarian management of our authorities. I simply wish to emphasize on ringing the alarm bells. This is extremely harmful territory we’re in, and I’m saying to the protesters, do not take the bait. They need violence. Don’t give it to them, they usually’ve been extremely disciplined thus far. So, minor skirmishes, okay, nothing the police cannot deal with. But I’m encouraging individuals to protest away from the federal brokers, as a result of they’re making an attempt to impress violence to justify authoritarian management, and we don’t wish to assist them obtain that purpose,

MICHAEL DUNNE: Senator, I do know your time may be very tight. If I may ask one final query, which is, what have been a number of the conversations maybe you have had with Governor Kotek and folks on the bottom, the mayor of Portland, by way of the way you from the federal authorities can assist in what they’re making an attempt to do on the native degree.

SENATOR MERKLEY: Tthis is such unity between town and the Governor and Senator Wyden myself and our congressional delegation all very conscious of the ways the federal government is using and why they’re using them. All very conscious that the usual, for instance, defining revolt is a big organized armed group making an attempt to overthrow the federal government. Having a pair protesters holding flower indicators exterior ICE is the furthest factor away from that however we perceive what Trump is making an attempt to do. He’s making an attempt to create a pathway for authoritarian management by having the ability to use the navy domestically, and that our collective response is to maintain individuals calm, attempt to verify they perceive what the administration is as much as. To actually train your voice and your proper to protest, however do it in a manner that doesn’t assist the authoritarian breach our elementary constitutional rights of freedom of expression, freedom of meeting, freedom of press, and stand collectively to save lots of our republic.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Senator Merkley, all the time nice to speak to you. Thanks a lot for carving out a while to speak with us.

SENATOR MERKLEY: Thanks very a lot. Michael

MICHAEL DUNNE: Our arts and tradition reporter goes to hitch us now for some a lot wanted constructive reporting about fall happenings locally. Kendra Schertell, our arts and tradition reporter, thanks a lot for coming in and speaking to us.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: Yeah, thanks for having me once more.

MICHAEL DUNNE: So yesterday, it is like fall actually asserted herself. It went from like 80 the day earlier than to cloudy and stuff. So, fall is within the air. Are you excited?

KENDRA SCHERTELL: Wonderful. It’s my favourite season.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Is it? You know what’s so humorous? I believe lots of people say that. I believe rising up, it was like, Oh, properly, summer season faculties out and stuff. But I like fall, particularly right here. It’s simply great.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: It’s so stunning. This is, like, among the finest states for fall, I believe.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Yeah, after which leaves are altering, and I’m glad. I imply, I like summer season climate, okay, however hey, you understand what? It’s time. We’re all able to, you understand, get out the sweaters and the coats from us from our closets and whatnot. So why do not we begin with this sort of, perhaps take us by a number of the, you understand, the occasions you bought, you bought type of, type of marked. What can of us count on from this most, let’s assume, uncommon fall right here within the Pacific Northwest?

KENDRA SCHERTELL: Well, I imply, after all, it is October, so there’s loads of Halloween actions.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Okay, discuss, yeah, let’s, let’s begin there, after which we will type of again in as a result of, I imply, Halloween, I do not know. I’ve by no means been a giant Halloween man. I do know, however I do know that it is, really, it looks as if it is a vacation that you simply actually like, whether or not you are an older individual or a child, there’s one thing so that you can discuss a number of the issues which are kind of on the market.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: It’s a giant one. So, a whole lot of cities have their very own little Halloween trick or treating. Springfield has one of their metropolis corridor, and that is really on Halloween from 330 to 5pm so you bought that? It. Eugene downtown has their trick or treating this 12 months. It’s on Saturday, October 25 Okay, from 12 to 4, and there are little places the place you may get maps and issues and go throughout. And I’m fairly positive KLCC is doing a factor.

MICHAEL DUNNE: I imagine we’re. I like you understand, once they can incorporate downtown right into a celebration. Because clearly, you understand, I believe, you understand, downtown Eugene and Springfield, to a point, I do know there are lots of people which are like, Oh, I do not learn about coming downtown or one thing like that, having an excuse, particularly on Halloween, to come back down and actually see that it is great. And, you understand, positive, there are some issues and whatnot, nevertheless it’s nice when you possibly can type of have that second the place perhaps you have not been downtown shortly, you might have this nice excuse to convey the children and see what it is all about.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: We have a terrific downtown space in Eugene, and I believe that parade, we had a brilliant parade, and that type of confirmed how great it’s and bringing the neighborhood collectively. So I believe lots of people actually get pleasure from trick or treating downtown,

MICHAEL DUNNE. Talk about every other type of I do not know if there are eating places which are doing particular issues, or bars or these types of issues.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: So many bars, okay, just about each bar Halloween factor occurring. I do know there’s Halloween drag evening, yeah. Actually, you understand what’s actually cool, what actually stood out? Okay, right here in Eugene. Sorry, once more in Eugene, the Shelton McMurphy Johnson home is internet hosting a Halloween Victoriana celebration…

MICHAEL DUNNE. Victoriana? Okay, I assume that is a Victorian period kind look.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: It is. So, it is on October 31 on Halloween, and tickets are nonetheless on sale. I believe it is type of restricted, however at 7pm you gown up in your greatest Victorian period model. And they’ve like, video games, conventional video games, Mystic fortune telling tales that sounds actually enjoyable.

MICHAEL DUNNE: And that home is so stunning. And it is, it is, it is a great Victorian home, however on Halloween, it simply has that nice kind of, it isn’t a haunted home, after all, nevertheless it has that look, has that vibe, undoubtedly. So that may be enjoyable. Yeah. Are there another locations, you understand, whether or not it is the coast or Central Oregon, are there another locations which have some celebrations of Halloween as properly.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: Yeah. So there’s Jacksonville, they usually provide historical past strolling excursions like haunted historical past strolling Wow. So that is enjoyable. And then Corvallis can be doing haunted ghost and true crime historical past excursions. So, for those who get pleasure from somewhat spooky ghost story that is for you.

MICHAEL DUNNE: I’ve by no means fairly gotten into true crime, however I do know that that may be a ardour for Oh,

KENDRA SCHERTELL: So, for those who like that, then that is for you too. Okay, Okay, good. Coos Bay additionally has an annual trick or deal with on their streets, the place their companies will put up orange pumpkin posters on their home windows. Wow. And that is on Halloween too, okay, three to 5.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Okay, properly, that is nice. There’s rather a lot occurring by way of Halloween. Are there different issues? Maybe not a lot Halloween centric, however extra fall centric that we will discuss?

KENDRA SCHERTELL: So, I believe mushrooms are a giant factor. So, we now have the mushroom pageant developing, sure, October 26.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Yes. And for folk that perhaps do not know, the mushroom pageant is gigantic. And so, perceive, for those who go to the mushroom pageant, you are going to park a good distance away and stroll, nevertheless it’s price it. But it simply, perceive that it’s, it is among the largest occasions.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: I’ve heard. I have not been but, okay, I undoubtedly wish to go this 12 months. Okay, I’ve heard it is wonderful, and I’ve heard that KLCC may be there.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Well, I’m positive that there will likely be KLCC individuals there, as a result of it’s, it’s extremely cool. It’s not simply, oh, this is some mushrooms. It actually is only a fabulous type of celebration of all issues mitochondrial. I can not pronounce that mushrooms, that phrase, yeah.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: And additionally, I imply, Fall is a superb time to go climbing. I do know you’re keen on climbing. I’m positive you could possibly record a whole lot of locations, however a number of the large ones for fall are Watson falls. Okay, Clear Lake Scott mountain loop, and perhaps yow will discover your individual mushrooms.

MICHAEL DUNNE: Well, a factor I’ll say about that, as a result of I’m, I’m a hiker, and the shoulder season of Fall is a superb time to hike, nevertheless it’s additionally vital to comprehend that is the time of 12 months the place climate can change right away. So, if you are going to exit and you are not used to climbing in our fall climate, just remember to nearly over put together. Bring additional layers and clothes and water and meals and people types of issues, since you do not wish to get stranded on the market when it could possibly be stunning you could possibly begin your hike and it could possibly be 70 levels, after which, growth, it hits 30 within the afternoon.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: That’s true. Yeah. And so, I assume, for these of you who’re somewhat bit extra hesitant, there’s additionally coated bridges. I believe that is a really fall factor, is to go and see coated bridges with bushes and leaves falling throughout it. And Cottage Grove is the coated bridge capital of the West. So I really feel like that is a really fall exercise or esthetic.

MICHAEL DUNNE: And, you understand, there’s, I believe, locations like Cottage Grove. There’s rather a lot occurring there. I believe lots of people can type of suppose, oh, you understand, perhaps there’s not a lot as a result of it is a smaller city. But a few of our small cities actually do an incredible job for fall and the vacations.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: They have a whole lot of stuff for positive, yeah. And then, after all, you possibly can go to pumpkin patches. Local farms have hay rides, corn mazes and different autumnal festivities. Some of the larger ones are a Thistle Down farm and Dietering orchards. But there’s so many native, small, family-owned farms too, that do stuff, the cultural occasions for every city, they’ve their very own little factor, and it is simply good to exit and do stuff. I could not inform you one particular factor, as a result of I simply, I like fall and I like Halloween. So all of them sound like actually cool haunted homes. I imply, the Florence Event Center has a haunted home. Okay, I like that too. I might like to go to that.

MICHAEL DUNNE: All proper, the Florence haunted home. So, Kendra, earlier than I allow you to go, are there another issues that we ought to be trying ahead to locally?

KENDRA SCHERTELL: Yeah, indigenous individuals’s day is on October 13, that is a Monday, so the Museum of Natural and Cultural History is opening their doorways without spending a dime admission all day, after which they’ve like they’re highlighting transgressors. It’s an exhibit concerning the intersection between queer and indigenous identities, okay? And additionally, it is somewhat additional out, however Salem is internet hosting an indigenous individuals’s day celebration on October 13 as properly, and that is at Riverfront Park. So, there is a couple different issues to do as properly.

MICHAEL DUNNE: On the shortcut, you may most likely have info and stuff. So yeah, there’s a whole lot of stuff, superior. We will put that each one on the hyperlink as properly for our KLCC calendar, Kendra Schertell, the lover of fall. Thank you a lot for coming and speaking to us.

KENDRA SCHERTELL: Thanks for having me.

MICHAEL DUNNE: That’s the present for at the moment. All episodes of Oregon On The Record can be found as a podcast at KLCC.org. Much is going on proper now on the Federal Judicial degree. So, Monday, we’ll sit down with the US federal district court docket decide in Eugene and discuss all of it. I’m Michael Dunne, host of Oregon On The Record. Thanks for listening.