demobrats

More than a handshake was offered when a legal agreement was made by multiple parties to expand transit service in Salem seven years ago--or so we thought. Sara Duncan and Maria Hinojos Pressey join us from Salem's Mass Transit District Board of Directors (Cherriots) to explain what all the brouhaha in the news was about our local business community making an investment in our transit system....

Virginia and Vik are on a break for the month, but sometimes the show must go on. On this very special episode, Chris Hoy (your favorite mayor ever) joins Jimmy Jones, Executive Director of Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action to discuss all the latest happenings around our unhoused crisis locally and beyond. One thing about Jimmy is he knows his stuff! Jimmy knows ALLLLLL about the homeless cri...

This podcast was recorded July 11. Some details may have changed since. A special legislative session has been scheduled for August 29th. In this very special episode, Virginia gives us the rundown on the history of ODOT. If you know V, you know this is her favorite subject. But first, we give you a little update on the Keizer never ending saga. We also help you understand the transportation packa...

This week on the pod, State Representative for HD 22 (Woodburn) and Labor Champion, Lesly Muñoz joins us to talk about her run for office (it was a close one) and her first session as a State Representative. Lesly is a fighter, a local legend, and one of our favorite humans. We are so excited to share her with all of you! Get out there and stay loud. If you have questions, topics you'd love di...

*Note: The Christmas Tree Bill HB 5006 has not yet been signed into law by the governor.* The Keizer Times has reported the funding in the Christmas Tree bill is for infrastructure at the fields, not the fields itself. Regardless...we need money for emergency services. We've been a bit behind on the local news, but we're here to catch you up. What's been happening in Keizer and Salem and why is it...

I don't know what you were doing at 8, but it probably wasn't organizing to save critical city services. This week we have Salem's favorite tiny community organizer, Zoey, with us on the pod to talk about her experience working tirelessly to get the most recent Livability Levy across the finish line. We can't wait to see what Zoey does next in local politics, but no doubt, she will be in the room...

*a note, the flag Councilor Day mentioned was a Confederate flag. Sorry our audio dropped out* Hey Brat Pack! In this bonus episode, we can't wait to share the recent round up and long term history of political antics in Keizer. From the recent citing of a current councilor, to the cancellation of the community-led Pride event, to the problematic history of other local officials, it's a lo...

In this brat pack bonus we just want to ask the really hard questions to our billionaire counterparts.

Vik is back y'all! We know, you forgot she existed...but she's here. And we're joined by Zack Surmacz today to talk about rising up the next generation of Democrats to lead the party across the country! What is it going to take to win young voters to our side and how do we share our values through our messaging and policy creation? We also tackle other important conundrums like are you for or agai...

Today our new friends Susan and Brian join us to discuss why it's so hard to have public art happen in Salem (and how Brian might be fixing this problem all by himself). Paint by Bureaucratic Numbers with us. And don't forget to check out Make Music Day this weekend! (AND YES--we're VERY sorry we used AI to make the theme song. It was before we knew how much water it wasted!) Salem&#39...

This bonus episode is available for free, because you should all know what's up. The Mayor and the entire Salem City Council is being investigated by the Ethics Commission over possibly unethical communications. Our jaws stayed in place. Something felt off to us about this situation from the jump and thanks to the complaints of more than one community member, the Ethics Commission has decided to r...

Morgan and Felix from CouplaGoofs join Virginia this week to discuss making content full time, being new parents (not to a Vampire's baby), creating authentic community, living fully as your best self, and the absolute CHAOS that erupted at Salem City Council on Monday night concerning the Avelo Airlines contract and the use of cell phones during City Council meetings. We promise you will LAUGH......

Hey Brat Pack! Enjoy this bonus episode from Virginia giving you a life update on some hard stuff she's dealing with. Don't forget: we can do hard things. And you don't have to pull yourselves up by your bootstraps every time. That's what brats are for.

It may be advisable at this point for the far right to stop trying to buy local elections in Oregon. The voters aren't buying it and neither are we. Brittney Mast from MomsForOregon joins Jane from GirlyPopPolitics to discuss school board elections across the state, results, wins, losses, and everything in between. The girlies yap about the political podcasts the GOP is investing in, in Oregon...

Organized people beat organized money EVERY TIME. And we love watching rich special interest groups waste money. $34K was spent by realtors and developers across Oregon to try to buy the Ward 6 City Council Seat. It didn't work. Ward 6 showed up to vote for their own interests and for the representation they want and need in Council Chambers. But we have to ask; why would realtors be so interested...

This week on the pod, Beth Schmidt from every Why did the Chicken Cross the Road? joke and Safe Routes to Schools joins us to talk about all things bicycle and pedestrian safety. Salem is one of the last cities to get this critical program (nobody is surprised we are last). We're super grateful to have Beth making this program happen. It will surely save lives, one bike bus and walk to school...

This week our friend Sara Duncan helps you get to know the bike-powered brains behind Salem Bike Vision : Dylan, Ian, and Virginia, a trio of transportation good troublemakers on a mission to make Salem more two-wheeled. Dylan brings the science, policy, and smooth Smithsonian swagger; Ian’s got more board appointments than a lumber yard; and Virginia keeps the wheels turning with political savvy...

What happens when the co-founder of Salem Bike Vision is nearly hit by an SUV in the very family-friendly buffered bike lane she worked to get installed? Turns out she breaks her collarbone and gets a concussion. We did the math and she was 68.2 milliseconds from a very different ending. It is very likely that the BUFFERED aspect of the bike lane saved her life . Call it crazy timing, but we alrea...

The Good Doctor Trevor Phillips is with us today alongside Former Mayor that got away Chris Hoy and Virginia. Trevor is here to talk to us about all things medicine, federal cuts, healthcare for all, and getting your flu shot. And don't worry, we spend some time going down memory lane of our work on city council together and some of the nonsense that took place. You don't want to miss it....

Hey Brats! In this bonus episode, Chris Hoy and Trevor Phillips join Virginia for a little City Council Alumni Reunion to discuss sexism and politics and public perception. The mayor took a solid 20 seconds on Monday night to vote on a motion brought forward. She appeared to be looking at her phone the entire time prior. Whose council was she seeking before placing her vote? Did she know she'd be...

Trump ended the refugee resettlement programs that so many have come to rely on seeking safety and a new life in a new land. Trivina and Luke from Salem For Refugees join us this week to talk about the effort to continue to provide services for families resettling into Salem and Corvallis, despite the federal funding coming to an abrupt end. Listen and learn about the immigrant resettlement experi...

Have you heard of Kyle Dickinson? He's the new Executive Director of Salem Leadership Foundation...wa wa wee whoaaa the brats just brought SLF on the pod? Yuh...we did. Everyone calm down. Kyle is next up to the plate batting for SLF, but more importantly, he's one of Virginia's oldest friends--he loves the demobrats theme song and is obviously a Swiftie. Kyle is here to share about th...

Danielle Bethell has set her sights on the highest office in Oregon--Governor. Join Virginia and Miss. Alexandria as they discuss this new development at length, including some very troubling events in the politician's past. Currently serving as one of your three all-Republican Marion County Commissioners, Danielle Bethell apparently has higher ambitions. Don't let the blue and green fool...

Join Virginia and Jane as they welcome Salem Keizer Public Schools Superintendent Andrea Castañeda to discuss all things animals, metal detectors, dropping out of college, and growing up in rural Oregon. Learn all about how Andrea came to lead the helm at SKPS and hear about all the awesome innovative programs our students are being offered! We know when this episode is over, you'll love Andrea as...

Our very special guest needed to reschedule for next week, but NEVER FEAR...CHRIS HOY is here and he's bringing a lump sum of honesty and commentary on the most recent news happenings at the City of Salem including the Archer Departure (the Deputy City Manager's sudden resignation), the elimination of the Deputy City Manager positions, The 28 page Text Thread investigative report the Salem...