demobrats

Virginia, Vik, and Chris are back in the studio to catch you up on where we've been, some big wins in the legislative session for everyday Oregonians, and a little dialogue about the state of elections headed into this campaign cycle! And we've got a preview of where the show is going this Spring/Summer! GET LOUD STAY LOUD JOIN VIRGINIA'S CAMPAIGN FOR STATE SENATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ D...

This week on the pod Virginia and Chris welcome two guests we've been waiting FOREVER to have on the pod. Speaker of the House Julie Fahey and Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ben Bowman, join us the first week of the Legislative Short Session to talk all things transportation, federal response to ICE in our communities, delivering results for working families, driving down the cos...

On this episode, Chris Hoy and Virginia get the opportunity to interview Representative Mark Gamba (District 41- Milwaukie) all about the environment, his experience in local government, and his ideas for the short session ahead. As one of the only renters serving in the legislature, Rep Gamba brings a lived experience to his work, always keeping working families top of mind. Reach Rep Gamba Here...

Heads up: the transcript for the episode is auto generated. We know it’s spelling Keizer wrong and we’re very sorry! This week, Virginia Stapleton and Chris Hoy welcome Keizer Mayor and longtime pod listener, Cathy Clark, to the pod to talk about all things in Oregon's second youngest city. We talk art, construction, business expansion, sidewalks, and why everything is blue. Enjoy! GET LOUD STAY L...

Happy New Year, Brats! We have a very big year ahead! Listen to what we'll be up to in this episode. We hope you'll join us on for a fun and festive 2026! Comment your goals for 2026!!!! RSVP for Jan 17 Woodburn Town Hall Here GET LOUD STAY LOUD JOIN VIRGINIA'S CAMPAIGN FOR STATE SENATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN - EARLY MONEY IS SO POWERFUL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP T...

Cuando la gente te dice cómo son, créeles a la primera. Imagine coming face to face with ICE agents. Our guest this week did just that. Local influencer and advocate, Erika Villa joins us in the studio to give us the first hand story on the video that sent her viral online last month. Erika is a supporter of all things small business and an activist for the immigrant community here in the Willamet...

Legislative Troubadour and Healthcare Policy Expert, Representative Rob Nosse , joins us this week to explain all things healthcare in Oregon and beyond. We discuss the impacts of Trumps Big Ugly Bill, the possibility of Oregon developing a Healthcare For All system, and so much more. Learn more about Healthcare For All Oregon here. Subscribe to Rob Nosse's very interesting weekly newsletter h...

*sorry the sound is so quiet at the beginning. It gets better* Live from yet another weekend protest, we are calling on our community to give public comment at Salem City Council Monday Night at 6 PM. The Council will be entertaining a motion to reaffirm our status as a sanctuary city, but honestly, WE NEED MORE. Our community needs more. Here are our ideas: 1. Suspend FLOCK camera surveillance pr...

This week on the pod we have Salem's own Carlee Wright, creator of Press Play Salem (the magazine), the city’s go-to guide for arts, entertainment, and culture, where storytelling meets community and curiosity fuels discovery. We discuss all things Salem culture, arts, politics, roller derby, and the hopes we have for the Salem ahead of us. McKay Holiday Market Vendor Info Info on donating to...

Hopefully this is the last time we have to talk about this (fingers crossed). In this episode, Brian Hines, an avid writer and community member who filed the official ethics complaint against Mayor Julie Hoy with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, joins us to discuss his take aways from this six month process. Brian truly exhibited some hero behavior in his efforts to hold the mayor accounta...

In case you missed it! Heads up--transcript might be auto detect her language perfectly. JOIN VIRGINIA'S CAMPAIGN FOR STATE SENATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN - EARLY MONEY IS SO POWERFUL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER, GET A YARD SIGN, OR ENDORSE VIRGINIA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VISIT THE CAMPAIGN WEBSITE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: VirginiaStapleton Bluesky: Demobrats Instagram: VoteVirginiaS...

Just a little yapping about the issues with guests at Virginia's kick off party for State Senate District 11 this last Friday night. Special shoutout to the more than 100 people who attended! JOIN VIRGINIA'S CAMPAIGN FOR STATE SENATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN - EARLY MONEY IS SO POWERFUL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER, GET A YARD SIGN, OR ENDORSE VIRGINIA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VIS...

In this extended bonus we cover last weeks very long City Council meeting as well as a deep dive into the laws around enforcing camping on Oregon's public properties. Our mayor has a long history of speaking ill of the unhoused (see City Council public comments over the last few years) and we are not surprised she has now made herself a chief petitioner on a prospective ballot measure filed la...

Felix from CouplaGoofs and Holly from Salem Soup Squad join us to share about their work and their new combined endeavor, Circular Salem. Mutual aid might just be the thing that gets us through the next three years. For more info on their work: Circular Salem Library of Things + Kids Clothing Exchange https://circularsalem.myturn.com/library/inventory/browse J.B. MacKinnon | The Day the World Stop...

In this much anticipated interview, Representative Cyrus Javadi (HD 32 - Tillamook & Clatsop Counties) joins Vik and Virginia on the pod to share all about his journey home to the Democratic Party. We talk healthcare, taxes, climate change, abortion, free speech, Taylor Swift, reality television, RINOs, and the future of the Republican Party now and post-Trump. If you want to learn more about...

JOIN VIRGINIA'S CAMPAIGN FOR STATE SENATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN - EARLY MONEY IS SO POWERFUL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER, GET A YARD SIGN, OR ENDORSE VIRGINIA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ VISIT THE CAMPAIGN WEBSITE ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: VirginiaStapleton Bluesky: Demobrats Instagram: VoteVirginiaStapleton Facebook: Elect Virginia Stapleton email us: electvirginiastapleton@gmail.com Be sure to subscribe so yo...

A warning, Virginia mentions events of sexual assault and abuse in this pod. Listener discretion is advised. That potato guy Zack Surmacz is back to interview Virginia about HOW, WHAT, and WHY she ever chose to open herself up to public scrutiny and run for office. But PLOT TWIST, if you know Virginia and Vik, you already know this episode gets into the WHO. We promise you will absolutely love thi...

This podcast was recorded on Thursday, October 2. Some developments may have taken place since then. Chris Hoy joins Virginia to give us all an update on the State of Downtown Meeting that occurred last week which was hosted by the Salem Mainstreet group. Things got a little bizarre at 8 AM. Chris also gives us a follow up on the investigation into the ethics of our Salem Mayor and City Council an...

Welp, brats, the 2025 Legislative long session has ended and we're here to report on our first Salem area Representative's performance. Representative Kevin Mannix gets a D+ for effort and lightbulbs this session. Yes, lightbulbs. We didn't get the payment in lieu of taxes we needed or that Capitol District, but we did get some astroturf (a parking lot) in Keizer. Want to make sure we...

This episode was originally published December 5, 2024. It's also one of Vik's favorites. Trigger warning: Virginia does mention assault, neglect, and abuse in this episode. In this bonus episode, Virginia let's us all in on a bit of her deconstruction, personal healing, and why she advocated so hard for Salem in the process of getting the payroll tax across the finish line at council....

What's happening, brats! This episode is the collaboration you never knew you needed. Jacob from whatshappeningsalem joins us on the pod this week to talk all things we love in Salem, local media, maximalism, grief, and an in depth discussion into understanding that equitable payroll tax (and the often omitted sunset date) the former City Council tried to get across the finish line at the 11th...

This week Representative Sarah Finger McDonald joins us all the way from Corvallis to talk about how she got her start in politics--and trust us--its not what you think. We know you'll come to love her as much as we do! Now, onto actionable items: TAKE THE OPPOSITION RESEARCH SURVEY AND LET THEM KNOW YOU VALUE CHERRIOTS AND PUBLIC TRANSIT SIGN UP FOR WORKING FAMILIES PARTY CAMPAIGN SCHOOL Week...

The rumors are true! Virginia is running for Senate District 11 (Salem, Keizer, Woodburn, Gervais). Hear a little bit about her campaign priorities and how to get involved. We need your help to make this campaign a success! We believe in the strength of our community. We know that together, we can build a future of opportunity for all of us. Para todos. JOIN THE CAMPAIGN DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN - E...

Representative Lesly Muñoz is back to speak with us about all the impacts on residents in her district from federal immigration policies as well as the Marion County Commissioners lawsuit concerning Oregon's sanctuary law. We also discuss upcoming 2026 elections, bikes, and more. You don't want to miss this one! To read Representative Javadi's Substack, CLICK HERE Get out there and sta...

We've missed y'all! 👯 We're back and we're catching you up on all the things. In our lives, pop culture, Salem happenings, and what's to come this month. And we're serious about that free leaf haul and a downtown grocery store. Please contact your city councilors here. Las Jarochitas - 3282 Silverton Rd NE Locals Donuts - Check instagram for locations Get out there and sta...