demobrats

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...

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...