The Best Of Citizen Smith

Chinese and American diplomats met this week in China with more fiery talk and less productive discourse. As economists look at potential declines in the birth rates of the US and other countries, the alarm is sounded that more people need to have babies. Citizen Smith disagrees.

Simone Biles withdrew from the team event due to mental stress, and the US took silver, upset by the Russian team which won gold. The "heat dome" is causing shellfish poisoning, so don't eat raw oysters right now. Chinook salmon face collapse in California due to an overheated Sacramento River.

The Olympics are underway with the first weekend of sporting events producing drama and fascinating backstories. The city of Portland is battling numerous problems, including increased shootings -- some fatal, and the Mayor is clueless on dealing with these problems.

The Tokyo Olympics officially kicked off with the opening ceremony, however, the 68,000 seats in the stadium were all but empty, save for some VIP guests. No fans this year, but at least the athletes showed up. Let the games begin!

Extreme droughts, severe floods, raging wildfires, and a ravaging pandemic. It's time for the world to pull together, make drastic changes to curtail the downfall of society as we know it. But we can do it!

Games are underway at the Tokyo Olympic, but the Japanese citizens and athletes are wary of Covid outbreaks and a possible super spreader event. Movie reviews today: "Road Runner", the Anthony Bourdain documentary, and "Pig" starring Nicholas Cage, filmed in Oregon and Portland.

Jeff Bezos completed his dream today, blasting into space with three other civilians, leading America's privately funded commercial space program. Tokyo Olympic organizers introduce an innovative approach to beds for athletes, recyclable cardboard frames --- perhaps less inviting to athlete's having sex. 

In America the pandemic is under control, but in India, Africa, and parts of Asia countries are experiencing pandemic peaks with the Delta Variant. China's military is challenging America with war talk and hostile maneuvers in the South China Sea -- let cooler heads prevail.

A U.S. News and World Report placed Portland, OR, as the #10 best place to live in America. Well, let's take care of the homeless problem, trash, and political unrest before we jump into the top 10. Drug overdoses in America this year reached a three-decade high. And Facebook is going to start paying content creators -- but you have to be chosen.

An interview with a bike delivery guy in Portland sheds light on this innovative business that is growing. Job burnout is an issue for workers, a repercussion of the pandemic? It's time to address happiness in life and jobs.

Life in the Rose City is not always rosy with a homeless crisis that continues to linger and get worse rather better. It's time for action and that means neighborhood and citywide efforts combined.

England loses to Italy and a dramatic EU Championship; Novak Djokovic wins Wimbledon and can win the 'Gold Slam'. The Bootleg wildfire in Oregon is roaring, an early start to wildfire season, and the state struggles to get the entire population fully vaccinated, especially young adults.

Man on the street as Citizen Smith talks to food truck owners in Portland about safety concerns, or not, and business in the post riot and post pandemic City of Roses. And the Citizen's film review: "Black Widow".

Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos are heading into space with other passengers, with Branson's flight this Sunday and Bezos scheduled for July 20. Safe travels

The city of Portland continues to struggle with a solution to clearing the sidewalks of homeless camps, one step forward to step back. The minimum wage for Portland is now $14 per hour, and that is leading to higher restaurant menu prices, groceries and other consumer goods. Movie review: Nomadland.

Multnomah county recorded 95 deaths during the heatwave, mostly elderly people living alone without AC or a fan. It's a tragedy, and an example where society failed our elders. And it is the responsibility of neighbors and communities to make sure this doesn't happen again.

On today's show, host Citizen Smith talks to people around the city and asks: "What do you think of America?" Hip Hop artist and podcaster, Rekka, joins the show to discuss her recent award "In Good Hands" and the post-pandemic music scene in Portland.

It's judgment time for former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, who will be sentenced for the murder of George Floyd. Cops are resigning and retiring in record numbers, and that includes Portland police. The City of Roses and the Northwest brace for record temperatures this weekend, and the electric grid will be pushed to its limit.

The homeless problem in Portland is an ongoing issue, we talk about that on today's show with a woman who is directly involved, Guest Diane Grundy who is a Homeless Activist sits in during Citizen Smith.

With temperatures expected to reach 108 degrees this weekend, Portland is about to register its hottest day on record, with several days expected over 100 degrees this weekend. Covid variants are getting stronger, cross your fingers that America's COVID vaccines are strong enough to fight off these super coronavirus variants

Reservoirs are experiencing severe water shortages, rivers are drying up, glaciers are shrinking, and water is scarce for most farms in the West and Northwest at the start of summer. Mother Nature is not happy.

The latest Covid vaccination numbers are in and Portland is over 70 percent fully vaccinated. But the city must wait for the rest of the state to catch up in numbers before fully opening. Is that fair? Is it also necessary to mandate mask wearing at this stage of the post-pandemic?

After a riot police officer was indicted for allegedly assaulting a young woman with a baton, 50 of his members resigned in protest. So what now for Portland? More riots and violence? Or will there be peace in the city this summer?

The indictment of a Portland police officer for assaulting a female protester during an August protest displays in full video why an overhaul of police training and riot response is needed in this country. Putin is challenged by an American reporter with tough questions, and that was the biggest news that came out of the Biden-Putin summit.

HALF-CAST Host Ray Lane drops into the Citizen Smith show all the way from Scotland.