The Schmidt Show PDX

SchmidtShow PDX — Season 3, Episode 1 : Mike sits down with Curtis Robinhold to unpack the Oregon Prosperity Council’s just-released report: 66 listening sessions, 25 communities, 400+ pages, and a mandate to figure out why Oregon’s business climate isn’t competitive — and what to do about it. About Curtis Robinhold Curtis Robinhold is the Executive Director of the Port of Portland, where he’s ove...

Tonight I read Shane Dixon Kavanaugh’s piece titled “Portland mayor lambasts critics of Moda Center deal as county questions investment” . Worth the read - but here’s a quick synopsis: Mayor Wilson sent out a letter doubling down on the city’s $120 million pledge and going after the councilors and critics who’ve raised concerns about the deal. Less than two hours later, Multnomah County held its f...

Earlier this season, Portland Metro Chamber Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Jon Isaacs sat across from Mike and made his case: the DSA is bad for Portland, bad for business, and bad for the social programs progressives claim to care about. It was the most downloaded episode in Schmidt Show history. This is the rebuttal. City Councilor Angelita Morillo — First term District 3 representat...

What if clean information is as essential to democracy as clean air is to public health? That’s the question at the center of this episode — and it’s one that today’s guest has been thinking about longer than most. Ryan Haas spent more than 20 years in journalism, including 12 years at Oregon Public Broadcasting, where he served as Managing Editor of News. Last year, he left OPB after watching wha...

Show Notes This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.schmidtshowpdx.com/subscribe

The Schmidt Show PDX | Season 2, Episode 14 Some fights you don’t choose. They choose you. On March 19th, 2026, a New York Times investigation alleged that Cesar Chavez had sexually abused girls in the farm worker movement and assaulted Dolores Huerta, his own partner in the struggle. For Portland’s Latino community that had fought a multi year battle to rename a street in his honor — a community...

Portland has a new billionaire in the building — and he brought a $600 million ask with him. Tom Dundon closed his purchase of the Trail Blazers just weeks ago, and the early headlines haven’t been about basketball. They’ve been about cost-cutting, lobbying campaigns, and a demand to commit north of a billion dollars in public money to renovate an arena the public already owns. Two guys with a web...

In This Episode Buckle up - this is a conversation that will have you cheering, jeering or both! Portland is at an inflection point — economically, politically, and on the streets. This week on SchmidtShow PDX, we talk to two guests with very different vantage points on the city’s challenges: a seasoned political strategist now advocating for Portland’s business community, and a frontline service...

Audit This Have you been hearing claims that Portland is the most taxed city in the country?! We talk taxes with Marina Kaminsky from the North Star Civic foundation to try to get to the bottom of this complicated issue. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.schmidtshowpdx.com/subscribe

A NOTE About this episode: When it was originally taped Peter Klym was not a candidate running against Adrian Brown. A different candidate had filed, but then subsequently withdrew. When this episode was taped there was a reference to the candidate that subsequently withdrew - not Peter Klym. That reference has been edited out of the episode in order to minimize any potential confusion. Whether yo...

Substance Over Vibes What happens when you strip away the noise, ignore the scare tactics, and just focus on the work? That's what this episode is about. We sat down with two elected officials who are both doing real things for real people — and both navigating campaigns where opponents would rather traffic in vibes than engage with substance. We're not doing that here. This is a public episode. I...

Under Threat: Portland's Environmental Gems Fight Back This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.schmidtshowpdx.com/subscribe

S02E07 - Portland Gray Panthers & Ribbit Wrangler This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.schmidtshowpdx.com/subscribe

Mike interviews Rob Nosse. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.schmidtshowpdx.com/subscribe

Season 2, Episode 5 - Happy New Year? Portland Vibe Check with Author Donovan Scribes   Episode snapshot Portland doesn’t just debate policy—we debate reality. Journalist Donovan Scribes joins me to break down his “Top 10 Takeaways” from a chaotic 2025, and we talk about how vibes (and media narratives) can drive big decisions on Measure 110, police budgets, and the so-called “doom loop”—plus what...

Season 2, Episode 4 - Guest Co-Host: Jennifer Williamson • Interview Guest: MAC Smiff (Thesis PDX)   In this episode, Mike is joined by guest co-host Jennifer Williamson, attorney, former Oregon House Majority Leader, and co-founder of Swift Public Affairs, for a wide-ranging conversation on law, politics, and what’s about to hit Oregon’s healthcare system.   Then we bring in Mac Smiff, organizer...

Season 2, Episode 3 - A Double Scoop of Schmidt Show PDX This holiday week, we’re breaking from our usual co-hosted current events + one-interview format and bringing you two back-to-back conversations with people doing deeply local work in Portland: Tyler Pell from Tennis Courterly Katie and Nicki from Sisters of the Road, talking about the Finding Home report authored by the Welcome Home Coaliti...

Season 2, Episode 2 – Democracy, Defiance, and Remembering Rep. Hoa Nguyen (with Steph Routh & Xander Schultz)   This week on Schmidt Show PDX, Mike is joined by guest co-host Steph Routh for a timely and emotional episode. We begin by remembering the late Representative Hoa Nguyen — her life, her leadership, and what her loss means for our community. From there, Steph walks us through how Ore...

          Season 2, Episode 1 Special co-host: Candace Williams (Family Forward Oregon) Guest: Greg Raisman (Awesome Portland) What’s inside A no-fluff convo with Candace Williams (Family Forward) on what’s really happening in Portland right now—plus an invitation to Dance Like a Mother on November 8. Then an interview with Greg Raisman (Awesome Portland) on your zany ideas into $1,000 micro-grant...

We just wrapped up a fantastic recording session for Episode 8 – the Season 1 Finale of The Schmidt Show PDX, and trust me: you’re not going to want to miss this one. 💥 For the first time ever, we’re bringing in a guest co-host to join the mic. Who is it? You’ll have to tune in Wednesday to find out — but let’s just say, this person knows Portland politics inside and out and brings sharp insight...

What happens when a national misinformation campaign hits your city? You organize. In our latest episode of *Schmidt Show PDX*, we’re joined by Moira and Andres from Portland For All — a grassroots coalition fighting for housing, public safety, transit access, and a truly inclusive civic vision for Portland. But before we dive into that conversation, Mike offers a critical monologue tracing the di...

If you care about democracy, misinformation, or what’s really going on in the American political machine — then you’ve heard of Thom Hartmann. This week on Schmidt Show PDX, we sit down with the nation’s #1 progressive talk show host to dig into the state of democracy, the rise of disinformation, and how local media — yes, podcasts like this one — can help turn the tide. We talk about: - The role...

On this week’s episode of Schmidt Show PDX, we hit the road and taped on location at the University of Oregon’s beautiful new campus space in Northeast Portland. Our guest? The ever-insightful Andrew DeVigal, director of The Agora Journalism Center — an organization committed to reinventing journalism as a public service rooted in community and civic trust. We talked about what the word *agora* re...

On this week’s episode of The Schmidt Show, we’re talking about the power of a haircut—and trust us, it’s deeper than Met Gala fashion faux pas. Our guest is Mykal, founder of  Hairstylists for Humanity —a platform to network barbers and stylists who offer free grooming services to people experiencing homelessness. No salons, no appointments—just sidewalk solidarity and a whole lot of compassion....

This week on Schmidt Show PDX, we sit down with someone who embodies the heart and soul of Portland’s service community—Rev. Sara Fischer, Episcopal priest, neighbor, and tireless advocate for people on the margins.   In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about faith—not as dogma, but as presence. Sara shares what it means to show up for people in need, how her ministry has evolved with the c...