Andrew Theen
@andrewtheen.bsky.social
politics & government editor @OPB | RipCity takes | treatises on parenting | listen to OPB Politics Now anywhere you get your podcasts or on the YouTubes
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Andrew Theen
@andrewtheen.bsky.social
· Dec 6
Howdy. If you don't know me, I'm the politics editor at OPB 👋
Before that, I worked at The Oregonian for 11 years and covered everything from Portland City Hall to Hillsboro to transportation + higher ed.
Expect posts about our journalism/OPB Politics Now podcast and a lot of basketball thoughts.
Before that, I worked at The Oregonian for 11 years and covered everything from Portland City Hall to Hillsboro to transportation + higher ed.
Expect posts about our journalism/OPB Politics Now podcast and a lot of basketball thoughts.
We just screened the incredible Class of 2025 documentary here at the OPB studio. It's truly astounding. An incredibly moving and amazing project. Watch it tomorrow morning at this link! Congratulations to Rob Manning + @lmiller12.bsky.social and the team at @opb.org.
www.opb.org/specialrepor...
www.opb.org/specialrepor...
OPB
www.opb.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
We just screened the incredible Class of 2025 documentary here at the OPB studio. It's truly astounding. An incredibly moving and amazing project. Watch it tomorrow morning at this link! Congratulations to Rob Manning + @lmiller12.bsky.social and the team at @opb.org.
www.opb.org/specialrepor...
www.opb.org/specialrepor...
Going live at 1030 on the podcast today. Discussing ICE raids in the Portland suburbs, the city's camping ban and more. Join us. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKsd...
OPB Politics Now Live: Portland's camping ban, suburban ICE raids and election recap
YouTube video by Oregon Public Broadcasting
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Going live at 1030 on the podcast today. Discussing ICE raids in the Portland suburbs, the city's camping ban and more. Join us. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKsd...
ICYMI: Reporting on SNAP in Oregon as federal shutdown continues. “It isn’t like you can just go eat grass or something. There’s no substitute for food.” Check out this @opb.org dispatch www.opb.org/article/2025...
‘Food is the first thing to go,’ Oregonians brace for SNAP delays if federal shutdown drags on
One in six Oregonians receive SNAP benefits. If the government shutdown continues, many are unsure how they’ll get by.
www.opb.org
October 25, 2025 at 1:19 AM
ICYMI: Reporting on SNAP in Oregon as federal shutdown continues. “It isn’t like you can just go eat grass or something. There’s no substitute for food.” Check out this @opb.org dispatch www.opb.org/article/2025...
Watch out, Tiago Splitter
October 24, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Watch out, Tiago Splitter
Reposted by Andrew Theen
The owner of the Portland building that houses ICE says city leaders are unconstitutionally penalizing him for his choice of tenants.
“This code enforcement case is a textbook example of unlawful selective enforcement with a clear discriminatory motive and unlawful political retaliation."
“This code enforcement case is a textbook example of unlawful selective enforcement with a clear discriminatory motive and unlawful political retaliation."
Owner of Portland ICE building accuses city of ‘retaliatory’ land use ruling
The owner of the South Portland building that houses the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office says city leaders are unconstitutionally penalizing him for his choice in tenants.
www.opb.org
October 23, 2025 at 11:33 PM
The owner of the Portland building that houses ICE says city leaders are unconstitutionally penalizing him for his choice of tenants.
“This code enforcement case is a textbook example of unlawful selective enforcement with a clear discriminatory motive and unlawful political retaliation."
“This code enforcement case is a textbook example of unlawful selective enforcement with a clear discriminatory motive and unlawful political retaliation."
Make 'Em Uncomfortable hits different today (h/t/ @alexzee.bsky.social) www.opb.org/article/2025...
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups among more than 30 arrested in federal gambling probe
Officials say Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier are among more than 30 people charged in connection with schemes involving illegal sports betting and...
www.opb.org
October 23, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Make 'Em Uncomfortable hits different today (h/t/ @alexzee.bsky.social) www.opb.org/article/2025...
Join us www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qhJ...
October 10, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Join us www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qhJ...
Good morning - We are going live on OPB Politics Now at 10:45 this morning to discuss everything happening in Portland, Chicago and Texas with the National Guard and more. Follow along here. @wbez.org @opb.org @araceligomezaldana.bsky.social @luciov120.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qhJ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qhJ...
Politics Now Live: President Trump's push for the military in US cities ramps up in courts, streets
YouTube video by Oregon Public Broadcasting
www.youtube.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Good morning - We are going live on OPB Politics Now at 10:45 this morning to discuss everything happening in Portland, Chicago and Texas with the National Guard and more. Follow along here. @wbez.org @opb.org @araceligomezaldana.bsky.social @luciov120.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qhJ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qhJ...
I was up way too late last night watching the fantastic One Battles After Another. I'm either hallucinating due to that and fatigue of [gestures wildly] or there's a panda, shark, multiple turtles and a unicorn outside the Portland ICE facility.
October 10, 2025 at 3:14 AM
I was up way too late last night watching the fantastic One Battles After Another. I'm either hallucinating due to that and fatigue of [gestures wildly] or there's a panda, shark, multiple turtles and a unicorn outside the Portland ICE facility.
Reposted by Andrew Theen
Apropos of nothing, Sec. Kristi Noem is currently praying over Burgerville with Portland ICE officials.
October 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Apropos of nothing, Sec. Kristi Noem is currently praying over Burgerville with Portland ICE officials.
Reposted by Andrew Theen
Breaking news: Texas National Guard troops appear to also have been summoned to Portland. OPB is following the story and will provide updates here:
California and Oregon sue Trump administration to block National Guard deployment to Portland
Gov. Tina Kotek said Oregon is “not a military target,” and said federal officials are trying to antagonize and provoke conflict outside the ICE facility.
www.opb.org
October 6, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Breaking news: Texas National Guard troops appear to also have been summoned to Portland. OPB is following the story and will provide updates here:
Reposted by Andrew Theen
This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
October 6, 2025 at 1:44 AM
This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
Reposted by Andrew Theen
Hours after a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s plans to deploy 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to Portland, federal law enforcement officers escalated the tactics used on protesters in the city.
Troy and I were on the ground:
Troy and I were on the ground:
Federal tactics on protesters escalate, hours after judge rules against Trump
Hours after a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s plans to deploy 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to Portland, federal law enforcement officers escalated the tactics used on prote...
www.opb.org
October 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Hours after a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s plans to deploy 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to Portland, federal law enforcement officers escalated the tactics used on protesters in the city.
Troy and I were on the ground:
Troy and I were on the ground:
ICYMI: Here's our live podcast breaking down President Trump's decision to deploy National Guards troops to Portland. We discussed what the situation has been like outside the ICE facility, what local and state leaders are saying and what we know and still don't know. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1phG...
President Trump targets Portland -- OPB Politics Now Live in Studio for Thursday October 2
YouTube video by Oregon Public Broadcasting
www.youtube.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
ICYMI: Here's our live podcast breaking down President Trump's decision to deploy National Guards troops to Portland. We discussed what the situation has been like outside the ICE facility, what local and state leaders are saying and what we know and still don't know. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1phG...
Reposted by Andrew Theen
In 2020, Oregon sued Tom Dundon’s former company for allegedly preying on Oregonians through high-interest car loans they couldn’t afford in a case involving more than 265,000 borrowers nationwide. In this OPB/Propublica investigation, learn how Dundon built his fortune on subprime lending.
Before Tom Dundon agreed to buy the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon accused the company he created of predatory lending
When Tom Dundon agreed to buy the team, there was no public discussion locally about the fact that Dundon created a company Oregon accused in 2020 of preying on residents through high-interest car loans they couldn’t afford.
www.opb.org
October 3, 2025 at 1:45 PM
In 2020, Oregon sued Tom Dundon’s former company for allegedly preying on Oregonians through high-interest car loans they couldn’t afford in a case involving more than 265,000 borrowers nationwide. In this OPB/Propublica investigation, learn how Dundon built his fortune on subprime lending.
Reposted by Andrew Theen
A great legal table-setter to read before today's hearing against the National Guard deployment in Portland:
www.opb.org/article/2025...
www.opb.org/article/2025...
Dueling narratives on Portland protests head to court in National Guard case
U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut will decide between the two sides’ contrasting portraits. On Friday, the judge will consider a narrow part of the larger case: whether to temporarily block the...
www.opb.org
October 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
A great legal table-setter to read before today's hearing against the National Guard deployment in Portland:
www.opb.org/article/2025...
www.opb.org/article/2025...
Reposted by Andrew Theen
For those interested, going live on the YouTubes at 1030 to discuss everything. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1phG...
President Trump targets Portland -- OPB Politics Now Live in Studio for Thursday October 2
YouTube video by Oregon Public Broadcasting
www.youtube.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:59 PM
For those interested, going live on the YouTubes at 1030 to discuss everything. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1phG...
For those interested, going live on the YouTubes at 1030 to discuss everything. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1phG...
President Trump targets Portland -- OPB Politics Now Live in Studio for Thursday October 2
YouTube video by Oregon Public Broadcasting
www.youtube.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:59 PM
For those interested, going live on the YouTubes at 1030 to discuss everything. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1phG...
Reposted by Andrew Theen
In July, I spoke with a number of Portland councilors, political leaders, advocates, biz folks and others about how it wants to engage with Trump in a second term.
With federal troops poised to land in Portland, it's maybe worth a re-read:
With federal troops poised to land in Portland, it's maybe worth a re-read:
Trump is back in the White House, but Portland isn’t sure how to respond
Portland’s leaders are still weighing how best to respond to a second Trump term: vocally fight back with lawsuits and protests, or try to stay off of Trump’s radar with a more quiet resistance.
www.opb.org
October 1, 2025 at 4:36 PM
In July, I spoke with a number of Portland councilors, political leaders, advocates, biz folks and others about how it wants to engage with Trump in a second term.
With federal troops poised to land in Portland, it's maybe worth a re-read:
With federal troops poised to land in Portland, it's maybe worth a re-read:
After many many many months of asking, @alexzee.bsky.social finally was allowed into one of Mayor Wilson's overnight shelters. Here's the dispatch www.opb.org/article/2025...
Behind the doors of Portland’s plan to end unsheltered homelessness
Before Wilson’s tenure, publicly-funded, nighttime-only shelters were rare in Portland – only occasionally used during weather emergencies. Now a cornerstone of the city’s homelessness plan, it’s wort...
www.opb.org
October 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
After many many many months of asking, @alexzee.bsky.social finally was allowed into one of Mayor Wilson's overnight shelters. Here's the dispatch www.opb.org/article/2025...
An @opb.org dispatch from a homeless shelter in Monmouth. www.opb.org/article/2025...
‘I just wanna go home’; In aging Oregon, older and vulnerable adults struggle to get by
More than one in four homeless people in Oregon are over the age of 55. As the state’s population gets older, many seniors rely on a fragile social safety net.
www.opb.org
September 30, 2025 at 7:03 PM
An @opb.org dispatch from a homeless shelter in Monmouth. www.opb.org/article/2025...
Reposted by Andrew Theen
Yes, someone in a hot dog costume just hand-delivered Councilor Green a hot dog before starting today's council chat on sidewalk vending.
September 23, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Yes, someone in a hot dog costume just hand-delivered Councilor Green a hot dog before starting today's council chat on sidewalk vending.
Reposted by Andrew Theen
Today in the continued irony of City Hall:
"A Portland City Council meeting about how to change council meetings to address the problem of meetings being cut short because they run too long, was cut short after running over time Thursday."
"A Portland City Council meeting about how to change council meetings to address the problem of meetings being cut short because they run too long, was cut short after running over time Thursday."
Portland council couldn’t finish meeting intended to fix drawn-out meetings
Time constraints force city councilors to hit pause on a meeting restructure.
www.opb.org
August 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Today in the continued irony of City Hall:
"A Portland City Council meeting about how to change council meetings to address the problem of meetings being cut short because they run too long, was cut short after running over time Thursday."
"A Portland City Council meeting about how to change council meetings to address the problem of meetings being cut short because they run too long, was cut short after running over time Thursday."
The OPB Politics Now pod is going live again on the YouTubes, follow along starting at 10:30 @opb.org featuring @alexzee.bsky.social + Bryce Dole www.youtube.com/live/b_Xos5s...
Portland wrestles with how to respond to Trump administration | OPB Politics Now Live
YouTube video by Oregon Public Broadcasting
www.youtube.com
August 7, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The OPB Politics Now pod is going live again on the YouTubes, follow along starting at 10:30 @opb.org featuring @alexzee.bsky.social + Bryce Dole www.youtube.com/live/b_Xos5s...
Reposted by Andrew Theen
I spent the last few weeks hanging around the Gateway Shopping Center, talking to small biz owners, neighbors & historians about what it means for the community to lose a bustling economic hub -- and how they want City Hall to (finally) show up for East Portland.
A shopping center’s demise brings frustration to East Portland
The demise of shopping center brings frustration – and potential – to East Portland's neglected neighborhoods.
www.opb.org
August 6, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I spent the last few weeks hanging around the Gateway Shopping Center, talking to small biz owners, neighbors & historians about what it means for the community to lose a bustling economic hub -- and how they want City Hall to (finally) show up for East Portland.