Merkley Smash

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joins Mike for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of the Senate, institutional trust, and what comes next — plus the debut of a new segment, “In the News,” with first-ever Schmidt Show correspondent Elinor Jones! In the News with Elinor JonesA look back at three cultural giants lost this week — Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Peter Cullen (the voice of Optimus Prime) — including the surprisingly dark origin story of Dollywood, a brief history of celebrity theme parks, and a case for reviving the Rocky Horror midnight-screening tradition as an afternoon one. Senator Jeff Merkley * His old nickname, “Smash,” and how he unwinds back home in Oregon * Favorite hidden-gem spots in Oregon, including the Oregon Treasure Quest * The Senate then and now: from a 30% approval rating in 2009 to a historic 10% low today * Ringing the alarm bells to recognize and fight the rise of fascism * Growing inequality, being locked out of power across all three branches, and the case for “fighting fire with fire” * The real mechanics of restoring trust: insider stock trading on Capitol Hill, Supreme Court ethics, and the influence of Citizens United * ICE and the record-setting 50,000+ arrests in July * Advice for the next generation of leaders following in the footsteps of Edith Green, Mark Hatfield, and Jeff Merkley himself Lightning RoundFavorite Dolly Parton song, whether there’s a blue wave coming in November, election security, Mitch McConnell’s status, gardening, Reagan-era tax rates, and more — straight from listener-submitted questions. Links mentioned * Ring the Alarm Bells: The Ten Rules of Trump’s Authoritarian Playbook * Oregon Treasure Quest * Crystal Crane Hot Springs (Burns, OR) * Carnivorous bog boardwalk (Florence, OR) * Elinor Jones’ “Trash Report” at the Portland Mercury Schmidt Show PDX is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. 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