NW Fresh Podcast

https://www.azizforgresham.com/

Eric Fruits is a Ph.D economist in the Portland area and has taught economics at PSU Portland State University and is the Director of Economic Research at the International Center for Law & Economics.https://web.pdx.edu/~fruits/https://laweconcenter.org/author/ericfruits/https://ericfruits.substack.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com👇 Follow Rational in Portland 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/rationalinportland🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OScHGLvril1jERYJyznN7

Max Steele is a writer at Recalibrate Portland and covers ethics and extremism in Portland government.https://recalibrateportland.substack.com/https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2026/07/unions-pull-endorsements-from-portland-city-councilor-over-stance-on-moda-center-renovation.html👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Sgt. Aaron Schmautz is President of the Portland Police Association.https://www.portland.gov/bhr/employee-relations/labor-relations/ppa

Jonathan Metcalf is an Estacada City Councilor and business owner at Barbarian Creative, and is running for Mayor of Estacada in 2026.https://www.cityofestacada.org/staff-directory/jonathanmetcalf/https://estacadanews.com/2023/10/19/new-estacada-city-councilor-jonathan-metcalf-has-birds-eye-view/

Heart Pham is a Portland resident, security guard, former train conductor, and District 3 City Council candidate.fightwithheartpdx.com👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Dr. Sharon Meieran is a former Multnomah County Commissioner, M.D. emergency room doctor, lawyer.She is running for Multnomah County Chair in November 2026.https://fixmultnomah.com/https://multcosharon.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Matthias Hallett is a city council candidate in Portland District 3 (SE Portland) and an estate lawyer.https://www.instagram.com/matthiashallettfordistrict3/https://www.legacypreservationlaw.com/attorneys-and-staff/matthias-hallett-attorney-at-law/

Max Steele is a writer at Recalibrate Portland and covers ethics and extremism in Portland government.https://recalibrateportland.substack.com/https://www.city-journal.org/article/democratic-socialists-of-america-workers-deserve-morehttps://www.wweek.com/news/2026/06/17/see-where-portland-elected-officials-traveled-in-2025-and-how-much-they-spent/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Eric Fruits is a Ph.D Economist in the Portland area and has taught economics at PSU Portland State University.https://web.pdx.edu/~fruits/https://ericfruits.substack.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com👇 Follow Rational in Portland 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/rationalinportland🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OScHGLvril1jERYJyznN7

Max Steele is a writer at Recalibrate Portland and covers ethics and extremism in Portland government.https://recalibrateportland.substack.com/https://nwexaminer.com/p/the-charter-says-what-it-says👇 Follow NW Fresh 📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Kellie Torres has spent 20 years in Portland city government and is running for Portland City Council in District 3 (SE Portland).https://www.kellietorresforportland.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Taylor Zajonc is Portland Mayor Keith Wilson's Deputy Chief of Staff and has a background in communications, research, and locating viable sunken ship treasure and valuables of historical interest.https://www.portland.gov/mayor/keith-wilson/wilsonteamhttps://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2026/05/portlands-mayors-approval-among-voters-is-lukewarm-at-least-hes-not-the-city-council.htmlhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B017N8QS98?ccs_id=7d02eb42-c023-4c10-9f23-cc8f9eccbdf1👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Fred Stewart is President and Founder of Vanport Escrow and Title Company, US Marine Corps veteran, and ran for Portland City Council in 2016 getting a total of 13,714 votes in the primary election.https://ballotpedia.org/Fred_Stewarthttps://vanportoregon.com/our-team/

Max Steele is a writer at Recalibrate Portland and covers ethics and extremism in Portland government.https://recalibrateportland.substack.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Nicole Tignor Zimmerman is a candidate for Portland City Council District 3 and is a business owner in Portland.https://www.nicoleforportlanddistrict3.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Dr. Sharon Meieran is a former Multnomah County Commissioner, M.D., emergency room doctor, lawyer, and always fun to talk to.https://fixmultnomah.com/https://multcosharon.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Eric Fruits is a Ph.D Economist in the Portland area and has taught economics at PSU Portland State University.https://web.pdx.edu/~fruits/https://ericfruits.substack.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Noah Ernst is a supervisor and in house lawyer for Radio Cab in Portland, OR. He's running for Oregon Metro Council District 1.https://www.noah4metro.com/

Eli Arnold is a veteran, bicycle cop on the PPB Bike Squad, a father, and candidate for District 4 Portland City Council in the 2026 election.He was endorsed in 2024 by Willamette Week and The Oregonian.https://www.eliforportland.com/

Noah Blanton is the President of WFG Title Oregon, we discuss housing in the Northwest, unlocking development, tax burdens, city level regulations and more.https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2026/02/we-are-in-a-recession-portland-economist-warns.htmlhttps://www.wweek.com/news/state/2026/02/28/amid-a-housing-crisis-oregon-issues-building-permits-for-multifamily-units-at-the-slowest-pace-in-12-years/#nwfresh #oregon #northwest #nwfresh #portland #doomloop #citycouncil #realestate #housingmarket #housing #housingcrisis #business #affordablehousing #multnomahcounty 👇 Follow NW Fresh on 👇Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nwfreshpodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm

Max Steele is a writer at Recalibrate Portland and covers ethics and extremism in Portland government.https://recalibrateportland.substack.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.comhttps://www.oregonlive.com/business/2026/02/we-are-in-a-recession-portland-economist-warns.htmlhttps://www.wweek.com/news/state/2026/02/28/amid-a-housing-crisis-oregon-issues-building-permits-for-multifamily-units-at-the-slowest-pace-in-12-years/https://www.wweek.com/news/city/2026/03/01/city-council-creates-new-committee-structure/

Brenden Elwood is a City Councilor from North Bend, WA.We discuss the post-2020 migration of residents from larger cities like Seattle and Portland to surrounding communities and the municipal issues around that pattern and digital accessibility mandates that are on the horizon.https://northbendwa.gov/directory.aspx?EID=11https://www.civicplus.com/news/nn/civicplus-vice-president-of-market-research-brenden-elwood-re-elected-as-council-member-for-the-city-of-north-bend-washington/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Juan Denmark is a stand-up comedian, military veteran, and graduate from Reed College.https://www.instagram.com/juandenmark/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Max Steele is a writer at Recalibrate Portland and covers ethics and extremism in Portland government.https://recalibrateportland.substack.com/https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2026/01/22/portland-export-growth-census-bureau-trade.htmlhttps://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/portland-city-council-president-jamie-dunphy-speaks-2026-agenda/283-8e18cb23-30d0-4173-ab77-863c10951525👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Tom Sollitt is a Portland community organizer specializing in branding and marketing, and is an advocate for South Korean foreign adoption reform.https://www.tomforpdx.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Taylor Zajonc is Portland Mayor Keith Wilson's Deputy Chief of Staff and has a background in communications, research, and locating viable sunken ship treasure and valuables of historical interest.https://www.portland.gov/mayor/keith-wilson/wilsonteamhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B017N8QS98?ccs_id=7d02eb42-c023-4c10-9f23-cc8f9eccbdf1👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Ciatta Thompson is a Portlander running for House District 33 in the Oregon Legislature.She was one of the complaintants that opened an Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) investigation into the Peacock bloc of Portland City Council. The Peacock bloc, a DSA progressive bloc, has repeatedly violated Oregon public meetings law in 2025 among other laws including those involving non-partisanship in municipal office.https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/12/ethics-commission-investigates-progressive-portland-city-councilors-over-august-retreat.htmlhttps://www.wweek.com/news/city/2025/12/15/state-ethics-commission-votes-to-investigate-peacock-caucus-meeting/https://www.koin.com/news/portland/ethics-commission-investigate-portland-councilors-retreat/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAk41cwXYTohttps://www.ciattathompson.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Eric Fruits is a Ph.D Economist in the Portland area and has taught economics at PSU Portland State University, he comments on Oregon's lethargic economic performance in this episode.https://web.pdx.edu/~fruits/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/oregons-prosperity-roadmap-mistaking-bureaucratic-activity-fruits-h9e8c/?trackingId=VhVFF%2BRdWH2O3eiDoidtKQ%3D%3D👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Max Steele is a Portlander, writer of local politics & extremism, and personal trainer. We discuss the performance of the 12-member Portland City Council in its first year of the new system of city government.https://recalibrateportland.substack.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com00:00 Intro1:13:49 - Report Card Grades

Sonja Feintech is the Chair of the Libertarian Party of Oregon.https://lporegon.org/https://x.com/SonjaAgora

Rep. Cyrus Javadi represents House District 32 in the Oregon Legislature and works as a dentist on the Oregon Coast.https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/javadihttps://cyrusjavadior.substack.com/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Rachel Wong is an R&B artist and singer from the NW who recently was named one of Willamette Week's Best New Bands.https://rachelwongmusic.com/https://www.wweek.com/music/2025/04/29/rachel-wong-finds-her-second-true-act-as-an-rb-pop-artist/https://www.wweek.com/music/2025/04/29/best-new-bands-2025/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Matt Zmuda is a Portlander and the founder of MultNoMo.org, a movement to merge Multnomah County and the City of Portland into one entity. This type of consolidation has happened around the United States and has been successful.https://multnomo.org/👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Sen. Bruce Starr is from the Oregon Senate in District 12 and Rep. Ed Diehl is from Oregon House District 17.We discuss the public opposition to the ODOT tax increase on Oregonians and allowing voters themselves to decide on increasing their own taxes.https://notaxor.com/https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/starrhttps://www.oregonlegislature.gov/diehl👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

The Oregonian has endorsed voting no on the levy due to years of financial mismanagement and decades of disregarding audits and financial warnings.Bob Weinstein is a financial watchdog for Portland. In Alaska he also served as a mayor, city councilor, and school superintendent.https://youtu.be/dXxN_d0EFBAhttps://www.portland.gov/auditor/audit-services/documents/parks-fiscal-management-audit-october-2025/download

Max Steele is a writer covering local politics and extremism in Portland.👇 Follow NW Fresh 👇📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nwfreshpodcast🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4✖️ X: https://twitter.com/azcfilm🔗 Website: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Ruban Lawrence is a Canadian immigrant to the US with Sri Lankan heritage. He is passionate about the law and recognizing Portland tribalism.👇 Follow NW Fresh on 👇Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nwfreshpodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4X: https://twitter.com/azcfilmWebsite: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Jeff Helfrich is the Oregon House Representative for District 52.https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/Helfrich

Carina Comer is the owner and chef at Carina's Bakery in Beaverton Oregon and is mostly blind. Her business provides employment to the disabled community.https://www.carinasbakery.com/https://nfb-oregon.org/https://www.oregon.gov/blind/pages/index.aspxhttps://www.nordicnorthwest.org/scanfair👇 Follow NW Fresh on 👇Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nwfreshpodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVzZNueNAuexWX0fN4X: https://twitter.com/azcfilmWebsite: https://nwfreshpodcast.com

Scott Keyser is the Mayor of Molalla, Oregon.https://www.cityofmolalla.com/Government/Molalla-City-Council/Meet-the-Molalla-City-Councilhttps://heraldpioneer.com/2025/08/19/molalla-mayor-honored-for-work-passion-within-community/

Martin Lockett is Director of Cultural Engagement at Lines for Life.https://www.martinlockett.com/https://www.linesforlife.org/

Janis Jasinsky and Hudson Tyler are from the Alzheimer's Association of Oregon & SW Washington.https://www.alz.org/orswwahttps://www.alz.org/

Annie Kallen is the Chair of Multnomah County Libertarians.https://www.multnomahlibertarians.com/https://twitter.com/MultCoLibertyhttps://www.instagram.com/multnomahlibertarians/#nwfresh #oregon #northwest #nwfresh #portland #libertarianparty #libertarianism #doomloop #oregonlegislature #rankedchoicevoting #rcv 👇 Follow NW Fresh on 👇Instagram:   / nwfreshpodcast  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ENriVz...X:   / azcfilm  

Alisha Overstreet lives in Yamhill County and has been part of many Oregon groups involved with serving Developmental Disabilities.https://x.com/Contrarian_AO

Noah Blanton is the President of WFG Title Oregon, we discuss many aspects of the NW housing market, why Portland isn't getting institutional investment, local regulations, and more.

Max Steele and I do a 6-month review of the performance of all 12 Portland City Councilors and provide context around the flaws with a brand new city government and ranked choice election system.Max Steele writes about Portland city government and extremism. Follow Max: https://recalibrateportland.substack.com/

Christine Drazan is the House Minority Leader of Oregon State Representatives, and represents District 51.She ran for Oregon Governor in 2022 receiving over 850k votes, about 44% to Tina Kotek's 47%https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/drazanhttps://www.instagram.com/christine4oregon/

Grim Grotto is a Northwest-based podcast focusing on the paranormal and abstract.https://open.spotify.com/show/3QeH4jkNfoN7GaqdA6DxlQ?si=fffe13f7d8104074https://linktr.ee/grimgrotto

Steve Herring is a filmmaker and CEO of Living Room Theaters who has a main location in downtown Portland.https://pdx.livingroomtheaters.com/