by Anonymous You did not "find" my cat. You kidnapped my cat. MY cat is unchipped, unvetted, uncollared. It kills things for a living and tortures small animals for pleasure. It eats baby rabbit face. I generally don't touch it. You deserve all the scratches you get, you fucking do-gooder.

N/A Fest, Into the Night: A Twin Peaks Prom, and More Cheap & Easy Events Under $20 by EverOut Staff It's been an insane week, y'all. If you're looking for some escapism this weekend, find community at events from the First Annual Gigantic Hot Dish & Casserole Competition to an N/A Fest at John's Marketplace and from Into the Night: A Twin Peaks Prom to the Radical Harvest Craft Faire and Clothing Swap. For more suggestions, check out our weekly top picks guide. FRIDAY COMEDY Dog People Portland is full of dog people. We are a city filled with dog parks, dog-friendly patios, pet behaviorists and psychics, dog masseuses, artisanal dog food brands, fancy pet treat stores, businesses named after dogs, and even dog-specific menus at bars. So it only follows that the local comedy scene has fetched us a canine-centric sketch show. Extended after a sold-out run, this “dog show about people” created by Michael Zimmer and Sofia Sullivan explores the most laugh-out-loud hilarious aspects of man’s besties and the sometimes outrageous lengths we go to for our furry friends. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to local nonprofit One Tail at a Time (the folks behind the foster-based pup rescue have a pretty playful sense of humor themselves). **BRI BREY** _ (Kickstand Comedy, Ladd's Addition, $15)_

Oh, boy. by Jeremiah Hayden _If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the_ Mercury _’s news reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider makinga small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!_ **GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND!** 👋 Those endless showers will be taking a much needed rest for the next couple of days, and the sun is even expected to show its shiny face for awhile today, as temps reach 50 degrees. And now, let us gaze upon the face of the **NEWS**. **IN LOCAL NEWS:** • A day after a woman was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minnesota, two people were shot by a Border Patrol agent Thursday afternoon in Portland. Against a backdrop of ongoing protests at the ICE building in Portland, and local leaders lambasting the Department of Homeland Security for unlawful immigration tactics and excessive violence, Thursday's shooting was the latest in a pattern of escalating violence from federal immigration agents. So far, we know that Portland Police officers say they responded to the Adventist Health Primary Care campus in East Portland on reports of shots fired at the location. The shooting victims were a man and a woman who were allegedly targeted by federal agents for arrest. Their status and the extent of their injuries is unknown. The shootings have prompted heavy backlash from everyone from the mayor, to the governor, state representatives, city councilors, and of course, the public. Now, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield is vowing to investigate the shooting. Read more of our coverage here. > View this post on Instagram > > A post shared by Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury) • After the second day of a scheduled two-hour vote for a new council president, Portland City Council still has not made a decision. That's because the election abruptly recessed, then adjourned without a vote Thursday as some councilors learned that federal agents had shot two people in East Portland. During the recess, the current council president and vice president were invited into the briefing room alongside Mayor Keith Wilson, Portland Police Chief Bob Day, and others, so, you know, even a municipal government election isn't without consequence—particularly as US cities appear to be experiencing another escalation from the Trump administration. The council leadership roles have quick access to information, make decisions on how to share it and who to share it with, and—if Trump's National Guard milieu last year was any indication—are frequently given roles to speak on behalf of the city. Now, to find out who the council prez will be in 2026, Portlanders will have to wait until January 14 when the recessed meeting is expected to resume. Whether city councilors can end the deadlock is another thing altogether. The nominees are: Incumbent Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Councilors Sameer Kanal, Steve Novick, and Loretta Smith (who was apparently surprised by her colleague's nomination). Updated details and some backstory are here. • Portland Police (PPB) say they arrested six people at a demonstration at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Thursday night. PPB said in addition to its usual protest squad, Portland Fire & Rescue and Oregon State Police also assisted them. Earlier that evening, Governor Tina Kotek, Mayor Keith Wilson, PPB Chief Bob Day and several others held a press conference urging Oregonians to stay calm, but unified, while encouraging resistance to federal overreach. That was _just_ before they sent police to smash the heads of Portlanders putting their bodies on the line to oppose federal agents shooting their neighbors, according to video. It seems doubleplusungood that local residents face state violence at every level while being told law enforcement is there to protect them. Cool statements though! At the same time as the press conference, progressive elected officials and organizations held a vigil outside City Hall. Organizers of that rally allowed immigrants and police critics to speak too, as if they might have some valuable thoughts during this historic, state-sponsored attack on their right to exist. Here's a video from the protest: > View this post on Instagram > > A post shared by Kevin Foster (@kevinhfoster) **IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:** • Tempers continue to flare between Minnesota officials and the Trump administration, following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good at the hands of an ICE agent on Wednesday. While video footage of the incident clearly showed Good's vehicle turning away from the officer, the Trump administration is holding tight to their warped version of the facts, and labeling anyone that contradicts them as “agents of propaganda of a radical fringe.” (Clunky phrasing at best.) Yesterday, as officials fired tear gas at an estimated 1,000 protesters gathering at a Minneapolis federal building, Gov. Tim Walz has activated—but not deployed—the state’s National Guard “out of an abundance of caution.” Walz is also firing back at the Trump administration, accusing them of blocking local authorities from investigating the killing, and preventing them from accessing necessary evidence. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance is once-again revealing himself as the virulent toad he is by calling Good's murder "a tragedy of her own making." > Number of people shot by Trump's secret police so far: 43. www.thetrace.org/2025/12/immi... > > [image or embed] > > — Scott Horton (@robertscotthorton.bsky.social) January 8, 2026 at 2:30 PM • Get ready for the shock of your life: A significant numbers of Republicans in the Senate and House voted alongside Democrats against some of Trump's evil schemes yesterday, including a bipartisan measure designed to torpedo the president's plan for further military intervention in Venezuela. Meanwhile 17 GOP members voted with Dems to pass a bill that would extend Obamacare subsidies for three years, and while Trump may have avoided having two of his vetoes overturned in the House that same day, roughly two dozen Republicans teamed up with Democrats against him—all of which is BIG and a trend worth watching... particularly as midterm elections approach. • Today in VOMIT: Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado is apparently so grateful to our utterly corrupt president for invading her country of Venezuela, stealing its oil, and kidnapping its dictatorial president and wife, that she says she is happy to… _*rubs eyes in disbelief, wondering if I’m still sleeping*_... share her Nobel Prize with Trump. For his part, Trump is happily “honored” to accept this unsanctioned award, and would probably put this imaginary trophy on his imaginary shelf next to his also imaginary peace prize he accepted from FIFA in December. (He’s gonna have to knock down another section of the White House just to fit all those imaginary trophies!) However, and hilariously, his dream of a Nobel Prize was dashed again hours later, when the Nobel Institute sternly announced that their prizes CANNOT be transferred or shared—so as the song goes, “it was just my imagination (once again).” > Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery > > [image or embed] > > — The Guardian (@theguardian.com) January 8, 2026 at 11:51 PM • There was good news and bad news in today’s release of December’s job report—the good news? America added 50,000 new jobs last month! The bad? Last year was the worst year for hiring since 2020. (You know… that year with the pandemic?) And it kind of gets worse from there. According to NBC News, “save for 2020, last year ranks as the poorest year for job creation since 2009 and the global financial crisis.” Now you may be asking yourself, “what on earth could’ve caused such a downfall?” Well, there was that thing about tens of thousands of federal employees losing their jobs thanks to DOGE, the administration’s insanely cruel and aggressive immigration restrictions (which made employers skittish), and a surfeit of unnecessary tariffs that’s causing our nation’s economy to crumble. Gee… _wonder whose fault that could be?_ • And finally... **WELCOME TO FRIDAY.** We hope you're heading into the weekend like this guy. > @cocoadreamboat > > ♬ original sound - ☠️Vic Rattlehead☠️

Peter Greenaway’s gourmet art film and Frederick Wiseman’s snowy documentary show vastly different approaches to class critique. by Lindsay Costello Some claim that January is a cultural dead zone for events, and on days when the sun seems to clock out at noon, it’s hard to argue. But while much of the city hibernates, one institution keeps the lights on. Thanks, independent movie theaters!! This month’s screenings come through with interesting takes on class critique and iconic Miyazaki films; read on for the scoop on those, plus six other films that feel anything but sleepy. Studio Ghibli Film Festival _For fans of Laika Studios,__Makoto Shinkai_ _’s_ Your Name _(2017), Mamoru Hosoda’s_ The Girl Who Leapt Through Time _(2006)._ Asking someone whether they like Studio Ghibli films is a bit like asking whether they like cinema at all. Over the past four decades, the Japanese animation studio has become synonymous with emotionally resonant storytelling and poetic, intelligent engagement with nature and the more-than-human world. These aren’t just “kids’ movies” by any stretch—although your kid is certain to love them, if they don’t already. If you're a Ghibli devotee, you know all of this, and you’re likely jazzed for the return of OMSI's annual Studio Ghibli Film Festival. This year’s edition opens with a 4K restoration of _Princess Mononoke,_ followed by crowd pleasers like _My Neighbor Totoro_ and _Kiki's Delivery Service_. A few lesser-screened entries are also very worth your time. Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata was responsible for the studio’s gentlest and most lyrical work—films like the delicate, textural growing-up story _Only Yesterday_ and the airy, folkloric film _The Tale of the Princess Kaguya_. Those screen in early February, but this month, OMSI’s Reel Eats showing of __ Hayao Miyazaki’s Shinto-influenced 2001 film _Spirited Away_(January 14-15)__ sounds like the most fun. Your ticket comes with a tasting menu of “6-12 bites” that correlate with on-screen scenes. _(OMSI Empirical Theater, 1945 SE Water, January 16-March 2, times vary, $9-$36,__more info_ _, age recommendations vary)_ __ Spectrum Between presents _Aspen_ in 16mm _For fans of Albert and David Maysles, Les Blank, Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov’s_ Honeyland _(2019)._ Under-the-radar screening collective Spectrum Between—known for holding avant-garde film programs at secret locations that feature experimental directors like Stan Brakhage and Barbara Hammer—takes a turn toward observational documentary with this 16mm screening of Frederick Wiseman’s _Aspen_ at 5th Avenue Cinema. Wiseman has spent over 50 years crafting documentaries that expand and complicate cinéma vérité. His films avoid voiceovers and talking heads, but feel subtly novelistic, crafted with moral curiosity in mind. Influenced by forebears like D.A. Pennebaker and the Maysles brothers, Wiseman has chronicled institutions from a Dallas Neiman Marcus (_The Store_) to the Bridgewater State Hospital for the Criminally Insane (_Titicut Follies_), always with a patient, incisive anti-elitism. _Aspen_ is less-cited in Wiseman’s filmography, but it exemplifies his observational style. The 1991 film looks closely at Reagan-era wealth disparity (and, in Spectrum Between’s words, “spiritual desperation”) through the lives of rich vacationers and the working class at a Colorado ski resort. It’s sharp without saying a word outright, and often funny. Wiseman is known for his four- to six-hour runtimes, so the film’s two-and-a-half hour length is comparatively breezy. _(5th Avenue Cinema, 510 SW Hall, Sun Jan 18, 7 pm, $10-$20 sliding scale,__more info_ _, not rated)_ __ _The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover_ _For fans of Dutch Baroque painting, Angela Carter, Derek Jarman’s_ Caravaggio _(1986)._ Peter Greenaway’s 1989 provocation unfolds almost entirely inside a fancy French restaurant. Spica (Michael Gambon) is a pervy, sadistic gangster and a rich patron who—among his numerous flaws—never shuts the fuck up. His fashionable and miserable wife Georgina (Helen Mirren) escapes to the powder room to indulge in an ill-advised affair with a restaurant regular. Greenaway’s films often skew theatrical, with careful blocking and elaborate, tableau-like compositions, but _The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover _pushes his style to Baroque extremes. Lateral dolly shots glide through luxe dining rooms drenched in red velvet and painterly kitchen scenes. Tables pile high with thick slabs of meat and bundled herbs. A Frans Hals painting looms in the background, while Jean Paul Gaultier’s bondage-style corsets give Georgina an armored edge. The visual impact is overwhelming, akin to Yorgos Lanthimos’ _Poor Things_ with more decadence and cruelty. (This recommendation carries a content warning for just about everything, including domestic violence and a dog death.) _The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover_’s emphasis on Spica’s gluttony and violence offers a grotesque, imaginative class critique; the results feel unrestrained and darkly funny. Catch it at the Portland Art Museum’s Whitsell Auditorium, reopening for PAM CUT programming on January 10. _(PAM CUT at the Whitsell, 1219 SW Park, Sun Jan 25, 2 pm,__more info_ _, unrated)_ __ Also worth it: **_Flesh for Frankenstein_** Produced by Andy Warhol, directed by Factory regular Paul Morrissey, and starring beloved German eccentric Udo Kier (who passed in November), _Flesh for Frankenstein’_ s campy, transgressive take on the Gothic sci-fi story is gleefully unfaithful to Mary Shelley’s novel. Fans of Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Peter Greenaway will appreciate its aesthetic excess. _(Academy Theater, 7818 SE Stark, January 9-15,__more info_ _)_ **_Swing Girls_** After accidentally poisoning their high school’s brass band, a Japanese friend circle decides the only logical solution is to start their own jazz ensemble. Makes sense to me! Shinobu Yaguchi’s 2004 film is light, airy, and comforting. See it if you’re sad._(PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division, Sat Jan 10,__more info_ _)_ **_Mothra vs. Godzilla _** With her rebellious attitude and atmospheric theme song/hymn sung by miniature priestess-fairies the Shobijin, mystical Mothra rules. Witness the divine _kaiju_ in all her genetically engineered glory as she whips ass on Godzilla in this ’64 entry. _(Academy Theater, 7818 SE Stark, January 23-29,__more info_ _)_ **_All the Colors of the Dark_** There's nothing quite like ’70s Italian horror. You want occult paranoia, psychedelic tailspins, and sexual tension? You got it. Prime example: Sergio Martino's giallo flick _All the Colors of the Dark,_ featuring black masses and devilish detours à la _Rosemary's Baby_. _(Academy Theater, 7818 SE Stark, January 23-29,__more info_ _)_ **_Rope_** Hitchcock's ’48 thriller follows two dapper psychopaths as they strangle a guy, stuff his body in an antique chest, and proceed to host a dinner party. Naturally, they start acting weird about it, and dramatics ensue. _(Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st, Sat Jan 24,__more info_ _)_ **_Mississippi Masala_** Mira Nair—a filmmaker with a keen eye for cultural narratives who also happens to be New York mayor Zohran Mamdani’s mom—directed this romance between Mina (Sarita Choudhury), an Indian-Ugandan woman and a Black Southerner carpet cleaner named Demetrius (Denzel Washington). Screening as part of Clinton Street Theater’s Color & Sound series, the film’s cross-genre soundtrack and vibrant palette will shake off the post-holiday grays. Half of ticket proceeds go to support the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition’s legal defense and rapid response work._(Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, Sat Jan 31,__more info_ _)_

A man and a woman are hospitalized after being shot and injured during an encounter with immigration agents in East Portland. Oregon officials are imploring DHS to leave the state. by Jeremiah Hayden _**This story has been updated with additional reporting.**_ _Originally published: 3:56 pm January 8;__Updated: 10:28 pm January 8_ Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield says his office will open a formal investigation into the shooting of two people by federal agents in East Portland Thursday afternoon. According to the Portland Police Bureau, the shooting took place at 2:18 pm near the Adventist Health Primary Care Portland campus on Southeast Main Street just east of I-205, but the victims, one male and one female, were found at 146th and East Burnside minutes later. The condition of the victims and severity of their injuries is unknown. Both were taken to area hospitals for immediate care following the incident. Rayfield’s office said the investigation will examine whether any federal officers involved in Thursday’s incident acted outside the scope of their legal authority. “We have been clear about our concerns with excessive use of force by federal agents in Portland and nationally,” Rayfield stated in an announcement Thursday evening. “We have also been clear about our intent to investigate circumstances involving federal agents to ensure they are accountable to acting within the scope of their official duties. Today’s incident only heightens the need for transparency and accountability. Our office will take every step necessary to ensure that the rights and security of Oregonians are protected.” Rayfield says he’ll review “witness interviews, video evidence, and other relevant materials” and any evidence of criminal conduct will be referred to the Multnomah County District Attorney for potential prosecution. The US Department of Homeland Security later stated in a social media post that US Border Patrol agents were conducting a “targeted traffic stop” in East Portland, claiming that the driver of the vehicle was a "Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and involved in a recent shooting in Portland." The post went on to say that after the agent identified himself, the driver "weaponized the vehicle" and allegedly attempted to run over the law enforcement agents, leading the agent to "fire defensive shots" before leaving the scene. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson addresses reporters during a January 8 press conference following the shooting of two people in East Portland by a Border Patrol agent earlier that day. courtney vaughn The shooting in Portland occurred the day after a DHS agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday as she was pulling away from agents in her vehicle. DHS officials made a similar claim of self-defense in that case, though after witnessing video footage of the incident, Minnesota officials are contradicting the account put forth by the Trump administration. "We are still in the early stages of this incident," Portland Police Chief Bob Day said shortly after Thursday's shooting. "We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more." Later that evening, Day said he couldn't confirm whether either of the victims had been involved in any prior shootings in Portland, noting the identity of the man and woman hadn't been released. He confirmed that the FBI is leading an investigation into the shooting, and although PPB officers responded to both scenes to secure the areas, the Bureau has no active role in the investigation. “On our end, we do not know the facts of this case,” Chief Day told reporters Thursday evening. “We are simply providing that traditional investigative support and perimeter support, which is minimal.” Day acknowledged Portland’s strained relationship with federal police and the US Department of Justice over the past year, particularly as the city and state launched a successful legal fight to prevent deployment of National Guard troops to the city. The police chief said the city has “certainly been tested.” “This is no small circumstance,” Day said. “The uncertainty and the fear and the sadness within our community is real…” He noted PPB has had "lines of communication" with the FBI, but it's unclear whether the federal agency will keep local police updated on the investigation, as it progresses. The incident happened during a Portland City Council meeting and caused the Council to abruptly recess the meeting as several councilors were immediately pulled into a briefing with police. Oregon and Minnesota officials to DHS: “Get out!” Thursday’s shooting in Portland comes just one day after the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by ICE agents, prompting nationwide protests. Good was shot while attempting to drive away from a group of immigration agents who say they acted in self-defense. Footage from the scene contradicts the ICE officers’ allegations that Good posed a threat. The shooting took place on Portland Avenue in Minneapolis, initially prompting confusion when reports of the Portland shooting began circulating on social media Thursday afternoon. Later that evening, hundreds of people gathered outside of Portland City Hall for a vigil acknowledging victims of violence from federal agents. Nearby, several local elected officials and community leaders held a press conference at the downtown Portland police precinct. They spoke about the need for unity and collective resistance to the Trump administration and DHS's violent tactics. Oregon State Rep. Andrea Valderrama gives remarks following the January 8 shooting of two people in East Portland's Hazelwood neighborhood. courtney vaughn State Rep. Andrea Valderrama (D—Portland), whose district includes the Hazelwood neighborhood where the shooting occurred, said she's "horrified" by the violence that happened not far from her house. She likened it to the violence in Peru that her family sought to escape. "My family came to this country fleeing really the same type of violent tactics that we're seeing in my neighborhood and in this city and across this country today," Valderrama told reporters. She said she dreads the conversations she has to have with her daughter about violence. "Everyone's families and mothers and children deserve to stay together," she added. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said he spoke to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, noting the two shared their concerns and grief for the families of the shooting victims. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said she's been in contact with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. In a statement issued shortly after the shooting in Portland, Mayor Wilson called on ICE to end all operations in Portland until a full investigation can be completed. “We cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts,” Wilson said. “Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences." Wilson said he'll "use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents' civil and human rights.” Councilors Candace Avalos, Jamie Dunphy, and Loretta Smith, who represent East Portland on City Council, said in a joint statement that "ICE in our communities does not make us safe," adding "that as your East Portland councilors, we have stood united to protect Portlanders from aggressive immigration enforcement and federal overreach and we will continue to do everything in our power to keep our communities safe." This story will be updated.

A man and a woman in the Hazelwood neighborhood were allegedly shot and injured in an incident with federal agents. by Jeremiah Hayden **Update 5:45 pm:** Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security, wrote on the social platform X that US Border Patrol agents were conducting a "targeted vehicle stop" in East Portland, claiming that the driver of the vehicle was a "Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and involved in a recent shooting in Portland." She went on to say that after the agent identified himself, the driver "weaponized the vehicle" and allegedly "attempted to run over the law enforcement agents," leading the agent to "fire defensive shots" before leaving the scene. DHS officials made a similar claim of self-defense when an agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday, though after witnessing video footage of the incident, Minnesota officials are contradicting the account put forth by the Trump administration. **Original story:** Federal officers have shot two people in Portland, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Police said the shooting took place at 2:18 pm near Adventist Health Portland on Southeast Main Street just east of I-205, but the victims, one male and one female, were found at 146th and East Burnside minutes later. "We are still in the early stages of this incident," Portland Police Chief Bob Day said. "We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more." Day arrived at Portland City Hall at roughly 2:40 pm Thursday afternoon, moments after a City Council meeting was abruptly recessed. The pause caused a chaotic scene during a routine vote to elect a new council president. The shooting in Portland comes just one day after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis, prompting nationwide protests. Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman, was shot while attempting to drive away from a group of immigration agents, who say they acted in self-defense. Footage from the scene contradicts the ICE officers’ allegations that Good posed a threat. The shooting took place on Portland Avenue in Minneapolis, initially prompting confusion when reports of the Portland shooting began circulating on social media this afternoon. Mayor Wilson issued a statement shortly after the meeting. “Just one day after the horrific violence in Minnesota at the hands of federal agents, our community here in Portland is now grappling with another deeply troubling incident,” Wilson said. “We cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts,” Wilson added. “Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences." Wilson called on ICE to end all operations in Portland until a full investigation can be completed. “Federal militarization undermines effective, community‑based public safety, and it runs counter to the values that define our region,” Wilson said. “I will use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents' civil and human rights.” Councilors Candace Avalos, Jamie Dunphy, and Loretta Smith, who represent East Portland on City Council, said in a joint statement that "ICE in our communities does not make us safe," adding "that as your East Portland councilors, we have stood united to protect Portlanders from aggressive immigration enforcement and federal overreach and we will continue to do everything in our power to keep our communities safe." Protestors against Immigration and Customs Enforcement had planned a demonstration at Mayor Keith Wilson’s office for 2 pm, the same time the council meeting began. As Day entered the briefing room, protestors yelled “revoke the permit”—a single demand the group has focused on since early 2025. This story will be updated.

Plus, Chris Stapleton and More Event Updates for January 8 by EverOut Staff New year, new events to add to the calendar! Golden Globes Award host and shock humorist **Nikki Glaser** stops by Ilani for a two-night stint on her Stunning tour this fall. Passes are available for the inaugural **Soundscape Northwest**, a multi-venue music festival and conference. Plus, country star **Chris Stapleton** brings his All-American Road Show to Providence Park—set a reminder for next week's ticket drop. Read on for details on those and other newly announced events, plus some news you can use. **ON SALE FRIDAY, JANUARY 9** MUSIC **Armand Hammer** _Mississippi Studios (Tues Nov 10)_ **The Builders and the Butchers** _Aladdin Theater (Thurs Apr 16)_ **Heavenly** _Aladdin Theater (Fri June 26)_

by Mercury Promotions Who's ready to have some fun? Well, the _Mercury_ is here to help with **FREE TICKETS** to see some of Portland's best concerts and events; our way of saying thanks to our great readers and spread the word about some fantastic upcoming performances! (Psst... if you want to say thanks to the _Mercury_ , please consider making a small monthly contribution to keep us alive and kickin'!) And oh boy, do we have some fun events coming at ya this week! CHECK IT OUT! * Enter to WIN TWO FREE TICKETS to **PAM CUT** January 10 - March 8 at The Whitsell! Check out the inaugural series, Maximalist Dreamscapes, this January at the renovated Whitsell Auditorium—including _Fantasia,_ _All That Jazz,_ _The Substance,_ and _The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover_. Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair! _Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave, January 10 through March 8, $10-$35, All Ages_ * Enter to WIN TWO FREE TICKETS to **Pigs on the Wing** on January 16 at Revolution Hall! Celebrating their 20th Anniversary, Portland-based Pink Floyd tribute Pigs on the Wing announce the band's 2025-2026 production, "Animals"—a two-set Pink Floyd concert experience featuring a full performance of Pink Floyd's 1977 album, _Animals_ , and a full second set highlighting the very best of Pink Floyd's Roger Waters-era catalog. Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair! _Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark Street, Fri January 16, 8 pm, $40.16, All Ages_ __ * Enter to WIN TWO FREE TICKETS to _**Welcome to Night Vale**_ on January 17 at Revolution Hall! Beloved podcast _Welcome To Night Vale_ returns to Rev Hall with their brand-new touring live show, "Murder Night in Blood Forest," featuring surprise guests, live music, and gripping mystery. Both fans of the show and newcomers alike will be able to enjoy this stand-alone performance! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair! _Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark Street, Sat January 17, 8 pm, $43.76-50.17, All Ages_ * Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see **Steve Gunn** on January 17 at Polaris Hall! A torchbearer of American experimental and guitar-oriented rock music, Steve Gunn returns to Portland with new music from his first studio album in four years, _Daylight Daylight_! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair! _Polaris Hall, 635 N. Killingsworth Ct, Sat Jan 17, 9 pm, $26.05, 21+_ * Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see **William Elliot Whitmore** on January 17 at Mississippi Studios! Armed only with a banjo, a bass drum, and his powerful voice, Iowa indie folk songwriter William Elliott Whitmore returns to Portland with rural roots music from his expansive collection! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair! _Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave, Sat January 17, 9 pm, $26.05, 21+_ * Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to **FAN EXPO** Portland on January 18 at the Oregon Convention Center! Big celebs. Exclusive merch. Iconic photo ops. The ultimate fandom experience is the place to celebrate all things pop culture and an opportunity to get close to your fave stars and creators. Enter for a chance to win two Sunday entry tickets and make it a weekend to remember. Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair! _Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Jan 18, $49.00+, All Ages_ GOOD LUCK! Winners will be notified on Monday, and check back next week for more FREE TIX from the _Mercury_.

See how well YOU score on this week's fun-filled trivia quiz! by Wm. Steven Humphrey **HAPPY NEW YEAR, BRAINY BUTT!** It's time once again to put your brainy-brain to the test with this week's edition of **POP QUIZ PDX** —our weekly, local, sassy-ass trivia quiz. And this week we'll be testing your knowledge on recent, local happenings, including realistic fake IDs, questionable New Year's resolutions, and Donald Trump's Parade of Dipshits! (It's like a parade that never ends! 😑) But first! How did you do on our last quiz? As usual, super-duper smashing! Plus, I absolutely agree with your majority choice for the "Most Villainous Villain" of 2025. (That asshole gives his twin brother, Nosferatu, a bad name! 🧛🏻‍♂️) Anywaaaaaay... READY TO START? Take this week's quiz below, take our previous pop quizzes here, and come back next week for a brand spankin' new quiz! (Having a tough time answering this quiz? It's probably because you aren't getting _Mercury_ newsletters! HINT! HINT!) Now crank up that cerebellum, because it's time to get BRAINY! Create your own user feedback survey Did you enjoy that? Take our past Pop Quizzes HERE!

Suzette Smith by Suzette Smith _If you appreciate the_ Mercury _'s interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can also subscribe and have our papers delivered!_ **Good Morning, Portland:**Courier Coffee pranked me pretty good yesterday, when they said they were closing due to the snowstorm. Thirty minutes later—my arms full of stolen kale—I actually checked the weather, and (while it's definitely cold out) it's not anywhere freezing. Coffee shops are not the news. Instagram is not the news. So let's hit the news. **IN LOCAL NEWS: ** • Oh, I guess that's why odd-numbered voting bodies can be useful. Because even a body of 12 people can deadlock when six Portland city councilors support one person for council president and six select another. Despite burning in the fires of a nearly seven-hour meeting last night, Portland City Council did not succeed in approving a new council president. The vote remained evenly split between incumbent Elana Pirtle-Guiney and challenger Sameer Kanal. We published a primer on what to know going into the vote yesterday, and we'll have more when/if/while they make a decision. • In the fall, a group called Literary Portland for Palestine asked Portland Book Festival to divest from Wells Fargo sponsorship funding. They've since grown into a collective of writers and local arts organizations working to raise awareness. And because they're a literary organization, they're doing it with poems. A _leeetle_ spicy: The poems will be read across the street from Literary Arts—the nonprofit that has put on PBF since 2015—at Mother Foucault's Bookshop. And an upcoming event presents the opportunity to hear the winner of the 2024 National Book Award for Poetry. • A man who served prison time for drug charges related to heroin distribution, nearly a decade ago, says he was told that the drugs led someone to overdose and die. That information determined the severity of his prison sentence, but just last month he filed a lawsuit against the Multnomah County DA’s Office and Portland Police Bureau because it turns out the person never died! Courtney Vaughn has more. • Meanwhile, Oregon's attorney general is back on his lawsuits. > Oregon’s attorney general is suing six of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers for conspiring to artificially inflate insulin prices and other critical diabetes medications for years. > > [image or embed] > > — Oregon Capital Chronicle (@oregoncapitalchronicle.com) January 8, 2026 at 8:27 AM **IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS: ** • An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota shot and killed a 37-year-old woman named Renee Good on Wednesday morning. The killing happened on a neighborhood street, where ICE agents appeared to have stopped a car. In widely circulated video from the scene, Good can be seen waiting in an SUV. Agents approached Good and one pulled on the handle of her vehicle. Another walked around in front of her car. When Good turned to drive away, the agent who had walked in front of the car shot her. And while the Trump administration are no strangers to falsehoods, the lies from them in this situation remind me of the old Michigan saying: "You can't lie about stuff we can see." They are lying though, with President Trump vociferously stating that Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE officer." Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gave an address, saying the ICE agent "defensively shot to protect himself and the people around him." 😑 Perhaps in response to those lies being _super duper_ obvious, Noem followed up with another press conference on Wednesday evening, saying the as-yet-unnamed ICE agent "used his training to save his own life and that of his colleagues." Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey called attempts to frame the shooting as an act of self defense "bullshit." Minnesota governor Tim Walz announced he had "issued a warning order to the prepare the Minnesota National Guard." It was not immediately clear what Walz was warning the guard to be ready for, but he said: "Minnesota will not allow out community to be used as a prop in a national political fight." • You've probably seen at least 20 "breakdowns" of the Minneapolis shooting, but the _NYT_ video analysis is good. • Crowds of thousands gathered to mourn in Minneapolis on Wednesday night. In Portland, approximately 250 people held a candlelit vigil in Terry Schrunk Plaza. > I am horrified by ICE's killing of Renee Nicole Good on Portland Avenue in Minneapolis today. ICE has no authority, legally or morally, to play judge, jury, or executioner, yet they continue to act as all three. #ICEOutOfMinneapolis #ReneeNicoleGood 1/2 > > [image or embed] > > — Councilor Sameer Kanal (@councilorkanal.bsky.social) January 7, 2026 at 8:01 PM • Continuing to follow the ongoing story of US forces kidnapping Venezuela's president, it appears that President Trump's claims about the raid "left out key details that underscored the risks US troops faced," according to an investigation by _NYT_ _._ And US service members were injured in the mission. • For now, it seems, the US will refrain from attacking Colombia. • Even more reasons why we are not invading Colombia, for now. > BREAKING: Senate advances a war powers resolution to limit further attacks on Venezuela and sets up a vote for final passage. > > [image or embed] > > — The Associated Press (@apnews.com) January 8, 2026 at 9:02 AM • _NYT_ journalists sat down with President Trump for two hours on Wednesday night, and the results are not very illuminating and quite a frustrating read. At one point, reporters pointed out that video of the Minneapolis shooting does not show the ICE agent being hit by Renee Good's vehicle and Trump "called for a staff member to bring a laptop and stand behind the Resolute Desk to show the reporters what he said would be evidence of Good’s wrongdoing." They all watched video of the killing together, and Trump said: “It’s a terrible scene... I hate to see it.” • The US Dept. of Agriculture and US Dept. of Health and Human Services released new nutrition guidance yesterday, and the nation is going low carb? Red meat, cheese, vegetables, and fruits appear at the top on an inverted pyramid, while grans—even whole ones—are slotted slim into the bottom. "I'm very disappointed in the new pyramid that features red meat and saturated fat sources at the very top, as if that's something to prioritize. It does go against decades and decades of evidence and research," Christopher Gardner, a nutrition expert at Stanford University, told NPR. US Dept. of Agriculture and US Dept. of Health and Human Services • Okay, listen. I know we love to _hyperventilate about the children_ , but this _NYT_ piece on how "the age of the book may be fading" is more than a little hyperbolic and frankly makes them look foolish. How many complete books did you personally read in high school? Granted I went to school in Michigan, but I was required to read, like... four. And one of those was _Romeo and Juliet_ , which is a play and not very long. It's nothing new that students read textbook collections of literature. However, I will agree that _Beloved_ is one of the most profound books every written, and folks should read all of that one. • Sending you into Thursday with a pretty simple but well-executed joke. > View this post on Instagram > > A post shared by Jennifer Ann Counseling (@jenniferanncounseling)

Public awaits zephyr of white smoke from council chambers announcing who holds the gavel in 2026 by Jeremiah Hayden _Update: 8:45 am January 8_ - After more than seven hours and multiple rounds of voting, Portland City Council failed to elect a president Wednesday. The Council is scheduled to reconvene at 2 pm Thursday to continue the leadership selection process. _Original story:_ Portland City Council is set to decide who will hold the council president’s gavel for the next year, in an annual vote under the city’s government structure. It’s the first item on Wednesday morning’s agenda, which is scheduled for two hours, but if last year’s election is any indication, you’ll want to bring a snack. The meeting begins at 9:30 am. View the agenda and tune in to the livestream here. Here’s what’s swirling around City Hall before the ceremonies begin. The council president is a powerful position under the city charter. The president presides over all council meetings, meaning they run the show and determine who gets to speak and for how long. The president also determines which items go to a committee or the full council, and plays a big role in setting the meeting agendas. Though not spelled out in the city’s charter or the Council’s new governance guidelines, the position comes with a more administrative role that may prevent a councilor from leaning in as heavily on legislative and committee work. Previously, it was common for the City Council to choose a new president each year, though the role was much different. Under the former Council configuration, the mayor presided over meetings and the president filled in only in the mayor's absence. Elana Pirtle-Guiney, the current council president, is facing an uphill battle in her bid for reelection. Elected in the ninth round in 2025 with seven votes, Pirtle-Guiney played a precedent-setting role as the government found its footing throughout the year. Pirtle-Guiney's Chief of Staff Natalie Sept told the _Mercury_ Wednesday morning that she's proud of her office's work in its first year. "Nobody really understood what this job was," Sept said. "There actually wasn't a whole lot of definition when the charter wrote the description of what this new form of government is." Pirtle-Guiney said the council's second year offered an opportunity for reflection. "We built a government from the ground up, and did so while fending off unwarranted and unprecedented attacks from the federal administration," Pirtle-Guiney said. "It was undoubtedly a year of growing pains and learning curves, but we also came together to unanimously move the City forward for working people, for small business, for parks, and for housing development." Now, city councilors and constituents are encouraging Pirtle-Guiney to step down and let another person hold the role. Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane was elected unanimously in 2025. She said in a statement to the Mercury that the first year prompted serious reflection among councilors about what kind of leadership will best serve the city going forward. “I believe we need a president who can work collaboratively with the vice president and bring the council together, which is a large part of why l am supporting a change in council presidency,” Koyama Lane said. Koyama Lane’s comments signal a dissatisfaction from the progressive caucus with Pirtle-Guiney’s leadership style and tendency to operate unilaterally. She added that under a still new form of government, she believes it is important to model shared leadership and set norms that reflect collective governance. “Leadership roles belong to the body as a whole, not any one individual,” Koyama Lane said. “Sharing leadership builds trust, accountability, and keeps power from becoming too concentrated with any one person. Those precedents matter for how effective and stable this council is over time.” Councilor Mitch Green, who broke from his progressive colleagues to cast a ninth-round, seventh vote for Pirtle-Guiney in the first election, said he also supports a change in leadership. “This council president role really shouldn't be about a political occupier of an office so much as it is about building the strength of the institution as Council as an independent branch of the government,” Green said. In anticipation of colleagues asserting from the dais that six progressive caucus members were unwilling to compromise, Green sees it as a two-sided affair. “If the less progressive side of City Council refuses to budge and refuses to see this great councilor, with great leadership qualities, and refuse to back him for ideological reasons, that's not a compromise,” Green said. Green said he hopes his colleagues will support District 2 Councilor Sameer Kanal, and multiple councilors who spoke to the Mercury Tuesday appeared poised to support Kanal as well. In a statement to the Mercury, Kanal stopped short of saying he was gunning for the role, but did not rule it out. “The Council President election tomorrow is about empowering Council as an institution so that it can deliver for Portlanders,” Kanal said Tuesday. “We need a president who will empower both the Council and individual Councilors, prioritize effective agenda-setting and strategic planning, and ensure efficient information-sharing so that we can get things done that Portlanders want and expect.” Asked what he would offer if elected to the role, Kanal said he was focused on ensuring the council had sufficient time to address issues Portlanders care about. “We have big issues that Council didn't schedule enough time to tackle last year — issues like downtown, our revenue situation, and affordability — and we need a Council President that will ensure our processes enable our City's progress,” Kanal said. He also promised to sideline or redirect his own priorities in order to better serve the council, and the public, as a whole. If nominated by my colleagues to serve, I would accept the nomination, and if selected, would step back from some of my legislative priorities, and from the progressive caucus, to focus my efforts on good governance for every Councilor, and all Portlanders." Pirtle-Guiney said prior to the Council meeting that she would love to continue her work. "Right now, Portland is facing unprecedented threats, and I believe I can provide the steady leadership we need," she said. "If my colleagues believe this is a time for continuity and consistency, I would be honored to serve another year." Some things are still up in the air. It's unclear what changes new Council leadership might bring, and whether councilors will continue including antiquated nouns like "madam" when addressing the president and vice president. One thing is clear though: Your middle school class president elections likely used a more utilitarian process than the current City Council, which doesn't solicit leadership nominations prior to the full Council vote. _This story was updated with additional reporting at 9:35 am._

Man who pleaded guilty to drug charges says he served a full prison sentence that was based on false information about a fatal overdose. by Courtney Vaughn A Portland man is suing several government entities, alleging he served prison time for causing a fatal overdose that never happened. Devin Rowell, 35, filed a lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Corrections, Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County, city of Portland, and Multnomah County DA’s Office on December 23. According to the complaint, Rowell was convicted in 2015 for delivery of heroin. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison with two years of post-prison supervision. He was released in June 2016. His attorney, Michael Sahagian, claims Rowell was told by PPB Officers Carrie Hutchinson and Tequila Thurman that his distribution of heroin caused the death of someone who obtained the opioids from another person. The lawsuit alleges police, as well as then-Deputy District Attorney Ryan Lufkin, knew the information wasn't true, but repeated the claim about a fatal overdose in an attempt to get Rowell to plead guilty to drug charges, which he eventually did. It wasn’t until 2024 that Rowell learned the supposed OD victim was still alive, after Rowell’s mother saw a news story about a lawsuit against local agencies over a false claim of the overdose death. In 2025, Portland City Council approved a $300,000 settlement with the plaintiff in that lawsuit, Adam Gregg. Gregg was one of two other defendants named in the drug crime indictment alongside Rowell in 2015. Prosecutors indicated the three men were all found to be delivering heroin in June 2015. Gregg’s lawsuit spurred Rowell to take his own legal action against the police, state prison system, and county prosecutor’s office. Sahagian, Rowell’s attorney, noted that by the time Rowell learned of his potential innocence, he’d already served his full prison sentence and post-prison supervision. Sahagian did not respond to requests for comment. In 2024, Rowell’s attorney, along with a deputy district attorney in the Multnomah County DA’s Office, petitioned the court to reconsider Rowell’s conviction, citing evidence that the alleged victim was confirmed to be alive in 2022. “At the time of resolution, this case was negotiated from the posture of an overdose death investigation,” the petition stated. The legal filing indicates that a defense attorney for Gregg, Rowell’s co-defendant in the 2015 case, informed the DA’s Office in 2022 that his client had “just learned the alleged deceased was actually alive.” “The Justice Integrity Unit initiated an investigation and confirmed that the individual was still alive when the original sentence was imposed,” the court petition noted. Rowell’s lawsuit seeks $1.18 million for negligence and wrongful imprisonment. “In addition to the considerable mental anguish of being imprisoned, he believed for the better part of a decade that his actions led to the death of an innocent person,” the lawsuit states. “Further, Plaintiff missed significant life events and has been subjected to harsher sentencing since the time of his conviction via his criminal history on the Oregon Sentencing Grid being artificially inflated by this conviction.” Court records indicate Rowell was arrested and charged again in 2018 for delivery of heroin and giving false information to a police officer. The Multnomah County DA’s Office declined to comment on the veracity of the claims made in Rowell’s lawsuit. “We are not able to comment because we have not yet had a chance to discuss the case with the Attorney General’s Office,” Pat Dooris, a spokesman for MCDA, told the Mercury. If the case goes to trial, it will be an odd role reversal for the DA’s Office. Prosecutors will become defendants in a case brought against them by a man they convicted of felony crimes more than a decade prior.

A call for Portland Book Festival to reject corporate bank funding coalesced into a collective that seeks to raise awareness with the written word. by Suzette Smith At Portland Book Festival, in November, you may have noticed an icon on t-shirts, posters, and social media of Literary Arts' red umbrella dropping bombs. The graphic read "Drop Wells Fargo" and "Literary Portland for Palestine." The shirts were a next step in a call to action, which grew loud in late summer and shows signs of continuing long after the 2025 lit fest has passed. A new collective formed around the issue says they're intentionally raising awareness across the street from Literary Arts at Mother Foucault's Bookshop. An upcoming reading titled 4 Palestinian Poets presents an opportunity to hear Lena Khalaf Tuffaha—winner of the 2024 National Book Award for Poetry. In late July, a number of writers and local arts organizations penned a letter asking Literary Arts, the nonprofit that has run Portland Book Fest since 2015, to turn down sponsorship and funding from financial institutions like Wells Fargo and Bank of America. "Literary Arts has foregrounded many writers who speak truth to power… in that spirit, we ask you to say 'no' to sponsorship from banks that profit from and facilitate the destruction of Palestine, that are deeply implicated in the global arms trade overall.…," the letter states, noting the banks' dealings with US weapons manufacturers Raytheon and Lockheed Martin and Israel-based Elbit. Literary Portland for Palestine's letter garnered over 400 signatures from nationally recognized authors like Naomi Klein and Torrey Peters and local powerhouses like Anis Mojgani, Walidah Imarisha, and Jon Raymond. It was signed by Oregon Book Award winners, Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship recipients, and Omar El Akkad, who serves on the Literary Arts board. Literary Arts responded with a form rejection, writing to the _Mercury_ and other outlets: "We are aware of concerns raised regarding Portland Book Festival sponsorships and take seriously the values and voices of the literary community." The statement went on to explain that sponsorships help keep ticket prices affordable. The tone of the letter suggested a potential boycott, but many signers were present at the fest, some wearing the "Drop Wells Fargo" shirts as they read their work, handing out sheets of poems by Palestinian poets with purchases, or discussing the issue onstage. A new collective of around 25 local writers and arts organizations calling themselves Literary Palestine for Portland consolidated from the debate, even as Literary Arts itself never publicly engaged with the ask. "I think that we really coalesced around the Portland Book Festival and we were still in the stages of figuring out where we wanted our focus to be," says author and educator Sara Jaffe, a founding member of Literary Portland for Palestine who read from her new book _Hurricane Envy_ at the fest. Jaffe explained that the majority of those organizing felt that there hadn't been enough time allowed for the fest to divest from its sponsors, so they turned their attention to raising awareness. According to Jaffe, the group's attention remains focused on Literary Arts, but they began to ask themselves what they could do alongside asking Portland Book Festival to divest. "When we were contacting people and asking them to speak up [at Portland Book Festival], we definitely heard back from some: Literary Arts is such an important organization. They're not the bad guys, etc.. " Jaffe says. "But it's because of these relationships… it's these grassroots connections that are the places where we can try to affect this kind of change. You know, we're not talking to Wells Fargo. Why would we talk to Wells Fargo?" Now with an upcoming reading at Mother Foucault's—picked partially for its placement across the street from Literary Arts' bookstore and headquarters—Literary Portland for Palestine signals that their rally cry will continue to grow in volume. And because they're a literary organization, they're doing it with poems. The 4 Palestinian Poets event presents an opportunity to hear National Book Award winner Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, along with Philadelphia-based Ahmad Almallah, whose third collection _Wrong Winds_ was published by local press Fonograf in 2025. Portland poets Jaye Nasir and Veera Sulaiman round out the bill. Jaffe and another organizer Jeff Alessandrelli say this is merely one of many more events to come. The reading isn't a fundraiser but mutual aid fundraisers Creators for Gaza will have a table where people can donate to support displaced Palestinians. Replying to the event's flyer, a commenter asks: "What can attendees expect at this event?" The flyer artist responds: "Poets reading poems." _Literary Portland for Palestine presents 4 Palestinian Poets at Mother Foucault's Bookshop, 715 SE Grand, Fri Jan 9, 7 pm, FREE, more info atliteraryportlandforpalestine.com_

by Courtney Vaughn _The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!_ **Good morning, Portland!** It’s Wednesday, January 7. We’re in for more rain and chilly temps today, with a high of 42 and a low of 35 degrees. We can also expect moderate winds of up to 14 miles per hour. It’s a good day to hang inside and catch up on the news. **IN LOCAL NEWS:** • Yesterday, Portland’s mayor sent a memo to the City Council informing them of his plans to oust some people from the city’s 10 alternative shelter sites. Alternative shelters allow guests to stay up to 120 days in pod-like structures or designated RV parking areas. Mayor Keith Wilson says the city will start exiting people who don’t engage with services via a case worker, forcing them to go to a temporary or overnight shelter. A few city councilors have their own thoughts about Wilson’s plan. Members of the Homelessness and Housing Committee aren’t thrilled. > Portland Mayor Keith Wilson is planning to exit some homeless residents from the city’s alternative shelters, instead referring them to emergency overnight shelters and day centers. > > [image or embed] > > — Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) January 6, 2026 at 9:29 PM • Speaking of City Council, they’re scheduled to vote on a new council president and vice president today. That might sound somewhat unremarkable, but last year’s first-ever meeting of the Council was marked by fireworks and a lengthy, contentious process to select leadership. It’s unclear whether the current Council President, Elana Pirtle-Guiney, will seek a second term in the role. Pirtle-Guiney is known for her even-keeled demeanor during meetings, but she’s clashed with a few councilors over agenda-setting priorities, as well as her process for running meetings on a few occasions–namely last year’s budget adoption. The _Mercury_ has also learned that several of her colleagues have asked her not to seek reelection to the position. Tiffany Koyama Lane currently serves as Council vice president. Read our quick and helpful explainer to get up to speed! > Portland City Council is set to decide who will hold the council president’s gavel for the next year. It’s the first item on Wednesday morning’s agenda, which is scheduled for two hours, but if last year’s election is any indication, you’ll want to bring a snack. 🍿 > > [image or embed] > > — Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) January 7, 2026 at 9:08 AM • Ever dreamed of working at the _Mercury_? If you’ve got a newsy background, are organized, and enjoy working closely with others, this might be the gig for you. The _Mercury_ is hiring a managing editor to help strengthen and fine-tune our editorial processes and support our awesome staff. We don’t bite, but we will put your karaoke skills to the test and force you to listen to our rants and terrible jokes. • Trump’s DOJ won’t let up on its petty attempts at retribution against Portland. _OPB_ reports the DOJ is arguing it’s entitled to police records such as body camera footage of arrests during anti-ICE protests–including footage related to ongoing investigations. According to _OPB_ , during a recent court hearing over the city’s longstanding settlement agreement with the city, DOJ attorneys said they want footage and any records that could demonstrate “viewpoint discrimination” from the Portland Police Bureau during arrests of conservative influencer Nick Sortor. They also want records related to the alleged assault of Katie Daviscourt, who reports for right-wing outlet _The Post Millenial_. The DOJ has already said it’s investigating the Portland Police Bureau for alleged discrimination against conservative influencers and counter-protesters at the ICE facility. In other words, the DOJ is using the settlement agreement to try to obtain records that would help them build a case against the city. Portland’s city attorney called the move “nakedly political.” **IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:** • Hey, so, remember when we bombed Venezuela and kidnapped the country’s leader and his wife and proceeded to do a crotch chop while yelling “Suck It!” behind Congress’s back? Well, it turns out the Trump team forgot to install actual leadership and make sure the country was stabilized before going rogue. The _AP_ reports that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio contradicted one another while they both made statements about Venezuela’s leadership, and its immediate future. “Seemingly contradictory statements from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have suggested at once that the U.S. now controls the levers of Venezuelan power or that the U.S. has no intention of assuming day-to-day governance and will allow Maduro’s subordinates to remain in leadership positions for now,” the _AP_ writes. By Wednesday morning, media reports indicated at least 75 people were killed in Venezuela after the raids. • After a Hilton hotel in Minneapolis canceled reservations for ICE agents, the company’s stock has apparently taken a hit. _CNBC_ reports Hilton stock shares dropped 2 percent after DHS took to X to publicly complain/shame the hotel for canceling reservations citing the guests’ work tied to immigration enforcement. An email to federal agents indicated the Minneapolis location is “not allowing any ICE or immigration agents to stay at our property.” That particular site was one of many Hilton-franchise locations that’s independently operated. Nevertheless, Hilton issued a statement emphasizing that the location was independently operated and the email sent to agents doesn’t reflect the company’s policies or values. “They have taken immediate action to resolve this matter and are contacting impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated,” a spokesperson for Hilton told _CNBC_. By Wednesday, the Hilton corporation announced it was severing ties with that independent location. What will it be now that it's no longer a Hilton???! > Hilton said it is breaking from a franchise that was accused of canceling ICE agents' reservations at its Minneapolis-area location > > [image or embed] > > — Phil Lewis (@phillewis.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 8:03 AM • “Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes itself out of existence” is arguably one of the saddest headlines we’ll see this month, or possibly this year. Since the 1960s, the private organization managed funding for public broadcast outlets like NPR and PBS, but the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Board recently began reducing its operations after Congress voted to defund the entity. In a statement released Monday, Patricia Harrison, CPB’s president and CEO, said public media is still “essential to a healthy democracy” but the organization couldn’t operate without federal funding. “CPB’s final act would be to protect the integrity of the public media system and the democratic values by dissolving, rather than allowing the organization to remain defunded and vulnerable to additional attacks,” Harrison stated. Can we just go back to the '90s when Maria and Elmo taught kids how to recognize numbers and served as de facto babysitters for latch-key kids? > @magsdee08 > > Let’s get back to the pre-2000s parenting expectations. By those standards I have already overachieved with water bottles and snacks. > > ♬ original sound - Mags

Public awaits zephyr of white smoke from council chambers announcing who holds the gavel in 2026 by Jeremiah Hayden Portland City Council is set to decide who will hold the council president’s gavel for the next year, in an annual vote under the city’s government structure. It’s the first item on Wednesday morning’s agenda, which is scheduled for two hours, but if last year’s election is any indication, you’ll want to bring a snack. The meeting begins at 9:30 am. View the agenda and tune in to the livestream here. Here’s what’s swirling around City Hall before the ceremonies begin. The council president is a powerful position under the city charter. The president presides over all council meetings, meaning they run the show and determine who gets to speak and for how long. The president also determines which items go to a committee or the full council, and plays a big role in setting the meeting agendas. Though not spelled out in the city’s charter or the Council’s new governance guidelines, the position comes with a more administrative role that may prevent a councilor from leaning in as heavily on legislative and committee work. Previously, it was common for the City Council to choose a new president each year, though the role was much different. Under the former Council configuration, the mayor presided over meetings and the president filled in only in the mayor's absence. Elana Pirtle-Guiney, the current council president, is facing an uphill battle in her bid for reelection. Elected in the ninth round in 2025 with seven votes, Pirtle-Guiney played a precedent-setting role as the government found its footing throughout the year. Pirtle-Guiney's Chief of Staff Natalie Sept told the _Mercury_ Wednesday morning that she's proud of her office's work in its first year. "Nobody really understood what this job was," Sept said. "There actually wasn't a whole lot of definition when the charter wrote the description of what this new form of government is." Pirtle-Guiney said the council's second year offered an opportunity for reflection. "We built a government from the ground up, and did so while fending off unwarranted and unprecedented attacks from the federal administration," Pirtle-Guiney said. "It was undoubtedly a year of growing pains and learning curves, but we also came together to unanimously move the City forward for working people, for small business, for parks, and for housing development." Now, city councilors and constituents are encouraging Pirtle-Guiney to step down and let another person hold the role. Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane was elected unanimously in 2025. She said in a statement to the Mercury that the first year prompted serious reflection among councilors about what kind of leadership will best serve the city going forward. “I believe we need a president who can work collaboratively with the vice president and bring the council together, which is a large part of why l am supporting a change in council presidency,” Koyama Lane said. Koyama Lane’s comments signal a dissatisfaction from the progressive caucus with Pirtle-Guiney’s leadership style and tendency to operate unilaterally. She added that under a still new form of government, she believes it is important to model shared leadership and set norms that reflect collective governance. “Leadership roles belong to the body as a whole, not any one individual,” Koyama Lane said. “Sharing leadership builds trust, accountability, and keeps power from becoming too concentrated with any one person. Those precedents matter for how effective and stable this council is over time.” Councilor Mitch Green, who broke from his progressive colleagues to cast a ninth-round, seventh vote for Pirtle-Guiney in the first election, said he also supports a change in leadership. “This council president role really shouldn't be about a political occupier of an office so much as it is about building the strength of the institution as Council as an independent branch of the government,” Green said. In anticipation of colleagues asserting from the dais that six progressive caucus members were unwilling to compromise, Green sees it as a two-sided affair. “If the less progressive side of City Council refuses to budge and refuses to see this great councilor, with great leadership qualities, and refuse to back him for ideological reasons, that's not a compromise,” Green said. Green said he hopes his colleagues will support District 2 Councilor Sameer Kanal, and multiple councilors who spoke to the Mercury Tuesday appeared poised to support Kanal as well. In a statement to the Mercury, Kanal stopped short of saying he was gunning for the role, but did not rule it out. “The Council President election tomorrow is about empowering Council as an institution so that it can deliver for Portlanders,” Kanal said Tuesday. “We need a president who will empower both the Council and individual Councilors, prioritize effective agenda-setting and strategic planning, and ensure efficient information-sharing so that we can get things done that Portlanders want and expect.” Asked what he would offer if elected to the role, Kanal said he was focused on ensuring the council had sufficient time to address issues Portlanders care about. “We have big issues that Council didn't schedule enough time to tackle last year — issues like downtown, our revenue situation, and affordability — and we need a Council President that will ensure our processes enable our City's progress,” Kanal said. He also promised to sideline or redirect his own priorities in order to better serve the council, and the public, as a whole. If nominated by my colleagues to serve, I would accept the nomination, and if selected, would step back from some of my legislative priorities, and from the progressive caucus, to focus my efforts on good governance for every Councilor, and all Portlanders." Pirtle-Guiney said prior to the Council meeting that she would love to continue her work. "Right now, Portland is facing unprecedented threats, and I believe I can provide the steady leadership we need," she said. "If my colleagues believe this is a time for continuity and consistency, I would be honored to serve another year." Some things are still up in the air. It's unclear what changes new Council leadership might bring, and whether councilors will continue including antiquated nouns like "madam" when addressing the president and vice president. One thing is clear though: Your middle school class president elections likely used a more utilitarian process than the current City Council, which doesn't solicit leadership nominations prior to the full Council vote. _This story was updated with additional reporting at 9:35 am._

by Anonymous All around me, I see people drifting through life like it is endless free credit. Never taking stock of their mistakes, never owning the consequences until it is too late. Unless you act while you can, unless you humble yourself and make amends, life will not wait to remind you. Some might think that retconning into the fun is automatic, but it is not; it is a privilege for those who actually make good choices. Take responsibility now, or you will discover later that the system does not negotiate, it rewrites you into the story you refused to lead. Acts of acknowledgment, small gestures of repair, and genuine apologies are the only things that unlock the softer side of consequence. Refusing humility will not stop the world from reshaping you, it will just ensure the rewrite is harsher, more ironic, and less fun. The truth is simple, step up willingly and you can be retconned into a better narrative, ignore the warning at your own peril, and life will do it for you anyway, but with less mercy than you imagine.

Jeremiah Hayden by Jeremiah Hayden Portland Mayor Keith Wilson is planning to exit some homeless residents from the city’s alternative shelters, instead referring them to emergency overnight shelters and day centers. In an email Wilson sent to city councilors Tuesday, Wilson said nearly 100 homeless Portlanders who are living in alternative shelters are expected to reach their 120-day stay limits, and the city plans to move them out of those shelters if they have not engaged in services during that time. “Stay limits and engagement requirements are nationwide best practices used to encourage continuous progress towards stability, independence, and appropriate housing,” Wilson said in the email, dated January 6. The city’s 10 alternative shelters are sites like the city’s Safe Rest Villages, which allow people to live onsite for an extended period of time, typically in single-occupancy tiny home villages or safe parking areas for RVs. They operate differently from other temporary sites, including Wilson’s emergency overnight congregate shelters, in which people are expected to leave each morning. Wilson said the city’s 867 alternative shelter beds are intended to be a temporary resource for homeless residents, not to be used as long-term housing. “Per our Housing First strategic framework, we have a responsibility to incentivize individuals to move through our emergency shelter system and into permanent housing,” Wilson’s email said. The National Alliance to End Homelessness—a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to prevent and end homelessness—says on its website that housing first policies by definition do not impose one-size-fits-all rules that disqualify clients. “People with sobriety and substance use issues seek and accept help in different ways and at different speeds,” the website says. “It’s up to the Housing First provider to design a program that serves the unique needs and interests of each client being served[.]” Wilson said some exemptions apply, including those a shelter case manager chooses to waive, or for people experiencing severe mental health challenges and other acuity issues. Tuesday’s email came as the city and Multnomah County are currently unable to keep up with the need of homeless residents, as people are losing housing at a faster rate than either government can get them into housing affordable to them. The most recent available data from October 2025 shows 1,969 people entered the county’s homelessness system that month, while 1,275 exited the system. Of those, 409 gained permanent housing and 866 became inactive in the system. In late October, Multnomah County paused its rapid rehousing voucher program after it lost state funding it expected to receive. Those programs largely helped to move people from shelters and into permanent housing. While the county vote maintained funding for 1,051 people working through the process to housing, some 700 people lost out on the opportunity for a housing voucher. Wilson said Multnomah County is preparing to close its Market Street and Wy’East shelters, for a total loss of 210 beds, and his office anticipates pressure on shelters that are often at full capacity will continue to increase. “The City of Portland cannot indefinitely utilize emergency units with individuals unwilling to engage with those who are here to help them,” Wilson said. But local leaders pushed back on the mayor’s plan, saying exiting people from programs even if they are not engaged, does not help them become housed. Councilor Candace Avalos, the chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee, said in a statement to the Mercury that she is concerned about Wilson’s new approach. “I’m deeply concerned that we’re enforcing stay limits in shelter without having real housing off-ramps in place,” Avalos said. “I hear the Mayor’s commitment that exiting people is a last resort, but referrals to overnight shelters, day centers, or outreach workers are not the same as access to housing.” She said data shows people are not homeless because they are ‘service resistant,’ but because housing is unaffordable and the services they need often don’t exist or are not accessible. “About half of all Portland renters are burdened by their rent and our ‘affordable’ units are basically the same cost as market-rate housing,” Avalos said. “Oregon ranks near the bottom nationally in behavioral health capacity. We can’t punish people for systems that have failed to meet their needs." Avalos sees another way. “A safe bed is not a reward to be earned — it’s a baseline of human dignity,” she said. “If we want shelter to be a true pathway to housing, we have to pair expectations with real investments in housing placement, supportive services, rent stabilization, and prevention. Otherwise, we risk cycling people back onto the street instead of moving them forward." Councilor Angelita Morillo, who also sits on that Committee, echoed Avalos’ statement. She said people come to mistrust the system after services provided to them are inadequate or unacceptable, meaning they may not engage after a period of time. “When we provide really good, robust services, people opt in—and not everyone is treated the same under these systems,” Morillo said. “Anyone who has actually lived on the streets or had to live in a congregate shelter for an extended period of time understands that it is not a cushy, fun lifestyle,” Morillo said. “It is very difficult. It can often be re-traumatizing. We do not need to incentivize people any further to get off of the streets. It is a brutal, difficult, and short life.” Wilson said in the email that the city established “trauma-informed engagement requirements” within the alternative system. “There is no way to repeatedly displace people from the only small, meager stability that they have, and not have that be a traumatizing process,” Morillo said. Wilson’s order comes as people living on the margins are grappling with fewer resources from local, state, and federal governments. In November, Oregon joined 20 other states in a lawsuit against the US Department of Housing and Urban Development over its guidance that reversed longstanding housing first policies and pulled grant funding that state and local governments typically receive. The lawsuit argued that federal cuts undermine the housing first approach. The lawsuit noted that previous HUD guidance defined housing first as a “model of housing assistance that prioritizes rapid placement and stability in permanent housing in which admission does not have preconditions (such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold) and in which housing assistance is not conditioned upon participation in services.” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued a statement November 25 when the lawsuit was filed, saying HUD’s guidance would upend housing supports and lead more Oregonians into homelessness. “Imagine finally getting into a stable home after years of homelessness, only to have the rug pulled out because the rules changed overnight,” Rayfield said. “That’s what HUD’s new policy does – it puts Oregonians at risk of losing the housing and help they’ve worked so hard to get.” US District Judge Mary S. McElroy granted a preliminary injunction December 23 requiring the federal government to maintain the status quo regarding federal grants.

Nolan Parker by Nolan Parker Happy new you! Welcome to 2026, you absolute smoke shows! Did we all get home safe after our NYE functions? I barely made it out alive, not because of intoxication, but because the Forty Feet Tall boys and the Nonbinary Girlfriend theys tore it the fuck up at Trouble Bar so deeply it was hard to walk after. And then three days later, Dustbunny almost sold out Mississippi Studios for their record release party (and I mean _party_), with Femme Cell and Pileup. Both gigs went hard—house show style—distilling the renaissance energy that was Portland 2025, imbuing the first few days of 2026 with an incredible hit of dopamine. Massive shouts to all those bands, both those venues, and to everyone who showed up to support any local music during this “slow” time of year. 2026 LFGGGGGGG! Jabronis do be saying this is the slow part of the year, that there’s not a ton of music happening in Portland (or wherever jabronis live—Spokane? Northern Idaho?). I, and the _Mercury_ , absolutely beg to differ. A few shows I’ve been looking forward to for months are happening later in January (Berlin-based Portlander Colin Self at Mississippi, Cate Le Bon at Rev Hall, and Steve Reich’s _Counterpoints_ at Hopscotch), and this week is no slouch in the sack either with… well, you’ll just have to keep reading if you wanna find out. Tuesday, January 6 _The Passion of Joan of Arc_ live-scored by Lori Goldston _For fans of cello drones, silent film, biblical reckoning_ Seattle cello godhead Lori Goldston has been on a Portland tear the last couple months. She cruised down the corridor in October to play several sets at Improvisation Summit of Portland, and live-scored the 1911 Italian silent film _L’Inferno_ with Corey J. Brewer at Tomorrow Theater in December. For this, her first 2026 appearance in the Rose City, Goldston tackles the 81-minute film _The Passion of Joan of Arc_. This is your chance to see a live score for the 1928 French film that _Mercury_ film critic Dom Sinacola is saying “had a prominent influence on _Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning_ (2012),” and what Minto Press mastermind Meredith Adams is calling “ACAB cannon.” _(Hollywood Theatre, 6:30 pm,more info here, all ages)_ __ Friday, January 9 Keeks / Cosmos Dark / Yawa _For fans of Mykki Blanco, D’Angelo, SassyBlack_ If you haven’t picked up on it yet, there’s a powerful current of both Black and trans musicians flowing through this city, challenging perceptions of the largely white (and cis male) dominated scenes of Portland. R&B doll Keeks dropped her massive album _Gwendolyn_ last year that, if I was more on top of it, would have been included in the _Mercury_ ’s Best Albums of 2025. On the album, Keeks’ silky-smooth vocals disarm and refresh with look-me-in-the-eyes honesty that might draw a blush as your panties hit the floor. On album hard-hitter “The Chillest, Pt. 1,” Keeks lets you know and expects you to remember her rapping ain't a game: “I do not do blow, I am a fucking lady / If I’m in your venue, you gon’ fuckin’ pay me.” Black futurist experimentalists Cosmos Dark and Yawa bring a powerfully nourishing femme energy in the opening slots. _(Swan Dive, 8 pm,more info here, 21+)_ __ At First, At First / My Point of You / Swiss Army Wife / ¡Gonzales! _For fans of Everyone Asked About You, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Rainer Maria_ Eighties and ’90s alternative music changed the game forever. There was grunge, new wave, shoegaze, hip-hop, goth, hardcore, nu metal, and on and on. Most of those genres sank into the background, but have had big resurgences in the last decade. “But what about emo?” *holding gun to back of astronaut’s head* “Emo never left...” Though it has gone through several waves. From the early Rites of Spring days, to the second wave of Braid and Cap’n Jazz, to the Warped Tour 2005 mainstays The Used and From First To Last, emo has continually reinvented itself to remain on the fringes of the underground. Champions of the genre, Portland-based bookers Mallbrawlreds are bringing the Texas emo outfits At First, At First and My Point of You through town—two femme-fronted bands that would’ve been right at home touring the Midwest emo circuit of the ’90s, proving that Texas is, in fact, the reason. Local legends Swiss Army Wife pull up too, shouting one of my favorite lines of all time on their track “Aight, I’mma Head Out”: “It’s a basement, not a gated community.” Setting it off, bringing the brown sound are Portland’s ¡Gonzales! Better get to the gig early. _(Leaven Community Center, 7 pm,more info here, all ages)_ __ Friday, January 9 - Saturday, January 31 Color & Sound vol. 4 _For fans of visual and aural stimulation when it’s needed most_ Feeling SAD? Need something to look forward to during January? May we suggest Clinton Street Theater’s fourth installment of Color & Sound. On select Fridays this month, Clinton Street will be screening vivid, loud films to brighten up what some are calling the first month of 2026. The aging flamboyance of _Swan Song_ , the riotous _Zoot Suit_ , a Jeff Buckley documentary, _BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions_’ Portland premiere, a jukebox documentary, and Mira Nair’s _Mississippi Masala_ are the crown jewels of the series. _(Clinton Street Theater, 7 pm,more info here, all ages)_ __ Sunday, January 11 Ragana / Drowse / Rhododendron _For fans of Wolves in the Throne Room, Earth, Bell Witch_ There’s something about the Pacific Northwest that lends itself to the creation of dark, heavy music burning with catharsis. It’s probably all the low skies and cold and wet, huh? Lucky for us, the Olympia Indigi-queers Ragana and the Portland-based drone manipulator Drowse have banded together, releasing _Ash Souvenir_ late last year. As both bands—and black metal in general—are want to do, the album is filled with gorgeous slow-builds that evolve into anthemic shredding and guttural screaming. This is regional music of the highest order, heavy hangs the head that misses this first Portland excavation of the album. _(Mississippi Studios, 8 pm,more info here, 21+)_ __ **_Also very worth it…_** **Isabeau Waia’u Walker & The Noise Boys / Port Velvet** at Mississippi Studios - _Jan 9,more info here_ **theyhungusfrompowerlines / Middling / For You Always For You / Pretending / It’s You! It’s Me! And There’s Dancing!** at Alleyway - _Jan 9,more info here_ **Silicon Radio ft. Batom and Crochet** at Company - _Jan 9,more info here_ **DJ Manny** at Barn Radio - _Jan 10,more info here_ **Dyke Nite ft. Stas Thee Boss and DJ Aspen** at Nova - _Jan 10,more info here_ **Larry Beckett** at Music Millenium - _Jan 10,more info here_ _**Swing Girls**_ at Tomorrow Theater - _Jan 10,more info here_ **Fundamental / Body Shame / Laughing About Nothing / Long Deer** at Wyrd Hut - _Jan 10,more info here_ _**Hedwig and The Angry Inch**_ at Tomorrow Theater - _Jan 11,more info here_ Portland Music News: Pickathon 2026 may feel like a long way off from early January, but it'll be here before you know it. And, to put a little pep in your step, festival tickets are going on sale for the cheapest you'll find this Wednesday, January 7 at 10 am. As an super special treat, Cole Gann of Forty Feet Tall is featured at the top of Pickathon's ticket portal, and who wouldn't pay to see that? (P.S. Scroll to the bottom of the page and sign up for their newsletter to get an extra $15 off.)

Trauma turn-ons, sweet chastity, a life without kink, and lots more quickie Qs! by Dan Savage 1. What if I’m turned on by my own trauma? What do I do with this? You do therapy with it. And then after you’ve worked through your trauma with the help of your therapist (which includes unpacking your feelings about being turned on by your trauma), you can — taking the tiniest of baby steps — explore these turn-ons to see if they’re something you can safely and enjoyably incorporate into your IRL sex life or if they need to remain fantasy material only. 2. I’m a cis bi female fifty-something subbie in a committed relationship. I enjoy being teased and denied. I wish I could use a cock cage but sadly I lack the proper anatomy. Is there something equivalent for vagina-havers? Preferably something that doesn’t require piercings to hold it in place. Has the insane popularity of male chastity devices in the last decade — cock cages… [Read more ]

by Taylor Griggs _The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making_ _a small monthly contribution_ _, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!_ Good morning, Portland! And a very happy new year to you all. It’s going to be chilly and wet today. Snow levels are set to dip later this week, meaning we could see some flakes at lower elevations. Probably not in Portland, though. But who knows?? Let's get to the news. **IN LOCAL NEWS:** • Facing a $300 million budget gap, Portland transit service TriMet just announced another round of service cuts coming in August. TriMet already made smaller cuts to transit service in November, but the agency's budget deficit is significant and growing, without any new money coming in from the state for the foreseeable future. The agency is asking riders to weigh in on proposed cuts, with options including slashing MAX Green Line service (except between Gateway Transit Center and the Clackamas Town Center), eliminating bus lines, and/or reducing frequency on high-ridership lines, including the 72 (Killingsworth/82nd Ave) bus—Portland's most-used bus line. The cuts will make life harder for everyone who relies on public transit to get around. You can weigh in on TriMet's proposals before January 31. > Portland: In the absence of leadership on the transit funding crisis, @trimet.org now proposes VERY serious service cuts, with possibly more to come. These are a mixture of some restructuring ideas from our previous work, and some bad losses of frequency. 1/n > > — Jarrett Walker (@humantransit.bsky.social) January 5, 2026 at 1:53 PM • Four members of an eastern Oregonian family were killed in an Arizona helicopter crash late last week. The crash came after their aircraft collided with a tightrope strung high across the Arizona mountains, sending the helicopter down 600 feet. While the tightrope presented an admittedly unusual situation (and it's unclear exactly why it was there), it was one that shouldn't have come as a surprise to the pilot, as federal aviation authorities had warned helicopter operators about the potential obstacle. Clearly, something was lost in translation. The pilot was 59-year-old David McCarty, who was killed in the crash along with his three nieces, Rachel McCarty, 23, Faith McCarty, 21, and Katelyn Heideman, 21. David McCarty owned a helicopter company based in La Grande. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the tragic incident, as their loved ones grieve a devastating loss. • Leaf blowers are officially banned in Portland—well, gas powered ones at least. And there are some caveats. The ban went into place on January 1 after being approved by Portland's City Council almost two years ago. For the first two years of the ban, gas-powered leaf blowers will be banned only between January and September, AKA the months of the year when nobody really needs to use leaf blowers. Starting January 1, 2028, their use will be banned year-round. The city will determine violations using a complaint-based system, and consequences will be levied at property owners, not landscaping crews. Despite their size, gas-powered leaf-blowers emit a sizable amount of pollution, so the ban is a good first step in the right direction. Next step? Stop blowing leaves into bike lanes. (Even if you're doing it with an electric leaf-blower.) • The Portland Trail Blazers are on a winning streak! (I am literally knocking on wood as I type this.) Last night, the Blazers won pretty big against the Utah Jazz, finishing the fourth quarter with 137 points (to the Jazz's 117). They'll play three more home games this week, so catch 'em if you can! Deni Avdija is clearly the Blazers' MVP at the moment, with so many of his teammates out on the bench with injuries. But the whole team has been playing entertaining—if not always "good"—basketball this season. If you're not already a fan, BECOME ONE! 2026 is Portland's basketball year. > NBA Players of the Week for Week 11. > > West: Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers) > East: Tyrese Maxey (76ers) > > [image or embed] > > — NBA (@nba.com) January 5, 2026 at 12:30 PM **IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:** • It’s the fifth anniversary of the January 6 insurrection—boy, time really flies when you’re having fun! Luckily, we’ve moved past all that after dealing with the criminals who tried to overthrow the US government on that famous January day in 2021. Oops, I guess I got momentarily trapped in the alternate reality I sometimes visit to keep myself from going insane! Ha-ha-ha! In our timeline, the insurrectionists are back in office, and have done everything possible to erase the harms of that day from public memory—including, it seems, by hiding a plaque dedicated to law enforcement who defended the Capitol on January 6. More than 140 law enforcement officers were wounded that day, and some died, including several who died by suicide following the events of the day. A Trump supporter was also shot and killed while participating in the insurrection. Let's not let January 6 get memory-holed, despite all the other craziness that has ensued in the years following, and all that is yet to come. > Meet the operatives who profited from January 6 > > [image or embed] > > — Mother Jones (@motherjones.com) January 6, 2026 at 6:00 AM • US health officials, under the horrible and misguided leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have decided to reduce the number of recommended vaccines for children, restricting access to rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, meningitis and seasonal flu vaccines. The decision comes amid a record-breaking flu season that has already killed thousands, including a handful of children. The new guidelines are not scientifically sound and shouldn’t be taken seriously, but will likely lead to far too many unnecessary deaths. On a related note: It really is staggering to think about how much rebuilding we’re going to have to do after these people are kicked out of office. > What in the Gestapo is going on in Grand Rapids? > > Watch this activist get arrested *mid-interview* for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela. > > [image or embed] > > — Brandon Friedman (@brandonfriedman.bsky.social) January 5, 2026 at 8:12 AM • Hmm…someone won $400,000 on Polymarket by predicting the exact date that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro would be captured, hours before Trump even ordered the operation. The Polymarket user in question hasn’t been identified, but the account popped up just a few weeks ago, and the whole thing is shady. However, as sick as these online betting schemes are, it’s nothing compared to the cronyism taking place within the Trump administration. This whole coup is a flagrant attempt to line the pockets of US oil companies, continuing the toxic American tradition of treating the Global South as pawns in our game of Monopoly. (My metaphors are getting a little mixed here, but you get what I mean.) Potential insider trading on Polymarket? Very bad. Also very bad? Exploiting Latin American countries for their resources so the oil industry can burn us all to death faster and make a few more bucks in the process. > Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession > > [image or embed] > > — The Onion (@theonion.com) January 5, 2026 at 11:00 AM • The Pentagon, under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership, will “review” the “effectiveness” of women soldiers in ground combat. The decision comes after months of insanity (and discrimination) at the “Department of War,” with the deranged Hegseth making it clear that his ideal soldiers are cis, straight men with 0% body fat who live and breathe nothing but WAR! In my opinion, nobody should be conducting “lethal ground operations” on behalf of the US. We don’t need more female drone operators, or whatever. But this “review” of female soldiers isn’t happening in a vacuum—the whole Trump administration is doing its best to send us back to the dark ages. So, not good! > GOP lawmaker Doug LaMalfa dies at 65 > > [image or embed] > > — Phil Lewis (@phillewis.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 6:43 AM • Finally, here's your regularly scheduled reminder that the Monterey Bay Aquarium runs a jellyfish live feed. Let the Jelly Cam sooth you. And have a wonderful Tuesday! > View this post on Instagram > > A post shared by Monterey Bay Aquarium (@montereybayaquarium)

by Anonymous If you have a weird shaped business card, I hate you

by Anonymous Monday around 5pm. Way to double park and just leave your stupid ass Amazon vehicle there to block our bus from getting through, backing up traffic for God knows how far (and for like ten full minutes, if not longer). Think about how many people you made late that didn't have to be, if you had just pulled up a hundred feet to one of the open parking spaces. That's why you follow the rules of the road.

Protestes took to the streets as part of an "emergency" national day of action against Trump’s unauthorized strikes and abduction of Venezuela’s leader. by Kevin Foster At least 500 Portland residents joined "emergency" nationwide protests on Saturday against the Trump administration’s airstrikes on Venezuela and the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Early Saturday morning, January 3, the US bombed multiple locations across Venezuela, particularly in the capital of Caracas. Social media videos show missiles raining down and helicopters flying over the city. US forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Maduro has since been brought to New York to face charges of alleged drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. While some argue Maduro’s ousting is a relief to Venezuelans who suffered under Maduro’s corrupt and authoritarian leadership, US regime change operations have commonly resulted in declining democratic and economic conditions, as well as civilian deaths. This extreme escalation by the Trump administration was not approved by Congress. Many Democrats, including those representing Oregon, have condemned the attack as blatantly illegal. Experts and world leaders have also called the attack a violation of the UN Charter, i.e. a breach of international law. Hundreds gather for a protest against US military operations in Venezuela. Pictured: a protester holds a sign that reads: "No Blood For Oil." kevin foster On Saturday, protesters gathered on SW 10th and Burnside, waving signs such as “No Blood for Oil” and “US Hands Off Venezuela.” Many, including Portland City Councilor Mitch Green, highlighted frustration over the US’s willingness to spend money on foreign wars rather than on domestic services like health care and education. “Some people will say ‘why are you focusing on national and international issues when you should be focusing on the potholes that need to be filled in this city?’” Councilor Green, a US Army veteran, said in a speech to the crowd. “And my response to that is because we cannot afford to fill the potholes in this city because we’re spending money, sending poor kids overseas to die for oil.” A sizeable crowd gathers in Portland Saturday, January 3, to protest unauthorized US military action in Venezuela. jeremiah hayden A coalition of organizations, including the Portland Democratic Socialists of America, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Jewish Voice for Peace, and About Face PDX—a veteran anti-war group—mobilized for the event. Many veterans of previous US wars attended and condemned the US attack, drawing parallels to the Iraq War and the Bush administration’s lies about weapons of mass destruction. “We’re seeing the same buildup of lies about Venezuela that we saw in the ramp-up of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan... the same, tired old lies being bandied about like we’ve never heard them before,” a member of About Face PDX said to the crowd. Nearby, at Pioneer Courthouse Square, peace organizations like Code Pink held a similar protest against the unauthorized actions in Venezuela. The current death toll of the US attack is at least 80 civilians and military personnel, but this number will likely continue to rise. Trump claims the US will run Venezuela until there can be a transition of power, but no clear plan has been laid out for how to do so.

by Wm. Steven Humphrey If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the _Mercury_ ’ _s_ news __ reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! **GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND!** 👋 Expect a touch o' sun today mixed with clouds and perhaps a few showers, with the high topping out at 45 degrees—aaaaaand more rain to come on Tuesday and Wednesday. In other words, exactly the kind of winter weather you signed up for when you arrived in Oregon. And here's something else you didn't sign up for (or maybe you did): **THE NEWS**. **IN LOCAL NEWS:** • An estimated 500+ people showed up in downtown Portland on Saturday afternoon and then marched to the waterfront to protest President Trump's illegal kidnapping of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife late Friday night. (We'll get more into this later.) The protest brought out a broad coalition of groups—many of whom found common ground on this particular topic—as well as City Councilor Mitch Green (District 4) who called the military action a "local issue" due to the president's focus on hijacking foreign oil to enrich his billionaire buddies instead of helping local communities (like ours) navigate the terrible economy he's created. At least 100 also gathered to protest the unconstitutional move in Eugene, and local politicos sounded off as well, including Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley who correctly pointed out, “Once again, U.S. foreign policy is all about oil, regime change, and might makes right.” > View this post on Instagram > > A post shared by Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury) • ICYMI, Oregon's new ID scanning law dropped on New Year's Day, which replaces previous restrictions and enacts a new policy for stores in which _every_ customer—regardless of age or appearance—must have their license or state identification scanned to purchase age-restricted products like ciggies, cannabis, or booze. Certain stores, like Plaid Pantry, were previously getting slapped with lawsuits after scanning customers' IDs, and allegedly stealing their personal information. While the new law forbids such thievery... how _exactly_ will you know if your information has been swiped along with your card? Check out this _Mercury_ report from Alana Parker for the info you need to know. • Cannabis sales in Oregon plummeted to a six-year low in 2025, according to the _Portland Business Journa_ l, who reports that while weed sales fell 3.5 percent, production was booming with a record harvest of 13.51 million pounds. This surfeit of flower drove prices down which, while great for the consumer, substantially reduced revenue for the sellers—many of whom are considering leaving the biz due to stiff competition. • Look, no one is gonna blame you if you spent your holiday vacation buried underneath a blanket on the couch—but if you were purposefully ignoring the _Mercury_ 's series of 2025's top stories about news, entertainment, and arts, you are really missing out on some great content! We've got the best food, movies, and music... as well as the top stories of the year concerning city council, housing and homelessness, the environment, and more. So check it out, and then you can slam the door shut on 2025 forever, if you so choose! > Is it 2026 yet? Wake up and see how much YOU remember about the weirdest and wildest happenings of 2025 with the latest super fun edition of POP QUIZ PDX! Including: Ugly dogs! Celebrity visitations! Blithering presidents! And YOUR vote for the most villainous villain of 2025! 👿 > > [image or embed] > > — Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) January 2, 2026 at 12:36 PM **IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:** • As mentioned earlier, President Trump threw a coup on late Friday night, ordering a military attack on the country of Venezuela and the kidnapping of their dictator president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who have both been charged with narco-trafficking. While former US presidents have certainly engaged in overthrowing governments, Trump's actions were unsurprisingly blunt and boorish, refusing to seek permission from Congress and based on the flimsiest of evidence. What's more, the president has claimed that now "we're in charge" of Venezuela, granting the country's vast reserves of oil to American companies, and he already has his squinty eyes on other countries—such as Cuba and Greenland—that he can "liberate" (from their natural resources). The current interim leader (and former vice president) of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, who on Sunday forcefully pushed back on Trump's claims of dominance, saying that Maduro was "the only president" of her country, struck a more conciliatory tone today after being threatened by Trump, and inviting "the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation." Meanwhile, Venezuelans rightly fear they are trading one authoritarian for another. > Demonstrators in cities across the U.S. marched over the weekend in protest of the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on drug trafficking charges in a U.S. military operation. > > [image or embed] > > — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) January 5, 2026 at 8:14 AM • IN OTHER COUP NEWS: Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are being arraigned in a Manhattan federal court today on drug trafficking charges, where their lawyers are expected to dispute the legality of their kidnapping. Meanwhile, the death toll from Trump's ordered attack keep rising, with accusations that at least 80 civilians and military personnel were killed during the coup. • Minnesota Governor (and former Dem vice presidential nominee) Tim Walz has announced he will not run for reelection due to growing controversy over welfare fraud accusations in his state. Walz says he would rather spend his remaining days in office defending his state's Somali community, which has been the target of racist Republican allegations of welfare fraud (which investigators say are so far unfounded), than hitting the campaign trail. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is already reportedly planning a run for the governor's seat. > Pentagon cuts Sen. Mark Kelly's military retirement pay over a video where the retired Navy captain urged service members not to obey unlawful orders. > https://cnn.it/4aLMTh6 > > [image or embed] > > — CNN (@cnn.com) January 5, 2026 at 8:00 AM • A man in Ohio has been taken into custody after being charged with breaking windows at the personal residence of Vice President JD Vance. The suspect also attempted to damage a Secret Service vehicle before being captured by agents. Vance and his family were not home at the time of the damage. No word yet on what prompted the attack... but... you know. > Happy birthday, Hayao Miyazaki. > > [image or embed] > > — GKIDS Films (@gkids.com) January 5, 2026 at 6:17 AM • And finally... my prediction for 2026? It's going to be comin' at ya through your window, like at a safari park. (Well... YOU ASKED.) > @wentzlaffkutrovat Safari park day trip #funny #animals #funnyanimals #safaripark #fyp ♬ original sound - Kitty Daily Life

by Anonymous Hey, noisy car guy, let me help you. I’ve had a wife, daughters, a mother, a sister, hundreds of female coworkers, a couple of girlfriends, a couple of hot neighbors. Not one of them has ever said, “You know, a noisy car really turns me on.” Not one of them has ever said “I’d do anything for you if you had a noisy car.” Need attention? Need to be heard? So raise your voice at the ballgame. Raise your voice at the protest. Speak up when your coworkers are being idiots. Speak up at the ballot box. Raise your voice at your teenagers when they do something reckless. Speak up at what you consider unfairness. Meanwhile, do us all a favor, head to Midas and fix your fucking muffler.