Leslie
@lesismore.bsky.social
Yes, it’s a pizza on a diving board.
LFG!!!
“The Owendoff network is far-reaching. Democratic Party elites like City Councilor Dan Ryan rely on his counsel. […] He’s also a central figure in the emerging ecosystem of right-wing and corporate dark money PACs trying to intervene in Portland’s elections.”
Brian Owendoff's One Big Club (You Ain't In It) - Portland DSA
Brian Owendoff sent racist text messages about Portland City Councilors to a group chat of local pro-corporate political agitators. Our research reveals he’s just one node in a network of powerful peo...
portlanddsa.org
January 17, 2026 at 1:17 AM
LFG!!!
In a neat turn of events, I returned their call out of curiosity to see if they wanted anything besides sharing some jazz, and now my 7 yo has been kicked off my insurance plan. It’s a pretty niche situation, not worth explaining, but insurance is stupid.🖕
I think it’s nice that Healthcare.gov left me a voicemail that’s just 30 seconds of jazz. Thanks for the vibes, Healthcare.gov!
January 17, 2026 at 1:17 AM
In a neat turn of events, I returned their call out of curiosity to see if they wanted anything besides sharing some jazz, and now my 7 yo has been kicked off my insurance plan. It’s a pretty niche situation, not worth explaining, but insurance is stupid.🖕
Reposted by Leslie
Many have lamented the inability of posting (for good) to change the world, but the last week has definitively shown that posting has a real world impact in Portland, OR.
Posters for good, unite!
Posters for good, unite!
January 16, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Many have lamented the inability of posting (for good) to change the world, but the last week has definitively shown that posting has a real world impact in Portland, OR.
Posters for good, unite!
Posters for good, unite!
I think it’s nice that Healthcare.gov left me a voicemail that’s just 30 seconds of jazz. Thanks for the vibes, Healthcare.gov!
January 16, 2026 at 6:04 PM
I think it’s nice that Healthcare.gov left me a voicemail that’s just 30 seconds of jazz. Thanks for the vibes, Healthcare.gov!
Reposted by Leslie
Fire emoji
Portland City Councilor Dan Ryan blamed the press after taking heat for choosing not to address the contents of a story published in the Mercury the day prior.
Here are the receipts 🧾
Here are the receipts 🧾
City Councilor Lashes Out at Press After Mercury Story About Offensive Group Chat
Councilor Dan Ryan said he lacked appropriate context for a statement. Here are the receipts.
www.portlandmercury.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:58 AM
Fire emoji
Checking the local news the past few days
a close up of a man 's face with his mouth open .
ALT: a close up of a man 's face with his mouth open .
media.tenor.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Checking the local news the past few days
To be clear, if an elected official consistently favors business interests over the people that’s not “ideological diversity,” it’s unethical and a dereliction of duty as a leader. (Still clearing some of the BS put forth by Ryan, Novick, Zimmerman, Smith, Clark, and EPG this morning from my mind.)
January 14, 2026 at 10:16 PM
To be clear, if an elected official consistently favors business interests over the people that’s not “ideological diversity,” it’s unethical and a dereliction of duty as a leader. (Still clearing some of the BS put forth by Ryan, Novick, Zimmerman, Smith, Clark, and EPG this morning from my mind.)
My fellow Portlanders, our long citywide nightmare is over, kinda.
Vote
Dunphy - 9
Novick - 2 (smith, Ryan)
EPG - 1 (Novick)
🎉
Dunphy - 9
Novick - 2 (smith, Ryan)
EPG - 1 (Novick)
🎉
January 14, 2026 at 9:46 PM
My fellow Portlanders, our long citywide nightmare is over, kinda.
If an elected official consistently favors business interests over the people, that is not “ideological diversity,” it’s unethical and a dereliction of duties as a leader.
January 14, 2026 at 9:00 PM
If an elected official consistently favors business interests over the people, that is not “ideological diversity,” it’s unethical and a dereliction of duties as a leader.
Steve Novick calling for no evening council sessions is anti-working class. People work at different times of day and varying meeting times allows the most people to attend and participate in their city government.
January 14, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Steve Novick calling for no evening council sessions is anti-working class. People work at different times of day and varying meeting times allows the most people to attend and participate in their city government.
Reposted by Leslie
One real test will be which local media outlets pick up the many threads of this reporting and run with it.
There are like a dozen new investigative projects that this article opens up.
It's time to end the media protectionism for powerful lobbyists and political actors on the right-wing.
There are like a dozen new investigative projects that this article opens up.
It's time to end the media protectionism for powerful lobbyists and political actors on the right-wing.
The Mercury has obtained a series of images of group messages that show racist, sexist, and homophobic tropes used by a local developer and other local conservative political activists during a council president election. Readers may find this content offensive.
"Racist, Dehumanizing": Chat Images Show Portland Power Players Disparaging Councilors of Color
Messages obtained by the Mercury contain a slew of offensive tropes sent during a council president election
www.portlandmercury.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:03 PM
One real test will be which local media outlets pick up the many threads of this reporting and run with it.
There are like a dozen new investigative projects that this article opens up.
It's time to end the media protectionism for powerful lobbyists and political actors on the right-wing.
There are like a dozen new investigative projects that this article opens up.
It's time to end the media protectionism for powerful lobbyists and political actors on the right-wing.
Councilor Clark openly asking for another way of voting that “gets us to where we need to be.” This is an extended tantrum by the 6 moderate/conservative councilors on Portland City Council.
January 14, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Councilor Clark openly asking for another way of voting that “gets us to where we need to be.” This is an extended tantrum by the 6 moderate/conservative councilors on Portland City Council.
Reposted by Leslie
okay but Kanal has made numerous, substantive compromises. and the only non-vibes based, racially coded critiques of Kanal are just 'we don't like the progressive caucus.'
also...we all remember that EPG's compromise offer last week was herself as president with another PBA bloc person as VP?
also...we all remember that EPG's compromise offer last week was herself as president with another PBA bloc person as VP?
January 14, 2026 at 6:54 PM
okay but Kanal has made numerous, substantive compromises. and the only non-vibes based, racially coded critiques of Kanal are just 'we don't like the progressive caucus.'
also...we all remember that EPG's compromise offer last week was herself as president with another PBA bloc person as VP?
also...we all remember that EPG's compromise offer last week was herself as president with another PBA bloc person as VP?
Portland City Councilors gone wild…
January 14, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Portland City Councilors gone wild…
Reposted by Leslie
Smith wants the city to spend money on having a contracted private entity interpret their charter for them because she doesn't like the city attorney's interpretation. Completely unnecessary and biased.
January 14, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Smith wants the city to spend money on having a contracted private entity interpret their charter for them because she doesn't like the city attorney's interpretation. Completely unnecessary and biased.
@councilormorillo.bsky.social calls out councilors using “procedural gimmicks” because they can’t win on their own merits, and that only @councilorkanal.bsky.social has put forth a vision for how he would actually govern as city council president.
January 14, 2026 at 6:17 PM
@councilormorillo.bsky.social calls out councilors using “procedural gimmicks” because they can’t win on their own merits, and that only @councilorkanal.bsky.social has put forth a vision for how he would actually govern as city council president.
If you can’t watch the City Council meeting this AM, here’s the gist: “Mod Squad”/Con Crew saying “I have a tone-based/technicality reason why no progressive councilor can be Council President, which is unrelated to the fact that they are progressive/do not serve the Portland Business Alliance.”
January 14, 2026 at 5:39 PM
If you can’t watch the City Council meeting this AM, here’s the gist: “Mod Squad”/Con Crew saying “I have a tone-based/technicality reason why no progressive councilor can be Council President, which is unrelated to the fact that they are progressive/do not serve the Portland Business Alliance.”
Why is the mayor declining to comment on this? Why is the only response to Trump’s overreach in our city coming from our 6 progressive councilors? Thank you @councilorkanal.bsky.social and @councilorgreen.bsky.social katu.com/news/local/p...
President Trump, again, threatens to pull federal funding from Portland and Oregon
President Donald Trump is once again threatening to cut funding to sanctuary cities like Portland and states like Oregon.
katu.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Why is the mayor declining to comment on this? Why is the only response to Trump’s overreach in our city coming from our 6 progressive councilors? Thank you @councilorkanal.bsky.social and @councilorgreen.bsky.social katu.com/news/local/p...
Reposted by Leslie
Today is a great reminder that we can never be too ready.
January 13, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Today is a great reminder that we can never be too ready.
Reposted by Leslie
Portland City Council MetroCauc Week In Review
*Spent hours on veiled but increasingly racist tropes to avoid electing Kanal
*Got outflanked by P-Cauc on shooting response
*Key allies of Clark & Ryan caught sending deplorable texts during/about council meeting
*Smith gets embroiled in union bust
*Spent hours on veiled but increasingly racist tropes to avoid electing Kanal
*Got outflanked by P-Cauc on shooting response
*Key allies of Clark & Ryan caught sending deplorable texts during/about council meeting
*Smith gets embroiled in union bust
January 14, 2026 at 6:13 AM
Portland City Council MetroCauc Week In Review
*Spent hours on veiled but increasingly racist tropes to avoid electing Kanal
*Got outflanked by P-Cauc on shooting response
*Key allies of Clark & Ryan caught sending deplorable texts during/about council meeting
*Smith gets embroiled in union bust
*Spent hours on veiled but increasingly racist tropes to avoid electing Kanal
*Got outflanked by P-Cauc on shooting response
*Key allies of Clark & Ryan caught sending deplorable texts during/about council meeting
*Smith gets embroiled in union bust
Reposted by Leslie
I want to explain why the messages published today matter. Not just because they’re offensive, but because they rely on very old racist tropes that are still used to undermine people of color (especially women) when we hold power. 🧵
The Mercury has obtained a series of images of group messages that show racist, sexist, and homophobic tropes used by a local developer and other local conservative political activists during a council president election. Readers may find this content offensive.
"Racist, Dehumanizing": Chat Images Show Portland Power Players Disparaging Councilors of Color
Messages obtained by the Mercury contain a slew of offensive tropes sent during a council president election
www.portlandmercury.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:24 AM
I want to explain why the messages published today matter. Not just because they’re offensive, but because they rely on very old racist tropes that are still used to undermine people of color (especially women) when we hold power. 🧵
Reposted by Leslie
“I also believe in the power of a people’s movement to effectively push back against authoritarian power, and I believe it’s important to put that belief into action. That is where I choose to put my energy when fascism is at our doorstep.”
- @councilormorillo.bsky.social
- @councilormorillo.bsky.social
Recent Events Could Shift the Debate Over Who Should Run City Council
The result is that when the council resumes deliberations this week, Peacock will have a much stronger case that it can mount an uncompromised response to the right-wing agenda Portlanders most fear.
www.wweek.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:15 AM
“I also believe in the power of a people’s movement to effectively push back against authoritarian power, and I believe it’s important to put that belief into action. That is where I choose to put my energy when fascism is at our doorstep.”
- @councilormorillo.bsky.social
- @councilormorillo.bsky.social
Reposted by Leslie
You know that the daycare teachers you count on are under threat. Do you know if they are going hungry? Lost their health insurance? Have secure housing? Please go beyond demanding that care is cheaper for families. Demand an end to this system being subsidized by their poverty. It's not right.
January 9, 2026 at 2:39 PM
You know that the daycare teachers you count on are under threat. Do you know if they are going hungry? Lost their health insurance? Have secure housing? Please go beyond demanding that care is cheaper for families. Demand an end to this system being subsidized by their poverty. It's not right.
Maybe we should elect a city council president from the group of councilors who have actually shown leadership in the face of federal overreach in our city, vs. the group who have done nothing.
Hundreds came out last night to hear a message of solidarity from Portland's DSA City councilors after ICE shot two migrants in East Portland
January 9, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Maybe we should elect a city council president from the group of councilors who have actually shown leadership in the face of federal overreach in our city, vs. the group who have done nothing.
Reposted by Leslie
