Think Out Loud

Oregon Public Broadcasting
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OPB's daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.

  1. 22 MIN AGO

    OHSU researchers connect tinnitus with elevated serotonin activity in the brain

    It’s estimated that 1 in 10 adults experience tinnitus, often described as a phantom ringing noise in the ears. The condition can develop due to head trauma, hearing loss, exposure to loud noise or as a side effect of certain medications.   There’s no cure for tinnitus and its origins have long been a mystery. But new research from Oregon Health & Science University has linked tinnitus with elevated serotonin levels in certain regions of the brain. While far from a cure, the discovery could one day help scientists understand how to reverse the condition through brain chemistry.   Larry Trussell is a professor of otolaryngology at OHSU and interim director of the Oregon Hearing Research Center. Angie Garinis is an associate professor of otolaryngology at OHSU and a member of the Oregon Hearing Research Center. She’s also a principal investigator at the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research at the Portland VA.   They both join us to talk about what this new information could mean for patients who suffer from tinnitus.

    28 min

  2. 22 MIN AGO

    Three of Oregon’s minor parties weigh in on the state of democracy under two-party system

    The near total dominance of the two major political parties is nothing new. Democrats and Republicans have distinct ideological and political differences, but for some, it’s their similarities that drive them away from both.  Many voters are not affiliated with any party. In fact, those unaffiliated voters number more than either of the major parties by a substantial margin. Most of the remaining registered voters are members of the other minor parties: The Independent Party, the Constitution party, the Libertarian Party, No Labels, the Pacific Green Party, the Progressive Party, We the People Party and the Working Families Party.   In next week’s Oregon Primary, all voters will be sent ballots that include local and state candidates for nonpartisan offices and measures. But for those who are unaffiliated or a member of a minor party, no partisan candidates will appear, and they cannot vote for any of the major party candidates. Minor parties do not have their primary process funded by taxpayers, as the two major parties do.   A public opinion survey from January 2026 by DHM Research showed significant frustration with both major parties. And a recent national survey of voter opinions of Congress indicated contempt for both Democrats and Republicans. But what does all this mean for minor parties, if anything?   We ask representatives from three of those minor parties to share how they think two-party rule is working for the electorate at large and what changes they’d like to see to include more voters more often. Our guests are Annie Naranjo-Rivera with the Oregon Working Families Party, Sonja Feintech with the Libertarian Party of Oregon and Sal Peralta with the Independent Party of Oregon.

    25 min

  3. 23 HR AGO

    Oregon Historical Society exhibit celebrates 100 years of Highway 101

    If you’ve ever driven to the Oregon Coast, you’ve likely been on Highway 101. The scenic roadway was officially designated a federal highway 100 years ago in 1926. The highway changed how people across the state accessed the coast, bringing new opportunities for industry and tourism from Astoria to Brookings.  The Oregon Historical Society is celebrating the highway's 100th anniversary with an exhibit that runs through Oct. 11. Megan Lallier-Barron, curator of exhibitions for OHS, joins us to share more about the history of Highway 101.

    18 min

  4. 23 HR AGO

    Lawsuit claims Oregon State Police shared data with ICE for years

    According to a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit Rural Organizing Project, state police have allowed federal immigration officials to access law enforcement databases to acquire Oregonians’ data.   The lawsuit, filed last Tuesday, claims that Oregon State Police has violated Oregon’s sanctuary laws by allowing federal immigration authorities to search state and national databases, including those containing drivers license information, including license photos, as well as Social Security numbers.    We’ll hear from Martha Verduzco Ortega, the director of Immigrant Help Centers at the Rural Organizing Project, with more details.

    9 min

  5. 23 HR AGO

    May primary ballot measure in Lane County would give legal rights to watersheds

    Next Tuesday, voters in Lane County will decide the fate of Measure 20-373, also known as the “Watersheds Bill of Rights,” in the May primary election. Organizers of the measure say it is in response to years of aerial spraying of pesticides in the county they claim has polluted drinking water and sickened residents. The measure also appears to be inspired by a global rights of nature movement, by claiming that watersheds –  including rivers, creeks and the lands they flow through –  possess “inalienable rights” that any resident in Lane County can sue on behalf of in order to protect those watersheds and their ecosystems from pollution by corporate, business or government activities.  Opposition to the measure is being led by Protect Our County, a coalition that includes current and former elected officials and Lane County business groups such the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. Brittany Quick-Warner, the chamber’s president and CEO, joins us for a debate with Rob Dickinson, a grassroots organizer of the Yes on Measure 20-373 campaign who helped draft the ballot measure.

    26 min

  6. 3 DAYS AGO

    Portland musician’s new album born out of loss

    When local folk legend Michael Hurley died last spring, his friend Alela Diane was inspired to write “Spring Is A Fine Time (To Die)," an homage to her friend and his career. The song helped catalyze her new album, which was recorded live in the attic of her Portland home. Diane joins us in the studio, along with fellow musician Peter Lalish, for a conversation and live performance.

    29 min

  7. 3 DAYS AGO

    Oregon’s corporate medicine law put to test in settled PeaceHealth case

    Last year, Oregon lawmakers passed one of the toughest corporate medicine laws in the nation and a recent court case put this law to the test. SB 951 limits corporate influence in medical decisions and was at the center of a courtroom battle between Apollo MD, Peacehealth and local physicians in Eugene. The issue came up when Peacehealth announced it would not renew its contract with Eugene Emergency Physicians and instead would instead contract with Georgia-based Apollo MD. The case took a turn when it was announced that a tentative agreement between EEP and Peacehealth was made. Ashli Blow is an environment and public health correspondent for Lookout Eugene-Springfield. She joins us to share more on what agreement was made and what this court battle says about Oregon’s corporate medicine law.

    16 min

  8. 4 DAYS AGO

    Local group advocates for phone-free childhoods

    OR Unplugged” is a coalition created by parents in Portland to support healthy digital environments for children. The group provides resources to parents and families like curriculums for digital wellness, suggestions for alternative devices to smartphones, and community events with “unplugged” activities. The group also works as a thread to unite several smaller, local groups of parents across Oregon that are like-minded about creating phone-free environments for their children. Currently, these groups exist around Central Oregon, Hood River, Ashland, Salem and the Portland-Metro area.   One of these groups, based in Sherwood, was founded by Daniel Golder, a father who wanted to create a screen-free upbringing for his children. He calls the local group “Analog Alpha,” because of the group’s goal of helping Generation Alpha being “adept at technology without being dominated by it.”   Kathy Masarie is the founder of OR Unplugged — she’s a retired pediatrician who pivoted to this advocacy work after two decades in healthcare. We’ll hear from Masarie and Golder about their work.

    22 min
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About

OPB's daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.

Information

  • Creator
    Oregon Public Broadcasting
  • Years Active
    2008 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.9k
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Oregon Public Broadcasting
  • Show Website
    Think Out Loud

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