Rational in Portland

Tully Kennedy is a bassist, writer and producer. He has been Jason Aldean's bassist for over 25 years and co-wrote numerous hits, including the Billboard #1 "Try That in a Small Town". Tully grew up in the small town of Redford in upstate New York. He received his first CMA Triple Play Award, for the Jason Aldean hits that reached #1 in a 12-month span: “Blame It On You”, “Trouble With A Heartbreak”, and “If I Didn’t Love You” (with Carrie Underwood). He was onstage with Jason Aldean and his other band members in 2017 in Las Vegas when a mass shooter opened fire on the band and about 22,000 audience members. More than 50 people died and hundreds were injured. A bullet barely missed Tully, hitting and lodging itself in his bass guitar. The day after the Vegas shooting, Tom Petty died. Five days later, Jason Aldean and the band did the cold open for "Saturday Night Live", covering and recording the Petty song "I Won't Back Down". Tully and his "Try That in a Small Town" co-writers have a podcast by the same name where they interview guests and discuss music, ideas, politics, and culture.

Max Steele is the author of the Substack "Recalibrate Portland." He discusses the etiology of the Democratic Socialists of America, how they ran successful candidates for Portland City Council, why he is a Zionist, and more.

Former Clatsop County DA Josh Marquis on prosecuting some of Oregon’s most notorious crimes, why he left the state, what brought him back, and what he believes happened to Portland.

Sgt. Aaron Schmautz, President of the Portland Police Association, updates us on the police ballot measure and the city's defunding of its police force by $21 million despite Portland ranking 47/50 for police per capita in the country. Andy Chandler from NW Fresh co-hosts.

Elise Haas is a former television anchor. You may remember her from KOIN 6 News, Portland's local Portland CBS affiliate. Elise is now at Gallatin Public Affairs and is working on a public safety ballot measure called the Safer Portland Initiative, which will provide funds for the hiring, training and support of additional police officers at the Portland Police Bureau ("PPB"). Portland has one of the most understaffed police departments in the country. Recently Portland Mayor Keith Wilson led the biggest round of police defunding in Portland history with a budget proposal to cut police funding by $21.7 million. Last month - in May 2026 - Portland City Council approved cuts to Portland Police Bureau ("PPB") of about $18 million. By contrast, in 2020, Portland City Council cut the police budget by $15 million. Instructions for mailing in your signature for the Safer Portland Initiative can be found here. Donate to Safer Portland here.

Billy Williams was the United States Attorney for the District of Oregon from 2015-2021. Billy is a non-affiliated voter (“NAV”) and is a proponent of open primaries in Oregon. Billy talks about why he’s a NAV and why he is not registered as an Independent. He explains why he thinks we need open primaries in Oregon. He also talks about Oregon’s status as a sanctuary state and other issues related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). Billy has spent the majority of his life in public service, beginning with work for the Metropolitan Public Defender and then as a law clerk for the US Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon. He was later hired by the Multnomah County DA’s Office, where he worked for eleven years. He served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for eighteen years. Billy has had the unusual distinction of serving as U.S. Attorney under both Democrat and Republican presidential administrations. Billy’s service as the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon began with a telephone call from Eric Holder, the U.S. Attorney General in the Obama Administration. Later, Billy was formally nominated by President Trump in 2017 to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and confirmed by the Senate. His service spanned the longest federal government shutdown in the US; the Malheur Wildlife Refuge Occupation; the COVID-19 pandemic; the killing of George Floyd; and the Portland riots of 2020, which were primarily directed at the federal courthouse, where Billy’s office was located. Billy has served in various volunteer capacities, including on the Board of Directors for Urban League of Portland and as an instructor for the Portland Police Detective’s Academy. He is currently on the Leadership Council of the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (check out the Rational in Portland podcast episodes with Dr. Kevin Sabet, the President and CEO of the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions, who served as the only bipartisan drug policy advisor to three U.S. presidential administrations, and Tom Wolf, who serves with Billy on the Leadership Council of the Foundation). Billy was part of the Border and Immigration Subcommittee under President Obama. Billy has also served on the Native American Issues Subcommittee; Civil Rights Subcommittee; Border and Immigration Subcommittee; Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee; the Ninth Circuit Fairness Committee; and as chair of the Attorney General’s Marijuana Working Group.

"Hasaan Hates Portland" is a web series created by Mischa Webley, starring Hasaan Thomas. Mischa describes it as, “A dark comedy web series about a black man trying to navigate his way through the whitest - and weirdest - city in America.”A Movie based on the web series is currently in the works and will be filmed in Portland. You can watch Hasaan Hates Portland on YouTube and Instagram, among other places. Learn more about Mischa and his film work on his website. Be sure to check out the previous episodes with Mischa Webley and Hasaan Thomas on Rational in Portland. Episode Photo Credit: Jake Langston, Videographer, Lincoln Design Co.

Joe Hagedorn began his career as an Oregon lawyer by representing domestic violence victims as an AmeriCorps legal aid attorney. He then practiced as a public defender and, before becoming a referee/pro tem (temporary judge to assist the work of the court), Joe was a lawyer in juvenile court. Joe and his wife Hau have three boys. Joe is running for Judge of the Circuit Court, 4th District, Position 14 in Multnomah County on the Family Law bench. The election is May 19, 2026.

Noah Ernst is running for Metro Council. Noah is a lawyer, a former small business owner, a former taxi driver for Radio Cab, and currently serves as both a superintendent and in-house counsel for Radio Cab. Listen to or watch former Metro Council President Lynn Peterson’s interview about what Metro does and about Metro’s Supportive Housing Services Tax. Lynn appears on this episode with Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West (currently running for re-election) on NW FreshNoah Ernst’s interview about his Metro Council race on NW FreshNoah Ernst interviews during his previous race for Portland City Council Rational in PortlandNW FreshLearn about what Metro Council does from Terri Preeg-Riggsby, who has a Masters of Public Administration and has served on the Metro Policy Advisory Committee for nine years. Terri is also the Executive Director of the Network of Oregon Watershed Councils and a former candidate for Metro Council. Max Steele’s Substack Recalibrate PortlandLearn about Gov. Kotek’s unsheltered homelessness legislation CityTeam Portland Rational in Portland Episode with Lance Orton Allegations regarding the former CEO of Home Forward, which is the state of Oregon’s largest public housing authorityRational in Portland episodes with former Portland City Council candidate, Terrence Hayes: Terrence’s story about his 13 years in prison and growing up with drug-addicted parents in the projects and with a sister still suffering from active drug addiction“Truth Always Makes People Nervous” 40% of Portlanders are considering moving Oregonian editorial: Vote “no” on Measure 120Chris Christensen for Metro President 

Joanna (Jo) Perini-Abbott is a lawyer and a law school professor running for judge in Multnomah County, Position 5. She is a Professor of Practice and Director of the Center for Advocacy at Lewis and Clark Law School. She has been a practicing litigator since 2010 and represents clients in criminal, civil, and regulatory matters and investigations for Angeli & Calfo. Jo is a mother and the wife of a police officer. https://jpaforjudge.comhttps://law.lclark.edu/live/profiles/14678-joanna-perini-abbotthttps://angelicalfo.com/joanna-perini-abbotthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-perini-abbott-17997424/