On today’s Newsmakers at Noon, Denise and Hunter are joined by Jeff Reynolds, Senior Editor at Restoration News and Senior Investigative Researcher with Restoration of America, for analysis of major local, state, national—and global—developments.
The show opens with a breakdown of a Salem City Council special meeting, where the council voted 6–2 to revoke the appointment of a man previously convicted of murder from multiple city advisory commissions, reversing a narrow December vote. Denise also previewed Monday’s show, when former Ward 3 Councilor Brad Nanke will join for a deeper dive into council procedures, decorum, and controversial votes.
The conversation then shifts to Oregon politics, as Tina Kotek calls for repeal of the transportation tax package she once championed—raising questions about political timing, accountability, and whether voters are being deliberately sidelined.
National attention follows with discussion of the Minneapolis ICE shooting, media narratives, and the broader consequences of political rhetoric surrounding immigration enforcement and public safety. They also examine competing analyses, what motivates progressive women to care more about strangers than their own families, and where we all go from here.
The episode also tackles Venezuela, with a candid discussion about why the situation is far more complex than viral clips suggest—described as a form of geopolitical “4-D chess” involving global interests, media framing, and long-term strategy.
