Skip to main content
Street Roots Donate
Portland, Oregon's award-winning weekly street newspaper
For those who can't afford free speech
Twitter Facebook RSS Vimeo Instagram
▼
Open menu
▲
Close menu
▼
Open menu
▲
Close menu
  • Contact
  • Job Openings
  • Donate
  • About
  • future home
  • Vendors
  • Rose City Resource
  • Advocacy
  • Support
News
  • Social Justice
  • Housing
  • Environment
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Orange Fence Project
  • Podcasts
  • Vendor Profiles
  • Archives
In Episode 10 of the Street Roots Podcast, host DeVon Pouncey (at bottom) interviews U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (top).

Street Roots Podcast | Talking with Sen. Jeff Merkley

Street Roots
Episode 10: Oregon’s U.S. senator discusses his efforts to keep federal forces out of protests, COVID-19 assistance, the detention of children at the border, and more
by DeVon Pouncey | 7 Aug 2020

On the 10th episode of the Street Roots Podcast, host DeVon Pouncey is joined by U.S. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who discusses his proposed legislation to prevent federal forces from being sent to American cities to intervene in protests.

“I introduced the ‘No Secret Police in America Act.’ I have more than 40 sponsors on it. I’m trying to get it in the corona bill, and the Senate Republicans are fighting that. Fortunately, I think that exposing what they were doing has caused the administration to rethink their operation,” Merkley said.

Merkley also discussed the CARES Act and COVID-19 assistance.

“The Senate Republican leadership has taken what I call a check-the-box strategy,” he said. “They’ve delayed any action for two months. They know that they have to do something, but they don’t really want to help the American people. They want to do more tax breaks for the rich and most powerful forces in the country. They don’t like the idea of building the economy from the ground up.”

Merkley also gave an update on kids caged up in detention centers near the borders, discussed the Make Medications Affordable by Preventing Pandemic Price-gouging Act, and more.

Watch or listen to the podcast.

The Street Roots Podcast reflects the opinions of host DeVon Pouncey and his guests.

STREET ROOTS PODCAST: Listen to more episodes


Street Roots is an award-winning, weekly publication focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
© 2020 Street Roots. All rights reserved.  | To request permission to reuse content, email editor@streetroots.org or call 503-228-5657, ext. 404.
Tags: 
State Politics, National News, Black Lives Matter Protests, 2020 Elections Op-Ed
  • Print

More like this

  • Street Roots Podcast | Talking with Teressa Raiford of Don’t Shoot Portland
  • Street Roots Podcast | Sharon Meieran on the Black Lives Matter protests
  • Street Roots Podcast | Talking with Sen. Ron Wyden
  • Opinion | Housing is going to be an election issue — most Americans want the same thing
  • Street Roots Podcast | Sen. Wyden: ‘Horrifying moment’ at Capitol was domestic terrorism

Street Roots Podcast

  • Street Roots Podcast | Sen. Ron Wyden on mental health, CAHOOTS bill and more
  • Street Roots Podcast | Sen. Ron Wyden: ‘A historic day’ for reducing poverty in America
  • Street Roots Podcast | NYT columnist Nicholas Kristof wants to make you uncomfortable
  • Street Roots Podcast | Kim McCarty: Government needs to step up to protect renters
  • Street Roots Podcast | Escalation of sweeps rattles Portland’s unhoused community
  • Street Roots Podcast | Jed Parriott is fed up with sweeps in L.A.’s Echo Park
  • Street Roots Podcast | Rep. Janelle Bynum pushes to change police culture
  • Street Roots Podcast | Sen. Wyden: ‘Horrifying moment’ at Capitol was domestic terrorism
  • Street Roots Podcast | Street Roots’ Emily Green on telling Billy Baggett’s story
  • Street Roots Podcast | Reporter Chris May on Oregon’s homebuilding lobby and more

Pages

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • next »

1 of 3

▼
Open menu
▲
Close menu
  • © 2021 Street Roots. All rights reserved. To request permission to reuse content, email editor@streetroots.org.
  • Read Street Roots' commenting policy
  • Support Street Roots
  • Like what you're reading? Street Roots is made possible by readers like you! Your support fuels our in-depth reporting, and each week brings you original news you won't find anywhere else. Thank you for your support!

  • DONATE