Portland was thrust into the national spotlight once again this fall when President Trump announced plans to send National Guard troops to the city to respond to ongoing — albeit small — protests outside the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.

The big picture: We spoke with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield about how Portlanders' response helped shaped the moment, what it signaled about confidence in government and the ongoing court battle.

• This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals signaled it may wait to hear the outcome of a similar case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court before hearing the Oregon case. What are the potential outcomes?

• "Irrespective of what happens in the Illinois case or the California case, the facts in Oregon are incredibly favorable to show the president didn't have the justifications to mobilize a military force."
• "One thing that might make this moot is that the federal government is not aggressively continuing to go down this path."

It was an anxious time for many Portlanders. What lasting impact did that episode have on public trust in both state and federal institutions?

• "The facts that come out under oath in a court, they just matter more than they ever did before. What I think was humbling about this case is that it didn't matter the rhetoric that was going around on social media. This was about the reality on the ground."
• "I think it was unifying how we protested it nationally just for how silly and dumb it was."

You've mounted multiple suits against the Trump administration this year. How did your office manage those cases simultaneously?

• "We created a federal oversight and accountability team very early on to lead on these issues."
• "We led one of the largest cases on tariffs, which was a direct response to what we heard from consumers, small-business owners, and our state revenue went down. We were then in the Supreme Court arguing that case."
• "If we were going to represent Oregon and its values, we didn't have a choice."

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Portland could be facing a budget gap of nearly $70 million next year, according to a forecast from city economists released this week.

Why it matters: If that sounds familiar, it should.

• City leaders were forced to dig themselves out of an even bigger hole earlier this year.

State of play: The forecast predicts a one-time General Fund shortfall of $50 million for the next fiscal year and an ongoing gap of nearly $17 million.

• The deficit is primarily driven by revenue from property and business taxes coming in lower than expected, per the forecast.

Catch up quick: Portland had to grapple with a $150 million shortfall earlier this year when, just a few months into the city's new form of government, city leaders had to make painful cuts and eliminate dozens of jobs.

What they're saying: "Portland is not alone in facing these forecasted funding challenges," city economist Peter Hulseman said in a written statement.

• "Communities across the U.S. are seeing slower revenue growth and rising costs, and Portland's forecast reflects similar trends."

What's next: Officials were quick to note that Tuesday's report was a forecast that will be revised as more information becomes available.

• "This forecast sets the starting point for the budget, not the outcome," city budget director Ruth Levine said.

Tell a penny pincher

👩🏻‍💼 Jessica Vega Pederson announced she will not seek a second term as Multnomah County Chair, acknowledging the pushback she's received from residents and fellow lawmakers for her leadership on several big issues. (OPB)

Oregon Health Authority leaders failed to provide adequate leadership while carrying out the the state's drug decriminalization law and failed to track the efficacy of more than $800 million in grants, an audit by the Secretary of State's Office found.

• A spokesperson said OHA "is acting with urgency on the findings." (The Oregonian)

⚡️ Powerful wind and rain storms left more than 200,000 people across Oregon and southwest Washington without power yesterday morning. (KGW)

🍔 Portland is the second-best city in the U.S. for foodies, a new WalletHub study found — a second place we'd like to appeal (no offense, Miami). (KPTV)

The spike in Christmas tree prices has come and gone.

• That's good tidings for all you last-minute tree shoppers.

Christmas tree prices spike around Thanksgiving, then start gradually falling until Dec. 25.

🪓 Nationally, average daily prices hit a max of about $142 on Nov. 28 last year, sliding to just under $58 on Christmas Eve.

Portland Thorns forward Sophia Wilson confirmed she'll be back with the team next season after she exercised an option on her contract that will make her the first NWSL player to earn a yearly salary of $1 million.

• Wilson — who took the 2025 NWSL season off for maternity leave — is a league champion, Olympic gold medalist and former MVP.

Worth every penny.