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Oregon Department of Forestry’s New Thinking: Watch Forests and Taxpayer Dollars Go Up in Flames

14-50 Bailout: Oregon Department of Forestry Chooses to Be Insolvent

By Dr Mark | December 14, 2024 | Comments 0 Comment

Show 14-50 Summary: Too big to fail? Too green to fail? For an agency designed to fund itself and some 200 other public agencies and services, like rural schools, counties, roads, police, and fire, the new “thinking” at the Oregon Department of Forestry just ran out of sustainability. It is now insolvent. And required a special session of the legislature to bail them out because they couldn’t pay the bills they owed for firefighting. But it’s going to get worse with the environmentalists’ new scheme. We talk with Jennifer Hamaker of Oregon Natural Resources and State Rep. Ed Diehl, to find out what happened, why it happened, and how this is all going to get a lot worse.

I Spy Radio Coverage Map as of November 2024 — Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

Original Air Dates: December 14th & 15th, 2024 | Guest: Jen Hamaker & Ed Diehl

This Week – Oregon Department of Forestry Insolvent

The legislature held a special session this week to bailout a state agency. One that, since its inception, has been self funding. The Oregon Department of Forestry. Which this year could not pay its own bills for firefighting and had to be rescued by the taxpayer. While it’s not surprising a government agency spent too much and needed more money, this is way worse than the usual government failure.

The Oregon Department of Forestry was designed to fund itself. And not only that, it also funds some 200 other public entities and services. But not any more. Because now ODF has redesigned itself to fail. And to soak up taxpayer dollars. Instead of generating income for the state, it is now a liability. Leadership at Oregon Department of Forestry has determined it no longer wants to do its fundamental job. Which is to oversee—and make money from—the sale of timber on state lands.

But no more. By implementing a massive Habitat Conservation Plan (or HCP), the ODF has ensured its own perpetual bankruptcy. For the next 70 years.

Let’s recap. The Oregon Department of Forestry is supposed to harvest timber on state lands. It doesn’t want to do that. ODF is supposed to manage the forests. It doesn’t want to do that. Managing the forests means preventing fires. It doesn’t want to do that. ODF is supposed to ensure an ongoing, profitable, perpetual, and sustainable timber harvest for the future. It doesn’t want to do that.

What does it want to do? Apparently, sell carbon credits. But there is a real problem with that. (Aside from the fact it’s a massive scam.)

So Why is Oregon Department of Forestry Bankrupt?

We talk with Jen Hamaker, the president of ONRI (Oregon Natural Resource Industries) to find out the Oregon Department of Forestry got into this mess. It was a massive, self-inflicted wound. Like someone who gets injured and then gets surgery to stay disabled so they don’t have to work. Jen walks us through what the ODF was designed to do, what it is doing now, and why the need for a special session to bail them out. And if democrat lawmakers think this is going to get better, think again. This is now baked in. The Oregon Department of Forestry has changed from a billion dollar asset to a billion dollar liability.

Then we talk with State Representative, Ed Diehl (R-HD17), about what happened at the special session. Why did they call the meeting to session and then immediately go behind closed-door committee meetings? Were deals being cut? Rep. Diehl also confirms that ODF is now insolvent. Bankrupt.

ODF’s New Plan: Carbon Credits. Get Paid for Doing Nothing

And it’s only going to get worse. Why? Because the Oregon Department of Forestry wants to move away from forestry and into the carbon credit scheme.

A scheme based on false premises (CO2 is not the enemy, and it is not a pollutant). And a scheme that is likely to fall apart as all across the nation, states lose federal funding for their net zero initiatives.

And we ask, how would this be different if Republicans were in charge? Because this whole Oregon Department of Forestry fiasco is about to get a lot worse — a lot worse — with democrat super majorities in Oregon’s house and senate.

We can all agree ODF needed to pay the bills owed to firefighters. Some whom had to take out huge loans to make ends meet while waiting to be paid. But this bailout doesn’t fix the problem that ODF just created for itself. And its solution to lock up Oregon’s forest lands — let ’em burn! — Oregon Department of Forestry has just made things a lot worse.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Jen Hamaker’s organization is Oregon Natural Resource Industries. Visit them at ONRI.us
Rep. Ed Diehl’s website is www.eddiehl.com
Oregon isn’t paying its wildfire bills on time. Now legislators must act (OPB, December 11, 2024)
Taxpayers “gave” billions to create interest-bearing endowments for Far-Left environmental groups that assault natural resources: “Environmental nonprofit fundraising draws criticism across political spectrum (Capital Press, Nov 14, 2024)
- An analysis showed “20 nonprofit environmental organizations active in the West … have total net assets of nearly $2 billion dollars”
- “a significant amount of the money is set aside as an endowment to generate income”
This isn’t going to work. Oregon’s Department of Forestry’s plan to stop harvesting timber and start selling carbon credits will fail when the federal government stops cuts the trillions (yes, trillions) of dollars for “Climate Change.”
Oregon’s carbon credits scheme to get to net zero, like all states, depends heavily on federal funding.
How much federal funding for states’ net zero funding? About $40 billion. (via Perplexity, retrieved Dec 13, 2024).
- Do democrat state lawmakers honestly think the Trump will continue that scam? (If so, we have a unicorn to sell them.
Sen. James Lankford Offers Sneak Peak Into How Exactly DOGE Will Clean Up Government Waste and Abuse (The Daily Signal, Dec 11, 2024)

Climate change scam true believers But is the end of the climate change scam at hand?

14-49 The Climate Change Scam: Is this the Beginning of the End?

By Dr Mark | December 7, 2024 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 14-49 Summary: This week we talk to Craig Rucker about what we hope is the beginning of the end of the most extensive and expensive scam in American history — the Climate Change scam. (Or Global Warming scam if you’re old school.) With Trump’s election, there was weeping and gnashing at the annual UN confab for global warming, COP29, which Craig recently attended. We look at the impact the incoming administration will have on policies and personnel. And how changes at the top may filter down to Oregon. Including ruining one of its most recent environmental schemes, to make money from doing nothing.

Original Air Dates: December 7, 2024 | Guest: Craig Rucker

This Week – The End of the Climate Change Scam

This week we are talking with Craig Rucker about what we hope is the beginning of the end of the most extensive and expensive scam in American history — the Climate Change scam. (Or Global Warming scam if you’re old school.) Under Biden a minimum of $1.5 trillion was transferred from the US taxpayer to Far Left organizations and causes. We start with the weeping and gnashing at the annual UN confab for global warming, COP29, which Craig recently attended. Many at the conference had been literally banking on a Kamala win to continue the funding that’s been flowing their way. Where will their trillions come from now?

Then we take a look at the impact the incoming administration will have on policies and personnel. And how changes at the top may filter down to Oregon. Including ruining one of its most recent environmental schemes, to make money from doing nothing.

And with Trump’s win, we’re able to move away from theoretical, “If Trump wins, what can we expect?” discussions. Now we can talk about what will happen and what needs to happen. We find out more about those tapped for Secretary of Interior, Energy, and for the EPA and what those appointments will mean for downsizing their agencies. And what policies especially need to be stopped that could unravel the multi-trillion-dollar Climate Change scam.

Is this the beginning of the end of the Climate Change scam?

Let the deprogramming begin.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Craig is the president and co-founder of CFACT—the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow. Find out more about their terrific work at CFACT.org.
Read it yourself: AOC’s “Delivering a Green New Deal: How the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act Bring the Green New Deal to Life” (PDF).
- “The IRA contains $369 billion in public spending for clean energy and climate justice, which is expected to unleash hundreds of billions more in private investments. As of April 2023, since the enactment of the IRA, clean energy companies have already announced projects representing $150 billion in investments, 18,000 new jobs, and $4.4 billion in customer savings.
- So we “invest” $369 billion and get less than half that back in company projects and a measly 4.4 billion in savings for customers? That’s some high-powered stupidity, AOC.
Paxton files lawsuit alleging BlackRock colluded (Just the News, Nov 30, 2024)
Texas’ Anti-ESG Legislation (Texas Public Policy Foundation, July 6, 2024)
Pres. of Azerbaijan roasts the West for double standards as COP29 goes off the rails (Climate Depot Nov 16, 2024)
Aliyev roasts the West for double standards as COP29 goes off the rails (BNE IntelliNews, Nov 15, 2024)
President of Country Hosting UN Climate Summit Defends Fossil Fuels, Slams Media and Green ‘Hypocrisy’ (Daily Signal, Nov 13, 2024)
A Look at Trump’s Cabinet Picks So Far (US News & World Report, Dec 2, 2024)
Trump’s picks for key positions in his second administration (AP / Federal News Network, Dec 3, 2024)
Oregon’s homegrown climate change scam: Oregon Adopts Climate Protection Program Rules (Natural Resource Rep, Dec 1, 2024).

Related Information on the Climate Change Scam

Net Zero Land Area (Steve Goreham, YT Channel, May 29, 2022)
- The problem with Net Zero. A Princeton study found that to go from current 10% to 50% renewable by 2050, requires 228,000 square miles of land. That is more than Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Wisconsin — combined.
PBS Climate Change scam propaganda programming. If you don’t believe their scam, something is wrong with your brain. “How your brain stops you from taking climate change seriously” (PBS, January 7, 2019)
Exxon’s chief has a warning for Republicans (Politico, Nov 12, 2024)*The oil giant takes a stance before the Trump administration sets its sights on gutting Biden’s climate agenda.*warns republicans not to gut Biden’s climate agenda
DOGE Co-Lead Vivek Ramaswamy at CNBC’s CFO Council Summit (CNBC, YT Channel, Dec 4, 2024)
Crescent Dunes: Biden DOJ Moved on Election Night to Cover Up Alleged Solar Energy Scandal that Cost Taxpayers Hundreds of Millions (Breitbart, Nov 25, 2024).
Environmental nonprofit fundraising draws criticism across political spectrum (Capital Press, Nov 14, 2024)
- IRS filings by 20 nonprofit environmental organizations in the West have total net assets of nearly $2 billion dollars. Often significant amounts are set aside as an endowment to generate additional income beyond donations.
- Nice. Taxpayers gave Far Left organizations seed money for perpetual income.

Oregon's elections 2024. Is Oregon hopeless? Photo credit, Ron Cooper / Oregon Capital Chronicle

14-47 Oregon’s Elections: A Deeper Shade of Blue. Is Oregon Hopeless and Helpless?

By Dr Mark | November 23, 2024 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 14-47 Summary: In 2024, Republicans won the White House, the House, and the Senate. Other states went red. And in county after county, Trump gained support. Even among practically every demographic group. But while so much of the rest of the country went red, Oregon’s elections went a deeper shade of blue—with super majorities now in the house and senate. Is Oregon destined to be California’s mini-me? Or can Republicans save Oregon from itself? And what is on the way for Oregon with democrats in charge of everything? Brace yourself.

Original Air Dates: November 23rd & 24th, 2024 | Guest: Rep. Ed Diehl

This Week – Oregon’s Elections. What Happened?

While Oregon wasn’t part of it, the rest of the nation voted for a better economy, smaller government, secure borders, free speech, protecting farms, schools that actually teach, and city streets free of crime. Already, Trump’s nominations are causing the Deep State to panic. But he seems committed to keep his promise to downsize and even eliminate agencies.

But not Oregon. For Republicans, Oregon took a disastrous turn as Democrats won all three statewide races (Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney General). And they won a super majority in the state senate and nearly certainly will win a super majority in the house.

After Oregon’s Election, Is there Any Hope Left?

If you remember your Greek mythology, curious Pandora couldn’t resist opening the box and let out sickness, death, and other miseries. That feels like what Oregon just did to itself.

After Oregon’s elections, the prospects of a Democrat super majority in both the state house and senate is a grim reality. Every item on the Democrat wish list of miseries for the state is knocking on the box lid. Demanding to be let out. Taxes and more spending for sure, along with more environmental, “green” energy, and carbon scheme mandates to drive up costs on everything.

But they also have a problem. Biden’s federal cash flow spigot will soon be turned off. No more federal money rolling into Oregon’s coffers to hide the deficit budget problems like PERS’ huge debt that’s causing school districts and county agencies to feel that debt.

So what can Republicans do? Like the only thing left in Pandora’s box, Oregon has hope. That’s what we discuss with our guest, Representative Ed Diehl (HD-17). We take a hard look at Oregon’s election and what Oregonians will be facing. And we discuss the national elections, how other states made big changes, what went right in other states, and why didn’t it go right in Oregon.

We also discuss the sole remaining (as of November 21) undecided house seat—Tracy Cramer’s in HD22—from Oregon’s elections. A race that will decide whether democrats get a super majority in Oregon’s house. Also, possible election fraud, and what about Oregon’s voter rolls? And what are we likely to see out of a democrat dual super majority.

And then in a future Part II, Ed will come back—likely after the holidays—to discuss changes and new directions to turn Oregon—yes, Oregon—red.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Listen to Mark’s April 2023 speech to the Capital City Republican Women, mentioned in the opener. Pretty much everything he said to needed to win Oregon in 2024, Republicans in other states did.
Around the Halls: Scott Brown’s Special Election Victory and the Congressional Agenda (Brookings University, Jan 20, 2010)
Ed Diehl’s website, EdDiehl.com for more about Ed and news and information. Follow Ed on X (formerly Twitter), @Real_EdDiehl
Biden authorizes Ukraine to strike Russia with U.S.-supplied long-range missiles (NBC News, Nov 17, 2024)
Shocking real reason Biden OK’d Ukraine use of U.S. longer-range missiles against Russia (World Net Daily, Nov 19, 2024)
- This [escalation] entirely has to do with trying to tie Trump’s hands to a war, dampening his ability to achieve the agenda that the American people want him to achieve.” According to Gaub, “This has been in the [Left’s] plan for quite a while, in anticipation of the landslide victory that occurred earlier this month.”
SB870: Nation Popular Vote Interstate Compact – (Oregon Legislative Information Services, 2019), (Wikipedia, no date)
- If enough states had joined before 2024, all of Oregon’s electoral votes would have gone to Trump—thanks to the democrats.
Attorney Matthew DePerno and the RNC Stop Thousands Of Duplicate Ballots From Being Counted (Trending Politics, October 30, 2024)
Drazan selected as new House GOP leader (Oregon Catalyst, Nov 19, 2024)
9 races that could determine the balance of power in the Oregon Legislature (OPB Oct, 22, 2024)

14-46 Welcome to Trump’s New Era: Accountability and Efficiency

By Dr Mark | November 16, 2024 | Comments 1 comment

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Show 14-46 Summary: With his popular vote mandate, Trump’s new era could mean a government fully accountable to the people. There will be roadblocks — and the federal government is just the start. An accountable, efficient, and ethical government will trickle down to state governments. Like Oregon. Which, according to Judicial Watch, has the dirtiest voter rolls in the entire nation. We talk with James Hirsen (Tales from the Left Coast) about the election. Trump’s mandate and the likely roadblocks to it, Trump’s free speech blueprint, and the Left’s freakout over Matt Gaetz. They should be worried. And then we talk with Bob Popper, senior attorney for Judicial Watch, about their suit against Oregon to force them to clean up their voter rolls. And yes, Oregon’s all mail-in-ballot voting system does create extra opportunities for fraudulent votes.

Original Air Dates: November 16, 2024 | Guests: James Hirsen and Bob Popper

This Week – Trump’s New Era

Trump not only won big — he won so big that now democrats are the election deniers. Trump must have cheated. It can’t possibly be they were wrong about him. And that people saw through their massive propaganda to convince people they would be stripped of their rights. (Just look for “Lefties Losing It” and you’ll see no end of Leftists freaking out.) Get used to it. Lefties losing it will be an ongoing theme in Trump’s new era.

Many of them truly believe Trump’s new era will usher in a dictatorship. And it’s easy for them to believe because dictatorship is exactly what the Biden administration was. They’ve been just too blinded by left stream media propaganda to see it. Biden ruled by executive order and ignored Congress. And the courts.

But what really happened was we saw the Republican National Committee’s leadership and other election integrity organizations engaged and engaged big. And, unlike 2020, actually fighting back, before the cheating could happen. And Republicans got involved on the ground, with hundreds of thousands of volunteers watching drop boxes and election observers, it forced election officials to stay within the boundaries of fair and transparent elections. At least for the most part.

And that decisive Trump win will pull this country out of despair and poverty and into Trump’s new era. The America-First Era where government is held accountable.

James Hirsen: Trump’s Free Speech Blueprint

Bestselling author, attorney, news analyst, and cultural commentator James Hirsen has a lot to say about the Trump victory, the mandate that comes with it, and the Left’s ongoing meltdown. Just what did happen to 70 million Christian voters who said they might sit out the election?

And we look at Trump’s Free Speech Blueprint to restructure government to do its job and defend the 1^st Amendment instead of attack it. The government defending our rights? Wow. That would be a switch from the last four years.

Judicial Watch Sues Oregon

Then we welcome first time I Spy guest, Robert Popper, a senior attorney who directs Judicial Watch’s voting integrity efforts. This fall Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against Oregon’s to clean up their dirty voter rolls that have not been cleaned for years. Judicial Watch called them the worst in the nation.

Commonsense Oregonians are very anxious to get their voter rolls cleaned up and we know many of our listeners will be excited to hear more about this lawsuit. We talked about Judicial Watch’s success in other states, some of the staggering numbers of phantom voters removed, what this lawsuit looks to achieve, and how Oregon might try to dodge it. And whether Oregon’s 100% vote-by-mail system makes inflated voter rolls even more dangerous. Popper gives us a deep dive into election integrity—and the tools Judicial Watch has to fight it.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

James Hirsen’s website with his terrific articles is www.JamesHirsen.com
Visit JudicialWatch.org for updates on the voting integrity lawsuits, news, and other information as they hold government accountable
Congress will be the biggest roadblock to prevent Trump’s agenda. And it’s not just Democrats. It’s Republicans. Here you go:
- On November 13th, at 12:14 PM Trump posted to Truth Social, congratulating John Thune being elected as Senate Majority Leader. Thune promised to support president trump’s agenda.
- Three hours 10 minutes later, Trump released a statement on Truth Social, announcing Gaetz’s nomination
- A slug of Republican senators who had just promised to support Trump immediately criticized the pick. And according to one report between 5 and 10 of them may vote against gates which would sink that nomination
- Matt Gaetz’s appointment was a test for Senate Republicans to see if they really were behind Trump or just mouthing their support. It took only a few hours for the frauds to expose themselves
2024 Fox News Voter Analysis (Fox News, Nov 8, 2024)
5 takeaways from the 2024 exit polls (The Hill, Nov 8, 2024)
The faith vote in 2024 — and how it compared to 2020 (Deseret News, Nov 6, 2024)
Trump vows to create Faith Office with access to Oval Office: ‘It’s important’ (Washington Examiner, Oct 28, 2024)

Judicial Watch’s Oregon Lawsuit

Judicial Watch Warns Oregon of its Intent to Sue (Judicial Watch, July 25, 2024)
- Judicial Watch sends Oregon’s Secretary of State a notification of lawsuit over Oregon’s voter rolls. This was their warning shot. When they are warned, some states clean up their rolls on their own. Oregon did not.
Judicial Watch Sues Oregon (Judicial Watch, Oct 2024) -On October 23rd, Judicial Watch filed suit in federal court against Oregon’s dirty voter rolls
Kotek pauses automatic voter registrations (KOIN, Oct 7, 2024)
Oregon voter registration error was detected six weeks before (OPB, Sept 27, 2024)
- September 27th, OPB reports that just 5 days after the July Judicial Watch notification letter, DMV officials suddenly learned in early August that DMV errors had led to improper voter registrations; except it took six weeks until in mid-September, before DMV revealed those errors to the public.
- By late September DMV announced they found over 1,200 non-citizens (whoopsies!) had been registered to vote
- State officials said that the clerical errors had been fixed — but the number then grew to over 1,500.
- By October 11th, DMV confirmed the errors had started in 2021 and occurred in 49 of DMV’s 59 field offices involving 387 individual staff members.
Oregon reveals hundreds of non-citizens were mistakenly registered (NY Post, Sept 14, 2024)
Noncitizen votes could not have swayed Oregon contests (OPB, Sept 25, 2024)
- Normies want to know: if they couldn’t sway the election then why keep them on there?

14-44 Final Sprint to Election Day | Truth about Trump v. Kamala Economies

By Dr Mark | November 2, 2024 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 14-44 Summary: It’s the final sprint to the finish line. And the Friday before the election Kamalanomics got some pretty bad news: only 12,000 (not a typo) jobs created in October. And another 112,000 jobs were erased from September and August because they never existed outside of their original headlines that screamed how great the jobs were. This week, we talk with chief economist and executive VP of American Legislative Exchange Council about Trump vs Kamala economic policies. Who has the better economic record, the better administration policy to grow the3 economy, and what their future economies will look like. Kamala is floating some spooky ideas on taxes, spending and debt. And we talk about Trump’s policies that has the Big Spender spooked and why. Get out there and vote like your future and America’s future depends on it. It does.

Original Air Dates: November 2nd & 3rd, 2024 | Guest: Jonathan Williams

This Week – Truth about Trump vs Kamala Economic Policies

October Surprise? ~The October jobs numbers just came out this morning at a paltry 12,000 new jobs. That’s not a typo. There isn’t a zero missing. Even more bad economic news: they erased another 112,000 jobs from the two previous months, September and August. Jobs that never existed outside the leftstream media propaganda headlines.

Just 12,000 new jobs for all of America (and we’d be negative if not for 40,000 government jobs). It’s a devastatingly low number for the Biden/Harris administration and after Kamala said there’s nothing she’d change regarding Biden’s policies.

Oh. And the GDP came in low. A sluggish 2.8%. Lower than the usual 3.0%.

This week, we welcome back Jonathan Williams, the chief economist and executive vice president of the American Legislative Exchange Council, to compare and contrast the Trump economy vs the Kamala economy. What were their records. What did they do right. And how will they differ if elected?

Kamala is floating some spooky ideas about taxes, spending, and debt. And Trump is floating some ideas that is spooking the big-government big-spenders. Listen and find out.

Personally? The difference really comes down to this: Trump wants to grow the economy. Kamala wants to grow government. It really is that simple.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Jonathan’s organization is ALEC – the American Legislative Exchange Council. Find out more at ALEC.org.
- Encourage your representatives to join ALEC! There are state and city memberships. Help elected officials understand economic problems and the real solutions available to get out of them! Send them this link: https://alec.org/membership/.
- And you too can join as a private-sector member!
- You can follow Jonathan on Twitter at @TaxEconomist.
Head to Rich States, Poor States to see how your state is doing. And for a taste of what Kamalanomics and Walzonomics would be like, check out how badly Minnesota is doing under governor Tim Walz. (Hint: worse than Oregon!)
Check out Trump’s platform, “Agenda 47.” A 20-point plan, much of which focuses on the economy.
Mike Johnson discusses plan to get rid of Obamacare. (Via X, Oct 31 2024)
3 Charts Show How Biden-Harris Admin Grew Debt by $8 Trillion (Daily Signal, Oct 22, 2024)
Five Frightening Financial Charts To Fear This Halloween! (ZeroHedge, Oct 31, 2024)
Jobs Shock: October Payrolls Huge Miss As Private Jobs Go Negative For First Time Since 2020 (ZeroHedge, Nov 1, 2024)
U.S. economy grew at a 2.8% pace in the third quarter, less than expected (CNBC, Oct 30, 2024)

14-43 It’s the Economy, Stupid | Stupid Energy Policies

By Dr Mark | October 26, 2024 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 14-43 Summary: There are stupid energy policies and then there are Kamala-level stupid energy policies. And they start with a wrong understanding of how the economy works. Not everyone invests in the stock market, not everyone runs a business. But everyone needs energy. Not just energy for your home or where you work but getting there and back. And practically everything bought or sold arrives on a truck. This week, we look at stupid energy policies. If you think things are bad and expensive now, a Kamala win would make things more expensive. And stupider.

I Spy Radio Coverage Map as of April 2024 — Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

Original Air Dates: October 26, 2024 | Guest: Frank Lasee

This Week – Stupid Energy Policies

The election finish line is within sight and this week we are looking at the economy, which is the top issue for most voters. In particular, we look at one major aspect of the economy: energy. We zero in on what the Biden/Kamala administration has done to energy prices to make things so much more expensive, which of course impacts everything that people buy and not just their utility bills. Mandates, regulations, and ideology is behind it all. They

They are the kind of stupid energy policies you would expect from someone in charge who does not understand the economy. And certainly has never owned a business.

We welcome back Frank Lasee, a senior policy advisor for CFACT and the president of Truth in Energy and Climate, to talk about the stupid energy policies of the Biden-Harris administration.

The Energy Policies that Hurt You and the Economy

It’s simple. When energy costs more, everything costs more. When energy costs less, prices go down. Unless energy goes down, prices won’t. And the Biden-Harris administration declared war on energy. What direction will prices go?

And did you know that you’re paying for green energy — even when you’re not buying green energy? It’s not just your taxes.

Here’s one example. You might know about carbon credits (a tax on energy). But did you know there are regulation credits? Car companies that can’t sell electric vehicles have to buy these regulation credits from EV companies—and then to absorb that loss, the car companies add the cost of that regulation credit to the cost of the gas-powered cars. So even if you’re not buying an EV, you’re still paying for an EV.

That’s just one stupid energy policy.

But here’s the thing. All the “green energy” mandates, the zero-emissions, the carbon credits, the EVs, and on and on? it will have little to no change on emissions. And they know that. Think about it. Why would you force people to spend money on more expensive energy when they could be spend that money on other things that they need or want? Especially if it’s not going to make any bit of difference.

If it won’t make any difference, the only logical reason is if your side of the aisle is getting an awful lot of money. It’s about money. Forcing you to pay more, so their side of the political aisle makes more.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Sorry, Kamala. Modern-day democrats are Hitler. “Hitler’s Views on Private Property and Nationalization” from the Mises Institute.
Our guest’s website is www.TruthinEnergyandClimate.com. His new book is Climate and Energy Lies: Expensive, Dangerous & Destructive.

California’s Stupid Energy Policies

Newsom’s New Bill to ‘Hold Big Oil Accountable’ – will Fine Local Refineries Up to $1 Million PER DAY, Cause Gas Prices to Spike – Refineries Announce They Are Leaving CA (Gateway Pundit, Oct 21, 2024)*“Price spikes have cost Californians billions of dollars over the years, and we’re not waiting around for the industry to do the right thing,” Newsom said.*The measure will force local refineries to stockpile fuel and if they don’t follow the new regulations they can be fined up to $1 million PER DAY.*The heavy fines will inevitably be passed down to the consumer and cause gas prices to spike.
Commiefornia: “For some time, many of us have been ridiculed for suggesting that @GavinNewsom wants to own all California gas refineries. But now we’re seeing it.” Dr. Houman David Hemmati (via X, Sept 26, 2024)
California Energy Commission floats the idea of taking over oil refineries. Just like Venezuela. See table 19, Overview of State-Owned Refineries: “The State of California would purchase and own refineries in the State to manage the supply and price of gasoline.” (Emphasis mine.)
- Read the full report, “Draft Transportation Fuels Assessment” (PDF).
How will the state manage the slow death of California’s gasoline industry? (Los Angeles Times, September 26th, 2024)

Green Energy Dying?

Harris Shifts Her EV Mandates Into Reverse—Until After the Election (The Daily Signal, October 23, 2024)
- “The push to electrify trucking is even more unhinged. Electric trucks are very expensive to buy and have terrible payload capacity and range.”
- “Almost everything anyone buys gets shipped on a truck at some point, and the shipping industry will have no choice but to pass these enormous costs downstream.”
- “Electric vehicle mandates will lead ‘to little to no change’ in greenhouse-gas emissions.”
Amazon plans to power Eastern Oregon data centers with nuclear reactors (OPB, Oct 23, 2024)
Offshore wind looked like a sure thing for Oregon — until it wasn’t. What went wrong? (OPB, Oct 23, 2024)

Related/Additional

The Irrationality of Western Energy Policies (Watts Up with That, October 21, 2024)

Dumb & Dumber: Germany Wins Prize For World’s Most Idiotic Energy Policy (Stop These Things, Feb 20, 2022)

Biden’s Energy Policy – Dumb and Dangerous (AMAC, July 25, 2023)

14-42 Get Out of the Pew | Why Christians Need to Vote

By Dr Mark | October 19, 2024 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 14-42 Summary: This week we bring you a very important show, one that could change the outcome: why Christians need to vote. In 2020 the official margin of victory was some 10 million votes. But all that was needed for an electoral college win was a few 10s of thousands in the swing states. A recent study, found that 73 million Christians might sit out the 2024 election. We talk Lew Wootan, a protestant/evangelical pastor, and Tommy Valentine, from CatholicVote, to get their perspectives on should Christians vote, why don’t they, and how do we get Christians to vote?

Original Air Dates: October 19, 2024 | Guests: Lew Wootan & Tommy Valentine

This Week – Why Christians Need to Vote

Why do some people not take action when, if they did, they could have a major impact? And this is especially true of Christians. Who, ironically, are called to be the salt and light of the Earth. That doesn’t mean just standing there. It means doing something. Taking action.

And yet, according to one study, up to 73 million American Christians, may not vote in the 2024 election. Even if just half of them voted it would ensure victory against a Kamala Harris administration that has proven to be hostile to Christians and to Christianity. So why sit out the election?

This week we talk about should Christians vote, why don’t Christians vote, and how do we get Christians to vote. It’s time to get out of the pew and into the voting booth.

Why Christians Need to Vote: Protestant/Evangelical Perspective

First up, we talk with Pastor Lew Wootan from The River Church in Salem, Oregon. Pastor Lew walks us through why Christians should definitely vote and be engaged. And some of the bad information that would encourage Christians not to vote. As Pastor Lew sees it, churches that are not engaged, and pastors that encourage Christians not to be engaged, have a wrong perception about the duty of Christians. Which is to be engaged and active rather than invisible.

Pastor Lew especially takes aim at the notion that we are to be “in the world but not of the world” and how that has been wrongly used to disengage Christians from society.

Tune in to hear from an evangelical perspective not just why Christians need to vote but why Christians absolutely need to vote.

Why Christians Need to Vote: Catholic Perspective

And then we talk with Tommy Valentine, the director of the Catholic Accountability Project at CatholicVote—the nation’s largest lay Catholic advocacy organization. Tommy helps lead CatholicVote’s efforts to keep a watchful eye on Catholic institutions and politicians—yes, we ask him about Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden—as well as defending Catholics in the public square.

Why Christians Need to Vote - CBS Banned CatholicVote’s Commercial — See why CBS banned CatholicVote’s devastating ad against Kamala Harris (click to watch)

CatholicVote came to our attention after several news sources broke the story that CBS refused to air their devastating ad against Kamala Harris’s attack on children. Including mutilating transgender surgeries.

Let’s not forget. The Biden/Harris administration has been openly hostile to Christians of all faiths. Biden/Kamala sent the FBI to spy on Christian parents who went to school board meetings to protest woke, anti-Christian ideology being pushed on their children. Biden and Kamala have defended pornography in school libraries. And they have completely destroyed the protections for girls and women in favor of biological men when they rewrote Title IX. (See our previous show on Biden/Harris destroying Title IX.)

We get the Catholic perspective on why Christians need to vote in 2024. And some great ideas Catholic churches have to get Christians to vote — by bringing the voting booth into the church.

And don’t miss the discussion from both our guests about the spiritual war happening right now in America.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

The River Church’s website is www.TheRiverNW.com;
CatholicVote, Tommy Valentine’s organization’s website is www.CatholicVote.org.
Study: Millions of Christians not planning to vote this November, could shape election: Study (Just the News, October 7, 2024)
- “Christians could be the deciding factor in a bunch of federal and state races – and are choosing not to be.”
Why (and how) Christians should vote (Christianity.com, September 22, 2020)
- “Christians have both a civic and a Christian responsibility to vote. … [To] vote is the beginning of our civic duty of Christians.”
Great thread on X from CatholicVote, re democrats’ attacks on Catholics and that it must end – Example of the attacks Gov Whitmer, one of the most prominent democrats in the country mocking the Eucharist.
Kamala’s Desperate Push For Black Voters, CBS Editing Scandal Gets Worse, And Plagiarism Experts. (CatholicVote, X, Oct 16, 2024)

Articles Mentioned

Why Christians Should Vote (The Gospel Coalition, Nov 3, 2014)
3 reasons Why Christians Should Vote (The Christian Post, Sept 28, 2020)
Should Christians vote? (Bible Ask, March 2016)
10 Shocking Reasons Christians should NOT Vote (Becoming Christians, Apr 24, 2016)
- We discuss two of them with Pastor Lew:
  - We are called to be separate from the world
  - There’s no worthy candidate. Hint: Christians recognize no Christian is perfect. So why do they expect a perfect candidate? It’s about better. Which candidate is better for Christian issues?

Related Info

Data shows Oregon prescribed kids puberty blockers 613% more per capita than CA (Just the News, October 8, 2024)
EXCLUSIVE: Biden-Harris Admin Paves Way For Bureaucrats To Take Gender-Confused Kids From ‘Non-Affirming’ Parents (Daily Caller, X Thread, Oct 14, 2024 and Article on Daily Caller, Oct 14, 2024)

14-41 Competent or Stupid? | What’s at Stake in the 2024 Election

By Dr Mark | October 12, 2024 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 14-41 Summary: What’s at stake in the 2024 election is not just who’s running for president. The whole of government is at stake. This week we continue to look at why elections matter, reminding you that you are giving someone else legal control over you, your business, your church, and so many other facets of your life. Do you want competent people? Or stupid people who will waste your money? We look at the incompetence of Multnomah’s lawsuit against the weather. We also look at some down ballot issues, including Oregon’s Measure 117 to force ranked choice voting on Oregon. if that wins, it would take the democracy right out of democracy. Get out and vote. And stop stupid people from doing stupid things.

Original Air Dates: October 12, 2024 | Guests: Chuck Wiese and Ed Diehl

This Week – Competence at Stake in the 2024 Election

We continue to look at why elections matter, reminding you that you are giving someone else legal control over you, your business, your church, and so many other facets of your life. Do you want competent people? Or stupid people who will waste your money? In the 2024 election, make it your goal to stop stupid people from doing stupid things.

We look at the incompetence (stupidity) of Multnomah’s lawsuit against the weather. The lawsuit is a waste of government money (your money), time, and resources. Worse — even if they win, it will cost you even more money.

We talk with meteorologist and fearsome global warming debunker, Chuck Wiese about Multnomah’s lawsuit against “fossil fuel”companies, blaming them for “heat dome” deaths during a hot summer. But no, sorry global warmers, it was not the hottest ever.

Stupid Government does Stupid Stuff

But first up, we talk with Chuck about the back-to-back hurricanes, Helene and Milton, that hit the Southeast. Is that unusual? And how did Chuck correctly predict that Milton would weaken from a category 5 and hit landfall at only a category 3, and further weaken to a category 1 when it made it to the Atlantic?

Then we talk about Multnomah County suing the sky. Or the weather. Or who they think causes the weather. According to KOIN, Multnomah is seeking $50 million in damages, $1.5 billion in “future damages” and another $50 billion for an “abatement fund.” In other words, a slush fund to hand out to far-left groups.

Here’s how stupid that is. There are 364,000 households in Multnomah County. If the “evil fossil fuel companies” lose and allot that $51.55 billion loss to Multnomah households (because why should they punish Polk or Marion or any other county for this nuisance lawsuit?) over 20 years, that’s $7,081 per household added to their fuel and utility costs. Per year. You can thank Multnomah County for that self-inflicted stupidity.

But it’s not just the cost of things. Stupid people in Multnomah government are attacking people’s rights. They are also suing Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine which isn’t even in Multnomah County. Why? For spreading “misinformation” about global warming. Yes. There’s your stupid people in government suing people for free speech.

Did government forget it’s supposed to defend free speech?

Yes. Because they’re stupid. In the 2024 election, stop stupid people from doing stupid things.

Yes, Oregon, Democracy is What’s at Stake in the 2024 Election

We also look at some down ballot issues, including Oregon’s Measure 117 to force ranked choice voting on Oregon. if that wins, it would take the democracy right out of democracy.We welcome back Representative Ed Diehl (OR-HD17) back to the show to talk about an actual threat to democracy, Oregon’s ballot measure 117. (Sorry, democrats. Trump is not a threat to democracy. If Trump wins, that is democracy.) The measure would change our current voting system to ranked choice voting.

If ballot measure 117 were to pass, it change how we vote for every candidate from U.S. president down to local races. With one exception. Referred to the voters by Oregon’s far-left democrats in the legislature, Measure 117 curiously would not change how legislators are elected.

Ed Diehl walks us through how Measure 117 and ranked choice voting would take the democracy right out of democracy by opening voting itself to strategic manipulation. Apparently, the far left isn’t happy enough with voter fraud and election fraud, they have to game the system for voting fraud.

For a great explanation, see this ranked choice article on Ed Diehl’s website. And for further reading see the links in the show notes, below.

And we talk about the latest on the motor voter scandal. Gosh. They found another 300 illegally registered illegal immigrants. After we just talked about that last week with Dennis Linthicum, who is running for Secretary of State. Do we really have any real idea of just how many fraudulent voters have been registered — through motor voter and Obamacare signups?

Get out and vote. Stop stupid people from doing stupid things.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Mentioned in the opener, Frederic Bastiat’s The Candlestick Makers’ Petition.

Chuck Wiese, Segments 1–3

Multnomah County goes after big oil for heat dome deaths, files lawsuit (KOIN6, June 22, 2023)
Multnomah County alleges NW Natural is behind ‘substantial portion’ of Oregon pollution (KOIN6, Oct 9, 2024)
Hurricane Milton Leaves at Least 10 Dead, Millions Without Power in Florida, (Epoch Times, October 9th, 2024)
- Exactly as Chuck predicted: “Hurricane Milton made landfall at Siesta Key, Florida as a Category 3 storm, but weakened more than expected after it touched down. Ninety minutes after landfall, it had slowed to Category 2, and crossed into the Atlantic as a Category 1 on Thursday morning.”

Ed Diehl, Segments 4–6

For more information about Ed Diehl, see his website, EdDiehl.com.
THIS → Everything You Need To Know About Ranked-Choice Voting And Its Glaring Problems (The Federalist, October 1, 2024)
Ranked-Choice Voting Is Not the Solution (Democracy Journal, Nov 3, 2016)
The flaw in ranked-choice voting: rewarding extremists (The Hill, October 10, 2022)
FYI, Oregon’s Measure 117 ranked choice voting create Instant Runoff Voting system. In this method, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority (50% + 1), the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their ballots are redistributed to the next-ranked candidate.*There are dozens of ranked choice voting methods.*Fun (okay, worrisome) fact: according to the Gibbard-Satterthwaite theorem, every voting method with at least 3 alternative candidates can be strategically manipulated. Why would you open the door to voting manipulate unless you plan to manipulate the vote?
Judicial Watch Warns Oregon Over Lawsuit (Judicial Watch, July 25, 2024)*According to Judicial Watch’s initial investigations, eight of Oregon counties have more voter registrations than citizens of voting age
Secretary of State’s office announces deactivation of 1,259 voter registrations (KEZI, Sept 23, 2024)
Oregon voter registration error was detected six weeks before top elections officials were told (OPB, Sept 27, 2024)

14-40 Too Big to Rig — Get the Vote Out and Beat the Cheat

By Dr Mark | October 5, 2024 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 14-40 Summary: The media claim questioning the 2020 election is “The Big Lie.” You even saw it in the presidential and vice presidential debates, with the “moderators” trying to portray Trump and Vance as “election deniers.” But our elections are not as safe as they could be. What to do? Get out the vote. Like never before. Democrats usually win the ground game. This year, we need to beat the democrats at their own game.

Original Air Dates: October 5, 2024 | Guests: Caitlin Sinclair & Dennis Linthicum

This Week – Get the Vote Out, Beat the Cheat

We keep hearing how tight elections are this year. Oregon alone has suddenly become important with three congressional races that are now toss ups. But as we get closer to election day, many states are coming forward with some remarkable news about their voter rolls. Swing states especially went out of their way to claim the 2020 election had no problems with their elections. Except now they are suddenly finding inaccurate and messy voter rolls. Some states rolls have hundreds of thousands of ineligible voter on them. And some of those states only had margins of victory in 2020 of about 10,000.

So what do we do? Do we ignore potential election fraud? Do we sit it out because “they’re just going to cheat anyway”?

Absolutely not. We get out the vote harder than ever. You can’t fix a broken system if you hand over the government to the wrong people by sitting it out and not casting your ballot.

And on that front, Turning Point Action is leading the way. To discuss getting out the vote beyond the margin of cheating and some truly inspirational news, we welcome first-time guest Caitlin Sinclair, their official spokeswoman. Charlie Kirk’s organization is working to register voters, and get the vote out—including ballot chasing—and they have been having great success. They are organized, and they are trying to beat the democrats at their own ground game.

Caitlin discusses their approach, who’s involved, and why young adults, including Gen Z, are starting to move conservative. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss and one that you’ll walk away from feeling inspired. There is hope for this next generation!

Yes, Oregon, Election Fraud Does Exist

Then to talk to us about Oregon’s situation, we welcome back long-time guest, former senator and now Republican candidate for Oregon’s Secretary of State, Dennis Linthicum.

Like the swing states, Oregon swore illegal immigrants aren’t on its voter rolls. Except, it turns out, they are. Thanks to a combination of motor voter laws and the democrat-controlled Oregon legislature that decided to give drivers’ licenses to illegals — after Oregon voters had overwhelming said not — Oregon suddenly found over 1,300 illegals were registered to vote. Did Oregon suddenly discover those “errors” because of a pending lawsuit? Because they found them just five days after Judicial Watch sent a letter of intent to sue Oregon’s over its dirty voter rolls.

Oregonians! Are you registered to vote? Did you move? Are you sure your registration hasn’t been changed? Check your voter registration by 5:00 pm, October 15th!

Dennis discusses Oregon’s own loopholes (yes, there are more than one) that allows illegal voters to get on the voter rolls and the surprising reason why they’re not cleaned up. It was so surprising, Mark thought Dennis was joking. Find out what’s at stake and how someone like Dennis could fix a very broken system.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Caitlin Sinclair – Get Out the Vote, Segments (1–3)

Caitlin is the official spokeswoman for Turning Point Action, the political arm of Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization
Head to Turning Point Action to find out how you can help chase ballots in your neighborhood by using the TPAction app to find low-propensity voters and help them get their ballots in
You can also lead your local precinct
Help chase ballots in swing states (they need 1,000s of field organizers!)

Caitlin Sinclair joined the show to talk about what’s happening at Turning Point Action (Live from Studio 6B, YT Channel, July 24, 2024)
Kamala Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff ‘forcefully slapped ex-girlfriend for flirting with another man’ in booze-fueled assault after date to star-studded gala (UK Daily Mail, Oct 2, 2024)

Dennis Linthicum, Oregon’s Own Election Issues, Segments (4–6)

Oregon voter registration error was detected six weeks before (OPB, Sept 27, 2024)

Judicial Watch Warns Oregon Over Lawsuit (Judicial Watch, July 25, 2024)

Secretary of State’s office announces deactivation of 1,259 voter registrations (KEZI, Sept 23, 2024)

Voter Registration Citizenship Check Failure in Arizona Affected 218,000 Voters (Gateway Pundit, Sept 30, 2024)

Be sure to check your voter registration status in Oregon before the deadline, October 15th

Related Election News

The left keeps accusing conservatives of “The Big Lie” – a term invented by Hitler as he prepared to persecute German Jews (Natural News, January 26, 2020)
Good news in a swing state! In deep-blue Philly, working class voters are shifting toward Republicans (Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct 2, 2024)
- “Democrats have lost the most ground in neighborhoods where poverty rates are highest.”
- “The question you ask at the door — doesn’t matter, Black, white — is: are you better off than you were four years ago? …That’s the universal message. And people aren’t.”

14-39 The 2024 Election – Two Elements of What’s at Stake

By Dr Mark | September 28, 2024 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 14-39 Summary: It’s not just the candidates running. It’s what’s at stake in this election. And we look at just two elements with huge implications. Control over federal agencies, whether those will expand or be reined in and deregulated. And all the federal land that might be at stake thanks to a potential Supreme Court ruling — if they take it up and if the next administration acts on it.

Original Air Dates: September 28, 2024, 2024 | Guests: Kimberley Hermann and Myron Ebell

This Week – What’s at Stake

It’s never just about the candidates running. It’s what’s at stake after the election. And we look at just two elements with huge implications of those potential futures. While the economy gets most of the attention, it’s much more than that.

First, we look at control over federal agencies, and whether those will expand or be reined in and deregulated. Or even disbanded. The regulatory agencies are the leash on the economy. Will the economy be given more rope or even let run off leash? Or chained up?

You can guess which candidate wants what on that. But with the new Loper-Bright Supreme Court decision, that overturned a previous SCOTUS ruling, Congress could, if it has the backbone, rein in these overreaching agencies that prevent economic expansion. We talk with Kimberley Herman, the executive director of Southeastern Legal Foundation, about what the overturn of the Chevron deference could mean for the future of government.

What’s at Stake: 640 million acres of federal lands

Years ago, we followed the effort to allow states to take possession of the federal lands within their own borders that had been promised to them at the time of statehood. And all the federal land that might be at stake thanks to a potential Supreme Court ruling — if they take it up and if the next administration acts on it.

That is, after all, what happened with the states east of the Mississippi. None of those states have massive amounts of land in their borders still held by the federal government. But for states West of the Mississippi and in particular, West of the Rockies, states have tremendous amounts of land within their borders still held by the federal government. Oregon has 53.03% of its land that is not its land—it’s held by the federal government. and it’s also tremendously mismanaged by the federal government. Meaning they don’t. And that’s why Oregon has massive forest fires every year. When you don’t manage forests they become kindling factories.

Now, a new lawsuit by Utah is at the Supreme Court. All they need are four justices to vote to hear the case before the full court. This could have huge implications for states that have so much of their land held by the federal government which is doing nothing with it. Imagine the impact of land being brought into active production and use whether that’s agriculture, timber, mining, camping, hunting… Kind of activity that will spur the economy. not to mention create taxable wealth for the government. Rather than letting it sit there and rot and burn which only wastes taxpayers’ money.

We welcomed back long-time guest, Myron Ebell (although it’s been a long time since we last spoke), who is now the chairman of American Lands Council.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Our guests’ websites are Southeastern Legal Foundation and American Lands Council.
Boeing Starliner rolls out to launch pad for 1st astronaut flight on May 6 (Space.com, May 4, 2024)
Relentless and Loper-Bright decision (SCOTUS Blog, June 2024)
This year marks first since 1958 that US held no oil and gas lease sales (Just the News, Sept 25, 2024)
Oregon is the #5 state with the most land owned by the federal government (Philomath News, May 27, 2022)