Let's Talk Tillamook is an independent community project led by experienced broadcasters and journalists, dedicated to providing accurate, factual information and thoughtful conversations for the people of Tillamook County and the Oregon Coast. Each episode dives into the issues shaping our communities — from libraries and childcare to tourism, veterans' services, and food security — through honest conversations with the people working on the front lines.
Oregon's Sanctuary Law: First in the Nation, Under Pressure Now | Let's Talk Tillamook
Oregon was the first state to pass a sanctuary law in 1987. What does it actually do, and what's happening to it now?Shaena Peterson talks with Sidra Pierson of the Rural Organizing Project (ROP), a statewide network of rural community groups in Oregon and Washington. They cover:- Why Oregon passed its sanctuary law and how the 2021 Sanctuary Promise Act updated it- Why voters rejected Measure 105 in 2018 and kept the law- A federal loophole involving U.S. Marshals and how it's affecting Oregon families- ROP's lawsuits against Columbia County and, in May 2026, the Oregon State Police over sharing personal data with ICE- Why the law is still worth defending, and how you can get involvedLearn more or get involved with the Rural Organizing Project: https://www.rop.orgSupport their work: https://www.rop.org/donateLet's Talk Tillamook is a community conversation for Tillamook County and the Oregon Coast. Subscribe for more honest, in-depth discussions about the issues shaping our community. Also available on Spotify.
31 Aug 2026
Your Vote. Your Rights. | Tobias Read on Oregon's Vote-by-Mail System & the Federal Threat to It
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read joins Shaena Peterson to talk about something every Oregon voter should understand before November: how the state's vote-by-mail system works — and what the federal government is doing to undermine it.
From the SAVE Act to the Supreme Court's recent ruling backing the president's executive order on mail-in voting, Tobias Read explains what's at stake, who stands to lose their vote, and why Oregon voters can still be confident heading into November.
Let's Talk Tillamook covers the issues that matter to coastal communities from Astoria to Brookings. For more conversations like this, subscribe to our channel.
3 Aug 2026
Christian Nationalism: Faith, Power & Politics | Tim Mayne | Let's Talk Tillamook
Christian Nationalism is showing up in Congress, state legislatures, school boards, and pulpits across America. In this episode of Let's Talk Tillamook, Shaena Peterson sits down with Tim Mayne — a pastor of 42 years — to talk about what this movement gets wrong about Christian values, how it's influencing federal policy, and what meaningful pushback looks like.
Let's Talk Tillamook is an independent community project dedicated to providing accurate, factual information and thoughtful conversations for rural communities on the Oregon Coast.
Find us on YouTube and Spotify.
10 Jul 2026
Coastal Oregon at a Crossroads | Cyrus Javadi on Health Care, Roads & What's Coming
State Representative Cyrus Javadi (HD-32) joins Shaena Peterson to talk about how federal policy decisions are hitting the Oregon coast hard — from nearly a trillion dollars in Medicaid cuts threatening rural hospitals, to the defeat of Measure 120 and what it means for Oregon's crumbling roads and bridges, to looming pressures on food security, housing, and the coastal economy.
Cyrus is a Tillamook dentist who hears firsthand from patients what these changes mean on the ground — and he brings that perspective to the state capitol.
Let's Talk Tillamook covers the issues that matter to coastal communities from Astoria to Brookings. For more conversations like this, subscribe to our channel.
15 Jun 2026
Childcare Deserts on the Oregon Coast — Eva Manderson on What's Behind the Shortage
Childcare access is a growing challenge across Oregon — especially for infants and toddlers. In this episode of Let's Talk Tillamook, we break down new data on regulated childcare availability by age group and what it means for families, employers, and communities.
Host Shaena Peterson talks with Eva Manderson, Director of Northwest Regional Child Care Resource & Referral, serving Tillamook, Clatsop, and Columbia counties. Together, they explain what childcare deserts are, why shortages predate COVID, and how public funding shapes the availability of childcare across the state.
15 Jun 2026
Coastal Tourism in Uncharted Territory — Dan Haag on the Oregon Coast Economy
Oregon Coast tourism is heading into unfamiliar territory. In this episode of Let's Talk Tillamook, Shaena Peterson talks with Dan Haag of Visit Tillamook Coast about how federal policy shifts, a sharp drop in international visitors, and rising gas prices are reshaping the local visitor economy.
They dig into the numbers behind the shift — including a 22% drop in Canadian visitors to the U.S. in 2025, $4.5 billion in lost Canadian spending nationwide, and a 14.5% decline in Canadian trips to the region in February 2026 compared to a year earlier. Canadian travelers have historically made up roughly 30% of Oregon's international visitors, so the impact is significant for coastal businesses.
The conversation also covers how workforce shortages — compounded by a lack of childcare, housing, and young people leaving the coast — are affecting the tourism industry, and a notable jump in grant applications this year (from 30-40 up to around 60), signaling growing need among local organizations.
The episode also highlights the North Coast Food Trail, an 80-mile route from Astoria to Neskowin showcasing the farms, fisheries, breweries, and restaurants that make up Oregon's coastal bounty — fish, farm, food, and forage. Learn more at tillamookcoast.com.
15 Jun 2026
Supporting American Veterans on the Oregon Coast — A Conversation with Ky Hunter
This episode of Let's Talk Tillamook focuses on the challenges facing America's veterans and the resources available to support them. Shaena Peterson talks with Ky Hunter about the realities veterans face after service — from the scale of the post-9/11 veteran population to the cost and reach of VA healthcare, and the ongoing toll of toxic exposure from wartime service. The conversation also highlights the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and its confidential peer support resources, available 24/7 for veterans and their families.
If you or someone you know is a veteran in need of support, IAVA's RAPID line is available at 855-91-RAPID (855-917-2743), or visit IAVA.org.
15 Jun 2026
Oregon's Libraries Are Under Attack — State Librarian Wendy Cornelisen on What's at Stake
Oregon's coastal libraries are facing a perfect storm — federal funding cuts, record book challenges, and growing hostility toward the people who work the front lines. The Chinook Library Network, launched on the coast in 2025, links Tillamook and Lincoln County libraries so residents from Astoria to Waldport can share resources seamlessly. But with $0 proposed for library funding in the FY2027 federal budget, programs like that — and the 1.3 million database resources Oregonians access each year — are at risk.
In this episode, Shaena Peterson sits down with Wendy Cornelisen, State Librarian of Oregon, to talk about what's really at stake for coastal and rural communities. They cover the Chinook Library Network serving Tillamook, Lincoln, and Clatsop counties; the legal and legislative fight to preserve federal library funding; Oregon's unique book-challenge tracking going back to 1987; and what everyday Oregonians can do to help. If you have a library card — or wish you used it more — this one's for you.
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