by Taylor Griggs The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, th ere is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! It's set to be sunny this afternoon after a foggy morning, with temps in the high 40s. More January sun is coming your way later this week before a pattern shift back to rain next week. Let's get to the news. IN LOCAL NEWS:  • It's quite an interesting time in Portland city politics. Yesterday, the Mercury reported a story revealing that as the Portland City Council was discussing entrenched racism in local politics at a meeting last week, a local real estate broker and a handful of connected political activists were texting racist messages to each other about progressive councilors of color. The Mercury obtained photos of the texts, which include racist, sexist, and homophobic slurs used over the course of two hours. The reporting shows how moneyed interests are lining up to defeat progressive officials, candidates, and policy, and using tired tropes to justify their aims. Many of the people exchanging the texts have councilors' ears and generally occupy a pretty influential role in city politics. Enough from me, because you've just gotta read the story if you haven't already. You can do that HERE.  • Another big piece of news yesterday: The new union representing Portland City Council aides and operations staff filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) complaint against the city for alleged anti-union conduct from Councilor Loretta Smith’s office. Smith fired one of her staffers last week, and according to the union, the firing was in retaliation for the employee's involvement in union organizing. The staffer, Adam Murray, describes a major shift in behavior from Smith and her chief of staff after the union announcement in mid-December, saying the two engaged in a "sustained campaign of hostility, isolation, and altered working conditions." Find out more here.  • Yesterday's news may have an impact on today's City Council meeting, in which councilors will once again attempt to elect a new president after failing to do so last week. After a two-person competition between current Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney and new contender Sameer Kanal seemed destined for a stalemate, Smith was nominated as a last-minute addition, along with Councilor Steve Novick. It's unclear what's going to happen, but the meeting is sure to be dramatic, so stay tuned for more on that soon.  • As you'll see in the national news section, the Trump administration is apparently on a tear of threatening to cut off federal funding. Here's yet another way this illegal retaliation could impact Oregon, as the government threatens the state due to its new law authorizing unemployment pay to striking workers.    The state could lose $100 million in funding and businesses could lose $500 million in tax credits if the Trump administration finds Oregon isn't complying with federal rules.[image or embed] — The Oregonian (@oregonian.com) January 14, 2026 at 8:00 AM   • On a lighter note, we're a month out from Valentine's Day, and the Mercury has a great way to show your boo some love. Send 'em a sweet note here!    Submit your own Portland Valentine! 💝 Do you love “love”? Then send your sweetie, pal, pet, or potted plant a FREE Mercury Valentine! The first 200 will be published in our February print issue (but all will be printed online)![image or embed] — Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) January 13, 2026 at 12:18 PM   IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS: • Toward the end of a rambling and overall bad speech in Detroit yesterday, President Donald Trump threatened to cut off federal funding to states that contain "sanctuary cities," expanding on his previous threat merely to cut off funding to the cities themselves. Trump said the change would start February 1. When reporters asked what funding would be impacted, he told them to wait and see, but that "it'll be significant." It should be noted that this would constitute illegal retaliation, and a similar threat was struck down in the courts in the past. But laws won't stop this guy from trying to intimidate people into submission! The American empire is circling the drain.  • The crackdown on protests in Iran is increasing, with the government signaling it would move to swiftly try and execute those detained for protesting over the past few weeks. Already, the death toll from the security force crackdown on the protests, which come as the Iranian economy collapses under intense international sanctions, is said to exceed 2,500. Trump has warned US military action on the country if the Iranian government carries out executions of peaceful protesters, which is a sentence that should never be written without also stating that the Trump administration has condoned and effectively called for the killing of peaceful protesters in the United States, which came to fruition in Minneapolis just last week. Considering Trump's thirst to take military action in all corners of the world, including Iran, his intentions here shouldn't be taken for granted.  • Late yesterday, the Trump administration ended hundreds of federal grants supporting mental health and drug addiction treatment services. The cuts could reach roughly $2 billion, which one expert said would constitute a "severe loss of front-line capacity"—at a time when more and more Americans are struggling with their mental health, and already failing to access adequate treatment. The letters apparently state that the services "no longer align with the administration's priorities." Find out more here.  • Finally, I wish this level of peace upon you today. Be well, my friends, and happy Wednesday.              View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Women for Wolves (@womenforwolves)                   ...read more read less