Why We Left Portland

Quillette‘s Jonathan Kay talks to two ex-Portlanders—Nancy Rommelmann and Michael Totten—about how the COVID-19 pandemic and a year of violent protests turned their once beloved city into a fractured, downwardly mobile arena for America’s culture war.

This podcast was first aired 28 Mar 2021: https://quillette.com/2021/03/28/podc...

Sources discussed in this podcast include:

Leaving Portland, by Michael Totten
The Internet Locusts Descend on Ristretto Roasters, by Nancy Rommelmann
‘You’re Not Allowed To Film’: The Fight To Control Who Reports From Portland, by Nancy Rommelmann
American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, by Colin Woodward

Nancy Rommelmann is an American author, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She has written extensively on a range of topics, including culture, society, crime, and current events. Rommelmann has contributed to various publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Reason, The Oregonian, and The Guardian.

Rommelmann has a diverse body of work, often focusing on human stories and exploring the complexities of individuals and communities. She has covered topics such as true crime, homelessness, urban development, and social issues.

In addition to her writing, Rommelmann has directed and produced documentary films. One notable project is "The 8th Day," which examines the impact of wrongful convictions and the work of the Innocence Project.

Michael Totten is an American author, journalist, and foreign correspondent who has covered conflicts and political developments in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and other regions. He has written extensively on his experiences and observations from his travels, providing on-the-ground reporting and analysis.

Totten has contributed to various publications, including The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and World Affairs Journal. He has also authored several books, including "Tower of the Sun: Stories from the Middle East and North Africa" and "The Road to Fatima Gate: The Beirut Spring, the Rise of Hezbollah, and the Iranian War Against Israel."

His work often explores the complexities of regional conflicts, political movements, and cultural dynamics. Totten has ventured into areas such as Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Israel, and others, reporting on events and interviewing a wide range of individuals to provide nuanced perspectives on the ground.

As a journalist and author, Totten has received recognition for his reporting and writing. He has been a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and has received grants and awards for his work.


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Quillette is an Australian based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values.

Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology.

Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge the heterodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship.

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