Friday 4/17/26 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Information
Podcasts on www.BillMeyerShow.com
Facebook – www.Facebook.com/billmeyershow
6:35 Jim Bopp Jr.
Federal Court Rules that Oregon’s Law Requiring Abortion Coverage in Oregon Right to Life’s Employee Health Plan Violates ORTL’s Religious Freedom
On Tuesday, Oregon Right to Life (“ORTL”), a pro-life organization, secured a victory in Oregon’s federal district court. ORTL had challenged an Oregon law (the “Abortion Mandate”) requiring employers, including ORTL, to pay for abortion coverage in employee health insurance plans. Even though Oregon provided both secular exceptions and exceptions for other religious organizations that met the state’s narrow definition of a “religious employer,” it had refused to exempt ORTL, despite ORTL’s religious objection to the Abortion Mandate.
Such a statutory scheme infringes on bedrock First Amendment protections. When the government gives a pass to some based on secular criteria, the Constitution prohibits it from requiring others to act in violation of their sincere religious beliefs. The same principles also prohibit the government from picking and choosing religious “winners” and “losers” by creating its own definition of “religious.” Accordingly, by exempting favored entities while requiring ORTL to purchase employee insurance plans that cover abortion, the very thing ORTL is devoted to fighting against based on its religious beliefs, the Abortion Mandate plainly violated ORTL’s religious liberty.
ORTL argued that these First Amendment principles required the court to find the Abortion Mandate unconstitutional. In particular, ORTL noted that just last year the Supreme Court, in Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, reaffirmed that the First Amendment provides protection in cases like this, finding that a Wisconsin law with a remarkably similar exemption for narrowly defined religious entities violated the U.S. Constitution’s requirement of religious neutrality by government.
The court agreed. Immediately after counsel’s presentation of oral arguments on Tuesday, the judge announced from the bench that he was going to rule in ORTL’s favor that the Abortion Mandate is unconstitutional because it violates ORTL’s religious freedom under the First Amendment.
James Bopp, Jr., of The Bopp Law Firm, PC, lead counsel for ORTL, stated, “The First Amendment provides the plain guarantee that a state simply may not play favorites when it comes to religious organizations. It may not favor secular entities over entities with religious views and it may not favor one religious view over another. We are pleased that the court recognized these basic truths today, preventing Oregon from forcing ORTL to pay for the thing it is dedicated to fighting against.”
“The First Amendment protection of religious freedom is foundational to our understanding of freedom in our country,” Oregon Right to Life Executive Director Lois Anderson said. “From the beginning, we have asserted that Oregon’s Mandate was unconstitutional and violated the rights of pro-life Oregonians. It was always absurd for Oregon to attempt to force Oregon Right to Life, as a pro-life organization, to fund abortion—the very practice we are dedicated to opposing. Yesterday, the federal court agreed. This is a win for Oregon Right to Life, but more than that, it is a victory for all pro-life Oregonians.”
7:10 Greg Roberts, www.RogueWeather.com with today’s Outdoor Report
7:35 Kevin C. Plunkett, retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and founder of Willowdale Ranch Highland Lakes Center in Southern Oregon (Near Howard Prairie Lake)
Kevin has built something truly remarkable — a healing-centered ranch dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders through hands-on programs, community connection, and purpose-driven activities. Willowdale is growing rapidly, and the impact on the men and women who’ve served is already profound.
FUNDRAISER TOMORROW NIGHT at Rocky Tonk in Medford, 6pm!
Rocky Tonk Spring Event
- Saturday, April 18, 2026
- 6:00 PM 11:00 PM
- Google Calendar ICS
Rocky Tonk Saloon, 333 E Main St, Medford, OR 97501
8:10 Eric Fruits – Oregon-based economist. www.substack.com@ericfruits
Where Are All the Normies?
How a century-old political playbook explains why the city’s decline may be a feature, not a bug
Apr 13, 2026
If you’re looking for something to listen to on your commute this week, I urge you to check out my interview with Andy Chandler on NW Fresh. Andy’s a great interviewer, we have a lot of fun, and cover a range of topics. Where else are you going to learn about the “Upper Decker” theory of politics?
I went to lunch downtown this week. As we walked to our table, everyone in the group reported that as they walked from their cars to the restaurant, they saw someone hunched over smoking fentanyl. The conversation continued. Everyone over 50 admitted they are looking for ways to leave Portland, and many of their friends had already done so: “Once the kids are gone, we’re outta here.”
When the talk turns to the region’s taxes, declining schools, deteriorating roads, diminished public safety, and the commercial real estate crisis, someone will inevitably ask, “Can’t these politicians see what’s in front of their faces?”
Well, they do. But, according to a theory named after a long-time Boston mayor, they might like what they see because that’s a key to getting them into office. READ MORE: https://ericfruits.substack.com/p/where-are-all-the-normies
Watch The GOP Gubernatorial Debate on the party’s youtube page
https://www.youtube.com/@Oregon-RepublicanParty
You can also sign up on www.Oregon.gop
7pm to 8:30 tonight.
Thursday 4/16/26 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Information
Podcasts on www.BillMeyerShow.com
Facebook – www.Facebook.com/billmeyershow
6:40 Isabel Vincent, author of RFK JR.: THE FALL AND RISE
This release marks the one-year anniversary of RFK Jr.’s appointment as Secretary for Health and Human Services, reflecting on his impactful first year in office. It uncovers the personal struggles, family pressures, and political milestones that have shaped his extraordinary and often contradictory life.
. RFK Jr.’s break with the Democratic Party and the Kennedy family
. Kennedy’s views on science from vaccines to the environment, etc.
. How his past in the environmental movement informs his current role as Secretary for Health and Human Services
https://people.com/rfk-jr-and-mary-richardson-kennedy-portrait-of-a-doomed-marriage-11943408
7:10 Rob Schlapfer of the Oregon Education Project is in studio – we discuss the politicizing of social studies curriculum, and the teachers union is pushing this, in conjunction with pressure from Governor Kotek. Heat to www.OregonEd.info to read Rob’s amazing research projects and info regarding education reform. On the page you really need to check out “The Science of Learning”.
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Wednesday 4/15/26 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Information
Podcasts on www.BillMeyerShow.com
Facebook – www.Facebook.com/billmeyershow
6:15 Nathan Worcester, Senior Congressional Reporter with the Epoch Times – www.TheEpochTimes.com. The Iran war is of course a headliner as Congress returns to work, but there are other vital issues coming up, some with deadlines!
Iran War Powers vote? Growing numbers on the Hill are pushing for a vote
Renewal of controversial Section 702 of FISA, which allows the government to spy on foreign targets believed to be a threat to the US. Controversial because Americans can get caught up in the surveillance without a warrant. The deadline is this Friday, April 20!
The DHS shutdown continues – the Senate has passed a bill. Will the House also do so?
6:35 Eric Peters, automotive journalist from www.EpAutos.com with a great talk on transportation, politics and what’s going on with car and truck reviews.
https://www.ericpetersautos.com/2026/04/15/a-spanbergering/
https://www.ericpetersautos.com/2026/04/14/another-cost-of-the-war/
https://www.ericpetersautos.com/2026/04/13/the-iceberg-ahead-for-gm-and-ford-and-stellantis/
https://www.ericpetersautos.com/2026/04/14/2026-infiniti-qx60/
8:10 John Cox, American attorney, businessman, broadcaster, and political activist. We talk Gavin Newsome’s presidential ambitions. (More below) But more importantly, John is spearheading increasing the number of congressional relatives. Instead of a Congressman representing 750,000 people, each district would be split into 100 representatives. Read more about this at www.HearThePeople.org , take a look and tell me what you think?
John Cox’s op-ed, in THE HILL is getting traction. Gavin Newsom keeps making news: he’s now mocking JD Vance as a “lightweight” after the failed Iran talks, and City Journal just dropped another investigation showing $6-12 billion in annual fraud in his $30 billion home care program. That’s on top of the $180 billion “Empire of Fraud” piece from two weeks ago.
John ran against Newsom in 2018 and supported his recall in 2020. He knows this guy better than anyone.
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Tuesday 4/14/26 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Information
Podcasts on www.BillMeyerShow.com
Facebook – www.Facebook.com/billmeyershow
6:35 Kenneth Rapoza has had a long career in the mainstream press. He was a staff reporter for the Wall Street Journal in Brazil for six years, then moved to the U.S. to cover Brazil, Russia, India, and China for Forbes as a senior contributor from 2011 to 2023. He is currently an analyst at the Coalition for a Prosperous America, a trade association focused on industrial strategy and preserving investments in domestic manufacturing
More on Kenneth: https://prosperousamerica.org/staff/kenneth-rapoza/
The Shaky Trump-Iran Cease-Fire Means Being Ready to Exit Any ‘War’s Over’ Rally
By Kenneth Rapoza, Reporter/Columnist for Coalition for a Prosperous America
The two-week cease-fire timeline may not be reliable. Will it hold? Nobody knows for sure. Recall that last June, Trump declared victory when the U.S. bombed an Iranian nuclear site. On Feb. 28, Operation Epic Fury began. Some would expect the Iran war to continue. If you believe that, you dip back into oil, invest in slower economic growth by buying discounted large-cap stocks and avoid emerging-market fuel and food importers. There’s the “war’s over” trade, and there’s the short-term scramble to trade the two-week cease-fire and buy assets that got beaten up by the war, like airline stocks. But if the truce doesn’t hold, investors have to be ready to sell in 14 days or less. If we start from the position that Trump wants to honor the cease-fire, then that leaves two obvious indicators to watch: What will Israel do? And what will Iran do? [more…]
7:10 Elaine Culotti, the “Lipstick Farmer,” successful real estate developer, interior designer, serial entrepreneur, and star of Discovery’s Undercover Billionaire — is an Independent (No Party Preference) candidate for Governor of California. A hands-on farmer and business mogul who built multimillion-dollar projects from scratch, she is running as an outsider to break the one-party Democrat stranglehold and restore sanity to Sacramento.
Elaine Culotti: The Real Strategy Behind Dumping Swalwell — and How Independents Can Disrupt the Democrat Scheme
California’s Future: Elaine Culotti’s Independent Vision
FIND HER WEBSITE HERE:
FIND HER X HERE:
7:35 Former State Senator Herman Baertschiger does a deep dive with me on the Association of O&C counties and the push by the Trump Administration to “get back in the woods”. Herman explains why he doesn’t think this is possible. (Not that he wouldn’t WANT it to work)
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Monday 4/13/26 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Information
Podcasts on www.BillMeyerShow.com
Facebook – www.Facebook.com/billmeyershow
6:35 Dr. Douglas Small, founder of Prayer At The Heart and we discuss the need for another Great Awakening and the vision of one million Christians praying for one million conversions
Read ALL about it HERE!:
https://prayerattheheart.org/about/leadership-team/
7:10
7:35 State Representative Dwayne Yunker – responds to some scuttle talk at the Jo County Commission, and he also unveils the plan to take out SB 1507 with ANOTHER citizen referendum. Dwayne and State Rep. Diehl are spearheading this “No Tax Clawback”. Keep up with this plan at https://notaxor.com/
8:10 Where Past Meets Present historical segment with Dr. Dennis Powers, retired professor of business law at SOU. www.DennisPowersBooks.com
Beaver Money
By Dennis Powers
In the mid-nineteenth century when Oregon was a territory, U.S. currency was scarce and seldom used. Oregonians used Mexican pesos, beaver pelts, wheat, otter pelts, and even traded blankets as the currency for their transactions. To solve their need for standardized money that was easy to hold and use, the Oregon Provisional Legislature authorized in 1849 the Oregon Exchange Company in Oregon City to mint gold coins.
One side was hand-stamped with a large beaver crouching over a log, hence the name “beaver money”; the other side of these coins had the name of the Oregon Exchange Company and the year, 1849, stamped on it. The exchange melted down gold dust into molten strips and struck 6,000 coins with a five-dollar ($5) domination, and then produced nearly 3,000 with a ten-dollar ($10) value.
Despite being the size of a minted U.S. Half-Eagle, beaver money actually held more gold. In fact, eight-percent (8%) more than the $5 and $10 coins being struck by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. In months, however, the private firm stopped its work when a key investor left in late 1849 to try and strike it rich in the California gold fields. Although it was illegal federally for a private entity to have minted these coins, settlers used them–even after the U.S. San Francisco Mint was established five years later and ordered all of the illegal coins to be brought in and smelted down.
With U.S. gold coins now available from the U.S. Mint–along with gold dust, nuggets, and U.S. currency–nearly all of the beaver coins disappeared over time. For their historical value and rarity, these coins are now very valuable. With no more than 50 of the $5 and $10 coins believed to be in existence today, one $5 coin sold in 2006 for $125,000 (then in 2014, more than double that) and the $10 coin is valued substantially more. Reproductions of these coins are abundant and not nearly or closely worth as much.
As the price of buying and selling beaver money is typically kept confidential, these coins are extraordinarily valuable.
Sources: “Willamette Heritage: Beaver Money” at Beaver Money; Eugene Register Guard, March 4, 2015, “Eugene dealer snares 165-year-old Oregon ‘Beaver Coin’” at Dealer Purchase.