Bryan Martz

[Not Today Eric @NotTodayEric]

Ok hear me out.

[Jeremy @jeremyct]

Just got off the phone with my college roommate.

His daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in January.

He has insurance. Good insurance. The kind you feel safe having.

7 months later:
Savings: wiped out. 401k: cashed early. Penalties and all. House: refinanced to cover the gaps insurance decided weren’t their problem.

He told me he’s not the same person anymore.

Said watching your child fight for her life while simultaneously fighting an insurance company over coverage codes does something to you that doesn’t go away.

They did everything right.
Two incomes. No debt. Responsible their whole lives.

One diagnosis undid all of it in 7 months.

And somewhere a health insurance CEO is getting a $30 million bonus this quarter.

I don’t know how people defend this system with a straight face.

I really don’t.

[Portland Moderate. @pdxmoderate]

Losing the Trail Blazers would be an economic catastrophe that Portland cannot afford. We aren't talking about subsidizing a hobby; we are talking about protecting a massive economic engine that generates $670 million in annual impact and supports over 4,500 jobs.

The Moda Center is the anchor of the Rose Quarter, and without the Blazers, that district becomes a ghost town. In a city that is desperately trying to claw its way back to economic stability, voluntarily letting your biggest commercial tenant walk away isn't just negligence, it’s financial suicide.

The argument that this is a "handout to billionaires" is lazy and ignores the actual mechanics of the proposed deal (Senate Bill 1501). The funding model doesn't hike your property taxes; it reinvests the income taxes paid by the players, visiting teams, and touring artists—money that wouldn’t exist without the arena—back into the building.

We are essentially telling the NBA: "We will use the massive revenue you generate to keep your workplace world-class." That is not charity; that is basic business retention. If we don’t do it, cities like Las Vegas or Seattle will happily build a palace for our team and take that tax revenue for themselves.

Furthermore, this isn't just about the NBA anymore.

We finally secured a WNBA franchise (the Portland Fire), and its success is tethered to a viable, modern venue. If the Moda Center continues to rot as the oldest un-renovated arena in the league, we lose Tier 1 concerts, we lose the NCAA tournaments, and eventually, we lose the Blazers. You cannot have a "major league" city with minor league infrastructure.

The choice isn't between "schools or stadiums"—that’s a false dichotomy.

The choice is between having a thriving entertainment district that funds public services or a vacant concrete shell that funds nothing.

Portland is at a tipping point. We have a limited window before the current lease expires in 2030 to secure a long-term commitment from ownership.

Refusing to partner on this renovation gives them every excuse to look elsewhere. We have already seen what happens when Portland rests on its laurels—businesses leave and the tax base crumbles.

Let’s not make the same mistake with the only major professional sports team that puts this city on the global map. Renovate the Moda Center, secure the team for the next 30 years, and stop gambling with the city’s economic future.

One thing every politician has made clear - from the Governor to the Mayor to the City Council - is that they are willing to invest in the Trailblazers, and don't want to be blamed if the team leaves town.

That first part is great, but won't hold up the second part. People can cite whatever economic analysis they want, it would be a disaster if the Blazers left town, and there would be plenty of blame to go around.

@MayorKWilson @mitch4portland @jamiedunphy @TeacherTiff4PDX @pnwpolicyangel @NovickOR @GovTinaKotek @candaceforpdx

[Rob Friedman @PitchingNinja]

Eduard Bazardo just ended Endy 💀⚰️🪦

[Seattle Mariners @Mariners]

🛒 Repost to Win 🛒

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[Ted Lasso @TedLasso]

@ESPNNBA Spot on.

[Bryan Martz @bmartzie]

@NickKristof Bear-y cool!

[Mike Young @micyoung75]

The man running the agency responsible for 340 million Americans' health arrives at 10am, leaves by 4pm, skips his own division chief meetings, and when he does show up - scrolls his phone and gets described by colleagues as "checked out."

Ebola is spreading. Six Americans already exposed. He has not briefed himself with CDC scientists. His response to a reporter asking if he was worried: "Yeah, we're working on it."

The CDC is being run by a health economist with no public health experience who already has another full-time job running NIH. Half of the 27 NIH institutes have no permanent director. The top FDA drug regulator got fired in May - Kennedy found out after it happened.
When measles killed two children in Texas, the CDC official leading the response asked repeatedly to brief Kennedy. He was rebuffed every time.

The person actually running HHS operations is a longtime personal adviser whose policy spreadsheet - more than 50 items - is hidden from the department's own policy team. When Kennedy gets asked a question, his standing answer is "just run that by Stefanie."

This is not a management philosophy. This is a vacancy wearing a title.

[Troll Sports @trollsports]

New Knicks fan: “My Mayor is Muslim, my bagel is Jewish, my Christian’s Dior… Knicks in four!!!”

[Seattle Mariners @Mariners]

💐 REPOST TO WIN 💐

We’re giving away a Mother’s Day Prize Pack, thanks to the @MarinersStore! All you have to do is hit that repost button for a chance to win.

[Seattle Mariners @Mariners]

🛒 REPOST TO WIN 🛒

Our friends at @Fred_Meyer are back with another chance for you to win a $500 gift card! All you need to do is hit that repost button and take advantage of Mariners Rewards next time you’re grocery shopping. https://t.co/32L2zzQkNy

[Jen Mueller @JenTalksSports]

By future of journalism do you mean

A. Not fact checking when this happened
B. Not asking for or seeking out context
C. Blindly reposting content from random people

Then you totally nailed it @barstoolsports

[Cato Institute @CatoInstitute]

Audits in Utah, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, and Georgia found a few dozen possible noncitizen registrants out of millions—and virtually no voting. Trump’s claim that noncitizens are swinging elections is false, says Cato’s @stephen_richer.

https://t.co/13ky0NqACJ

[Pat Ryan 🇺🇸 @PatRyanUC]

$38,300,000,000 of your tax dollars.

Not for healthcare. Not for education. Not for small businesses.

But for mass-detention camps.

It’s flat out UNAMERICAN.

Nobody can sit on the sidelines — it will take all of us fighting back together to stop this.

[Elmo @elmo]

That Bunny was AMAZING. Elmo thinks he should be called Good Bunny! Elmo loves you, Mr. Good Bunny! ❤️🎶🐰

[Bryan Martz @bmartzie]

@JHopkinsSD Somebody will die from this.

[SportsCenter @SportsCenter]

THE PILOTS PULL OFF THE STUNNER‼️

Portland upsets No. 6 Gonzaga 😱

[Chris Cotillo @ChrisCotillo]

This obviously looks unusual and like a niche doc but trust me when I say it was absolutely phenomenal

[Brendan Keefe - Atlanta News First @BrendanKeefe]

The truth is always important, as is holding government statements to account.

[Amy Klobuchar @amyklobuchar]

Donald Trump and all your lieutenants who ordered this ICE surge: watch the horrific video of the killing today. The world is watching. Thousands of citizens stopped and harassed. Local police no longer able to do their work. Kids hiding. Schools closed. Get ICE out of Minnesota NOW. And Republicans in congress: Stop your silence and stop being complicit.