Two Oregon-Born Journalists Agree to Disagree

It’s an interesting back-and-forth between two people at the top of their professions who shepherd the commentary that will shape the next four years.

Kimberly Strassel. (Gage Skidmore)
By Tito Crafts

It’s the holiday season, and perhaps you’re steeling yourself for a long dinner in the company of an uncle whose political beliefs make you choke on your eggnog. If you’re looking for a model for how to keep the conversation civil, you could do worse than watching this exchange from October.

The discussion features Nicholas Kristof, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times, in conversation with Kimberly Strassel, a member of the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal. As native Oregonians (Kristof is from Yamhill, Strassel is from Buxton), the two sat down Oct. 18 for a chat to benefit the Oregon Journalism Project, a new nonprofit investigative newsroom for the state of Oregon.

Their conversation was moderated by Brent Walth, the former managing editor for news at WW, who now teaches journalism at the University of Oregon and serves on the board of directors for OJP.

It’s an interesting exchange between two people at the top of their professions who shepherd the commentary that will shape the next four years. Strassel, in particular, had some pointed words about liberals ignoring the appeal of Donald Trump that proved prescient in November.

Here’s the video:

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.