by Wm. Steven Humphrey GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It's the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being "the last to know," then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email's in-box... and then... YOUR HEAD.) • Disillusioned, But Determined: Portland Activists Plot a Path Forward As Second Trump Term Looms Recent Portland protests paled in comparison to those of 2020. Are activists giving up, or more likely, writing a new game plan? Suzette Smith • Hey Sexy! Take the Mercury's 2025 SEX SURVEY! If you're a fan of S-E-X, then don't miss the Mercury's annual SEX SURVEY, in which we ask YOU to (anonymously) tell us all your deepest, darkest, and sexiest secrets. 🤫 Are you sexier than the average Portlander? Let's find out! Greg Stump • With $850 Million Secured, ODOT Plans to Break Ground on Rose Quarter Project ODOT says it has enough funds to begin work on the plan to widen and cap I-5 in Portland's Rose Quarter. But its budget doesn't account for major parts of the plan to reconnect the Albina neighborhood and improve safety on surrounding streets, and filling the budget gaps may come with challenges. Taylor Griggs • Portland’s Top Holiday Events: A Critical Review Portland's traditional holiday events are always fun—but everything can be improved, right? The Mercury's Wm. Steven Humphrey has a few ideas that could make these events even better... some of which might be illegal? (That's for the courts to decide.) Anthony Keo / Oregon Heritage Rail Center • Portland Drag Queen, Sue from Corporate, Bids the Scene "Sue Long" For Now Sue delivers talking points on how many wigs it takes to move cross-country, and why nothing is scarier than corporate culture. Courtesy of the artist • THE TRASH REPORT This week: Wealthy capitalist Lizzo calls out capitalism, Meghan McCain: nepo baby, and who will play the insurance CEO killer in the movie version? 🤔 Kevin Winter / Getty Images • Hear in Portland This week in music news: PDX Jazz's once-in-a-lifetime Erykah Badu concert, Cool Nutz planned a Christmas-themed hip-hop "Festivale," and Ural Thomas plays his own 85th birthday party. Bryan Bedder/Getty • TICKET ALERT James Taylor & His All-Star Band is visiting next spring, electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk have dropped dates for their upcoming tour, and snazzy satirist Ziwe will bring her confrontation-as-comedy style to town. Norman Seeff • Where to Go Ice Skating in Portland Winter is the ideal time to balance on some sharp-ass blades and hit the ice (hopefully not too hard). Here are our top picks for where you can find ice skating in Portland this season! 🧊⛸️ Courtesy Lloyd Center • SAVAGE LOVE At 45, a married woman discovers she's a lesbian—but wants to stay married to her man, AND keep her girlfriend, AND be accepted by her family. Can she have it all? Dan Savage issues a ruling! Joe Newton WOW, THAT IS A LOT OF GOOD READIN'. I hope you didn't have any other plans this weekend! Dig in, and remember: Producing all this hard work costs moolah—so please consider contributing to the Mercury to keep it all coming! Thanks!