Pacific Time: The "What if...?" of West Coast Independence

26 Do Californians Want Autonomy? With Coyote Marin

A recent survey shows that Californians want autonomy—what does this mean?In this episode, Greg talks with Coyote Marin, co-founder and executive director of the Independent California Institute, a nonprofit think tank focused on educating Californians about their relationship with the federal government. Unlike advocacy groups, Coyote’s organization doesn’t push a single path forward—it lays out facts, options, and tradeoffs so Californians can decide for themselves.We explore new survey data showing strong support for California gaining special autonomous status within the U.S.—and a surprising amount of openness to peaceful secession. They discuss why autonomy polls higher than full independence, what it means to be a “donor state,” and how Californians might rethink the federal government as a costly (and morally compromised) middleman between taxpayers and the services they depend on.This is a conversation about sovereignty, pragmatism, and possibility—not about destroying America, but about building a California that works better for Californians.Highlights:The difference between autonomy and independenceHow California compares as a “donor state”Why opinions on independence are stable—but hardeningThe federal government as a “money laundering machine” for state tax dollarsThe hidden history of U.S. secessions, from 1776 to the PhilippinesAbout Our GuestCoyote Marin is the executive director of the Independent California Institute, a nonprofit think tank founded in 2018 to study California independence and autonomy. A longtime Green Party activist and policy thinker, Marin has led research on California’s donor-state status, run statewide surveys on attitudes toward autonomy, and advocates for thoughtful, fact-based dialogue about the state’s future.Resources:Independent California Institute “Video: Coyote Marin presents results of our June 2025 poll”ICI Essay, “What It Means to Be a Donor State”LA Times, Aug 22: “Love it or hate it? Polls show how Californians feels about Newsom’s redistricting fight with Trump?”Related Episodes:Ep 23: Refresh the American Brand, West Coast First? With Michael MegalliEp 08: Leave America and Discover Ecotopia? (Greg Amrofell)Ep 09: Will California Bring the Unsexy Back? With Dan WaltersEp 04: Is California Ready for Independence? With Marcus Ruiz EvansEp 01: Reclaiming Democracy: The Case for West Coast Independence (Greg Amrofell)Join the conversation: What would you choose—greater autonomy for California, or full independence? Share your take wherever you follow or send me your thoughts, questions, comments and constructive suggestions to greg@pacifictimepodcast.com.Follow: Pacific Time is making good trouble asking questions about the future of the West Coast on Substack, YouTube, BlueSky, Instagram, and Facebook. Join the conversation and share it with your neighbors and friends on the West Coast.Listen: Pacific Time Podcast is on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, and many other platforms. Follow, share, and leave a review.

25 Can Better Ballots Beat Bad Maps? With Ashley Brown

What if the quickest fix for American democracy isn’t new maps—but better ballots? In this episode, we ask whether top-two primaries, ranked-choice voting, and a bigger U.S. House could outflank gerrymandering’s worst effects—fast.Episode summary:Redistricting wars grab headlines, but the map fight is only part of the story. Marketing veteran and election systems enthusiast Ashley Brown joins Pacific Time to argue that ballot design, primary structure, and seat math shape who we elect just as much as district lines do. We dig into top-two primaries on the West Coast, where ranked-choice is working, and why expanding the House could make “safe seats” less safe for extremists. This is a pragmatic, West Coast–forward blueprint for how states can upgrade elections now—with tools already on the shelf.Highlights:Why gerrymandering is a symptom (and what the disease actually is)Top-two primaries vs. ranked-choice voting“Wider on-ramps, narrower off-ramps”: redesigning primaries to reward coalition buildersThe case to expand the House (and how it would change incentives overnight)What West Coast states can implement in 12–24 monthsAbout our guest:Ashley Brown is a seasoned brand and marketing leader (Microsoft, Coca‑Cola, Amazon, Porch) with a long-running personal obsession: how election systems shape countries. He brings a practitioner’s eye to election reform—translating complex ideas into simple changes voters can understand and adopt.Related resources:“Trump prompted a battle over voting maps. Here’s how redistricting affects voters,” NPR, August 18, 2025“Gerrymandering Explained,” Brennan Center for Justice, August 9, 2025“Ranked-choice voting is the future,” Endless Jest/Substack by Ashley Brown, April 23, 2023“Ranked Choice Voting in 2024: A year in review,” Fairvote“Ranked-Choice Voting Helped Mamdani Score a Decisive Primary Win,” NYTimes, Aug 4, 2025“They Wyoming Rule,” for increasing the size of the house so that everyone gets the same representation in the House of Representatives as the smallest district (e.g. Wyoming). On Wikipedia.Related EpisodesEp 23 Refresh the American Brand, West Coast First? With Michael MegalliEp 19 Could Roman Ruins Inspire West Coast Offense? (Solo) If you want more voice, less noise in our politics, share this episode with a friend and your county elections board. Then hit “Follow” and leave a review—those signals help us reach reformers like you. 

24 Will the Coast Take On Climate Leadership (Again)? With Molly Peterson

The EPA just gutted the backbone of federal climate regulation. Could the West Coast step in?In this episode of Pacific Time, veteran climate reporter Molly Peterson joins Greg to unpack the devastating implications of the EPA’s reversal of its greenhouse gas endangerment finding—the legal trigger that forces federal climate action. Without it, Washington no longer has to regulate greenhouse gases, even as wildfire smoke, ozone, and deadly heatwaves plague the West.Molly and Greg explore what this means for California, Oregon, and Washington: Could these states lead a new era of climate policy absent federal involvement? Might they even seize legal and regulatory authority from the feds—and what would that spark?Episode Highlights:The implications of the EPA rescinding the greenhouse gas endangerment findingWhy wildfire smoke isn’t properly counted under current lawWhy the Clean Air Act wasn’t built for climate changeCould California sue and/or simply take charge?Guest Bio:Molly Peterson is an award-winning environmental reporter whose work has appeared on NPR, The Guardian, LAist, and local outlets across the West. She covers air quality, water systems, and climate adaptation with a sharp eye for science, law, and public accountability. Her 2023 investigation into wildfire smoke loopholes helped reframe how we think about pollution and policy.Resources:“Disasters Are Exactly the Time for Urban Planning,” Medium post by Molly PetersonRevealed: how a little-known pollution rule keeps the air dirty for millions of Americans | Wildfires | The Guardian“Resistance state: Tracking California’s lawsuits against the new Trump administration” CalMatters“What is the Clean Air Act?” US Environmental Protection AgencyTrump administration moves to repeal climate ‘holy grail’ - POLITICORelated Episodes:21 What if We Could Get Wildfire Under Control? With Hilary Franz20 Could Duct Tape Save Our Public Lands? With Gwyn Howat09 Will California Bring the Unsexy Back? With Dan Walters

23 Refresh the American Brand, West Coast First? With Michael Megalli

If America is a brand, what does it stand for now? What truths still hold? And can a 250-year-old experiment in self-government be reimagined without losing the plot? Michael Megalli is a brand strategist, the author of the upcoming book Brand New World, the founder of Indie.biz, and the son of Egyptian immigrants who believed fiercely in the American dream. In this episode, he unpacks the state of the American brand—what it once represented, how it’s faltering, and why this moment offers a rare chance to rebuild it from the ground up (hint: the two party political system may not have the answers). From the symbolism of military parades to the deeper meanings behind "We the People," Megalli explores how shared myths shape everything from democracy to Taylor Swift.Highlights:What branding really means (and why it’s not just marketing)The American brand: from post-WWII unity to post-COVID disillusionmentDistrust in institutions as the central threatA new patriotism rooted in participation, not performative prideMichael’s family story of migration, military service, and belief in U.S. idealsGuest Bio: Michael Megalli is a multi-talented brand strategist, author, teacher, and entrepreneur. Through his consulting firm, Djinn Dept, he offers branding expertise to major companies and nonprofits. His writing and online media explore how shared stories, symbols, and beliefs shape identity, economics, and civic life. He is also founder of Indie.biz, a company that champions the countless people launching and running independent businesses.Related Episodes:Ep 19: Could Roman Ruins Inspire West Coast Offense? (Greg Amrofell)Ep 13: What if National Service Jump Started the West Coast Workforce? With Nicole TrimbleEp 10: What if Blue Cities Got it Together? With Sandeep KaushikResources:Brand New World - Michael Megalli's Substack"The American Brand is in crisis among the young -- It's up to all of us to fix it" - Michael Megalli in The Hill Jan 30, 2025U.S. Global Image - Pew Research Center

22 Could West Coast Farming Follow the Tuscan Template? With Ariane Lotti

What if growing food didn’t have to destroy the planet?Ariane Lotti grew up in the U.S., trained in environmental policy at Yale, and worked on Capitol Hill. But her journey took an unexpected turn: she returned to her family’s rice farm in Tuscany to reinvent agriculture from the ground up.In this episode, we meet this regenerative farmer who's testing the limits of what’s possible—combining policy smarts with muddy boots. Ariane walks us through the lessons Italy and Europe can offer the West Coast, from flavor and biodiversity to subsidies that reward rural resilience. We also talk ducks, risotto, the promise and perils of organic certification, and how U.S. ag policy might finally modernize.In this episode, we cover:The surprising differences between U.S. and EU farm policyWhy regenerative agriculture needs room for experimentationHow ducks could replace herbicides in rice paddiesWhat the West Coast could do with our land if we started from scratchWhy farming is both political and personalGuest Bio:Ariane Lotti is the owner of Tenuta San Carlo, a regenerative rice farm and agritourism business on Italy’s Tuscan coast. A former Yale-trained policy advocate in Washington D.C., she now grows rice organically, raises livestock, and experiments with soil and water conservation techniques that blend ancient practices with modern research.Related Episodes:Ep 19: Could Roman Ruins Inspire West Coast Offense? (Greg Amrofell)Ep 18: What If the West Coast Took Health Into Its Own Hands? With Abie FlaxmanEp 08 Leave America and Discover Ecotopia? (Greg Amrofell)💬Join the conversation by offering your take on this spicy question:True or false: I’d love to buy all organic groceries right from the farmer’s market. Why do you today, or why don’t you today? Share your answers at the community center for Pacific Time at Substack, BlueSky, Instagram, and FacebookListen:🎧 Pacific Time Podcast is on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and many other platforms. Please follow, share, and leave a review.Thanks to:Hosts: The Tenuta San Carlo team (Instagram)Student Program: University of Washington Wellness in the World  (Instagram)Producer: Tim WohlbergResources:Tenuta San Carlo (Note their recipes!)Posto Pubblico (Yum)National Sustainable Agriculture CoalitionFAO: Ducks in Integrated Rice Farming