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

30 What if Portland is Exactly What Democracy Looks Like? With Kari Chisholm

Trump says Portland needs “cleaning up.” What if Portland is actually a model of democracy in action—messy, loud, and making progress?If Donald Trump and his MAGA minions don’t want to be called fascists, here’s a thought: stop acting like them. Instead of threatening West Coast cities with troops, raids, and funding cuts, a real leader might look at how places like Portland are tackling their own problems—head-on, locally, and democratically. A great leader might even ask, “How can I help?”In this episode, Greg talks with Kari Chisholm, a veteran Oregon political strategist, about what Portland actually looks like beyond Trump’s caricatures. From cleaning up its streets with compassion to making the government more representative, Portland is moving forward—loudly, imperfectly, and authentically.Together, Greg and Kari take on the myth of Portland as a “failed city,” expose the cynical national attacks meant to delegitimize urban progress, and ask: what if the West Coast leaned into its independent streak and set its own democratic example for the nation?In this episode, we cover:Why Portland’s reputation as a protest city is misunderstood—and why protest is part of democracyHow local leaders are tackling homelessness and ICE abuses despite federal hostilityWhat MAGA attacks on “blue cities” reveal about authoritarian impulses in Washington, D.C.Why speed and clarity matter when the Trump administration is “moving fast and breaking things”What Portland’s choices say about the broader West Coast’s capacity for autonomyAbout Our Guest:Kari Chisholm is an Oregon-based political consultant and strategist. As the founder of Mandate Media, he has worked on campaigns across the Pacific Northwest and nationally for more than two decades. He is also the publisher of BlueOregon and a sharp observer of how West Coast politics both clash with and influence national trends.Resources & References:Swift Public Affairs - Kari’s consulting shopPortland Transition: Geographic Districts“Portland Says ICE Violated Agreement with City 25 Times by Holding Detainees Too Long,”Portland Blueprint to End Unsheltered Homelessness“Oregon Law Rolling Back Drug Decriminalization”Related Episodes:29 How to Build a Firewall Against Hate? With Heidi Beirich14 Could Ambitious Civic Projects Jolt Us Back to Trusting Government? With Nolan Lienhart10 What If Blue Cities Got It Together? With Sandeep KaushikJoin the conversation: Walking your dog through Portland to the food trucks or brewery, you catch a glimpse of Mt. Hood, would you say Portland – or other colorful parts of the West Coast – is in need of clean-up or full of character? What if we embraced our role as a providing ground for democracy with updating the ways we govern our own cities, counties, and towns? 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.Thank you to:Guest: Kari Chisholm (and to Sandeep Kaushik for the intro)Producers: Tim Wohlberg, Valerie McTavishFamily & friends who have hosted me many times in Portland (yes, even Timbers fans)

29 How to Build a Firewall Against Hate? With Heidi Beirich

Political violence is rising, ICE is profiling, hate is mainstreaming. What if we on the West Coast have to fight extremism and the return of civil discourse on our own?This summer has been a chilling reminder of how fragile our democracy feels: assassinations of Minnesota lawmakers, the murder of a conservative commentator, a mass shooting at a Minneapolis church, and continued racial profiling by ICE. None of these were directed by organized extremist groups, but they unfolded in an America where hate has been normalized and weaponized. Ugh, just writing that makesIn this episode, Greg talks with Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism and longtime tracker of white nationalist and far-right movements. From her home base on the West Coast, Heidi explains how extremist ideas have gone mainstream, why the internet is today’s unregulated propaganda machine, and what states like ours must do to defend democracy if the federal government continues to look the other way -- or fan the flames of division.This is a story about extremism, resilience, and the possibility of building a firewall against hate before it’s too late.Highlights:Why political violence is rising—even beyond extremist groupsThe internet as today’s propaganda machineHow hate groups are recruiting youth through “active clubs”What ICE racial profiling reveals about institutional extremismWhy West Coast states must lead when Washington won’tHow to defend multiracial democracy in an age of hateAbout Our GuestHeidi Beirich is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. For two decades she worked at the Southern Poverty Law Center, where she built one of the most respected research programs on extremist groups. Today, she focuses on tracking transnational hate networks and advising governments, tech companies, and communities on countering extremism.Other ResourcesGlobal Project Against Hate and Extremism: globalextremism.orgSPLC Hatewatch: splcenter.org/hatewatch10 Political Violence Experts on What Comes Next for America - POLITICORelated Episodes28 A Summer of Sovereignty: From Raids to Resilience? (Solo)25 Can Better Ballots Beat Bad Maps? With Ashley Brown10 What If Blue Cities Got It Together? With Sandeep KaushikJoin the ConversationWhat would it take for the West Coast to truly build a firewall against hate? What are the simple steps you could take today to build community and compassion as a bulwark against hate? Join the discussion at...SubstackYouTubeBlueSkyInstagramFacebookListen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Please follow, share, and leave a review.Thanks To…Guest: Heidi Beirich Inspiration: The Southern Poverty Law Center for sending me teaching tools about racism when I was a novice teacher in rural South AfricaProducers: Tim Wohlberg & Valerie McTavish

28 A Summer of Sovereignty: From Raids to Resilience?

This summer, West Coast sovereignty wasn’t a theory—it was tested. From ICE raids in Los Angeles, and Marines on California streets, to attacks on our flagship universities, and shakedowns of tech stalwarts, Washington D.C. came hard for our region. But West Coasters fought back—with mass protests, citizen surveillance, social media jabs, ballot initiatives, and new policies that neither submit to democratic decline nor accept caricatures of our challenges. In this solo episode, Greg Amrofell looks back on the summer of 2025—a season when the West Coast felt the sharp edge of federal overreach. With questions from listeners punctuating a look back at key issues from Memorial Day past Labor Day, Greg explores what happened, how leaders and citizens responded, and what it all means for West Coast sovereignty.The question: Are we ready to move from resistance to resilience?HighlightsRaids & Repression: ICE raids in Los Angeles and the deployment of Marines sparked outrage and solidarity across the region.Democracy on the Line: Texas redistricting—and California’s tit-for-tat response—show why election design is now a sovereignty issue.Universities Under Siege: West Coast higher ed faced fines and federal interference, even as it remained a global hub of research and talent.Economic Pressure: The summer saw nationalization of Intel and federal limits on Nvidia’s China business—shaking confidence in innovation and global trade.Public Health & Rights: Attacks on gender-affirming care, trans athletes, and reproductive rights forced states to consider their own protective frameworks.Bright Spots: Mass demonstrations, strong state policies on climate and housing, and new sovereignty-driven proposals showed the West Coast can lead.The Takeaway: Sovereignty is not a slogan. It’s a responsibility—and the West Coast must decide if it’s ready to seize it, or continuing hoping for the best in elections 2-4 years away.About the HostGreg Amrofell is the creator and host of Pacific Time, the podcast that asks bold “what if” questions about the West Coast. His approach draws on a career in tech and consulting in which he often had the chance to relax constraints, consider present challenges and opportunities, on the way to designing future possibilities. In podcast conversations that range from city design to public health, redistricting to climate resilience, Greg invites leaders, thinkers, and everyday West Coast citizens to imagine the future an autonomous West Coast would create if we could start from a blank slate.Suggested ResourcesSupreme Court lifts restrictions on ‘roving’ ICE raids in Los Angeles, Politico, Sept 8, 2025“Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan is on its way to voters. What you need to know,” CalMatters, Aug 21, 2025“Trump seeks $1-billion fine against UCLA. Newsome says ‘we’ll sue” calling it extortion, Aug 8, LA TimesRelated EpisodesEp 25: Can Better Ballots Beat Bad Maps? With Ashley BrownEp 19: Could Roman Ruins Inspire West Coast Offense?Ep 08: Leave America and Discover Ecotopia?Ep 01: Reclaiming Democracy: The Case for West Coast IndependenceJoin the conversation: For the West Coast, what’s the best case and the worst case between now and the new year? 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.Thank you to:Listeners and past guests who submitted questionsMy family and friends helping me keep perspective when paying attention to dark news gets heavyHard-working reporters who have been on the front lines seeking truth startling events on the West Coast: CalMatters, LAist, LA Times, MSNBC, San Diego Union Tribune, The Oregonian, Seattle Times, The Stranger, Portland Mercury, and NYTimesSouth Park, The Daily Show, and Gavin Newsom’s social media team – for serving up clever laughs with withering political satirePeople getting out to protest, patrol, and postProducers: Tim Wohlberg, Valerie McTavish

27 Could Pickleball Save America? With David Johnson

What if the fastest-growing sport in America could also be its most democratic?Pickleball was born on Bainbridge Island – just across the water from Seattle. It started in 1965 with a wiffle ball, a net, and a few bored kids. Sixty years later, it’s a multi-billion dollar industry, the official state sport of Washington, and the most diverse scene you’ll find on a neighborhood court.In this episode of Pacific Time, Greg sits down with David Johnson — entrepreneur, consultant, and publisher of The Business of Pickleball — to explore the improbable rise of this goofy garage sport into a global cultural force. Johnson, who grew Pickleball Central from his house into the sport’s largest retailer before selling to private equity, now chronicles the business and community boom reshaping cities and suburbs across the country.This conversation is about more than paddles and nets. It’s about how West Coast invention, garage entrepreneurship, and neighborly spirit can turn into a national phenomenon — and what it means when sports build bridges where politics can’t.In this episode, we cover:How pickleball grew from Bainbridge Island to the fastest-growing sport in AmericaWhy COVID, portable nets, and volunteer “ambassadors” fueled its explosionThe business story: from backyard play to billion-dollar facilities boomHow tournaments and community courts create unlikely social networksThe balance between commercialization and the sport’s social rootsWhat makes pickleball so uniquely diverse and accessibleHow “we could solve the world’s problems over pickleball”About Our Guest:David Johnson is a longtime entrepreneur in the pickleball industry who has played many key roles in popularizing the game. He co-founded and scaled Pickleball Central, the sport’s largest online retailer, before selling it to Dundon Capital. He now publishes The Business of Pickleball, a subscription newsletter chronicling the industry’s growth, and co-founded the International Association of Pickleball and Padel Facilities.Keywords:Pickleball, Bainbridge Island, West Coast Sport, Pacific Northwest, Seattle, Garage Startup, Sports Business, Community Building, Civic Life, Recreation, Equity, West Coast Innovation, PacificTimePodcast, Social Connection, Washington State Sport, Pickleball Industry, Pickleball FacilitiesResources & References:USA Pickleball (USAP) — The national governing body of pickleball, with rules, resources, and ambassador programs. 👉 usapickleball.orgPickleball Central — Founded by David Johnson and family in Seattle, now the world’s largest pickleball retailer. 👉 pickleballcentral.comThe Business of Pickleball — David Johnson’s subscription newsletter tracking the growth and economics of the sport. 👉 thebusinessofpickleball.comHistory of Pickleball (Bainbridge Island) — Local heritage page about the sport’s quirky origin in 1965. 👉 biparks.org/history-of-pickleballInternational Pickleball and Padel Facility Association — Johnson’s latest effort to support the booming number of indoor pickleball facilities. 👉 pickleballpadelfacilities.orgRelated Episodes:Ep 20: Could Duct Tape Save Our Public Lands? With Gwyn HowatEp 21: What If We Could Get Wildfire Under Control? With Hilary FranzEp 15: What If Connection Was a Civic Responsibility? With Aaron HurstEp 14: Could Bolder Plans Re-Build Our Confidence in West Coast Cities? With Nolan LienhartJoin 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.Thank you to:Guest: David JohnsonProducers: Tim Wohlberg, Valerie McTavishPickleballers at Green Lake Park, Miller Playfield, and Bainbridge Island Founders Courts

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.