Pacific Time: West Coast What-Ifs

Greg Amrofell
  • 5.0 (8)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

What if the West Coast could chart its own course? What if our innovations, values, and creative energy weren’t diluted by national politics? What if West Coast sovereignty was a dream and a strategy? Welcome to Pacific Time, where host Greg Amrofell—a relentless provocateur who has lived his whole life up and down the West Coast—invites you to imagine bold solutions. We explore how to make the West Coast better if it's undistilled by the faltering American experiment.. Each episode features meaningful conversations with thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, and visionaries. We’ll tackle the big questions of self-determination, imagining and sharpening the West Coast’s cultural identity, economic potential, and environmental leadership. Pacific Time is for the intellectually curious, the disillusioned optimists, and the dreamers who refuse to accept that status quo in America is the best we can do on the West Coast. Here, we cut through the partisan noise and welcome transformative ideas from a broad spectrum of iconoclasts. We ask how we can work together to elevate the West Coast and get past the narratives that marginalize us “Out West” on the “Left Coast.” It’s time to reimagine what’s possible. Let’s ask, “What if…” and find out.

  1. Affordability, Impeachment, or ICE Rollbacks? What's a Congressional Candidate To Do?

    FEB 11

    Affordability, Impeachment, or ICE Rollbacks? What's a Congressional Candidate To Do?

    Housing is unaffordable. Healthcare is fragile. Wages lag costs. And Congress, well, Congress is paralyzed by spectacle. The affordability crisis is no longer abstract — it’s the organizing reality of American life. Housing, healthcare, childcare, energy, and education costs are squeezing households. Congress competes for attention, trying to score short-lived popularity points, and seems take pride in how little it can get done for constituents. In this episode of Pacific Time, Greg Amrofell and Ashley Brown speak with Brandon Riker, a California congressional candidate, not to spotlight a campaign — but to interrogate the economic choices Congress is avoiding. This is a conversation about governing tradeoffs: what actually matters when everything is supposedly an emergency, and why affordability may be the only issue capable of cutting through institutional dysfunction. What if the House of Representatives reasserts the power of the purse? The discussion ranges from the political costs of confronting affordability head-on, to the limits of congressional power, to why symbolic fights often crowd out material relief. Along the way, Riker offers a grounded perspective on what candidates hear on the ground — and what Washington routinely fails to absorb. Highlights Why affordability has eclipsed ideology as the dominant voter concernHow Congress’s incentive structure rewards spectacle over economic problem-solvingThe gap between constituent economic pain and legislative prioritiesWhat candidates can — and can’t — realistically promise on housing and cost of livingWhy debates over impeachment and agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement often displace kitchen-table economicsWhether Congress is structurally capable of addressing affordability at scaleThe political risk of telling voters the truth about constraints and tradeoffsAbout Our Guest Brandon Riker is a California-based civic leader and congressional candidate focused on affordability, economic security, and institutional reform. His background spans private-sector work and community engagement, giving him firsthand exposure to the cost-of-living pressures facing working families across California. Riker entered politics motivated less by ideology than by what he describes as a growing disconnect between congressional priorities and the material realities constituents face, particularly around housing, healthcare, and wages. His campaign for Congress emphasizes practical governance, fiscal responsibility, and a willingness to confront political tradeoffs that are often avoided in Washington. About The Co-Hosts Greg Amrofell is the creator and host of Pacific Time, a podcast exploring the challenges and possibilities of West Coast leadership in a moment of national strain. A longtime technology and civic leader, Greg has lived across California and Washington and brings a systems-level lens to questions of democracy, governance, and regional power. Pacific Time launched on Inauguration Day 2025 as a space for asking bold “What if?” questions about the future of the West Coast—and the country. Ashley Brown is a former senior marketing and strategy executive at Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Microsoft, with a deep background in comparative government, election systems, and democratic design. Though not a career politician, Ashley is a long-time student of civic systems and a frequent contributor to Pacific Time, known for bridging corporate leadership, political theory, and practical reform. He brings a sharp, historically grounded perspective to questions of power, legitimacy, and democratic resilience. Related Pacific Time Episodes Ep 41 – Go Soft on Soft Secession? (with Christopher Armitage)Ep 40 – West Coast World Superpower (with Greg Amrofell & Ashley Brown)Ep 36 – What if We Grab Economic Power By The Middle (with David Goldstein)Spicy Questions:  If Congress could only deliver one concrete affordability win in the next two years, what should it be — and what would you be willing to see deprioritized to make it happen?Do you agree with Brandon that the fastest way to protect democracy is putting money back in the pockets of taxpayers? Join the conversation: Pacific Time is making good trouble asking questions about West Coast autonomy on Substack; YouTube; Instagram, and LinkedIn. When you like, subscribe, and share it makes a big difference to getting the word out about Pacific Time.  When you visit us online and comment on our spicy question or, better yet, ask constructive questions of your own, our hearts sing. A West Coast community that cares enough to converse and debate about its future so it can set its own course – well, that is what we’re after. 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: Brandon RikerProducer: Tim WohlbergAudio Inspiration: Bad Bunny (naturalmente)Sports Inspiration: Seattle Seahawks, Undistracted Super Bowl Champions

    55 min
  2. Go Soft on Soft Secession?

    JAN 28

    Go Soft on Soft Secession?

    Christopher Armitage, founder of The Existentialist Republic, joins Pacific Time to argue that “soft secession” may be the most realistic way to defend democracy without tearing the country apart—and why the West Coast is uniquely positioned to lead. SummaryAs national institutions fracture and federal power grows more hostile to democratic norms, many Americans feel trapped between resignation and rupture. Christopher Armitage offers a third path. In this episode, he lays out a case for soft secession: a strategy of principled, research-backed state and local noncompliance designed to protect people, preserve democratic legitimacy, and rebalance power within the existing constitutional order. Drawing on history, law enforcement experience, and comparative political models, Armitage explains why states don’t need permission to govern ethically—and why waiting for federal salvation may be the most dangerous choice of all. From public banking and healthcare compacts to moral law and historical precedents for resistance, this conversation explores what it would look like for the West Coast to act like the future is already here. Highlights What “soft secession” actually means—and what it doesn’tWhy strategic noncompliance can preserve the union rather than fracture itHistorical precedents for state-level resistance, from the Fugitive Slave Act to post‑9/11 New YorkKrav Maga vs. Judo politics: when confrontation matters—and when building better systems matters moreHow public banking and non‑tax revenue could replace failing federal safety netsWhy incrementalism fails in moments of authoritarian creepThe role of moral law when institutional norms collapseWhat West Coast governors and mayors could do nowAbout Our GuestChristopher Armitage is the founder of The Existentialist Republic, one of the fastest‑growing political Substacks in the U.S. He is a former law enforcement officer with graduate training in Homeland Security and is known for translating anxiety about democracy into research‑backed, actionable strategies. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Armitage focuses on federalism, state power, and nonviolent democratic resistance. Related Resources The Existentialist Republic | Christopher Armitage | SubstackRespect states' rights, new bipartisan group of legislative leaders tells feds • StatelineFederalism All the Way Down - Harvard Law ReviewLetter from Birmingham Jail, by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Related Pacific Time Episodes 01 Reclaiming Democracy: The Case for West Coast Independence (Solo)23 Refresh the American Brand, West Coast First? With Michael Megalli26 Do Californians Want Autonomy? With Coyote MarinA Few Spicy Questions: What if soft secession isn’t radical—but overdue? What if refusing to comply with immoral federal directives is the most patriotic act left? Join the conversation: Pacific Time is making good trouble asking questions about the future of the West Coast on Substack; YouTube; BlueSky, Instagram, and Facebook. Like, subscribe, share and, most importantly, share your comment on the spicy question above.  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: Christopher ArmitageProducer: Tim WohlbergCheryl Pia for being a dear friend, Pacific Time’s biggest fan in Spain, and for steering me to The Existentialist RepublicPostal Service for highlighting how the district sleeps and Death Cab for Cutie’s cool holiday tune

    48 min
  3. West Coast World Superpower?

    JAN 14

    West Coast World Superpower?

    2025 cracked old illusions. 2026 raises a harder question. As federal institutions crumble, can the West Coast finally unite its imagination with its power and political will? In this anniversary episode, Pacific Time host Greg Amrofell is joined by longtime friend, frequent guest, and democracy thinker Ashley Brown to take stock of what 2025 revealed—and what 2026 demands. Together, they reflect on a year that cracked long-held assumptions about the federal government, democratic self-correction, and incremental reform. From public banking and healthcare autonomy to democratic resilience, cultural soft power, and the limits of imagination, this episode asks a central question: This is not a reaction episode. It’s a forward-looking reckoning with moral responsibility and historic obligation. What does national and global leadership looks like when the federal government falters? In This Episode, We Explore What 2025 shattered about faith in federal governanceWhy imagination—not resources—may be the West Coast’s biggest constraintThe West Coast as a donor region, and what autonomy could unlockPublic banking, debt capacity, and financing big ideasWhere West Coast leaders underestimate their collective clout—and where they overestimate itWhy democracy may no longer be self-correcting without reformThe stakes and opportunities heading into 2026 About the Co-Hosts Greg Amrofell is the creator and host of Pacific Time, a podcast exploring the challenges and possibilities of West Coast leadership in a moment of national strain. A longtime technology and civic leader, Greg has lived across California and Washington and brings a systems-level lens to questions of democracy, governance, and regional power. Pacific Time launched on Inauguration Day 2025 as a space for asking bold “What if?” questions about the future of the West Coast—and the country. Ashley Brown is a former senior marketing and strategy executive at Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Microsoft, with a deep background in comparative government, election systems, and democratic design. Though not a career politician, Ashley is a long-time student of civic systems and a frequent contributor to Pacific Time, known for bridging corporate leadership, political theory, and practical reform. He brings a sharp, historically grounded perspective to questions of power, legitimacy, and democratic resilience. Related Pacific Time Episodes Ep 36 – What If Economic Orthodoxy Got a Rewrite? (with David Goldstein)Ep 17 – What If We Could Get Wildfire Under Control? (with Hilary Franz)Ep 14 – Could Ambitious Civic Projects Jolt Us Back to Trusting Government? (with Nolan Lienhart)Ep 39 – What If Women’s Sports Have Found Their Place on the West Coast? (with Jen Barnes)Ep 01 – Reclaiming Democracy: The Case for West Coast Independence (Solo) A Few Spicy Questions: If the West Coast already has power, what’s actually stopping the region from using it much more assertively? Join the conversation: Pacific Time is making good trouble asking questions about the future of the West Coast on Substack; YouTube; Instagram, and LinkedIn. When you like, subscribe, and share it makes a big difference to getting the word out about Pacific Time.  When you visit us online and comment on our spicy question or, better yet, ask constructive questions of your own, our hearts sing. A West Coast community that cares enough to converse and debate about its future so it can set its own course – well, that is what we’re after. Listen: Pacific Time Podcast is on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, and many other platforms. Follow, share, and leave a review. Thank You To: Many, Many Guests in 2025Producer: Tim WohlbergMusical Inspiration: Digging into the archives here with The Lemonheads Radio

    44 min
  4. Have Women’s Sports Found Their West Coast Headquarters?

    12/15/2025

    Have Women’s Sports Found Their West Coast Headquarters?

    Seattle’s Rough & Tumble is a sports bar centered on women's sports and women sports fans that also happens to be a really fun place for any sports fan to watch a game. Founder Jen Barnes joins Pacific Time to talk about representation, cultural power, and why the West Coast might be the birthplace of a new era in sports fandom. SummaryWomen’s sports are exploding in talent, investment, and fan enthusiasm—but legacy sports culture and sports media haven’t kept up. When Jen Barnes couldn’t even find a bar willing to turn on a big match for her favorite women’s soccer team, she set about solving her own problem by building a space that centers women’s sports every day of the year. The result is a cultural phenomenon reshaping Seattle and inspiring national attention. In this conversation, we explore how women’s sports intersect with civic life, identity, West Coast culture, and even political representation. Jen shares the challenges of scaling a purpose-driven business, the rapid growth of women’s sports investment, and what true parity might mean for athletes, fans, and society. Highlights The “lightbulb moment” that sparked Rough & TumbleWhy representation matters in sports, the way way it matters in business and politicsThe West Coast as the birthplace of women’s sports cultureHow a sports bar became a civic movementWomen athletes as cultural leadersWhat broadcast parity would unlock across societyThe next 5–10 years of women’s sports growthHow to design public spaces for inclusivity About Our GuestJen Barnes is the founder and CEO of Rough & Tumble, a pioneering sports bar dedicated to women’s sports. Based in Seattle, Rough & Tumble has become a model for gender-equitable sports culture, community-building, and women-led entrepreneurship. Related Resources: Rough & Tumble Sports Bars in Seattle (Ballard & Columbia City)Women’s sports viewership on the rise | NielsenWomen’s sports market growth: A $2.5 billion opportunity | McKinseyDick, Kerr Ladies F.C. - WikipediaRelated Pacific Time Episodes 33 We, Us, Ours? Protect LGBTQ Rights & Protect Everyone’s Rights? With Shannon Minter27 Could Pickleball Save America? With David Johnson15 What if Connection Was a Civic Responsibility? With Aaron Hurst  A Few Spicy Questions: What if women’s sports expose how fragile our ideas of “merit,” “markets,” and “tradition” really are? What if sports fans who are women aren’t a minority at all? Join the conversation: Pacific Time is making good trouble asking questions about the future of the West Coast on Substack; YouTube; BlueSky, Instagram, and Facebook. Like, subscribe, share and, most importantly, share your comment on the spicy question above.  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: Jen BarnesProducer: Tim WohlbergThe Women Athletes I’ve Most Admired: Laura Goff, Amelia Amrofell, Kerry RedingMaggie Rogers for providing an appropriately innovative female soundtrack to this week’s production process

    48 min
  5. Did the Election Mark a New Dawn or a False Horizon?

    12/03/2025

    Did the Election Mark a New Dawn or a False Horizon?

    The 2025 elections delivered shockwaves across the country—and even sharper aftershocks across the West Coast. In our first Pacific Time compilation episode, Greg brings back three trusted voices back to make sense of what just happened and what might be coming next: • Ashley Brown, comparative elections expert • Mark Fiore, Pulitzer-winning political cartoonist • Sandeep Kaushik, West Coast political strategist Answering separately we unpack: Zohran Mamdani defeating Andrew Cuomo in NYC and what (if anything) it means for us on the West CoastPossibly pragmatic socialist Katie Wilson toppling the incumbent in Seattle's race for mayorCentrist Democrats sweeping governor’s races in New Jersey & VirginiaCalifornia’s Prop 50 landslide—an aggressive response to Texas’s partisan redistrictingEach guest answers the same big questions: What surprised them? What signals matter for 2026? What are their dream and nightmare scenarios? It’s a lively, alarming, and unexpectedly hopeful episode about a country on the brink—and why the West Coast may once again lead the way. Highlights Why Prop 50 passed by a wide margin—and why it was an “up-down vote on Trump’s rule.”Ranked choice voting lessons from New York’s mayoral upsetThe widening divide within the Democratic Party—and why it may intensify, not resolveWhat Seattle’s knife-edge mayoral race says about America’s political stalemateThe 2026 headlines our guests can imagine now—from “Blue Wave Sweeps America” to warnings of an autocratic future About Our GuestsAll returning friends of the pod... Ashley Brown — Comparative Elections Expert A longtime student of electoral systems around the world, Ashley specializes in how voting structures influence democratic legitimacy, turnout, and trust. He brings deep, global perspective on gerrymandering, ranked choice voting, proportionality, and election design. Mark Fiore — Pulitzer-Winning Political CartoonistOne of the most influential and groundbreaking political cartoonists working today, Mark’s satirical animations and illustrations have shaped how millions make sense of American politics, extremism, and hypocrisy. Sandeep Kaushik — Political Strategist & CommentatorA Seattle-based political consultant and co-host of Blue City Blues and Seattle Nice, Sandeep is one of the West Coast’s sharpest interpreters of local and national political dynamics. Related Episodes 25 Can Better Ballots Beat Bad Maps? With Ashley Brown12 What If the Resistance Was Funny? With Mark Fiore10 What if Blue Cities Got It Together? With Sandeep KaushikResources Donald Trump’s Plan to Subvert the Midterms Is Already Under Way - The AtlanticMayor-Elect Katie Wilson Says Seattle Nice is “Special” - Seattle Nice Podcast (Spotify)Mark Fiore’s Political Cartoons - Substack5 California election takeaways after voters pass Proposition 50 - CalMatters A Spicy Question For You What are your dream and nightmare scenarios for where the country goes in 2026? (Provocative, far-out, thoughtful answers might just make it on the next episode) Answer Here and Join the Conversation YouTube; Substack; or Instagram. Like, subscribe, share and, most importantly, share your comment on the spicy question above.  Pacific Time Podcast is on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, and many other platforms. Please follow, share, and leave a review. Thank You: Guests: Sandeep Kaushik, Mark Fiore, Ashley BrownProducer: Tim WohlbergMusical Inspiration: Caamp, Mumford & Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show (Can you tell I'm on a bluegrass kick?)Moral Support: My family who gathered from far & wide over Thanksgiving and pulled off a great feast

    44 min
  6. Reinvent the Two-Party Political Game?

    11/19/2025

    Reinvent the Two-Party Political Game?

    What if America’s political dysfunction isn’t a moral failure — but a design failure? In this episode, Greg talks with Robbie Bach, former President of Xbox and now a leading civic reform advocate, about how the United States might update its political operating system. Robbie argues that polarization isn’t an accident — it’s an output of incentives. And if incentives can be redesigned, the system can be reinvented. This is a conversation about innovation, democracy, and why the West Coast might be the country’s best testbed for political renewal. In this episode, we cover: Why the two-party system is fragile, not inevitable What tech’s prototyping mindset could bring to civic life Why D.C. is structurally incapable of reforming itselfWhy Tech CEOs are smart to be at The White House, and how they’re missing opportunities to advocate for better policyThe civic lessons Robbie learned after XboxHow creating stories about tech, politics, and national intrigue raise questions about the real world Guest Bio Robbie Bach led the creation of Xbox and served as President of Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division. Since retiring, he has become a civic designer, author, speaker, and advocate for political reform, systems thinking, and community leadership. Related Resources Letters to the Democrats and Republicans - LinkedIn, Robbie Bach Bipartisan Policy CenterThe Blockchain Syndicate: A Contemporary Thriller, Robbie BachRelated Episodes Could We Grab Economic Power By the Middle? With David GoldsteinRefresh the American Brand, West Coast First? With Michael MegalliWhat if National Service Jump Started the West Coast Workforce? With Nicole TrimbleWhat if Silicon Valley and Democracy Got Back Together? With Margaret O'MaraA Spicy Question: What advice could gamers offer on how to build a more just and equitable world? Join the conversation: Pacific Time is making good trouble asking questions about the future of the West Coast on Substack; YouTube; BlueSky, Instagram, and Facebook. Like, subscribe, share and, most importantly, share your comment on the spicy question above.  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: Robbie BachProducer: Tim WohlbergCoach: Jeremy N. SmithFamily & Friends: For cheering on the podcast and big milestones ahead (Thanksgiving! Madrid!)Trampled by Turtles, Alison Brown & Steve Martin for providing my soundtrack to this week’s production process

    55 min
  7. Can We Grab Economic Power By The Middle?

    11/05/2025

    Can We Grab Economic Power By The Middle?

    What if everything we’ve been told about the economy — about housing, inflation, and government debt — was upside down? What if the problem isn’t that we’re spending too much, but that we’re letting the wrong people decide what we can spend on? What if you feel rich when you leave the West Coast and poor when you live in or visit one of our big cities like LA, SF, or Seattle? In this episode of Pacific Time, host Greg Amrofell talks with David “Goldy” Goldstein, a sharp-tongued political strategist at Civic Ventures, co-founder of the legendary blog HorsesAss.org, and co-host of the Pitchfork Economics podcast with billionaire provocateur Nick Hanauer. Goldy pulls back the curtain on America’s economic myths—how fear of debt and obsession with austerity keep us from solving the real problems. He argues that public options aren’t just safety nets for the poor, but infrastructure for prosperity that give everyone stability and the opportunity to thrive. Together, Greg and Goldy explore how fiscal sovereignty and economic imagination could transform life on the West Coast, and why it’s time for the public to assert their power and for states to act on behalf of their people, not just the most affluent interest groups. Highlights Why “fiscal responsibility” has become political cowardiceHow economic illiteracy drives housing scarcity and bad public policyThe case for “public options” in housing, healthcare, and education—not as charity, but as a foundation for many people in many circumstancesWhy West Coast prosperity depends on new conceptions of the economy that account for power Guest Bio David Goldstein, known widely as Goldy, is a senior fellow at Civic Ventures, a Seattle-based public policy incubator dedicated to progressive economic reform. A former satirist and founder of HorsesAss.org, Goldy became one of the West Coast's sharpest voices for tax fairness and economic justice. He co-hosts Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer, where he translates complex economic theory into bold, practical ideas for shared prosperity. Related Resources Civic VenturesPitchfork Economics PodcastHorsesAss.orgDeconstructing Housing : Democracy Journal, David Goldstein, Spring 2025Related Episodes 35 What If Public Banks Based Here Bought Us Resilience? With Marco Rossi11 What if Silicon Valley and Democracy Got Back Together? With Margaret O'Mara03 What If The West Coast Reclaimed Its Federal Taxes? With Julie DingleyA Spicy Question: What if economic independence began with the courage to invest in ourselves—yes, to protect the poor, and also to stabilize the middle and boost the ambitious? Join the conversation: Pacific Time is making good trouble asking questions about the future of the West Coast on Substack; YouTube; BlueSky, Instagram, and Facebook. Like, subscribe, share and, most importantly, share your comment on the spicy question above.  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 GoldsteinIntro: Jasmin Weaver via a fascinating night at The Block TableProducer: Tim WohlbergFamily & Friends: For cheering on the podcast and fun milestones (parents weekend, senior night, and the dates that got this chapter started) Pearl Jam, Fugees & Dave Matthews Band for providing my soundtrack to this week’s production process

    1h 6m
  8. What If Public Banks Bought Us Resilience?

    10/29/2025

    What If Public Banks Bought Us Resilience?

    What if banking our own money on the West Coast could help us fund housing, infrastructure, and small business growth? And what if it bought us greater financial freedom from Wall Street and Washington, D.C.?  In this episode of Pacific Time, host Greg Amrofell talks with Marco Rossi, a public banking advocate and legislative strategist with Washingtonians for Public Banking. Together, they explore how state- and city-owned public banks could equip us to address our own challenges and insulate us from the financial shenanigans of Mega Banks and mis-guided politicians. Rossi explains how the Washington Public Bank bill could anchor a new model of regional resilience—one where public finance serves the public good. He connects the dots between financial sovereignty, local democracy, and the broader movement to establish public banking systems across the U.S. From North Dakota’s century-old state bank, to the link between China’s public banking system and breakneck development, the conversation shows how public control of capital could stabilize local economies, strengthen autonomy, and prepare the West Coast for shocks—economic, political, and environmental. Laws are already on the books in California and Washington. Now’s the time for a concerted push by elected officials, business leaders, and concerned citizens, for whom federal cuts and government shutdowns illustrate the fragility of our national financial system. Highlights Why public banking is the missing pillar of West Coast resilienceHow Washington’s proposed public bank could redirect billions in taxpayer funds into local housing, energy, and infrastructureWhat the Bank of North Dakota and European public banks can teach usHow state financial sovereignty strengthens political autonomyWhy local investment builds stability—and what happens when it’s outsourced to Wall StreetHow public banks can partner with community credit unions, tribes, and cities to fund shared priorities Guest Bio Marco Rosaire Rossi is a strategist and community organizer with Washingtonians for Public Banking, working to create Washington State’s first public bank. His advocacy focuses on how public financial institutions can advance economic democracy, fund sustainability projects, and protect communities from volatile private capital cycles. Marco also collaborates with national efforts through the Public Banking Institute, the Coalition for a National Infrastructure Bank, and the American Monetary Institute, helping connect state and federal reform movements toward a more accountable financial system. Related Resources Washingtonians for Public Banking - Website, Substack, Instagram, BlueSky, YouTubePublic Banking InstituteCoalition for a National Infrastructure Bank —Z Magazine: Florida’s Conservative CFO Proposes a State-Owned Public BankEllen Brown: Web of Debt Substack; The Public Bank Solution on AmazonBank of North DakotaRelated Episodes 34 What If Tiny Homes Are a Big Part of Our Housing Solution? With Zack Giffin31 Could A West Coast Carbon Market Build Us An Even Bigger Economy? With Reuven Carlyle23 Refresh the American Brand, West Coast First? With Michael Megalli07 A West Coast Wake-up Call as the US Scrambles the World Order? With John ZysmanA spicy question: Why wouldn’t West Coast state governments, local governments, and area businesses choose their local public bank? (I’m struggling to find reasons other than inertia and trust purchased via advertising) Join the conversation: Pacific Time is making good trouble asking questions about the future of the West Coast on Substack; YouTube; BlueSky, Instagram, and Facebook. Like, subscribe, share and, most importantly, share your comment on the spicy question above.  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: Marco Rosaire RossiIntro: Ellen Brown (via Nomi Prins)Producers: Tim Wohlberg, Valerie McTavishFamily & friends: For nodding and smiling as I enthuse (again?!) about liberating policy innovation

    51 min
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What if the West Coast could chart its own course? What if our innovations, values, and creative energy weren’t diluted by national politics? What if West Coast sovereignty was a dream and a strategy? Welcome to Pacific Time, where host Greg Amrofell—a relentless provocateur who has lived his whole life up and down the West Coast—invites you to imagine bold solutions. We explore how to make the West Coast better if it's undistilled by the faltering American experiment.. Each episode features meaningful conversations with thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, and visionaries. We’ll tackle the big questions of self-determination, imagining and sharpening the West Coast’s cultural identity, economic potential, and environmental leadership. Pacific Time is for the intellectually curious, the disillusioned optimists, and the dreamers who refuse to accept that status quo in America is the best we can do on the West Coast. Here, we cut through the partisan noise and welcome transformative ideas from a broad spectrum of iconoclasts. We ask how we can work together to elevate the West Coast and get past the narratives that marginalize us “Out West” on the “Left Coast.” It’s time to reimagine what’s possible. Let’s ask, “What if…” and find out.

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