Silicon Valley used to dream of liberation. Now some of its loudest voices are cozying up to Trump and talking like monarchists. What happened? Is oligarchy the bug in our tech-friendly society we didn't anticipate and need to stem?

Once upon a time, Silicon Valley stood for idealism: personal freedom, creative rebellion, and maybe even the most fully realized form of democracy itself. But something shifted. In this episode of Pacific Time, host Greg Amrofell talks with historian Margaret O’Mara about how tech's brightest minds—and wealthiest billionaires—ended up funding and fueling an anti-democratic turn.

We trace the evolution from daydreams about Apple laptops in Yosemite to Elon’s DOGE-soaked disassembly of the public square. We explore what tech workers really believe, why West Coast universities matter more than ever, and what it will take to rebuild a shared civic foundation.

The West Coast is ready to resist. And the West Coast owes the rest of you an apology for its naughty billionaires.

In this episode:

• How Big Tech's politics fragmented post-Obama
• Why “tech workers” stayed liberal, even as their bosses flipped
• The rise of Curtis Yarvin, Peter Thiel, and the new techno-reactionaries
• Lessons from the origins of Silicon Valley
• What history tells us about moments like this one
• Why West Coast states (and their universities) could hold the line

Guest Bio:
Margaret O'Mara is a professor of history at the University of Washington and author of The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America. She's a New York Times Contributor and her research traces the deep links between government, innovation, and ideology in the rise of modern tech.

Related Episodes:

• Ep 07: What If the West Coast Actually Got Its Act Together? (With John Zysman)
• Ep 06: What If We Designed Healthcare from Scratch? (With Mike Hanlon)
• Ep 08: Leave America and Discover Ecotopia? (Solo)

Blue cities are struggling—and it’s not MAGA’s fault. What if Seattle, San Francisco, and LA became models of good governance?

Blue cities helped shape modern America. But they’ve been having a hard time—with homelessness, affordability, public safety, and internal political warfare. In this episode, political consultant and Blue City Blues co-host Sandeep Kaushik joins Greg to unpack why. Together, they ask: What if the West Coast’s most liberal cities actually figured out how to govern effectively?

We explore why progressive vs. liberal fights have taken over city halls, why governance is now a one-party problem, and how cities like San Francisco and Seattle can either become models—or warnings—for the rest of the country. From Ezra Klein’s “abundance” critique to San Francisco’s moderate backlash, from coalition-building to regional autonomy, this conversation isn’t just about what’s wrong. It’s about what could work.

Because if the West Coast wants more autonomy, maybe the first step is for our biggest cities to run well.

Highlights:

• Why the “urban archipelago” metaphor still matters—and what it misses
• How blue cities became laboratories of policy innovation and political dysfunction
• What most national media gets wrong about the West Coast left
• The surprising story of San Francisco’s moderate resurgence
• What Seattle can learn from its own legislative battles
• Why good governance might be the best resistance strategy of all

About Sandeep Kaushik:

Sandeep Kaushik is a Seattle-based political consultant, and commentator who co-hosts the podcasts Blue City Blues and Seattle Nice. He previously worked at The Stranger, advised mayors and campaigns across Washington, and brings decades of experience navigating the internal divides of liberal cities. His current work explores the tensions between movement progressives and center-left liberals—and what comes next.

Resources & Related Content:

• Blue City Blues – Sandeep’s podcast with David Hyde
• The Urban Archipelago (The Stranger, 2004)
• Sound View Strategies - Sandeep's political consulting firm

Related Pacific Time Episodes:

• Ep 08: Leave America and Discover Ecotopia? (Solo)
• Ep 06: What if the West Coast Designed Healthcare from Scratch? (with Mike Hanlon)
• Ep 07: What if California Had a Foreign Policy? (with John Zysman)
• Ep 03: What if the West Coast Reclaimed its Federal Taxes? (With Julie Dingley)
• Ep 02: How can the West Coast Redesign Itself? (With Mickey McManus)

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California pays more and receives less and less from DC. Could independence—or just grown-up governance—fix this imbalance?

Summary: California's relationship with the federal government is reaching a critical juncture. Esteemed political journalist Dan Walters joins Greg to discuss CalExit, the growing frustration with federal tax inequities, and the stark contrast between California’s progressive policies and Washington's increasingly (deep breath) regressive stances. But what if the biggest threat to California’s future isn’t DC—or even Donald Trump? What if California can’t but help continuing to ignore the unsexy basics of governing?

Walters calls for a reality check: more attention to budgets, infrastructure, housing, and water—and less to political theatrics. He makes the case that California has the means to solve its problems but lacks the will. Along the way, we explore the myth of West Coast exceptionalism, the impact of population stagnation and corporate flight, and the potential parallels between California today and the decline of Detroit.

What We Talk About:

✔️The practical and political realities of governing in California
✔️The persistent drag of housing, water, and energy challenges

✔️Why 'West Coast Exceptionalism' may be more myth than model

✔️Why MAGA may be gaining a strangle-hold on the national electoral map

✔️ Ezra Klein’s "abundance" critique and Dan’s response

✔️ Early analysis of the 2026 CA gubernatorial race (Kamala: will she or won’t she?)

Guest Bio: Dan Walters is one of California’s most respected political journalists, known for his insightful analysis on California's complex relationship with federal politics. Currently with CalMatters, Walters has spent decades dissecting California’s political landscape, providing critical context for understanding the state’s challenges and opportunities. With over 9000 columns to his name, he’s a veteran voice unafraid to challenge conventional wisdom.

Related Resources:

• Dan Walters on CalMatters
• Ezra Klein on Jon Stewart’s The Weekly Show (Apple Podcasts)
• This is Gavin Newsom (Apple Podcasts)
• CalExit Movement
  
  

Related Pacific Time Episodes:

• 04 Marcus Ruiz Evans on the viability of CalExit (Apple Podcasts)
• 03 Julie Dingley on West Coast taxation and governance (Apple Podcasts)

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Listen:

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New episodes most Wednesdays at 6a – just in time for your sunrise walk, drive to the beach, or bike commute to work. Or save it up for your chill time in the coffeeshop or puttering around the garden. Pairs nicely with Sunset Magazine and a Corona in the hammock or adirondack chair. Whenever you listen, talk it over with neighbors, and let me know what you think.

Thanks for being together in Pacific Time. Keep asking the ‘what if?’ questions about the future of the West Coast.