DOGE-Style: The coming ‘Musk Bust’

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are partnering to create a new U.S. government agency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

Musk underwrote the Trump campaign with $200 million in donations and his own brand of buying votes.

Supposedly, the acronym comes from Musk’s favorite cryptocurrency, the Doge. Whatever. 

So yes, Musk paid for his new appointment, which represents a colossal conflict of interest, as that agency reportedly, avowedly, will shut down many regulations that currently govern aspects of Musk’s enormous U.S. government contracts. Can there be a shred of doubt that corruption won’t feature in nullifying EPA regulations on SpaceX, Tesla and other Musk holdings?

Musk and Ramaswamy tell Forbes they will cut some $2 trillion in U.S. federal spending. What do they intend to defund?

They will get rid of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Goodbye, Department of Education. DOGE will get really vicious with organizations like Planned Parenthood, which averages approximately $50 million a year in federal funding. Reproductive health for women is almost certainly taking that hit.

Musk will make headlines when he and Ramaswamy end the $535 million federal support for public radio and TV. They actually called that “unauthorized spending,” even though Congress authorized it. 

Musk says his DOGE will inflict hardship. Many Americans will lose their jobs, both inside the government and outside—the government contracts with many companies, and when DOGE decides those contracts are not going to be honored, the losses will be severe in some quarters. Add to that the rising consumer prices that are widely predicted from Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China (and possibly everyone else), and the American lifestyle may be in for the biggest shock since 1929.

It is astonishing that, in a roaring Biden-Harris economy that is benefiting literally every class of Americans, Trump garnered more votes than Harris and will throw wrenches into many of the gears of that economy, if Musk succeeds. 

Dr. Tom H. Hastings is coordinator of conflict resolution BA/BS degree programs and certificates at Portland State University.

Some More, Please: First Show Remounted at Community Center by Lucky Penny

Napa’s Lucky Penny Community Arts Center opened just about 10 years ago with a production of Lionel Barts’ classic musical, Oliver! The musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist has long been an audience favorite since its debut at a Southwest London theater in 1960.

It’s a big show, in many ways, and not the lightest of entertainments, but its requirement for a large cast of young performers makes it an ideal choice for community theaters, as all those kids ensure ticket sales to their parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends. Lucky Penny’s remount runs through Dec. 22.

The show opens at a London workhouse for orphans with “Food, Glorious Food” as we’re introduced to the young Oliver Twist (Kiernan Upton Albright). A bit of a rapscallion, he’s soon sold off to funeral home proprietors the Sowerberrys (Andrew Moore, LC Arisman). He runs away and runs into the Artful Dodger (Leo Tudiscso, alternating with Luke Lawrence), who introduces him to Fagin (Dennis O’Brien), the leader of a group of young “entrepreneurs.”

Pinched on his first outing with the boys, he ends up in the home of Mr. Brownlow. Concerned that he might give up their location and the nature of their “business,” the villainous Bill Sykes (Skyler King) demands he be retrieved. The maternal Nancy (Sarah Lundstrum), paramour to Bill, agrees to assist, but soon regrets it.

The large scale of the show, and the large cast (25% of the house size), makes it a challenging choice for a 99-seat theater. The intimate space makes technical errors like a malfunctioning parasol, a flapping body mic and a molting beard more distracting. Compacted chase scenes remove tension. Characters who should be played BIG are done with restraint.

Some of these are offset by the energy and talent of the cast. Upton Albright is a perfect, angelic-voiced Oliver, and Tudisco makes for a playful Dodger. Among the adults, Lundstrom stood out with a nuanced performance as the doomed Nancy. Director Stacy Arriaga’s youthful ensemble acquits itself quite nicely in several of the Alex Gomez-choreographed numbers.

Musical tracks are utilized, which subtracts from some of the show’s majesty, but is understandable considering the limitation of space. You still get to hear the vocals of such classics as “Consider Yourself,” “As Long as He Needs Me” and a perfectly lovely rendition of “Who Will Buy?” delivered well.

Lucky Penny’s Oliver! may not have scope, but it certainly has heart.

‘Oliver!’ runs through Dec. 22 at the Lucky Penny Community Arts Center. 1758 Industrial Way, Napa. Thurs, 7pm; Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. $24–$47. 707.266.6305. luckypennynapa.com.

Going Solo Again: Ian Hinkley’s Latest Musical Offering

Sonoma-based musician Ian Hinkley has a new solo album, The Last Cool Summer, which dropped on all digital platforms on Nov. 22. 

If Hinkley’s name sounds familiar, one may have previously seen or heard him as the front person/brainchild behind local bands like Bumblin’ Bones, Cavemen, Paulie Hips and the Childbearers, The Shakedown Choir, Punchface Sally and more. 

The Last Cool Summer is Hinkley’s second solo venture. This time around, he sought to make a purposeful and “guerilla-style” recording, with many songs being sung straight into a Sure SM58 microphone, often in one take. We spoke with Hinkley about the album and the process of bringing his vision to life.

Bohemian: Listening back to some of the Bumblin’ Bones albums and then playing The Last Cool Summer, there are definite parallels, although I would say this latest album is much more atmospheric and layered. Were you conscious of going for a different sound this time around?

Ian Hinkley: The main difference, I think, was that when I was putting together albums for the Bumblin’ Bones, it was often taken from songs written for, or during, performing. I tend to think of recorded music and live music as feeding two very different parts of people. Live music activates your body, while recorded music activates your mind. 

The first solo record I made was at the height of the pandemic (Guy Wonder, 2022), and grew out of knowing that I may never play these songs in front of people. I know how I sing on a stage is different than how I sing in a booth, and it freed me to not worry about how I would recreate the sounds in public.

B: Is it fair to call this album a little more melodic or ephemeral? The production has a real layered yet intriguing use of “noise” and various instrumentation. What was your thought process there? I’m guessing Takeshi Lewis (a local sound maven who mixed the album) had something to do with this different sound?

IH: It’s basically the same answer as before. I think it’s very fair to notice that I tried to add more melodic layers into these songs. Takeshi actually received all of the tracks fully recorded and didn’t add any instrumentation or ambient sounds to them. His task was purely mixing and mastering. But I will absolutely credit him with homing in on an atmospheric mood that binds the album together. 

Whether it’s a song like “Sleeping Sack” that is just me playing and singing in one take into a single mic, or “Marnie’s Song,” which is synth-heavy with three electric guitar tracks and full instrumentation, there is an open and dreamy sound that Takeshi created that binds the album into a sound that doesn’t feel like it’s all over the place but feels apiece.

B: You said you’re looking to get a band together to play live with this new stuff. Can you mention who you’re reaching out to? Will the new band just do this new stuff or some Bumblin’ Bones too?

IH: The shows I’ve played since “going solo” have been Ian Hinkley & Friends shows, which generally use musicians from the Bumblin’ Bones and some of the other bands I’ve been in. These shows do combine new songs as well as old Bumblin’ Bones songs and are usually a set of me sitting down at a One-Man-Band set-up I’ve created where I attached a keyboard atop a bass drum and attached a tambourine to a high hat stand, and I play guitar behind that while I try to add as much instrumentation as I can on my own. 

Then, over the course of the night, I’ll bring up more musicians to fill out the sound and make it a rock show like the old days. The songs on The Last Cool Summer have not been part of that show yet, and I’m putting together a new version of that show to incorporate these songs, too.

Listen to Ian Hinkley’s music via linktr.ee/ianhinkley.

Gifts for the Culturenaut

Culturenauts are those people who define themselves by their refined tastes and are so far ahead on the cultural curve that it’s a literal pain in the neck to look back at us plebes trying to keep up. 

Consequently, giving them gifts is an anxiety-ridden exercise in futility, judgment and disappointment. Merry Christmas.

Fortunately, some marketing genius created the gift card, which puts the onus of actually choosing a gift for that resident culturenaut on them. One only needs to choose where to get the card. Start here:

Book ’em, Danno

Choosing a book by its cover is no longer a problem. One can make a giftee do it with a gift card to Copperfield’s Books. An indie bookstore with nine locations in the tri-county area, they will appeal to a culturenaut’s inherent pro-labor, anti-Amazon sentiments while complimenting their conspicuous literary leanings. Will it be the latest Murakami or Miranda July’s All Fours? Who cares? One’s part is done. They may have some more eggnog. copperfieldsbooks.com.

Bonus: Russian River Books & Letters—a café-adjacent charmer in the heart of Guerneville, this bookstore deserves those dollars. booksletters.com

Wine Time

Any time is a fine time for wine, except when Mr. Merlot Mansplainer, “self-trained sommelier,” opens his purple-stained gob to tell us what we should be “looking for” in our glasses. (Dude, I’m looking for wine, and it’s right here, so shaddup already.) By gifting this type of gift card for a local wine experience, one is simultaneously saying, “I know you like wine, and I defer to your literal good tastes.” Everyone wins. 

Favorites in this regard include Petaluma’s La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge, which offers gift cards and a monthly wine club membership of beautifully curated selections. ldvwine.com.

For the oenophile with a taste for the boutique, Region Wine Bar at The Barlow in Sebastopol is the ultimate gift destination. With 50 wines on rotation from small Sonoma County producers—many without tasting rooms—it’s a rare opportunity to sip the rare find or emerging brand. Gift cards here unlock curated flights, by-the-glass pours and insider access to local micro-producers. drinkregion.com.

Bonus: Sonoma’s Gloria Ferrer, purveyors of fine sparkling wines, offers ‘digital gift cards’ online in $25, $50 or $100 denominations. gloriaferrer.com.

Cinema Claus

For the cinephile who already has everything everywhere all at once, Rialto Cinemas gift cards are the perfect plot twist. Available in any amount starting at $20, these cards cover tickets, popcorn and even wine—a triple feature of joy. Redeemable online or at the Sebastopol box office, it’s the easiest way to wrap up the magic of the big screen. One may give the gift of cinematic escapes, from arthouse gems to buttery indulgence. rialtocinemas.com.

Bonus: Santa Rosa Cinemas, whose theaters include the Roxy, Airport Stadium and Summerfield theaters, also offers gift cards at santarosacinemas.com/GiftCards.

Merry Music

A Green Music Center gift card will hit all the right notes for the music lover in one’s life. Part of the Sonoma State University campus in Rohnert Park, the venue is lauded as Sonoma County’s premier performing arts destination, offering live and online performances, which makes this a gift that can resonate far and wide. gmc.sonoma.edu.

Similarly, the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts makes gifting live performances relatively effortless, with certificates available online, by phone or in person. One may choose email for instant delivery or have them mailed—free of charge—to themself or directly to a recipient for a seamless, sonic surprise. lutherburbankcenter.org.

Bonus: Jazz venue Blue Note Napa also offers gift cards at bluenotejazz.com/napa for those who prefer their ‘White Christmas’ with a dash of blue.

The Female Gaze of Photographer Kristen Demai

This story links to the cover story, forming a partnered pair. Both stories roll within a generational sea change in sexual mores. 

The cover story treats the massification of sex photo/video platform OnlyFans. And this companion treats the normalization of the sexy photo shoot. The tide has gone out, the landscape has changed, and everyone and their mother is doing fun and racy “boudoir shoots.”

To learn a bit more about the form and appeal of these shoots, I approached high-tone boudoir photographer Kristen Demai—ex-belly dancer and married mother of two.

Interview arranged, we met at Petaluma Tiki Bar Kapu over tropical drinks, under sunset lights. Demai had in tow her model-muse, a trad-wife sex-kitten named Brittney Leeanne.

As one reads, open kciboudier.com to see some, well, spreads. They are staged high-end hotel rooms, dirty bars, laundry rooms and grassy green pastures.

CH: Brittney, I wouldn’t guess it from your pin-up physique, but you had body-image issues following a toxic relationship and a body-changing medical disorder.

BL: I used boudoir photography with Kristen as a tool to rebuild my self-esteem, my self-worth and my self-love. I saw the progression across the shoots of how much I was healing. It’s a really liberating way of getting back to your core self.

KD: Early on in my career—10, 15 years ago—I learned that many women were doing this only for themselves—with no intention to share.

CH: Kristen, why do you choose to do this work?

KD: Growing up as a girl, you get mixed messages. You’re told you can do and be anything—and you are told that you can’t do this or that. Women and girls are judged in such a sexually charged way—the male gaze, I mean. I just hated the way society’s ideas and standards of beauty were imposed on my friends that I thought were so pretty but made to feel less than.

I rebel against what society pushes onto me—and I don’t want other people to feel that.

CH: So you don’t bring your own ideas of what is and isn’t sexy?

KD: I have no judgments. It’s all about what you feel sexy in—lacy lingerie, an old elephant printed tank top or a mumu.

CH: It sounds like a beautiful process—before intimacy, emotional safety…

Hire a shoot. For a partner, for a lover or for oneself, this Christmas, give the gift of nudes. KCI shoots digital but can print boudoir photos on glossy, metal or framed canvas. Visit kciboudier.com.

Free Will Astrology: Week of Dec. 11

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): If you were walking down the street and spied a coin lying on the sidewalk, would you bend down to pick it up? If you’re like most people, you wouldn’t. It’s too much trouble to exert yourself for an object of such little value. But I advise you to adopt a different attitude during the coming weeks. Just for now, that stray coin might be something like an Umayyad gold dinar minted in the year 723 and worth over $7 million. Please also apply this counsel metaphorically, Aries. In other words, be alert for things of unexpected worth that would require you to expand your expectations or stretch your capacities.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus writer Randall Jarrell compared poets to people who regularly stand in a meadow during a thunderstorm. If they are struck by the lightning of inspiration five or six times in the course of their careers, they are good poets. If they are hit a dozen times, they are great poets. A similar principle applies in many fields of endeavor. To be excellent at what you do, you must regularly go to where the energy is most electric. You’ve also got to keep working diligently on your skills so that when inspiration comes calling, you have a highly developed ability to capture it in a useful form. I’m bringing this up now, Taurus, because I suspect the coming weeks will bring you a slew of lightning bolts.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): My upcoming novels epitomize the literary genre known as magical realism. In many ways, the stories exhibit reverence for the details of our gritty destinies in the material world. But they are also replete with wondrous events like talking animals, helpful spirits and nightly dreams that provide radical healing. The characters are both practical and dreamy, earthy and wildly imaginative, well-grounded and alert for miracles. In accordance with your astrological potential, I invite you to be like those characters in the coming months. You are primed to be both robustly pragmatic and primed for fairy-tale-style adventures.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In December 1903, the Wright Brothers flew a motorized vehicle through the sky for the first time in human history. It was a very modest achievement, really. On the first try, Orville Wright was in the air for just 12 seconds and traveled 120 feet. On the fourth attempt that day, Wilbur was aloft for 59 seconds and 852 feet. I believe you’re at a comparable stage in the evolution of your own innovation. Don’t minimize your incipient accomplishment. Keep the faith. It may take a while, but your efforts will ultimately lead to a meaningful advancement. (PS: Nine months later, the Wrights flew their vehicle for over five minutes and traveled 2.75 miles.)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): During the rest of 2024, life’s generosity will stream your way more than usual. You will be on the receiving end of extra magnanimity from people, too. Even the spiritual realms might have extra goodies to bestow on you. How should you respond? My suggestion is to share the inflowing wealth with cheerful creativity. Boost your own generosity and magnanimity. Just assume that the more you give, the more you will get and the more you will have. (PS: Do you know that Emily Dickinson poem with the line “Why Floods be served to us — in Bowls”? I suggest you obtain some big bowls.)

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The term “cognitive dissonance” refers to the agitation we feel while trying to hold conflicting ideas or values in our minds. For example, let’s say you love the music of a particular singer-songwriter, but they have opinions that offend you or they engage in behavior that repels you. Or maybe you share many positions with a certain political candidate, but they also have a few policies you dislike. Cognitive dissonance doesn’t have to be a bad or debilitating thing. In fact, the ability to harbor conflicting ideas with poise and equanimity is a sign of high intelligence. I suspect this will be one of your superpowers in the coming weeks.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Amazing Grace” is a popular hymn recorded by many pop stars, including Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson. Created in 1773, it tells the story of a person who concludes that he has lived an awful life and now wants to repent for his sins and be a better human. The composer, John Newton, was a slave trader who had a religious epiphany during a storm that threatened to sink his ship in the Atlantic Ocean. God told him to reform his evil ways, and he did. I presume that none of you reading this horoscope has ever been as horrible a person as Newton. And yet you and I, like most people, are in regular need of conversion experiences that awaken us to higher truths and more expansive perspectives. I predict you will have at least three of those transformative illuminations in the coming months. One is available now, if you want it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Thinking outside the box” is an American idiom. It means escaping habitual parameters and traditional formulas so as to imagine fresh perspectives and novel approaches. While it’s an excellent practice, there is also a good alternative. We can sometimes accomplish marvels by staying inside the box and reshaping it from the inside. Another way to imagine this is to work within the system to transform the system—to accept some of the standard perspectives but play and experiment with others. For example, in my horoscope column, I partially adhere to the customs of the well-established genre, but also take radical liberties with it. I recommend this approach for you in 2025.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I don’t recommend burning wood to heat your home. Such fires generate noxious emissions harmful to human health. But hypothetically speaking, if you had no other way to get warm, I prefer burning ash and beech wood rather than, say, pine and cedar. The former two trees yield far more heat than the latter two, so you need less of them. Let’s apply this principle as we meditate on your quest for new metaphorical fuel, Sagittarius. In the coming months, you will be wise to search for resources that provide you with the most efficient and potent energy.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The world’s longest tunnel is over 35 miles long. It’s the Gotthard Base Tunnel in the Swiss Alps. I’m guessing the metaphorical tunnel you’ve been crawling your way through lately, Capricorn, may feel that extensive. But it’s really not. And here’s even better news: Your plodding travels will be finished sooner than you imagine. I expect that the light at the end of the tunnel will be visible any day now. Now here’s the best news: Your slow journey through the semi-darkness will ultimately yield rich benefits no later than your birthday.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Would you like to avoid wilting and fading away in January, Aquarius? If so, I recommend that during the coming weeks, you give your best and brightest gifts and express your wildest and most beautiful truths. In the new year, you will need some downtime to recharge and revitalize. But it will be a pleasantly relaxing interlude—not a wan, withered detour—if in the immediate future you unleash your unique genius in its full splendor.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): My treasured Piscean advisor, Letisha, believes it’s a shame so many of us try to motivate ourselves through abusive self-criticism. Are you guilty of that sin? I have done it myself on many occasions. Sadly, it rarely works as a motivational ploy. More often, it demoralizes and deflates. The good news, Pisces, is that you now have extra power and savvy to diminish your reliance on this ineffectual tactic. To launch the transformation, I hope you will engage in a focused campaign of inspiring yourself through self-praise and self-love.

Homework: What will you revive, rejuvenate and renovate in 2025? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Winter Studios, Route 1, Broadway & Maria Muldaur

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Sausalito

Annual Winter Open Studios

It’s time to get ready to celebrate the pre-holiday season with a weekend of all things art at the ICB ART 56th Annual Winter Open Studios on Dec. 7-8. From 11am to 5pm, the historic ICB Building in Sausalito will open its doors to more than 100 artists showing off their original works to the world. This show offers a rare chance to experience a wide variety of art and artists, all of whom have been hard at work mastering their craft in many mediums, including sculpture, painting, photography, fashion and oh so much more. Among the featured artists is Nicki Adani and her “Taking Flight” installation. The Winter Open Studios event invites visitors to connect directly with artists and see their creative processes in action. Seasoned art collectors and first-time visitors alike are encouraged to come on out to take in this local show and maybe even discover new works while engaging with Sausalito’s thriving art scene. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit icbart.com. The ICB Building is located at 480 Gate 5 Rd., Sausalito.

Point Reyes Station

Gallery Route One (and Only)

This month, Gallery Route One in Point Reyes Station is showcasing four new exhibits that delve into contemporary themes of identity, nature and environmental concerns (a very on-the-nose theme for a West Marin exhibition). On Saturday, Dec. 7, the gallery will open its doors to a collection of artworks that are designed to captivate and inspire just in time for the holiday season. In the Center Gallery, two emerging artists from Gallery Route One’s Fellowship Program will present thought-provoking pieces that explore self-image, personal transformation and the natural world. This includes Taryn Möller Nicoll’s installation, Dreamgirlz, and Sofia Gonzalez’s Accumulations. In the Project Space of Gallery Route One, Jeff Downing will present The Grand Façade: A Reverence for Water, while in the Annex Gallery will be EA Zappa’s For the Birds series. Art lovers, environmental advocates and those simply looking for a bit of beauty this holiday season may come out to Point Reyes Station to see these works that are meant to engage, entertain and potentially stoke some climate change (the good kind). For more information, visit galleryrouteone.org.

Sonoma & Marin

Broadway Holiday

The holiday season may be celebrated in the North Bay with Transcendence Theatre Company’s Broadway Holiday, a star-studded show with a festive twist on the classic Broadway musical. This local theater company must have asked Santa for a showstopper jam-packed with Broadway veterans bringing New York to the North Bay. Broadway Holiday features an all-new mix of classic holiday tunes and Broadway numbers, all combined into one festive local production that is designed to dazzle its audience with vocals, choreography and plenty of holiday joy and good cheer. The ensemble includes Broadway’s Frozen and Wicked star, Alicia Albright, and Cirque du Soleil’s Ruby Lewis. Broadway Holiday will be staged at the Marin Theatre in Mill Valley Dec. 12 through 15, and at Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma Dec. 18 and 19. An additional matinee performance has been added at Sebastiani Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Tickets start at $30 at Marin Theatre and $31 at Sebastiani Theatre, with group discounts and VIP Gold tickets available for a premium experience. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit MarinTheatre.org or Transcendencetheatre.org.

Santa Rosa

Holiday Swing Santa, Baby

The one and only Maria Muldaur is bringing some festive beats to Sonoma this year with her upcoming performance of Holiday Swing. Muldar’s show is designed to be a little bit upbeat and a whole lot hip, perfect for those who want to kick off the holiday season with some moving and grooving to more than just jingle bells. For this show, Muldaur will be joined by Jazzabelle Quintet, a group of Bay Area jazz players whose performance is meant to add some serious swing to the season. Just like Holiday Swing Santa, Muldaur is ready to deliver her musical gifts straight to the eardrums. This Holiday Swing performance promises no sappy, sentimental holiday songs—just a few handpicked gems from Maria’s favorite jazz and blues artists that are designed to keep the audience tapping along and swinging to the beat all night long. The show will run from 7:30 to 10pm, Saturday, Dec. 7 at The California. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door; they can be found at caltheatre.com. The California Theatre is located at 528 Seventh St. in Santa Rosa.

Your Letters, 12/4

Safety First 

The Dungeness crab opener is a highly anticipated event for many, but it comes with its share of risks. Despite the warnings, some passionate crabbers choose to venture out in unsafe conditions. It’s with a heavy heart that I reflect on the tragic losses experienced by families and our community this season. The reported deaths of those who launched from the west side marina, Bodega Bay, and didn’t return have profoundly affected us all.

As an avid fisherperson, hearing about the four capsized boats in less than a month raises serious concerns about safety and how we can prevent further tragedies. As a local veteran familiar with our powerful ocean, I find myself asking what measures we can take as a family and community to keep everyone safe.

While many local fisherpeople, including myself, value our freedom to go out to sea without interference from government regulations, we also recognize the need for clearer warnings to help those who may be tempted to head out on unsafe days. The last thing we want is for more lives to be lost. As a community, what are your thoughts on what we can do to prevent further loss? 

Cheryl A. Sanfilippo

Sonoma County

Trumpkins

When Donald Trump makes reference to the millions of immigrants streaming across our borders every hour and a half as rapists, drug dealers, whores, murderers and worse, I just wish he would stop describing my family in such accurate terms.

Craig J. “Button” Corsini

San Rafael

Over: American Experiment

To form a more imperfect union

The American experiment with democracy is over. By a slim margin, we have encouraged the dismantling of our imperfect but mostly functional government by and for the people. 

We can never undo this loss. We are no longer the world leaders in democracy or freedom. We can no longer claim to be the land of opportunity or the beacon of freedom to the world. It turns out we are no better than any other fascistic country run by corruption and indifference to the benefits of law.

I grew up in a country where fairness and equality were virtues, something to aspire to. A country where truth, honesty and the notion that “all men are created equally” mattered. A country where compassion and loving one’s neighbor were viewed as the heights of being a good Christian.

In its place, we have a selfish baby-man intent on gaining notoriety, even if it means the destruction of the very freedoms our forefathers carved out of the subjugation and exploitation of our ancestors.

This hypocritical liar has utilized the well-studied and documented fascist playbook to convince people that their hard life is the result of immigrants coming to this country. 

Unfortunately, my Democratic brethren still think their good, rational arguments should outdo such an obvious emotional, intellectual shrimp.

There’s no consensual reality with a delusional liar. They live in a different world than you and I, so there’s no common ground to disagree. They simply lie and deny their way out of anything resembling consequences or the inconvenience of facts.

What most people don’t recognize is that the fabrication of a war between Democrats and MAGA Republicans makes it look like it’s us against them.

When the Billionaire Boys Club defines and shapes the concern about a “deep state,” it becomes nearly impossible to see whom or where the real deep state is. Making us see each other as the enemy ensures we don’t pause long enough to understand how this gives them permission to continue exploiting the human and natural world.

Empires come and go, and we are witnessing the decline of the American Empire. 

Kevin Russel lives in Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa Metro Chamber Names New CEO

The search is over. The board of directors of regional business advocacy group Santa Rosa Metro Chamber (SRMC) has unanimously voted to hire Ananda Sweet as the organization’s new CEO.

Sweet, who has been with SRMC since November 2016 and previously served as the organization’s vice president of public policy and workforce development, stepped into the position of interim CEO after the departure of the previous CEO, Peter Rumble. Sweet will be SRMC’s 22nd principal executive and the first woman to lead the organization in its 118-year history.

You’re the first woman to be CEO in the Chamber’s long history—how does that shape your approach to leadership, and what does it mean for the organization’s evolution? And, frankly, what took so long?

Being the first woman CEO is a privilege, a responsibility and a celebration of progress. It’s both humbling and motivating. It reminds me of the responsibility to lead with intention, inclusiveness and innovation. My approach is rooted in collaboration and creating a culture where our team and our members feel heard and valued. As for what took so long, that speaks to larger societal dynamics. But I’m proud that our Chamber is embracing progress and aligning leadership with the evolving needs of our organization and the community we serve. 

Your 30-, 60- and 90-day plans emphasize growth and retention. Where do you see the most untapped potential for the Chamber’s impact?

The greatest untapped potential lies in deepening our role as a convener and connector. By fostering stronger partnerships across industries and sectors, we can address shared challenges like workforce development and economic resilience. Additionally, there’s significant opportunity in engaging emerging industries, amplifying small businesses and supporting our diverse business community, which remains a key driver of innovation and economic growth.

Santa Rosa businesses face myriad challenges and opportunities—what are they, in your observation?

Challenges like workforce shortages, affordable housing, childcare access and adapting to a shifting economy are front and center. At the same time, there’s tremendous opportunity in fostering innovation and leveraging Sonoma County’s unique assets—its people, culture and environment. Our mission is to support, promote and advocate for our members and create a vibrant sustainable economy for all in our region. Key to this is our ability to provide tools and partnerships that help businesses thrive amidst change and embrace our opportunities.

Membership engagement is a cornerstone of your strategy. What’s your playbook for strengthening connections with current members while drawing in new industries? 

For current members, it’s about delivering real value through advocacy, resources and programmatic work tailored to their needs. Open dialogue and consistent outreach are key to strengthening relationships. To draw in new industries, we’ll focus on highlighting the Chamber’s relevance to their unique goals. Building trust and demonstrating impact will help position the Chamber as a vital partner for business and community success.

How does the creative economy fit into your vision?

The creative economy is integral to Sonoma County’s identity and future. By elevating this sector, we’re not only supporting economic diversity but also supporting a sector critical to our region’s vibrancy and culture. My vision includes a commitment to intentionally include creative businesses in our work and advocating for local policies that ensure artists and entrepreneurs have access to resources and opportunities to thrive.

Every leadership role comes with challenges. What keeps you up at night, and how do you plan to face it?

Ensuring that we’re not only meeting but anticipating the needs of our members is always top of mind. Balancing short-term demands with long-term vision can be challenging. To address this, I’m focused on building a strong organization and team, fostering adaptability and staying closely connected to our members’ realities. The key is listening, learning and acting with intention. 

Our Chamber has a rich history of addressing community challenges and acting as a catalyst for new opportunities. Together, with our members, partners and talented team, I am committed to building on this foundation to drive meaningful progress and create lasting impact for our members and the community.

Looking forward: If you could fast-forward a year, what headline would you like to see about the Chamber under your leadership?

“Santa Rosa Metro Chamber: Leading Boldly, Empowering Businesses and Working Collaboratively to Transform Our Community.” This headline would reflect a year of tangible impact, including stronger member engagement, innovative programming and visible progress both on business success and on critical supports for a thriving and strong workforce. It would highlight the Chamber as a driving force for meaningful change and collaboration to support a thriving community for all. 

For more information, visit santarosametrochamber.com.

DOGE-Style: The coming ‘Musk Bust’

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Santa Rosa Metro Chamber Names New CEO

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