I sat spellbound. The man across the table was relating how he had wrangled his way into a detention center where he suspected torture was being committed. He convinced the guard to leave the room, quickly photographed the horrific scarring on a detainee’s back, smuggled the film out and showed the photos to a judge.
“The judge roundly condemned the torture, which was illegal but seldom exposed,” my companion explained. “Detainees were denied any access to their families and lawyers until they were charged. That could take several months, and by then the marks of torture would no longer show. But this time we had unexpectedly won a case granting access to the detainee.” He paused, then added, “The judge directed the offending security policemen to be prosecuted. The exposure stopped the torture.”
The man across from me was Dave Smuts, a white lawyer who had led the legal challenges to the apartheid regime in place in Namibia when it was under South African rule. Smuts is now a Namibian Supreme Court justice. He also was an international student at Harvard.
As the Trump administration curbs international student visas, I wonder about the cost. As a humanitarian aid worker, I often met foreigners who credit studying in the U.S. with the important work they now do. They also speak glowingly of the U.S. once they’re home.
A Bosnian official, fresh from a mid-career program in the U.S., admiringly recalled, “In America, people actually stop at red lights, even when no one is coming. They believe in the rule of law. That’s how their society gets ahead.”
The U.S. will be poorer without international students. We lose their perspectives and enriching campus conversations. We lose the financial benefits of their tuition and other spending. We lose the leading edge they bring us in science, business and the arts.
It’s time to slow down and think these changes through. We are losing too much.
Melinda Burrell, Ph.D.,is a former humanitarian aid worker and now trains on the neuroscience of communication and conflict.
As a concerned citizen who reads your publication not just for the arts coverage but for the occasional whiff of rebellion, I’d like to formally commend The Happys for reminding us all how punk rock is supposed to work—by slapping homemade signage on a utility pole and calling it a business plan.
Their marketing strategy is a masterclass in DIY promo. If Banksy and Billy Mays had a baby (and that baby dropped out of art school to start a band), it would be The Happys. These guys don’t wait for permission or a publicist. They hand paint their own posters, make their own merch and probably built their own street team out of discarded vape cartridges.
The Happys are working it. They’re the North Bay’s answer to a question no one thought to ask: “Who cares?” They do—and now we do too.
Micah D. Mercer North Bay
Bleeders of the Free World
On a recent trip to the UK and France, I learned that there are people in Europe who don’t hate Americans.
But they do dismiss us as leaders of the free world, because our system has vaulted an untrustworthy degenerate imbecile into a position of power—twice.
They won’t be forgiving us for that any time soon.
In high school, she was quiet. She was kind, with flashes of dark wit, but boy was she quiet. Basically, she was a typical kid.
Today, “Jenny W.” is still pretty reserved, but has emerged as a powerful writer and thinker, a woman who senses the national moment and offers a document. Descended from “a handful of founding fathers,” including Declaration of Independence author Thomas Jefferson, she heard, she says, a call. Aware of her specific position as descendent of those enslaving, genocidal settlers, she took on the work of rewriting that declaration.
“I’m a researcher, a pattern spotter,” she says. Her concerns include chronic pain, trauma, the healthcare system; these have affected her own life. She especially focuses on government structures, and she perceives the U.S. to be controlled by a small number of corrupt, self-interested people—that is, an oligarchy.
“The intention in writing this is to create a focal point,” Jenny says, “to awaken the people to the fact that we are in control, not the ruling class.” That there are so many more of us than there are of them. That together, we can make change, as the people often have. As Ursula K. LeGuin said of capitalism, that oligarchy’s “power seems inescapable—but then, so did the divine right of kings.”
The two declarations are related, like their authors, but like the humans, they’re also philosophically opposed. Crucially, Jenny W. makes no call to arms. “This is a peace movement,” she says, aligned with ambitious nonviolent projects including the General Strike, generalstrikeus.com/strikecard, inspired by historical bloodless revolutions, the Indivisibles and the numberless, leaderless, acts of resistance of the majority—most recently the spontaneous good trouble in Minneapolis, where an ICE arrest was forcefully opposed by people who happened to be walking by when it happened.
On June 14, copies of the New Declaration of Independence will circulate on paper in original colonial cities including Boston, New York, Williamsburg, Jamestown and Philadelphia. With a “Send to Seven,” phone-tree, tell-a-friend approach instead of social media plus a simple web presence, the declaration is everyone’s to sign. Later, a Third Continental Congress.
As we head into yet another round of massive anti-fascist, pro-democracy street protests, we might find inspiration by screaming these lines aloud—even this typical kid can’t stay quiet any longer.
When a government fails to represent its constituents and performs tyrannical acts affecting Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, it is the right and duty of the people to throw off that government and return equality to every person.
In the year 2025, in the United States alone, 801 billionaires possess a combined wealth of $6.22 trillion. The richest 1% of the global population now own more money than the bottom 95% combined.
The rapid accumulation of such wealth among the few negatively impacts a high percentage of the American people.
We address this Declaration to the ruling class of oligarchs that has created this inequality and challenge your authority to do so.
We see the despair you have created in millions of Americans due to your greed.
We see the distractions you create as you exploit the last resources of the earth.
We know hate is your favored tool of division, and you stir it up for your own benefit, by pitting your two factions, the right and the left, against each other.
We know there are harmful chemicals, metals and plastics in our food, cosmetics, air and water. Microplastics and other toxins are a cause of illness and anxiety.
We see you profiting from an exorbitant yet largely ineffective medical system, and we no longer believe it’s our fault we can’t thrive.
We see war as a battle among oligarchs. We have no hate for our fellow humans across the globe or across town, and we will not fight for you.
We see you culling the sick, disabled and the elderly by removing resources or applying endless layers of red tape until dispirited people are homeless or dead.
We see why you ban abortion: Oligarchs need workers and buyers, or capitalism dies. But women are not baby machines to prop up your tottering dynasties.
We see violence toward women and the LGBTQ+ community as a tactic to keep them feeling divided and unsafe. This came about with widespread conditioning.
We know the American people have been kept compliant with ill health, delivered through a chemical-laden and barely nutritious food supply and stress.
We see how you discredit doctors who don’t play big pharma’s game, and ostracize or jail those who use plant healing.
We see your showmanship, your denials and your bullying, carefully orchestrated for division and control.
We know you intentionally drive up the cost of housing by buying up affordable homes and raising the rents or leaving them empty.
We see employees with signs of mental illness are discarded to the streets. The pressure to cope with your constraints as well as untreated trauma is incredible.
We see how we are encouraged to soak in entertainment and alcohol to numb ourselves to the constant friction of this life.
We see how forcefully you discredit people wakeful enough to see you.
The American people are powerfully raising our consciousness levels, high enough to see your inexcusable constraints on our right to live in abundance on this earth. We demand the cessation of all hostile actions towards the American people so we can heal the divisions you put forth for us to stumble over.
The ruling class criminally exempted themselves from taxes while forming illegal monopolies and paying stagnant wages for many millions. We will levy back taxes and distribute that wealth to where it is needed.
We demand the end of immigrant persecution and enslavement now.
We demand an education system that prepares us for being fully human, not for subservience to an oppressive ruling class.
We demand alternate energies at a fair cost, phasing out earth-warming fossil fuels.
We forbid the use of nuclear arsenals and demand their dismantling.
We demand the end of harmful plastics, chemicals and coatings that poison us and make us anxious.
We demand a free press which delivers uncensored news.
We demand retribution for the victims of “Manifest Destiny,” the original peoples, and for the descendants of the enslaved.
We demand the dissolution of this “for-profit” puppet government.
We demand the redevelopment of democracy by a diverse group of people who want to lead, not get rich. We will trust those who have earned respect to lead deep reform of biased systems.
Prisoners will be rehabilitated meaningfully to help them recover from tragic lives and forced labor. The for-profit prison system will be dismantled.
If the oligarchy walks away from businesses that are vital services to humans, we will take them over and run them with heart and fairness.
The vast real estate held by the super-rich will be turned over to the people, and rents and property values will be controlled by the people.
Medicine will revert to a focus on healing the whole person, not on profits, and will be widely available and affordable.
Our energy and attention will no longer be on hate. Rather, community and connection will arise for all races, genders, cultures and creeds.
Industries damaging to the earth will cease, such as fracking, polluting, mining, damming rivers and burning fossil fuels. Green energies will fill the gaps.
We will reestablish the American Dream for our youth and teach them what freedom feels like.
Our species is not inherently warlike. It is the current ruling class that places the rest of us in peril. They profit from war and try to keep us hatefully divided. We won’t forget that united we stand, divided we fall.
We understand what follows may be a collapse of money systems that most benefit capitalists. We will build a better system, and we will develop it with the safety of millions of people in mind: the students, the artists, the elderly, the scientists, the sick.
Nothing in this document promotes exclusion, non-democratic control or a dominance by any one gender, race, group, religious affiliation or any other body that may attempt to conquer or take control.
At just 15, Natty Gove has already done something most adults haven’t: He founded a nonprofit to get laptops into the hands of local students who need them.
The nonprofit is called the Tech4Youth Foundation, and its mission is simple—to give students reliable access to personal computers so they’re not left behind (both in the classroom and outside of it). It’s partnering with the Sausalito Marin City School District to raise $11,000 to reach that goal and allow more students equal access to necessary resources.
Tech4Youth Foundation has seen incredible success since its inception, but there is still room to donate and make a difference before the start of the next school year. Which is why Gove reached out to the local press to help spread the word in the hope that the people of Marin will see his mission through.
“I’m so lucky to have grown up here in Tiburon. But in Marin, there is a culture of significant wealth and privilege,” said Gove. “One thing that leads to is, from the outside, a stereotyping of Marin as being entirely wealthy. But if you look into it, you’ll see that there is a significant socioeconomic gap in Marin. And that part of Marin gets lost and is not talked about as much as it should be.”
“From my experience doing my schoolwork, contacting people about opportunities and doing extracurricular activities, it’s so crucial to have that reliable access to a personal computer,” he added. “Plus, we live in such a tech-driven part of the world, which further highlights why it’s so important.”
In the modern era, students don’t just use computers to research papers and take online quizzes—actually, computers are the gateway to extracurriculars, coding basics, college apps and everything in between. Those students who do not have access to personal computers can face significant obstacles to education and opportunity. To place more computers into their hands would make a huge difference in their ability to participate equally with their peers.
“I did some volunteer work at MLK Academy in Marin City,” said Gove. “It was a great experience, and while I was there, I had a great conversation with a teacher we were volunteering with. I was thinking, how can I help out more? How can I give my time to a good cause? So, I talked with the superintendent of the district and the IT department, and at the time, 30 students didn’t have their own personal computers at home to do school activities on.”
“In this much more tech-reliant world, not having a computer to learn those skills is really a wall,” he continued. “So, I thought that if I could raise money to buy these laptops, that would be great.”
With his mission clear, Gove began his quest to provide laptop equality to his fellow students. In February, he filed and officially received Tech4Youth Foundation’s nonprofit certification. And, after that, he hit the ground running … literally. But going door to door did not yield the results he needed to meet his goal. He soon realized that if he wanted to get computers into the hands of those who needed them most, he’d have to do more than speak with individual residents and send emails to local businesses. So, Gove turned to the local press instead.
“The moment when we really started to make money was after being published in the Tiburon Ark,” he said. “It got us out there and exposed our mission to the community.”
Although Gove has support from his family, school, press and community, the mission is entirely his. From start to finish, he’s walked the walk—and he filed the 501(c)(3) paperwork to prove it.
“We’re very excited about what Natty is doing, and we’re continually amazed at how much progress he’s making,” said Alex Gove, his father. “The process is a little bit more complex than I think he thought it was to put together a nonprofit. But he’s really been leading the charge, and we’re just very thrilled at how focused he is on this.
“What’s really amazing to me is that [the school administration] has really taken Natty’s mission very seriously; it’s one thing to have a 15 year old email somebody at a school district about a plan they have, but it’s another for administration to listen, consider the project seriously and provide direction,” Alex Gove continued.
Tech4Youth hasn’t quite hit its goal yet, but momentum is on Natty Gove’s side—especially if Marin keeps showing up through the summer. Every donation now means real students will start next school year with the tools they need, not the setbacks they don’t.
“One hundred percent of donations that go to us go into our goal, which is to provide computers to underprivileged children in our local communities,” said Gove. “If we exceeded that limit, that would be amazing … and would go to our next project to buy more computers for Marin’s students so nobody has to go without.”
Donations to Tech4Youth Foundation can be made through the website. If a financial gift isn’t possible, those interested may still support the cause by spreading the word, whether on social media or through word of mouth. In a place as connected as Marin, reaching the goal should be entirely possible, especially given the strong momentum Gove has already built.
“As of today, we’ve raised $8,000 out of our $11,000 goal,” he explained. “That’s one thing I love about Marin—when people see that there’s a need, they really want to step in to help out a good cause. We’ve had some people just offer us computers they have, and it’s been great seeing the community come together behind a fantastic cause.”
“It’s just wonderful to see such a large group of people across Marin come together and donate their hard-earned money to a great cause,” Gove concluded. “And the money is going right back into the community for better education and digital access for all of Marin’s students. This entire experience has just been so great, and very rewarding.”
To learn more about the Tech4Youth Foundation nonprofit or to donate to the cause and help to put computers in the hands of Marin’s students who would otherwise go without, call 415.720.8870, send an email to te******************@***il.com, visit tech4youthfoundation.org.
Marin in 2025 doesn’t just eat well—it eats with intention.
The trends shaping Marin’s current culinary landscape aren’t new; they’re continuations of patterns long established but increasingly baked into everyday life.
From the enduring influence of the farm-to-table ethos to the rise of scaled-down food halls and communal dining, from chef-driven beverage programs to the slow but steady arrival of marquee food brands, Marin’s dining scene is evolving by staying the course.
What follows are four of the most visible through-lines in Marin’s current food narrative.
Farm Charm
Marin has pioneered the farm-to-table ethos for decades, but now that movement has entered our daily routines. Most restaurants partner directly with local farms—many within 50 miles—to serve seasonal produce, fresh seafood and dairy sourced from local microclimates. For example, Marin’s fast-casual venues are embracing this trend, creating spaces where quality ingredients meet casual comfort .
Mini Food Halls
A new wave of multi-concept venues is popping up across Marin. These scaled-down food halls offer communal seating, casual vibes and a pick-and-mix fashion. Mill Valley’s Local Kitchens is a pioneer of the concept, and a recent revamp has put it on a new trajectory. Another location opened in Novato in 2023. Think Mediterranean tapas, plant-based bowls, grab-and-go formats, all coexisting under one roof. They reflect both social trends and foodie diversity and head off complaints from picky eaters.
Burgeoning Beverages
At North Bay gems like Paseo Bistro in Mill Valley, bartenders craft live-from-local-spirit cocktails using Sausalito Liquor Company products that complement their naturally harvested menu.
On the wine front, West Marin lists contain biodynamic and locally made sparkling options. Skywalker Vineyards produces blanc de blancs and pinot noir using méthode champenoise, while Point Reyes’ Heidrun Meadery crafts honey-based sparkling mead in traditional styles, both showcasing a refined, terroir-forward ethos.
Marquee Names
Big-name brands are calling Marin home. Renowned San Francisco bakery Tartine will open a 3,091 square foot venue at Strawberry Village in Mill Valley later this year, marking its first location outside San Francisco in the Bay Area. The site will spotlight pastries, sandwiches and possibly unique items exclusive to this outpost. Alongside Tartine, Latin‑American newcomer Cholita Linda will debut its first Marin shop nearby.
Taken together, these steady trends reflect not a reinvention, but a quiet confidence in how Marin chooses to eat.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your definition of home is due for revamping, deepening and expansion. Your sense of where you truly belong is ripe to be adjusted and perhaps even revolutionized. A half-conscious desire you have not previously been ready to fully acknowledge is ready for you to explore. Can you handle these subtly shocking opportunities? Do you have any glimmerings about how to open yourself to the revelations that life would love to offer you about your roots, your foundations and your prime resources? Here are your words of power: source and soul.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Do you have any frustrations about how you express yourself or create close connections? Are there problems in your ability to be heard and appreciated? Do you wish you could be more persuasive and influential? If so, your luck is changing. In the coming months, you will have extraordinary powers to innovate, expand and deepen the ways you communicate. Even if you are already fairly pleased with the flow of information and energy between you and those you care for, surprising upgrades could be in the works. To launch this new phase of fostering links, affinities and collaborations, devise fun experiments that encourage you to reach out and be reached.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I’ve always had the impression that honeybees are restless wanderers, randomly hopping from flower to flower as they gradually accumulate nectar. But I recently discovered that they only meander until they find a single good fount of nourishment, whereupon they sup deeply and make a beeline back to the hive. I am advocating their approach to you in the coming weeks. Engage in exploratory missions, but don’t dawdle, and don’t sip small amounts from many different sites. Instead, be intent on finding a single source that provides the quality and quantity you want, then fulfill your quest and head back to your sanctuary.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Let’s talk about innovation. I suspect it will be your specialty in the coming weeks and months. One form that innovation takes is the generation of a new idea, approach or product. Another kind of innovation comes through updating something that already exists. A third may emerge from finding new relationships between two or more older ways of doing things—creative recombinations that redefine the nature of the blended elements. All these styles of innovation are now ripe for you to employ.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo psychotherapist Carl Jung was halfway through his life of 85 years when he experienced the ultimate midlife crisis. Besieged by feelings of failure and psychological disarray, he began to see visions and hear voices in his head. Determined to capitalize on the chaotic but fertile opportunity, he undertook an intense period of self-examination and self-healing. He wrote in journals that were eventually published as The Red Book: Liber Novus. He emerged healthy and whole from this trying time, far wiser about his nature and his mission in life. I invite you to initiate your own period of renewal in the coming months, Leo. Consider writing your personal Red Book: Liber Novus.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In the coming weeks, you will have chances to glide deeper than you have previously dared to go into experiences, relationships and opportunities that are meaningful to you. How much bold curiosity will you summon as you penetrate further than ever before into the heart of the gorgeous mysteries? How wild and unpredictable will you be as you explore territory that has been off-limits? Your words of power: probe, dive down, decipher.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When traditional Japanese swordsmiths crafted a blade, they wrapped hard outer layers around a softer inner core. This strategy gave their handiwork a sharp cutting edge while also imbuing it with flexibility and a resistance to breakage. I recommend a similar approach for you, Libra. Create balance, yes, but do so through integration rather than compromise. Like the artisans of old, don’t choose between hardness and flexibility, but find ways to incorporate both. Call on your natural sense of harmony to blend opposites that complement each other.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio journalist Martha Gelhorn (1908-1998) was an excellent war correspondent. During her six decades on the job, she reported on many of the world’s major conflicts. But she initially had a problem when trying to get into France to report on D-Day, June 6, 1945. Her application for press credentials was denied, along with all those of other women journalists. Surprise. Through subterfuge and daring, Gelhorn stowed away on a hospital ship and reached France in time to report on the climactic events. I counsel you to also use extraordinary measures to achieve your goals, Scorpio. Innovative circumspection and ethical trickery are allowed. Breaking the rules may be necessary and warranted.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): My spirit guides enjoy reminding me that breakthrough insights and innovations may initially emerge not as complete solutions, but as partial answers to questions that need further exploration. I don’t always like it, but I listen anyway, when they tell me that progress typically comes through incremental steps. The Sagittarian part of my nature wants total victory and comprehensive results NOW. It would rather not wait for the slow, gradual approach to unfold its gifts. So I empathize if you are a bit frustrated by the piecemeal process you are nursing. But I’m here to say that your patience will be well rewarded.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Sometimes I’ve got to pause and relax my focused striving, because that’s the only way my unconscious mind can work its magic.” My Capricorn friend, Alicia, says that about her creative process as a novelist. The solution to a knotty challenge may not come from redoubling her efforts but instead from making a strategic retreat into silence and emptiness. I invite you to consider a similar approach, Capricorn. Experiment with the hypothesis that significant breakthroughs will arrive when you aren’t actively seeking them. Trust in the fertile void of not-knowing. Allow life’s meandering serendipity to reveal unexpected benefits.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Are you interested in graduating to the next level of love and intimacy? If so, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to intensify your efforts. Life will be on your side if you dare to get smarter about how to make your relationships work better than they ever have. To inspire your imagination and incite you to venture into the frontiers of togetherness, I offer you a vivacious quote from author Anais Nin. Say it to your favorite soul friend or simply use it as a motivational prayer. Nin wrote, “You are the fever in my blood, the tide that carries me to undiscovered shores. You are my alchemist, transmuting my fears into wild, gold-spun passion. With you, my body is a poem. You are the labyrinth where I lose and find myself, the unwritten book of ecstasies that only you can read.”
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): What deep longing of yours is both fascinating and frustrating? To describe it further: It keeps pushing you to new frontiers yet always eludes complete satisfaction. It teaches you valuable life lessons but sometimes spoofs you and confuses you. Here’s the good news about this deep longing, Pisces: You now have the power to tap into its nourishing fuel in unprecedented ways. It is ready to give you riches it has never before provided. Here’s the “bad” news: You will have to raise your levels of self-knowledge to claim all of its blessings. (And of course, that’s not really bad.)
Thirty minutes into our interview, I had scrawled three pages of notes but still no story through-line.
If you try to connect the dots of Chenoa Faun’s life, the line wouldn’t be straight—it would spiral, whirl, dazzle. Sequined, no doubt.
She ran away to join the circus. Modeled in L.A. Danced in more than 100 music videos. Opened and closed two brick-and-mortar boutiques. Became an adept in the healing arts.
She performed burlesque in Paris with ostrich feathers. Danced with Cirque du Soleil in the spirit of the Folies Bergère. She became a mother. She launched a 1930s-inspired lingerie and loungewear line called Chanteuse. She helped establish fire dancing at Burning Man, spinning flames in an aerial act.
I’m in a tizzy—and it’s not the pink champagne. Chenoa Faun has lived a storied life, so it fits that she now finds herself costuming characters for the rock stage and silver screen.
Take a moment to scroll through her Instagram “look book” at @chenoafaun_stylist. Her looks mix loaned and purchased pieces with items heavily customized, recycled or handmade.
Cincinnatus Hibbard: Tell us the sources of your varied aesthetic.
Chenoa Faun: Above all things, fashion is my passion (laughs). I’m so inspired by vintage circus costumes from the ’20s and ’30s—there’s this film Freaks that I often reference. I was in a vaudeville-inspired circus, the Yard Dogs Road Show, with burlesque, sword swallowers and trapeze. Some of the musicians went on to be part of Beats Antique … I’m also inspired by old showgirls—and lately, cowboys. Country and western.
And old Hollywood … I love it. Elvis … Marilyn Monroe … Nina Simone … Etta James. There’s something about female singers that has always struck me.
That reminds me of your high-profile collaboration with Sierra Ferrell, winner of the 2025 Grammy for Best Americana Album. You put her in the most glamorous showgirl and cowgirl styles. I love styling people and making them feel their best—putting them in clothes that are authentic to who they are and what their style is. I don’t want to just dress people up in what I like. I want to get to know them.
I understand stage and screen gigs can be intense. You have to be resourceful and work fast. Tell me about your first costuming job. It was for God of War—the video game character.
No way. Half-savage Kratos the god-killer? (laughs) It was challenging because there hadn’t been a real-life representation of him.
What did you dress the actor in? Oh, you know—stuff from the hardware store, some thrifting, cut leather. The actor was taken on a cart drawn by giant Clydesdales through the city to a store for the game’s release.
You should write a book. (Laughs) I’m writing a screenplay.
Tease your costume collection for the circus-themed North Bay Fashion Ball. There will be five looks—“the mime,” “the contortionist,” “the horse trainer” [pictured above], “the lion tamer” and “the ringleader” of them all!
Learn more : Follow this url: linktr.ee/chenoafaunLINKS to connect with Chenoa Faun herself. Become a character, become yourself.
When ICE and other agencies began arresting and deporting immigrants this past January under Donald Trump’s orders, unions stepped up. They called for the release of detained workers, offered legal aid and know-your-rights workshops, accompanied workers to check-ins and marched in public solidarity.
In doing so, unionists rejected the scapegoating that’s long fueled authoritarianism. They didn’t buy claims that immigrants were driving up housing prices or threatening safety. Yes, some unionists voted for Trump in 2024—but the majority did not. Their resistance shows why unions are key in opposing authoritarianism now and rebuilding democracy later.
When Trump is gone, institutions must still confront the inequality that weakens democracy. More than 800 American billionaires possess $6.22 trillion, while millions struggle with rent, food and care costs. Nearly 771,500 people were reported as unhoused in one night last year, and more than 47 million live in food-insecure households.
More than 85 million eligible voters sat out the last presidential election, many feeling their votes wouldn’t matter. In the mid-1950s, one in three American workers belonged to a union—corresponding with greater economic equality. Unions directly represent working people, improving wages, conditions and job security.
They also foster democratic participation, informing members and cultivating leadership. It’s possible Trump might never have reached the White House if union strength remained what it once was.
But union power has declined due to corporate union-busting and hostile legislation. Trump escalated this by terminating federal collective bargaining and firing thousands of federal workers.
As his anti-democratic agenda intensifies, scholars and activists call for a broad coalition—courts, media, academia, nonprofits, faith groups and unions—to resist. But such a coalition must understand the economic foundations of democracy and unions’ unique role.
Union members may comprise just 9.9% of the workforce, but they’ve won major victories for auto workers, teachers and more. Supporting them means backing labor-rights legislation like the PRO Act and stepping beyond institutional silos.
If we’re willing to leave our comfort zones and face the future clearly, we just might reimagine what American democracy can become.
Andrew Moss writes about politics, labor and nonviolence.
Can people really get away with saying this stuff? In the last week or so, some pretty creepy stuff came out of the mouths of MAGA leaders in Washington. House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Trump’s alleged crypto corruption shouldn’t be investigated because, “It’s out in the open.”
Hmmm, if a crime is committed in broad daylight, it merits no attention? White House staff member Stephen Miller said, “The Democratic party’s philosophy now is for foreigners, everything, for Americans nothing.” Really, no exaggeration Mr. Miller? President Trump said, “Six months ago this country was dead.” Wow, I see where Mr. Miller gets his particular all-American version of truth from.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “Judges are inserting themselves into the presidential decision-making process.” How is she so sure that is a bad thing? Because anything that any judge says that differs from His Royal Majesty is illegal interference with the king’s prerogatives.
The commissioner of the FDA says, “For the first time in history, the Trump administration has published the fact that 40% of children have a chronic disease.” Wow, I figure most everybody would have put the figure even higher given all the obesity, screen addiction, and sedentary behavior going on in homes and neighborhoods.
Kimball Shinkoskey Sonoma County
Sly Forest Fox
In reply to Teri Shore’s May 21, 2025 letter, “Fixing Forests,” it’s beautifully written and so to the point. “Fix Our Forests” is misguided, misinformed and draconian. If it passes there is the potential for major damage to forest ecosystems but no real help protecting us or our properties from wildfire. It is totally a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Do You Feel Anger? Do you enjoy satire and theater? Well then … Marin Theatre has exactly the play to have you howling with laughter. Without spoilers, here’s a snippet of the plot: One woman is hired as an empathy coach for a male-dominated workplace in the field of, yep, debt collection. Can she teach these men tricky things like compassion and emotional intelligence, or will they prove too self-centered and jaded to change into halfway decent humans … or will they make her a worse person in a slightly predictable twist? Only the actors, writer Mara Nelson-Greenberg and director Becca Wolff can say for certain. “Do You Feel Anger?” will run from June 5-29 at the Marin Theatre, located at 397 Miller Ave. in Mill Valley. To learn more, visit marintheatre.org/show-details/do-you-feel-anger
Windsor
PRIDE Over Prejudice
Clear that calendar and get ready to celebrate PRIDE in style at Windsor’s upcoming, all-inclusive PRIDE event. This isn’t just a PRIDE-themed party … it’s a continuation of the PRIDE movement happening right here in the North Bay, serving as a marker to ensure representation, allyship and a safe space are here to stay—not stagnate. This PRIDE event provides everything needed to help revelers fully enjoy the occasion, from local vendors to live entertainment to speakers who educate and inspire. In short, Windsor PRIDE is a place where the LGBTQIA+ community can come to celebrate, make merry and partake in a day that’s all about love and those who make it. Windsor’s PRIDE event is free to attend and family-friendly, taking place on Windsor’s Town Green on Saturday, June 21.
Tiburon
Drop Your Shorts
When Cinelounge says, “Drop Your Shorts,” the only appropriate response is to do as they say. No, no, put those undergarments back on, because it’s time to head to Cinelounge Tiburon for a night of short films—not casual bottom-down nudity, not this time, ya Winnie the Pooh wannabees. Short-film makers and watchers alike can get involved, either by submitting a self-made short or purchasing tickets to see what sort of short movies people are making these days. Come alone or bring some friends/family out to this fun-for-all, short-film event. Oh, and don’t forget the popcorn! Drop Your Shorts will take place from 6:30-8pm on Thursday, June 12, at Cinelounge Tiburon, located at 40 Main St. in Tiburon. Visit eventbrite.com/dropyourshorts to purchase tickets.
Sonoma
‘City Lights’ Shines
Sebastiani Theatre is going old-school with a modern twist for the upcoming screening of Charlie Chaplin’s classic film, City Lights. Those who attend can enjoy the beloved black-and-white movie along with a new, live soundtrack performed by members of the Renegade Orchestra. Old moving pictures plus new compositions mean the North Bay is breathing some life back into a well-known classic, showing that oldies are still goodies. Although created three years after the “end” of the silent-film era, City Lights is famous for its silent stance against modern nonsense, such as movies with talking—a.k.a. “talkies.” And since City Lights is still being played today, it’s safe to say this masterpiece of cinema made its point loud and clear without having to say a single word. Charlie Chaplin’s ‘City Lights’ will play at 7:30pm on June 6 at the Sebastiani Theatre, located at 476 First St. East in Sonoma. Learn more at events.sebastianitheatre.com.
I sat spellbound. The man across the table was relating how he had wrangled his way into a detention center where he suspected torture was being committed. He convinced the guard to leave the room, quickly photographed the horrific scarring on a detainee’s back, smuggled the film out and showed the photos to a judge.
“The judge roundly condemned the...
Don’t Worry, Be Happys
As a concerned citizen who reads your publication not just for the arts coverage but for the occasional whiff of rebellion, I’d like to formally commend The Happys for reminding us all how punk rock is supposed to work—by slapping homemade signage on a utility pole and calling it a business plan.
Their marketing strategy is a...
In high school, she was quiet. She was kind, with flashes of dark wit, but boy was she quiet. Basically, she was a typical kid.
Today, “Jenny W.” is still pretty reserved, but has emerged as a powerful writer and thinker, a woman who senses the national moment and offers a document. Descended from “a handful of founding fathers,” including...
At just 15, Natty Gove has already done something most adults haven’t: He founded a nonprofit to get laptops into the hands of local students who need them.
The nonprofit is called the Tech4Youth Foundation, and its mission is simple—to give students reliable access to personal computers so they’re not left behind (both in the classroom and outside of it)....
Marin in 2025 doesn’t just eat well—it eats with intention.
The trends shaping Marin’s current culinary landscape aren’t new; they’re continuations of patterns long established but increasingly baked into everyday life.
From the enduring influence of the farm-to-table ethos to the rise of scaled-down food halls and communal dining, from chef-driven beverage programs to the slow but steady arrival of marquee...
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your definition of home is due for revamping, deepening and expansion. Your sense of where you truly belong is ripe to be adjusted and perhaps even revolutionized. A half-conscious desire you have not previously been ready to fully acknowledge is ready for you to explore. Can you handle these subtly shocking opportunities? Do you have...
Thirty minutes into our interview, I had scrawled three pages of notes but still no story through-line.
If you try to connect the dots of Chenoa Faun’s life, the line wouldn’t be straight—it would spiral, whirl, dazzle. Sequined, no doubt.
She ran away to join the circus. Modeled in L.A. Danced in more than 100 music videos. Opened and closed two...
When ICE and other agencies began arresting and deporting immigrants this past January under Donald Trump’s orders, unions stepped up. They called for the release of detained workers, offered legal aid and know-your-rights workshops, accompanied workers to check-ins and marched in public solidarity.
In doing so, unionists rejected the scapegoating that’s long fueled authoritarianism. They didn’t buy claims that immigrants...
Talk Is Creep
Can people really get away with saying this stuff? In the last week or so, some pretty creepy stuff came out of the mouths of MAGA leaders in Washington. House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Trump’s alleged crypto corruption shouldn’t be investigated because, “It’s out in the open.”
Hmmm, if a crime is committed in broad daylight, it...
Mill Valley
Feeling Angry?
Do You Feel Anger? Do you enjoy satire and theater? Well then … Marin Theatre has exactly the play to have you howling with laughter. Without spoilers, here’s a snippet of the plot: One woman is hired as an empathy coach for a male-dominated workplace in the field of, yep, debt collection. Can she teach these men...
