What can we do to prepare for Trump's clear mandate? It's a marathon, not a sprint...change starts local, and in ourselves; discussion of the changing face of local journalism, with Lookout Santa Cruz's birthday last night, and how they are rolling out in local schools; Gail studied journalism in college (Cal Poly, SLO), where she was editor of the Mustang, & later a reporter at the SLO Bulletin, Elk Grove Citizen, where she realized she had opinions; worked for Rusty Arias' district office, then the Bill Tracking Unit in Sacramento, and later, Santa Cruz County Clerk; the Governor *has* called another Special Session, which will be sworn in on Dec. 2nd - the goal is to insure that the Attorney General has the funding needed for the anticipated wave of litigation that will follow Trump's inauguration (California filed 120 lawsuits in the last Trump administsration); recent Trump cabinet announcements: the Senate has to do their job, with transparency; next legislative session starts January 6th...February 21st is the last day for a bill to be introduced...can submit a "spot bill" that may be an idea where you're still working on the language; voter turnout discussion, and what we can say to young voters who may be disallusioned (remember all the other things on the ballot other than the top slot, and progress...the pendulum swints...don't give up! Hosted by "Dangerous Dan" Orange

Martine Watkins, City Councilmember in Santa Cruz, California, discusses history of sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Santa Cruz, and how earlier efforts were cut off by passage of the California Keep Groceries Affordable Act, which penalized charter cities who would raise taxes on sugar sweetened beverages. Martine and Cultiva La Salud sued the state, and won in the Third District Court of Appeal, which struck down the Act's penalty provision. On June 25, 2024, the City Council adopted resolution (No. NS-30,360) requesting that the Nov. 5, 2024 General Election ballot include a general tax of 2 cents per fluid ounce on distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages (the 1st 3 "WHEREAS"s were read on the podcast), which the City Council passed unanimously. The "No on Z" campaign has raised approximately $1.7 million, with the "Yes on Z" raising $23,000 - "David vs. Goliath"; follow the money!! Additional Santa Cruz issues discussed.

Zoë Aqua, Dmitri Gaskin, and Raffi Boden play Klezmer music, in the tradition of Ashkenazi Jewish people from Eastern Europe villages. Dmitri plays accordion and lives on a Watsonville apple farm, Zoë plays violin & recently completed a Fulbright in the Transylvania area of Romania(!), & Raffi lives in Brooklyn and is a full time freelance musician playing in 3-4 Klezmer bands. Zoë also teaches, and Dmitri is an apple farmer. How did they stumble into Klezmer? Good question! Dmitri's parents had Klezmer music CDs when he grew up in Berkeley, California, and legendary Klezmer musician Josh Horowitz moved to the area and became his teacher. Zoë grew up in Denver with a dad interested in Klezmer / Klezmatics / Brave Old World. Raffi's family at Passover pulled out the Klezmer Plus songbook. Raffi joined Zoë & Dmitri 2 days ago!

Scott Newsome, City Councilmember in Santa Cruz, California, discusses how city ordinances are introduced and passed. Tennant protection ordinance, and an ordinance to prevent outside police departments from depositing unhoused individuals in Santa Cruz. The role of a city council member is to listen, and make progress; downtown construction and lowering barriers to approving housing. Hosted by "Dangerous Dan" Orange

Risa Hosking, Singer Songwriter, on her life path and career, including where she grew up (Hatchett Mountain), 15 miles from the nearest school, and her early influences (the Mountaineer Jug Band) and a teacher who convinced her to join an all-girl band. It wasn't 'till she got to a California Bluegrass Association camp and heard people jamming at night that she learned she was playing "Old Time Busic"; now "country/folk with a little twang". Rita got a grant from Arts Council from the state, to write music / songs about climate change; making a living with music performing, running a songwriting festival, teaching, writing. Hosted by "Dangerous Dan" Orange and DJ "Charizard" (Charissa Zeigler)

Owen Ragland and Kat Baker performing as Honey Run. They went to high school together, and reconnected after college - they knew they wanted a band, and were searching for a nature-inspired name...a friend told them about a name rejected by their band, and lo-and-behold!! they became "Honey Run". Owen is doing a bunch of music projects, & Kat is a civil engineer and works for the Forest Service by day, with music after hours. Owen is a multi-instrumentalist, whose parents were bluegrass musicians, with Owen wanting to play fiddle since he was a kid and, when he was a teenager, guitar; Kat took a different path, learning mandolin during the pandemic lockdown. Hosted by "Dangerous Dan" Orange and DJ "Charizard" (Charissa Zeigler)

Joe Robinson, Australian finger-style guitar virtuoso and singer/songwriter, started playing guitar at age 10, and, at 16, won Australia Got Talent! Moved to Nashville to break into the music business, and spent 12 years as a studio musician, and touring 250 shows a year. He moved to Montana, where less distraction allows him to focus on music. Includes 3 live songs played in the KZSC studio.