10 What if Blue Cities Got it Together? (With Sandeep Kaushik)

Pacific Time: The "What if...?" of West Coast Independence

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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