Share: Recent polling from BBC, The Economist, and Silver Bulletin, suggests that Donald Trump’s approval rating is at an all time low since his second term, particularly concerning inflation, economy, and immigration. The Courier set out to examine how those frustrations may be reflected at Pasadena City College, speaking with students and staff to gauge the campus climate surrounding politics and political discussion. Among the concerns raised by PCC students were social issues impacting minorities, low-income communities and queer individuals, alongside rising housing and gas …
Legislative theater: The billionaire battle for the end of the world
Share: For someone so well-versed in the field of being a billionaire, it is baffling that Musk couldn’t see through Sam Altman’s facade. The two are now locked in a court battle, draining each other’s endless amounts of money in the process. In 2024, Elon Musk filed a lawsuit against the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, for allegedly changing the original goal of developing AI for the greater good of humanity to make money instead. This court battle has become a high-stakes display of legislative …
Penny for your thoughts: ‘I don’t use coins at all’
Share: If you had a penny for every time someone used a penny, you’d have…well not much — and that’s kind of the problem. About five months after the U.S. Mint ceased penny production on November 12, 2025, the change seemed to go unnoticed. For consumers and businesses alike, the disappearance of the one-cent coin reflects a reality that had already taken hold: the penny had become more symbolic than practical. The decision to halt production was rooted in cost. According to the U.S. Mint, …
The farmworkers movement was always bigger than him
Share: When the news broke about Cesar Chavez, I felt angry, sad, and betrayed. A Mexican “hero”, was just another scummy fallen idol. I began learning in middle school about Mexican American history in the United States, and the National Farm Workers Association movement led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. It showed me something I hadn’t seen before: people like me not just surviving the world, but shaping it. Growing up as a Mexican American in predominantly working-class Latin American neighborhoods, the importance of …
PCC Jazz Combo #5 hits all the right notes
Share: Rain, sleet, hail, or snow—none of it matters when jazz is in the air. Especially not on a day like this. Beneath warm 78 degree skies and a soft breeze, PCC’s Jazz Combo #5, directed by Dan Cole, delivered its first performance of the year on Tuesday, March 24, an afternoon that felt as effortless and alive as the music. The group consists of guitarist Justin Phan, bassist and vocalist Paige Arevalo, drummer Evan Rodriguez and trumpeter Aoi Kuroha. According to Cole this group …
Trump talks drapes while bombs drop in Iran
Share: As Americans, it may feel distant or even presumptuous to speak about violence unfolding thousands of miles away in the Middle East. However, civilian death demands criticism regardless of nationality. The deliberate taking of human lives is always worthy of objection, of outright detestation—especially when it involves innocent children. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a joint military campaign against Iran known as Operation Epic Fury, a large-scale strike targeting Iranian military infrastructure and leadership. The opening strikes killed Iran’s …
My Territory: A world away, just minutes from campus
Share: On an otherwise quiet stretch of Mission street in San Marino, Ghiaia Cashmere operates like a small anomaly—part atelier, part living room, and while standing inside, the rest of the street disappears entirely. Incense smoke rises from oversized potted plants, smoke softens the light while Italian jazz blares in the background. Ghiaia feels less like a shop and more like a quiet arrival elsewhere. Founded by Sicily native, Davide Baroncini, Ghiaia Cashmere blends heritage with modern discipline. The shop’s atmosphere—incense in the air, loose …
Popular Music Ensemble brings modern melodies to PCC
Share: Pasadena City College’s newly created Popular Music Ensemble drew an estimated 80 to 100 people on Wednesday, November 12, at the newly renovated Mirror Pools, delivering a high-energy set that showcased the abilities of students from “Room 212.” The performance, directed by Dan Cole and Jonathan Richards, served as the group’s first major live outing of the semester. The ensemble opened with Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,” which would’ve been seasonally perfect had it not already been mid-November. Even with the moment long gone, …