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Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Bohemian Club, an annual gathering of men in the redwoods, draws outrage

The Bohemian Club has been around for 150 years in San Francisco, made up of rich and powerful men. Every summer, they go to a fancy campground called the Bohemian Grove, a few hours north of San Francisco.

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By Madeleine Brand • Jun 12, 2019 • 1 min read

The Bohemian Club has been around for 150 years in San Francisco, made up of rich and powerful men. Every summer, they go to a fancy campground called the Bohemian Grove, a few hours north of San Francisco. Nestled amongst the redwoods, they drink cocktails, put on plays to entertain each other, and network. Notable attendees have included Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and the Koch brothers.

This annual retreat usually keeps a low profile, but not anymore. This year, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is majority female, and when a contract came up to provide local police services to the retreat, the board spoke out against the club and its request for law enforcement to provide security. The controversy has made headlines nationwide.

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    Host, 'Press Play'

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