Next Round

This week, we present a special recording of a recent PRI webinar with Jason Riley, Manhattan Institute fellow and longtime Wall Street Journal columnist.  Lance Izumi, senior director of PRI's Center for Education, interviews Jason about his new book, The Affirmative Action Myth (Basic Books).

PRI senior fellow in business and economics Dr. Wayne Winegarden joins us with his initial analysis of Gov. Newsom's May Revise budget proposal.  Wayne shares his thoughts on Gov. Newsom's plan to close the state's $12 billion budget deficit, including controversial plans to expand Medi-Cal eligibility to the undocumented and how tariffs and the "one big, beautiful bill" being crafted in Congress will affect the state budget going forward.

This week, Tim talks with Ambassador Francis Rooney, who was the U.S. Representative to the Holy See during the George W. Bush administration and who later served as a Member of Congress.  They talk about talk about how American Catholics will remember Pope Francis, what to expect from the conclave electing the next pope (including discussion of some of the leading candidates), and the path the next pope should chart on global and church affairs including dealings with the Trump administration.

Ben Austin, longtime politico who has worked in both Democrat and Republican administrations in California and Washington, DC and now founding director of Education Civil Rights Now - a national non-profit with the mission of establishing a constitutional right to a high-quality public education for all students - joins PRI's Matt Fleming and Lance Izumi to discuss the potential for policymakers to enact badly-needed education reforms in these highly polarized times in California and nationwide.

This week, we feature a special recording of our live webinar featuring PRI scholars and policy experts exploring key green topics being debated and discussed in Washington, DC and in the states – from Cap and Trade and gas and carbon taxes to green appliance mandates.  Learn about the latest study from PRI detailing just how much the green transition in California will cost you – you'll grab on to your wallet when you hear the figure!  Panelists include PRI's Dr. Wayne Winegarden and Todd Myers from the Washington Policy Center.

Sacramento Bee editorial page editor Marcos Bretón joins us to discuss the many challenges facing the City of Sacramento, including homelessness and the poor state of the city's public schools, along with opportunities like the Athletics playing in the city as its temporary home.  They also discuss the struggles of legacy daily newspapers like the Bee to stay afloat in a changing media landscape, and the Bee's efforts to feature more conservative voices on its editorial pages.

This week, we present a special panel discussion from PRI's recent California Ideas in Action policy conference in Sacramento discussing whether there is a war on suburbia in California. Free Cities Center director Steven Greenhut moderates a lively discussion of policy experts exploring the themes of the latest Free Cities Center booklet.

This week, we're joined by former Congressman, state legislator, state Director of Finance and constitutional law scholar Tom Campbell – rated as the top government waste fighter during his tenure in the House.  We discuss the President's tariff proposals and the DOGE effort, whether Elon Musk's team is following the proper legal path to downsize government, what Congress' priorities should be in cutting government waste, and what state budget directors should be doing today to prepare for significantly less resources from Washington.

Parents, students, and taxpayers are growing increasingly frustrated by the inability of California's schools to educate our kids for the future, and they are even more frustrated to learn why our schools are doing so badly – outdated and ineffective learning models.  From PRI's 2025 Sacramento policy conference, hear a special presentation of a conversation between Lance Izumi, senior director of PRI's Center for Education, and Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, who is a leader in the nationwide bipartisan movement to change how we teach our kids reading and math.

This week, we present a special discussion from a recent PRI webinar featuring PRI's scholars and other policy experts exploring how bad policy influence the recent Southern California wildfires on issues ranging from planning to insurance, sharing the lessons learned from the Maui wildfires that every Southern Californian should know as the rebuilding process begins, and discussing what should be done going forward to better protect Californians from wildfire risk.

This week is our special All-Star Panel of former speechwriters reviewing Pres. Donald Trump's speech to Congress.  Lance Izumi, PRI's Senior Director of Education, was chief speechwriter to Gov. George Deukmejian and Attorney General Ed Meese; Tim Anaya, PRI's Vice President of Marketing & Communications, was speechwriter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other leaders in the California legislator; and Rowena Itchon, Chief Operating Officer at PRI, was a speechwriter to Gov. Pete Wilson, and corporate CEOs and other government officials.  She was also a research assistant in Pres. Reagan's speechwriting office.

This week, we present a special presentation of our recent webinar with Sally Pipes, PRI President, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy, discussing her new book, The World's Medicine Chest: How America Achieved Pharmaceutical Supremacy – and How to Keep It (Encounter Books). The book explores how America became the world's leader in biopharmaceutical innovation through market capitalism and argues that the embrace by Democrats and even some Republicans to follow Europe and enact controls on prescription drugs would be a grave mistake. Plus Ro and Tim discuss the infamous Trump-Zelensky Oval Office spat, and Gavin Newsom's new podcast.  

From PRI's 2025 California Ideas in Action Conference, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper sits down with PRI senior fellow Steve Smith to discuss what's next in the push for stronger criminal justice policy reforms following the landslide victory of Prop. 36 combating retail theft.  Plus, Ro and Tim discuss the Elon Musk questionnaire sent to federal employees, Mayor Karen Bass firing the fire chief, and the next batch of reparations bills introduced in the Legislature.

This week, we feature a special episode for Presidents' Day – a recording from a recent PRI luncheon in Newport Beach featuring Christopher Cox.  You may remember him as a former congressman and Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, but did you know that he is also an author and presidential historian?  In this week's episode, you'll hear him discussing his new book, Woodrow Wilson:  The Light Withdrawn, and also answer questions from moderator Charles Kesler, editor of the Claremont Review of Books.

This week, Joe Kent of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii joins us to share lessons learned from the Aloha State's experience in rebuilding after the devastating Maui wildfires from a few years ago.  It's a conversation everyone who has been affected by the wildfires should listen to, especially as leaders from Gavin Newsom on down are exploring ways to “reimagine” the Palisades after the fires.  Plus, Tim and Matt Fleming discuss the Super Bowl and the constitutional questions surrounding President Trump's efforts to reform the federal government and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending.

PRI Senior Fellow in Business and Economics Dr. Wayne Winegarden joins us for a special episode with his real time analysis of the proposed (and delayed by one month) Trump tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.  He previews his upcoming issue brief making the case that tariffs are not a sound US economic strategy for growth and prosperity, and discusses the impact that the level of tariffs President Trump is considering would have on consumers, businesses, energy costs, and the economy.

This week, as PRI releases its new documentary "Colorado Springs: Letting Freedom Lead the Way," we present an extended cut of our interview with Mayor Yemi Mobolade and Councilman Brian Risley.  They discuss how Colorado Springs has been so successful in lowering the cost of living and improving the quality of life for its residents through free market policies.  Plus, Tim and Matt Fleming discuss President Trump's visit to California to inspect the Southern California wildfire damage.

This week, Free Cities Center director Steven Greenhut joins us to discuss how California's ongoing insurance crisis could be a double whammy for Southern California wildfire victims looking to rebuild.  He gives the history of the state's festering insurance crisis, analyzes Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's reform plan announced just before Christmas, and discusses how much the crisis and the wildfires may cost victims and every California property owner.  Plus, Tim and Ro share their thoughts on President Trump's inaugural address.

This week, we present an in-depth look at Gov. Newsom's 2025-25 state budget plan.  PRI scholars Wayne Winegarden, Lance Izumi, Steve Smith, and Kerry Jackson join Ro and Tim to explore the budget's impact on taxes and the economy, education, crime, and transportation.  They also explore how the Southern California wildfires will impact Gov. Newsom's budget balancing efforts.

Our podcast this week is a recording of a Festschrift celebration with Charles Kesler, editor of the Claremont Review of Books and professor of government at Claremont McKenna College. A group of his former students came together to publish essays in his honor in the book Leisure with Dignity, edited by Glenn Ellmers and Michael Anton. PRI invited essayists in Leisure with Dignity to offer their reflections on Charles Kesler. This event took place in Newport Beach, California. 

The PRI All Stars are back to hand out their annual year end awards to the biggest winners and losers of 2024.  What were the year's best and worst ideas?  What were the fairest and bummest wraps of the year?  Who is destined for stardom and oblivion?  Sit back and enjoy the honorees selected by the PRI All Stars, handed out in the style of the annual McLaughlin Group year-end awards.

Adam Abolfazli, Sacramento-area public high school student and author of the new book Permission to Fail, shares with us his firsthand view from the classroom on how recent changes in public education such as increased parent and student apathy toward the learning process and a lack of academic rigor, have been detrimental to student learning and negatively impact America's future.  Plus, Tim and Ro discuss the special session called by Gov. Newsom to fight the incoming Trump administration.

Manhattan Institute fellow and director of policing and public safety Hannah Meyers joins us this week to discuss what's next for public safety policy in California after voter approval of Prop. 36 on retail theft.  She also discusses her new paper on the impact of Prop. 47 on crime and drug abuse, “Not Taking Crime Seriously.”

This week, Tevi Troy – acclaimed presidential historian, former White House aide and Deputy Secretary of Health, joins us to discuss his terrific new book, The Power and the Money:  The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry.  Plus Rowena and Tim discuss the latest Trump cabinet nominations, Gov. Newsom's plan to hand out even more electric vehicle subsidies, and preview PRI's 2024 Holiday Book List.

This week's guest is Dallas Lawrence, a communications pro who has worked at the highest levels of government, the military, and corporate America, who joins us to discuss his new book Communicating Under Fire.  The book offers terrific advice for communications novices and PR pros alike on how to prepare and respond to communications crises that everyone will eventually face in our cancel culture era.  Plus, Tim and Ro discuss President-elect Trump's cabinet appointments and Gavin Newsom ramping up his efforts to become the head of the liberal resistance against Donald Trump. 

Now that the 2024 election is finally over, the PRI All Stars (Rowena Itchon, Tim Anaya, Lance Izumi and Kerry Jackson) share their thoughts on the election results.  They discuss what went wrong for Kamala Harris, preview what policies we might see from an incoming Trump administration and break down Gavin Newsom's campaign fighting everything from the incoming administration.  Plus, they share their way-too-early predictions for who the 2028 presidential nominees will be.

Our guest on this week's podcast is Norton Rainey, CEO of Ace Scholarships, an organization focused on securing financial support for low-income kids to attend great schools.  We chat with Norton about their recent education survey of parents and their thoughts on school choice.  We also discuss the many advancements of school choice across the states and the further challenges ahead.

PRI's All Stars – Lance Izumi, Kerry Jackson, Rowena Itchon, and Tim Anaya – are back with our usual preview of the 2024 presidential election.  We preview what a potential President Harris or re-elected President Trump would do in their upcoming terms, discuss the key propositions including Prop. 36 on retail theft and Prop. 33 on rent control, and breakdown the hot House races in California and the campaigns you should be paying attention to but aren't. Stay tuned to the end to hear our Electoral College predictions.

With housing - including rent control and development policies – and homelessness key issues for voters across California this election year, we present an expanded version of our recent conversation between the Manhattan Institute's Judge Glock and our Steven Greenhut of PRI's Free Cities Center.  The two discuss government housing mandates, NIMBY-ism, free market housing policy solutions, rent control and more.  Plus, Ro and Tim discuss the latest developments in California and national politics including the controversy over Kamala Harris' “60 Minutes” interview and a major refinery announcing its closure just days after Gov. Newsom signs gas price supply legislation.

Our guest this week is journalist Tim Carney.  We recorded his talk on his new book, Family Unfriendly, at a recent PRI luncheon in Newport Beach, California.  Tim discusses what's ailing so many families these days – record rates of anxiety, depression and medication among children, and stress suffered by parents.  His book focuses on how we got here as a society and how families can begin to reduce their day-to-day pressures.  Tim Carney is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior columnist at the Washington Examiner.  He's written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Atlantic, National Review, and many other publications and has appeared on CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS Newshour. 

Phil Goldberg, special counsel with the Manufacturers Accountability Project of the National Association of Manufacturers, joins us to discuss a key upcoming Supreme Court case that could impact the future of state and local climate change litigation.  We discuss with Phil why these lawsuits drive up energy costs and hurt innovation, and why a comprehensive, national legislative session is the way forward on the issue.  Plus, Tim and Ro discuss the latest climate change lawsuit filed by Attorney General Rob Bonta and the latest on the special session on gas prices.

In a special episode, we interview co-host Tim Anaya and his co-author Kerry Jackson on their new book,The California Left Coast Survivor's Guide, which chronicles the bad policy ideas that have been emanating from Sacramento for years and now are inspiring the Biden-Harris administration and policymakers nationwide.  They talk about the state's myriad bans on everything from plastic hotel shampoo bottles to commercial gas ovens, green mandates that are driving up energy costs, and restrictions on worker freedom that are shutting down entrepreneurship.  Plus, Tim and Ro discuss Gov. Newsom's latest bill signings and vetoes.

As we conclude our look back at the 2024 legislative session, PRI senior fellow in tech and innovation Bartlett Cleland joins us for a look back at this year's big tech debates on issues ranging from AI to how social media companies are disrupting traditional media outlets.  We also explore how a Trump administration or Harris administration would approach tech policy over the next for years and look back at the Biden administration's tech policy legacy.  Plus, Tim and Ro discuss the platform libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver and how the strength of his candidacy might ultimately determine who wins in November.

After the big debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, PRI's team of former speechwriters (Tim Anaya, Rowena Itchon and Lance Izumi) are back with their analysis of the (second) first presidential debate.  They weigh in on the strong and weak moments for each candidate, how each addressed their policy weaknesses, the debate over the rules and the moderators, and whether the debate ultimately changed the trajectory of the 2024 presidential election.  Plus they preview the upcoming vice presidential debate and predict whether Trump and Harris will meet again on the debate stage.

Free Cities Center director and longtime Sacramento journalist Steven Greenhut joins us for a review of the just-completed 2024 legislative session.  We break down the year's hottest legislative debates, including retail theft, the state budget, insurance reform, tech policy, and more. We also discuss Gov. Newsom's dwindling influence over lawmakers this year as his political ambitions turned east and the controversy over the use of NDAs in legislative negotiations.  

Tune in as PRI's former speechwriters - Rowena Itchon, Lance Izumi and Tim Anaya - review the just-completed Democratic National Convention.  They break down President Biden's farewell speech, discuss whether Kamala Harris' big speech ticked all the boxes and set her on a strong path to the general election, evaluate how well Tim Walz introduced himself to the American people, and, of course, talk about whether Oprah's surprise appearance scooped up key votes for the Democratic ticket.

This week's guest is a recording of remarks by renowned historian Victor Davis Hanson.  We were honored to host Victor at a recent dinner in Napa Valley attended by more than 175 supporters.  Victor discussed his latest book The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation. With so many conflicts around the world – from the Russia-Ukraine War to the attack of Hamas on Israel – we wanted to take this opportunity to provide Victor's talk to those who may have missed the Napa Valley dinner.  Victor addresses all these hot topics and more. 

This week's podcast is a recording of remarks by acclaimed historian and award-winning author Andrew Roberts at a recent PRI dinner.  He discussed the recent elections in the U.K. and the Labor Party's victory, elections in Europe, and his latest New York Times bestseller Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine (October 2023). The book was co-authored with General David Petraeus, former commander of the US-led coalition in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

This week's podcast is a special presentation of our recent webinar following the Supreme Court's recent decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, moderated by Free Cities Center director Steven Greenhut. Go inside the historic decision with Theane Evangelis, partner with Gibson Dunn who represented Grants Pass before the Supreme Court and Erik Jaffe, PRI adjunct fellow in legal studies and partner with Schaerr | Jaffe who authored PRI's amicus brief in the case. PRI senior fellow in business and economics Dr. Wayne Winegarden discusses what cities and counties can now do to address homelessness in their communities following the ruling. PRI board member The Hon. Dan Kolkey gives opening remarks.

Gov. Newsom recently ordered homeless encampments on property under the state's jurisdiction to be cleared due to the Grants Pass Supreme Court decision that ruled that it is not cruel and unusual punishment to forbid people from camping on public property. This podcast is an audio version of Free Cities Center director Steve Greenhut's interview with Erica Sandberg, a freelance journalist and frequent commentator on San Francisco's homeless crisis. 

This week, PRI's former speechwriters (Rowena Itchon, Lance Izumi, and Tim Anaya) give their take on the Republican National Convention.  They analyze former President Trump's speech, given just a few days after an assassination attempt. They also discuss vice presidential candidate JD Vance's speech and weigh in on how well the other speakers at the convention set up the GOP for the fall campaign.

Lance Izumi, senior director of PRI's Center for Education, joins us to discuss his latest book The Great Classroom Collapse, which investigates the implosion of rigor and learning in America's schools.  He shares the stories of some of the parents, teachers, and policymakers he profiles in the book and discusses what can be done to improve classroom learning and give all students a greater opportunity for a successful future.

Longtime Sacramento lobbyist and college professor Chris Micheli joins us to discuss his new book, The Complete Practical Guide to California Government. They discuss areas of state government that need reform, recent controversies over the use of non-disclosure agreements in the legislative process and whether efforts to enact tax and spending reform will ever succeed. Plus Tim and Ro discuss the controversy over Gavin Newsom's aborted effort to have legislators place an alternate Prop. 47 reform measure on the November ballot and President Biden's attempts the limit the damage after his disastrous debate performance.

Who won?  Who helped themselves the most in the polls? PRI's team of former speechwriters - Rowena Itchon, Lance Izumi, and Tim Anaya - analyze the First 2024 Presidential Debate.  They discuss President Biden's shockingly poor performance and whether President Trump learned his lessons from his 2020 debate mistakes, plus they grade the candidates' answers on immigration, the economy, foreign policy and more.

Our guest this week is Charles Kesler, one of the nation's most prominent political philosophers. He teaches government at Claremont McKenna and is the editor of the Claremont Review of Books. Prof. Kesler's former students have produced a book celebrating his work entitled: "Leisure with Dignity: Essays in Celebration of Charles R. Kesler." We'll let him explain the title.

Dr. Matt Beech, director of the Center for British Politics at the University of Hull and senior fellow at UC Berkeley's Institute of European Studies, is back with a preview of the upcoming UK elections on July 4.  We discuss the major contenders and their platforms, what kind of prime minister Keir Starmer would be if elected, how the lingering effects of Brexit will impact the vote, and whether the “special relationship” between the US and the UK will be impacted by who is elected on July 4.

Partner in Schaerr-Jaffe and PRI fellow in legal studies Erik Jaffe joins us this week for his annual preview of the decisions in the hot cases that will be handed down by the Supreme Court this month.  Lance Izumi and Erik discuss how the Court may rule on President Trump's immunity claims and the remaining legal issues following the Dobbs ruling.  They also talk about cases PRI is particularly interested in, such as the Grants Pass case concerning the power of local governments to address homeless encampments.

Join us for a special episode featuring a speech by Newsweek opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon at a recent PRI luncheon in San Francisco.  Ms. Ungar-Sargon discussed her latest book, "Second Class:  How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women."  Also, Ro and Tim discuss the legislature's recent House of Origin deadline, including legislation on retail theft, homework, and legalizing drinking alcohol on city sidewalks.

Join us for a special presentation of remarks by noted economist Stephen Moore, who was the keynote speaker and honoree at this year's PRI Baroness Thatcher Dinner in Newport Beach.  He talks about the challenges facing the US economy today and gives a preview of what economic policy would look like under a re-elected President Biden or President Trump.  Tim and Ro also discuss the start of the summer travel season, Trump and Biden agreeing to two presidential debates, and the key bills that were defeated or advanced out of the Appropriations Committees.

California is in a deep budget deficit.  In the May Revised budget, Gov. Newsom's makes real cuts and suggests some efficiency improvements but are they enough?  PRI senior fellow in business and economics Wayne Winegarden unpacks the governor's plan.  The proposal still relies on too many budget gimmicks and fund shifts, and underestimates the severity of the current budget shortfall.