Show-Me Institute Podcast

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/ferguson-denies-incentives-for-data-center-project/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Avery Frank, Elias Tsapelas, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to break down the final week of the 2026 Missouri legislative session. They discuss the constitutional amendment heading to voters that would begin the process of eliminating Missouri's state income tax, where property tax reform efforts stand heading into the final days, the early literacy bill's uncertain path through the Senate, the legislature's approach to A through F school report cards, what the state budget does and does not get right, the Ferguson city council's rejection of a major data center tax subsidy, and more.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/missouris-opportunity-to-attract-talent-latest-irs-data-on-voting-with-their-feet/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/economy/a-big-step-toward-ending-the-income-tax/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Aaron Renn, author and consultant, and David Stokes, Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, about the recurring debate over whether the city of St. Louis should rejoin St. Louis County. They explore what city county mergers have actually accomplished in places like Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and Lexington, why a full merger in St. Louis would be extraordinarily difficult to pull off, and whether the benefits would even outweigh the costs. They also discuss St. Louis's demographic challenges, what the Pittsburgh model might offer as a path forward, the cultural barriers that make it hard to attract and retain people from outside the region, and more. You can find Aaron's work at www.aaronrenn.com Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/by-the-numbers-what-missouri-might-give-the-royals/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/school-choice-and-luxury-beliefs/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/a-wake-up-call-for-st-louis/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Susan Pendergrass speaks with J.S. Onésimo "Ness" Sandoval, demographer and professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Saint Louis University, about what the data says about the future of the St. Louis region. They discuss record low birth rates and what they mean for school enrollment, why St. Louis is among the top regions in the country for deaths outnumbering births, how the region compares to Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and why suburbs like Chesterfield and St. Charles are aging faster than most people realize. They also discuss the role of housing supply, school choice, crime, and domestic migration in whether St. Louis can attract and retain young families, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/next-up-on-chiefs-and-royals-stadium-saga/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Josh Bandoch, author of "How to Get What You Want: Mastering the Art and Science of Persuasion," about why leading with data and logic is often the wrong approach to changing minds. Drawing on more than a decade of research across psychology, neuroscience, economics, and political science, and experience writing speeches for senior government officials and advising executives, Bandoch explains how the human brain feels before it reasons, why persuasion is about shared action rather than winning, and what policy advocates get wrong when trying to move legislators. They also discuss the Granny Test, how to frame arguments around your audience's moral values, the role of storytelling, and more. Find the book: https://bit.ly/3OOjydb Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/economy/opening-the-nuclear-sector-up-to-innovation-in-missouri/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/moscholars-wins-in-court/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Visit the site: https://moschoolrankings.org/ Susan Pendergrass and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss MOSchoolRankings.org, the Show-Me Institute's website that assigns letter grades and GPAs to Missouri schools and districts using publicly available academic and spending data. They explore how the site works, why Missouri has lagged behind other states on accessible school report cards, and how the governor's executive order requiring A through F grades may change that. They also discuss the most common objections to grading schools, how growth and proficiency data account for differences in student populations, the status of report card legislation in the 2026 session, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Find your school: https://moschoolrankings.org/ Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/looking-at-missouris-a-districts/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/missouris-film-tax-credits-still-dont-add-up/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/taxes/earnings-tax-defenders-unable-to-defend-earnings-tax/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/why-the-science-of-reading-is-missouris-path-forward/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org:https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/why-hand-out-subsidies-to-data-center-developers/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Todd Davidson, Vice President of Programs at the State Policy Network, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the think tank world. They explore what AI is good at and where it falls short, how organizations like the Show-Me Institute can use it to become more productive without losing their edge, why face-to-face relationships will only become more valuable as AI-generated content floods the internet, how a Hawaii think tank used an AI agent to help fire victims submit legislative testimony, what good policy looks like in an AI-driven energy landscape, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://bit.ly/4sy08Yx Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Susan Pendergrass and Patrick Tuohey join Zach Lawhorn to discuss their new report, "The Public Safety Climate in the City of St. Louis." They explore what the data actually show about crime trends over the past two decades, how St. Louis compares to similar cities like Cincinnati and Memphis, why crime perception lags so far behind the data, the challenges facing the 911 system and police staffing, why public disorder in high-traffic neighborhoods may be doing as much damage to the city's reputation as violent crime itself, what it would take to make residents actually feel safer, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/economy/trump-executive-order-targets-some-housing-regulation/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Patrick Tuohey and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to break down the key issues Missouri voters will decide on April 7th. They discuss whether local elections should stay in April or move to November, property tax limit votes happening in more than 90 counties, new fire district sales tax authority and what it means for taxpayers, the 1% earnings tax renewals in Kansas City and St. Louis, and Springfield's convention center lodging tax returning to the ballot after voters already rejected it. They also discuss use taxes, senior property tax freezes, the economic development sales tax on the ballot in O'Fallon, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/kansas-sports-authority-lets-chiefs-play-as-home-team-referee-and-rulebook/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to break down the latest from the 2026 Missouri legislative session, including updates on the push to eliminate Missouri's income tax. They also discuss why the film tax credit doesn't work out for Missouri taxpayers, which provisions of the early literacy bills are still moving forward, the growing debate over data center incentives and energy demands, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/taxes/the-wrong-way-to-fix-property-taxes/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/economy/whos-paying-for-what-with-data-centers/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org. Article text: David Stokes Was Right: Property Tax Caps Are Squeezing Local Budgets Nationwide By Patrick Tuohey Property tax relief has become a rallying cry for state policymakers across the country. Frustration over rising home values and the cost of living has driven lawmakers in states including Indiana, Ohio, and Wyoming to enact sweeping property tax cuts in recent sessions. But while these measures may look attractive on the campaign trail, they are already putting real strain on local governments that depend on property taxes to fund schools, public safety, and other essential services. An article in the publication Governing titled “State Property Tax Relief Pushes Local Budgets to the Brink” highlights this emerging dynamic. Lawmakers in several states have pursued homeowner tax credits, rate caps, or other limitations without fully compensating counties, cities, and school districts for the revenue they lose. The result? Significant budget shortfalls, belt-tightening by local governments, and even more political pressure from local leaders to revisit state legislation cutting their revenue. These developments matter to Missouri because they illustrate the unintended consequences of well-meaning tax cuts. As my colleague David Stokes has written in testimony before the Missouri Legislature, Missouri depends on property taxes to fund local services efficiently, and ill-designed state interventions can do more harm than good. Stokes emphasized that “Missouri's property assessment and tax system needs reforms, but efforts to reduce it dramatically or eliminate it entirely go too far,” and that the state should not trade one revenue problem for another by hollowing out the tax base localities rely on. What's happening outside of Missouri mirrors Stokes' concerns. In Indiana, a roughly $1.2 billion homeowner tax relief package enacted in 2025 will cost local governments an estimated $1.5 billion over three years, forcing many towns and counties to cut services or revise budgets mid-cycle. Wyoming's 25 percent cut on assessed home value for tax purposes similarly leaves schools—which receive roughly 70 percent of property tax revenue—scrambling to balance their books. Stokes has warned that limiting property tax growth without careful policy design reduces the property tax base, shifting the burden to other, more distortionary taxes. He argues that property taxes—particularly on land and real estate—are among the least harmful taxes to economic growth compared with income or sales taxes. Wholesale caps or freezes discourage local fiscal responsibility. Missouri's recent property tax changes—including the creation of “zero percent” and “five percent” counties where valuations can't drive tax increases without voter approval—reflect a similar temptation to cut taxes without addressing the broader revenue implications. Stokes has noted that such approaches may do little to improve fairness while shrinking the tax base that supports schools and local services. If policymakers in the Show-Me State pay attention to the experience of other states, they'll proceed with caution. Cutting property taxes without sustainable alternate revenue exacerbates budget stress for counties and schools and shifts costs to taxes that are more damaging to growth, such as income or sales taxes. Ensuring that relief targets those most in need—as opposed to broad caps that change how local governments fund core services—preserves local autonomy and avoids the fiscal cliff other states are now confronting. Missouri's leaders should focus on reforms that improve fairness and economic efficiency—not simply reducing bills at the expense of services Missourians value. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Christopher Talgo, editorial director at the Heartland Institute, to discuss his recent piece in The Hill on the state of American public education. They explore why the claim that public schools are underfunded doesn't hold up to scrutiny, how per-pupil spending often exceeds private school tuition while outcomes continue to decline, and where all that money is actually going. They also discuss the growing administrative bloat crowding out classroom resources, the dysfunction baked into teacher tenure and union structures, why school choice may be the only real path to meaningful reform, and how states like Florida and Arizona are already demonstrating what's possible when parents are empowered to choose, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org. This episode was produced using AI-generated narration. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity.

Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity. This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Mike McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice and contributor to the Informed Choice Substack, to discuss his piece, “The Six Words Driving the Education Debate in 2026.” They explore why the school choice conversation has shifted from whether it should exist to what it should look like, how debates over “transparency” and “accountability” are shaping political strategy, and why participation in choice programs changes over time. They also discuss the influence of “rage bait” on public perception, the emerging risks of AI-generated “slop” in schools, and how the “supply side” of education, from micro schools to new learning providers, may determine whether expanded choice truly meets families' needs, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to break down Governor Mike Kehoe's State of the State address, including what we know so far about his plan to eliminate Missouri's income tax, proposals to modernize Missouri's tax system, and the need to rein in state spending. They also discuss open enrollment legislation, the new Missouri Advanced Nuclear Task Force and AI strategy executive order, the push to privatize downtown St. Louis convention center operations, what the Dome's history says about stadium subsidies, Kansas City's stadium debate, what they are watching in Jefferson City, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Vladimir Kogan, professor of political science at The Ohio State University, to discuss his new book, No Adult Left Behind, How Politics Hijacks Education Policy and Hurts Kids. They explore why the No Child Left Behind era is increasingly viewed as a high point for academic accountability, how low-turnout school board elections skew decision making away from students, and why policies like four-day school weeks often serve adult interests rather than children, and more. Find Vlad's book here: https://bit.ly/3KQzCJv Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Patrick Tuohey joined Pete Mundo on Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio to question whether the Kansas City Chiefs' move to Kansas is really a done deal. He explains why unresolved financial details, uncertain STAR bond math, and the lack of taxpayer backing raise doubts about whether the proposed stadium plan can move forward as advertised.

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join host Zach Lawhorn to discuss the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, new federal proposals aimed at lowering healthcare costs through cost sharing, employer coverage reforms, and prescription drug transparency. They also break down the latest installment of David Stokes' Free Market Guide for Missouri Municipalities on parks and recreation, the role of user fees and outsourcing, national polling on public school open enrollment and why parents strongly support it, what they are watching as the 2026 legislative session approaches, and more. Link to the national survey: https://yeseverykidfoundation.org/new-national-poll-shows-americans-demand-more-family-first-k-12-education/ Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, Patrick Tuohey speaks with Thomas Friestad of the Kansas City Business Journal about how Kansas STAR bonds work and what they mean for a proposed Kansas City Chiefs stadium.

Guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, Patrick Tuohey speaks with Neil deMause, editor of FieldofSchemes.com and coauthor of Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money Into Private Profit. DeMause draws on decades of research examining billions in public subsidies for pro sports facilities, explaining why stadium deals rarely deliver economic benefits and how proposed subsidies for a Kansas City Chiefs stadium fit a familiar national pattern.

Guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio 95.7 FM and 710 AM on December 30, 2025, Patrick Tuohey of the Show-Me Institute breaks down the math behind Kansas STAR bonds proposed for a Kansas City Chiefs stadium, explaining why the revenue projections may not add up and why taxpayers could be more exposed than advertised. Listen to Full Episodes of Mundo in the Morning: https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/

Susan Pendergrass is joined by Cory Koedel, director of education policy at the Show-Me Institute, and Avery Frank, policy analyst at the Show-Me Institute, to discuss Missouri's early literacy crisis. They walk through the need for a universal reading screener, the evidence behind third grade retention, why banning three cueing matters, how teacher preparation programs must change to align with the science of reading, what successful states like Mississippi have done, what Missouri's current laws get wrong, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join host Zach Lawhorn to outline what a responsible plan to eliminate Missouri's income tax should include, from revenue triggers and spending restraint to rethinking other taxes. They also break down St. Louis County's Bill 182 expanding prevailing wage and DBE mandates, Independence's proposed TIF package for a new Wally's gas station and what it says about corporate welfare, Missouri's early literacy crisis and reforms like a universal third grade reading screener, mandatory retention, and banning three cueing, and what they are watching next on prefiled tax bills, data center policy, and rising property tax bills across the state. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass is joined by Elias Tsapelas, director of state budget and fiscal policy at the Show-Me Institute, to explain what was actually at stake in the recent federal government shutdown. They break down the debate over extended Affordable Care Act subsidies, why health insurance costs keep rising, how COVID-era provisions distorted the marketplace, and what Congress may do next. The conversation also covers fraud concerns, the future of ACA reform, and what these decisions could mean for Missouri families. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Learn more about the book here: https://www.cato.org/books/fighting-freedom-learn Susan Pendergrass speaks with Dr. James Shuls, fellow at the Show-Me Institute and head of the Education Liberty Branch at Florida State University, and Dr. Neal McCluskey of the Cato Institute about their new book, Fighting for the Freedom to Learn: Examining America's Centuries-Old School Choice Movement. They discuss how the fight for educational freedom long predates modern debates over public schooling, why early advocates viewed schooling as a family and community responsibility, and how today's school choice expansion connects to America's founding principles. The conversation covers the history of the common school movement, the roots of residential school assignment, and why educational freedom has always been central to the American story, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Robert C. Enlow, president and CEO of EdChoice, about the expansion of school choice and the organization's work advancing parental freedom in education. They discuss Milton Friedman's original vision, how states like Florida, Arizona, and Indiana have moved toward universal choice, Missouri's legal fight over its scholarship program, and how parental demand is reshaping education markets, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss local ballot measures in Missouri, including new hotel taxes in Springfield and Jefferson City, municipal use and gas taxes, how the ongoing federal shutdown could jeopardize food stamp benefits for hundreds of thousands of Missourians and what the federal Rural Health Transformation Fund means for reform, and emerging ideas in energy policy such as consumer regulated electricity and the debate over data center development in Missouri. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Christy Wolfe, director of K–12 policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, about major shifts in federal education policy. They discuss recent Department of Education layoffs, the push to give states more flexibility through waivers, how Indiana is leading a new accountability approach, what it all means for states like Missouri, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass talks with Tiara Jordan-Sutton, Founder and Executive Director of Activate Missouri (formerly Activate STL), about school safety, parental power in education, Missouri's failure to implement the federal Unsafe School Choice Option, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Marty Lueken, director of EdChoice's Fiscal Research and Education Center, about the 2025 Fiscal Fact Book. They discuss how much is really spent per student, where the money comes from, why staffing has grown even as enrollment has declined, the fiscal impact of school choice programs, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity