Reforming Criminal Justice Policy to Put Victims First - 2024 PRI Sacramento Conference
Release Date: 04/08/2024
PRI's Former Speechwriters on the Republican Convention
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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.
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Lance Izumi – The Great Classroom Collapse
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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.
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Chris Micheli – Is the Legislative Process Fueling Grassroots Activism or Acting as a Roadblock to Reform?
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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...
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Former Speechwriters on the First Presidential Debate
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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.
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Charles Kesler on former students book
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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.
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Matt Beech – What Should Americans Think About the Upcoming British Elections
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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.
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Erik Jaffe - 2024 Supreme Court preview
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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.
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Batya Ungar-Sargon - Second Class
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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.
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Stephen Moore – 2024 PRI Baroness Thatcher Dinner Keynote Speaker and Honoree
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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.
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Wayne Winegarden -- Newsom’s May Revised Budget
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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.
info_outlineWith reform legislation being debated to address rising incidents of retail and auto theft and a ballot measure in circulation to repeal the most sweeping provisions of Prop. 47, we present a panel discussion on California’s growing crime problem from PRI’s recent Sacramento conference. Speakers include retired Brigadier Gen. Bob Spano, whose aunt was tragically murdered in the 1980s, crime victim advocate Nina Salarno who was recently appointed Modoc County District Attorney, and Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire. Plus, Tim and Ro discuss the solar eclipse and the Democrats’ “early action” budget plan.