PRI All-Star Panel discusses State of the Union speech
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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...
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Sally Pipes – The World’s Medicine Chest
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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...
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Sheriff Jim Cooper – What’s Next after Voter Passage of Prop. 36
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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.
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Christopher Cox – Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn
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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.
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Joe Kent – Lessons from Maui as LA Begins to Rebuild
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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,...
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Wayne Winegarden - On the Trump Tariffs
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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.
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Yemi Mobolade and Brian Risley - How Colorado Springs is Letting Freedom Lead the Way
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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.
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Steven Greenhut - How California's Insurance Crisis Could Be Double Whammy for Wildfire Victims
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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.
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The PRI All Stars Respond to Gov. Newsom's 2025-26 State Budget
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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.
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Charles Kesler at his Festschrift Celebration
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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.
info_outlineThis 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.