Susan Crabtree - Fool's Gold
Next Round
This week, we talk with Susan Crabtree, award-winning investigative journalist and senior White House and national political correspondent for RealClearPolitics, author of the new book on Gavin Newsom, Fool's Gold. We discuss the impact of the governor's policy agenda on people's ability to achieve the California dream and how California's governor is viewed in Washington and national media circles. She also gives her take on that hot political book chronicling the coverup of Joe Biden's decline.
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Professor Michael Mische - Just How Much Will We Pay for Gas When 2 Big Refineries Shut Down?
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This week on Next Round, we talk with Michael Mische, Associate Professor of the Practice of Management and Organization at the University of Southern California, about his new study showing just how much more Californians will pay at the pump for gas when two of the state's major refineries shut down operations in the coming years. Plus, Tim and Matt discuss the debate over the State and Local Tax Deduction in Congress and legislation to make it easier and cheaper to build housing.
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Jason Riley - The Affirmative Action Myth
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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).
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Wayne Winegarden - Analyzing the 2025 May Revise
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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.
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Ambassador Francis Rooney - On the Legacy of Pope Francis and the Conclave to Elect the Next Pope
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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.
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Ben Austin - Can Sacramento Actually Fix California's Underperforming Public Schools?
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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.
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PRI's Earth Week Special - What is the Cost of Going Green?
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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.
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Marcos Bretón - On the Challenges of the City of Sacramento and its Major Daily Newspaper
Next Round
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.
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Is There a War on Suburbia in California?
Next Round
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.
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Tom Campbell – On Tariffs, DOGE and Cutting Government Waste
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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.
info_outlineThis 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.