Assembly Member Blanca Rubio – How to Reverse the Collapse of Learning in California’s Schools
Release Date: 03/24/2025
Kerry McDonald - Joyful Learning
Next Round
From FreedomFest 2025 in Palm Springs, Tim talks with Kerry McDonald, senior fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education and State Policy Network education fellow about her new book Joyful Learning, which explores new, low-cost K–12 learning models that favor individualized, learner-centered education. They also talk about the Trump administration's proposals to downsize the U.S. Department of Education and the latest in efforts to promote school choice across the country.
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A Conversation with Assemblyman Joe Patterson
Next Round
We wrap up our series of podcasts on the hot issues being debated in the final weeks of the 2025 legislative session with a conversation with Assemblyman Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin. They discuss the Gavin Newsom redistricting proposal, the bills that aren't getting the attention they should be at the end of session, and his efforts to ban non-disclosure agreements in the legislative process.
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Matt Rexroad - On the Gavin Newsom Redistricting Scheme
Next Round
Continuing our series of podcasts on hot issues being debated during the final weeks of the 2025 legislative session, longtime political strategist, redistricting consultant, and former elected official Matt Rexroad joins us to break down Gov. Gavin Newsom's redistricting scheme and what it will mean for fair elections in California. They also discuss his new job as a deputy district attorney in Colusa County, and an issue that is very personal to him - reforming California's foster care system.
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Catherine Reheis-Boyd — Ensuring Fuel is Plentiful and Affordable in California
Next Round
This week, we start a series of podcasts featuring conversations on some of the hottest issues being debated at the State Capitol in the final weeks of the 2025 legislative session. We're pleased to be joined by Western States Petroleum Association president and CEO Catherine Reheis-Boyd, one of the most important legislative advocates in Sacramento. PRI senior fellow in business and economics Dr. Wayne Winegarden talks about efforts to keep fuel affordable and available in California in the face of costly and unworkable state government green mandates.
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Steven Greenhut - Protecting Cities from Wildfires
Next Round
Free Cities Center director Steven Greenhut joins us to discuss his latest booklet focusing on the lessons learned from January's destructive Southern California wildfires. They talk about policy-created problems on brush clearing, water, and land use policy that created a perfect storm and made fighting the fires more difficult, and what reforms policymakers should be considering now to prevent severe future wildfires from destroying the state.
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Kenneth Schrupp - Reporting on Lessons Learned from Southern California Wildfires
Next Round
Center Square California reporter and Free Cities Center contributor Kenneth Schrupp joins us to discuss his recent reporting on policy mistakes that made preventing and fighting the recent Southern California wildfires worse. He also discusses what he's learned about controversial legislation to "reimagine" the Palisades as it is rebuilt. He also shares insights in his reporting on high speed rail, homelessness, and the aftermath of the LA ICE riots.
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A Conversation with Mayor Willie Brown
Next Round
Listen as Free Cities Center director Steven Greenhut sits down for a wide-ranging discussion with legendary San Francisco Mayor and former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. In this candid interview, they discuss the challenges facing the West Coast's urban centers including crime, housing, homelessness, education, and transportation. Brown also offers his views on some of the state's most controversial topics such as high-speed rail and redevelopment.
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A Conversation with Assemblyman Josh Hoover
Next Round
This week, our special guest is Assemblyman Josh Hoover, R-Folsom, who is serving in his second term and also is vice chair of the Assembly Education Committee. We discuss key issues being debated at the State Capitol these days including the state budget, efforts to crack down on homelessness, and legislation that would further hinder charter schools. We also discuss his efforts to increase oversight over state programs and spending, and his successful efforts to crack down on student cell phone use in the classroom.
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Dr. Wayne Winegarden - What Should Fiscal Conservatives Think About the "One Big Beautiful Bill"?
Next Round
This week on Next Round, we welcome back PRI senior fellow in business and economics Dr. Wayne Winegarden to talk about the big economic topics in the news recently - the passage by Congress of the reconciliation bill, the Trump administration's latest global tariff proposals, the federal budget recissions bill being debated in Congress, and the recently-enacted California State Budget. Wayne gives his analysis on these issues and shares his thoughts on how fiscal conservatives should view the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill."
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Dr. Ed Amos - A First Hand Acccount of the Southern California Wildfires and Recovery
Next Round
This week, we talk with Dr. Ed Amos, noted physician and neurologist who tragically lost his home in the Pacific Palisades wildfires. He shares his first hand experience on the day of, and the immediate aftermath, of the wildfires, and offers a close-up view of just how effective government at all levels has done in reducing bureaucracy and helping homeowners quickly begin the rebuilding process.
info_outlineParents, 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.