Free to Offend

A podcast that radically defends free speech by regularly practicing it. Produced by Nevada Policy Research Institute, featuring Nevada Policy’s Michael Schaus and Robert Fellner

Nevada’s Election System is Broken 02/27/2024

Nevada’s Election System is Broken Over the past several years there have been substantial changes to Nevada’s election laws, and trust in the process has been on the decline. Walter Olson is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and the author of a by Nevada Policy on election law here in the Silver State. He joined the program to discuss how Nevada can re-establish trust in voting and what states are actually getting it “right” when it comes to implementing election reform. Download your copy of the report here: /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/30113673

Are We Making Voting Harder? 12/13/2023

Are We Making Voting Harder? Is ranked-choice voting best for Nevada? Jason Snead, Executive Director of the Honest Elections Project, joins Nevada Policy Outreach and Coalitions Director Marcos Lopez for a special interview, recorded live recently at The Dangers of Ranked Choice Voting: a Grassroots Seminar. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/29051883

Turning Working Nevadans into Activists 11/28/2023

Turning Working Nevadans into Activists How can a public policy think tank change the way Nevadans think about the greatest challenges facing the state? President John Tsarpalas joined the program to talk about Nevada Policy’s work over the past year and its ambitious plans for turning even more Nevadans into activists for a freer and more prosperous Silver State. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/28817668

Economic ‘Inequality’ isn’t the Problem 11/15/2023

Economic ‘Inequality’ isn’t the Problem We hear a lot about “economic inequality” as a growing problem in the nation. However, we don’t hear nearly as much about what really matters to most people: economic mobility. Economic mobility is the simple idea that we’re capable of bettering our lot in life – that we have the ability to build a business, learn a new skill or find a better job and start climbing into higher socioeconomic classes. Justin T. Callais, PhD, is a research fellow at the Archbridge Institute and the lead researcher for the institute’s Social Mobility Index project. He joined the podcast to discuss why this metric should matter more to academics and policymakers than merely measuring the “inequalities” between social classes. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/28645993

Episode 90: Fighting for Transparency in Government 11/01/2023

Episode 90: Fighting for Transparency in Government Keeping government open, accessible and accountable is one of those few policy areas where groups on all sides of the political divide can agree – and yet, it remains one of the most challenging public-policy fights we face on a daily basis. From police departments to local school districts, public officials and institutions routinely deny activists and journalists access to otherwise “public” information. Michelle Rindels is a journalist and the president of The Nevada Open Government Coalition, and she joined the program to talk about the importance of open government, the challenges we face in Nevada and what ordinary citizens can do to keep their public officials accountable to the people they serve. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/28477511

We Need Regulations that Actually Allow for Innovation 10/18/2023

We Need Regulations that Actually Allow for Innovation Innovators and entrepreneurs often find themselves stuck in a Catch-22 when it comes to bringing new ideas to the market: Regulators are skeptical to change laws and standards until there’s evidence it’s safe to do so, but innovators can’t generate that evidence until those laws and standards are actually changed. Economist Cameron Belt joined the program to discuss his forthcoming paper on “regulatory sandboxes” for Nevada Policy — a policy concept that allows innovators and regulators to overcome that Catch-22 and build a more dynamic, and flexible, regulatory framework. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/28351214

What ‘Grade’ Did Your Lawmaker Earn? 10/04/2023

What ‘Grade’ Did Your Lawmaker Earn? Free to Offend Episode 89 | Guest: Geoff Lawrence and Marcos Lopez Sure, we’ve talked plenty about the outcome of Nevada’s 2023 legislative session … but do you really know whether your lawmakers voted in your best interests? Nevada Policy’s Geoff Lawrence and Marcos Lopez joined the program to discuss Nevada Policy’s Legislative Scorecard, which grades lawmakers on their votes and legislative priorities. Geoff and Marcos discuss the “inside baseball” of what happened in Carson City and why every voter should be looking at how the scorecard judges lawmakers on their roles in shaping policy during the session. Download your free copy of the Legislative Scorecard /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/28218353

The Existential Threats Facing Our Republic 09/27/2023

The Existential Threats Facing Our Republic Guest: Victor Davis Hanson From “woke” ideology to modern monetary policy and “critical legal theory,” there are plenty of reasons to be concerned about the future of our republic. Victor Davis Hanson will be the keynote speaker at Nevada Policy’s on Oct. 24, and he joined the program ahead of his visit to share his thoughts on the cultural trends threatening the future of freedom and prosperity in America. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/28154390

Giving Public Sector Workers Their Individual Voices Back 09/20/2023

Giving Public Sector Workers Their Individual Voices Back Many of the biggest public sector unions actually spend more money on political activity than they do on their core mission of representing workers. No wonder so many public sector workers don’t feel like they actually have a voice. After all, the union certainly isn’t always fighting on their behalf. Isabel Blank, the senior communications director at , joined the program to discuss how public sector workers can reclaim their voice when their union starts putting its own concerns over that of its members. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/28075287

We’re the ‘Shining City on a Hill’ for the Rest of America 08/23/2023

We’re the ‘Shining City on a Hill’ for the Rest of America The American Southwest is a place like no other – culturally, economically, and even politically. Dowd Muska, with the Southwest Public Policy Institute joined the program to talk about what makes the American Southwest – and Nevada specifically – such a unique place to call home, and why it’s so well positioned to be a shining example for the rest of the nation. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/27814404

Minimum Wage Increases Threaten Nevada’s Economy 08/09/2023

Minimum Wage Increases Threaten Nevada’s Economy Soon, Nevada will have a mandated $12 per hour minimum wage – but that’s nothing compared to the minimum wage increases being pushed by activists nationally. Rebekah Paxton, from the Employment Policies Institute, joined the program to discuss the consequences of this never-ending political drive to increase mandated minimum wage laws – specifically the way such mandates impact workers in Nevada’s massive (and indispensable) hospitality industry. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/27706833

Lombardo’s Veto Pen Made a Massive Difference This Year 07/26/2023

Lombardo’s Veto Pen Made a Massive Difference This Year With a divided government, it’s unsurprising the legislative scorecard would be “messy.” Marcos Lopez from Nevada Policy joined the program to help sift through the wins and losses of the legislative session — and explain why Gov. Joe Lombardo’s veto pen had some of the biggest wins of all. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/27568113

No More Compromise – We Need Educational Choice Now! 07/12/2023

No More Compromise – We Need Educational Choice Now! Unfortunately, even with $2 billion in additional funding for traditional K-12 education, the Democratic majority in Nevada’s legislature couldn’t be bothered to throw a few scraps toward educational choice programs. Valeria Gurr, with the American Federation for Children, joined the program to discuss what we can learn from the 2023 legislative session … as well as what it will take for Nevada to (finally) join the growing number of states that offer families a choice of educational options. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/27433593

Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public-Sector Unions 06/21/2023

Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public-Sector Unions Public sector unions have long stood in the way of a more accountable and efficient government – obstructing both progressive and conservative reforms alike. However, what if they’re something more than mere inconveniences to governmental reform? What if they are also, at their core, an unconstitutional usurpation of our constitutionally guaranteed form of representative government? Philip K. Howard is Chair of Common Good and a bestselling author, and he joined the program to discuss this very idea – an idea he explores in depth in his latest book, /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/27220557

The Policies Driving Our Water Scarcity in the West 06/06/2023

The Policies Driving Our Water Scarcity in the West How many times have we heard that Lake Mead or Lake Powell are about to hit “Deadpool” status? Water has always been a contentious issue in the American West – and with an ongoing drought, booming population and dwindling reservoirs, things don’t look great for region’s water supply. However, not everyone believes the future is all doom-and-gloom. Katherine Wright, who is a research fellow at The Property and Environment Research Center and a water-policy expert, says there are still plenty of reasons we should be optimistic about the future of the Colorado River Basin. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/27053877

How Well Do We Understand Our Rights? 05/24/2023

How Well Do We Understand Our Rights? We take a lot of our rights in America for granted. However, understanding our rights, how they’ve changed over time, and where they “come from” is critical to protecting them. Mark Iverson, who has been studying rights as they apply to citizenship, joined the program for a discussion on how – or even if – things like the 14th Amendment have changed how our rights are legally applied. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/26933904

Bringing Innovation to the Education Sector 05/10/2023

Bringing Innovation to the Education Sector Guest: James Lomax, founder of Life Skills Academy Whether the public school establishment likes it or not, the educational sector is changing. And it’s changing because innovators, entrepreneurs and parents are increasingly operating outside of the government-run system. James Lomax, founder of Life Skills Academy in Henderson joined the program to talk about his micro-school’s unique approach to teaching – and why the freedom to innovate is so critical to building a better educational future for our children. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/26793405

What is the Future of Free Speech? 04/26/2023

What is the Future of Free Speech? One of the most troubling aspects of censorship on college campuses isn’t merely what it means for free speech in higher education – it’s but also what it means for the rest of us as those young leaders enter the “real world.” Zoë Felbein is president of the chapter at UNLV, and she joined the program to talk about the free-speech culture (or lack thereof) in higher education, and what we can do to bring it back for future generations. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/26651064

The Politics of ‘Affordable Housing’ aren’t Fixing Anything 04/12/2023

The Politics of ‘Affordable Housing’ aren’t Fixing Anything There are plenty of headwinds facing housing affordability in Nevada – including everything from federal land management to local regulations and zoning ordinances that limit housing supply. ERGS Properties President Greg Peek joined the program to discuss one of the largest obstacles facing the market: A political culture that is more interested feel-good regulations than actual (workable) solutions. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/26515263

Getting the Regulators Out of the Way of Innovation 03/29/2023

Getting the Regulators Out of the Way of Innovation Innovation is the key to economic prosperity. Unfortunately, regulatory frameworks that were written decades ago are often at odds with creative new ideas – stymying the innovation we need for continued economic growth. Rees Empey with the Libertas Institute joined the program to talk about a new regulatory framework that rewards and encourages innovation, “Regulatory Sandboxes.” In fact, these sandboxes are already being used in various industries throughout the nation – and have shown a surprising amount of bipartisan support in both red and blue states. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/26361597

It’s Your Money Government’s Spending – Transparency Matters 03/15/2023

It’s Your Money Government’s Spending – Transparency Matters If there’s one area of public policy that generates significant bipartisan support among activists and ordinary citizens, it’s transparency in government. Todd Maddison from joined the program to discuss why transparency is so crucial to ensuring better government – regardless of one’s political inclinations. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/26211453

Turning Education into a Marketplace of Innovation 03/01/2023

Turning Education into a Marketplace of Innovation There are massive changes occurring in education – and most of those changes are being driven by parents and educators, not politicians or bureaucratic school districts. As former educators and school administrators, Christina and Eric Threeton realized there was a better way to approach education than what was being done by large institutionalized public-school systems. And so, a couple of years ago, they began the journey of opening their own micro-school in Las Vegas, . They joined the program to talk about the challenges facing educational innovators and how important it is for there to be a marketplace where passionate people can pursue new ways of approaching education. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/26088342

Putting Our Understanding of ‘Tyranny’ into Perspective 02/15/2023

Putting Our Understanding of ‘Tyranny’ into Perspective When we look at areas of the world where tyranny and oppression are tormenting people who wish to live free, it’s a stark reminder of just how precious the freedoms we enjoy truly are to our way of life. Eric Kohn, director of marketing and communications at the Acton Institute, joined the program to talk about his work on a powerful new movie: The Hong Konger — a moving documentary about China’s unprecedented assault on human freedoms in Hong Kong and the inspirational tale of one man who decided to stand up to Beijing’s tyranny. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/25930383

Get Ready to Get Involved! 02/01/2023

Get Ready to Get Involved! Nevada’s legislative session is underway this month – which means the difficult work is about to begin for those who believe in a limited and accountable government. Nevada Policy Outreach and Coalitions Director Marcos Lopez joined the show to discuss how activists can become more involved during the legislative session. From Nevada Policy’s legislative bill tracker to regular updates for supporters and activists, Marcos explains how the institute is focused on keeping Nevadans informed and engaged so they can have an outsized influence on what happens in Carson City. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/25786062

The Financial Crisis You don’t Talk about 01/18/2023

The Financial Crisis You don’t Talk about A federal debt of $31 trillion certainly demands attention – but it’s not the only slow-motion financial trainwreck taking place. Mark Moses, author of , joins the program to discuss the way our cities and municipalities are spiraling into similar financial turmoil. As always, local politics matter – and the way your city is throwing away tax dollars deserves far more scrutiny than it generally receives. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/25471251

Nevada is Not California East 01/04/2023

Nevada is Not California East Politicians in Nevada might seem eager to emulate the absurdity of California politics – but is that really the fate of this great state? John Tsarpalas, president of Nevada Policy, joined the program to talk about the culture, history and people that make Nevada so distinct from our neighbor to the west – as well as all the hard work we have to do in the upcoming year to make sure we remain that way. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/25471182

What Policy Solutions Should We be Focused On in the Year Ahead? 12/14/2022

What Policy Solutions Should We be Focused On in the Year Ahead? At first glance, it seems like divided government should make it harder to get meaningful reforms passed into law … but the truth is, there are still plenty of opportunities. Geoffrey Lawrence, director of research for Nevada Policy and the Reason Foundation, joined the program to talk about the policy solutions we should focus on in the 2023 legislative session – and why a politically divided government might just benefit those of us who want to get important things done in the year ahead. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/25277583

The Desperate Political Game of Union Bosses 11/30/2022

The Desperate Political Game of Union Bosses Guest: Aaron Withe, Freedom Foundation As unionization rates continue to decline across the nation, union bosses are getting increasingly political in an effort to reverse the trend. Freedom Foundation Chief Executive Officer Aaron Withe joined the program to talk about the political business model both private-sector and public-sector unions are using to increase their revenue – and why such methods are not only a danger to taxpayers, but also bad for workers themselves. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/25149366

The Elections are (Finally) Over … Now What? 11/17/2022

The Elections are (Finally) Over … Now What? The elections are finally over! So … what happens now? Nevada Policy President John Tsarpalas shares his take on the 2022 election outcome and gives his prediction of what comes next in Nevada as a Democrat-controlled legislature and Republican governor prepare to face off on numerous policy battles in the coming year. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/25053186

Alaska’s Experiment with Ranked-Choice Voting 11/02/2022

Alaska’s Experiment with Ranked-Choice Voting With ranked-choice voting on the ballot in Nevada, many eyes turned toward Alaska to see how the system actually works in practice. Sarah Montalbano from the Alaska Policy Forum joined the program to discuss the troubles Alaska had in its recent special election, including the way ranked-choice voting impacted the election outcome. Unlike , Montalbano argues the process did little to help the political climate in the state and actually introduced numerous unintended challenges for voters and politicians alike. /episode/index/show/free-to-offend/id/24871485

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