Next Round
Next Round is a weekly podcast exploring California politics from a free market perspective hosted by the nonpartisan think tank Pacific Research Institute. Each episode features elected officials, media commentators, and policy leaders breaking down the Golden State’s top policy debates and discussing how market-based reforms can improve our quality of life. Past guests include House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Democratic Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, futurist George Gilder, State Board of Ed Member Dr. Ting Sun, pollster Scott Rasmussen, economist Steve Moore, Politico California’s Kevin Yamamura, and National Review’s Andrew McCarthy.
Episodes
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...
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 effo...
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 destro...
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 aftermat...
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 rai...
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 spen...
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...
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.
With the Fourth of July upon us, our special guest this week is Chef Andrew Gruel, food entrepreneur, celebrity chef and television personality, and newly appointed Huntington Beach city councilman. We discuss how regulations and minimum wage mandates are hurting restaurants and other small businesses, how being a vocal conservative has impacted his career, and why he decided to become a city councilman. He also shares some ideas...
Direct from FreedomFest 2025 in Palm Springs, Tim talks with Reason reporter Eric Boehm, who covers economic and trade policy. They talk about the latest developments in the Trump administration's global tariff agenda, preview how the debate over global tariffs will play out this summer, and what consumers should expect in terms of the availability and prices of goods under the Trump tariffs. Plus, they discuss a terrific, must-r...
Direct from FreedomFest 2025 in Palm Springs, Tim talks with Reason senior editor, author, and host of the Rising on Hill TV Robby Soave. Among other topics, they discuss the LA ICE riots, how Gov. Gavin Newsom is viewed on the national political scene, and how we should look back on the legacy of Elon Musk's DOGE efforts. Plus, Tim and Matt discuss Gov. Newsom's technical error-filled TV address on the LA ICE riots, and Sen. Ale...
Rebekah Paxton of the Employment Policies Institute joins us to discuss EPI's high-profile research on the impact of California's $20 fast food minimum wage on jobs, workers, prices. They also discuss the Los Angeles' plan for a $30 minimum wage for hotel and airport workers.
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 legisla...
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).
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 ...
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 refo...
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 fig...
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 mo...
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