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
With the holiday season upon us, it's time for our annual PRI All Stars Year End Awards. Listen as Tim Anaya, Rowena Itchon, Lance Izumi, Kerry Jackson and Matt Fleming share their picks for the year's biggest winners and losers in California politics and policy, and even offer a few predictions for 2025.
Nationally known investment expert, economist, Chapman University professor and author of more than 25 books Mark Skousen joins us to discuss his latest book, The Greatest American, on his distant relative, Benjamin Franklin. We talk about Franklin's legacy in science, business, economics, politics, and diplomacy, and ponder what Franklin would think about politicians like Zohran Mandami. He also gives a preview of next year's Fr...
Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho joins us this week to discuss his terrific new book chronicling his role prosecuting the elusive Golden State Killer. We talk about how his upbringing fleeing Communism in Vietnam fuels his passion for seeking justice for crime victims, the many challenges in prosecuting Joseph DeAngelo, and why it was so important for him to focus the book on the victims and loved ones left behind, rat...
This week, PRI President, CEO and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy Sally Pipes is back to discuss the debate over extending the expanded Obamacare subsidies that was at the heart of the recent government shutdown. She also discusses the market-based reforms that conservatives in Congress should be pursuing to provide affordable health care choices for all Americans.
With holiday meal planning in full swing, PRI fellow in agriculture policy Pam Lewison - a farmer in Eastern Washington and also fellow at PRI's sister think tank, the Washington Policy Center - joins us to discuss just how much our holiday meals will cost this year. She and Tim discuss the impact of the Trump tariffs on farmers and how the administration's plans to import Argentine beef will impact US cattle ranchers.
Now that the dust has settled, the PRI All Stars are back with their analysis of the 2025 election. Tim Anaya and Matt Fleming take an in-depth look at the passage of Prop. 50, how its victory will impact the 2026 congressional campaigns in California, and whether Gavin Newsom will get a big national boost. They also talk about the national election results, the retirement announcement by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the surprising ...
This week, Tim Anaya and Matt Fleming preview the 2025 election, starting with a deep dive on Prop. 50, where we are just a few days before the election, and how the outcome will impact California policy and Gavin Newsom's political future. Plus, they discuss the wild campaign for Mayor of New York City and look ahead with an early preview of the 2026 California governor's race.
This week, Dr. Wayne Winegarden, director of PRI's Center for Medical Economics and Innovation, joins us to discuss his new brief exploring how forthcoming restrictions in a state program serving dual-eligible Medicare and Medi-Cal enrollees will hurt patients. He discusses how the movement in government both in California and nationally limiting choice will limit access to care, increase costs to taxpayers and worsen health outco...
This week, we present a special episode featuring highlights from PRI's 2025 Sir Antony Fisher Dinner, which was held last month in San Mateo. Noted author, historian and commentator Victor Davis Hanson shares his thoughts on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and how the conservative movement should respond to this tragic loss. Next, Professor Charles Kesler, editor of the Claremont Review of Books, responds to Hanson's comments....
This week, Naomi Riley - American Enterprise Institute senior fellow - joins us to discuss her latest work on child welfare issues. It is a project called Lives Cut Short (www.livescutshort.org), which is an online database that looks at how states are underreporting incidents of children who have died of abuse and neglect. She talks about the project, how state policies are contributing to this problem, what reforms lawmakers sh...
Our special guest this week is outgoing Assembly Republican Leader - and the very first guest on Next Round podcast - James Gallagher. He looks back on his time as GOP leader, reflecting on his biggest accomplishments, what surprised him the most during his leadership, his partisan battles with Speaker Rivas and Gov. Newsom, and what the biggest piece of unfinished business he has on his legislative to-do list.
This week, we present our annual end of session look back at the just-concluded legislative session. Steven Greenhut, Matt Fleming and Tim Anaya share their thoughts on the hot issues debated in the final weeks of the legislative session, including the cap-and-trade deal, high-speed rail funding, charter school legislation, housing policy and more. Plus, they remember the late Sen. John Burton and weigh in on Gov. Newsom's State ...
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 effor...
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.
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...
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