Freedom Rising with Andrew Lewis

No two children are alike. So why should every child be expected to succeed in the same education system?   On this episode of Freedom Rising , Andrew Lewis sits down with Reverend Joshua Robertson, founder of Black Pastors United for Education, and Rachel Langan, senior education policy analyst at the Commonwealth Foundation, to explore why educational freedom matters.   Reverend Robertson shares...

How much power should unelected bureaucrats have—and how much should taxpayers be willing to spend? On this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis sits down with Phil Kerpen of American Commitment and Pennsylvania State Rep. Dallas Kephart to examine two ways government keeps growing: spending more and exercising more regulatory power. They discuss the Taxpayer Protection Act, the REINS Act, gove...

Socialism is gaining traction among young Americans—but why? In this episode of Freedom Rising , Andrew Lewis sits down with Nick Freitas, former Virginia legislator, Green Beret, combat veteran, and host of Making the Argument , to examine why socialist ideas are resonating with a new generation and how economic illiteracy is fueling their appeal.   They discuss the difference between equal oppor...

As governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker became one of the country’s most prominent advocates for giving states more power to govern—and proved that state-level reforms can have a national impact.  On this episode of Freedom Rising , Andrew Lewis sits down with Walker to discuss the lessons he learned in office, from taking on powerful public-sector unions to advancing reforms that put more power in...

Pennsylvania sits atop one of the largest natural gas reserves on the planet. It exports electricity, supports high-paying energy jobs, and has the potential to expand its nuclear power capacity. So why not make the most of it?   On Freedom Rising , Andrew Lewis welcomes Mark Mills of the National Center for Energy Analytics for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of Pennsylvania energy....

The new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) could dramatically expand educational opportunity across America—but only if governors choose to opt in. Andrew Lewis sits down with Tommy Schultz of the American Federation for Children, Norton Rainey, CEO of ACE Scholarships, and David Hardy, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Commonwealth Foundation, to discuss what this landmark law means for stude...

What really happens behind closed doors during Pennsylvania's budget negotiations? Andrew Lewis sits down with former Pennsylvania Senate Secretary-Parliamentarian Megan Martin (now Commonwealth Foundation's COO and General Counsel) for an insider's look at how the Commonwealth's most important legislation gets negotiated, debated, and passed. Then, Commonwealth Foundation Chief Po...

A single educational opportunity can change the course of a life.   Andrew Lewis sits down with two Pennsylvanians whose lives were transformed by the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which is under attack by the Democrat majority in the state House of Representatives.    National champion wrestler Bo Bassett shares how EITC helped him find an environment where he could thrive—se...

Pennsylvania spends nearly $24,000 per student each year, yet fewer than one-third of eighth graders are proficient in math and reading. In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis sits down with State Rep. Joe D'Orsie and Empower Mississippi CEO Grant Callen to explore why more spending isn't translating into better results, and what can be done about it. They discuss school choice, L...

Pennsylvania state government has been notorious for red tape. Now lawmakers are working to roll out the red carpet to make the permitting process more efficient. Andrew Lewis sits down with Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill to discuss the surprising history of "red tape," the fight to reform Pennsylvania's permitting system, and the policies helping projects move faster without sacrificing accountabi...

Pennsylvania is spending more than it takes in. What happens next? Andrew Lewis welcomes taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist to discuss the national tax landscape before turning to a pressing question closer to home: Can Pennsylvania sustain a budget that spends billions more than projected revenues? The conversation includes topics from state tax competition to government spending, school choice, a...

What do California’s budget problems, homelessness crisis, and alleged welfare fraud scandals all have in common?  According to California Policy Center CEO Will Swaim, they’re the predictable result of government expansion without accountability. Andrew Lewis chats with Swaim and explores how California’s policies became a cautionary tale for the rest of the country.  After learning about the bad...

What does a shipping lane halfway around the world have to do with your energy bill? Andrew Lewis and Victoria Coates of The Heritage Foundation connect global unrest to local consequences, from threats in the Strait of Hormuz to rising demand for American natural gas. They explore how Pennsylvania’s energy resources can stabilize global markets, support allies, and strengthen U.S. security—if pol...

Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania families are still waiting for access to a better education. In this episode of Freedom Rising , Andrew Lewis sits down with Rep. Martina White and Keisha Jordan to discuss why educational choice is essential, not optional, for students stuck in failing schools. From scholarship waitlists to real-world success stories, they explore how empowering parents with choi...

Every 24 minutes, someone leaves Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania isn’t just competing with neighboring states — it’s competing with the fastest-growing economies in the country. In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis examines how tax policy and government spending influence where people choose to live and work, joined by Andrew Wilford of the National Taxpayers Union Foundation. From there, th...

Pennsylvania energy prices have surged — up 46% since 2018 — but the reason isn’t complicated. In this episode of Freedom Rising , Andrew Lewis breaks down what’s really driving higher electricity bills with State Rep. Josh Kail and former Pennsylvania Utility Commission Chairman Glen Thomas. From government mandates and stalled infrastructure to the threat of carbon taxes, they explain how bad po...

Public-sector unions were created to protect workers — so how did they become partisan political powerhouses? In this episode of Freedom Rising , Andrew Lewis speaks with David Osborne of the Commonwealth Foundation and Tyler O'Neil of The Daily Signal to investigate how union dues and government grant money flow into activist organizations and partisan campaigns. They reveal: How union dues a...

Pennsylvania has backed the winning presidential candidate in five straight elections — and according to top pollster Patrick Ruffini, that’s no accident. Host Andrew Lewis talks with Ruffini to break down why the Commonwealth is the most consequential swing state in the country, how the GOP became the party of the working class, and why energy affordability and school choice are reshaping politic...

Could Minnesota-style fraud be occurring in Pennsylvania? When he was Attorney General, now-Governor Josh Shapiro warned there could be $3 billion in Medicaid fraud. But as governor, Shapiro has resisted the reforms that are needed to stop fraudsters and protect taxpayers. What changes are needed? Host Andrew Lewis talks to two expert guests about fraud and how to fight it: First, John Hinderaker,...