The Optimistic American

Could the same issues that helped Donald Trump win the 2024 presidential election now cost Republicans the 2026 midterms? In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson is joined by Bob Robb and Henry Thompson to examine whether the issues that brought Trump back to the White House are now hurting Republicans, particularly among Independent voters, and what the election could mean for the future o...

What happens when doing what's right for voters puts you at odds with your own political party? Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes faced that question when his office approved a name change request from Arizona's independent party despite political opposition. For Fontes, the decision reflected a larger belief: public officials have a responsibility to uphold the Constitution and ser...

How can Arizona make better use of the billions of dollars it already manages, and should partisan politics influence how that money is invested? In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson sits down with Nick Mansour, Democratic candidate for Arizona State Treasurer, to discuss financial responsibility, education funding, and the growing influence of partisan politics on government decisions....

What do Democrats and Republicans get wrong about business? And can Arizona's political leaders find common ground despite their differences? In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson sits down with Tammy Caputi, former Scottsdale City Councilwoman and Democratic candidate for the Arizona Legislature, for a wide-ranging conversation about small business, public safety, political division,...

Can Arizona get better results by looking beyond party lines? In this episode of New Frontiers, John Winchester, a Republican candidate for the Arizona Legislature, joins Paul Johnson to discuss why he’s running, what good government should look like, and the issues he believes Arizona needs to get right. A major part of that conversation is education. John argues that Arizona should treat educati...

In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson sits down with Anthony Ramirez, candidate for Arizona State Senate in Legislative District 12, for a wide-ranging conversation about his life, his campaign, Arizona education, independent voters, and the growing divide in American politics. Ramirez's path to politics is anything but conventional. From working as a flight attendant to serving as a...

What will it take to improve education in Arizona? In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson sits down with David Scott, an independent candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 10, to discuss his campaign and why education has become one of his top priorities. The conversation covers some of the biggest challenges facing Arizona schools, including reading and...

Why does everything feel so uncertain? Americans are facing growing uncertainty about the economy, political leadership, global conflict, artificial intelligence, and the country’s long-term financial future.  In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson is joined by columnist Bob Robb and Professor Henry Thompson to examine what’s driving this growing sense of insecurity — and whether America c...

Arizona politics is increasingly dominated by attack ads, campaign slogans, and short soundbites. But what happens when candidates have the time to actually explain their ideas? In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson sits down with Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee for a long-form conversation about the future of Arizona education. Yee is running for Arizona Superintendent of Public Ins...

Teri Ann Hourihan won the No Labels Arizona gubernatorial nomination in Arizona’s primary election. Paul Johnson didn’t support her candidacy in that primary—and Hourihan believes he hasn’t always treated her fairly. So they sat down across from one another. What followed was one of the most personal and often contentious conversations on New Frontiers. Hourihan says her North Star is fighting wha...

In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson is joined by columnist Bob Robb and economist Elliott Pollack to discuss three major forces reshaping American politics and the economy. The panel examines the U.S. national debt and federal deficit, rising interest rates, Social Security, inflation, defense spending, and whether Republicans or Democrats are prepared to make the difficult choices need...

What would Andy Biggs do as Governor of Arizona? In this episode of The New Frontiers, Congressman and Arizona gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs sits down with Paul Johnson and Henry Thompson for a wide-ranging conversation about his vision for Arizona and the major political and economic issues shaping the state’s future. Biggs addresses one of the biggest controversies surrounding his political...

In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson is joined by columnist Bob Robb and political scientist Henry Thompson for an in-depth discussion on the political forces reshaping Arizona, the United States, and even the rest of the world.  The conversation begins with the surprising results of Arizona's 2026 primary elections, including the unexpected upset in the No Labels of Arizona gubernat...

The biggest economic transformation in modern history may already be underway. Artificial Intelligence is changing the workforce, Elon Musk could become the world's first trillionaire, and debates over capitalism, socialism, income inequality, and economic opportunity are dominating politics. But are we witnessing the beginning of a new Golden Age of prosperity — or another Gilded Age where we...

Is America thriving or falling behind? The answer may surprise you. In this episode of New Frontiers, former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson sits down with Professor Douglas Harris of Tulane University, creator of the groundbreaking State of the Nation and State of the States projects. While America's economy continues to outperform much of the world, Americans are reporting lower levels of happine...

Arizona is running out of time. In this episode, Central Arizona Water Conservation District Chairman Terry Goddard joins Paul Johnson and Bob Robb to discuss the growing Colorado River crisis and what it could mean for Arizona’s future. The conversation begins with the federal government’s looming decision on water allocations and why Arizona could face some of the deepest cuts in the country. Fr...

Something BIG is shifting in American politics… In this episode of the Independent, we break down the growing cracks inside the America First movement — and what it means for Trump, the economy, and the future of the country. From rising inflation and controversial tariffs to the escalating Iran conflict and tensions with NATO, this conversation uncovers the reality behind today’s biggest headline...

In this episode of the Independent, we break down three of the biggest forces shaping the future of America and the world: space exploration, global conflict, and political power. We start with the exciting return of human space exploration through NASA’s Artemis II mission and the growing dominance of private companies like SpaceX and Elon Musk, who are dramatically lowering the cost of space tra...

The Iran war is unfolding in real time — and the consequences are already reshaping America’s role in the world. In this episode, we break down the biggest questions surrounding the conflict with Iran: Why did it happen, what are the risks, and what can the United States learn from it? From military strategy to global economics, this conversation goes beyond headlines to analyze what’s really at s...

Is the two-party system failing Arizona? In this episode of The Independent, host Paul Johnson sits down with Hugh Lytle, an Independent candidate running for Governor of Arizona, to discuss the growing divide in American politics and why millions of voters are abandoning traditional parties. With over 30% of voters in Arizona registered as Independents, Lytle argues that the future of American po...

In this episode of The Independent, Paul Johnson is joined by Bob Robb and Henry Thompson to break down the political, constitutional, and economic fallout from the SCOTUS ruling on Trump’s tariffs. Is this a major victory for checks and balances? Or does it expose deeper instability in American governance? Topic Discussed in this Video: - The Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s tariffs - The constitu...

In this episode of The Independent, Paul Johnson is joined by economist Elliott Pollack and columnist Bob Robb for a conversation about where the U.S. economy is headed — and what could derail it. The panel breaks down Trump’s Federal Reserve appointment, the importance of Fed independence, and whether interest rate cuts are coming sooner than expected. They explore why the stock market may be ove...

In this episode of Independent, Paul Johnson is joined by Bob Robb and Henry Thompson to react to the announcement speech of Hugh Lytle, the independent candidate for Governor of Arizona, a historic moment in a state that has never elected an independent governor. As voter frustration with polarization and partisan gridlock continues to grow, the panel examines whether an independent governor coul...

What will the United States look like in 2026? In this episode of Independent, Paul Johnson and a panel of economists and political analysts break down the four biggest forces shaping America’s future: the economy, housing affordability, immigration enforcement, and geopolitics. First, the panel makes economic predictions for 2026, debating whether the U.S. can sustain growth amid uncertainty surr...

America is facing a growing crisis — and it’s hitting young people the hardest. In this episode of Independent, Paul Johnson, Henry Thompson, and Bob Robb dive into the real economic anxiety shaping politics today, from AI-driven job disruption and rising costs of living to declining faith in education, homeownership, and opportunity. We explore how artificial intelligence is changing the job mark...