Main Street Matters

Is California wasting billions of taxpayer dollars? In this episode of Main Street Matters , Elaine Parker sits down with California State Controller candidate Herb Morgan to discuss his bold plan to bring "radical transparency" to government spending. Morgan, a longtime investment executive and entrepreneur, explains why he believes California taxpayers deserve full visibility into how their mone...

Florida is considering one of the most ambitious tax reform proposals in the country—and it could dramatically reduce or even eliminate property taxes for millions of homeowners. On this episode of Main Street Matters , Elaine Parker of Job Creators Network is joined by acclaimed journalist, former CNBC and Fox Business anchor, and author Dennis Kneale to break down Governor Ron DeSantis&rsq...

Is higher education facing a credibility crisis? In this episode of  Main Street Matters , Elaine Parker sits down with Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riano, President of Cornerstone University, to discuss Harvard's controversial decision to cap A grades, the growing problem of grade inflation, declining public trust in colleges, and how artificial intelligence is transforming education. Dr. Moreno-Riano...

Can a lifelong small business owner defeat one of Washington's most powerful incumbents? On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with South Carolina Senate candidate Mark Lynch to discuss his challenge against longtime Senator Lindsey Graham. Lynch shares how he helped grow his family's business from a small local appliance store into a major regional employer and explains...

Is New York becoming the center of America’s next major economic battle? Elaine Parker sits down with Nicole Huyer of the Heritage Foundation to break down the growing debate over taxes, government-run grocery stores, affordability, business regulation, and the broader impact of economic policies spreading beyond New York City. The conversation explores whether policies like rent control, hi...

Why is homeownership becoming increasingly out of reach for young Americans? In this episode of Main Street Matters , Elaine Parker sits down with Heritage Foundation economist John Gibbs to discuss the housing affordability crisis, rising home prices, government-backed mortgages, investor-owned properties, and the policies shaping today's housing market. Gibbs explains how government intervention...

How do decisions made in Washington impact Main Street America? Elaine Parker sits down with Caroline Melear of the R Street Institute to break down the economic forces shaping the future of small businesses. From banking regulations and lending access to inflation, interest rates, tariffs, and global conflicts, they connect policy decisions to everyday economic realities. They also discuss the la...

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Breitbart economics editor John Carney for a deep dive into America’s inflation crisis, rising gas prices, mortgage rates, AI job disruption, and the Federal Reserve’s next move. Carney explains why inflation is spreading beyond energy prices, how “demand destruction” could hit American families this summe...

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker speaks with Florida-based Caribou Coffee and Subway franchise owner Bill Mathis about how tax reform, no tax on tips, and overtime policy changes are impacting workers, hiring, and small business growth. Bill shares his firsthand experience operating businesses in both Florida and Minnesota, revealing the dramatic differences in taxes, regulati...

On this episode of Main Street Matters , Elaine Parker sits down with Daniel Kowalski, Director of the Herman Center for the Federal Budget at The Heritage Foundation, to break down the high-stakes budget reconciliation fight unfolding in Washington. They explain how Republicans are using reconciliation to advance homeland security funding, spending reforms, tax relief, and efforts to eliminate wa...

Country artist turned entrepreneur Andy Ross joins Main Street Matters to share his journey from bow hunting and television to building American Rebel , one of the fastest-growing patriotic lifestyle brands in America. Elaine Parker sits down with Ross to explore how a passion for music and freedom evolved into a multi-industry business spanning gun safes, apparel, and American-made beer. From lau...

On this episode of Main Street Matters , Elaine Parker sits down with former Congressman and businessman Chris Collins to discuss Florida’s major redistricting shake-up and what it could mean for the 2026 midterms, Republican control of the House, and President Donald Trump’s economic agenda. Collins breaks down the impact of new congressional maps, the fight to keep pro-growth policie...

On this episode of Main Street Matters , Elaine Parker sits down with businessman and Florida congressional candidate Jim Oberweis to discuss why he’s stepping back into politics and what’s at stake for Southwest Florida and the nation. Oberweis shares how his decades of experience building businesses and managing billions in assets shaped his views on the economy, the national debt, i...

On this episode of Main Street Matters , Elaine Parker sits down with Patrick Hedger, Director of Policy at NetChoice, to tackle one of the most urgent questions facing the American economy: Will artificial intelligence destroy jobs—or create new opportunities? From rising fears about layoffs to the explosion of AI-driven innovation, this conversation breaks down what’s really happenin...

On this episode of Main Street Matters , Elaine Parker sits down with Todd Ricketts to discuss his latest venture, FreeSpoke—a new search engine designed to challenge Big Tech by prioritizing transparency, privacy, and unbiased information. Ricketts explains how FreeSpoke differs from platforms like Google and ChatGPT, breaking down concerns about algorithmic bias, AI-driven search results,...

On this episode of Main Street Matters , host Elaine Parker sits down with Michigan gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson to break down his bold plan to reshape the state’s economy. Johnson outlines his proposal to eliminate Michigan’s state income tax—potentially saving the average family $4,747 per year —while tackling government waste through a sweeping efficiency audit....

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with financial expert and author Tracy Byrnes to break down the biggest tax strategies every small business owner needs to know right now. From debunking common IRS fears to uncovering overlooked deductions, Tracy shares practical advice to help entrepreneurs legally minimize their tax burden and maximize growth. They dive into key pr...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Dr. Lee Gross, president of Docs for Patient Care Foundation, to break down how America’s healthcare system became bloated, expensive, and inefficient—and what can actually fix it. Dr. Gross shares how direct primary care (DPC) is transforming healthcare by eliminating insurance middlemen, lowering costs, and restorin...

Education is one of the top concerns for American families—and a new federal policy could dramatically reshape access to opportunity. On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Chip Rogers to break down the growing momentum behind the Education Freedom Tax Credit and why it’s sparking major debate across the country. They dive into Georgia’s recent expan...

What is education freedom—and why is it becoming one of the most important policy movements in America today? On this episode of Main Street Matters, Jordan Bruneau sits down with Jonathan Williams to break down the rapid expansion of school choice across the country and what it means for families, students, and small businesses. They discuss how policies like education savings accounts (ESA...

Artificial intelligence isn’t just a tool—it’s power. And the race to control it could reshape everything from small businesses to global security. On this episode of Main Street Matters, Jordan Bruneau sits down with Wynton Hall, author of Code Red: The Left, The Right, China and the Race to Control AI , to break down the high-stakes battle between the U.S. and China—and w...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Chuck Barnum, Chief Marketing Officer of Freedom Chamber, to discuss how the organization is empowering America’s small businesses through advocacy, networking, and innovative healthcare solutions. Chuck explains the launch of the Freedom Chamber, including its new Health Guardianship Plan designed to give entrepreneurs and...

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker breaks down the latest developments in the ongoing government shutdown and the real-world impact on American workers. With TSA agents missing paychecks and airport delays worsening during peak travel season, the political battle in Washington is reaching a breaking point. Elaine is joined by Karen Harned to unpack the standoff between Democrats...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and the Heritage Foundation's Rachel Greszler discuss the pressing issues surrounding vocational education and the workforce crisis in the U.S. They explore the demographic and fiscal challenges, the importance of apprenticeships, the impact of regulations, and the need for policy changes to attract industry experts into teaching roles. The con...

Are America’s public schools failing students—or working exactly as designed? In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Robert Bortins, CEO of Classical Conversations and co-author of Woke and Weaponized , to explore the growing debate over public education, homeschooling, and school choice in America. They discuss the rapid rise of homeschooling—from j...