Next Round

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 Ta...

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...

This week, Tim talks with Ambassador Francis Rooney, who was the U.S. Representative to the Holy See during the George W. Bush administration and who later served as a Member of Congress.  They talk about talk about how American Catholics will remember Pope Francis, what to expect from the conclave electing the next pope (including discussion of some of the leading candidates), and the path the ne...

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 t...

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 t...

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,...

This week, we present a special panel discussion from PRI's recent California Ideas in Action policy conference in Sacramento discussing whether there is a war on suburbia in California. Free Cities Center director Steven Greenhut moderates a lively discussion of policy experts exploring the themes of the latest Free Cities Center booklet.

This week, we're joined by former Congressman, state legislator, state Director of Finance and constitutional law scholar Tom Campbell – rated as the top government waste fighter during his tenure in the House.  We discuss the President's tariff proposals and the DOGE effort, whether Elon Musk's team is following the proper legal path to downsize government, what Congress' priorities should be in...

Parents, students, and taxpayers are growing increasingly frustrated by the inability of California's schools to educate our kids for the future, and they are even more frustrated to learn why our schools are doing so badly – outdated and ineffective learning models.  From PRI's 2025 Sacramento policy conference, hear a special presentation of a conversation between Lance Izumi, senior director of...

This week, we present a special discussion from a recent PRI webinar featuring PRI's scholars and other policy experts exploring how bad policy influence the recent Southern California wildfires on issues ranging from planning to insurance, sharing the lessons learned from the Maui wildfires that every Southern Californian should know as the rebuilding process begins, and discussing what should be...

This week is our special All-Star Panel of former speechwriters reviewing Pres. Donald Trump's speech to Congress.  Lance Izumi, PRI's Senior Director of Education, was chief speechwriter to Gov. George Deukmejian and Attorney General Ed Meese; Tim Anaya, PRI's Vice President of Marketing & Communications, was speechwriter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other leaders in the California legis...

This week, we present a special presentation of our recent webinar with Sally Pipes, PRI President, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy, discussing her new book, The World's Medicine Chest: How America Achieved Pharmaceutical Supremacy – and How to Keep It (Encounter Books). The book explores how America became the world's leader in biopharmaceutical innovation through market cap...

From PRI's 2025 California Ideas in Action Conference, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper sits down with PRI senior fellow Steve Smith to discuss what's next in the push for stronger criminal justice policy reforms following the landslide victory of Prop. 36 combating retail theft.  Plus, Ro and Tim discuss the Elon Musk questionnaire sent to federal employees, Mayor Karen Bass firing the fire c...

This week, we feature a special episode for Presidents' Day – a recording from a recent PRI luncheon in Newport Beach featuring Christopher Cox.  You may remember him as a former congressman and Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, but did you know that he is also an author and presidential historian?  In this week's episode, you'll hear him discussing his new book, Woodrow Wilson:  The Li...

This week, Joe Kent of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii joins us to share lessons learned from the Aloha State's experience in rebuilding after the devastating Maui wildfires from a few years ago.  It's a conversation everyone who has been affected by the wildfires should listen to, especially as leaders from Gavin Newsom on down are exploring ways to "reimagine" the Palisades after the fires.  P...

PRI Senior Fellow in Business and Economics Dr. Wayne Winegarden joins us for a special episode with his real time analysis of the proposed (and delayed by one month) Trump tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.  He previews his upcoming issue brief making the case that tariffs are not a sound US economic strategy for growth and prosperity, and discusses the impact that the level of tariffs Preside...

This week, as PRI releases its new documentary "Colorado Springs: Letting Freedom Lead the Way," we present an extended cut of our interview with Mayor Yemi Mobolade and Councilman Brian Risley.  They discuss how Colorado Springs has been so successful in lowering the cost of living and improving the quality of life for its residents through free market policies.  Plus, Tim and Matt Fleming discus...

This week, Free Cities Center director Steven Greenhut joins us to discuss how California's ongoing insurance crisis could be a double whammy for Southern California wildfire victims looking to rebuild.  He gives the history of the state's festering insurance crisis, analyzes Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's reform plan announced just before Christmas, and discusses how much the crisis and th...

This week, we present an in-depth look at Gov. Newsom's 2025-25 state budget plan.  PRI scholars Wayne Winegarden, Lance Izumi, Steve Smith, and Kerry Jackson join Ro and Tim to explore the budget's impact on taxes and the economy, education, crime, and transportation.  They also explore how the Southern California wildfires will impact Gov. Newsom's budget balancing efforts.

Our podcast this week is a recording of a Festschrift celebration with Charles Kesler, editor of the Claremont Review of Books and professor of government at Claremont McKenna College. A group of his former students came together to publish essays in his honor in the book Leisure with Dignity, edited by Glenn Ellmers and Michael Anton. PRI invited essayists in Leisure with Dignity to offer their r...

The PRI All Stars are back to hand out their annual year end awards to the biggest winners and losers of 2024.  What were the year's best and worst ideas?  What were the fairest and bummest wraps of the year?  Who is destined for stardom and oblivion?  Sit back and enjoy the honorees selected by the PRI All Stars, handed out in the style of the annual McLaughlin Group year-end awards.

Adam Abolfazli, Sacramento-area public high school student and author of the new book Permission to Fail , shares with us his firsthand view from the classroom on how recent changes in public education such as increased parent and student apathy toward the learning process and a lack of academic rigor, have been detrimental to student learning and negatively impact America's future.  Plus, Tim and...

Manhattan Institute fellow and director of policing and public safety Hannah Meyers joins us this week to discuss what's next for public safety policy in California after voter approval of Prop. 36 on retail theft.  She also discusses her new paper on the impact of Prop. 47 on crime and drug abuse, "Not Taking Crime Seriously."

This week, Tevi Troy – acclaimed presidential historian, former White House aide and Deputy Secretary of Health, joins us to discuss his terrific new book, The Power and the Money:  The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry.   Plus Rowena and Tim discuss the latest Trump cabinet nominations, Gov. Newsom's plan to hand out even more electric vehicle subsidies, and preview...