The Right Idea

TPPF's Derek Cohen and Kate Bierly break down the biggest challenges and solutions in Texas K-12 education. They cover everything from pushing back against the "college for all" myth with strong Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, to fixing teacher certification barriers for trades, addressing rural workforce needs, combating gender ideology in teacher training, and tackling screen time...

In this episode of The Right Idea, Derek Cohen sits down with Carson Clayton, TPPF Life Powered Campaign Director, to break down the controversial 765 KV transmission lines (Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan / STEP). Texas lawmakers and activists are sounding the alarm over a $33 billion plan to build massive ultra-high voltage transmission lines across the state — cutting through pristine Hil...

Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne joins The Right Idea to discuss some of the biggest issues shaping Texas and America: border security, immigration enforcement, H1B visa fraud, AI-driven energy demand, data centers, and the rise of the creator economy. Hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen also break down the latest Senate race developments, GOP turnout questions, and why Texas continues to lead the na...

Texas is taking a bold stand against excessive regulations. In this episode of The Right Idea, Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen sit down with Jerome Greener, Director of the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office (TREO), to discuss the state’s aggressive new push to cut red tape and boost economic freedom. The team breaks down TREO’s first major findings — nearly $120 million in potential savings from j...

TPPF's Derek Cohen talks with Chance Weldon, Director of Litigation at the Center for American Future, to break down a new lawsuit challenging the federal machine gun ban. Second Amendment aside, does Congress even have the constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause to ban machine gun possession? Find out how a win could reshape federal regulation far beyond firearms. 1:09 – Overview of th...

In this episode of The Right Idea, Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen sit down with Sarah Steeby, Executive Director of the Napolitan Institute, to unpack the massive Democratic primary turnout surge in Texas, the hype around Rep. James Talarico's U.S. Senate bid, Republican challenges uniting the base, and whether Texas is really "turning blue" in 2026. Sarah shares unbiased polling insights on the e...

Just in time for National Marriage Week and Valentine's Day, TPPF's Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen dive into the evolving landscape of marriage and family in America. Family policy experts Hannah Bruck and Noah Torres join to discuss declining marriage rates, fertility trends, cultural shifts like dating apps and "hetero fatalism," and pro-family policies to encourage family formation. This episod...

In this special emergency edition of The Right Idea, TPPF's Brian Phillips, Robert Henneke, and Mandy Drogin react to the recent wave of student walkouts protesting immigration enforcement. Hundreds of students — including middle schoolers — left campuses during school hours, with some districts allegedly facilitating or failing to stop the disruptions. Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Education Ag...

TPPF Chief Communications Officer Brian Phillips and Chief Policy & Research Officer Derek Cohen sit down with veteran college sports expert Michael Calabrese (New York Post, Action Network) to unpack the unprecedented mess in college athletics in 2026. NIL deals are unraveling, schools are suing players to enforce multi-year contracts (see the explosive Darian Mensah-Duke-Miami saga), the Hou...

In this Season 4 premiere of The Right Idea podcast, TPPF Chief Communications Officer Brian Phillips and Chief Policy & Research Officer Derek Cohen dive deep into one of the biggest government fraud stories in America: Minnesota's massive daycare and nutrition program scandals. Guest John Hart , CEO of Open the Books, joins the show to break down: – How systemic loopholes and weak oversight...

In this year-end special, hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen sit down with Brad Johnson, Senior Reporter & Managing Editor at The Texan News, to recap the biggest political stories of 2025 and what they mean heading into the 2026 cycle. From the unexpected twists in the Texas Senate race, to the fallout of mid-decade redistricting, to the biggest legislative wins and disappointments, this ep...

Why is buying a home harder than ever in 2025 — even worse than 2007? Sean Dobson, Chairman & CEO of Amherst (one of America’s largest real estate investment firms), joins The Right Idea to break down the real drivers of the housing affordability crisis and what can actually fix it. We dive deep into labor costs, local regulations, property taxes, garages nobody uses, the future of renting vs....

In this episode of The Right Idea, TPPF's Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen break down how political activism has seeped into Texas healthcare — influencing diagnoses, treatments, and public policy. They’re joined by Dr. Lisa Ehrlich, internal medicine physician and former TMA trustee, and Joseph Figliolia, Manhattan Institute policy analyst and author of a major report on the TMA’s drift into ideolo...

Texas homeowners are furious—83% say property taxes are a major burden! In this deep-dive episode of The Right Idea, host Brian Phillips and TPPF experts James Quintero and Jose Melendez break down why property taxes exploded after 2014, how local governments game appraisals & bonds, and Governor Greg Abbott’s aggressive new plan to finally crush the burden. From $91 billion in bond elections...

In the 100th episode extravaganza, hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen talk to leading conservative voices at the 2025 TFRW Conference in San Antonio.   6:51 Dawn Buckingham, Texas Land Commissioner  17:40 Deborah Wall, Camino Real Republican Women President  49:47 Jim Wright, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman  1:05:02 Mary Elise Cosgray, Statewide Politics Reporter for The Texan  1:34:04 Grant...

Is more school funding really the key to better student outcomes—or does how we spend matter more than how much ? In this episode of The Right Idea , host Brian Phillips and TPPF’s Andrew Brown sit down with Dr. Eric “Rick” Hanushek , Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution , to explore one of education’s toughest questions: Do dollars drive results—or does design and discipline...

Hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen dive into the critical issue of indoctrination in K-12 education with special guest Ken Pope, CEO of the Coalition for Empowered Education and Senior Fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. They discuss how Colleges of Education are shaping teachers with ideological agendas, the impact on classrooms, and solutions to restore critical thinking an...

TPPF's Derek Cohen and Jose Melendez catch up on the latest from the 89th Legislative Session and subsequent special sessions with Rep. Cole Hefner. They dive into the quorum break that put Texas in the national political spotlight before discussing policy issues like property tax reform, taxpayer-funded lobbying, housing affordability, and safeguarding Texas from foreign adversaries. 00:53 – Hot...

Hosts Derek Cohen and Andrew Brown talk with Texas State Representative Stan Gerdes (HD-17) about a variety of policy issues addressed in the 89th Legislature. Tune in for the latest on water policy challenges, the future of nuclear energy, local government transparency, and the new smart device ban in schools. Plus, Rep. Gerdes dishes on representing both the Barbecue Capital of the World (Lockha...

Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen unpack the heated Texas special session, covering the ongoing redistricting battle, the Texas Women's Privacy Act (SB 7), and critical flood response efforts in the Hill Country. From quorum breaks to property tax reforms and the push to replace the STAAR test, we explore the policies and politics shaping Texas. 1:37 - Hot Take: Presidential Privileges & Trump’s...

In this episode of The Right Idea , co-hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen sit down with Jill Tate, Vice President of Legislation for the Texas Federation of Republican Women and a powerhouse conservative activist. Jill shares her journey from a young Reagan supporter to a key player in Texas politics, diving into critical issues like school choice, property taxes, energy policy, and the fight ag...

In this episode of The Right Idea, hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen are joined by EJ Antoni, Chief Economist at the Heritage Foundation. They analyze the Trump economy six months into his presidency—covering job growth, tariffs, and housing challenges. Plus, the devastating Texas floods, the upcoming special legislative session, and the potential impact of AI on jobs. 0:27 - Update on Texas' F...

In this explosive episode of The Right Idea, hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen are joined by Chuck DeVore to dive into the biggest issues shaping Texas and beyond. From President Trump’s bold strike on Iran’s nuclear program to the unexpected Texas special session, we unpack the politics, policy, and people driving the headlines. Plus, we explore Texas’ unmatched job growth and what it means fo...

In this explosive episode of The Right Idea, hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen sit down with Latin America expert Joshua Treviño to unpack the shocking Los Angeles riots, the role of Mexican cartels, and the escalating border security crisis. From ICE raids targeting cartel fronts to Mexican flags waving in U.S. streets, we dive into the hidden connections between the Mexican government, cartel...

Join Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen on The Right Idea as they dive into the 89th Texas Legislative Session with Brad Johnson, senior reporter at The Texan. From the unexpected "Kumbaya" harmony among Texas leaders to major conservative victories like bail reform, water funding, and education transparency, this episode breaks down the session’s biggest wins, under-the-radar bills, and what’s next f...