The Right Idea

TPPF CEO Greg Sindelar chats with Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen about the 2024 presidential election, the downstream effects the presidency will have on Texas, and the upstream effects that Texas’ local results will have on the nation. 2:30 Hot Take: What is the best trilogy ever? (Matrix, Star Wars, LOTR, or… Trump?) 8:11 2024 Presidential Election Analysis 34:58 The Election’s impact on Texas 3...

TPPF’s Taxpayer Protection Project Policy Director, James Quintero, talks government transparency with Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen. They discuss the challenges citizens face requesting information from bureaucrats and policy solutions to better inform the public about how their tax dollars are being used. 0:33 Hot Take: What is Trump’s fantasy football value & can he be flexed? 9:49 Our cur...

In this “In Depth” episode of The Right Idea, Brian is joined by special guests Dr. Richard Johnson and State Representative Shawn Thierry to discuss the Representative’s battles to stand up for what is right and true at the peril of her own career. 2:26 Rep. Thierry’s experiences during the 2023 Pediatric Gender Modification debate 13:05 Were there substantive discussions regarding the Pediatric...

Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen are joined by sociology professor Brad Wilcox to discuss his recent findings on rebuilding society by forging strong families. Brad's new book, Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization, is available now. 0:48 Hot Take - How old is too old for ACL and other outdoor festivals? 3:15 Brad Wilcox - Author of Get Married...

In this “In Depth” episode of The Right Idea, Brian is joined by special guest Dr. Marvin McNeese to discuss his role, responsibilities and perspectives on the Open Education Resources (OER) Curricula and Assessments - especially when it comes to introducing Biblical histories and lessons to Texan students. 4:40 Dr. McNeese’s role and expectations in Texas’ Open Education Resources (OER) Curricula...

In a very special episode of The Right Idea, Derek is joined by Texas Senator Phil King to discuss several of the hottest issues facing Texans today… including whether or not this is the year for the Dallas Cowboys! 3:18 Hot Take: Will 2024 finally be the Cowboys’ year? 4:55 The Grid 19:30 Border Security 27:25 Anti-ESG/BDS legislation 34:20 Preview of the 89th Texas Legislature 40:05 Survey Says!...

Derek is joined by guest host Andrew Brown to discuss their adventures at the recent State Policy Network Annual Meeting, including learning what states are doing in regard to child welfare.   1:09 Fantasy Football Auto-Drafts… AI for dudes who don’t know ball? 4:09 SPN’s Annual Meeting: Child Welfare Panel Discussion 11:30 Interesting things happening in other states 17:44 2024 Democratic Nationa...

Brian has the pleasure of sitting down with Public Education Committee Chairman Brad Buckley, Representative of Texas District 54,  to discuss what is being done throughout the state to make sure that today’s young Texans are receiving the education they deserve.

Brian and Derek are joined by this week’s guest, Chris Bedford - Senior Editor for Politics and Washington Correspondent for Blaze Media - to discuss the unprecedented times we have been living through in these past two weeks alone!

Brian has the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Tom Lindsay to discuss how today's K-12 students are being educated and what options are available to parents and teachers across the state.

Brian Phillips and this week’s special guest host, Ariana Guajardo, “zoom in” with Shelley Luther - business owner, activist and candidate to represent Texas’ House District 62 - to discuss today’s hot topics. 1:25 Hot Take: Trump vs. Biden on the links! 4:35 The worst two weeks in Presidential Campaign history 8:45 The shift in the media’s treatment of President Biden 12:28 What are “women’s issu...

Brian and Derek sit down with several key legislators, influencers, journalists and others “fighting the good fight” at the 2024 Texas State Republican Convention in San Antonio. 22:18 Senator Mayes Middleton 40:11 Tyler Norris 1:02:35 Senator Kevin Sparks 1:18:47 Representative James Frank 1:37:42 Brad Johnson 2:00:02 Hannah Beth Jones

Brian Phillips and Andrew Brown are joined by Texas House District 68 Representative David Spiller to discuss a variety of topics ranging from national presidential politics to local schools and our southern border. 0:54 Hot Takes: Caitlin-Gate - Dirty play or “Welcome to the league, Rook!”? 4:28 Political fallout after the Trump verdict 12:06 A house divided? 50% agree with Trump decision, 49% di...

Brian and Derek sit down with Texas-based political consultant Tyler Norris and TPPF’s Distinguished Senior Fellow Sherry Sylvester to discuss the aftermath of the May 2024 Texas runoff election results. 0:50 Hot Takes: The Trial of the Century! 4:25 Initial reactions to May 2024 Runoff Election Results 4:44 Big Winner: School Choice 8:14 The New Politics: Are we more conservative or is it just a...

Episode 50! Brian and Derek sit down with Jonathan Pidluzny, the Director of the Higher Education Reform Initiative at America First Policy Institute, to discuss the current status and influence of DEI on our college and university campuses and much more. 0:34 Hot Takes: Will the Cowboys and/or Texans eclipse 10 wins in 2024? 8:26 Special guest: Jonathan Pidluzny of the America First Policy Instit...

Brian and Derek sit down with Better Tech for Tomorrow’s David Dunmoyer and the Honorable Zach Whiting to discuss the pros, cons, and oversight efforts surrounding A.I., digital safety for Texas families and much more. 0:20 Hot Takes: Will Biden debate Trump in person? 5:45 Conservative Approach to Tech Policy 10:55 AI: good, bad, or ugly? 35:15 The Government’s role in overseeing Technology 45:00...

In this special episode of The Right Idea, Brian and Derek sit down with UT Senior and Editor-in-Chief of The Texas Horn, Gerrit Blizzard, to discuss the recent upheaval at the University of Texas.

Brian and Derek have the pleasure of sitting down with TPPF’s Director of Litigation, Chance Weldon, to discuss Olympic break dancing, squatter's rights (or the lack thereof), overpaid superintendents, and much more. 0:55 Olympic Breakin’: Electric Boogaloo 4:05 Squatting in America 19:25 Governor Abbott’s warning to squatters 30:30 Survey Says! 75% think the cost of living is rising, 7% can’t do...

Brian and Derek have the pleasure of sitting down with author, podcast host and founder of the Bahnsen Group, David Bahnsen, to discuss millennials’ attitudes towards work and retirement, the myth of “work/life balance,” the truth behind ESG investing, and much more. 0:23 Hot Take: Willie Nelson taking his Fourth of July Picnic to Jersey? 3:14 Overview of David’s new book: “Full Time: Work and the...

Brian and Derek have the pleasure of sitting down with Jacob Howland, the Provost and Dean of Intellectual Foundations at University of Austin, to discuss the need for an entirely new type of university in response to young Americans turning away from higher education… and for good reasons. 3:55 Jacob Howland’s victory lap for UATX 6:40 The Left’s argument against higher learning like University o...

Brian and Derek have the pleasure of sitting down with the CEO and Founder of OpenTheBooks.com , Adam Andrzejewski, who works to promote transparency in public policy and politics by removing the veil of secrecy that covers up national and local spending. 2:10 What is OpenTheBooks.com? 3:45 How “Free and transparent” are Freedom of Information Act requests? 6:20 Texas’ reforms regarding government...

Brian and Derek have the pleasure of sitting down with TPPF’s Distinguished Senior Fellow Sherry Sylvester to discuss the results of the 2024 Primary Election, from a national, statewide and local perspective. 2:26 Derek’s take on the major headlines coming out of Tuesday’s results - Parents Win! 3:19 Sherry’s take on the big winners and losers - Don’t mess with Governor Abbott 6:04 How School Cho...

TPPF Vice President of Research Derek Cohen interviews National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin about the philosophy of conservatism, the current state of politics and policy, and Major League Baseball.

In this week’s episode of The Right Idea, Brian and Derek discuss The Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, and the global “sport” of polling and politics!

Brian Phillips is joined by TPPF's Vice President of Policy, Andrew Brown, and Director of Litigation, Chance Weldon, to discuss Texas Senate Bill 14, which prohibits gender modification procedures for children in the state.