The States

The Center Square
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The States Powered by The Center Square is a show that highlights the work of The Center Square reporters from statehouses across the country to Washington D.C. all with an eye towards the impacts of today's news on the taxpayer.

  1. 4h ago

    Taxpayer Philanthropy: Tax cash to nonprofits more than doubled since 2016 | Weekend Edition

    On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, In the past decade, government grants to nonprofits and the number that receive tax money has doubled, raising questions about whether public money is being wasted. Illinois state officials awarded more than $170,000 in taxpayer money to a nonprofit that paid for PTSD injections that don't have strong evidence backing them up. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that could determine the future of legal actions over energy companies' contributions to climate change. And a look at the cost of government borrowing and how it reaches taxpayers as higher taxes, higher interest rates, or higher inflation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. 19h ago

    Georgia Governor May Suspend City School Board After 20 Years of Financial Problems | The States

    Hillsdale professor Richard Samuelson discussed the distinction between inalienable rights and government-granted privileges, tracing the Bill of Rights' 1791 ratification and how it secured broader public support for the Constitution. Samuelson said modern technology and past emergencies have repeatedly tested constitutional protections, and warned that civil rights-era government oversight of associations could be a future pressure point on free speech and privacy. Also, in this episode: 22 states, led in part by Illinois AG Kwame Raoul and New York AG Letitia James, sued the Trump administration and Department of Transportation over a demand for the full Commercial Driver's License Information System database covering roughly 17 million drivers, arguing the request exceeds federal authority and threatens driver privacy. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the data is needed for highway safety enforcement and accused the states of "siding with illegal truck drivers."   California has already had roughly $160 million in federal highway funds withheld and 13,000 driver's licenses ordered canceled in a related compliance dispute. The Georgia State Board of Education voted unanimously to recommend Governor Brian Kemp suspend the Dublin City School Board after a 12-hour hearing revealed the district failed to remit teacher health insurance and pension payments to the state and reported conflicting multimillion-dollar budget deficit figures. The district blamed a former finance director now under investigation; Kemp has final authority on suspension and could appoint a new board. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city has increased hate-crime prevention funding by more than 800% and expanded its antisemitism-response office to its largest size. Mamdani also defended the city's proposed 4% tax on second homes over $5 million after President Trump publicly opposed it and threatened to explore federal intervention, with a court hearing on the tax's injunction scheduled for next week. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called on Democrats to unify around "team fight" following recent primary results without endorsing socialist candidates by name.   California Republican lawmakers proposed constitutional amendments to make election offices nonpartisan but it won't make it on the ballot this year. A bipartisan Georgia election-integrity task force launched regional roundtables. HHS announced it will end Medicaid/CHIP coverage for gender-transition procedures for minors. Plus, America's Talking: California: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_dead7106-89e7-4096-ba8f-792bb932e852.html Georgia: https://www.thecentersquare.com/georgia/article_d29b0a30-4e5d-4752-ad2d-2d871f5c4cf4.html Health care: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_acf6a9f1-2545-4af9-af21-cdc4ec07abcf.html The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  3. 1d ago

    Is Publishing 3D Printer Firearm Files Protected Speech? SCOTUS May Decide | The States

    Facing scrutiny over surveillance concerns and security breaches, Flock announced it's cutting license plate data retention from 30 to 7 days, adding an "evidence mode" for active investigations, letting cities restrict which offense categories other agencies can search, and requiring all customers to adopt upgraded audit-log tools by year's end. CEO Garrett Langley said Flock also added automatic account lockouts for abnormal user activity and hired security firm Bishop Fox for an independent review, with findings expected to be published later this year.   Second Amendment Foundation's Bill Sack said the DOJ let a stay expire without appealing a ruling that struck down NFA registration and fingerprinting requirements for short-barreled rifles, shotguns, and suppressors, creating inconsistent rules between plaintiffs covered by the injunction and other Americans while the DOJ continues defending the same law in separate cases. Sack also discussed a new DOJ memo broadening lawful firearm carry in post offices open to the public, and a pending Supreme Court petition in Defense Distributed v. New Jersey Attorney General over whether 3D-printed gun file schematics are protected speech under the First Amendment.   Also, in this episode: Governor Kathy Hochul announced $7.25 million in state funding for legal representation for roughly 1,400 unaccompanied migrant children, following the Trump administration's cancellation of a federal legal-aid contract, while also opposing local police involvement in civil immigration enforcement. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city has spent $153 million on immigrant legal representation, as Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ remains committed to enforcing federal immigration law. Kapitus COO Ben Johnston said gasoline prices rose 24.6% over the past year, the leading driver behind July's 3.4% annual CPI increase (down slightly from June's 3.5%), while shelter rose 3.2% and used cars/trucks fell 1.9%. Johnston said the Federal Reserve's 2% inflation target remains a full percentage point-plus away, keeping pressure on rate policy, and advised small businesses to watch cash flow and diversify financing amid tariff and gas-price volatility. Economist Orphe Divounguy said net interest payments rose roughly $78 billion over the past year — nearly half of the federal government's total spending increase and now the second-largest budget line after Social Security and Medicare — while education spending's budget share shrinks. Divounguy said the debt burden ultimately reaches households through higher taxes, higher interest rates, or higher inflation, and that only faster economic growth or spending cuts can reverse the trend. The Anti-Defamation League launched a campus antisemitism-tracking and reporting initiative.   Washington State primary results are still being finalized ahead of the November 3 general election. Ohio voters will decide a November constitutional amendment (Issue 3) enshrining the state's existing voter ID law.   The Illinois State Fair, backed by $190 million in taxpayer infrastructure investment, is projected to generate about $100 million in economic impact.   Plus, America's Talking: Higher Education: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_d641f124-ee4d-4f21-9aa0-9b9a90288f88.html Washington: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_bb5d2930-0dc9-4101-aaf3-4e567daff6c9.html Ohio: https://www.thecentersquare.com/ohio/article_fb704b84-a367-434d-9665-34eb465bd6a8.html Illinois: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_5c826519-4401-4b3a-9c8e-3062a52233e3.html   The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. 2d ago

    Flock Safety Rep Caught Off Guard by Lawmakers Over Hacking Claims | The States

    Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley won Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial nomination despite having dropped out of the race, defeating Rep. Francesca Hong and setting up a November matchup against Republican Tom Tiffany, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar won Minnesota's Democratic nomination to face House Speaker Lisa DeMuth. In Connecticut, former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin defeated 78-year-old, 14-term Rep. John Larson, while Vermont's progressive challengers largely lost to moderate incumbents. West Virginia state Delegate Tristan Leavitt said Flock Safety's government relations head, Kevin Kane, testified the company's cameras had never been hacked despite past incidents including unauthorized access to 60 cameras in Bakersfield, California, and misleading testimony in Connecticut about sharing data with federal law enforcement. Leavitt said lawmakers are weighing what safeguards and warrant requirements should govern license plate reader data, noting the technology has both aided criminal investigations and raised civil liberties concerns nationwide. Also, in this episode: A state judge temporarily blocked New York City's rollout of its 4% surcharge on second homes worth over $5 million, ordering the city to remove a public list of 900,000-plus flagged properties, but Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration won an appeal keeping the tax fight alive ahead of August 31 oral arguments. The tax, projected to raise over $500 million annually, has an appeal deadline of September 18 for the roughly 17,000 flagged property owners, with a further appeal option through March 2027. A Center Square investigation found Illinois gave the nonprofit Erase PTSD Now roughly $770,000 in Veterans Cash Grant Program funds for a neck-injection PTSD treatment developed by Dr. Eugene Lipov, despite clinical trials showing no more effect than a placebo and grant applications overstating remission claims. The investigation found nearly all of the nonprofit's grant money went to Lipov's own clinic, and its executive director, Colleen LaCosta, draws roughly $100,000 salaries from two separate nonprofits while neither she nor a board member who received the shot has been diagnosed with PTSD. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday sued TikTok, alleging its 13+ age rating and "restricted mode" fail to shield minors from inappropriate content and that the platform is intentionally designed to be addictive. The Ninth Circuit rejected Meta's bid to dismiss thousands of federal addiction lawsuits, following a $942 million New Mexico jury verdict and a $6 million Los Angeles County verdict against social media companies, while Illinois' 2028 youth social media restriction law faces industry opposition from NetChoice. Seattle City Council members criticized Mayor Katie Wilson over a five-hour delay in addressing the Bite of Seattle Festival shooting that killed three. Allegheny County, Pennsylvania landlord Ed Benz says a 36% property tax hike is cutting into his rental profits. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $32 million in federal security grants for 157 nonprofits at risk of hate crimes or terror attacks.   21 Democratic state attorneys general sued the Trump administration over proposed 2027 ACA marketplace insurance changes. Plus America's Talking:   Washington: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_1f7486da-90b4-429f-83bf-6ff7e5e25dd5.html Pennsylvania:  https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_e4fd56dd-4eaa-4f20-974f-cb483dac113d.html New York: https://www.thecentersquare.com/new_york/article_69852e01-68bc-435b-b508-81388e87adfc.html Arizona: https://www.thecentersquare.com/arizona/article_ed21084f-b37d-408d-9508-47c1ec4bb53d.html The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. 3d ago

    States Range from Strict Voter ID to None, Election Attorney Weighs In | The States

    Wisconsin, Minnesota, Connecticut, Vermont, and Alabama held primaries under widely varying voter ID requirements, with attorney Stephen Kaufman arguing that federal and state voter-ID/citizenship-documentation efforts amount to voter suppression rather than integrity measures. The U.S. Senate's Save America Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration, remains stalled short of the 60 votes needed, while a related California ballot measure (Proposition 39) requiring in-person voter ID and partial ID numbers on mail ballots faces ongoing litigation over ballot language. Also, in this episode: Wisconsin governor primary: Democratic candidates State Rep. Francesca Hong (44% in the latest poll), Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (22%), and State Sen. Kelda Roys are focused on affordability, health care costs, and child care subsidies, while Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany remains the frontrunner on pledges to freeze property taxes and cut regulations. The U.S. Justice Department deployed Civil Rights Division agents to monitor polling sites in Hennepin and Ramsey counties, prompting criticism from Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, as voters choose nominees for governor (following Gov. Tim Walz's decision not to seek a third term) and several competitive congressional primaries. Trump-endorsed Mike Lindell is competing for the Republican gubernatorial nomination against House Speaker Melissa Demuth and Kendall Qualls, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar is among Democratic candidates for governor. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Suncor v. Boulder County Commissioners on October 5, addressing whether states can use local law to regulate out-of-state energy companies over climate-related conduct, with the 2022 pork-producer case National Pork Producers v. Ross seen as a key precedent; Justice Samuel Alito is confirmed to remain on the bench for the term's start. Economist Orphe Divounguy said June's owner's-equivalent-rent measure rose just 0.1% (the smallest increase since January 2021) due to a prior apartment-construction surge, but warned rent growth is now reaccelerating as builders pull back, with a persistent 4.3 million-unit gap between housing supply and demand. The Center Square's ongoing investigation found a North Carolina-funded nonprofit promotes gender-affirming care resources for minors despite a state law banning such treatments for children, and an Illinois nonprofit, Erase PTSD Now, has paid millions to businesses owned by its founder, Dr. Eugene Lipov. Taxpayers Protection Alliance President David Williams said nearly 4,000 nonprofits receive government funding covering 50% or more of executive salaries, calling for mandatory annual audits of nonprofits receiving public money.     The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. 4d ago

    Government Grants to Nonprofits Doubled From $149B to $319B in Six Years | The States

    The Liberty Justice Center filed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to review a Fourth Circuit ruling that upheld a Maryland school district's policy requiring teachers to use students' preferred pronouns without notifying parents, citing conflict with the Court's earlier ruling in Mirabelli v. Bonta. The group also sent demand letters to Washington, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey over similar state-level policies allowing students to socially transition at school without parental notification, arguing the practices violate FERPA and constitutional parental rights. Also, in this episode: President Trump signed executive orders targeting birth tourism, restricting visas for people suspected of traveling to the U.S. specifically to give birth, following the Supreme Court's June ruling that upheld birthright citizenship and struck down his earlier executive order banning it. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin criticized the action as an unconstitutional attempt to undermine birthright citizenship, while White House officials said the order targets alien enemies, foreign terrorist organization members, and foreign lobbyists rather than birthright citizenship itself. A Center Square investigation found government grants to nonprofits nearly doubled from $149 billion across 56,000 nonprofits in 2016 to $319 billion across more than 100,000 nonprofits by 2022, with 10% of a sampled 11,000 nonprofits receiving taxpayer money and at least one executive earning over $300,000 annually. The investigative team cited Illinois State Rep. Carol Ammons' federal fraud case, involving nonprofits allegedly funneling state money to pay her daughter, as an example of the accountability concerns driving the ongoing series. California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a state-funded EV rebate program ($3,500 for new, $1,750 for used vehicles) to replace lapsed federal incentives, while criticizing oil companies and defending the state's investment in EV manufacturers like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid. Illinois reopened its EV rebate program August 1 with a $14 million state allocation, offering up to $4,000 for low-income buyers on vehicles priced under $80,000, joining other states including New York, Colorado, Washington, Texas, Maryland, and Oregon that maintain their own EV incentive programs. Colorado saw nearly 60,000 background checks in July — almost triple the prior year — ahead of a new semi-automatic firearm restriction law taking effect August 1. Investigators allege a "smurfing" scheme funneled unauthorized ActBlue political donations attributed to Wisconsin donors. Illinois Governor Pritzker signed over 75 bills including rideshare driver unionization and restrictions on new ICE detention center locations. 74% of Florida voters support Amendment 3's property tax relief proposal, which would cost local governments an estimated $12 billion annually if passed. Plus, America's Talking:   Colorado: https://www.thecentersquare.com/colorado/article_bb90254b-0d75-451d-9e2e-12000dcc913b.html Wisconsin: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_3bc6df48-b954-4365-8fd5-697f8a10d3dd.html Illinois: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_835c4e76-591c-4eb5-bb9a-6cac0500ba08.html Florida: https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_431215c8-304d-4cd8-b0fc-351210d0e7fc.html The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Aug 8

    31 States Decide to Join Federal School Choice Program | Weekend Edition

    On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, thirty-one states have opted in to the federal Education Freedom  Scholarship Program, while 19 states and Washington, D.C. have not, ahead of the January 2027 deadline.  California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife released the last four years of tax returns late last week, providing a glimpse into their financial life over the last four years of Newsom’s  time in office. The notary public who certified that a Georgia judge's brother signed a  will 12 days before his death once certified another signature for the  judge's family—by a dead woman. And Mortgage rates just hit their highest level in a year, and new economic data shows it's the lower end of the housing market getting squeezed while high-end buyers keep winning — we break down why, plus what it means for the Fed's next move on interest rates.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Aug 6

    Federal Judge Strikes Down Gun Registration for Suppressors and Short-Barreled Rifles | The States

    Confidential documents show nearly two dozen state attorneys general, including 21 Democrats, signed a plan as early as April 2024 — nine months before Trump took office — to coordinate litigation against his administration, with a former Republican AG calling the practice a politicized waste of resources. A federal judge in Texas ruled the NFA's registration requirement for short-barreled rifles and suppressors unconstitutional, reasoning that Congress can't require registration tied to a $200 transfer tax that lawmakers eliminated last year; the ruling is stayed seven days and currently applies only to plaintiffs in gun-rights associational groups. Also, in this episode: Vice President J.D. Vance told congressional Republicans the task force has identified more than $230 billion in suspected fraud and called for legislation requiring state-federal data sharing on welfare programs, alongside advisers Andrew Ferguson and Stephen Miller, who said over 95% of fraud could be addressed with better data sharing and AI verification tools. DeKalb County, Georgia notary Jacqueline Walker lost her commission after a Center Square investigation found she had notarized a document for a woman who'd been dead three weeks, raising credibility questions about a separate contested will she notarized for the same family, involving DeKalb County Judge Rothelia Stroud's relatives. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed bills allowing state regulators to review and reject excessive home and auto insurance rate increases. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is simultaneously running for reelection as secretary of state and for Chicago mayor. Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Republican secretary of state candidate Diane Harris criticized Giannoulias for running for both offices at once, with Mendoza citing his prior oversight of a $100 million loss in the Bright Start college savings program. Declassified documents show prosecutors declined to charge a hacker who stole 633,000 Maricopa County, Arizona voter records before the 2020 election. Nearly 5,000 New York City property owners are seeking exemptions from the new second-home tax. The ACLU of Nevada sued Las Vegas police over records-request fees exceeding $6,800. California's Assembly Republican Caucus replaced Minority Leader Heath Flora with Alexandra Macedo following ethics investigations into Flora. Plus, America's Talking: Elections: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_a6ad90fe-3f92-4166-a4b0-57557c72ff66.html New York: https://www.thecentersquare.com/new_york/article_d439c2f7-394b-4aa7-8725-66b97afc2ca9.html Nevada: https://www.thecentersquare.com/nevada/article_2829596a-35da-4fe9-9ccb-bac9d434f9de.html California: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_d465af54-659d-485b-beea-5466e3b62192.html The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The States Powered by The Center Square is a show that highlights the work of The Center Square reporters from statehouses across the country to Washington D.C. all with an eye towards the impacts of today's news on the taxpayer.

Information

  • Creator
    The Center Square
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    220
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Center Square
  • Show Website
    The States

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