The Right Idea Texas Public Policy Foundation

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 Institute9:05 Jonathan’s overall take on Texas’ response to DEI on college campuses10:09 The overarching aims of DEI administrators10:58 Texas as compared to other states with different approaches to DEI in education13:27 The pervasiveness of DEI… even in Texas15:16 What’s next to do?16:58 What’s next for the Texas Legislature to do?19:06 DEI’s relationship to Pro-Palestine protests22:00 Outside groups and their influence on collegians25:00 Overall instability as an objective28:15 What’s the overall response & compliance levels to Texas and other states’ laws regarding DEI?30:41 What does the public think about special programs for “marginalized people”?35:50 Is college still worth it?38:10 Are tribal politics interfering with what colleges and universities should be doing?39:40 SURVEY SAYS! Polling data in the news: Immigration45:19 LIES, DAMN LIES & STATISTICS: Relevant research: Educational spending in Texas51:20 WHAT’RE YOU WATCHING? How will Texas grid do this summer?

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 Policy10:55 AI: good, bad, or ugly?35:15 The Government’s role in overseeing Technology45:00 Survey Says! - polling data in the news48:20 Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics – 10k illegal aliens flown into Texas!51:00 What You're Watching – preview upcoming/developing stories
Check out the new Rebel Tech podcast for more on tech policy.

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 Boogaloo4:05 Squatting in America19:25 Governor Abbott’s warning to squatters30:30 Survey Says! 75% think the cost of living is rising, 7% can’t do math36:00 Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics - 91 TX superintendents make over $300k42:50 What’re You Watching?

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 Meaning of Life”4:03 The Myth of “work/life balance”7:45 The importance of faith and work… and how God created us to work10:45 The connection of work and life’s purpose11:50 The too-typical millennial mindset towards retirement14:45 “The New Right” and their Marxist attitudes towards work18:50 State intervention on the labor force (including minimum wage) 23:40 Trends towards or away from family growth and development vs. career growth and development 27:00 ESG investing 33:30 Are activists intentionally trying to take down Texas oil companies?35:44 Texas’ Permanent School Fund recently divested $8.5 billion from BlackRock over ESG investing38:52 What can the average person do?

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 UATX6:40 The Left’s argument against higher learning like University of Austin8:00 What sets UATX’s curriculum apart from most other universities?13:40 What kind of faculty and students is UATX looking for, and how do they find them?19:35 The problem with faculty and administrators at most American universities25:14 UATX is the only university in the U.S. with a Constitution32:50 How can UATX escape wokeness but maintain funding?35:55 UATX location - navigating East 6th & West 6th38:28 How will UATX face Austin’s predictable onslaught of protests?39:55 How is the Left likely to respond to conservative universities?42:15 Will other places of higher learning be positively influenced by UATX?43:45 How does UATX respond to the public’s primary concerns: Cost, Quality of Education and Ideology of the University?