National Review's Radio Free California Podcast

National Review
  • 4.8 (704)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

A show about the perilous state of the Golden State—and what that means for you, wherever you live. California is the hothouse lab of the Left, the nation-state creating the statist policies, art, and lifestyles of the future – and generating the political dollars to make them a reality in a community near you. Hosts Will Swaim (California Policy Center) and David Bahnsen (The Bahnsen Group, Fox Business News commentator, conservative activist) beam this weekly show internationally, from mostly undisclosed pirate-radio platforms west of the Sierra Nevada. [Intro music graciously provided by Los Angeles-based Metalachi, the metal/mariachi soundtrack of the near-future. Find them at Metalachi.com.]

  1. 23h ago

    Episode 449: Whence Xavier Becerra?

    How California’s leading do-nothing gubernatorial candidate moved from dead last to first in just a few weeks. Leaders of the state’s government unions say they’ll refuse return-to-office orders because their daily commutes would raise global temperatures. More than a thousand University of California STEM professors called for the reinstatement of the SAT test. Los Angeles wants you to stop grilling hotdogs. Bonus! On June 5, 1917, Californians reacting to the Zimmerman Telegram answered Woodrow Wilson’s call to arms. Music by Metalachi. Email Us dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes The mystery behind Becerra leapfrogging over his rivals in California’s governor’s race PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government University of California Professors Are Begging Schools to Reinstate the SAT CalPERS Pays Million-Dollar Salaries for Below-Median Returns California Government Unions Will Try Anything To Keep Their Members From Returning To The Office No, California’s Backyard BBQ Ban Proposal Is Not Justified Long Beach: This mayor wants to bring wind energy to an oil city Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    57 min
  2. Episode 448: Spencer Pratt is All That

    May 27

    Episode 448: Spencer Pratt is All That

    The Trump-adjacent candidate for mayor of Los Angeles has raised the hopes of moderate Angelenos – and terrifies the beneficiaries of the city’s Chicago-style political machine. Starring guest cohost Jon Fleischman and featuring Gavin Newsom, Napoleon III, Karen Bass, Meghan Daum, Carl Karcher, Nithya Raman, Hasan Piker, Benito Juarez, Gustavo Arellano, and Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch. Music by Metalachi. Email Us dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes How Cinco de Mayo Got Its Start Because of California's Mexican Americans ‘It’s the Jews’: San Diego mosque shooters decried ‘the universal enemy’ in hate-filled manifesto GOP governor hopefuls give closing arguments to Central Valley Republicans Spencer Pratt has his work cut out for him in LA Spencer Pratt’s Make L.A. Great Again acolytes and their dark vision of the city What Los Angeles Has Become More than 1,000 L.A. school employees expected to lose jobs, with bigger cuts ahead The price of LAUSD union peace will be $1.2 billion a year. Next up is paying for it Strike or not, Los Angeles Unified is on an unsustainable trajectory Newsom’s office asked Oakland to clear encampment near Marshawn Lynch’s home Newsom says AI resentment to dominate future elections. ‘The pitchforks are here’ Gavin Newsom orders California to plan for aid to workers displaced by AI Caltrans considering 140 mph bus that would take passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles The California-born fast-food chain crushed by costs, crime and competition Do You Want Fries with That Shakedown? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 14m
  3. Episode 447: What Xavier Becerra Knew

    May 20

    Episode 447: What Xavier Becerra Knew

    The Democrats’ leading candidate for governor, Xavier Becerra, claims he was the victim of a financial fraud directed by his own chief of staff in the Biden administration. Now, he’s dealing with claims that he greenlit the crime. Bonus track! Lance Christensen takes us deep into the state capitol. Music by Metalachi. Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: The Mussel Slough Tragedy Governor Newsom announces revised budget that eliminates California’s deficit, maintains investments for working families, healthcare, education, and businesses LAO: Initial Comments on the Governor's May Revision Former Newsom chief of staff pleads guilty to scheme that bled money from Becerra’s account A surge in Nevada data center construction threatens the electricity supply for 49,000 Californians Energy company disputes claim that 50,000 Tahoe residents will lose power next yea California’s Bullet Train May Not Even Reach Downtown Bakersfield - You Can’t Make This Up Pelosi endorses a successor in San Francisco’s testy House race San Francisco's Outdoor Smoking Ban Won't Improve Public Health, but It Will Hurt the City's Bars and Taverns UC Davis festival apologizes for drum circle: ‘cultural appropriation’ Pre-roll:Duke Energy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 44m
  4. Episode 446: Life Is Like a Box of Diapers

    May 14

    Episode 446: Life Is Like a Box of Diapers

    Governor Gavin Newsom says his delivery of free diapers is another win for affordability -- “a first-in-the-nation program” to deliver the things new parents need most. Music by Metalachi. Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Ben Sasse Writes About Kids and Technology What to learn from the worst business deal in history Media mergers and dividend growth ‘Star Wars’ hails the once and future space western Why the Paramount-Skydance deal is good for California The Case Against State Involvement in a Warner Bros. Deal Newsom again shuts down gas tax holiday amid skyrocketing fuel prices in California California hospitals will soon provide free diapers to newborns thanks to new state program Why Did California Award This Alleged Hamas Front $40 Million? Judge bars Jewish DA from trying Stanford anti-Israel protesters, alleging conflict California Democrats Want Muslim Holidays In State Law — But Not The Jewish High Holidays Scott Wiener passed laws that made it easier to build in California. Can he do the same in Congress? California Mayor Will Plead Guilty to Working as Agent of China ‘We can shut down the city’: Lurie’s budget cuts spark a showdown with labor Lights, cameras, growth: CPC report on the Paramount deal Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 25m
  5. Episode 445: Heroes and Neros

    May 11

    Episode 445: Heroes and Neros

    In this special episode, Will talks with Sheila Bowen, whose Central Valley family is at the center of Remnants, a new documentary about the challenges of ranching in the era of Gavin Newsom-created wildfires. In other news, we hear from Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Jeremy Talcott about his crushing win over the California Coastal Commission, and we return to our friends at the Hoover Institution for a dramatic update in their assessment of the billionaire wealth tax coming up on the November ballot. Music by Metalachi. Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Jeremy Talcott, Pacific Legal v Coastal Commission California Supreme Court reins in coastal agency’s permit power in unanimous opinion Jeremy Talcott bio Remnants Remnants trailer Moving Picture Institute Paul Olivett, Moving Picture Institute, paul@thempi.org Hoover Institution’s Benjamin Jaros & Joshua Rauh on the Billionaire Wealth Tax  The Fiscal Losses from California's Billionaire Tax Act The Commitment Problem at the Heart of California’s Billionaire Tax Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 40m
  6. Episode 444: Rorschachian Xavier Becerra

    May 6

    Episode 444: Rorschachian Xavier Becerra

    In the simmering race for governor, Democratic Party insiders are coalescing around Xavier Becerra, a lifetime placeholder who is neither left nor right but who can be counted on to do absolutely nothing. Also: Ritchie Valens, Elon Musk, Kamala Harris, heroic El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, and the guy who burned down Pacific Palisades. Music by Metalachi. Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: “La Bamba” (Original)  “Come on, Let’s Go!” (Ramones)  California braces for uncertainty as last shipment of Persian Gulf oil arrives in Long Beach The Torching of Los Angeles Was Anti-Capitalist Vigilantism California Regulators Apologize to Elon Willie Brown endorses Tom Steyer for California governor Democratic and Republican candidates for Calif. governor lead latest poll How Xavier Becerra became the Joe Biden of California’s governor race Kamala Harris endorses L.A. Mayor Karen Bass for reelection Kamala Harris bought a Malibu home. Her neighbors think that means something. LAO: California spent more than it could afford El Cajon sues California, alleges state ‘sanctuary’ laws illegally entice undocumented immigrants Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    53 min
  7. Episode 443: SoCal’s Solipsistic Shooter

    May 1

    Episode 443: SoCal’s Solipsistic Shooter

    We discuss the bizarre manifesto of Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, Calif. Music by Metalachi. Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Hightower agrees to buy $9.5bn practice The Bahnsen Group A May Day Push to ‘Shut It Down’ Takes Shape Across the Country Read Here: The full manifesto by accused shooter at White House Correspondents' Dinner The pile-on that wasn’t Anti-Billionaire ‘OUR REVOLUTION’ Endorses Billionaire Steyer for Gov California Voter ID Measure Qualifies For November Ballot ‘A betrayal:’ California to share data on immigrant drivers nationally Governor Newsom launches first new conservancy in 15 years to accelerate progress at the Salton Sea Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea | KQED Truly CA Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    59 min
  8. Episode 442: The Wizard of Oz Wrap Party

    Apr 24

    Episode 442: The Wizard of Oz Wrap Party

    Just six weeks from the California gubernatorial primary, Democrats are still auditioning for a lead — and risk watching Republicans steal the show. Can someone please introduce candidate Tom Steyer to the U.S. Constitution? State Senator Scott Wiener’s attempt to muzzle ICE melts in the Ninth Circuit. A fake bear wreaks fake terror on luxury vehicles in Lake Arrowhead. Bonus! A brief history of California’s Modoc War. Music by Metalachi. Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Trump ally Roger Stone hired to lobby for Bay Area tribe seeking control of Presidio ‘San Francisco treasure’: City, state leaders blast Trump for firing Presidio Trust board 3 sentenced for insurance fraud after using bear costume to stage fake attacks on luxury cars Takeaways from the first California governor’s debate since Eric Swalwell’s exit ‘Becerra Bounce.' How Xavier Becerra surged from behind to be a frontrunner in governor's race ‘Dark Horse’ Gets Sudden Jolt in Packed California Race Steyer proposes ending ICE, jailing police 9th Circuit blocks California limits on anonymous immigration agents G.B. V. Environmental Protection Agency (9th Cir. 2026) How Newsom Boosted His Book Sales With $1.5 Million From His PAC CA hasn’t signed off on a promised deal to help bail out LA if the Olympic Games lose money Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    57 min
See All (28)

4.8
out of 5
704 Ratings

About

A show about the perilous state of the Golden State—and what that means for you, wherever you live. California is the hothouse lab of the Left, the nation-state creating the statist policies, art, and lifestyles of the future – and generating the political dollars to make them a reality in a community near you. Hosts Will Swaim (California Policy Center) and David Bahnsen (The Bahnsen Group, Fox Business News commentator, conservative activist) beam this weekly show internationally, from mostly undisclosed pirate-radio platforms west of the Sierra Nevada. [Intro music graciously provided by Los Angeles-based Metalachi, the metal/mariachi soundtrack of the near-future. Find them at Metalachi.com.]

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