The States

The Center Square
  • 5.0 (5)
  • News
  • Updated Weekly

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. 23h ago

    Congress Never Funded the Iran War. The Pentagon Is Paying Anyway | Weekend Edition

    On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Missouri's congressional map again. Illinois is facing new lawsuits over the state’s digital ad tax and social media platform fee. The cost of operation Epic Fury continues to rise despite Congress never approving a dollar. A vaccine non-profit continues to raise pay for its executives even as it has lost millions of dollars. And a look at why the federal reserve chose a rate hike and what it means for Americans. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. 1d ago

    Gov. Shapiro Pushes Trump to Regulate AI Industry, Calls for International Cooperation | The States

    AI regulation debate, ATF suppressor ruling, California homelessness and high-speed rail spending, election integrity rankings, and more state policy news on this episode of The States. Shapiro calls for federal AI regulation (PA): Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed AI policy in Pittsburgh, pointing to Gecko Robotics as a model for ethical AI use. He says the federal government — and international cooperation — must set the rules; he's already signed an executive order on ethical AI use by state contractors. Comes as Trump is set to meet Xi Jinping next week and pushes back on AI regulation concerns as "overblown."Pennsylvania pension COLA fix: Roughly 60,000 retirees (teachers, firefighters, police) who retired before July 2001 will get their first cost-of-living adjustment in over two decades, with bipartisan support. Full cost to taxpayers still unclear.ATF/NFA suppressor ruling: A federal judge in Texas ruled the NFA's suppressor/short-barreled firearm registration scheme unconstitutional after Congress zeroed out the associated tax. ATF has until Oct. 5 to appeal; reports indicate the White House has directed ATF not to appeal and to issue new guidance instead.California K-12 student homelessness up 10% since 2020: Now roughly 300,000 homeless students statewide, per a UCLA report. State has spent ~$25 billion on homelessness overall; critics question whether funding is addressing root causes like substance abuse.Election integrity rankings (Heritage Foundation): New scorecard ranks states on voter ID, registration accuracy, and absentee ballot management. Bottom five: Hawaii, California, Oregon/Vermont (tied), Nevada/Washington (tied), Minnesota. Top five: Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee.America's Talking:TN: https://www.thecentersquare.com/tennessee/article_efac516f-8b60-4183-aaff-f9f7d858b8e1.htmlCA: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_bde7b701-35c9-4b27-9bbc-474b75d1ec59.htmlAZ: https://www.thecentersquare.com/arizona/article_70becb97-1f3c-44eb-a33c-6569b8a80587.htmlMN: https://www.thecentersquare.com/minnesota/article_79490198-c316-43c9-ae27-6dc4875f548a.html Get these and more stories at TheCenterSquare.com. #TheStates #CenterSquare #StateNews #AIRegulation #ElectionIntegrity Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  3. 2d ago

    U.S. Supreme Court Could Decide If Your Concealed Carry Permit Works in Every State | The States

    Fed raises interest rates for the first time in three years, gun rights groups take on state permit laws, CAIR blocks a Center Square reporter, and truckers get an emergency fuel-hauling waiver — all on this episode of The States. Today's stories: Fed Rate Hike: FOMC unanimously raises the federal funds rate a quarter point to 3.75%-4%. Economist Orphe Divounguy explains why it won't fix inflation (driven by energy/tariffs, not demand), and why consumers should expect elevated rates, 7% mortgages, and continued strain on lower-income borrowers.License Plate Reader Pushback: Atlanta's mayor proposes new oversight after two officers are charged with misusing ALPR data; a Wisconsin lawmaker who once backed Flock camera funding now wants a ban after learning the company sells retained data to third parties; Chicago speed cameras issued a ticket every 48 seconds in 2025, netting $64.2M.Second Amendment Legal Battles: Second Amendment Foundation's Bill Sack discusses Koons (NY's "sensitive places" carry restrictions) and Johnson v. Jacobson (interstate carry permit reciprocity), plus Washington state's new $126 permit-to-purchase requirement for gun buyers.CAIR Blocks Reporter: The Center Square investigative reporter Mark Strickler was denied entry to CAIR's D.C. conference after the group was designated a terrorist organization by Texas and Florida governors; CAIR says it selectively grants press access.America's Talking headlines: Trump declines to detail new Butler, PA assassination-attempt evidence, instead criticizing former FBI Director Christopher Wray; DOT extends daily driving limits for fuel truckers 90 days as gas hits $4.31/gal and diesel $6.29/gal; DocuSign co-founder backs repeal of WA's income tax; Florida first responders warn a property tax relief amendment could slow 911 response times. Energy: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_a7dc38d8-847f-45cc-afb2-51817830bfd1.html Washington: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ac446f29-4457-45be-9678-28591058f9d2.htmlFlorida: https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_7773739a-1e99-4210-a84c-ab47b4e025c6.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. 3d ago

    Gov Hochul Announces New Rules For AI Data Centers As Trump Admin Calls Concerns A Hoax | The States

    Congress debates whether public employee unions are spending member dues on political causes their workers don't support, New York and the Trump administration clash over AI regulation while data center fights spread across three states, a Kentucky congressman moves to impeach the Secretary of Defense over the Iran conflict's cost and legal authority, an economist breaks down a labor market that's stalled rather than collapsed, and headlines cover the 2026 midterms, Social Security, and a Chicago immigration enforcement dispute. The House Workforce and Education Committee split along party lines Tuesday over the political activity of public employee unions, with Republicans citing National Right to Work testimony that unions spent nearly $2 billion on political activity in recent elections, over 90% of it benefiting Democrats, while Democrats defended unions as advocates for wages and workplace safety. Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron discusses the organization's door-to-door campaign in Michigan informing public employees of their right to opt out of union membership and dues, including allegations of forged signatures on membership cards and restrictive opt-out windows, and new laws in New York and Oregon that expose the group to civil and legal action for that outreach. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche staked out opposing positions on AI regulation Tuesday, with Blanche echoing President Trump in calling Democratic alarm over AI a politically timed "hoax" ahead of the midterms, while Hochul announced a new state framework for communities considering hyperscale data centers. Separately, data center fights are playing out in Pennsylvania, where residents sued to halt a 693-acre project after Governor Josh Shapiro pulled it from an expedited permitting list, and in Tennessee, where a developer is negotiating with local officials over an $11.3 billion project's community benefits. Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie filed eight articles of impeachment against the Secretary of Defense Tuesday, arguing the administration bypassed the War Powers Act's 60-day limit on the Iran conflict. The Center Square's Brett Rowland breaks down the taxpayer cost so far, with the Pentagon's inspector general putting the figure at $33 billion through June and the Congressional Budget Office at $38 billion through August, plus $12 billion in classified spending Congress can't disclose to the public. On Everyday Economics, The Center Square publisher Chris Krug and economist Orphe Divounguy examine August's jobs report, arguing the labor market has frozen rather than grown, with hiring at a decade low and 1.9 million people now long-term unemployed. Divounguy forecasts the September jobs report, due in three weeks, will come in under 100,000. America's Talking rounds up headlines including President Trump's campaign visit to North Carolina ahead of a contested Senate race, new bipartisan polling showing most voters in battleground states want Social Security reformed before 2032 but oppose specific tax hikes or benefit cuts, a University of Illinois Chicago study estimating a Chicago ICE operation cost the city $1.26 billion in lost economic activity (a finding the Department of Homeland Security disputes), and a bipartisan push in Michigan to abolish the state's economic development agency following allegations that $1 million in grant funds went missing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. 4d ago

    870,000 Cut Off From Federal Loans Over $39 Billion Fraud | The States

    Gas and diesel prices hit record highs after a Joliet, Illinois refinery outage, a taxpayer-funded vaccine nonprofit raises executive pay while posting multi-million dollar losses, a coalition of states sues over a new immigration "public charge" rule, Illinois's digital ad tax faces a legal challenge, and the White House Fraud Task Force announces new suspensions tied to Paycheck Protection Program fraud. Regular gas hit an all-time high of $4.33 a gallon nationally, and diesel set a record at $6.29 a gallon, after a power outage at a refinery in Joliet, Illinois disrupted supply across the Midwest. New diesel records were also set in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois, adding to existing records in North Carolina, Virginia, Minnesota, Georgia and California. The Center Square's investigative reporter Mark Stricherz details his reporting on the Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute, a nonprofit that receives government and private funding to fight diseases including Ebola overseas. The organization posted a net loss of nearly $4 million in 2024 and $2 million in 2023, while total executive and staff compensation rose by $800,000 to $9 million in 2024. CEO Amy Finan received about $517,000 in total compensation; six other executives made $299,000 or more. The Sabin Institute did not respond to requests for comment. Separately, health care workers battling an unrelated Ebola-related outbreak in Central Africa have reportedly gone unpaid, according to the Wall Street Journal. New York City, joined by a coalition of cities and Democratic attorneys general from states including California, Illinois, Michigan and Pennsylvania, filed lawsuits challenging a Trump administration rule that would expand the "public charge" test used to deny green cards or visas to immigrants likely to use public benefits such as Medicaid or SNAP. The Department of Homeland Security called the legal challenge an "ideological contortion" and said the rule restores a self-reliance standard for immigrants. NetChoice, a trade group representing Meta, Google, X, TikTok and Snap, filed lawsuits in Cook County Court against Illinois's new digital ad tax and Governor J.B. Pritzker's "social media platform fee," both part of a revenue package passed during the spring legislative session. NetChoice argues the measures amount to double taxation, discriminate against interstate commerce and violate the First Amendment; a similar digital ad tax was recently struck down in Maryland. The Trump administration announced the suspension of roughly 870,000 individuals tied to nearly $39 billion in government loan fraud, primarily involving the Paycheck Protection Program. Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Todd Blanche, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and FBI Director Kash Patel detailed ongoing prosecutions, including a case involving an alleged $55 million fraud scheme and a separate case involving loan applications tied to more than 100 immigrants from Cuba. Also in this episode: the U.S. Supreme Court rejected for now a Trump administration order restricting USPS mail-in ballot processing; a new national firearms survey estimates 88 million American adults own approximately 461 million firearms; and New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced $1 billion in utility rebate checks of up to $200 for more than 8.2 million households. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. 5d ago

    $18.8 Billion Could Flow to Scholarships Nationwide at Just 10% Taxpayer Participation | The States

    A federal school choice tax credit set to benefit 120 million taxpayers, an ATF clarification on silencer repairs, the ongoing fight over Missouri's congressional map, and a Fed decision preview are covered on this episode of The States. Ahead of a January 2027 deadline, 31 states have opted into the federal Education Freedom Scholarship Program while 19 states and Washington, D.C. have not. Patrick Gray of the American Federation for Children discusses a new report finding that more than 120 million tax filers are eligible to claim the federal tax credit — up to $1,700 for donations to certified scholarship organizations — and breaks down which states, including Illinois and California, stand to lose out on potentially billions of dollars in new education funding by not participating. The ATF issued an open letter to gun dealers clarifying that repairing a registered silencer or changing its caliber does not count as manufacturing a new device under federal law, so long as the serialized frame or receiver remains unaltered. The segment also covers pending Supreme Court oral arguments set for December 2 on AR-15 bans out of Cook County, Illinois, and Connecticut, including the Solicitor General's request to participate in arguments, along with recent state-level gun rulings in Delaware, Maryland, and Washington state. The Center Square reporter Andrew Rice discusses the latest court challenge to Missouri's congressional map, which the U.S. Supreme Court and Missouri Supreme Court have both rejected twice, and compares Missouri's referendum-based legal fight to redistricting battles in Texas and California. Rice also addresses the broader national redistricting landscape ahead of the November 3 midterms and which party holds an advantage under current maps. The Center Square publisher Chris Krug and economist Dr. Orphe Divounguy preview Wednesday's Federal Reserve rate decision, with Divounguy arguing for a hold despite market expectations of a hike, citing weak underlying demand, a narrow labor market, and well-anchored inflation expectations even as energy prices push headline inflation higher. The America's Talking segment includes reporting on a sharp drop in U.S. gasoline and diesel demand amid record retail prices, a measles death under investigation in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, a roughly 1% enrollment decline at the University of Wisconsin's 13 campuses, and NASCAR's decision to keep its 2027 Chicago-area race in Joliet rather than returning to downtown Chicago streets. Energy: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_fa48ab33-cb87-4592-ab13-29f5d3384200.htmlPennsylvania: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_acbd62ec-9beb-409a-b7b5-2d12848ad0cb.htmlWisconsin: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_cc0f89a0-160c-442c-81c4-e8ef6e5da240.htmlIllinois: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_383f8ece-e61b-4279-bec3-dbf2a4e49377.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Sep 11

    Illinois Inspector General Mukasey Resigns Amid Harassment Investigation Complaints | The States

    The 25th anniversary of September 11th, highlights from day two of the GOP's midterm convention, continued fallout over Illinois's vacant legislative inspector general position, and an economics breakdown of President Trump's price promises are covered on this episode of The States. Ceremonies marking 25 years since the September 11 attacks took place in New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, with President Trump speaking at the Pentagon alongside National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Center Square correspondents report from Ground Zero, where the names of all 2,977 victims were read aloud and a new seventh moment of silence was added to honor those who died from 9/11-related illnesses, and from the Pentagon, where correspondent Sarah Roderick Fitch shares her personal recollections of the day as a first responder in Washington, D.C. Vice President JD Vance closed out day two of the Republican National Convention in Dallas with a speech framing the midterms around contrasts with Democratic candidates, including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. Vance also discussed Medicaid fraud cases and reacted to a protester removed from the event. President Trump closed the convention discussing voter ID and his pledge to send $5,000 to every eligible adult if Republicans retain Congress, a proposal Senate Democrats Chuck Schumer and Alex Padilla criticized as a bribe, and the segment notes recent polling showing a majority disapprove of the president's handling of the economy. Illinois legislative inspector general Michael Mukasey has resigned following accusations that he failed to properly document an investigation into a former state lawmaker accused of sexual harassment. Center Square Illinois reporter Sean Reid discusses the vacancy, Republican lawmakers' renewed push for ethics reforms including subpoena power for the inspector general's office, and separate allegations involving Democratic state Rep. Amy Murray-Briel. The Center Square publisher Chris Krug and economist Dr. Orphe Divounguy examine a Washington Post quiz on eight consumer prices President Trump pledged to lower, discussing which prices a president can realistically influence and which are driven by broader market forces. The conversation centers on how the conflict with Iran has pushed up gas, energy, and grocery prices even as mortgage rates and prescription drug costs have declined. The America's Talking segment includes coverage of the inaugural U.S. First Responder Ride for Resilience, a five-day, 343-mile cycling route from Boston to Ground Zero honoring FDNY members lost on 9/11, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's continued opposition to Enbridge's proposed Line 5 pipeline tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac, and California Republican lawmakers' pushback against two transportation funding bills awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Sep 11

    33 Amicus Briefs Filed as SCOTUS Prepares to Hear Cook County AR-15 Ban Challenge | The States

    On this episode of The States, Supreme Court gun ban arguments, one year since Charlie Kirk's assassination, a Georgia child welfare agency's cell phone surveillance tools, the GOP's midterm convention, and how 9/11 reshaped airport security. Ahead of December 2 oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court over state and local AR-15 bans, Michael O'Neill of the Landmark Legal Foundation discusses an amicus brief his organization filed challenging Cook County, Illinois's prohibition on the rifles. He walks through the historical-analog legal standard courts use in Second Amendment cases, disputes characterizations of AR-15s as equivalent to military firearms, and lays out possible outcomes if the Court rules on the ban's constitutionality. President Trump proposed a $5,000 payment to American adults funded by tariff revenue during the first-ever midterm Republican National Convention in Dallas, where several GOP candidates and officials also spoke. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania made an appearance at the convention, while Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker criticized Republicans at a competing Texas Democratic event the same day. Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on surveillance technology capable of tracking cell phone locations and web activity, according to a Center Square investigation. The agency says the tools help locate trafficked or at-risk runaway foster youth, but lawmakers and a legal scholar are raising questions about its authority to use such technology without law enforcement status, and a state representative plans to introduce legislation addressing oversight. Aviation security specialist Jeff Price explains how the September 11 attacks changed U.S. air travel, from the creation of the Transportation Security Administration to the shift of screening duties from airlines to the federal government. He traces security measures introduced after later incidents, including the 2001 shoe-bomb attempt and a 2006 liquid-explosives plot, and flags current concerns including drone threats and cybersecurity. America's Talking: fuel prices are rising nationally amid competing explanations from officials, four California ballot measures could cost taxpayers roughly $155 billion over several years, a Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals case addresses a transgender sorority member's admission at the University of Wyoming, and Seattle officials continue disputing the circumstances of the police chief's resignation. Energy: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_18834a42-4f18-4dd5-b179-e29f4ec51344.html California: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_50fb0526-f877-4e85-ab74-01acecf64a57.html Colorado: https://www.thecentersquare.com/colorado/article_61d55917-8619-4400-b41f-069c420dc9a5.html Washington: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_3e3a8668-eaf8-4a55-bd31-e373b82e9bed.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See All (246)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 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
    246
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Center Square
  • Show Website
    The States