The new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) could dramatically expand educational opportunity across America—but only if governors choose to opt in.

Andrew Lewis sits down with Tommy Schultz of the American Federation for Children, Norton Rainey, CEO of ACE Scholarships, and David Hardy, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Commonwealth Foundation, to discuss what this landmark law means for students, parents, and the future of school choice.

They also explain why Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro should opt in so Pennsylvania families can benefit from this historic opportunity instead of seeing those resources flow to other states.

What really happens behind closed doors during Pennsylvania's budget negotiations?

Andrew Lewis sits down with former Pennsylvania Senate Secretary-Parliamentarian Megan Martin (now Commonwealth Foundation's COO and General Counsel) for an insider's look at how the Commonwealth's most important legislation gets negotiated, debated, and passed. Then, Commonwealth Foundation Chief Policy Officer Nathan Benefield breaks down why this year's budget fight matters, from record spending and the Rainy Day Fund to school choice and the reforms needed to protect taxpayers.

If you've ever wondered why the state budget is about far more than dollars and cents, this episode takes you inside the process.

A single educational opportunity can change the course of a life.

Andrew Lewis sits down with two Pennsylvanians whose lives were transformed by the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which is under attack by the Democrat majority in the state House of Representatives. 

National champion wrestler Bo Bassett shares how EITC helped him find an environment where he could thrive—setting him on a path to Virginia Tech and international competition. Then, Soviet immigrant Kate Pukhovich reflects on growing up without educational or religious freedom and explains why EITC scholarships gave her daughter opportunities she never imagined possible.

As lawmakers debate the future of Pennsylvania's scholarship programs, these personal stories remind us that behind every policy are real families, real dreams, and life-changing opportunities.

Pennsylvania spends nearly $24,000 per student each year, yet fewer than one-third of eighth graders are proficient in math and reading.

In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis sits down with State Rep. Joe D'Orsie and Empower Mississippi CEO Grant Callen to explore why more spending isn't translating into better results, and what can be done about it.

They discuss school choice, Lifeline Scholarships, education savings accounts, cyber charters, and the growing movement to give parents more control over their children's education. They also examine Mississippi's remarkable academic turnaround and what Pennsylvania can learn from it.

What we learn could reshape the future of education in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania state government has been notorious for red tape. Now lawmakers are working to roll out the red carpet to make the permitting process more efficient.

Andrew Lewis sits down with Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill to discuss the surprising history of "red tape," the fight to reform Pennsylvania's permitting system, and the policies helping projects move faster without sacrificing accountability.

It's a conversation about transparency, economic growth, and what happens when government starts serving the people instead of the process.

Pennsylvania is spending more than it takes in. What happens next?

Andrew Lewis welcomes taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist to discuss the national tax landscape before turning to a pressing question closer to home: Can Pennsylvania sustain a budget that spends billions more than projected revenues?

The conversation includes topics from state tax competition to government spending, school choice, and economic growth. This episode examines how policy decisions today will shape Pennsylvania's future for decades to come.

What do California’s budget problems, homelessness crisis, and alleged welfare fraud scandals all have in common? 

According to California Policy Center CEO Will Swaim, they’re the predictable result of government expansion without accountability. Andrew Lewis chats with Swaim and explores how California’s policies became a cautionary tale for the rest of the country. 

After learning about the bad policies affecting California, Lewis then speaks with Pennsylvania Rep. Robert Leadbeter about how Pennsylvania can avoid the same fate.  

The future of Pennsylvania depends on the choices made in Harrisburg right now. 

What does a shipping lane halfway around the world have to do with your energy bill?

Andrew Lewis and Victoria Coates of The Heritage Foundation connect global unrest to local consequences, from threats in the Strait of Hormuz to rising demand for American natural gas. They explore how Pennsylvania’s energy resources can stabilize global markets, support allies, and strengthen U.S. security—if policymakers allow it.

Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania families are still waiting for access to a better education.

In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis sits down with Rep. Martina White and Keisha Jordan to discuss why educational choice is essential, not optional, for students stuck in failing schools. From scholarship waitlists to real-world success stories, they explore how empowering parents with choice leads to better outcomes for kids.

Because when it comes to education, every kid deserves to attend a school that helps them learn, grow, and succeed.

Every 24 minutes, someone leaves Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania isn’t just competing with neighboring states — it’s competing with the fastest-growing economies in the country.

In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis examines how tax policy and government spending influence where people choose to live and work, joined by Andrew Wilford of the National Taxpayers Union Foundation.

From there, the Commonwealth Foundation's Nathan Benefield and Elizabeth Stelle outline a roadmap to make Pennsylvania more competitive — including the Taxpayer Protection Act, welfare reform, and expanding educational choice.

Pennsylvania has everything it needs to be a top state for jobs, growth, and opportunity — but policymakers have some important choices to make that will determine whether the commonwealth leads or falls further behind.