Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen discuss the escalating border security challenges as cartels target Texas with guest Ammon Blair, TPPF Senior Fellow and former Border Patrol agent. They dive into military readiness reforms from the Texas Legislature, deep state resistance to Sec. Pete Hegseth, and close with the local debt crisis driving property taxes. Plus, bail reform!

2:26 Hot Take: Was Joe Biden photoshopped into his family’s Easter picture?
6:08 Deep State attacks on Secretary Pete Hegseth
9:13 U.S. and Texas Military Readiness
19:44 Department of Defense operating under Trump’s EO’s
33:06 SB 659 passed with Ammon’s recommended language making it easier to go after every player in the game, not just the low hanging fruit
40:00 Survey Says - Only 16% of federal mangers who voted for Harris would enforce a legal order from Trump that they disagreed with
45:02 Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics - Texans face 231 separate bond propositions
51:38 What to Watch For

Celebrate a historic win for Texas with host Brian Phillips and returning co-host Derek Cohen on The Right Idea! Dive into the passage of SB 2, marking Texas’ first-ever school choice legislation after over 36 years of conservative advocacy. From the House debate to what’s next, we break it all down. Plus, we discuss record-low illegal border crossings, higher education reforms with SB 37, non-compete agreements for doctors, and the App Store Accountability Act to protect kids online. And don’t miss our hot take on the worst Easter candy—Peeps or Cadbury Eggs?

1:27 - Hot Take: Worst Easter Candy?
4:19 Texas House passed SB 2 establishing Education Savings Accounts
16:40 What comes next for school choice?
24:55 Illegal border crossings hit record low
30:02 General Education Review Committees could "reshape how history & race are taught in state universities"
38:22 App Store Accountability Act - keeping kids safe on mobile apps
44:43 Survey Says: Support for President Trump's handling of the tariff issue has slipped over the past week
49:10 Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics: Non-compete agreements are eroding the physician-patient relationship 
52:29 What’re you watching?

Join host Brian Phillips on The Right Idea as he welcomes Abraham George, Chairman of the  Republican Party of Texas, for an exclusive deep dive into the policies shaping Texas. From the push for school choice and border security to tackling property taxes and taxpayer-funded lobbying, George shares his take on the GOP’s legislative priorities during the 2025 session. Plus, hear his thoughts on Trump’s first 100 days, election integrity, and closing primaries. Don’t miss this insider look at the people, politics, and ideas driving the Lone Star State!

2:00 - Luka Doncic’s Return & Texas Sports Talk

5:30 - Chairman’s Role During Legislative Session

8:00 - Grassroots Unity & the Big Three

16:30 - School Choice: HB 3 and Beyond

21:08 - Border Security in a Trump Era

23:15 - Property Taxes: A Growing Crisis

30:20 - Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Exposed

36:20 - Election Integrity Challenges

43:45 - Closed Primaries Debate

47:19 - What to Watch Before Sine Die

In this episode of The Right Idea, host Brian Phillips, Chief Communications Officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, sits down with Texas State Representative Caroline Harris Davila from House District 52. Elected at just 28 years old, Rep. Harris Davila made waves as the Freshman Legislator of the Year, sending 13 bills to Governor Abbott’s desk in her first session. We dive into her groundbreaking work on healthcare transparency with SB 490, her push for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) caucus, and her new bills tackling healthcare costs and HOA overreach in 2025.

This week, Brian and Derek enjoy a “powerful” discussion regarding the future of nuclear energy in Texas with the state’s former Chief Operations Officer, Reed Clay.

0:00 Welcome

1:34 Hot Take: What’s your favorite famous political gaffe? 

5:47 Introduction to the Texas Nuclear Alliance

7:30 Why has it taken so long for an organization like the Texas Nuclear Alliance to be created?

9:47 What are people’s fears regarding nuclear power?

13:27 Why has nuclear “been dark” for over a decade?

16:07 How have today’s reactors improved in regards to safety and efficiency?

23:00 What regulatory hurdles lay in front of nuclear advancement?

28:13 All things considered, including the environment, what is the viability of a nuclear business model?

32:17 Micro-reactors

35:04 NIMBY and transmission issues facing nuclear power

37:30 Legislative hurdles for nuclear power in Texas

41:08 Survey Says: 57% say that making America energy independent is more important than fighting climate change 

44:46 Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics: Taxpayer Funded Lobbying

Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen have the pleasure of sitting down with Representative Terri Leo-Wilson to discuss the recent developments in education policy under the pink dome, including bringing school choice to Texas.

1:25 Hot Take: Which business would you stop using if they took a key service away?
5:16 How do Representatives prepare for marathon debates?
11:35 Can Texas be pro-teacher AND pro-parent?
27:15 What made HB 1605 a game changer in 2023?
34:28 How can we help teachers improve across the state?
39:02 HB 1481 would prohibit smart devices in classrooms during instructional periods
42:30 HB 610 addresses severance packages run amok for superintendents 
50:24 What’s next in the legislative process regarding school choice?

TPPF's Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen react to this week’s nearly 24-hour marathon of testimony and debate over Texas House Bill 3, on Education Savings Accounts.

2:56 Hot Take: Which American product or service would you promote from the White House Lawn?
9:10 Texas House Pub Ed Committee hearing on HB3 reaction
23:35 Department of Education “vacates”
30:59 Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar will be the next chancellor of the Texas A&M University System 
36:19 Texas Lawmakers aim to supplant Delaware as corporate HQ hub with new pro-business bill
40:06 Survey Says: Texans say they get their political news from social media
46:37 What to Watch For

Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen are joined by TPPF’s K-12 Education Policy Director, Jorge Borrego, to discuss Texas' proposed Education Savings Account legislation and dispel the common myths around it.

1:19 Hot Take: Should the State of the Union return to merely a written letter to Congress?
7:40 ESAs - What are they and how do they work?
18:05 How will ESAs be prioritized?
24:05 Myth busting - School choice will kill Friday Night Lights
26:43 Myth busting - School choice will defund public schools
31:03 Myth busting - School choice = no testing nor accountability
42:25 Survey Says: Overwhelming support for ESAs
47:32 Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics - Parental Choice & Black Empowerment
52:10 What’re you watching?

Brian and Derek discuss all things “energy,” from fossil fuels to nuclear to yes… even parent empowerment, with Jason Isaac of the American Energy Institute.

0:00 Welcome
2:12 Hot Take: Following Elon’s example, should hats be a trend at all workplaces?
4:48 School Choice is Nigh - we have the votes!
10:02 Landman… is it real?
12:35 Are we officially past the Biden assault on American energy development?
19:36 The current state of energy reliability and affordability in Texas
42:00 Survey Says: How Free is Free Speech?
45:48 Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics - taxpayer funded lobbyists are receiving tens of millions from Texans
50:45 What’re you watching?

Brian and Derek review the incredible week’s events at TPPF’s annual Texas Policy Summit, featuring highlights from Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, House Speaker Burrows, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Congressman Chip Roy and so much more!