The States

By The Center SquareNews

The States episodes

March 30 The Center Square Daily | 3.30.26 | Bill Opponents Received Tens of Thousands from Blackstone
Esther Wickham hosts The Center Square Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers across the country.
On today’s show, Esther looks at a nonprofit organization urging the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to reopen a civil rights investigation into the Los Angeles Unified School District, alleging a race-based program violates federal law. The Center Square's Therese Boudreaux joins to discuss 10 senators that voted against bipartisan housing legislation who received tens of thousands of dollars from groups like Blackstone which would be impacted by the bill. And quick hits from Nevada, Louisiana, and Michigan.
Read more at TheCenterSquare.com
Quick Hits:
NEVADA: https://www.thecentersquare.com/nevada/article_d7723a44-9bd3-4d6f-9368-eb8477b70ab4.html
LOUISIANA: https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/article_0e7efbdf-32c9-4247-9bce-fc3f92a2860e.html
MICHIGAN: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_ed65e834-8a50-46e5-a805-71e205f389e1.html
00:00 - Intro 00:27 - LAUSD race-based program
04:10 - Housing Bill Opponents Received Tens of Thousands
13:48 - America's Talking

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16 min
March 28 California School District Spends Over $900K on DEI Programs, U.S. Supreme Court Hears Asylum Case
On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, the shifts being caused by data centers and AI. California’s Merced City School District has spent over $900,000 on consultants for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, according to documents provided by Defending Education. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case to determine at what point an individual attempting to enter the United States can claim asylum protections. And the economic impacts of international conflicts like the one in Iran.

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48 min
March 21 The Center Square's Voters' Voice Poll, State Aid for Illegal Immigrant Student Programs Faces Scrutiny
Host Greg Bishop talks to guests about the new income tax in Washington state, the latest Voters' Voice poll, scrutiny of funding for education programs for noncitizen students in the country illegally, the tightening of the economy, and more...
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48 min
March 15 Debate Grows as States Consider Teacher Strike Bans, Supreme Court Weighs 2nd Amendment, Other Cases
On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, the U.S. Supreme court considers a variety of cases including ones dealing with gun rights, elections, and immigration. Many states are considering new policies affecting teachers’ ability to strike or participate in protests, and education officials and labor advocates continue to debate the legality of teacher strikes. A former Wisconsin prison warden, who was convicted of a criminal charge tied to the death of one of his inmates, was paid nearly $118,000 for unused vacation time after he resigned, according to state data obtained by The Center Square. And how AI is currently impacting the jobs market and what to expect going forward.
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48 min
March 07 Impacts of the Iran War on the State Level, Title IX Debate Continues With Supreme Court Decision Pending
Illinois is on heightened alert for public safety as the conflict in Iran continues, and gas prices, already high in the land of Lincoln, tick higher. A national debate over Title IX enforcement continues as the Trump administration investigates schools and universities that allow transgender students to compete in women's sports, and the U.S. Supreme Court continues to weigh a decision. Texas, Arkansas, and North Carolina kick off the primary season. And more...
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48 min
February 21 U.S. colleges report $5.2B in foreign funds for 2025, Environmentalists & lawmakers criticize the 2026 farm bill
American colleges and universities have received $5.2 billion in foreign gifts and contracts in 2025, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education. The Washington State House has passed a bill that terminates the Law Enforcement Officers’ and Firefighters’ Retirement System Plan 1, creates a new plan, and transfers $4.5 billion out of that plan. Democrats and environmentalists are sounding the alarm over the recently-released farm bill, which includes deregulatory and pro-industry provisions supported by the Trump administration. And more...
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48 min
February 14 Superintendent group webinar details school response to ICE, New bill would look into imposing per-mile tax on California drivers
The American Association of School Administrators hosted a members-only virtual webinar last week, providing school leaders with guidance on how to respond to potential encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on school campuses, according to materials exclusively obtained by The Center Square. California lawmakers want to study whether a per-mile tax would replace the gas tax so that electric-vehicle drivers would have to pay for using the roadways. A lawsuit has been filed by the Citizens Action Defense Fund against the Washington state House and other entities for the denial of press credentials to several independent journalists, which the suit claims violates their First Amendment rights. And more...
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48 min
February 07 1 in 3 LA Armenians using $30B IHSS program investigated by Dr. Oz, Atlanta paid $250k to Muslim activists
Armenian-speakers in Los Angeles County utilize California’s In-Home Supportive Services program at a rate roughly 700% higher than their proportion of the county’s population, an analysis by The Center Square found — renewing attention to potential fraud concerns in the community amid the ongoing public dispute between CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and Gov. Gavin Newsom. The City of Atlanta paid more than $250,000 to a Chicago-based Muslim organization, which at the time was raising money for another group that's been accused of aiding Hamas. For the third time in six years, North Carolina is No. 1 for business climate and economic development in selections by Business Facilities magazine. And more...
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48 min
January 30 Partial government shutdown looms after funding deal failure, Census projections show red states to see gains in U.S. House seats
The U.S. Senate failed to advance a package of the six remaining federal funding bills Thursday, leaving less than 40 hours until the federal government partially shuts down. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall event in Minneapolis on Tuesday night. Several blue states appear set to lose electoral college votes while red states will make sweeping gains, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggests. And more...
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48 min
January 24 Trump calls off tariffs over Greenland after deal with NATO leader, First arrests made following St. Paul church protest
President Donald Trump called off tariffs on U.S. allies opposed to his plans to annex Greenland after announcing a tentative deal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for a future deal on Greenland. Federal officials have made three arrests in connection with a protest that disrupted a Sunday morning church service last week in St. Paul. And more...

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48 min

About The States

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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…