Across the States

Episode Archive

Episode Archive

142 episodes of Across the States since the first episode, which aired on March 16th, 2019.

  • 110: Loudoun County and the Struggle for Parents Rights in Education

    February 3rd, 2022  |  27 mins 25 secs

    In Loudon County, Virginia, the struggle for parents rights in education has captured the public’s attention. On today’s episode of Across the States, we sit down with John Whitbeck, partner at WhitbeckBennet Family Law firm and former Chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, Bill Ashworth, Vice President of Public Affairs and Engagement, and Andrew Handel, Director of the ALEC Taskforce for Education and Workforce Development. Whitbeck also serves as a Professor of Law at George Mason University and has been active in the movement for parents rights in education.

  •

    109: The Pro-Business Approach for Struggling States w/ Carla J. Sonntag and Jonathan Williams

    January 27th, 2022  |  17 mins 10 secs

    State legislatures are assembled, and lawmakers are debating how best to foster economic growth in their states. Join us as we sit down with Carla J. Sonntag, President and Founder of the New Mexico Business Coalition, and Jonathan Williams, ALEC Chief Economist and Executive Vice President of Policy, to discuss what changes need to be made in states like New Mexico struggling with high taxes and overbearing regulation.

  • 108: Social Media Censorship and Free Speech w/ Jonathon Hauenschild

    January 18th, 2022  |  23 mins 9 secs

    Content moderation on social media has sparked vigorous debate over freedom of speech in online forums. From the permanent suspension of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s personal Twitter account to the Heroes of Liberty controversy at Facebook, the intersection of the 1st Amendment and the Internet are only growing in importance. Matthew Fisher sits down with Jonathon Hauenschild, Director of the ALEC Communications and Technology Task Force to discuss Twitter, Facebook, and other social media giants while exploring ways lawmakers can get involved.

  • 107: Protecting Children with Foster Care Reform w/Sen Nancy Barto and Rebecca Masterson

    January 11th, 2022  |  15 mins 14 secs

    America’s foster care system is in need of reform to protect children and give them a chance to grow up in a stable environment. On this week’s episode of Across the States, we sit down with Senator Nancy Barto of Arizona and Rebecca Masterson, Chief Counsel of Gen Justice, to discuss policies that will empower law enforcement and our foster care system to protect America’s youth.

  • 106: Remedies for Homelessness w/ Carol Hollowell and Andre Cushing

    December 6th, 2021  |  28 mins 13 secs

    The crisis of homelessness is spreading throughout the United States impacting over half of a million Americans. But organizations like the Switchpoint Community Resource Center are working to make a difference. Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Carol Hollowell, Executive Director of Switchpoint, and Andre Cushing of the American City County Exchange as they discuss remedies to the homelessness that empower and uplift communities.

  • 105: Winners and Losers of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, from Cryptos to EVs

    November 17th, 2021  |  18 mins 58 secs

    The U.S. House of Representatives has approved and sent the bipartisan infrastructure bill, H.R. 3684, to President Biden’s desk for his signature. While a noteworthy investment in America’s critical infrastructure, not all is excellent or praiseworthy. Join Matthew Fisher and Jonathon Hauenschild, Director of the Communications and Technology Task Force at ALEC, as they delve into the Bitcoin tax and preferential treatment of select corporations and industries.

  • 104: Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform w/ Rep. John Andrews, Senior Attorney Dan Greenberg, and Nino Marchese, and October State Legislator of the Month

    November 9th, 2021  |  35 mins 23 secs

    Civil asset forfeiture presents numerous legal and constitutional problems for state and local authorities. Join Nino Marchese, Director, Civil Justice and Criminal Justice, as he sits down to discuss the civil asset forfeiture and efforts at reform with John Andrews, State Representative from Maine, and Dan Greenberg, Senior Attorney at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

  •

    103: IRS Power Scheme w/ NE Treasurer John Murante

    October 20th, 2021  |  15 mins 24 secs

    The Biden administration and Congressional Democrats are actively pushing a massive expansion of power for the Internal Revenue Service that would directly impact hundreds of millions of Americans and their bank accounts. Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with John Murante, Nebraska State Treasurer, to delve into the details and consequences for states and businesses of this proposal, as well as what state and local lawmakers can do.

  • 102: Israeli-U.S. Relations After Trump w/ Aryeh Lightstone and Karla Jones

    October 13th, 2021  |  33 mins 29 secs

    The Abraham Accords constituted a historic leap forward in Israel’s relations with the Arab world. But what does the future hold for the United States and Israel after the Trump presidency? And how can local lawmakers get involved? Join Karla Jones, Senior Task Force Director for Federalism and International Relations, as she sits with Aryeh Lightstone, advisor to former United States Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Special Envoy for Economic Normalization, to discuss where both nations go from here.

  •

    101: The Dangers of Budget Reconciliation w/ Stephen Moore, PA Rep. Seth Grove, Lee Schalk, and Jonathan Williams

    October 1st, 2021  |  31 mins 23 secs

    The budget reconciliation bill proposed by the Biden administration and congressional Democrats would fundamentally change the way our economy operates with trillions in new spending and a myriad of complications and problems for the private sector. Join Lee Schalk, Vice President of Policy at ALEC, as he sits down to discuss the reconciliation bill and its potential impact with FreedomWorks Chief Economist Stephen Moore, Pennsylvania Representative Seth Grove, and ALEC Executive Vice President Jonathan Williams.

  •

    100: A Price Too High? The $3.5 Trillion Reconciliation Bill

    September 28th, 2021  |  20 mins 37 secs

    Congress is debating the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill proposed by the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats. What impact would this unprecedentedly large tax and spending proposal have on the American economy? Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Jonathan Williams, Chief Economist and Executive Vice President for ALEC, to discuss the details of this reconciliation bill and the ramifications for Americans like you.

  • 99: The Fall of Afghanistan and Return of the Taliban w/ MP Liam Fox, Ambassador Kelley Currie, Ilan Berman, Michael O’Hanlon and Rep. Gene Ward

    September 2nd, 2021  |  27 mins

    The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban and the subsequent evacuation of civilians in Kabul by U.S. and NATO forces has left America stunned. Join Karla Jones, Director of the ALEC Federalism and International Relations Task Force, as she sits down to discuss the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan with member of Parliament in the United Kingdom and former Shadow Defense Secretary Dr. Liam Fox, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Kelley Currie, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council Ilan Berman, Director of Research in Foreign Policy for the Brookings Institute Michael O’Hanlon and Hawaii Representative Gene Ward.

  • 98: Keeping the Promise to Retired Public Employees: The ALEC Debt Trilogy

    July 22nd, 2021  |  27 mins 39 secs

    Did you know the states owe more than $20,000 per person in unfunded liabilities? Millions of Americans and their hopes of a secure retirement are vulnerable to mismanagement and poor accounting by statehouses. Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Jonathan Williams, ALEC Chief Economist, Lee Schalk, Senior Director of the Center for State Fiscal Reform and Thomas Savidge, Research Manager for the Center for State Fiscal Reform as they discuss the newest release of the ALEC Debt Trilogy: Other Post-Employment Benefit Liabilities, Unaccountable and Unaffordable and State Bonded Obligations. Learn how ALEC is helping states steer their way onto stable financial ground.

  •

    97: Hydrogen: Powering the Future w/ Rep. Melissa Ballard

    July 9th, 2021  |  16 mins 16 secs

    The State of Utah is not resting on its first-place finish in Rich States Poor States. Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Representative Melissa Ballard of Utah and ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Manager Carly Good, to discuss how the Beehive State is investing in the future of energy with Hydrogen. Find out how Representative Ballard’s efforts to enact Alternative Fuel Incentives Amendments are helping diversify and grow Utah’s economy on this edition of Across the States.
    *Correction: 1/3 of total GDP goes through Utah.

  • 96: The FORUM Act and Free Speech: Protecting the First Amendment on College Campuses w/ Rikki Schlott

    June 26th, 2021  |  13 mins 9 secs

    Freedom of speech has become a hotly contested matter on college campuses but the State of Montana is taking a stand for the First Amendment. Listen in as Matthew Fisher sits down with Rikki Schlott, freelance journalist and writer, and Andrew Handel, Director of the ALEC Education and Workforce Development Task Force, to discuss Montana’s recently enacted FORUM Act and how it protects free speech in postsecondary education.

  • 95: Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, HIV/AIDS Prevention, and Pride Month with State Legislator of the Month Rep. Phil Christofanelli

    June 23rd, 2021  |  13 mins 20 secs

    In just the last four months, the Missouri House of Representatives has passed sweeping education reform and HIV/AIDS prevention legislation thanks to State Legislator of the Month, Representative Phil Christofanelli. Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Rep. Christofanelli to discuss the passage of both his Empowerment Scholarship Accounts plan and his proposal to expand access to pre- and post-HIV exposure medications.