About the show
People spend far too much time looking just at the federal government. The same is true with podcasts. Instead, the discussions hosted on Across the States focus on state issues and state solutions within state capitols, by state legislators and with state policy experts.
The American Legislative Exchange Council is the country's largest voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States. It acts as a forum to exchange ideas and develop state-based solutions.
Across the States on social media
Episodes
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Bringing Big Sky Spirit to Indiana: Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe at the ALEC Annual Meeting
August 6th, 2025 | 12 mins 38 secs
Montana State Representative Kerri Seekins-Crowe may represent just over 10,000 constituents in Yellowstone County, but she carries the concerns of Montana’s working families with her wherever she goes. At ALEC’s 52nd Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, the ALEC State Chair reflected on her path into public service, her recent legislative priorities, and what she hopes to take home from the conference.
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Kansas Leadership in Indiana: Speaker Daniel Hawkins at the ALEC Annual Meeting
July 29th, 2025 | 10 mins 5 secs
budget, kansas, leadership
Speaker Daniel Hawkins talks budget discipline, building camaraderie, and leadership at the ALEC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.
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Rich States Poor States Turns Eighteen: Across the States Special Edition
June 23rd, 2025 | 33 mins 35 secs
On a special edition of the Across the States podcast, ALEC Executive Vice President Lee Schalk and ALEC President and Chief Economist Jonathan Williams sat down to discuss the newest edition of Rich States, Poor States: The ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index. Now in its 18th year, the report has become one of the most anticipated annual releases for state lawmakers and policy watchers alike — and this year’s rankings didn’t disappoint.
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States That Work: A Roadmap to Labor Policy Reform
June 17th, 2025 | 9 mins 24 secs
commerce, economic development, freedom, insurance, labor, workers
In a recent Breakdown from the American Legislative Exchange Council, Lars Dalseide sat down with ALEC Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development (CIED) Task Force manager Alan Jernigan to discuss States That Work: A Labor Policy Roadmap Across America. The report, spearheaded by Jernigan, evaluates each state’s labor policies based on ten model reforms developed by the CIED Task Force.
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Identifying Bad Actors in Our Supply Chains: An ALEC Women’s Leadership Episode
April 22nd, 2025 | 18 mins 56 secs
ai, international relations, supply chains
Last month, as part of ALEC’s Women’s Leadership series, Brooklyn Roberts and I spoke with national security expert Dr. Meg Reiss about how states can defend themselves and the nation from People’s Republic of China (PRC) influence, interference, and infiltration. Dr. Reiss served as former US Senator Mitt Romney’s national security policy advisor and is a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, as well as a fellow at the National Security Institution at George Mason University. Dr. Reiss is also the founder and CEO of SolidIntel, a company that uses generative AI to derisk supply chains.
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Germany’s Political Shift: An ALEC Women’s Leadership Episode
March 24th, 2025 | 22 mins 43 secs
elections, germany, leadership, women's history month
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Civil Justice Reform in Georgia: Nino Marchese & Mark Behrens on ALEC TV
March 12th, 2025 | 26 mins 45 secs
Georgia’s legislature, under Governor Brian Kemp’s leadership, has unveiled a bold package of tort and civil litigation reforms aimed at addressing what many see as a growing crisis of lawsuit abuse. Mark Behrens, a longtime advisor to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and former chair of its Civil Justice Task Force, joined Nino Marchese on ALEC TV to discuss the implications of Senate Bills 68 and 69. Behrens, a staunch supporter of the reforms, sees them as a critical step toward balancing Georgia’s legal system while boosting its economic prospects.
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States Grapple with AI Regulation Amid Rapid Innovation: Jake Morabito on ALEC TV Breakdown
January 13th, 2025 | 19 mins 23 secs
ai, artificial intelligence, digital privacy, technology
Jake Morabito, Senior Director of ALEC's Communications and Technology Task Force, breaks down how the states approached artificial intelligence, digital privacy, and more in 2024 and what to expect in 2025.
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Universal Education Freedom and Tax Cuts in Iowa: John Wills at the ALEC Annual Meeting in Denver
October 1st, 2024 | 14 mins 26 secs
education, freedom, taxes
At the 51st annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in Denver, Iowa Speaker Pro Tempore John Wills took a few minutes to sit down with ALEC TV to share the latest about his state’s groundbreaking reforms in recent years. The conversation underscored Iowa’s ambitious efforts to give families more control over their children’s education and to simplify the tax code while spurring economic growth. #education #freedom #taxes
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Surviving the Superminority in Illinois: Rep. John Cabello at the ALEC Annual Meeting
September 18th, 2024 | 8 mins 10 secs
criminal justice reform, illinois, policy, recidivism
Illinois State Representative John Cabello, a Republican serving as Assistant Minority Leader, spoke with Catherine Mortensen about the challenges of working in a superminority. Sometimes it's more about stopping the bad bills than passing the good ones.
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Finding Strength in ALEC with New Hampshire Rep. Jeanine Notter on ALEC TV
September 13th, 2024 | 5 mins 23 secs
During the 51st ALEC Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, New Hampshire State Representative Jeanine Notter shared her experiences and insights as a dedicated public servant. With 14 years of service, Nodder has faced numerous challenges, yet remains committed to her role, largely due to the support and motivation she receives from the ALEC community.
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New Jersey Assemblyman Paul Kanitra Discusses Policy Challenges in the Garden State on ALEC TV
September 5th, 2024 | 12 mins 15 secs
New Jersey Assemblyman Paul Kanitra stood out as a representative from a state not often associated with the ideals of limited government, free markets, and federalism. Facing the unique challenges of New Jersey’s political landscape, he maintains a commitment to pushing back against the policies he finds extreme.
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Education Freedom with Mesha Mainor at the ALEC 51st Annual Meeting
August 21st, 2024 | 5 mins 56 secs
alec, education, freedom, mesha mainor
Georgia State Representative Mesha Mainor recently shared her insights at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in Denver, Colorado. Marking her second year as an ALEC member, where she shared insights on critical issues affecting her community and discussed how the resources of ALEC are helping her address these challenges in Georgia. As a representative for the people of downtown Atlanta, she revels in the hope provided by the Georgia Promise Scholarship as she continues her commitment to advancing education freedom.
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Border Crisis, Education Freedom, and Property Tax Reform with Texas Rep. Caroline Harris Davila at the 51st ALEC Annual Meeting
August 13th, 2024 | 12 mins 52 secs
border, denver, education, genz, property tax, texas
At the 51st ALEC Annual Meeting in Denver, Texas Representative Caroline Harris Davila, the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the Texas State House, shared her insights on the more pressing issues facing the Lone Star State. From the ongoing border crisis to education reform and historic property tax cuts, Davila provided a window into the challenges facing one of the nation’s most politically significant states.
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States Face Fiscal Reckoning: Jonathan Williams & Lee Schalk on the Fiscal New Year
July 17th, 2024 | 19 mins
alec, budgets, california, debt, finance, fiscal
Jonathan Williams, ALEC Executive Vice President of Policy and Chief Economist, and Lee Schalk, ALEC Vice President of Policy, recently examined the start of the new fiscal year. As 46 States Enter New Fiscal Year, most hope to avoid economic pitfalls lest they follow California's $170 Billion Budget swing into crippling debt.
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Lost Children of Ukraine: Featuring Gillian Huebner, Karla Jones & Brooklyn Roberts
July 1st, 2024 | 14 mins 21 secs
alec, gillian huebner, global children's issues, refugees, ukraine
Gillian Huebner, Executive Director of the Collaborative on Global Children's Issues at Georgetown University, spoke with Karla Jones & Brooklyn Roberts about the children who have been kidnapped and disappeared during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.