Across the States

The premiere state-focused policy podcast

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

  • Championing Worker Freedom Across The States: Alan Jernigan and Vincent Vernuccio on ALEC TV

    August 22nd, 2025  |  9 mins 24 secs
    commerce, economic development, freedom, insurance, labor, workers

    As debates over worker rights ripple across the country, one message continues to echo from state to state: workers deserve the freedom to choose the work arrangements that fit their lives best. But how should lawmakers turn that principle into policy?

    To help answer that, ALEC Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development Task Force Manager Alan Jernigan and Institute for the American Worker President Vincent Vernuccio sat down on a recent ALEC TV Breakdown to spotlight the third edition of States That Work: A Labor Policy Roadmap Across America. The publication, they explained, is more than a report—it’s a call to action.

  • From Family to Fiscal Reform: North Carolina Rep. Brian Echevarria at the ALEC Annual Meeting

    August 21st, 2025  |  11 mins 48 secs
    economy, north carolina, tax reform

    One of North Carolina’s newest legislators tackles property tax reform with confidence and conviction.

    North Carolina Representative Brian Echevarria spoke with ALEC Director of Policy Advancement and Media Relations Lars Dalseide on ALEC TV about turning a family challenge into a political calling by championing property tax reform.

  • Marching Toward Zero: Arkansas Senator Jim Dotson at the ALEC Annual Meeting

    August 20th, 2025  |  14 mins 6 secs
    arkansas, economy

    ALEC Board Member Jim Dotson shares how Arkansas climbed into the top 10 in economic competitiveness and why it won't stop there.

  • Keeping Competitive at Home: Michigan Speaker Matt Hall at the ALEC Annual Meeting

    August 13th, 2025  |  14 mins 49 secs
    economy, infrastructure, michigan

    At the 52nd ALEC Annual Meeting, Michigan Speaker Matt Hall described his priorities as rooted in the belief that economic growth and public safety go hand in hand. By focusing on a business climate that rewards investment, infrastructure spending that delivers results, and policies that respect the rule of law, he believes Michigan can compete with the strongest states in the nation while protecting the communities that call it home.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Germany’s Political Shift: An ALEC Women’s Leadership Episode

    March 24th, 2025  |  22 mins 43 secs
    elections, germany, leadership, women's history month
  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.