The Right Idea – Details, episodes & analysis

Is more school funding really the key to better student outcomes—or does how we spend matter more than how much?
In this episode of The Right Idea, host Brian Phillips and TPPF’s Andrew Brown sit down with Dr. Eric “Rick” Hanushek, Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, to explore one of education’s toughest questions: Do dollars drive results—or does design and discipline matter more?

Dr. Hanushek is one of the world’s leading experts on the economics of education. His groundbreaking research has shaped how policymakers think about teacher quality, school finance reform, and student achievement.

Together, the panel dives deep into:

• The myth that more spending equals better outcomes
• Texas’ $100B+ public education budget
• What’s working in Dallas, Houston, and Washington, D.C.
• The rise of administrative bloat in public schools
• Teacher pay, accountability, and school choice

• • The impact of AI in the classroom and the future of learning

Hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen dive into the critical issue of indoctrination in K-12 education with special guest Ken Pope, CEO of the Coalition for Empowered Education and Senior Fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. They discuss how Colleges of Education are shaping teachers with ideological agendas, the impact on classrooms, and solutions to restore critical thinking and balanced education. From Marxist influences to grassroots efforts, this conversation uncovers the challenges parents face and how to combat politicized curricula.

00:30 - Brian and Derek catch up: New baby and festival banter
01:27 - Hot Take: Craziest band names at ACL 2025 (Wet Leg, Spacey Jane, Panda Bear, Dr. Dog)
04:00 - Introducing Ken Pope: CEO of Coalition for Empowered Education
06:47 - How Colleges of Education have shifted to ideological indoctrination
08:52 - The long march of critical theory in academia
12:03 - Exposure vs. Indoctrination: What’s the difference?
14:57 - From Marxism to modern victimology: Evolution of classroom ideologies
17:16 - Are teachers trained to be activists?
19:43 - The disconnect between parents and teachers’ goals
21:20 - Indoctrination in rural and urban schools alike
23:35 - What are education students actually learning?
24:27 - Shocking examples from social studies conferences
29:51 - Coalition for Empowered Education’s mission to retrain teachers
33:56 - Legislative and grassroots solutions to reform teacher training
37:46 - Universities doing it right: Hillsdale, UATX, and others
40:56 - Why mandate Colleges of Education? Alternative teacher certification
44:39 - Red flags for parents: How to spot indoctrination in classrooms
49:56 - How to connect with the Coalition for Empowered Education
50:28 - Closing thoughts and Sam Houston’s wisdom
 
Coalition for Empowered Education: https://cee.org

Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation: https://victimsofcommunism.org

Welcome to The Right Idea, the show where we break down the people, policies, and politics shaping Texas! In Episode 89, TPPF's Chief Communications Officer Bryan Phillips and Chief of Research Derek Cohen give a comprehensive recap of the final week of the Texas legislative session.

🔍 This episode covers:

• 🚫 The Texas House's final push to ban DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in K-12 education
• 📚 New rules for school libraries: cracking down on sexually explicit content
• 📜 Governor Abbott’s bill signing to stop illegal voting in Texas
• 🏡 The fight for housing affordability and zoning reform
• ⚖️ The latest on criminal justice and bail reform bills
• 🕒 The push to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time in Texas
• 🔥 Hot takes on barbecue, Pope merch, and Portillo’s (yes, really)

🎙️ Plus: A preview of next week's full session recap and a fun segment on Texas A&M baseball history you won't want to miss.

📩 Subscribe to “The Post” newsletter for exclusive content: texaspolicy.com/thepost

2:35 Hot Take - What’s your favorite “Pope merch”?
6:45 DEI out of K-12 Texas Education
10:38 Texas cracks down on sexually explicit content in kids’ sections of public libraries
19:30 Election Integrity - new law stops illegal voting in Texas
28:28 Housing Affordability
35:20 Death Star 2.0
37:50 Bail Reform
43:00 Texas Time!
45:02 Survey Says!
51:25 Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics
52:38 What’re you watching? 

In this episode of The Right Idea, hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen sit down with David Dunmoyer, Campaign Director for Better Tech for Tomorrow at TPPF, to discuss Texas’ bold leadership in tech policy. From banning social media for minors to pioneering AI regulation, Texas is setting the stage for a safer, innovative future. Learn about the shocking harms of social media on kids, the legislative push to protect the next generation, and why tech giants like Elon Musk are flocking to the Lone Star State.

2:00 Hot Take - What’s the strangest scandal in American political history?
8:20 Texas Tech Policy - Is there a reason Texas has taken the lead?
12:30 The aggressive push to limit children’s access to social media
37:28 Smart phones in Texas classrooms
49:15 2025 - The Year of the Parent!
54:23 A.I. - hero or villain?

TPPF's Brian Phillips, Derek Cohen, and Andrew Brown break down the final stretch of the Texas legislative session on a major deadline day. They discuss Texas’ foster care system, statewide testing, education funding, taxpayer funded lobbying, and more.

1:50 Hot Take: What page of the calendar will the House end on tonight?
5:24 Foster care in Texas
24:40 The Bell Tolls with the first deadline in the Texas House tonight 
35:58 Bye-Bye Texas STAAR Test!
39:56 Senate Bill 2972 reins in college campus protests
41:17 Bail Reform in Texas
43:23 Taxpayer Funded Lobbying
47:22 What’re you watching?

Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen have TPPF Distinguished Senior Fellow Sherry Sylvester on to discuss the battle against woke indoctrination in higher education. From the groundbreaking Senate Bill 37 to the decline of DEI programs, we explore how Texas is leading the charge to reform public universities.

2:14 Should we reopen Alcatraz to criminals?
5:00 SB 37 - addressing the growing “wokeness” of curriculum and faculty believing they run our universities 
24:33 Jordan Peterson’s view that American universities are “gone”
33:43 President Trump vs. Harvard University
40:01 Maine legislator barred from speaking on the floor and casting votes over social media post
45:05 Survey Says: 72% say the increased focus on race and racial inequality after George Floyd’s death did not lead to change 
51:20 Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics: Only 8% of registered voters participated in Texas' May 3 elections
58:04 What to Watch For

 Brian Phillips and guest co-host Ariana Guajardo tackle the heated debate on bail reform with Nikki Pressley from Right On Crime, exploring why Texas’ Constitution ties judges’ hands and what Governor Abbott’s push for reform means for public safety. They also explore polling insights from the Texas Lyceum and offer a sneak peek at what’s next for the Texas Legislature. And just for fun, the viral "Gorilla vs. 100 Men" social media controversy and what makes Texas truly unique—barbecue, y’all, and Southern hospitality!

1:37 Hot Take 1: Man vs. Gorilla
4:42 Hot Take 2: One “Texas thing” you’d like the rest of the nation to adopt
8:05 Key problems with the current Texas bail system
8:58 Do we need a Constitutional amendment?
12:56 Do other states have a “right to bail?”
13:48 A balanced approach that prioritizes public safety but doesn’t keep low risk defendants languishing in prison
21:31 What does polling reveal about where Texans are on this issue?
29:25 Survey Says: Texas Lyceum poll asks how “Texan” Texas residents feel about themselves
35:34 Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics: Reviewing Trump’s first 100 days
38:56 What to Watch For

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