The States

The Center Square

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 today's news on the taxpayer.

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34 episodes
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#240
Yesterday · 50 min
$18.8 Billion Could Flow to Scholarships Nationwide at Just 10% Taxpayer Participation | The States
A federal school choice tax credit set to benefit 120 million taxpayers, an ATF clarification on silencer repairs, the ongoing fight over Missouri's congressional map, and a Fed decision preview are covered on this episode of The States. Ahead of a January 2027 deadline, 31 states have opted into the federal Education Freedom Scholarship Program while 19 states and Washington, D.C. have not. Patrick Gray of the American Federation for Children discusses a new report finding that more than 120 m
#239
Friday · 44 min
Illinois Inspector General Mukasey Resigns Amid Harassment Investigation Complaints | The States
The 25th anniversary of September 11th, highlights from day two of the GOP's midterm convention, continued fallout over Illinois's vacant legislative inspector general position, and an economics breakdown of President Trump's price promises are covered on this episode of The States. Ceremonies marking 25 years since the September 11 attacks took place in New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, with President Trump speaking at the Pentagon alongside National Security Adviser C
#238
Friday · 45 min
33 Amicus Briefs Filed as SCOTUS Prepares to Hear Cook County AR-15 Ban Challenge | The States
On this episode of The States, Supreme Court gun ban arguments, one year since Charlie Kirk's assassination, a Georgia child welfare agency's cell phone surveillance tools, the GOP's midterm convention, and how 9/11 reshaped airport security. Ahead of December 2 oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court over state and local AR-15 bans, Michael O'Neill of the Landmark Legal Foundation discusses an amicus brief his organization filed challenging Cook County, Illinois's prohibition on the rifles. H
#237
Wednesday · 46 min
LA Opera Took $27M in Taxpayer Grants While Paying Executives $33M, Investigation Finds | The States
On this episode of The States: California's largest state employee union moves toward a strike vote, a new report grades states on public-sector worker freedom, 9/11's 25th anniversary brings both remembrance and political controversy, a Center Square investigation finds the LA Opera collecting millions in taxpayer grants alongside millions in executive pay, and FIRE releases its latest college free speech rankings. SEIU Local 1000, representing 96,000 California public employees, opened a stri
#236
September 8 · 46 min
Supreme Court Sets December 2nd Date for Biggest Gun Case Since Bruin | The States
Today on The States: DHS marks 25 years since 9/11 with its budget nearly quadrupled and no financial system Congress can verify, a House Oversight investigation examines DEA agents allegedly letting fentanyl shipments through in New Mexico, the U.S. Supreme Court sets a December 2 date for the biggest gun rights case since Bruin, New York City rolls out new restrictions on AI use in schools, Everyday Economics breaks down August's jobs report, and America's Talking covers West Virginia's lawsui
#235
September 5 · 48 min
Poll: Majority of Americans Say Antisemitism is On The Rise | Weekend Edition
On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, A majority of American voters think antisemitism is on the rise compared to a few years ago, according to a new poll. American voters across the political spectrum are divided on whether the rise of Democratic Socialists within the Democratic Party is a sign of positive change or creeping extremism, new polling shows. Louisiana school officials are raising concerns about a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow local voters to give old
#234
September 4 · 45 min
Illinois Gets Credit Upgrade, Still Ranks a "Sinkhole State" | The States
Today on The States: an Illinois state lawmaker and her husband seek to delay their federal fraud trial until after the election, Americans for Prosperity talks about a socialist convention in Chicago, a look at what state credit ratings actually tell taxpayers, Michigan's citizen-only voting ballot initiative officially fails while a new state grant fraud scandal emerges, Everyday Economics examines a cooling housing market, and America's Talking covers August's stronger-than-expected jobs repo
#233
September 3 · 43 min
Flock Has Spent $2 Million Lobbying Congress and State Legislatures | The States
Today on The States: newly unsealed search warrants reveal a criminal investigation into alleged voter fraud, Open Secrets breaks down how much license-plate camera company Flock has spent lobbying Congress and state legislatures, a federal court ruling raises questions about suppressor and short-barreled rifle regulations, Louisiana lawmakers and school officials clash over a proposed property tax exemption for seniors, Everyday Economics examines the debt financing AI investment, and America's
#232
September 2 · 49 min
ATF Confirms Breach of Its Own Investigative Database | The States
Today on The States: Lancaster County Board Vice Chairman Josh Parsons disputes Pennsylvania's characterization of two "measles-associated deaths," a new poll shows most voters want data center approval left to local governments, the ATF confirms a ransomware breach of an investigative database while facing pressure from both gun-rights advocates and state attorneys general, The Center Square reporter Therese Boudreau breaks down new polling on the rise of democratic socialism within the Democra
#231
September 1 · 37 min
Second Home Taxes Target People Who Can't Vote Against Them | The States
Today on The States: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani stands by Brad Lander amid a DSA rift over Israel policy, Governor Hochul and DHS Secretary Mark Mullen clash publicly over counterterrorism funding and sanctuary city policy, National Taxpayers Union's Andrew Wilford breaks down the legal fight over New York and Rhode Island's second-home taxes, Everyday Economics examines what the Fed chair's Jackson Hole speech leaves out, and America's Talking rounds up a new poll on data center approval, Mi
#230
August 31 · 48 min
Federal Crackdown Targets CDL Fraud: 110 Driving Schools Shut Down | The States
The battle over mail-in voting heads back to court as 25 states challenge a Trump administration rule requiring additional scrutiny and tracking of election-related mail. Meanwhile, the federal government is cracking down on fraudulent CDL schools and commercial drivers who fail English proficiency and safety requirements. On this episode of The States, Greg Bishop also breaks down new polling showing a majority of American voters believe antisemitism is on the rise, the latest Second Amendment
#229
August 29 · 47 min
AGs Conceal Records Tied To Longstanding Plans To Sue Trump | Weekend Edition
On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, Attorneys general across the United States are using a range of strategies to withhold 2024 emails discussing a longstanding plan to file lawsuits against the second Trump administration prior to his re-election. A coalition of education and union groups sued the Trump administration, seeking to block a rule that would impose time limits on visas for international students, exchange visitors and foreign journalists. Inflation remains the issue Ame
#228
August 28 · 44 min
Diary Reveals Fauci Recommended Cooper Delay NC Schools by Two Weeks + SCOTUS 2A Cases | The States
This episode of The States covers a new voters' poll on student loan debt risk, a Fauci diary entry showing his influence on Gov. Roy Cooper's 2020 North Carolina school reopening delay, Second Amendment litigation developments including a Supreme Court gun ban case and NRA bus tour, Illinois' new e-bike safety law, Virginia and Arizona communities reconsidering Flock camera contracts, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's response to measles-related deaths, and headlines on data center regulation an
#227
August 27 · 41 min
Trump's Tariffs Add $147 to Back-to-School Shopping, National Taxpayers Union Finds | The States
Greg Bishop covers where Meta's $17 billion state settlement money could go, how tariffs are driving up back-to-school costs, New York City's extended deadline on its second-home tax amid ongoing litigation, inflation's status as voters' top midterm concern, what to expect from the Fed chair this week, and headlines from Pennsylvania, California, and Missouri. States are beginning to learn how much they'll receive from Meta's roughly $17 billion multistate settlement, with amounts ranging from
#226
August 26 · 40 min
Newsom Calls Trump Mail-In Ballot Order "Orwellian" After Supreme Court Ruling | The States
On this episode of The States, mail-in ballots, ICE cooperation, student visas, inflation, Meta's $17.1 billion settlement, SpaceX's $100 billion Louisiana facility, and new midterm polling. A new The Center Square's Voters' Voice poll finds 63% of registered voters are concerned about the growth of socialism in American politics, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani weighing in on the controversy surrounding DSA figure Gustavo Gordillo. Gordillo faces allegations of
#225
August 24 · 43 min
Polling Shows Vance Is in a Different Tier — Democrats Still Haven't Found Their Vance | The States
The Trump administration announced a 90-day suspension allowing 300,000 metric tons of imported beef at 25% below current market prices to lower grocery costs, drawing criticism from cattle ranchers and rural-state lawmakers who say the move won't meaningfully lower prices given the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low. Noble Predictive Insights' Voters' Voice poll (2,500 registered voters, Aug. 12-16) found VP JD Vance leading the Republican 2028 field at 41% with Marco Rubio at 18% and no one
#224
August 21 · 42 min
Florida's Official Budget Is $113.8 B, Tax Watchdogs Found a Hidden $4.5 B | The States
Florida Tax Watch launched a Property Tax Resource Center to help voters evaluate a November constitutional amendment that would raise the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, cutting local government revenue by an estimated $12 billion annually within five years. Florida Tax Watch's Kurt Wenner said the measure doesn't restrict local governments from raising millage rates, fees, or special assessments to offset the lost revenue, and separately found the state
#223
August 20 · 44 min
Arizona's Voter ID Law Is Heading to the U.S. Supreme Court | The States
The U.S. national debt topped $40 trillion Wednesday, up from $39 trillion just five months ago, with the government adding more than $90,000 per second and fiscal year 2026 deficit spending projected to hit $2 trillion. Watchdog groups called the figure "intergenerational theft," noting the U.S. now spends more on debt interest than national defense, while House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington called the debt an "existential threat." The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case on whether
#222
August 19 · 41 min
Maryland's Digital Ad Tax Was Just Struck Down, Illinois & Washington Have Similar Laws | The States
A Center Square investigation found the NEA spent more than $51 million and the AFT more than $41 million on political activities and lobbying in 2025, with both unions contributing thousands of dollars each to all 16 Democratic members of the U.S. Committee on Education and Labor and no contributions to any Republican committee member. Maryland's Tax Court struck down the state's five-year-old digital advertising tax on multiple constitutional grounds, ordering an estimated $500-700 million in
#221
August 18 · 41 min
86% of States With High Electricity Bills Are Blue, While 80% with Lower Bills Are Red | The States
President Trump said he'll declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory after defeating Iran, but no federal agency — including the Department of War — has provided a cost estimate for controlling the waterway, which runs through Iranian and Omani territorial waters that neither country is offering to cede. Gas prices have climbed to $4.06 a gallon nationally, up from $4.01 a week earlier and $3.13 a year ago, coinciding with the ongoing conflict. A joint report from energy research groups fou

Showing 1–20 of 34 episodes