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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74 episodes
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#260
October 8 · 47 min
Biggs Says Arizona Should Be More Like Florida Than California | The States
Arizona Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs makes his case for governor against Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs as early voting begins. Pennsylvania State Police warn skill games could be seized after the state Supreme Court’s Oct. 13 deadline. Host Greg Bishop covers these stories and more on this Oct. 8 episode of The States, powered by The Center Square. Andy Biggs interview: Biggs discusses the Colorado River and groundwater, immigration enforcement and responds to clips from Hobbs. He also covers
#259
October 7 · 50 min
Aaron Ammons Ballot Mistakes: 600 Misprinted Ballots Mailed in One Illinois County | The States
States are looking at mileage-based user fees to replace shrinking gas tax revenue, and President Donald Trump has ordered a waiver of the federal diesel excise tax and dyed diesel penalties through year's end. Host Greg Bishop covers these stories, ballot errors in Champaign County, Illinois, and Tennessee's failed execution of Christa Pike on this Oct. 7 episode of The States, powered by The Center Square. Mileage-based user fees: Reason Foundation transportation policy analyst Jay Derr revie
#258
October 6 · 42 min
Supreme Court Denies 48 Gun Cases, Takes No New Second Amendment Cases | The States
The U.S. Supreme Court denied 48 firearms-related cases and took up no new Second Amendment cases on the first orders list of its new term. Georgia drivers are paying about 33 cents less per gallon after Gov. Brian Kemp suspended the state gas tax. Host Greg Bishop covers these stories and more on this Oct. 6 episode of The States, powered by The Center Square. Supreme Court gun cases: The court denied 37 challenges to the federal felon-in-possession ban and declined Johnson v. Jacobson, a case
#257
October 5 · 34 min
Supreme Court Climate Case, Mail-In Voting and New Seattle Shooting Info | The States
The Supreme Court takes up a major climate lawsuit, questions continue over mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, and new Seattle public records raise questions about the July shooting. The States also examines NASA's missing total cost estimate for its Moon-to-Mars efforts, the possibility of a larger U.S. military presence in South America, and rising Illinois school transportation costs. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, a case invo
#256
October 2 · 39 min
Judge Blocks Connecticut Convertible Pistol Ban + California Billionaires' Tax | The States
The U.S. Treasury and IRS have released rules for the federal scholarship tax credit, and a federal judge has blocked Connecticut's Glock-style handgun ban the day before it was set to take effect. Host Greg Bishop covers these stories and November ballot measures across the states on this Oct. 2 episode of The States, powered by The Center Square. Federal scholarship tax credit: Children's Scholarship Fund President and CEO Darla Romfo reacts to the rules for the federal tax credit for donatio
#255
October 1 · 50 min
Democrat Candidate Wants to Nationalize Homeowners Insurance + Data Center Debate | The States
Louisiana Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jamie Davis joins The States to lay out his platform against U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow. Plus, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson calls data center opposition a "Chinese psyop" as the Senate blocks the Ratepayer Protection Act. Host Greg Bishop covers state and local policy news impacting taxpayers on this Oct. 1 episode, powered by The Center Square. Louisiana Senate race: Jamie Davis is a northeast Louisiana farmer who advanced to the November general elect
#254
September 30 · 46 min
SCOTUS Gun Ban Case Set for December + Advocate Says History Favors Bans | The States
America.gov's AI launch tied to SNAP fraud warnings, a pivotal Supreme Court preview on assault weapons bans, Pennsylvania's data center NDA crackdown, Walmart's personalized pricing pledge, and commercial real estate's looming refinancing crunch on this episode of The States. America.gov launches amid fraud warnings: President Trump unveiled america.gov, an AI-driven portal consolidating tens of thousands of federal databases and services (passport renewals, national park reservations, with do
#253
September 29 · 42 min
Detroit Pastor Paid $540,000 by Taxpayer-Funded Nonprofit, 61% of Its Entire Budget | The States
Trump's new government AI search engine, a Supreme Court win for voter roll verification, Pennsylvania's AI chatbot and license plate bills, a Detroit pastor's $540K nonprofit salary, and a push for open primaries nationwide on this episode of The States. America.gov AI search engine: The Trump administration launched america.gov, an AI chatbot pulling answers only from official government sources across 29,000 databases. SAVE database ruling: A 6-3 Supreme Court ruling allows DHS to share its
#252
September 28 · 48 min
IRS Loses Up to $304 Billion a Year to Fraud + Has No Strategy to Stop It | The States
Government audit reveals up to $304B in annual tax fraud, diesel export ban debate, school cell phone bans under scrutiny, and Pennsylvania's legislature returns for its final 11 days on this episode of The States. Tax fraud audit: A GAO report estimates the federal government loses $116-$304 billion annually to tax fraud — 17-43% of the total tax gap — with no agency-wide IRS strategy to address it. GAO recommends the IRS designate an anti-fraud oversight entity; the agency hasn't said whether
#251
September 26 · 48 min
Judge Blocks Trump DEI Cuts To Teacher-Training Funds | Weekend Edition
On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, a Massachusetts federal judge blocked the Trump administration from cutting around $600 million in teacher-training funds. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has prompted donors to spend $38 million on her favorite charities and third-party organizations, in some cases from donor companies who had hundreds of millions of dollars worth of business before the city. The Georgia Department of Family and Children Services spent $7.3 million on software to su
#250
September 25 · 46 min
Illinois Lt. Gov. Stratton Distances Herself From Piker + Backs Ending the Filibuster | The States
Inflation's hidden tax effect, New York's #1 ranking for taxes and spending, an interview with Illinois Senate candidate Juliana Stratton, and Maricopa County's fight to end federal oversight on this episode of The States. Inflation & tax revenue: Orphe Divounguy explains why rising prices don't automatically mean a windfall for state governments — sales tax revenue rises with prices, but government purchasing power stays flat since governments face the same inflation. Lower-income and fixed-in
#249
September 24 · 41 min
Connecticut's Glock Ban Takes Effect October 1 + Illinois Pushes Manufacturer Fees | The States
Trump-Xi state visit, a First Amendment fight over union dues at a "private" library, viral AI surveillance camera hearings, DEI funding rulings, and Glock-pattern gun ban litigation on this episode of The States. Trump-Xi state visit: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived for a multi-day state visit, with trade (a $202B U.S.-China deficit), AI competition, and allegations of Chinese election interference (claims of 220 million stolen U.S. voter files) expected to dominate discussions. Protests
#248
September 23 · 50 min
Bass Raised $38 Million for Favored Charities + Donors Had City Contracts at Stake | The States
Corpus Christi LNG expansion, Michigan utility rate hikes, a $1.4B Allegheny County pension crisis, LA's behest payment investigation, and the two-speed housing market on this episode of The States. - LNG export expansion & Michigan energy rates: FERC released a draft environmental impact statement for a Corpus Christi LNG terminal expansion that could add 24 million tons/year in export capacity, with a final investment decision expected in late 2027. Meanwhile, Michigan utility DTE Energy is r
#247
September 22 · 43 min
Georgia Lawmaker Presses DFACS on $71 Million Spending Spike With No Answers | The States
Trump slashes UN funding, a deep dive on Congress's broken budget process, nationwide data center battles, Georgia's $71M software overspend, and state Medicaid rankings on this episode of The States. - Trump cuts UN funding, addresses AI and Iran: President Trump announced a $1 billion cut to U.S. funding for the United Nations over six months, including 15% budget cuts and roughly 4,000 eliminated positions. He also rejected international AI regulation and said he'll decide soon whether to pu
#246
September 21 · 46 min
DOJ: Prosecutors Can't Jail Dealers Who Sell Handguns to 18-Year-Olds | The States
Fed's first rate hike since 2023, gas and diesel price surge, major DOJ gun rule changes, and the Michigan Senate race on this episode of The States. - Gas & diesel prices climbing: Regular gas near $4.43/gallon, diesel around $6.48, driven by Middle East tensions, Russia-Ukraine war, and flooding at an ExxonMobil refinery in Joliet, IL. GasBuddy's Patrick DeHaan says relief may come if the Joliet refinery restarts and Iran talks at the UN progress, though a BP Indiana refinery's maintenance co
#245
September 19 · 48 min
Congress Never Funded the Iran War. The Pentagon Is Paying Anyway | Weekend Edition
On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Missouri's congressional map again. Illinois is facing new lawsuits over the state’s digital ad tax and social media platform fee. The cost of operation Epic Fury continues to rise despite Congress never approving a dollar. A vaccine non-profit continues to raise pay for its executives even as it has lost millions of dollars. And a look at why the federal reserve chose a rate hike and what it means for Americans.
#244
September 18 · 37 min
Gov. Shapiro Pushes Trump to Regulate AI Industry, Calls for International Cooperation | The States
AI regulation debate, ATF suppressor ruling, California homelessness and high-speed rail spending, election integrity rankings, and more state policy news on this episode of The States. Shapiro calls for federal AI regulation (PA): Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed AI policy in Pittsburgh, pointing to Gecko Robotics as a model for ethical AI use. He says the federal government — and international cooperation — must set the rules; he's already signed an executive order on ethical AI use by state contr
#243
September 17 · 45 min
U.S. Supreme Court Could Decide If Your Concealed Carry Permit Works in Every State | The States
Fed raises interest rates for the first time in three years, gun rights groups take on state permit laws, CAIR blocks a Center Square reporter, and truckers get an emergency fuel-hauling waiver — all on this episode of The States. Today's stories: Fed Rate Hike: FOMC unanimously raises the federal funds rate a quarter point to 3.75%-4%. Economist Orphe Divounguy explains why it won't fix inflation (driven by energy/tariffs, not demand), and why consumers should expect elevated rates, 7% mortga
#242
September 16 · 46 min
Gov Hochul Announces New Rules For AI Data Centers As Trump Admin Calls Concerns A Hoax | The States
Congress debates whether public employee unions are spending member dues on political causes their workers don't support, New York and the Trump administration clash over AI regulation while data center fights spread across three states, a Kentucky congressman moves to impeach the Secretary of Defense over the Iran conflict's cost and legal authority, an economist breaks down a labor market that's stalled rather than collapsed, and headlines cover the 2026 midterms, Social Security, and a Chicag
#241
September 15 · 34 min
870,000 Cut Off From Federal Loans Over $39 Billion Fraud | The States
Gas and diesel prices hit record highs after a Joliet, Illinois refinery outage, a taxpayer-funded vaccine nonprofit raises executive pay while posting multi-million dollar losses, a coalition of states sues over a new immigration "public charge" rule, Illinois's digital ad tax faces a legal challenge, and the White House Fraud Task Force announces new suspensions tied to Paycheck Protection Program fraud. Regular gas hit an all-time high of $4.33 a gallon nationally, and diesel set a record at

Showing 21–40 of 74 episodes