National Review's Radio Free California Podcast

Episode 457: The General Sherman of Los Angeles

She oversaw the burning of L.A.’s Westside last year. In April, Mayor Karen Bass turned to the city’s schools, backing the teacher union’s demand for the budget-busting pay hike that led to the announcement this week that the district is nearing bankruptcy. Bonus! We remember the 1973 premiere of American Graffiti, George Lucas’s love letter to California’s Central Valley. Music by Metalachi. Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Housing Affordability and Housing Demand PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment Governor Newsom announces $20 million in grant funding matched by Google to support local journalism across the state State workers have returned to offices. What’s next in the fight for telework? LAUSD deadline looms to make painful cuts after county says board actions ‘erode confidence’ RFC 441: Strike or not, Los Angeles Unified is on an unsustainable trajectory RFC 441: The price of LAUSD union peace will be $1.2 billion a year. Next up is paying for it RFC 441: LAUSD deal reached: Mayor Bass steps in to avoid LAUSD strike  Alameda County supervisors unanimously approve policy-driven reparations plan for Black residents Alameda County Identifies $55M in Budget Reductions, but Major Gap Remains As World Cup fans pour into LAX, long-awaited people mover train struggles with delays People Mover lawsuit LA blew $60M on homeless ‘fix’ — it housed just three units Katie Porter says she’s done with politics after failed governor bid as she teases next chapter   This week’s advertising sponsor: California Center for Nonprofit Law NPOlawyers.com boardtrainingprinciples.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 456: Ro’d to Nowhere

Representative Ro Khanna (D., Silicon Valley) traveled to Israel, drove into a military conflict zone — and claims the Israeli government threatened him. AG Rob Bonta leads a 12-state effort to block Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner; Paramount considers joining the California exodus. Newsom signs off on a historic tax hike. California transfers coastal land to tribes. Even the wealthy can’t afford San Francisco, but don’t blame the government. Bonus tracks! CPC’s Andrew Davenport reviews the California Teachers Association’s 30-year war on charter schools and his colleague Sheridan Karras wonders why California ended standardized tests that measure student understanding of American and California history. Music by Metalachi. Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes How Israel Should Handle Progressive Palestine Pilgrimages Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) Leiter on X Paramount weighs leaving California over Warner Bros. rift Why I’m Suing to Block the Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger (AG Rob Bonta) Newsom’s polling slip California still one of the worst states to move to in 2026, consumer report says Newsom Lawyers Up As Missing Tax Returns Fuel More Questions About Federal Probe California approves ‘largest tax hike in history’ — here’s where you’ll pay more Newsom wants to increase an obscure tax for millions. He needs Trump’s help | Opinion California is returning a stretch of its coast to Indigenous tribes: “This is beyond huge” New California law requires allergen labeling at chain restaurants In San Francisco, Even $180,000 Tech Salaries Are No Longer Enough This week’s advertising sponsor: California Center for Nonprofit Law NPOlawyers.com boardtrainingprinciples.com Bonus track! CPC manager of strategic initiative Andrew Davenport Waging war on charter schools: A history of teacher unions’ anti-charter school campaign in California Bonus track! CPC research director Sheridan Karras The forgotten subject: California’s failure to assess history education Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

455: Rozo the Clown

Like Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris, Rep. Ro Khanna is eyeing the White House. But this week was a rough one for the SIlicon Valley progressive: he finally abandoned his defense of alleged serial rapist and Nazi sympathizer Graham Platner, beclowned himself during a House Intelligence Committee hearing, and faced fresh reporting that he lives more like the oligarchs he denounces than the working class he champions. Will and David also discuss the Hollywood bombshell whose wartime invention helped change the modern world, and California's surprising connection to the Scopes "Monkey Trial," which began 101 years ago. Music by Metalachi. Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Hours of chaos, vandalism in Newport Beach: Are viral social media posts to blame? Newsom goes national Tony Thurmond criticizes ‘undemocratic’ plan to overhaul superintendent’s role The cost of Khanna’s Platner alliance 'Clown': Ro Khanna Picks a Fight With the Wrong Guy During House Select Committee on China Hearing ‘Ro’ Me the Money! How Progressive Class Warrior Ro Khanna Lives Like the Oligarchs He ‘Fights,’ With In-Home Elevator, $190K Range Rover, and Family-Owned Golf Courses. The Nazi Tattoo Guy Is Exactly Who You Thought He Was On the California Coast, a Picture-Perfect City Falls on Hard Times Vance Downplays Watergate and Compares Himself to Nixon David’s latest Capital Record podcast: Setting the Record Straight on Alexander Hamilton   Bonus track: Fighting for liberty in the 9th Circuit California Policy Center, Inc. v. Garcia-Brower About Jeff Schwab About Emily Rae Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 454: Gavin Newsom’s Declaration of Dependence

Preparing for a White House run, Newsom calls for “a new social compact” -- a national wealth tax that confiscates wealth for a menu of failed California-style social programs. Bonus! Our homage to California cowboy actor Slim Pickens. Music by Metalachi. Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Ranch Dressing surpasses ketchup America’s 250th and the fight for liberty in California It's time for a national billionaires’ tax and a new social compact Real estate tax-cut proposal pulled from ballot in last-minute deal Newsom under fire as California gas tax hike sends pump prices even higher SF trans march turns violent as angry mob turns on cops and stomps police car UC Berkeley to Open Nancy Pelosi Institute Aimed at Advancing Democracy Kamala Harris’s Silence on Gaza Cost Her the White House? Biden pick Becerra asked Clinton to pardon cocaine trafficker after donations from his father: House probe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 453: Gay Electrons

News that California’s utility commission has created a new program to boost LGBTQ participation in electricity production has David and Will wondering: Has California become so absurd that the end is truly near? Newsom rejects the SEIU’s compromise offer on its Billionaire Wealth Tax. Government union leaders say they’ll join the California exodus if they’re forced to work. Music by Metalachi. Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes CA Democrats want election results faster, but say any solution hurts voters Crippling impact of Paramount-Warner deal on Los Angeles workforce revealed Inside California’s Gay-Certification Program Newsom Fined by State Campaign Finance Watchdog Just Ahead of DOJ Investigation Don Newsom Refuses an Offer California state workers union warns of mass exodus with Newsom’s return to office order | CA Politics 360 Capital Record podcast: Remote Work’s Growing Damage Sam Bankman-Fried Prison Experiment Sponsor:The California Center for Nonprofit Law Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.