In this episode of The Right Idea, TPPF's Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen break down how political activism has seeped into Texas healthcare — influencing diagnoses, treatments, and public policy.

They’re joined by Dr. Lisa Ehrlich, internal medicine physician and former TMA trustee, and Joseph Figliolia, Manhattan Institute policy analyst and author of a major report on the TMA’s drift into ideological advocacy.

Together, they examine:
* How the TMA embraced gender-affirming care despite weak evidence
* Why many physicians feel silenced
* How institutional capture happens inside medical organizations
* The impact on children, parents, lawmakers, and the practice of medicine
* What reforms are needed to bring medicine back to evidence-based practice

00:30 – Thanksgiving politics & family discussions
03:40 – Today’s topic: Gender ideology in healthcare
05:18 – Guest introductions: Dr. Ehrlich & Joseph Figliolia
05:42 – Why Joseph investigated the TMA
07:23 – Is the TMA doubling down despite national pushback?
09:07 – Evidence problems & reversals in Europe
10:25 – Dr. Ehrlich: What clinicians saw on the ground
11:38 – Social contagion & the rise of gender questioning
13:12 – Vulnerable populations & patterns emerging
14:58 – Why endocrinology led the shift
16:02 – “Science by consensus” and activist medicine
17:36 – The problem with WPATH & activist guidelines
18:33 – How TMA was captured: institutional mechanics
19:23 – Why doctors stay silent
20:57 – Fear of being labeled discriminatory
22:08 – Dr. Ehrlich: Intimidation inside the TMA
23:56 – Identity sections and cultural politicization
25:05 – Personal attacks vs scientific debate
26:31 – Medicine requiring ideological pre-commitments?
27:55 – Historical parallels (e.g., lobotomies)
28:58 – Pandemic mandates & ethical shifts
31:09 – Three separate issues: dysphoria, treatment, ideology
32:57 – Suicide risk, treatment failures, evidence gaps
34:18 – Is someone funding this movement?
36:01 – TMA’s definitions avoid “gender dysphoria” entirely
37:44 – The financial incentives behind affirming care
38:39 – Do associations influence medical boards?
41:15 – How TMA influences Texas policy
42:07 – Is Texas protecting kids effectively?
43:30 – Evidence-based standards being ignored
44:56 – CME problems: outdated, debunked studies
45:14 – Can the TMA be fixed?
47:34 – Structural governance problems
49:24 – What shoe drops next?
51:07 – The comprehensive HHS gender dysphoria review
51:35 – Dr. Ehrlich’s advice for physicians afraid to speak up

Texas homeowners are furious—83% say property taxes are a major burden! In this deep-dive episode of The Right Idea, host Brian Phillips and TPPF experts James Quintero and Jose Melendez break down why property taxes exploded after 2014, how local governments game appraisals & bonds, and Governor Greg Abbott’s aggressive new plan to finally crush the burden.

From $91 billion in bond elections to Austin’s 121% tax levy growth, we expose the spending sprees, wasteful logos, and “Taj Mahal” stadiums. Learn how voter turnout in May vs. November lets special interests sneak through hikes—and why super-majority votes, appraisal caps, and taxpayer-triggered cuts could change everything.

00:02:05 – Hot Take: 50-Year Mortgages & Christmas Lights Drama
00:06:06 – The Hockey Stick Graph: Taxes Up 400% Since 1998
00:19:10 – Rate Hikes & VATRE Elections
00:24:14 – Poll: Texans Don't Know Who Sets Their Tax Bill
00:29:28 – State vs. Local Blame: Legislature Can Rein In Locals
00:31:09 – Budgets Growing 2x Faster Than Population + Inflation
00:38:32 – AG Paxton Sues Cities for Skipping Audits Before Hikes
00:46:05 – Appraisal Shell Game: Values Up 138%, Rates Down 7% = 121% Levy Boom
00:55:19 – Lightning Round: Abbott’s 6-Point Plan Breakdown
00:55:54 – Require 2/3rds voter approval for tax increases
00:59:07 – Eliminate M&O School Taxes
01:02:11 – Create Appraisal Predictability, Cap Appraisal Growth
01:03:24 – Require Common Sense Local Spending Limits
01:05:44 – Switch to Appraisals Taking Place Only Once Every Five Years
01:08:18 – TAXPAYER TRIGGER: 15% Signatures = Force Tax-Cut Vote
01:12:05 – Can we pass this in ONE Session like School Choice?

REFERENCED: Testimony to the Senate Committee on Local Government on SB 9

In the 100th episode extravaganza, hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen talk to leading conservative voices at the 2025 TFRW Conference in San Antonio.

6:51 Dawn Buckingham, Texas Land Commissioner
17:40 Deborah Wall, Camino Real Republican Women President
49:47 Jim Wright, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman
1:05:02 Mary Elise Cosgray, Statewide Politics Reporter for The Texan
1:34:04 Grant Moody, Bexar County Commissioner
1:47:21 Congressman Nathaniel Moran
2:12:52 Misty Spears, San Antonio City Council Member
2:27:39 Jill Tate, Texas Federation of Republican Women President
3:00:39 Texas State Senator Pete Flores (SD-24)
3:21:59 Wrap up

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

TPPF's Derek Cohen and Jose Melendez catch up on the latest from the 89th Legislative Session and subsequent special sessions with Rep. Cole Hefner. They dive into the quorum break that put Texas in the national political spotlight before discussing policy issues like property tax reform, taxpayer-funded lobbying, housing affordability, and safeguarding Texas from foreign adversaries.

00:53 – Hot Take: Jose Melendez on the Last Man Standing Ultramarathon
04:12 – Rep. Cole Hefner: From Citizen to Chairman – His Journey to Public Service
06:19 – Addressing Quorum Breaks: Stiffer Penalties and Legislative Challenges
07:10 – Priorities for the Current Special Session
08:59 – Property Taxes: Balancing State Relief and Local Government Accountability
11:09 – Appraisal Reform: Ensuring Fairness and Predictability
12:40 – Banning Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
15:04 – Housing Affordability: HB 840 and Revitalizing Downtown Texas
17:56 – SB 17: Protecting Texas Land from Hostile Foreign Adversaries
22:50 – TRACE Act and Protecting Texas Schools from Foreign Influence
25:42 – Senate Bill 1362: Banning Red Flag Laws and Upholding Due Process
30:16 – Transportation: Addressing CDL Standards and Interstate Challenges
33:17 – Water Issues in Texas: Balancing Growth and Private Property Rights
36:15 – Looking Ahead: Key Issues for the 90th Legislative Session
41:14 – Survey Says: Addressing Voter Discontent with Government Responsiveness

Hosts Derek Cohen and Andrew Brown talk with Texas State Representative Stan Gerdes (HD-17) about a variety of policy issues addressed in the 89th Legislature. Tune in for the latest on water policy challenges, the future of nuclear energy, local government transparency, and the new smart device ban in schools. Plus, Rep. Gerdes dishes on representing both the Barbecue Capital of the World (Lockhart) and the home of the legendary Snow’s BBQ (Lexington).

1:05 - Hot Take: What Should Be a Crime?

3:09 - Barbecue Talk: Lockhart vs. Snow’s BBQ

5:07 - Rep. Gerdes’ Political Journey with Gov. Rick Perry

10:22 - Water Policy: Challenges and the Vista Ridge Project

13:22 - Nuclear Energy: Texas as the Epicenter

16:02 - HB 119: Banning Foreign Adversary Lobbying

18:17 - HB 1522: Local Government Transparency

25:30 - HB 2017: Grayson's Law (Intoxication Manslaughter Penalties)

30:51 - HB 4086: Stopping Urban Food Waste Dumping

35:02 - Unfinished Business: Local Taxation and Water Issues

38:00 - Post-Interview: More Barbecue and Legislative Updates

39:32 - News: West Texas A&M Drag Ban Discussion

44:14 - News: Cell Phone Ban in Texas Schools

50:28 - News: Travis County Bridge Rebuild Success

52:49 - Survey Says: National Guard in Washington, D.C.

Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen unpack the heated Texas special session, covering the ongoing redistricting battle, the Texas Women's Privacy Act (SB 7), and critical flood response efforts in the Hill Country. From quorum breaks to property tax reforms and the push to replace the STAAR test, we explore the policies and politics shaping Texas.

1:37 - Hot Take: Presidential Privileges & Trump’s FIFA Moment
4:45 - Redistricting Debate: Is It Unconstitutional?
18:15 - Texas Women’s Privacy Act (Bathroom Bill) Update
22:45 - Flood Emergency Response Proposals
32:08 - Eliminating the STAAR Test: What’s Next?
35:52 - Property Tax Relief with SB 9
42:09 - Harris Poll: Kids, Smartphones, and Unsupervised Play
50:07 - Potential Dallas Death Star Bill Lawsuit
53:14 - What to Watch