We know that both the Republicans and Democrats are having “branding” issues nowadays with many voters deciding to become unaffiliated or independent.   So, is that good news or bad news for refocusing our political debates on ideas rather than partisan bickering? Brandon Davis, the executive director for Liberty for Nevada, joined the show to talk about the opportunity we have in this modern political age to break through the partisan gridlock and elevate the core concepts that unite most people.  

Short-term rentals—like the kind Airbnb helps facilitate—have earned the wrath of big players in the hospitality industry as more and more tourists look for alternatives to the high-priced traditional hotel-casinos along the strip. And so, how are casinos, hotels and hospitality unions responding? Well, they’re running to government, asking lawmakers to effectively regulate away economic opportunities from property owners looking to tap into this new(ish) market. Wiz Rouzard, director of grassroots operations with Nevada’s chapter of Americans For Prosperity, joined the program to talk about the latest attacks on property rights from Nevada’s legislature—and what it really means for property owners, entrepreneurs and consumers alike.

As partisanship rises, it seems like more and more people are finding themselves “politically homeless.” So, what does that mean for moving policy forward in such a tribalistic political culture? Mike Noble, chief of research for OH Predictive Insights, joins the program to talk about the trending political shifts—and what that means for both major parties in the near future.

As is obvious to anyone who spends time perusing “political Twitter,” social media can be an ugly place. From tech giants censoring unpopular political content to the general cultural rot that emanates from much of social media, there’s plenty to hate about “big tech.”   So, what should be done about it, if anything?  John Hawkins, conservative writer and founder of rightwingnews.com, says social media is a scourge that really should be wiped from the face of the planet… short of that (admittedly fringe) solution, he would be content with merely dismantling the giants in Silicon Valley by using antitrust laws against them.   John joined the program to share his perspective with Nevada Policy’s Michael Schaus—someone who is decidedly more libertarian on the issue and generally very hesitant to believe any government action (including antitrust) is capable of addressing the underlying cultural issues of big tech’s biggest problems.  

For most people, the idea of an “Innovation Zone” in Storey County still raises more questions than answers right now—such as whether or not allowing a private tech company to build it’s own autonomous community is the 21st century equivalent of a “company town.”   Pete Ernaut from R&R Partners and Jeremy Aguero from Applied Analysis joined the program to discuss the transformative—and ambitious—plan to grant Blockchains LLC the ability to create it’s own community northern Nevada.   

Will partisan politics get in the way of greater government transparency?  Former Nevada Policy President and Freshman Assemblyman Andy Matthews (R-District 37) joined the show to talk about how the legislative session is unfolding, and where some of his priorities lie as a member of the minority party.   Some of his big proposals focus on something that should be non-partisan: Government transparency.  

Even with schools slowly reopening, parents are growing increasingly critical of the one-size-fits-all public education system.   Valeria Gurr, state director of the Nevada School Choice Coalition, joined the program to talk about the way Nevada parents have found creative options to public education during the pandemic—and what that means for education in this state moving forward. 

When Governor Steve Sisolak announced his plans for an “innovation zone” that would essentially give a blockchain company the ability to build it’s own city, more than a few eyebrows were raised.   The real question is: Are these “innovation zones” a free market experiment in that ultimate libertarian fantasy of creating communities outside of government’s control… or are they a 21st century version of a “company town” come to fruition through cronyism and political favoritism?  Greg Brooks, president of the Better Cities Project, joined the program to talk about reasons for concern (and some things to like) about the governor’s creative new proposal to spur economic development.  

At what point does the “emergency” that ostensibly justifies Governor Steve Sisolak’s one-man-rule of Nevada no longer qualify as an emergency?   Nevada Policy Vice President Robert Fellner has just released a new report that answers that precise question. The short answer: The powers assumed by the governor’s office have never actually been justified under the state’s constitution.  

What is more important: “equitable outcomes” or “equal opportunity.”   Chairman and Cofounder of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Daniel J. Mitchell joins the podcast to talk about the important distinction between the two—and, more importantly, why free market advocates need to figure out how to start talking about inequality in America.