You should break up with your boyfriend. Not your real, human boyfriend—your AI boyfriend. Recent media coverage and cultural moments have brought renewed attention to how people are forming relationships with artificial intelligence, and how we ought to think about these rapidly developing technologies. A recent Prime Video series, “Scarpetta,” offers a striking fictional example....
When I was in college, I passed the César Chávez statue every day on my walk to class at the University of Texas. Now, César Chávez is the name of the road I take to work. For years, Chávez was presented as the figurehead for Mexican Americans, a symbol we were expected to revere. But...
The politics of the Iranian war feature an observable gap between interest and action for nearly all parties. The Americans possessed overwhelming casus belli versus Iran for nearly half a century, and did not act upon it until three weeks past. The Iranians possessed none against America for just as long, but exerted themselves with religious...
Alpha School’s “AI education shakeup” is really a warning to employers: the fastest way to outperform isn’t smarter tech—it’s removing the soul-crushing compliance load that keeps humans from owning the mission. Alpha School was founded in 2014, and it’s recently become a national talking point because its students do core academics in roughly two hours...
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently updated its superintendent salary database, revealing some intriguing new information about the take-home pay for public education elites. According to TEA’s 2025-26 dataset, there were 1,220 full- and part-time superintendent positions filled this year at 187 open-enrollment charter schools and 1,033 traditional school districts. For each of these positions, TEA provides select details, including ‘base pay’ and ‘total pay.’ Base pay is defined as “total payroll amount where payroll activity code is 80. (Does not include supplemental pay),”while...
Screens in School What to know: In 2009, Sweden replaced all of its school textbooks with laptops and tablet computers. Now, it’s spending $120 million to bring back books. The TPPF take: “EdTech” overpromises and under-delivers. “The amount of time students are spending glued to taxpayer-subsidized screens in the classroom is hard to determine, but one estimate puts it...
New Rules for SNAP What to know: More and more states are banning the purchase of junk food—sodas, energy drinks and candy—with SNAP benefits. Texas’ ban will go into effect April 1. But lawsuits have already been filed to overturn these new rules. The TPPF take: Lawsuits challenging SNAP nutrition waivers distract from the program’s original purpose. “SNAP...
An Illegal Tax What to know: On Monday, the Texas Public Policy Foundation filed a lawsuit against the city of Austin, challenging the legality of its Transportation User Fee (TUF). Per the lawsuit, “the TUF is not connected to a regulatory purpose and imposed on the public at large,” which therefore qualifies it as an illegal tax. The...
The EPA’s 2025 decision to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding is being called one of the largest deregulatory actions in US history. But what exactly is the Endangerment Finding, and why do supporters say this change matters for American families and businesses? In this Fast Facts breakdown, we explain the 16-year history of greenhouse gas...
Since it has been unable to pass new gun restrictions through the legislative process, President Biden’s Administration is intentionally ignoring and misinterpreting well-established law to shut down lawfully operating gun dealers. TPPF Senior Attorney Matt Miller breaks down how this backdoor scheme works and explains TPPF’s lawsuit to restore Americans’ legal right to purchase firearms.
Illegal activity that harms the U.S. is coming from Mexico in much the same way as it does from other corrupt individuals in other countries the U.S. currently sanctions. Texas should compile a list of corrupt Mexican elites and request the federal government to deny them entry to the U.S. or revoke their visas. Read...
Every Friday morning, I join the Cardle & Woolley Show on Talk1370 Radio in Austin to announce the week’s Winners & Losers. There was an overnight deal in the Senate to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, including the TSA workers, so if the House follows that lead, hopefully, nobody will have to...
Every Friday morning I join the Cardle & Woolley Show on Talk1370 Radio in Austin to announce the week’s Winners & Losers. In a weekend with long lines at every airport and record heat predicted, here’s who made the list. WINNER: 7 Countries Unite for Strait of Hormuz Coalition Seven nations have signed a letter...
Every Friday morning I join the Cardle & Woolley Show on Talk 1370 Radio in Austin to announce the week’s Winners & Losers. It is Friday the 13th and oil is going for over $100 a barrel this morning, but some good things are happening too. Here’s who made the list: WINNER: Day 14-Epic Fury...
Every Friday morning, I join the Cardle & Woolley Show on Talk 1370 Radio in Austin to announce the week’s Winners & Losers. As we wade through the fog of war and analyze who really did win and lose in Tuesday’s primary election, here’s who made the list: WINNER: Trump’s Epic Fury It was almost a...