Classical is Cool What to know: The Associated Press seems aghast that many Texas families, who finally have school choice options, are choosing classical and Christian education for their children. The TPPF take: Classical education focuses on the books that actually shaped our country — Plato, Aristotle, Shakespeare, the Federalist Papers, and other lasting works....
America First — and Texas What to know: Vice President J.D. Vance has been campaigning in Texas, and bringing the “America First” message to the Lone Star State. The TPPF take: America First matters for Texans. “In March 2021, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star to secure a border left all but defenseless,”...
Credit Where Credit is Due What to know: Five U.S. universities have launched a new accreditation effort, the National Association for Academic Excellence, to challenge existing accrediting schemes. The TPPF take: The NAAE is a new birth of excellence. “For generations, the six regional accreditors exercised a de facto monopoly,” says TPPF’s Tom Lindsay. “Their...
Texas’ Critical Infrastructure What to know: Gov. Greg Abbott recently announced Project Watershed 250, an effort to protect the state’s water infrastructure from cyberattacks. But is Texas’ critical infrastructure still under threat? The TPPF take: Protecting the infrastructure that millions of Texans depend on is a critical part of the state’s homeland security strategy. “Texas...
It’s Rank, All Right What to know: Alaska voters will soon go to the polls and decide whether to abolish ranked choice voting — a system that President Donald Trump has called “stupid.” The TPPF take: Ranked choice voting has been anything but simple for Alaskans. “Ranked-choice voting lets Alaskans rank candidates in general elections...
South of the Border What to know: A new law in Mexico amounts to a massive power grab by the ruling party, MORENA. Americas Quarterly calls it “democratic backsliding.” The TPPF take: It gets worse. Mexico’s governing party is building a permanent partisan organization in the United States while actively using Mexico’s 53 U.S. consulates...
It’s a Start What to know: Advocacy group PEN America reports “11,982 books banned in public schools, 2025-26 school year.” More than 8,000 of these “bans” were in Texas. The TPPF take: The books in question have no business being promoted by public schools. “The controversial books include ‘Gender Queer,’ a comic book-style memoir that...
It’s No Secret Now What to know: The rising Democratic Socialists of America faction of the Democratic Party is making its position on immigration clear — no borders and amnesty for illegal aliens present in the U.S. The TPPF take: The DSA’s plan for immigration is the worst one yet. “The DSA’s immigration policies could...
Cartels and Corruption What to know: The Wall Street Journal reports that Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum is “getting fed up” with President Donald Trump linking her to the criminal cartels that run freely in her nation. The TPPF take: Here’s an idea: Maybe she should be fed up with the criminal cartels themselves. “In Mexico,...
Stoked on Columbus! What to know: Blue states continue to lose sleep over Columbus Day, and insist on eliminating it from their basic vocabulary. The TPPF take: Oh, please. Christopher Columbus was an important explorer. “The left loves changing the names of things that conflict with their worldview,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “We’ve all suffered...
That’s Progress What to know: Texas is taking steps to remove radical Islamism from Texas schools—both K-12 and higher ed. Naturally, the Texas Tribune calls this “anti-Islamic.” The TPPF take: Texas public education is right to divest from Islamist influence. “While much-needed attention has finally been placed on the outsized and once-underreported influence of foreign...
Someone Needs Remedial Math What to know: The Houston Chronicle has a story out claiming that “Texas public schools could lose $227M from voucher exodus.” The TPPF take: That’s not how school funding — or the Texas Educational Freedom Act (TEFA) funds — work. “Public school funding is at an all-time high of more than...