America’s Lamest Home Videos What to know: The Biden administration has offered to pay Americans to send in videos of their electric vehicles—as long as they’re positive videos and stories about EVs. The TPPF take: Why is the administration trying to boost the image of EVs? One reason is shown in TPPF’s new study, which demonstrates that EVs are...
Rural and Red What to know: The Wall Street Journal notes that in Texas, opposition to parent empowerment can be both rural and red (Republican), even though polls and ballot referendums consistently show rural voters support school choice. The TPPF take: Rural Texans may feel their local public schools are safe and free of the woke political agenda. Sadly,...
Gale-Force Headwinds What to know: Danish wind energy firm Ørsted remains “committed” to developing offshore wind farms in U.S. waters, the White House says, despite the company having canceled two projects in recent weeks. The TPPF take: President Joe Biden’s green agenda calls for far more offshore wind facilities, despite their unproven record on safety to humans, wildlife and the...
Thinking Machines What to know: The Biden administration has new rules for artificial intelligence (AI) development, but the rules are unclear and leave too much up to regulators. The TPPF take: In order to responsibly innovate, the AI industry needs clear guidelines and guard rails. “This executive order further muddies the waters,” says TPPF’s Zach Whiting. “What’s more, going through...
We Broke the Internet (Almost)! What to know: TPPF’s new study on the true cost of electric vehicles continues to get plenty of attention in the media. The TPPF take: It’s tough to do a cost/benefit analysis until you know the real cost of something. That’s the purpose of the TPPF study. “The cost of producing electric vehicles...
They’re Here What to know: Artificial intelligence already plays a larger role in your life than you realize. The TPPF take: AI is hiding in plain sight. “AI has been around for decades, influencing us in ways largely unseen or unnoticed,” says TPPF’s David Dunmoyer. “This is why to ensure that technology serves humanity and not the other way around, transparency...
Spooky Season Parent Empowerment Edition! Who Will Help the Children? What to know: The Corpus Christi Caller-Times claims that parent empowerment and school choice do “nothing to uplift the needs of Hispanic students.” The TPPF take: Hispanic families are some of the strongest supporters of school choice—because they want what’s best for their children. “The truth is that Texas...
Spooky Season Climate Apocalypse Edition! Oh No! A Tipping Point! What to know: The earth’s climate is “at a tipping point,” according to the breathless media coverage of yet another U.N. study. The TPPF take: The media—and limited understanding—shape the unscientific climate narrative. “A recent study sought to test how environmental knowledge and climate specific knowledge are associated with climate...
See You in Court What to know: The state of Texas is suing the Biden administration over the federal government’s practice of cutting the concertina wire barriers Texas has installed to secure the border. The TPPF take: TPPF is co-counsel in this case. A secure border is the humane goal. “President Joe Biden’s inaction and inept policies on the...
Electric Vehicles and Electric Illusions What to know: As Fox News reports, a new study from the Texas Public Policy Foundation unmasks the true cost of electric vehicles. The TPPF take: Our study, “Overcharged Expectations: Unmasking the True Costs of Electric Vehicles,” shows how regulatory credits, hidden costs, and subsidies disguise the real cost of electric vehicles. “The...
At Least They’re Asking What to know: Texas school districts want voters to approve more debt and higher taxes in the November election. The largest single-item school bond is Prosper ISD’s $2.4 billion ask followed by Conroe ISD’s $1.8 billion proposition and Aldine ISD’s $1.6 billion proposal. The TPPF take: There’s no such thing as a free lunch....
The Weaponization of Public Resources What to know: Many school districts are using public resources to fight parental empowerment legislation. For example, Plano ISD and Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD were recently caught “us[ing] public communication forums to lobby parents and their greater school community to oppose [parental empowerment] legislation.” The TPPF take: Texas ISDs are weaponizing public resources against...