Divided by War What to know: Much of the rest of the world is divided on the war in Iran. The TPPF take: The U.S.-Israeli air campaign has already delivered historic results. “Ultimately, the regime faces a binary choice: recognize the futility of defiance or cling to its apocalyptic ideology at ever greater cost,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “The Iranian...
A Huge Exodus What to know: JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon issued a stark warning that “high taxes and declining quality of life are driving a ‘huge exodus’ of people and companies.” The warning was aimed at America’s left-leaning states, which are losing loads of people and income to well-governed conservative states, like Texas. The TPPF take: Americans are...
Just Plains Silly What to know: Plains ISD is a very small rural Texas school district with expensive tastes. Despite teaching only 414 kids in 2025-26, the district plans to build a $21 million sports complex featuring “a two story football facility with updated locker rooms, weight rooms, coaches offices and a film room that is intended...
Here They Come Again What to know: The city of Plano is, again, considering raising taxes to pay for “additional spending needs.” The last time city officials deliberated on setting a tax rate, the average homesteader’s tax bill jumped by 13.4%. The TPPF take: City Hall taxes too much. “The city of Plano has long shaken down taxpayers. From...
Not Happy What to know: California Gov. Gavin Newsom is disappointed in Elon Musk for pivoting to robotics and self-driving technologies, rather than remaining focused on expanding the market for electric vehicles. The TPPF take: Musk is smarter than Newsom. Most Americans simply don’t want electric vehicles right now, and with the federal EV mandates now gone, it makes...
Birthright Citizenship What to know: The Trump administration is suing to test whether the “birthright citizenship” doctrine is constitutional. The TPPF take: In the U.S., the very concept of “citizenship” is under siege. “The Left frames illegal immigration as a humanitarian right; the Right now echoes that framing under the guise of compassion and market necessity,” says TPPF’s Ammon Blair....
New SNAP Rules What to know: New rules for SNAP—food stamps—go into effect in Texas today. SNAP can no longer be used to purchase candy and sodas. The TPPF take: Allowing SNAP dollars to be used for soda and candy weakens the program’s purpose. “It does not promote healthy habits among welfare recipients and diverts taxpayer dollars...
Funny Business What to know: Barbers Hill ISD finds itself entangled in another controversy involving its handling of taxpayer money. New reports suggest the district is “set to collect three times the market rate for a new building it will lease out to Lee College, all of which will be paid by local taxpayers.” The TPPF take: There’s a...
Keep Austin Affordable What to know: Austin affordability was a big topic at the recent South by Southwest Festival. The TPPF take: Austin could become more affordable by ceasing to charge residents unconstitutional fees, such as the Transportation User Fee. “When a city wants to impose new taxes, it needs to hold an election so taxpayers have a say...
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...