Yellowstone (and King Ranch) What to know: The Paramount series “Yellowstone” continued to break records with its mid-season finale last weekend. Fans were left with several cliffhangers. The TPPF take: Like the Yellowstone Ranch, the King Ranch in Texas (a model for the show) is also besieged—but here, the threat is from the unsecured border. “From its founding in...
It Wasn’t the Population that Bombed What to know: CBS’s “60 Minutes” led off the New Year by recycling old, debunked claims of a “population bomb” that will lead to wars and famines. The TPPF take: Paul Ehrlich and the doomsayers are still wrong. There has never been a better time to be a human being. “Young people can...
Billions and Billions What to know: A newly released report says that to end unsheltered homelessness in San Francisco alone will cost upwards of $1.4 billion, in addition to the $1.1 billion already spent there. And even that won’t be enough as an additional $410 million will need to be spent annually. The TPPF take: The San Francisco...
Clever Isn’t Always Smart What to know: Four days before Christmas, the city of Austin’s Transportation Department tweeted the reworded song, “I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus,” with lyrics explaining that because she was texting, “She didn’t see him cross the street, now his body’s a red streak.” The TPPF take: Maybe it’s a bad idea to...
Harris County’s Election Failures Revealed What to know: The Texas Secretary of State’s office conducted a full forensic audit of the 2020 General Election in Collin, Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant counties and found “very serious issues” in Harris County’s election systems. These irregularities raise serious concerns about the need for additional election integrity measures. The TPPF take: Texans must...
A Positive Effect What to know: Other states, including West Virginia, are taking advantage of a tool TPPF designed that helps prospective college students know if the degree they’re considering is worth the price tag. The TPPF take: We shouldn’t ask whether college is worth it; we should instead ask which college programs are worth the money. “Some programs...
Recipe for Disaster What to know: The Biden administration now has its sights on natural gas, planning to “phase out” the fuel source that provides clean, affordable energy to the U.S. The TPPF take: Biden’s policies will lead to widespread energy poverty. “Under Biden’s attempts to ‘phase out’ natural gas, petroleum, and coal, the prices we pay...
Coverage Isn’t Care What to know: States that have expanded Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act are shifting resources away from low-income children and to able-bodied adults. The TPPF take: Medicaid expansion increases demand (by adding patients) while not increasing the supply of health care providers who accept Medicaid. “Government-run health care systems make a promise to patients: affordable,...
Fighting Back What to know: More states are standing up to woke investment firms that are adhering to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles—to the detriment of their investors and pension holders. The TPPF take: Texas is leading the way on rooting out ESG from state investments. “The ESG movement typically targets industries deemed politically incorrect, including fossil fuel...
Piling on the Debt What to know: Local government debt in Texas now tops $417 billion, or more than $14,000 per Texas citizen, The Texan reports. The TPPF Take: It’s up to voters to decide on bond propositions. But voters should understand that taking on more debt means paying higher taxes. “Generally speaking, general obligation bonds approved by...
Save the Whales What to know: The Biden administration’s green energy agenda relies on offshore wind to provide electricity to much of the U.S.—but that will come at the expense of the endangered North Atlantic right whale. The TPPF take: TPPF attorneys have filed a lawsuit over offshore wind plans that endanger marine wildlife, including the North...
Human Trafficking What to know: President Biden’s open border policies have led to a spike in human trafficking. The TPPF take: The Biden administration has allowed criminal cartels to take control of the U.S. border. “The migrant-smuggling economy along the southern border now tops $20 billion, and that doesn’t even account for how much cartels profit from...