Matters of Policy & Politics

California High-Speed Rail: More “Loco” Than “Motion” | Bill Whalen and Lee Ohanian | Hoover Institution

Why has California governor Gavin Newsom taken to denouncing Walgreens’ drug policy (hint: abortion-pill availability) and what should happen with the Golden State’s problematic high-speed rail project that’s more “loco” than “motion”? Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, discuss the latest in the Golden State including why Newsom chose not to deliver a State of the State address, fentanyl-plagued San Francisco revisiting its sanctuary policy, and California bracing for (sigh) another round of battering rainstorms.

Chicago’s Mayor Gets Schooled | Bill Whalen and Michael Hartney | Hoover Institution

A Chicago mayoral primary fueled by the issue of crime ends up with the incumbent’s ouster and an April runoff between two Democrats with opposing views on education – one espousing school choice, and the other backed by a powerful teachers’ union. Michael Hartney, a Hoover Institution fellow and author of How Policies Make Interest Groups: Governments, Unions, and American Education, discusses the oversized influence of teachers unions in policy-making, elections, and interest-group politics.  

A Year After Putin’s Invasion: What is Next for Eastern Europe? | Bill Whalen and Tomasz Blusiewicz | Hoover Institution

As Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine passes its one-year milestone, what are the prospects of hostilities spreading across the European continent? Tomasz Blusiewicz, a Hoover Institution research fellow and a historian of modern Europe and Russia, reflects on the war’s legacy tapping into his roots as a Polish native, a Russian university professor, and a scholar and observer of the Baltic states’ as they emerged from their Cold War existence.

The Supreme Court: Student Loan Debt and “Hiding Elephants in Mouseholes” | Bill Whalen and Michael McConnell | Hoover Institution

The 2023 Supreme Court docket includes weighing the constitutionality of President Biden’s student loan debt-forgiveness plan, state legislatures’ roles in redistricting, and whether California can export woke business practices across state lines. Michael McConnell, a Hoover Institution senior fellow and Stanford Law School professor, explains why he took part in an amicus brief in the matter of loan forgiveness and what to expect from the conservative-majority court.  

Vengeance, Virtue and “Who We Are” | Bill Whalen and Zachary Shore | Hoover Institution

A look back at wartime moral dilemmas confronting America’s “greatest generation” – dropping atomic bombs, interning Japanese-Americans, whether to starve Axis populations – all raise questions concerning how present-day leaders will confront crises. Zachary Shore, a Hoover Institution national security fellow and Naval Postgraduate School professor, discusses lessons learned from World War II and the fine art of understanding enemies especially when dealing with the likes of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

No Home Court Advantage in Atherton | Lee Ohanian, Bill Whalen, Jonathan Movroydis | Hoover Institution

Can California governor Gavin Newsom play a role in the congressional debate over an assault weapons ban and what is the feasibility of reparations for San Francisco’s black community? Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, join Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis to discuss the latest in the Golden State, including NBA great Stephen Curry’s failed attempt to block a proposed housing expansion in his hometown of Atherton and why the now-retired Tom Brady (or so he says) may be looking at a heftier California tax bill.

How ‘Bout Them Cowboys? | Lee Ohanian, Bill Whalen, Jonathan Movroydis | Hoover Institution

The aftermath of California’s devastating winter storms begs the questions: can state government clean up efficiently and effectively; and will lawmakers in Sacramento develop housing and regulatory policies to minimize the effects of future disasters? Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, join Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis to discuss lessons learned from the winter storms, what do about San Francisco’s urban blight, plus the irony of a storied Texas franchise (the Dallas Cowboys) that choose to do business in the Golden State.

Make a Run for the Border | Lee Ohanian, Bill Whalen, Jonathan Movroydis | Hoover Institution

Why did California governor Gavin Newsom slip across the US-Mexico border and how can anyone explain the Golden State’s exorbitant gasoline prices? Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, join Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis to discuss the politics of California-style “pain at the pump;” why Newsom’s newfound interest in America’s immigration crisis plays into his national aspirations; and what the future might hold for two California-based entities (Twitter and Disney).

UC Campus Strikes – And Striking a Blow Against Big Oil? | Lee Ohanian, Bill Whalen, and Jonathan Movroydis | Hoover Institution

What’s the story behind the student-workers’ strike at UC campuses across California, and what changes in homeless policy will a pair of mayors-elect bring to Los Angeles and San Jose? Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, join Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis to discuss the latest in the Golden State, including the feasibility of a state windfall tax on oil companies’ profits currently making the rounds in Sacramento.

Saints, Sinners, and Salvageables: Turduckens and How to Discuss Politics This Holiday Season | Ben Ginsberg and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution

November provides two political hurdles for many an American: a contentious election, followed by a heated conversation around the Thanksgiving table. Ben Ginsberg, the Hoover Institution’s Volker Distinguished Visiting Fellow and a preeminent authority on election law, is joined by political strategist Sarah Longwell and Hoover distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen to discuss how best to blend in election integrity alongside the rest of the Thanksgiving trimmings on the table.