Susan Pendergrass speaks to Allison Schrager about inflation, the Federal Reserve's next move in light of panic in the banking sector, how supply-side reforms can boost the economy and more.

Allison Schrager is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a City Journal contributing editor, where her research focuses on public finance, pensions, tax policy, labor markets, and monetary policy. She is also the author of An Economist Walks Into a Brothel and co-founder of LifeCycle Finance Partners, LLC, a risk advisory firm.

Read Allison's report here: https://bit.ly/3JHQK0w

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A New Economic Playbook with Allison Schrager

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Patrick Tuohey join Zach Lawhorn to discuss:

- Key takeaways from Governor Parson's State of the State address
- Does Missouri have a budget surplus? 
- A "source of income" ordinance passes in KC 
- What's moving in Jefferson City, and more

LINKS: 
Patrick Tuohey's blog: https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/budget-and-spending/no-missouri-is-not-running-a-budget-surplus/

David Stokes Testimony on Source of Income Rules: https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/municipal-policy/house-bill-2385-and-source-of-income-rules-for-rentals/

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State of the State, Source of Income, and Triumphant Returns

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Patrick Tuohey about the stadium funding debate in Kansas City. The Royals want a sales tax extension to pay for their new ballpark, potentially costing taxpayers between $4.4 billion and $6.4 billion. The Chiefs are also seeking tax dollars for upgrades to Arrowhead.

Patrick Tuohey is senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute and co-founder and policy director of the Better Cities Project. Both organizations aim to deliver the best in public policy research from around the country to local leaders, communities and voters. He works to foster understanding of the consequences — often unintended — of policies regarding economic development, taxation, education, policing, and transportation. In 2021, Patrick served as a fellow of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas. He is currently a visiting fellow at the Yorktown Foundation for Public Policy in Virginia and also a regular opinion columnist for The Kansas City Star.

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A New Ballpark Could Cost KC Taxpayers Billions with Patrick Tuohey

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Patrick Tuohey join Zach Lawhorn to discuss:

– The KC Stadium tax "No" vote victory 
– Other Missouri election day results 
– The latest on the $50 billion state budget that passed out of the House, and more. 

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"No" Vote Wins on the KC Stadium Tax, and a $50 Billion State Budget

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Jenny Clark, Founder & CEO of Love Your School, about the experience of navigating Arizona's Education Savings Account (ESA) Program from a parent's perspective.

Jenny shares her personal journey as a mother of five in Arizona and how her family has utilized a variety of schooling options to fit each child's unique needs. She explains the flexibility ESA programs offer, the challenges parents face in accessing and managing the funds, how it empowers families to take control of their children's education, the growing popularity of school choice in Arizona, and more.

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The ESA Experience with Jenny Clark

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Charles M. Silver, professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, and David Hyman, professor at Georgetown Law, about their proposal for reforming Medicare by giving money directly to patients instead of providers. They explain how fraudulent practices like 'upcoding' are draining taxpayer dollars, driving up healthcare costs, and offer solutions to reduce fraud and improve efficiency.

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How to Reduce Medicare Fraud with Charles M. Silver and David Hyman

In December 2024, in Springfield, Missouri, the Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity hosted an event featuring Dr. Aaron Hedlund, Chief Economist at the Show-Me Institute, and Elijah Haahr, former Missouri Speaker of the House and host of The Elijah Haahr Show on KWTO.

The discussion focused on the 2025 economic outlook for Missouri and the U.S., exploring issues such as unsustainable government spending, the growing national debt, and the Federal Reserve's role in shaping inflation, housing, and labor markets.

Today's episode is a recording of that event.

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2025 Economic Trends for the U.S. and Missouri with Aaron Hedlund and Elijah Haahr

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Ben Scafidi, professor of economics and director of the Education Economics Center at Kennesaw State University. He is also a Friedman fellow with EdChoice and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. They discuss the financial implications of declining enrollment in public schools, highlighting how districts with fewer students often experience increased funding per student. Scafidi explains the paradox of declining enrollment leading to financial windfalls for these districts, allowing them to pay teachers more and increase staffing levels. The conversation also touches on the need for a shift in mindset regarding school funding and the importance of adapting to demographic changes in education policy.

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Declining Enrollment, Rising Budgets with Ben Scafidi

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Sean McCarthy, Director of Fiscal Policy for the Arizona House of Representatives, about the state’s innovative approach to education. They discuss universal school choice, open enrollment, and the broader implications of Arizona’s funding mechanisms. McCarthy highlights Arizona’s unique position as a national leader in school choice, the role of parental decision-making, and the challenges involved in education budgeting. They also discuss the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program and examine the positive impact this approach has had on rural schools across the state.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Arizona's Fiscal Policy and Education System
00:48 Universal School Choice in Arizona
03:55 Open Enrollment Dynamics and Parental Choices
10:13 Funding Mechanisms and Their Implications
14:59 Challenges in Education Funding and Budgeting
19:59 Arizona's ESA Program and Parental Empowerment
26:55 Rural Education and School Choice Outcomes


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What Missouri Can Learn from Arizona’s Education System with Sean McCarthy

Susan Pendergrass speaks with David Stokes, Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, about A Free-Market Guide for Missouri Cities, Towns, and Villages, Part Two: Taxation. They discuss Missouri's over-reliance on sales taxes and harmful local income taxes, particularly in St. Louis and Kansas City. Stokes emphasizes the need for a "three-legged stool" approach to municipal funding, where sales taxes, property taxes, and user fees work together to create a more stable and sustainable financial system for Missouri's municipalities.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Municipal Policy Expertise
02:52 Understanding Municipal Policy and Governance
06:12 Local Taxation: Sources and Implications
09:03 The Role of User Fees in Municipal Finance
12:10 Sales Tax Dynamics and Special Taxing Districts
14:47 The Impact of Tax Incentives on Local Development
17:54 Challenges of Property and Personal Property Taxes
20:58 Sales Tax Pooling: A Unique Approach
24:08 Conclusion and Future Directions in Municipal Policy


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The Three-Legged Stool of Taxes with David Stokes

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Kelly Williams-Bolar about her harrowing experience of fighting for her daughters' education, which led to a legal battle that changed her life forever. After enrolling her daughters in a better school district, Kelly faced accusations of fraud and was ultimately charged with grand theft. After spending nine days in jail, Kelley was pardoned by the governor, who recognized the injustice of her situation. They discuss the systemic issues in education, the consequences of parental choices, and the importance of advocacy for educational equity. Kelly’s story serves as a cautionary tale for parents navigating the complexities of school enrollment and the legal ramifications of seeking better opportunities for their children.

Timestamps

00:00 The Struggle for Education
08:22 The Legal Battle Begins
14:06 Consequences of a Fight for Education
22:13 Advocacy and Change
30:50 Reflections and Future Directions


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A Mother’s Fight for Education: Kelly Williams-Bolar’s Legal Battle and Time in Jail

You can read the full op-ed here: https://bit.ly/4iscFH7

This is a reading of an op-ed written by Susan Pendergrass titled "A Bad Deal for Missouri's Children", published in The Heartlander on April 24, 2025. In this piece, Susan critiques the tradeoff being discussed in the Missouri Legislature, where a weak open-enrollment bill is being tied to a measure that would strip the State Board of Education (BOE) of its authority to hold schools accountable for performance. She argues that this compromise is a bad deal for Missouri’s students and emphasizes the importance of holding school districts accountable.

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A Bad Deal for Missouri’s Children

In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Andrew G. Biggs, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), about the current state and future of Social Security. They discuss the dangers of a proposed temporary elimination of taxes on Social Security benefits, which could harm the program’s finances and incentivize early retirement, an outcome that could undercut long-term retirement security. Biggs explains that this move would offset one of the greatest contributors to the success of America’s retirement system and worsen the funding gaps of Social Security. They also cover concerns about the sustainability of the program, the shift from pensions to 401(k) plans, and the need for sound public policy to address these challenges.

Check out Dr. Biggs' Substack, Little-Known Facts, here: https://littleknownfacts.substack.com/

And his new book, The Real Retirement Crisis: Why (Almost) Everything You Know About the US Retirement System Is Wrong, here: https://www.aei.org/research-products/book/the-real-retirement-crisis/

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Social Security and Its Importance
01:57 Understanding Social Security's Financial Future
04:31 Taxation of Social Security Benefits
08:11 The Shift from Pensions to 401(k)s
10:04 Proposals for Tax Cuts and Their Implications
15:51 The Impact of Temporary Tax Cuts on Retirement
17:43 The Future of Social Security and Policy Challenges


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Social Security, Tax Cuts, and the Future of Retirement with Andrew Biggs

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss: the final stretch of Missouri’s legislative session, including debates over education funding, Medicaid spending, and the state’s overall budget growth. They discuss proposed education reforms, reading instruction standards, and open enrollment. The conversation also covers late-session legislative dealmaking, concerns over tax credit expansions, the pause of St. Louis’s transit project, new land bank plans in St. Louis County, and developments in telemedicine and electricity market reforms.

Timestamps

00:00 Budget Week: The Countdown Begins
02:57 Legislative Priorities: Education and Medicaid
06:00 Senate Bill 10: A Mixed Bag of Economic Development
09:03 House Bill 660: Local Tax Reforms
11:49 Education Legislation: Open Enrollment and Safety Measures
15:11 Land Banks: A Controversial Expansion
17:58 Telemedicine and Energy Policy: Future Prospects
20:49 Final Thoughts: Legislative Outlook and Community Impact


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The Final Weeks of the 2025 Session

In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, about Missouri’s upcoming special legislative session, slated to begin on June 2, and the debate over taxpayer subsidies for stadiums. They discuss why stadium subsidies often fail to deliver promised economic benefits, how billionaire sports team owners leverage public funds for private gain, and the potential impact of a $50 million annual giveaway to the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. Tuohey explains the flawed logic behind the argument that Missouri must compete with Kansas in a “race to the bottom” and argues that the state should instead focus on core services like public safety, education, and infrastructure. They also cover the broader implications of using taxpayer dollars to benefit wealthy team owners, the political dynamics driving these proposals, and what citizens and lawmakers should consider as the special session begins.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to the Special Session
01:59 Stadium Subsidies: The Chiefs and Royals
05:35 Economic Impact of Stadium Subsidies
09:43 Political Dynamics of the Special Session
12:34 Public Sentiment and Legislative Challenges
16:29 Conclusion and Future Implications

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Missouri's Special Session and Giveaways to Billionaire Sports Team Owners with Patrick Tuohey

In this episode, Susan Pendergrass is joined by Brian Blase, President of Paragon Health Institute, and Elias Tsapelas, Director of State Budget and Fiscal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, to break down the health care provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

They focus specifically on the bill’s Medicaid provisions, including efforts to enforce eligibility checks, freeze the growth of provider tax schemes, and reduce improper enrollment. Blase and Tsapelas also discuss the reality behind claims that millions will lose coverage, the true cost of Medicaid expansion, and the perverse incentives that allow states to game the federal reimbursement system.

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The One Big Beautiful Bill’s Impact on Medicaid with Brian Blase and Elias Tsapelas

In this episode, Susan Pendergrass is joined by Steven Wilson, senior fellow at the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research and author of The Lost Decade: Returning to the Fight for Better Schools in America, to discuss the rise and decline of the “no excuses” charter school movement.

They examine how once high-performing urban charter networks lost their focus on academic achievement, why ideological shifts around DEI and anti-racism took root, and what it will take to re-center public education around effective instruction. Wilson also explains the importance of urgency in school leadership, the evidence behind student outcomes, and more.

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The Lost Decade of Education Reform with Steven F. Wilson

On April 10, 2025, Ilya Shapiro, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of Lawless: The Miseducation of America’s Elites, visited Washington University School of Law to discuss the ideological and bureaucratic challenges facing American higher education. In this lecture, Shapiro argues that elite universities have abandoned their core mission of truth-seeking in favor of activism, driven by bloated administrations and timid leadership. Drawing on personal experience and national trends, he explains how law schools, in particular, are failing to uphold classical liberal values such as free speech, academic freedom, and equal justice.

Watch a video recording of the event: https://youtu.be/TGOmu2Ab-ZM

The event was hosted by the Show-Me Institute, the Federalist Society, the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, and Show-Me Opportunity.

Ilya Shapiro: The Miseducation of America’s Elites

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Noah Devine, executive director of the Missouri Charter Public Schools Association, about how charter schools in St. Louis are responding after the recent tornado damaged multiple campuses. They discuss the need for flexibility for displaced families, how charter schools are working to reopen quickly, and the broader importance of school choice, especially in times of crisis. Noah also explains why Missouri’s lack of open enrollment makes recovery harder, and shares resources for families navigating this difficult time.

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Schools After the Storm with Noah Devine

Susan Pendergrass is joined by Elias Tsapelas, director of state budget and fiscal policy at the Show-Me Institute, to break down the sweeping new federal legislation known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill." They discuss what it really means for Medicaid recipients, food stamp programs, state budgets, and Missouri taxpayers. 

Produced by Show-Me Opportunity 

Understanding the One Big Beautiful Bill with Elias Tsapelas

Susan Pendergrass is joined again by Elias Tsapelas, director of state budget and fiscal policy at the Show-Me Institute, for Part II of their conversation on the sweeping federal legislation known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” They unpack what the bill means for Missouri taxpayers, including changes to the standard deduction, tips and overtime, education savings accounts, and higher education policy. They also dig into the bill’s broader fiscal impact, from the growing federal deficit to the implementation challenges facing state governments.

Timestamps

00:00 Exploring the One Big Beautiful Bill
04:58 Tax Implications for Missourians
10:20 New Savings Accounts for Children
12:07 Changes in Higher Education
18:09 Federal Deficit and Debt Concerns

Listen to part I: https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/economy/understanding-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-with-elias-tsapelas/

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One Big Beautiful Bill Breakdown, Part II with Elias Tsapelas

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Dr. Jim Wyckoff, professor at the University of Virginia and director of the Education Policy Ph.D. program, about the long-term decline in student academic achievement. They discuss how national test scores, especially for the lowest-performing students, began falling well before the pandemic, why the usual explanations like COVID or Common Core miss the bigger picture, and what states can do to reverse the trend. Dr. Wyckoff also explores the impact of reduced accountability, smartphone use in schools, teacher workforce challenges, and policy successes in states like Mississippi.

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Understanding the Decline in Student Test Scores with Jim Wyckoff

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children, about how a new federal scholarship tax credit, created through the One Big Beautiful Bill, could transform K–12 education across the country. They discuss what this means for Missouri families, the legal threats facing the MOScholars program, how education policy is shifting nationally, and more.

Timestamps 

00:00 The Evolution of School Choice in Missouri
02:59 Charter Schools and Teacher Innovation
05:40 The Impact of Lawsuits on Educational Freedom
08:35 Federal Tax Credit Programs and Their Implications
11:19 The Future of School Choice and Parental Empowerment


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The One Big Education Opportunity with Shaka Mitchell

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Braxton Steele, intern at the Show-Me Institute and student at Missouri State University, about his summer research on crime and public safety in St. Louis. They discuss his personal experiences living in the city, how crime in St. Louis compares to other Missouri cities and peer cities across the country, the gap between reported crime data and public perception, and more.

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Crime, Public Safety, and Perception in St. Louis with Braxton Steele

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Andy Smarick, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, about a recent U.S. Supreme Court case that could reshape the debate over faith-based charter schools. They explore the constitutional questions at the heart of the case, including the tension between the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause, and why a 4–4 split leaves the door open for future challenges. The conversation covers the potential role of religious organizations in public education, the importance of accountability in school choice programs, recent legal battles in Missouri and Wyoming, and how shifting public opinion may change the K–12 landscape in the years ahead.

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Faith-Based Charter Schools and the Future of School Choice with Andy Smarick

Susan Pendergrass talks with Matthew Ladner, senior advisor for education policy implementation at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy, about a recent Washington Post article blaming Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts for school closures in the Roosevelt Elementary School District. They unpack the real reasons behind declining enrollment, the role of open enrollment and charter schools, and why most Arizona students exercising school choice are still in public schools. The discussion covers how media narratives overlook parent-driven decisions, the political resistance to letting kids leave low-performing districts, and why open enrollment could be a game changer for states like Missouri. Ladner also shares his broader perspective on the post-COVID shift toward educational self-reliance and what it means for the future of public education.

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What the Media Gets Wrong About School Choice with Matthew Ladner

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Edward L.Glaeser, professor of economics at Harvard University and nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, about America’s housing crisis. They discuss why affordability is a supply problem, how zoning and land-use rules drive up costs, the decline of suburban building, and what states like Missouri can do to encourage growth and restore opportunity.

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Why America Can’t Build Enough Housing with Edward L. Glaeser

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Show-Me Institute policy analyst Avery Frank about his new report, Connecting Nuclear Energy’s Past and Present: Guiding Missouri’s Future. They discuss why electricity demand is rising again, why major companies are turning back to nuclear, and how Missouri can position itself to benefit. From data centers and AI to regulatory hurdles and smart policy steps like a state nuclear advisory council, Avery explains how Missouri could play a leading role in America’s nuclear resurgence.

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Missouri’s Nuclear Opportunity with Avery Frank

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Show-Me Institute Director of Municipal Policy David Stokes about his new paper in the Free-Market Guide to Missouri Municipalities series on planning and zoning. They discuss how fragmentation among local governments can limit overly strict zoning, how zoning rules affect housing affordability, and why “last house syndrome” poses risks for Missouri’s future growth. From accessory dwelling units and minimum parking requirements to the debate over multifamily housing, Stokes explains how smart reforms can protect property rights and keep housing costs down.

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A Free-Market Guide to Zoning with David Stokes

A high-school diploma is widely considered to be the most fundamental requirement for admission to college or a chance at a good job. And so it should be—but what’s behind that diploma matters, too. Statistics from ACT show that only 30 percent of the class of 2015 scored "college ready" in all four tested subjects. Much of the problem appears to be a gap between the coursework these students complete to earn their high-school diplomas and the work required for their college classes. Here Missouri faces a problem that doesn’t afflict more densely populated states: we have many small, rural school districts that don’t have the means to offer advanced math and science courses for college-bound students—or cutting-edge career or technical education classes for students who want to enter the workforce immediately after graduating—especially if relatively few students are interested in taking them.

We can’t do a lot about our state’s geography, but neither can we accept limitations on the educational options available to students in smaller school districts. We need a way to bring advanced-level coursework to every Missouri student who wants it. An innovative program called course access offers a possible solution to this problem, and it’s the topic of an essay by the Show-Me Institute’s Brittany Wagner and Michael McShane. To find out more, click on the link below and read the essay.

http://showmeinstitute.org/blog/school-choice/rural-schools-need-course-access


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