National Review's Radio Free California Podcast
A show about the perilous state of the Golden State—and what that means for you, wherever you live. California is the hothouse lab of the Left, the nation-state creating the statist policies, art, and lifestyles of the future – and generating the political dollars to make them a reality in a community near you. Hosts Will Swaim (California Policy Center) and David Bahnsen (The Bahnsen Group, Fox Business News commentator, conservative activist) beam this weekly show internationally, from mostly undisclosed pirate-radio platforms west of the Sierra Nevada. [Intro music graciously provided by Los Angeles-based Metalachi, the metal/mariachi soundtrack of the...
Wed, April 16, 2025
Episode 386: Joy Division
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Merle Haggard Why did it take Bernie Sanders and AOC to rally California liberals? ‘Not acceptable.' Not a single home building permit finalized in Altadena following Eaton Fire Homeowners sue California FAIR Plan, claim it’s not paying for home cleanups after wildfires Measure ULA is reducing apartment development in the city of L.A, report says CA Dems pass on funding Prop. 36 as Newsom celebrates rights of crime victims For California’s largest public union, telework poses challenge — and opportunity The Prop 22 fight rides again California Is Preparing to Take Trump to Court to Stop His Tariffs Oakland mayor’s race too close to call as Barbara Lee predicts ‘a long week’ Trump’s volatile trade policy creates new problems for California state budget Judge allows Menendez brothers' resentencing effort to move forward <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/me
Thu, April 10, 2025
Episode 385: Second to Naan
Email Us dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes David on Mike Rowe’s “The Way I Heard It” ‘Truly A Moron’: Elon Musk Puts Key Trump Official On Blast After He Goes After Tesla Navarro left a trail of political wreckage in California Newsom is trying to loophole California out of Trump's tariff war UC Berkeley prof says California has lost 20,000 fast-food jobs since Newsom’s Fast Foot Act Proposed California bill would bar fining, arresting homeless people for camping Feds to look into potential fraud and corruption in Southern California homeless funds In unprecedented payout, L.A. County will settle sex abuse claims for $4 billion RealPage sues Berkeley over its ban on algorithmic rent pricing software Steph Curry’s plan to build a headquarters in S.F.’s Dogpatch area is dead NBA’s Steph Curry joins neighbors in opposing affordable-housing plan for ritzy Atherton
Wed, April 02, 2025
Episode 384: Trump in the Driver’s Seat
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: The complicated legacy of César Chávez Trump targets California ban on ‘forced outing’ of students’ gender identity to parents Trump ally and rising California GOP star Essayli named top federal prosecutor in L.A. California farmers fear tariff trade war losses in billions, uneven bailouts Gavin Newsom calls Democratic brand ‘toxic’ on Bill Maher show Will this bill be the end of California’s housing vs environment wars? Resistance roars back at the border SB 573 would raise corporate taxes based on executive compensation The Luigi Mangioni [sic] Access to Healthcare Act Policies, not greed, driving California’s sky-high gas prices, study finds Julie Hamill California Justice Center What is FERPA? California Laws Force Public School Districts to Violate FERPA and Ti
Wed, March 26, 2025
Episode 383: California Governor Donald Trump!
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes David: An anniversary to forget and remember Here’s how Gavin Newsom’s podcast arrangement works. The details raise questions Newsom betrays a promise by failing to fund high school ethnic studies classes | Opinion University of California drops “diversity statements” With L.A.’s mayor facing a recall threat, her supporters go after billionaires Weaponized turds: San Francisco’s strange and terrible victory over the EPA Will: OUSD teachers present an affair to remember A homegrown Arizona company was about to break ground on a billion-dollar development – then a California union stepped in Oakland with Tim Gardner: Oakland Report Oakland's MACRO missed all of its pilot project goals—so the city expanded it</a
Thu, March 20, 2025
Episode 382: California Democrats Discover the Supply Side
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes Can Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson Save the Left From Itself? An Abundance of Ambiguity L.A. city budget shortfall grows to nearly $1 billion, with layoffs ‘nearly inevitable’ California’s soaring pension debt rears its head Teacher of the year among hundreds getting cut from Santa Ana USD Steve Bannon blames Gavin Newsom for creating Elon Musk Gov. Newsom sends 'bat phones' to CEOs of major California businesses California needs $3.4B loan to cover health care costs as state provides insurance to undocumented residents California’s war on farmers made eggs even scarcer Rent set by algorithm? Berkeley bans landlords from using pricing software California’s prep sports governors suddenly find themselves isolated in their battle over trans athletes S.F. Pride seeks alternative funding for LGBTQ celebration after major sponsors drop out City Journal’ s Christina Buttons The Tragedy of Yard
Thu, March 13, 2025
Episode 381: Gavin Newsom’s Trans Transition
Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Gavin Newsom shocks LGBTQ allies with criticism of transgender athletes Scoop: LGBTQ+ rights power picks fight with Trump ‘Universal’ locker rooms at UC Davis Newsom stymies implementation of landmark California plastic law, orders more talks Kamala Harris roasted for trying to tie love of Doritos to Big Tech innovation during AI conference Why Kamala Harris for governor would bring joy to Republicans Tim Walz has some sharp critiques of the Dem 2024 campaign Former Rep. Katie Porter announces bid for California governor Why would anyone think Chad Bianco is a decent candidate for governor? Why is Mayor Karen Bass deleting her text messages? Sacramento butcher shop closes after 10 years of quality meats. ‘It’s a sad day’ JULIE HAMILL Julie Hamill Newsom's 'unfair' remark on girls' sports belies record as governor: 'Absolute bulls---' California hit w
Thu, March 06, 2025
Episode 380: Tautologies Masquerading as Sentences
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Copperopolis incorporated, March 3, 1861 “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” Lateefah Simon rips Trump — and mod Dems California's Moneyed Elite Selects 'Abolish the Police' Operative to Serve in Congress Who’s afraid of Medicaid reform? Return to office: Newsom orders California state workers back four days a week Can’t make rent because of the fires? L.A. County considers a six-month lifeline Return to office: Newsom orders California state workers back four days a week Rivas purges five GOPers from Assembly committee posts in ‘Friday Night Massacre’ After landslide victory, will Sacramento fund Prop. 36 enforcement? First signs say no. California fast-food workers could see another pay increase POINT REYES: Niman Ranch challenges Point Reyes Seashore settlement in lawsuit over ranching <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article301053819.html#storylink=cpy" tar
Wed, February 26, 2025
Episode 379: What’s the Matter with California?
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: The Victor Davis Hanson Show Feb 24 1942 The Battle of Los Angeles Gavin Newsom is launching his own podcast — and inviting MAGA favorites While ‘Trump-Proofing’ California, Gov. Gavin Newsom asks Congress for $40 billion in fire relief funds Column: Bass fires the L.A. fire chief, but her own smoldering political crisis is far from over Trump attempting ‘end-run’ around California car pollution standards, expert says Will Gavin Newsom support Republican bill that bars funding for violent undocumented immigrants? San Diego migrant shelter hailed as national model will shut down, with 100-plus layoffs California bill restricts self-defense, ends crime-stopping protection, mandates ‘retreat’ The SEIU’s power grab puts patients at risk Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers Shouted Down During Stanford's 'Democracy and Disagreement' Class <a href="https://tricityvoice.com/fremonts-homeless-encampment-ban-divides-the-community/" target="_blan
Thu, February 20, 2025
Episode 378: The Call Is Coming from Inside the Statehouse
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Roosevelt interns Japanese-Americans (Feb 19, 1942) Go for Broke! (1951 film) Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, “Farewell to Manzanar ” JD Vance speech Newsom to business owners: Shut up! California court rules against baker in revival of same-sex wedding cake disputes We forced the San Diego Housing Commission to repeal its race-based housing assistance program Californians are in for a ‘rude shock’ on fire Trump envoy Richard Grenell floats California governor bid — if Kamala Harris runs This alien-like field of mirrors in the desert was once the future of solar energy. It’s closing after just 11 years US Dept. of Education investigates California sports organization over trans athlete ban enforcement Petition calling for Denmark to buy California secures more than 230K signatures as Trump eyes Greenland Free Speech in the California workplace: Julie Hammil Jeffrey Sch
Tue, February 11, 2025
Episode 377: California’s Synthetic Outlaws Bring the Chaos
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Gov. Pat Brown on the decline of the Democratic Party, UCLA, 1967 ‘Built to burn.’ L.A. let hillside homes multiply without learning from past mistakes Gov. Newsom says meeting with Pres. Trump at White House over LA wildfire aid was 'very productive' California governor signs 2 ‘Trump-proofing’ bills a day after returning from DC trip Newsom signs the bill while acknowledging loophole allowing for money to be spent fighting deportation of undocumented convicted on other crimes California wildfire aid will have conditions, US House Speaker Mike Johnson says Republicans rip California’s wildfire ‘overregulation’ while Gavin Newsom seeks help for victims Honoring the Pronouns of . . . Trans Vegan Anarchist Cult Members? LSD, veganism, high-IQ suspects: Probe of six murders takes feds into strange territory Suspect and Possible Cult Member Makes Court Appearance In Vallejo Killing as Further Links Revealed to Other Murders <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/california-plans-
Thu, February 06, 2025
Episode 376: Trump-Proof . . . Poof!
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Knute Rockne, All American Reagan as George Gipp A disinformation deluge on California policies The owner of the LA Times takes the red pill Thousands rally in downtown Los Angeles, shut down 101 Freeway to protest Trump’s immigration policies California Democrats delay vote to ‘Trump-proof’ the state and protect immigrants Gavin Newsom heads to D.C. to meet with Trump officials about wildfire disaster aid Trump says California's High-Speed Rail project should be investigated Inspector General: High-Speed Rail off schedule for Merced-to-Bakersfield route Citing LA fire victims, Trump orders more water for Central Valley agriculture and less for fish Newsom issues order to ‘maximize’ water capture during storms. Critics say it sounds just like Trump California fires don’t justify an energy industry shakedown California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy <a href="https://lbpost.com
Tue, February 04, 2025
Episode 375: Exxon Strikes Back
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Julie Hamill: @hamill_law California Justice Center ExxonMobil sues Rob Bonta over defamation campaign Rob Bonta gives back more fraught campaign funds Seneca Scott: @SenecaSpeaks21 What’s next in the Oakland FBI corruption case? Barbara Lee officially launches campaign for Oakland mayor “If we do not change course, we will be roughly $115 million negative. We have already breached into our emergency reserve.”
Tue, January 28, 2025
Episode 374: This Plane Is Going to Cuba
Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes Conservatives chalk up win as PepsiCo agrees to ‘viewpoint neutrality’ in ad-buying Alleged Hijacker Brought Back to U.S. After 32 Years List of Cuba–United States aircraft hijackings The Hijacker at Pump #4 Donald Trump lays out two demands in exchange for California wildfire aid Wildfire of the Vanities: California’s political model has failed Revived effort to put California secession on the ballot gets OK to collect signatures California attorney general charges L.A.-area real estate agent with price gouging in wake of wildfires How a rumor about ICE on Muni spun out of control Yuba City and Sutter County want to skirt high PG&E rates. They found a way California Democrats are building a giant political slush fund Edward Ring at Trump’s Los Angeles Wildfire Roundtable: Trump Speaks To Los Angeles Officials, Police About Wildfires During CA Trip <a href="https://californiapolicycenter.org/fire-prevention-and-resilience-in-california/" target="_bl
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