The States

The States Powered by The Center Square is a show that highlights the work of The Center Square reporters from statehouses across the country to Washington D.C. all with an eye towards the impacts of today's news on the taxpayer.

The States is a news podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts The States, a news show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #254

  SCOTUS Gun Ban Case Set for December + Advocate Says History Favors Bans | The States

  Sep 30, 202646 min

  America.gov's AI launch tied to SNAP fraud warnings, a pivotal Supreme Court preview on assault weapons bans, Pennsylvania's data center NDA crackdown, Walmart's personalized pricing pledge, and commercial real estate's looming refinancing crunch on this episode of The States. America.gov launches amid fraud warnings: President Trump unveiled america.gov, an AI-driven portal consolidating tens of thousands of federal databases and services (passport renewals, national park reservations, with document uploads coming in 2027). Trump also signed an executive order renaming "artificial intelligence" to "superintelligence" and secured a safety accord from tech leaders at Meta, xAI, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Separately, LexisNexis Risk Solutions' Heywood Talcove warned AI could supercharge government benefits fraud within six months, citing SNAP fraud now costing $4.30 for every $1 lost — the highest rate on record. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins countered that AI will ultimately help curb SNAP fraud. Supreme Court preview — assault weapons ban case: Everytown Law's Janet Carter previews the Dec. 2 oral arguments in cases challenging Cook County, Illinois, and Connecticut's assault weapons bans. She's "cautiously optimistic" the bans will survive, noting 6 of 7 federal appeals courts have upheld similar prohibitions post-Bruin, and that Republican Senate support for challengers dropped sharply compared to Bruin (5 senators vs. 25). A ruling against the bans could jeopardize similar laws nationwide; a ruling upholding them could prompt more states to act. Decision expected by summer 2027. Pennsylvania legislature: A Senate committee advanced a bill barring state/local governments from signing NDAs with data center developers, following reporting that nearly half of PA municipalities hosting such projects had signed one. The House passed a bill (115-88) opening primaries to unaffiliated voters, sponsored by Rep. Jared Solomon; opponents warn of higher election costs and weakened party influence. Other committee action covered menopause workplace accommodations (drawing sharp floor debate), kratom/synthetic drug regulation, and cosmetology licensure. Legislators return Oct. 5 for six more session days before lame duck. Personalized/AI pricing scrutiny: Following a Consumer Reports investigation showing shoppers paying different prices for identical groceries, Walmart pledged not to use personal shopper data to set individual prices — though it didn't clarify whether that extends to a related patent for cart-based pricing suggestions. Kroger has also updated its data policies. The FTC is weighing a disclosure requirement (not an outright ban) while some states are moving toward flat prohibitions, raising concerns about a state-by-state patchwork for national retailers. Everyday Economics (Chris Krug & Orphe Divounguy): A look at how elevated long-term interest rates are hitting commercial real estate as loans come due — lower building valuations plus higher debt payments are squeezing owners, while cities relying on property tax revenue from now-devalued office buildings (including Chicago towers reportedly down 60-70% in value) face budget strain with no clear winners. Divounguy also explains why broader economic damage from high rates has been delayed: accumulated household savings, record home equity, and companies "hoarding labor" (cutting hours before jobs) using AI-driven productivity gains instead of layoffs. America's Talking headlines: AZ: https://www.thecentersquare.com/arizona/article_7fb0575a-3479-45b6-938b-3aa5f0e3f11e.html NY: https://www.thecentersquare.com/new_york/article_cbbd88f8-fde2-46a7-b75e-805a155fc8c8.html OH: https://www.thecentersquare.com/ohio/article_6fddbcd7-6fcf-4e7e-955b-4d8f174c475d.html Get these and more stories at TheCenterSquare.com. #TheStates #CenterSquare #AI #SupremeCourt #Pennsylvania #CommercialRealEstate Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #253

  Detroit Pastor Paid $540,000 by Taxpayer-Funded Nonprofit, 61% of Its Entire Budget | The States

  Sep 29, 202643 min

  Trump's new government AI search engine, a Supreme Court win for voter roll verification, Pennsylvania's AI chatbot and license plate bills, a Detroit pastor's $540K nonprofit salary, and a push for open primaries nationwide on this episode of The States. America.gov AI search engine: The Trump administration launched america.gov, an AI chatbot pulling answers only from official government sources across 29,000 databases.  SAVE database ruling: A 6-3 Supreme Court ruling allows DHS to share its SAVE database (Social Security-linked citizenship data) with state and local election officials to help verify voter rolls — a voluntary tool, not a mandate. Landmark Legal Foundation's Michael O'Neill calls it a win for election integrity, distinct from the stalled Save America Act, which would have made such verification mandatory. He also previews next week's Supreme Court term, including the high-profile Suncor Energy case on whether power plants can be held liable across state lines for climate-related damages (Justice Alito has recused himself). Pennsylvania legislature (11-day session): The House passed a bill banning license plate obscuring, prompting privacy vs. enforcement debate tied to license plate reader technology. A Women's Sports bill has stalled in committee for the 10th+ time since 2025 despite Republican pushback. A bill regulating AI companion chatbots for minors (ages 13-17) passed the House and heads to the Senate, requiring safety protocols and enforcement penalties up to $100,000/day per violation — though one Republican voted no, citing unclear scope and data-collection concerns. Skill games regulation remains unresolved with days left in session. Gov. Shapiro also announced $22.7 million in state funds (part of a $64 million package) for downtown Harrisburg redevelopment. Detroit pastor's taxpayer-funded salary: Investigative reporter Jared Strong details how megachurch pastor Marvin Winans — who publicly admonished a parishioner over a donation shortfall last year — collected a $540,000 salary (61% of program spending) from a taxpayer- and state-grant-funded nonprofit, Perfecting Community Development Corporation, for what IRS filings list as a half-time position. The nonprofit received a $500,000 Michigan state grant in 2024; the state says it has no evidence of misuse. Winans and the governor's office did not respond to requests for comment. Push for open/all-party primaries: The Leadership Now Project's Catalyst Fund, backed by business leaders including Melinda French Gates, is funding centrist candidates and ballot measures — including a Massachusetts all-party primary referendum — aimed at reducing political extremism. Research cited shows mixed results: potential policy benefits (e.g., Louisiana's bipartisan Medicaid expansion) but also lower general-election turnout when a voter's preferred party isn't on the ballot. America's Talking headlines: TX:  https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/article_a49f247b-bd75-4b6e-b4b1-b52534dd9e18.html GA: https://www.thecentersquare.com/georgia/article_ce0ec938-8a47-4549-a0a2-2a628edd4c29.html IL: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_3c9f35a8-c601-4821-9072-c67a846d4fbc.html MI: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_960e77be-41ef-42c2-831a-5c0cffe5abd0.html Get these and more stories at TheCenterSquare.com. #TheStates #CenterSquare #SupremeCourt #Pennsylvania #ElectionIntegrity #AI Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #252

  IRS Loses Up to $304 Billion a Year to Fraud + Has No Strategy to Stop It | The States

  Sep 28, 202648 min

  Government audit reveals up to $304B in annual tax fraud, diesel export ban debate, school cell phone bans under scrutiny, and Pennsylvania's legislature returns for its final 11 days on this episode of The States. Tax fraud audit: A GAO report estimates the federal government loses $116-$304 billion annually to tax fraud — 17-43% of the total tax gap — with no agency-wide IRS strategy to address it. GAO recommends the IRS designate an anti-fraud oversight entity; the agency hasn't said whether it will. One cited case: a man used duplicate Social Security numbers to fraudulently claim a $3.3M refund, later spending it on a Lamborghini, a yacht down payment, and plastic surgery before receiving nearly 15 years in prison. Diesel export ban debate: With diesel prices near record highs ($6.45/gallon nationally), Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has called for a 90-day export ban to lower domestic prices. Heritage Foundation's Sarah Wagoner argues a ban would offer only slight, short-term relief before prices rebound — since the U.S. imports crude to refine and re-export a third of it, and cutting off exports would push other nations toward Russia or China instead. She recommends permitting reform, repealing the Jones Act, and expanding domestic production instead of a ban. School cell phone bans: Nearly 40 states have proposed restrictions in 2026, with ~20 states plus D.C. implementing bell-to-bell bans, as declining test scores and attention concerns drive policy. Some schools (like Fresno's Hoover High) report academic gains after restrictions, but experts including Pacific Research Institute's Lance Izumi caution bans aren't a "silver bullet" for deeper, longer-term academic decline. Pennsylvania legislature returns: Lawmakers face 11 days to act before a lame-duck period, with major items including: skill games regulation (70,000+ machines statewide facing uncertainty), data center policy (Gov. Shapiro reversing his earlier pro-development stance toward stricter guidelines), and a House vote on open primaries that would let 1M+ unaffiliated voters participate. Separately, a state Department of Health rule expanding vaccination-tracking and infectious disease authority was quietly withdrawn after 10,000+ public comments, most critical. A House hearing also examined Flock Safety's license plate reading technology, with the company's rep confirming no facial recognition is used. Everyday Economics (Chris Krug & Orphe Divounguy): Divounguy breaks down the Fed's unanimous 25-basis-point rate hike and dot-plot signaling another hike with no 2027 cuts — a move he questions given weak consumer pricing power. He argues current inflation is primarily an energy-driven story, not a wage-price spiral risk, as consumers increasingly trade down to cheaper retailers and smaller homes. America's Talking: CA: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_c968344a-dd15-4554-bee7-0161275781ae.html NJ: https://www.thecentersquare.com/new_jersey/article_51e334ce-017d-4307-a7ea-dca5f490b5c9.html Alaska: https://www.thecentersquare.com/alaska/article_986a2a0a-1d13-4ed3-b780-a64557c76124.html Illinois: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_345ab58b-8494-43c2-a912-5939b3ce71c2.html Get these and more stories at TheCenterSquare.com. #TheStates #CenterSquare #TaxFraud #DieselPrices #Pennsylvania  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #251

  Judge Blocks Trump DEI Cuts To Teacher-Training Funds | Weekend Edition

  Sep 26, 202648 min

  On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, a Massachusetts federal judge blocked the Trump administration from cutting around $600 million in teacher-training funds. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has prompted donors to spend $38 million on her favorite charities and third-party organizations, in some cases from donor companies who had hundreds of millions of dollars worth of business before the city. The Georgia Department of Family and Children Services spent $7.3 million on software to support service authorizations, and an audit shows the software was a factor in a $71.1 million increase in costs. Democratic hopes of taking control of the U.S. Senate in the upcoming midterm elections are heavily dependent on retaining an open seat in Michigan. And Mortgage rates are around 7.2% — and the housing market is increasingly splitting into two.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #249

  Connecticut's Glock Ban Takes Effect October 1 + Illinois Pushes Manufacturer Fees | The States

  Sep 24, 202642 min

  Trump-Xi state visit, a First Amendment fight over union dues at a "private" library, viral AI surveillance camera hearings, DEI funding rulings, and Glock-pattern gun ban litigation on this episode of The States. Trump-Xi state visit: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived for a multi-day state visit, with trade (a $202B U.S.-China deficit), AI competition, and allegations of Chinese election interference (claims of 220 million stolen U.S. voter files) expected to dominate discussions. Protests accompanied the visit. - Brooklyn Public Library union dues case: Liberty Justice Center attorney Jeffrey Schwab discusses a new lawsuit arguing the Brooklyn Public Library — technically a nonprofit but government-funded and government-controlled — should be bound by the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME ruling barring forced union dues for public employees. A library employee who resigned from the union says he's lost roughly $1,000 in the past year. Schwab expects the case to reach the Second Circuit and says the key question is whether the library counts as sufficiently "government controlled" for First Amendment protections to apply. - AI surveillance camera hearing: Senate Judiciary Subcommittee testimony detailed how a Flock Safety license-plate camera wrongly linked Florida resident Lindsay Isaacs to a fatal crash, leading to 13 days in jail before charges were dropped. Flock operates ~120,000 cameras nationwide capturing over 20 billion images monthly; no camera-company CEOs attended despite being invited. ACLU's Chad Marlow and a former Arizona sheriff who canceled his Flock contract both raised warrantless surveillance and misuse concerns. - DEI funding fights: A Massachusetts federal judge blocked the Trump administration from cutting ~$600 million in teacher training grants tied to DEI, ruling the directive "arbitrary and capricious" for lacking clear criteria. Separately, DOJ has given UC San Francisco's medical school until Oct. 2 to address Title VI findings alleging race-based admissions discrimination against white and Asian applicants; the school denies wrongdoing. - Glock-pattern pistol bans: Connecticut's ban on machine-gun-convertible pistols takes effect Oct. 1 unless blocked — Glock and the National Shooting Sports Foundation have sued, with a hearing set for Sept. 29. Similar bans in California, New York, and Maryland face ongoing litigation; unlike those states, Connecticut's law lacks a clear law enforcement exemption. Illinois lawmakers are separately pushing a manufacturer licensing bill that would tie fees to firearm injury costs, opposed by industry groups. - America's Talking: MI: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_ecb89e25-3b2e-4fb7-b7b8-3b22785c951a.html IL: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_d9b2e395-a057-493e-949e-7f1196417829.html CO: https://www.thecentersquare.com/colorado/article_bb7ad606-909c-4d79-bec0-9381229878f6.html WA: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_15cc150d-6214-4b13-b0e0-08717c5c51b2.html Get these and more stories at TheCenterSquare.com. #TheStates #CenterSquare #TrumpXi #UnionDues #AISurveillance #GunRights Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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