How are radical Islamists infiltrating Texas' educational institutions?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with Texas State Representative Brent Money. The conversation explores the founding of the Sharia Free Texas Caucus, the threat posed by radical Islamism, infiltration into education and communities, and practical steps Texans can take to protect their state and the next generation.

How are students facing discrimination and fighting for free speech on college campuses?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain and attorney Tanner Franklin. The conversation explores free speech, the continued influence of DEI practices, and what students and parents can do when they believe a public university has violated their rights.

How did Conroe ISD's school board challenge the education cartel?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with Conroe ISD school board members Misty Odenweller, Nicole May, and Melissa Dungan. They discuss why they are challenging the growing influence of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). The four discuss how Conroe ISD is fighting to restore local control, transparency, and accountability in public education.

Exposing the truth about taxpayer-funded lobbying in Texas. In this episode of Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin, Mandy sits down with TPPF policy scholar Ben Crockett to uncover how millions of taxpayer dollars are being funneled to lobbying organizations, activist nonprofits, political advocacy groups, and special interests that many Texans never intended to fund.

The discussion explores how local governments use public money to finance organizations that lobby elected officials, influence legislation, engage in political activism, and advocate for policies that many taxpayers oppose. Mandy and Ben examine examples from major Texas cities, discuss the growing role of nonprofit organizations in local government spending, and explain why banning taxpayer-funded lobbying has become a top priority for government transparency and accountability advocates.

In this episode:

What taxpayer-funded lobbying is and how it works
Why Texas taxpayers are paying governments to lobby other governments
Local government grants to activist organizations
The connection between lobbying, political action committees (PACs), and taxpayer dollars
Why advocates say government should focus on core services instead of political activism
Policy solutions to improve transparency and reduce government waste

If you care about property taxes, government accountability, transparency, limited government, and protecting Texas taxpayers, this episode breaks down one of the most controversial issues facing the Texas Legislature.

👍 Like this video if you support government transparency.
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments: Should taxpayer-funded lobbying be banned in Texas?
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How did Carroll ISD leadership take on the education cartel and win?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with Carroll ISD School Board President Cam Bryan and Vice President Andrew Yeager to discuss how they challenged the education establishment, fought the education cartel, and helped turn Carroll ISD into a model for academic excellence.

Cam and Andrew fought to eliminate DEI initiatives, reduce reliance on classroom technology, increase academic achievement, and break away from the influence of organizations like TASB. The two share how strong local leadership can transform public education and put students first.

Texans are paying more in property taxes, but where is the promised tax relief? In this episode of Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin, Mandy sits down with Judge Shepard to expose how the Texas school bond process has been hijacked by an education cartel that profits from billions in taxpayer-funded debt. Based on Judge Shepard's groundbreaking research paper this conversation uncovers the network of architects, engineering firms, consultants, lobbyists, and political action committees driving massive school bond elections across Texas.

Learn how a handful of firms make small donations to school bond PACs, then receive millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded contracts after bonds pass. The discussion also examines why property tax relief from the Texas Legislature often fails to reach homeowners, how school district debt has ballooned to $236 billion, and what reforms could restore transparency and accountability.

In this video:
How Texas school bond elections really work
The "education cartel" and its financial incentives
Why property taxes continue to rise despite legislative tax relief
How bond PACs influence local elections
The role of architects, engineering firms, consultants, and taxpayer-funded lobbyists
Why May bond elections have low voter turnout
Proposed reforms to protect Texas taxpayers
The controversy surrounding Barbers Hill ISD's Education Foundation
Recommendations to increase transparency and stop conflicts of interest

If you care about Texas property taxes, school finance, government transparency, education reform, taxpayer rights, or local government accountability, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

What happens when Texas families are empowered with educational freedom?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with City School Austin's Head of School Karon Law and board member Travis Reese to discuss how Education Freedom Accounts are creating new opportunities for Texas families and allowing schools to better serve students with diverse learning needs.

From supporting students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences to helping low-income families access a high-quality education, City School shares how educational freedom is transforming lives, building student confidence, and expanding opportunities for children across Texas.

What can Texans learn from someone who watched their freedom disappear firsthand?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former Iranian citizen Julie Ruehle to discuss her experience living through Iran’s Islamic Revolution and the lessons it holds for America today. Julie shares how the Iranian Revolution transformed life for women, silenced political opposition, and dismantled personal freedoms.