In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson sits down with Anthony Ramirez, candidate for Arizona State Senate in Legislative District 12, for a wide-ranging conversation about his life, his campaign, Arizona education, independent voters, and the growing divide in American politics.

Ramirez's path to politics is anything but conventional. From working as a flight attendant to serving as a police officer in Washington, D.C., becoming an attorney, and eventually running for the Arizona State Senate, Ramirez explains how those experiences shaped his approach to public service.

The conversation then turns to one of the biggest issues facing Arizona: education.

Ramirez lays out his proposal to strengthen STEM education in Arizona. He discusses teacher recruitment and retention, student proficiency in math and science, Proposition 123, and his plan to invest more resources into preparing Arizona students for the jobs of the future.

Paul and Anthony also examine the growing influence of independent voters in Arizona and the barriers independent candidates face when competing with Republicans and Democrats. Ramirez explains why he believes being an Independent isn't simply about standing between the two parties—it's about being willing to challenge both sides and say what others may be unwilling to say.

Can an Independent bring a different approach to the Arizona Legislature? And could Anthony Ramirez's campaign offer a glimpse at the future of independent politics in Arizona?

Watch the full conversation.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

01:45 - From Flight Attendant to Cop to Lawyer

13:19 - Law, Civil Rights & Pro Bono Work

20:29 - Transforming STEM Education in Arizona

31:49 - Doing What 90% of Politicians Won’t Do

39:14 - Final Remarks and Conclusion

What will it take to improve education in Arizona?

In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson sits down with David Scott, an independent candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 10, to discuss his campaign and why education has become one of his top priorities.

The conversation covers some of the biggest challenges facing Arizona schools, including reading and math proficiency, teacher burnout, classroom discipline, early childhood education, and whether students are being adequately prepared for college, the trades, military service, entrepreneurship, and the modern workforce.

Scott and Johnson also tackle one of Arizona’s most contentious education debates: Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs). Rather than treating school choice as a simple yes or no issue, Scott discusses whether Arizona can reform the program, improve accountability and control costs while still protecting families whose children benefit from alternative education options.

Beyond education, Scott discusses his background, faith, community service, and what led him to enter politics for the first time. He also explains why he believes effective leadership is less about having every answer and more about listening to different perspectives and bringing people together.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

01:21 - Why David Scott Got Into Politics

04:59 - Who Is David Scott?

08:19 - How Faith Shaped David Scott

12:15 - The State of Education in Arizona

17:13 - College Isn’t the Only Path to Success

20:18 - Should Schools Teach Civics & Free Enterprise?

23:18 - Investing in Early Childhood Education

28:21 - Fixing Arizona’s Reading & Math Problem

30:50 - Arizona’s ESA & School Choice Debate

35:57 - What’s Driving Teacher Burnout?

39:22 - What Makes Someone Qualified to Lead?

41:28 - Final Remarks and Conclusion

Why does everything feel so uncertain?

Americans are facing growing uncertainty about the economy, political leadership, global conflict, artificial intelligence, and the country’s long-term financial future.

In this episode of New Frontiers, Paul Johnson is joined by columnist Bob Robb and Professor Henry Thompson to examine what’s driving this growing sense of insecurity — and whether America can find a way through it.

The conversation explores America’s political leadership crisis and the growing polarization reshaping Western democracies, including the rise of Democratic Socialism, populism, and ideological movements on both the left and right. The panel also looks at the future of the Democratic Party and the changing political landscape heading toward midterms and the next presidential election.

Then the conversation turns global: Iran, China, Russia, and growing uncertainty over America’s role in the world. And another disruptive force is quickly emerging at home — artificial intelligence. Is the so-called “AI apocalypse” a legitimate threat, or are the biggest risks surrounding AI being misunderstood?

Finally, the panel confronts America’s $40 trillion national debt and growing federal deficit — and asks whether Washington can address its biggest challenges before they become crises.

Despite the uncertainty, the episode ends with a bigger question: Is there still reason to be optimistic about America’s future?

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

02:23 - Why Americans Feel Uncertain About the Future

09:14 - America’s Political Leadership Crisis

16:34 - Why Western Democracies Are Struggling

21:41 - Democratic Socialism, Fascism & Political Polarization

28:51 - Is the Democratic Party Moving Further Left?

34:08 - U.S. Foreign Policy: Iran, China, Russia & Global Instability

42:41 - The AI Apocalypse: How Dangerous Is Artificial Intelligence?

52:20 - America’s $40 Trillion National Debt & Deficit

1:01:43 - Can America Overcome Its Biggest Challenges?

1:09:26 - Final Remarks and Conclusion