Is more school funding really the key to better student outcomes—or does how we spend matter more than how much?
In this episode of The Right Idea, host Brian Phillips and TPPF’s Andrew Brown sit down with Dr. Eric “Rick” Hanushek, Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, to explore one of education’s toughest questions: Do dollars drive results—or does design and discipline matter more?

Dr. Hanushek is one of the world’s leading experts on the economics of education. His groundbreaking research has shaped how policymakers think about teacher quality, school finance reform, and student achievement.

Together, the panel dives deep into:

• The myth that more spending equals better outcomes
• Texas’ $100B+ public education budget
• What’s working in Dallas, Houston, and Washington, D.C.
• The rise of administrative bloat in public schools
• Teacher pay, accountability, and school choice

• • The impact of AI in the classroom and the future of learning

Hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen dive into the critical issue of indoctrination in K-12 education with special guest Ken Pope, CEO of the Coalition for Empowered Education and Senior Fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. They discuss how Colleges of Education are shaping teachers with ideological agendas, the impact on classrooms, and solutions to restore critical thinking and balanced education. From Marxist influences to grassroots efforts, this conversation uncovers the challenges parents face and how to combat politicized curricula.

00:30 - Brian and Derek catch up: New baby and festival banter
01:27 - Hot Take: Craziest band names at ACL 2025 (Wet Leg, Spacey Jane, Panda Bear, Dr. Dog)
04:00 - Introducing Ken Pope: CEO of Coalition for Empowered Education
06:47 - How Colleges of Education have shifted to ideological indoctrination
08:52 - The long march of critical theory in academia
12:03 - Exposure vs. Indoctrination: What’s the difference?
14:57 - From Marxism to modern victimology: Evolution of classroom ideologies
17:16 - Are teachers trained to be activists?
19:43 - The disconnect between parents and teachers’ goals
21:20 - Indoctrination in rural and urban schools alike
23:35 - What are education students actually learning?
24:27 - Shocking examples from social studies conferences
29:51 - Coalition for Empowered Education’s mission to retrain teachers
33:56 - Legislative and grassroots solutions to reform teacher training
37:46 - Universities doing it right: Hillsdale, UATX, and others
40:56 - Why mandate Colleges of Education? Alternative teacher certification
44:39 - Red flags for parents: How to spot indoctrination in classrooms
49:56 - How to connect with the Coalition for Empowered Education
50:28 - Closing thoughts and Sam Houston’s wisdom

Coalition for Empowered Education: https://cee.org

Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation: https://victimsofcommunism.org

TPPF's Derek Cohen and Jose Melendez catch up on the latest from the 89th Legislative Session and subsequent special sessions with Rep. Cole Hefner. They dive into the quorum break that put Texas in the national political spotlight before discussing policy issues like property tax reform, taxpayer-funded lobbying, housing affordability, and safeguarding Texas from foreign adversaries.

00:53 – Hot Take: Jose Melendez on the Last Man Standing Ultramarathon
04:12 – Rep. Cole Hefner: From Citizen to Chairman – His Journey to Public Service
06:19 – Addressing Quorum Breaks: Stiffer Penalties and Legislative Challenges
07:10 – Priorities for the Current Special Session
08:59 – Property Taxes: Balancing State Relief and Local Government Accountability
11:09 – Appraisal Reform: Ensuring Fairness and Predictability
12:40 – Banning Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
15:04 – Housing Affordability: HB 840 and Revitalizing Downtown Texas
17:56 – SB 17: Protecting Texas Land from Hostile Foreign Adversaries
22:50 – TRACE Act and Protecting Texas Schools from Foreign Influence
25:42 – Senate Bill 1362: Banning Red Flag Laws and Upholding Due Process
30:16 – Transportation: Addressing CDL Standards and Interstate Challenges
33:17 – Water Issues in Texas: Balancing Growth and Private Property Rights
36:15 – Looking Ahead: Key Issues for the 90th Legislative Session
41:14 – Survey Says: Addressing Voter Discontent with Government Responsiveness