TPPF Distinguished Senior Fellow Sherry Sylvester and Texas State Senator Brent Hagenbuch (R-Denton) discuss the future of higher education, protecting religious liberty, and the role of Islamism in public discourse. Hagenbuch is championing the President’s proposal to fast-track commercial truck drivers licenses for veterans to strengthen the transportation workforce in a potential sneak peek at Texas' 90th Legislative Session. Sherry and Senator Hagenbuch also discuss how conservatives should address the challenges of the increasingly rapid growth of the Lone Star State.

The 2026 World Cup featured 104 matches in 16 host cities, including 2 in Texas. 7 million people attended the games, but for many Americans it turned into a nationwide tailgate party that went on for weeks.

In this episode, TPPF Chief Transformation Officer Joshua Treviño discusses how international visitors reacted to the World Cup and whether the 2026 games were an effective demonstration of America’s soft power. They debate whether the tournament changed the way the world sees America and the way we see ourselves.

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TPPF's Sherry Sylvester discusses how progressives try to play the race card in college football recruitment with Dr. Richard Johnson, head of TPPF’s Booker T. Washington Initiative and a member of Texas Southern University’s Board of Regents.

Last month, the NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus called on college athletes to boycott the SEC and other Southern universities to protest the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which struck down racial gerrymandering in congressional districts. House Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared the ruling as proof that the spirit of the “Old Confederacy” is rising again, and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dubbed it the new Jim Crow, while calling on the North to come to the aid of the South.

Dr. Johnson brings a perspective on all this that few can match. In addition to serving on the Board of Regents of Texas Southern University and his decades of experience in public policy and education, he is a former college and Army athlete himself.

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Recorded at the 2026 Texas Policy Summit, Texas State Senator Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) discusses the 1836 Project he helped launch through legislation. Senator Parker and host Sherry Sylvester explore how the Project positions Texas as a beacon of liberty, the importance of preserving and accurately teaching our state’s history, and the latest developments including the recent biennial report to the Governor.

Senator Parker shares insights on why getting history right matters for the next generation and how Texas can lead the way against ideological distortions of the past.

A must-watch for anyone who cares about Texas values, education, and cultural heritage.

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Dr. William Inboden, Executive Vice President and Provost at The University of Texas at Austin, shares his insider perspective on the crisis in higher education and the bold reforms underway at one of America’s flagship public universities. A renowned historian, national security expert, and former senior advisor in the George W. Bush administration, Dr. Inboden shares his vision for restoring merit, accountability, and public trust in our universities.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why universities have “lost their way” — and what it will take to get them back on track
• Balancing academic freedom with state oversight, taxpayer accountability, and institutional integrity
• Major reforms at UT Austin: curriculum changes, core curriculum compliance, new Civics Honors programs, and academic integrity standards
• Promoting intellectual diversity, merit-based standards, and civic education in Texas higher education
• Lessons from history, foreign policy, and real-world leadership for rebuilding public confidence in our universities

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Sherry Sylvester talks with Konni Burton, Founder & CEO of The Texan, to explore the ever-changing world of media and its massive impact on Texas politics and public discourse. Konni dives deep into how social media has shifted from a grassroots organizing tool to a profit-driven machine that amplifies outrage, hysteria, conspiracy theories, and “red alerts”—often drowning out real issues like America’s $40 trillion national debt.

They also discuss crisis politics, misleading language in policy debates, COVID-era failures, the erosion of nuance and fact-checking, and why independent journalism matters more than ever.

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TPPF's Sherry Sylvester and conservative activist Luke Macias share the lessons they learned as the children of elected officials. Sherry's father was the mayor of their town in Oklahoma and Luke's father was a Texas State Representative.

Then, they discuss the trends of more young adults and Latinos running for office as Republicans, as well as the strong Democrat turnout in the current Texas primary elections. Plus, a review of how President Trump's State of the Union speech addressed key issues like affordability.

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The New Yorker said Taylor Sheridan's Landman demonstrates "how conservative TV might be a damn good time."

TPPF's Sherry Sylvester invites Landman superfans Brian Phillips and Michaelanne Hurst to the show to assess the series' core themes (hint: it's not just about the oil industry).

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