National Review's Radio Free California Podcast

Episode 470: Why the California Left Loves Donald Trump

studio@nationalreview.com (Will Swaim, David L. Bahnsen, Scott Davison) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:51:03 +0000

Governor Gavin Newsom spins Trump’s “threat” to allow Iran to nuke California, alarming almost no one. Bonus conversation with attorney Scott Davison about an infamous memo calling for the FBI to investigate parents who showed up to school council meetings during the Covid-19 pandemic. Music by Metalachi.

Email Us:
dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com
will@calpolicycenter.org

Show Notes:

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Episode 469: A Wealth Tax That Makes You Poorer

studio@nationalreview.com (Will Swaim, Ben Jaros, Aharon Friedman) — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 22:15:49 +0000

Will talks with Hoover Institution economist Ben Jaros and legal scholar Aharon Friedman about likely post-election challenges to Proposition 40, the Billionaire Wealth Tax. Music by Metalachi.

Email Us:
dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com
will@calpolicycenter.org

Show Notes:

Hoover Institution’s latest revision reveals more bad news about Prop. 40
Friedman, Jaros and Rauh, “The 2026 Billionaire Tax Act and the Constitution: Retroactivity, Residency, and the Limits of California’s Taxing Power”

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Episode 468: What Would California Dems Do in the Absence of ‘Trump’?

studio@nationalreview.com (Will Swaim, David L. Bahnsen) — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 02:48:48 +0000

In his first and only gubernatorial debate with Xavier Becerra, Republican Steve Hilton brought actual policy to counter Becerra’s incantatory use of the word ‘Trump.’ We look at the unintended — but utterly predictable — consequences of L.A.’s Mansion Tax. Vanity Fair’s deep profile reveals Gavin Newsom’s remarkable shallowness. Companies doing business in California are now required to document their ties to slavery.

Bonus! Gene Autry was more than just Hollywood’s ‘Singing Cowboy’ — he was a real American hero. Music by Metalachi.

Email Us:
dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com
will@calpolicycenter.org

Show Notes:

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Episode 467: Bari Weiss Beats Bonta

studio@nationalreview.com (David L. Bahnsen, Will Swaim, Lance Christensen) — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:52:36 +0000

California AG Rob Bonta has sued for peace in his fight with Paramount’s David Ellison, making Bari Weiss this week’s biggest winner. David says Republicans are poorly positioned to counter the Democrats’ affection for socialism. Will says California Dems finally have former Union general and abolitionist John C. Fremont right where they want him. Harry and Meghan join the California exodus.

Bonus: Cal Policy’s Lance Christensen says Gavin Newsom got it right — four times! Music by Metalachi.

Email Us:
|dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com
will@calpolicycenter.org

Show Notes:

Bonus! Lance Christensen: Where Newsom was Right

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NPOlawyers.com
boardtrainingprinciples.com

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Episode 466: Newsom's 'Zen Diagram'

studio@nationalreview.com (Will Swaim, Jon Fleischman) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:27:20 +0000

Guest Jon Fleischman helps Will break down the news of the week, including Gavin Newsom’s remarkably weird interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, his AI alarmism, and his surprise legislative vetoes. Yet another major battery fire has climate activists wondering who to blame when “clean” energy goes awry. The city of Long Beach responds to the Soviet submarine in its harbor. And we remember the Siege of Los Angeles, September 22, 1846. Music by Metalachi.

Email Us:
dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com
will@calpolicycenter.org

Show Notes:
Jon Fleischman, So Does It Matter Substack
Gavin Newsom tells CNN's Jake Tapper he won't run for president if Kamala Harris runs in 2028
Newsom signs bill barring other states from sending National Guard troops to California
Governor Newsom issues executive order to accelerate independent oversight and advance the creation of an AI kill switch
Who Pays When AI Causes Harm? The “Kill Switch” Is Liability
Newsom vetoes bill to loosen work-from-home rules for state workers
Republicans Help SEIU Defy Gavin Newsom’s Return-to-Work Order - WTH?
Newsom vetoes bill closing CEQA manufacturing exemption
Newsom cites pension crisis as he vetoes bill to enhance retirement for police and firefighters
I Was Wrong About Gavin Newsom And AB 1383, The Public Safety Employee Union Sponsored Pension Spiking Bill
LAUSD struggles to decide between refurbishing and retrofitting or closing schools
LAUSD Ignored the Warnings. Now the Bills Are Due.
New fire breaks out at Moss Landing Power Plant in California; shelter-in-place order issued
How do you dispose of an abandoned Russian submarine? Long Beach is on the hook to find out

This week’s advertising sponsor: California Center for Nonprofit Law
NPOlawyers.com
boardtrainingprinciples.com

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Episode 465: Bring In the Fembots!

studio@nationalreview.com (David L. Bahnsen, Will Swaim) — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 01:03:57 +0000

In Gavin Newsom’s California, artificial intelligence is apparently dangerous enough to require an expanding apparatus of government regulation, but, in the hands of the state, trustworthy enough to answer your questions about government itself. In other news, Inglewood bails on its SoFi Stadium debt, Ro Khanna embraces race hustling, and David learns about Star Trek's cultural ties to SoCal’s scientific community. Music by Metalachi.

Email Us:
dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com
will@calpolicycenter.org

Show Notes:

This week’s advertising sponsor: California Center for Nonprofit Law

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Episode 464: The Revolution Will Be Livestreamed

studio@nationalreview.com (Will Swaim, David L. Bahnsen, Jon Fleischman) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 01:11:34 +0000

California’s state employees swear an oath to protect the United States Constitution — so what’s up with the university professors calling for armed revolution and the liquidation of Democrats? Newsom visits with South Carolina Democrats but can’t outrun his failures back home, including high unemployment and a new audit showing that the tiniest high-speed rail system in the world has run off the tracks. Bonus: If you missed David and Will’s discussion of November’s 14 ballot measures, listen to Will’s conversation here with political analyst Jon Fleischman. Music by Metalachi.

Email Us:
dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com
will@calpolicycenter.org

Show Notes:

Bonus: California’s 14 Ballot Propositions Explained, With Recommendations! | Jon Fleischman & Will Swaim

This week’s advertising sponsor: California Center for Nonprofit Law

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Episode 463: Return of the Living Debt

studio@nationalreview.com (Will Swaim, David L. Bahnsen) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 21:05:57 +0000

In 1999, the last time California boosted the benefits it pays government employees – earlier retirements, richer retirements – financial disaster followed quickly. Now, state lawmakers want Newsom to try it again. We fact-check Newsom’s claims on housing starts (terrible) and jobs (worse). Iowa’s AG sues California for blocking the Paramount-Warner merger. Now that he’s successful, Mark Zuckerberg says social media companies must be regulated. David and Will break down the Nick Shirley Act. Music by Metalachi.

Email Us:
dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com
will@calpolicycenter.org

Show Notes:
David Bahnsen’s “Profit from the profit”
Ishi discovered in California
Meta to Pay Up to $17.1 Billion in Landmark Settlement Over Social Media Addiction Claims
“Hardly any” AI regulations? Becerra should know better
Iowa Attorney General Says She’s Taking California to the Supreme Court Over Paramount-Warner Bros. Lawsuit
Gavin Newsom still doesn’t understand the limits of his power
California set to force big companies to disclose historic links to slavery
Kenneth Schrupp on Newsom’s jobs report
Newsom’s big housing claim is built on bad data
Lawmakers vote to let first responders retire earlier and with more money. Will Newsom sign on?
AB 1383 is a costly pension mistake in the making
AB 2624 signed into law, California rejects hated-filled (sic) misinformation campaign
Will’s work here would likely be illegal under the Act

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Episode 462: California Ballot Boxing

studio@nationalreview.com (David Bahnsen, Will Swaim) — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 20:48:32 +0000

Since 1911, Californians have been allowed a direct role in legislation via the initiative and referendum process. This year’s November ballot features 14 measures, including the Billionaire Wealth Tax, two “affordability” programs that will make housing more expensive, and a bid to make the nation’s highest marginal income-tax rate a permanent impediment to prosperity.

Bonus! David discusses the birth today of his fifth book, “Profit from the Profit.” Music by Metalachi.

Email Us:
dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com
will@calpolicycenter.org

Show Notes:
David Bahnsen’s “Profit from the profit”

This episode's advertising sponsor: California Center for Nonprofit Law

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Episode 461: Bahnsen's Iron Law of Politics

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 23:23:08 +0000

Discussing this week’s news -- taxpayer-funded political campaigns, students learning about social justice from a rabid anti-Israel activist, DEI in college admissions, and Newsom’s enthusiasm for new automobile tire regulations -- David concludes with a general principle: “In public policy, every reductio ad absurdum eventually becomes an absurdum.” Bonus: Hoover Institute economist Benjamin Jaros offers his latest battlefield assessment of California’s wealth tax. Music by Metalachi.

Email Us:
dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com
will@calpolicycenter.org

Show Notes:

Hoover Institution’s Ben Jaros on the Billionaire Wealth Tax

This week’s advertising sponsor: California Center for Nonprofit Law

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