Gun Owners Are Watching Illinois Gun Case Heading to the Supreme Court | The States

86% of Voters Support the Founding Principles, 2/3rds Say We're not Living Up to Them | The State

We mark America's 250th birthday with a look at the Declaration of Independence's origins, the economics of the 4th of July, state independence rankings, and a new poll on how Americans view the country's founding principles today.   Hillsdale College professor Richard Samuelson breaks down what really drove the Declaration of Independence — it wasn't just about tea taxes, but the fight for self-government. Samuelson also connects liberty to responsibility and makes the case for federalism, noting that freedom comes with the risk of failure. A new Center Square/Noble Predictive Insights poll finds 86% of voters across party and demographic lines support America's founding principles — but nearly two-thirds say the country isn't living up to them, with broad agreement across party lines. Also in this episode: Ph.D. Economist Orphe Divounguy breaks down the cost of Independence Day and how your barbeque is being impacted by inflation. WalletHub ranks the most and least independent states for 2026: Idaho, Utah, and Hawaii come out on top for financial and social self-reliance, while Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi land at the bottom. The Supreme Court agrees to hear challenges to Illinois' and Connecticut's assault weapons bans, setting up a major Second Amendment fight, while the DOJ sues California and Virginia over new gun restrictions targeting Glocks and semi-automatic rifles. Pennsylvania blows through its budget deadline for the fifth year running, passing a university funding bill amid a $6 billion gap still unresolved. Georgia's new law puts school speed camera programs to a local vote, requiring referendums and adding limits on when and how tickets can be issued. The Trump administration's America250 civics push aims to boost historical literacy as new data shows just 23% of eighth graders are proficient in civics.   Plus, America's Talking:   Illinois, California, Virginia: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_b2bfb834-4334-44c1-9434-30daa57f63d6.html Pennsylvania: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_5a49b4cc-25ed-49a6-ad31-825e27bd37c4.html Georgia: https://www.thecentersquare.com/georgia/article_d96da53e-ffa4-41db-baad-3ed120deae75.html   The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square. ____________ 👉 Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com 📩 Sign up for the newsletter for daily updates   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gun Owners Are Watching Illinois Gun Case Heading to the Supreme Court | The States

Pennsylvania's teacher pension fund falling short, SCOTUS agrees to hear Illinois gun case, polling shows divide in voters' confidence in the future of democracy, and states' firework taxes. The Center Square's Mark Stricherz reports Pennsylvania's teacher pension fund is $41 billion short and only two-thirds funded, and the Pennsylvania Public School Retirement System blames private equity returns. Pennsylvania and six other states are pulling back their pension investments in private equity. The Center Square's Voters' Voice Poll finds just 47% of Americans are confident in the future of U.S. democracy. Morgan Sweeney joins to discuss the polling, with confidence split sharply along political lines, with Trump voters far more optimistic than Harris voters.   Also in this episode: - The Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases on whether the Second Amendment protects semiautomatic rifles like the AR-15. - A ruling isn't expected for about a year, and existing state gun bans remain in effect until then. - Fireworks laws and taxes vary widely by state, with some charging excise taxes as high as 12%. - The CPSC reported 13,000 fireworks injuries and 15 deaths nationwide last year. - NASA awarded $590 million in new moon lander contracts but still won't say what its full Moon-to-Mars program will cost. - The White House has proposed a 23% cut to NASA's budget while the House pushes to keep funding flat. - Colorado's Democratic primary for governor has been decided, but the Republican race remains too close to call. - Republican incumbents also won primaries in three of Colorado's congressional districts. - Pennsylvania missed its budget deadline for the fifth year in a row, raising fears of another lengthy impasse. Plus, America's Talking:   Moon: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_8ffebec9-f11c-46ef-99d6-7c9cc5a70e2d.html   Colorado: https://www.thecentersquare.com/colorado/article_3055da16-7dad-427c-a999-4300f9f73a6d.html Pennsylvania: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_a67b2702-e4fb-4d7e-827c-81165f44f7ef.html The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square. Video excerpt from Pro Football Talk / NBC Sports used for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and discussion. ____________ 👉 Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com 📩 Sign up for the newsletter for daily updates Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NFL Reporter Traffic Stop Footage Sparks Journalistic Integrity Debate | The States

SCOTUS upholds transgender athlete bans and defends birthright citizenship, Diana Russini traffic stop footage, state budget debates, and Trump's economic approval rating falling.  The U.S. Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender athletes in women's/girls' sports — Greg connects with Dr. Stanley Goldfarb of Do No Harm and Shannon Minter from National Center for LGBTQ Rights to get their reactions. SCOTUS also strikes down Trump's birthright citizenship executive order and a 50-year limit on political party campaign spending. SCOTUS agrees to hear new cases on immigration, energy, and voting rights for upcoming term.  Also in this episode:  - NFL reporter traffic stop sparks journalistic ethics debate  - The Center Square breaks footage of former NFL insider Diana Russini namedropping NFL head coach to get out of a ticket, raising questions why other outlets didn't cover it sooner  - Pennsylvania budget deadline missed for 5th straight year under Gov. Josh Shapiro; Senate GOP guts House bill to $24M placeholder  - State budget updates: California, Virginia, North Carolina  - New Center Square Voters' Voice Poll: Trump economic approval (37% approve/60% disapprove) trails overall job approval (40%/58%) - Poll: GOP voters identify more with Republican Party (56%) than with Trump (35%), especially younger voters  - Virginia judge blocks assault weapons/magazine ban with preliminary injunction ahead of July 1 effective date  - Illinois Gov. Pritzker signs 62 new laws, including amended digital coupon bill - Florida restaurants required to disclose mandatory service charges starting July 1  - Arizona gains 21,200 jobs year-over-year in May, ranking 10th nationally in job growth  Plus, America's Talking:  Virginia - https://www.thecentersquare.com/virginia/article_2084addb-7218-4c01-b0f2-574c63caffd4.html  Illinois - https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_11774d45-8bcc-4a80-8dbe-9a0ae39cdf7a.html Florida - https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_e1cc93b6-31c5-4268-a7a2-db16ce3e63ed.html  Arizona - https://www.thecentersquare.com/arizona/article_5b9ca97a-3143-4fee-ba37-0d5532598920.html  The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square.  ____________  👉 Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com  📩 Sign up for the newsletter for daily updates    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Supreme Court Rules 5-4 States Can Count Mail-In Ballots After Election Day | The States

SCOTUS rules states can count ballots after election day, states debate budgets, Colorado public records requests, tort reform, and Los Angeles superintendent resigns.  The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Watson v. Republican National Committee that states can continue counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day, as long as they are postmarked by Election Day, allowing the practice to continue in 14 states and D.C. President Trump responded by calling the ruling a "tremendous loss" and renewed calls for Congress to pass the Save America Act, which would require voter ID, proof of citizenship, and restrict mail-in voting.  Also in this episode:  Several states are still working to pass budgets ahead of or past their fiscal year deadlines, with Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, and others facing ongoing negotiations over spending and tax disputes.  Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is blocking public records requests detailing the cost of his office's at least 66 lawsuits against the Trump administration, placing the documents behind fees of $300+ and refusing to process payment for nearly two months.  The records fight comes as Weiser runs for governor in a Democratic primary, with critics arguing voters have a right to know how much taxpayer money is funding the litigation before they cast their ballots.  A joint report from the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute and the James Madison Institute names Texas and Florida as leading "boom belt" states, crediting decades of tort reform for their economic growth, while warning that trial lawyer-backed political campaigns could erode those gains.  The Los Angeles Unified School District named a new permanent superintendent after former chief Alberto Carvalho resigned following an FBI raid on his home, amid scrutiny over district spending and a failed $6 million chatbot project.  New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $30 million tariff relief program allowing farmers to apply for up to $25,000 in aid to offset the impact of federal tariff policies.  U.S. Representative Julie Letlow won Louisiana's Republican Senate primary runoff, defeating State Treasurer John Fleming, and will face Democrat Jamie Davis in November for the seat held by Senator Bill Cassidy.  Florida's Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center in the Everglades is closing after one year of operation, during which Governor Ron DeSantis credited it with aiding nearly 30,000 deportations.  Plus, America's Talking:  Education: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_5a8cd658-1a9c-403b-baba-e1e3cdce0bf7.html  New York: https://www.thecentersquare.com/new_york/article_94718a2b-e0d6-4f72-bf50-81df8a1d402d.html  Louisiana: https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/article_c3c704e9-49a5-49c8-b01c-6908ea9fc163.html  Florida: http://thecentersquare.com/florida/article_e6ecca55-6636-4ee0-8956-5d89c0a361ef.html  The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square.  ____________  👉 Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com  📩 Sign up for the newsletter for daily updates  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

California Stops Funding Police Transparency Database | Weekend Edition

On this edition of the Center Square Radio Hour, California will stop funding a state-wide database intended to uncover police misconduct and use-of-force records. Tennessee taxpayers are handing $30 million to Starbucks to open new corporate offices in the state. But at least 70 times, companies that promised to create jobs in exchange for government subsidies haven't held up their end of the bargain. Calling it a win for families, Ohio’s new attorney general last week praised a federal appeals court ruling that allows the state’s social media age verification law to take effect after sitting for more than two years. And some cities are seeing starter homes costing a million dollars. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.