Freedom Rising with Andrew Lewis

Don't California My Pennsylvania

What do California’s budget problems, homelessness crisis, and alleged welfare fraud scandals all have in common?  According to California Policy Center CEO Will Swaim, they’re the predictable result of government expansion without accountability. Andrew Lewis chats with Swaim and explores how California’s policies became a cautionary tale for the rest of the country.  After learning about the bad policies affecting California, Lewis then speaks with Pennsylvania Rep. Robert Leadbeter about how Pennsylvania can avoid the same fate.   The future of Pennsylvania depends on the choices made in Harrisburg right now.

From the Strait of Hormuz to Pennsylvania

What does a shipping lane halfway around the world have to do with your energy bill? Andrew Lewis and Victoria Coates of The Heritage Foundation connect global unrest to local consequences, from threats in the Strait of Hormuz to rising demand for American natural gas. They explore how Pennsylvania’s energy resources can stabilize global markets, support allies, and strengthen U.S. security—if policymakers allow it.

Educational Choice Changes Lives

Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania families are still waiting for access to a better education. In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis sits down with Rep. Martina White and Keisha Jordan to discuss why educational choice is essential, not optional, for students stuck in failing schools. From scholarship waitlists to real-world success stories, they explore how empowering parents with choice leads to better outcomes for kids. Because when it comes to education, every kid deserves to attend a school that helps them learn, grow, and succeed.

Stopping the Pennsylvania Exodus

Every 24 minutes, someone leaves Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania isn’t just competing with neighboring states — it’s competing with the fastest-growing economies in the country. In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis examines how tax policy and government spending influence where people choose to live and work, joined by Andrew Wilford of the National Taxpayers Union Foundation. From there, the Commonwealth Foundation's Nathan Benefield and Elizabeth Stelle outline a roadmap to make Pennsylvania more competitive — including the Taxpayer Protection Act, welfare reform, and expanding educational choice. Pennsylvania has everything it needs to be a top state for jobs, growth, and opportunity — but policymakers have some important choices to make that will determine whether the commonwealth leads or falls further behind.

Why Your Electric Bill Is So High

Pennsylvania energy prices have surged — up 46% since 2018 — but the reason isn’t complicated. In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis breaks down what’s really driving higher electricity bills with State Rep. Josh Kail and former Pennsylvania Utility Commission Chairman Glen Thomas. From government mandates and stalled infrastructure to the threat of carbon taxes, they explain how bad policy decisions are squeezing consumers and threatening the reliability of the energy grid. Pennsylvania has the resources to power the next economic revolution — but only if policymakers get government out of the way.