How can free-market principles address some of America’s biggest policy challenges?

On this episode of the Washington Signal Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer sits down with Dan Faoro, President of the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), for a wide-ranging conversation about public policy, shareholder activism, economic freedom, disability policy, education, and the future of conservative advocacy.

Faoro discusses the mission of the National Center for Public Policy Research and its key initiatives, including Project 21, the Free Enterprise Project, and Able Americans. He explains how these programs seek to expand opportunity, promote free-market solutions, and challenge policies that often create unintended consequences.

The conversation covers:

• The mission and history of the National Center for Public Policy Research
• Project 21 and conservative outreach in Black communities
• Shareholder activism and corporate governance
• ESG, DEI, and fiduciary responsibility
• Disability policy and the Able Americans initiative
• Regulatory barriers and unintended consequences in public policy
• Consistency in conservative principles and policymaking
• The role of trade associations and policy organizations
• Free markets, economic freedom, and government intervention
• China, economic competition, and national security concerns
• The legacy of communism and lessons from Eastern Europe
• Family, fatherhood, and leadership development initiatives

Faoro also discusses the Free Enterprise Project’s efforts to challenge corporate activism through shareholder proposals and litigation, including a successful legal challenge to Nasdaq board diversity requirements that he argues reinforced shareholder rights and corporate independence.

Throughout the discussion, Andrew and Dan explore the tension between good intentions and real-world outcomes, emphasizing the importance of evaluating policies based on results rather than rhetoric.

The episode concludes with a conversation about family, mentorship, leadership development, and the importance of cultivating the next generation of policy advocates.

00:00 — Intro + Meet Dan Faoro
01:24 — The National Center for Public Policy Research
03:02 — Project 21 and outreach efforts
04:05 — The Free Enterprise Project
05:05 — Able Americans and disability policy
06:01 — Unintended consequences in public policy
09:37 — Consistency in conservative principles
13:03 — Holding policymakers accountable
16:05 — Populism and the political landscape
20:15 — Shareholder activism and corporate governance
21:18 — The Nasdaq board diversity lawsuit
24:30 — ESG, DEI, and corporate influence
27:19 — China, economic competition, and national security
30:39 — Lessons from communism and Eastern Europe
33:21 — New initiatives at NCPPR
35:07 — Life outside policy work
35:43 — Where to learn more about NCPPR
36:14 — Closing thoughts

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What happens when political movements abandon the principles that made them successful?

On this episode of the Washington Signal Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer sits down with Grover Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), for a wide-ranging conversation on free markets, limited government, federalism, taxation, trade, labor policy, and the future of the conservative movement.

Drawing on decades of experience in public policy and political advocacy, Norquist discusses why ideological consistency remains essential, how federalism serves as one of America's greatest strengths, and why he believes economic freedom continues to outperform centralized government planning.

The conversation covers:

• The importance of principle-driven policymaking
• Limited government and the role of federalism
• Tax reform and the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
• Organized labor and worker freedom
• The East Palestine rail derailment and rail policy debates
• Government regulation and unintended consequences
• Tariffs, free trade, and industrial policy
• Artificial intelligence and regulatory challenges
• California’s wealth tax proposal and interstate competition
• Energy policy, nuclear power, and economic growth
• Property taxes and local government spending

Norquist also reflects on the evolution of the conservative movement, the importance of maintaining intellectual consistency in public policy debates, and why he believes competition among states helps drive innovation, growth, and accountability.

Throughout the discussion, he argues that government solutions often become larger and more permanent than the problems they were intended to solve, while market-based approaches tend to produce better outcomes for workers, consumers, and taxpayers.

The episode concludes with a look at future policy battles at the federal, state, and local levels, along with a personal discussion about history and travel.

00:00 — Intro + Grover Norquist joins
01:27 — Why principles matter in politics
05:20 — Bipartisanship versus philosophy
09:01 — The Taxpayer Protection Pledge
12:01 — Labor unions and worker freedom
14:43 — The East Palestine rail debate
18:50 — Government responses to crises
22:22 — Tariffs, trade, and industrial policy
26:55 — Federalism and state competition
27:22 — Artificial intelligence and regulation
30:42 — California’s wealth tax proposal
35:23 — Energy policy and nuclear power
39:32 — Grover Norquist’s interests outside politics
40:23 — Property taxes and local government reform
41:32 — Closing thoughts

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What happens when parents finally get a firsthand look at what their children are being taught in school?

On this episode of the Washington Signal Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer sits down with Nicole Neily, President and Founder of Defending Education, a national organization focused on parental rights, academic transparency, and accountability in K-12 and higher education. Prior to founding Defending Education, Neily also founded Speech First, a leading campus free speech organization that challenged First Amendment violations at public universities.

Drawing on years of work in education policy and civil liberties, Neily discusses how COVID-era school closures transformed the national debate over education and why parental involvement has become one of the defining policy issues of the past decade.

The conversation covers:

• The rise of the parental rights movement
• COVID-19 and the public’s renewed focus on education
• The history and role of the U.S. Department of Education
• Teachers unions and their influence on public policy
• School choice and educational competition
• DEI programs in K-12 and higher education
• Campus free speech and Speech First’s legal battles
• Accreditation agencies and higher education reform
• The future of colleges and universities amid declining enrollment
• Parental notification policies and transparency in schools
• State-level education reforms and the role of federalism

Neily also explains the origins of Defending Education, how the organization investigates school policies and curricula, and why she believes many parents have become more engaged in education than ever before.

The discussion explores broader questions about accountability, educational outcomes, bureaucratic growth, and whether America’s education system is preparing students for future success.

Throughout the episode, Neily argues that meaningful reform will require greater transparency, stronger parental involvement, and a renewed focus on academic achievement rather than ideological activism.

00:00 — Intro + Nicole Neily joins
01:00 — Why education became a national issue
03:05 — How America’s education system changed
06:06 — Declining academic standards and outcomes
07:25 — Schools of education and ideological influence
10:33 — Founding Defending Education
13:13 — COVID, parents, and public awareness
17:24 — Teachers unions and political influence
19:30 — School choice and education reform
23:20 — Why some states are improving outcomes
26:00 — Trump administration education reforms
29:31 — Accreditation and higher education
34:25 — Campus free speech and Speech First
37:25 — Current battles in K-12 education
40:08 — Travel, family, and personal interests
40:36 — Where to learn more about Defending Education
41:12 — Closing thoughts

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