All Things with Kim Strassel

Texas Sen. John Cornyn in three weeks faces a primary challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton, a raucous contest that could factor into Republicans' ability to maintain their slight Senate majority. On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel speaks with Sen. Cornyn about the state of the race and the mood of Texas voters, whether Donald Trump will weigh in with an endorsement, and what's happening in the state's Democratic primary fight between Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep James Talarico. The pair also discuss the latest in the Department of Homeland Security funding fight, and the GOP's investigation into Minnesota fraud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump made immigration policy central to his 2024 victory, and his successful closure of the border remains popular with voters. But in the wake of two law-enforcement shootings in Minnesota and amid protests across the country, where does the public stand now? On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel breaks down the numbers with pollster Scott Rasmussen, as well as discusses where the president should go next on immigration, and what all this means for the midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crushed by the welfare-fraud scandal in Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz-- Kamala Harris’s 2024 running mate --has ended his run for a third term and put his political career on pause. The Trump administration is meanwhile cracking down on Minnesota's fraud-riddled program. What does the scandal mean for the state, the federal antipoverty machinery, and upcoming midterm politics? On this episode All Things, Kim Strassel speaks with former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, who unpacks the state's specific welfare problems, ties in Joe Biden's failed border policy, and places bets on next year's Minnesota gubernatorial race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress is racing through its final week of the year, with the House planning votes on two major reforms: Providing alternatives to costly Obamacare and fixing the National Environmental Policy Act permitting process. On this episode of All Things with Kim Strassel, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise details his party’s plans for both, explaining the GOP's new drive for choice in the healthcare system, and the bipartisan effort to update a 55-year old permitting law that binds the U.S. in red tape while sending innovative projects to China and Brazil. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress claims keeping healthcare premiums down is a top priority, with Democrats going so far as to shut down the government over extending ObamaCare subsidies. But what exactly is driving prices higher, and how should Washington go about truly fixing it? On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel speaks with healthcare policy expert Avik Roy about the "original sin" of American healthcare policy, the added mess that is the Affordable Care Act, and what Republicans can do to lower costs, increase innovation and competition, and improve care. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tucker Carlson's interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes--and Heritage Foundation President Kevin Robert's initial defense of it--is highlighting a rift in the conservative movement. While the Heritage president has since walked back that support, the fight underscores fringe elements of today's New Right movement and risks to the coalition going forward. On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel looks to that future with Tim Chapman, president of conservative advocacy group Advancing American Freedom. The two discuss the recent rise of the New Right/National Conservative movement under Donald Trump, its abandonment of longstanding free-market principles, and some of its more toxic cultural elements. Why does Carlson's "grievance politics" appeal to younger conservatives? How do JD Vance and other prominent New Righters navigate this political landscape? And what does the wider conservative coalition look like post-Trump? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The shutdown pain for federal workers and programs like Obamacare is all the news, but the 50 states are also starting to feel the crunch. How and when did the states become so dependent on Washington, D.C. dollars and what's that doing to the national debt? On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel speaks with Senior Executive Vice President at the State Policy Network Tony Woodlief about how states have “perfected the art” of getting federal money, which now had grown into “an addiction” that is leading to more costs and worse policy. The pair also discuss the first steps toward weaning states off that money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices