473: Will Swaim—Don't Follow California
From The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe by The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
March 3, 2026 · 1h 6m · Episode 473
About this episode
Mike talks with Will Swaim about the negative impacts of California's public policy choices.
Mike talks with Will Swaim , CEO of the California Policy Center . California has long marketed itself as the future—a place where trends are born and the rest of the country eventually follows. But Swaim argues that when it comes to public policy, that's the last thing America should do. Despite spending roughly $24 billion, California still leads the nation in homelessness. The state ranks near the bottom in education outcomes, while residents face the highest energy and gas prices as well as marginal income tax rates in America. Swaim argues these aren't accidents—they're the predictable results of bad policy choices.
People in this episode
Host: Mike Rowe
Guest: Will Swaim
Topics covered
- public policy
- homelessness
- education outcomes
- California
- energy prices
- tax rates
Keywords
- California
- public policy
- homelessness
- education
- energy prices
- tax rates
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: California Policy Center
Places: California
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