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Allen Jackson NOW

Allen Jackson: Fraud Crackdown | Allen Jackson Now

April 8, 2026 | 22:39

Allen Jackson: Fraud Crackdown | Allen Jackson Now
Pete Peterson joins Allen Jackson to discuss current events.
#News #Media #Government #Politics #Economy #Truth #Culture #AllenJackson #PetePeterson

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Allen Jackson NOW | Allen Jackson: Fraud Crackdown | Allen Jackson Now | April 8, 2026
  • Well, good evening and welcome to nashville.
  • 00:00:05.197 --> 00:00:07.165
  • I'm alan jackson with april 15th bearing down on taxpayers.
  • 00:00:07.165 --> 00:00:11.236
  • Government fraud and stealing has become
  • 00:00:11.236 --> 00:00:13.205
  • A conversation piece at the watercooler this week.
  • 00:00:13.205 --> 00:00:16.208
  • Translation the money we're paying in taxes
  • 00:00:16.208 --> 00:00:18.944
  • Is being stolen by others, and it's a massive amount.
  • 00:00:18.944 --> 00:00:22.714
  • Somewhere between a quarter and a half $1 trillion each year.
  • 00:00:22.714 --> 00:00:27.018
  • Imagine how
  • 00:00:27.352 --> 00:00:28.453
  • Much bigger your refund would be if there was no fraud,
  • 00:00:28.453 --> 00:00:31.723
  • Or how much lower the $39 trillion
  • 00:00:31.723 --> 00:00:34.159
  • Federal deficit would be if the thieves weren't
  • 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:36.962
  • Reaching into your pocket and taking your money.
  • 00:00:36.962 --> 00:00:40.198
  • Defrauding the government is hardly new,
  • 00:00:40.198 --> 00:00:42.734
  • But the amount being stolen is record breaking.
  • 00:00:42.734 --> 00:00:45.937
  • When an independent reporter
  • 00:00:45.937 --> 00:00:47.172
  • Shot video of this sign the learing center.
  • 00:00:47.172 --> 00:00:50.575
  • Well, it triggered a national movement
  • 00:00:50.575 --> 00:00:52.077
  • To look more deeply at the extent of the fraud,
  • 00:00:52.077 --> 00:00:54.746
  • Not just in minnesota, but every other state
  • 00:00:54.746 --> 00:00:57.115
  • Where it's been clear the stealing is rampant.
  • 00:00:57.115 --> 00:01:00.318
  • Investigators just busted a massive california fraud ring
  • 00:01:00.318 --> 00:01:03.955
  • Where a fake hospice office was set up
  • 00:01:03.955 --> 00:01:06.658
  • And stole $50 million from the government.
  • 00:01:06.658 --> 00:01:09.528
  • That was just one office, one group of people doing it.
  • 00:01:09.528 --> 00:01:12.664
  • California's
  • 00:01:12.998 --> 00:01:14.166
  • Fraud could easily total hundreds of millions of dollars.
  • 00:01:14.166 --> 00:01:17.502
  • Well, president trump says that the numbers are so large
  • 00:01:17.502 --> 00:01:20.305
  • That if successful,
  • 00:01:20.305 --> 00:01:21.673
  • We would literally be able to balance the american budget.
  • 00:01:21.673 --> 00:01:24.943
  • Listen to his comment.
  • 00:01:24.943 --> 00:01:26.444
  • This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a
  • 00:01:26.444 --> 00:01:30.015
  • Nation, and we are working on it like you wouldn't believe.
  • 00:01:30.015 --> 00:01:33.151
  • So tonight, orville started four months ago.
  • 00:01:33.151 --> 00:01:36.755
  • I am officially announcing the war on fraud to be
  • 00:01:36.755 --> 00:01:40.559
  • Led by our great vice president, j.d.
  • 00:01:40.559 --> 00:01:43.495
  • Vance.
  • 00:01:43.495 --> 00:01:45.030
  • So instead of the constant
  • 00:01:45.597 --> 00:01:47.065
  • Arguing about spending in washington,
  • 00:01:47.065 --> 00:01:49.434
  • The focus should be on recovering
  • 00:01:49.434 --> 00:01:51.536
  • And saving the money that we all pay in our taxes.
  • 00:01:51.536 --> 00:01:55.340
  • You know, fraud is happening in several states,
  • 00:01:55.340 --> 00:01:57.943
  • But we can't be at peace with hundreds
  • 00:01:57.943 --> 00:01:59.778
  • Of billions of dollars being stolen.
  • 00:01:59.778 --> 00:02:02.314
  • We have to make a change.
  • 00:02:02.314 --> 00:02:04.149
  • We need to reframe our expectations.
  • 00:02:04.149 --> 00:02:06.518
  • And it isn't just about making america great again.
  • 00:02:06.518 --> 00:02:09.487
  • It's about restoring integrity again.
  • 00:02:09.487 --> 00:02:12.224
  • You see, integrity matters.
  • 00:02:12.224 --> 00:02:13.892
  • Character still matters.
  • 00:02:13.892 --> 00:02:15.727
  • Statesmanship should matter to all of us.
  • 00:02:15.727 --> 00:02:19.264
  • Our elected officials must be able to make decisions
  • 00:02:19.264 --> 00:02:22.000
  • For the good of the state ahead of themselves.
  • 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:25.170
  • Accountability has been lacking across the board
  • 00:02:25.170 --> 00:02:27.539
  • With our elected officials.
  • 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:29.174
  • Many of them,
  • 00:02:29.174 --> 00:02:30.008
  • When they got those appointments,
  • 00:02:30.008 --> 00:02:31.243
  • Spent decades in washington
  • 00:02:31.243 --> 00:02:32.744
  • Without any other jobs or means of employment.
  • 00:02:32.744 --> 00:02:35.513
  • It's somehow they find themselves
  • 00:02:35.513 --> 00:02:37.249
  • To have accumulated tremendous resources and personal wealth.
  • 00:02:37.249 --> 00:02:41.486
  • If we have a member of congress whose net worth increase is $30
  • 00:02:41.486 --> 00:02:44.489
  • Million per year,
  • 00:02:44.489 --> 00:02:46.291
  • That should not be all right with us,
  • 00:02:46.291 --> 00:02:47.926
  • Especially if their state is at
  • 00:02:47.926 --> 00:02:49.327
  • The center of multiple high profile cases of fraud.
  • 00:02:49.327 --> 00:02:52.697
  • And i'm so grateful
  • 00:02:53.164 --> 00:02:54.399
  • That this administration is boldly saying fraud is not okay,
  • 00:02:54.399 --> 00:02:57.902
  • And they're taking some real action
  • 00:02:57.902 --> 00:02:59.204
  • To stop our taxpayer dollars from being stolen.
  • 00:02:59.204 --> 00:03:02.274
  • I'm also grateful that president trump is working
  • 00:03:02.274 --> 00:03:04.709
  • Hard to reestablish and rent re-orient us to our heroes.
  • 00:03:04.709 --> 00:03:10.148
  • Are we saw this exemplified over the weekend,
  • 00:03:10.148 --> 00:03:13.151
  • A massive undertaking
  • 00:03:13.151 --> 00:03:14.319
  • To rescue a weapon system officer, a highly respected
  • 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:17.422
  • Airman who had crashed deep behind enemy lines in iran.
  • 00:03:17.422 --> 00:03:20.725
  • In total, the u.s.
  • 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:22.360
  • Sent in more than 150 aircraft and several different teams.
  • 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:25.997
  • Navy seals, air force special operations, army
  • 00:03:25.997 --> 00:03:28.933
  • Special operations, aviation search,
  • 00:03:28.933 --> 00:03:31.703
  • Search and rescue, combat medics.
  • 00:03:31.703 --> 00:03:33.505
  • They all took in the rescue operation,
  • 00:03:33.505 --> 00:03:35.607
  • Taking on heavy enemy fire to save one life.
  • 00:03:35.607 --> 00:03:39.377
  • Well, that airman showed the kind of courage you can't fake.
  • 00:03:39.377 --> 00:03:42.614
  • He was wounded, isolated, deep inside enemy territory.
  • 00:03:42.614 --> 00:03:46.951
  • He reportedly hiked up a 7000ft mountain ridgeline,
  • 00:03:46.951 --> 00:03:50.522
  • Hid in a crevice while waiting for rescue.
  • 00:03:50.522 --> 00:03:53.525
  • Well, during that time, he used emergency communications
  • 00:03:53.525 --> 00:03:56.061
  • Equipment to help direct u.s.
  • 00:03:56.061 --> 00:03:57.395
  • Airstrikes against advancing iranian forces.
  • 00:03:57.395 --> 00:04:00.465
  • I felt like a script that even hollywood
  • 00:04:00.465 --> 00:04:02.200
  • Would have a difficult time coming up with
  • 00:04:02.200 --> 00:04:04.836
  • Was the rescue unfolded over easter weekend.
  • 00:04:04.836 --> 00:04:07.172
  • The pilot radioed a brief message to help u.s.
  • 00:04:07.172 --> 00:04:09.874
  • Forces identify him.
  • 00:04:09.874 --> 00:04:11.543
  • God is good, was his message.
  • 00:04:11.543 --> 00:04:14.112
  • That man is a hero.
  • 00:04:14.112 --> 00:04:16.114
  • The rescue forces showed
  • 00:04:16.114 --> 00:04:17.382
  • America still produces men who run towards danger.
  • 00:04:17.382 --> 00:04:21.353
  • Trump's response projected a commander in chief mindset
  • 00:04:21.353 --> 00:04:24.622
  • To stay at his command post, even over a holiday weekend.
  • 00:04:24.622 --> 00:04:28.093
  • He treated it
  • 00:04:28.460 --> 00:04:29.627
  • Like it was his national duty to rescue this one life.
  • 00:04:29.627 --> 00:04:32.430
  • You know, once upon a time,
  • 00:04:33.031 --> 00:04:34.232
  • Hollywood cranked out movies
  • 00:04:34.232 --> 00:04:35.667
  • That made heroes of military victories.
  • 00:04:35.667 --> 00:04:38.002
  • There's a whole genre of movies.
  • 00:04:38.002 --> 00:04:39.704
  • We call them westerns,
  • 00:04:39.704 --> 00:04:41.272
  • And the typical pattern in those
  • 00:04:41.272 --> 00:04:42.674
  • Movies was the bad guy loses and the good guy wins.
  • 00:04:42.674 --> 00:04:45.710
  • Entertainment has changed dramatically
  • 00:04:46.544 --> 00:04:48.213
  • In the last 30 years. a lot of things have changed.
  • 00:04:48.213 --> 00:04:50.982
  • Now, hollywood wants to portray heroes as superheroes.
  • 00:04:50.982 --> 00:04:54.018
  • They wear spandex clothes, and if you put a dark streak
  • 00:04:54.018 --> 00:04:57.322
  • In their character, it's even better.
  • 00:04:57.322 --> 00:05:00.091
  • Well, real heroes, they don't have superpowers.
  • 00:05:00.091 --> 00:05:02.460
  • They're real people doing real things.
  • 00:05:02.460 --> 00:05:04.963
  • They're in homes, neighborhoods,
  • 00:05:04.963 --> 00:05:06.664
  • Hospitals, churches and fire stations.
  • 00:05:06.664 --> 00:05:09.834
  • A parent waking up early, working hard
  • 00:05:09.834 --> 00:05:11.703
  • And raising children with love and discipline.
  • 00:05:11.703 --> 00:05:13.905
  • Showing love and respect to their spouse.
  • 00:05:13.905 --> 00:05:16.241
  • That's a hero.
  • 00:05:16.241 --> 00:05:17.742
  • The father staying present, protecting,
  • 00:05:17.742 --> 00:05:19.878
  • Providing, and leading his family is heroic.
  • 00:05:19.878 --> 00:05:23.314
  • A police officer running towards danger.
  • 00:05:23.314 --> 00:05:25.884
  • That's heroic.
  • 00:05:25.884 --> 00:05:27.118
  • A soldier willing to lay down his life for others is heroic.
  • 00:05:27.118 --> 00:05:31.089
  • The backbone of america is ordinary people
  • 00:05:31.089 --> 00:05:33.892
  • Doing extraordinary things when it matters most.
  • 00:05:33.892 --> 00:05:36.928
  • I like the navy seals motto.
  • 00:05:37.529 --> 00:05:39.130
  • The only easy day.
  • 00:05:39.130 --> 00:05:40.632
  • That was yesterday.
  • 00:05:40.632 --> 00:05:42.133
  • We're going to have to get over easy if we want to go from
  • 00:05:42.133 --> 00:05:44.502
  • Where we are as a culture to excellence.
  • 00:05:44.502 --> 00:05:47.505
  • Let's ask god to grow us, to mold us and to train us.
  • 00:05:47.505 --> 00:05:51.309
  • So we're ready for what's ahead.
  • 00:05:51.309 --> 00:05:53.878
  • Well, in a moment, we'll talk about the california fraud
  • 00:05:53.878 --> 00:05:56.381
  • And other current issues
  • 00:05:56.381 --> 00:05:57.816
  • With the dean of pepperdine school of public policy,
  • 00:05:57.816 --> 00:06:00.885
  • Pete peterson.
  • 00:06:01.219 --> 00:06:02.620
  • I'll be right back.
  • 00:06:02.620 --> 00:06:09.005
  • I'll be right back.
  • 00:06:09.005 --> 00:06:14.766
  • Well.
  • 00:06:14.999 --> 00:06:15.433
  • Welcome back.
  • 00:06:15.433 --> 00:06:16.634
  • You know, i hope that by now, a large percentage of you
  • 00:06:16.634 --> 00:06:18.336
  • Have received your refund from the treasury department.
  • 00:06:18.336 --> 00:06:21.239
  • Some of the tax rules were changed
  • 00:06:21.239 --> 00:06:22.740
  • Last year,
  • 00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:23.975
  • And a lot of people are supposed to be getting a bigger refund,
  • 00:06:23.975 --> 00:06:26.644
  • Or at least writing a smaller check
  • 00:06:26.644 --> 00:06:28.313
  • If more is due by the 15th.
  • 00:06:28.313 --> 00:06:30.682
  • Imagine how much more would remain in your wallet
  • 00:06:30.682 --> 00:06:33.151
  • If the national debt was not so high.
  • 00:06:33.151 --> 00:06:35.753
  • Interest alone on the debt will total $1 trillion this year.
  • 00:06:35.753 --> 00:06:39.891
  • No, trying to pay it down is like running in place
  • 00:06:39.891 --> 00:06:42.126
  • As the total debt approaches $39 trillion.
  • 00:06:42.126 --> 00:06:46.030
  • Well, joining us to help bring clarity to
  • 00:06:46.030 --> 00:06:47.899
  • This is our good friend
  • 00:06:47.899 --> 00:06:49.167
  • From malibu, pepperdine, dean of the school of public policy.
  • 00:06:49.167 --> 00:06:52.904
  • Pete peterson, welcome back.
  • 00:06:52.904 --> 00:06:54.372
  • Great to be with you out for a lot of years now.
  • 00:06:55.340 --> 00:06:58.376
  • The government just look the other way.
  • 00:06:58.376 --> 00:07:00.111
  • When the issue of fraud came up, just like a store
  • 00:07:00.111 --> 00:07:03.214
  • That has to write off what they lose was shoplifting.
  • 00:07:03.214 --> 00:07:06.284
  • But president trump was a businessman
  • 00:07:06.284 --> 00:07:08.253
  • Before he went into politics.
  • 00:07:08.253 --> 00:07:09.821
  • And he's been shocked to see the extent of the fraud.
  • 00:07:09.821 --> 00:07:12.690
  • J.d. vance is now the fraud czar, looking for savings
  • 00:07:12.690 --> 00:07:16.160
  • That could now be spent on, among other things,
  • 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:18.596
  • Rebuilding our military after the war with iran.
  • 00:07:18.596 --> 00:07:21.432
  • It's a good idea to have this going on
  • 00:07:21.432 --> 00:07:23.001
  • At the highest level now.
  • 00:07:23.001 --> 00:07:24.802
  • Am i correct in that assessment?
  • 00:07:24.802 --> 00:07:27.939
  • Absolutely, alan.
  • 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:29.107
  • I think it's worth pointing out, and we're certainly seeing
  • 00:07:29.107 --> 00:07:32.277
  • Some of this in california, that
  • 00:07:32.277 --> 00:07:35.313
  • We really experienced a sea change in federal
  • 00:07:35.313 --> 00:07:37.949
  • Spending with covid.
  • 00:07:37.949 --> 00:07:39.183
  • Obviously, it drove us
  • 00:07:39.183 --> 00:07:41.286
  • Through the biden administration
  • 00:07:41.286 --> 00:07:42.687
  • Into record high inflation rates.
  • 00:07:42.687 --> 00:07:45.256
  • But one of the things we haven't really accounted for
  • 00:07:45.256 --> 00:07:47.825
  • Were the trillions of dollars put through,
  • 00:07:47.825 --> 00:07:51.629
  • Public programs that have obviously now
  • 00:07:51.629 --> 00:07:54.699
  • We're now discovering
  • 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:56.200
  • How much fraud, there has been in those programs.
  • 00:07:56.200 --> 00:07:59.671
  • And so much of the fraud
  • 00:07:59.671 --> 00:08:01.339
  • That we're seeing, whether it's minnesota
  • 00:08:01.339 --> 00:08:03.007
  • Or certainly here in california now or around the country,
  • 00:08:03.007 --> 00:08:06.945
  • Really results from the trillions of dollars,
  • 00:08:06.945 --> 00:08:10.715
  • We spent
  • 00:08:10.982 --> 00:08:12.116
  • During the biden administration that in many instances,
  • 00:08:12.116 --> 00:08:14.619
  • Went unaccounted for.
  • 00:08:14.619 --> 00:08:15.920
  • You know, the early look in the fraud in minnesota and now
  • 00:08:17.055 --> 00:08:19.424
  • California has already shown some pretty massive stealing.
  • 00:08:19.424 --> 00:08:22.894
  • Just today,
  • 00:08:23.227 --> 00:08:24.262
  • The acting attorney general, todd blanch, said
  • 00:08:24.262 --> 00:08:25.930
  • That there
  • 00:08:25.930 --> 00:08:27.065
  • Are currently 8000 cases of stealing being investigated
  • 00:08:27.065 --> 00:08:29.968
  • And prosecuted,
  • 00:08:29.968 --> 00:08:31.169
  • Just a fraction of what's going to be uncovered.
  • 00:08:31.169 --> 00:08:33.371
  • Do you have any idea if the departments involved,
  • 00:08:33.371 --> 00:08:35.540
  • The ones that approved and hand out money,
  • 00:08:35.540 --> 00:08:37.675
  • Just didn't know
  • 00:08:37.675 --> 00:08:38.943
  • About the scale of this, or did they just look the other way?
  • 00:08:38.943 --> 00:08:42.046
  • You know that that remains to be seen.
  • 00:08:42.046 --> 00:08:44.315
  • What we do know,
  • 00:08:44.315 --> 00:08:45.450
  • At least here in california, is that this is a story,
  • 00:08:45.450 --> 00:08:48.953
  • That goes back
  • 00:08:49.287 --> 00:08:50.321
  • A few years again, and you can kind of peg it to,
  • 00:08:50.321 --> 00:08:53.791
  • All the trillions that were spent
  • 00:08:53.791 --> 00:08:55.360
  • During the biden administration,
  • 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:57.829
  • In response
  • 00:08:58.162 --> 00:08:59.197
  • To what they thought was, necessary for covid.
  • 00:08:59.197 --> 00:09:02.800
  • The biggest story
  • 00:09:02.800 --> 00:09:04.202
  • That we saw a few years ago, and this was certainly,
  • 00:09:04.202 --> 00:09:07.605
  • Under, governor gavin newsom's watch, was,
  • 00:09:07.605 --> 00:09:11.476
  • The employment department that issued
  • 00:09:12.310 --> 00:09:15.546
  • Checks for unemployment here in the state.
  • 00:09:15.546 --> 00:09:18.650
  • And we learned very quickly,
  • 00:09:18.650 --> 00:09:21.285
  • About, 3 or 4 years ago that we have lost
  • 00:09:21.285 --> 00:09:24.422
  • Track of between 25 and $30 billion in public funds.
  • 00:09:24.422 --> 00:09:29.994
  • That was really just the first story.
  • 00:09:29.994 --> 00:09:31.696
  • And obviously now
  • 00:09:31.696 --> 00:09:32.797
  • We're seeing it bleed into other federal programs,
  • 00:09:32.797 --> 00:09:36.100
  • Like medi-cal,
  • 00:09:36.434 --> 00:09:38.636
  • And, a number of others related to hospice care
  • 00:09:38.636 --> 00:09:42.807
  • And food stamps, the snap program and the list goes on.
  • 00:09:42.807 --> 00:09:46.444
  • And on.
  • 00:09:46.444 --> 00:09:48.179
  • Well, i have a question about iran and the us.
  • 00:09:48.179 --> 00:09:51.149
  • A fox news poll show that most people support
  • 00:09:51.149 --> 00:09:53.685
  • What the president
  • 00:09:53.685 --> 00:09:54.719
  • Is doing to shut down iran's nuclear ambitions
  • 00:09:54.719 --> 00:09:57.522
  • And the terrorism that they've been spreading.
  • 00:09:57.522 --> 00:09:59.924
  • But it also showed that
  • 00:09:59.924 --> 00:10:01.092
  • A lot of people aren't
  • 00:10:01.092 --> 00:10:02.160
  • Even paying attention to the wars play by play.
  • 00:10:02.160 --> 00:10:04.996
  • Why do you think that is?
  • 00:10:04.996 --> 00:10:07.532
  • Well, i think it's a mixture of factors.
  • 00:10:08.332 --> 00:10:11.035
  • One is that,
  • 00:10:11.035 --> 00:10:12.904
  • As it stands today, we have not put boots on the ground.
  • 00:10:12.904 --> 00:10:16.541
  • And i think for a lot of americans, that's a
  • 00:10:16.541 --> 00:10:19.610
  • That's a hinge point in focusing on
  • 00:10:19.610 --> 00:10:22.413
  • American engagement around the world as it stands.
  • 00:10:22.413 --> 00:10:26.551
  • Many of the videos that we're all watching are videos
  • 00:10:26.551 --> 00:10:29.954
  • Of american drop bombs being dropped or, certainly,
  • 00:10:29.954 --> 00:10:33.858
  • Israeli forces also engaged in that fight.
  • 00:10:33.858 --> 00:10:36.928
  • If it did become the case that american,
  • 00:10:36.928 --> 00:10:39.864
  • Forces, went on the ground and actually invaded.
  • 00:10:39.864 --> 00:10:43.434
  • I think you would definitely see an increased
  • 00:10:43.434 --> 00:10:46.671
  • Interest level on the part of most americans.
  • 00:10:46.671 --> 00:10:49.741
  • I think there's also a feeling that, a certain sense
  • 00:10:49.741 --> 00:10:53.945
  • Of of trust and appreciation for american military leadership
  • 00:10:53.945 --> 00:10:58.683
  • That we frankly, have not seen, for a number of years.
  • 00:10:58.683 --> 00:11:02.587
  • When you see what saw
  • 00:11:03.087 --> 00:11:04.288
  • What happened in venezuela with the operation, with maduro,
  • 00:11:04.288 --> 00:11:07.325
  • When you see the beginnings of this operation in taking out,
  • 00:11:07.325 --> 00:11:10.828
  • Iranian leadership, these are,
  • 00:11:11.429 --> 00:11:14.732
  • Incredible,
  • 00:11:15.066 --> 00:11:16.801
  • Examples of both american courage,
  • 00:11:16.801 --> 00:11:19.904
  • Technology and firepower, on display.
  • 00:11:19.904 --> 00:11:23.608
  • And i think there's, there's, frankly, increased trust,
  • 00:11:23.608 --> 00:11:26.811
  • That we're seeing there on the part of many americans.
  • 00:11:26.811 --> 00:11:30.481
  • Well, let's shift to the job market.
  • 00:11:30.481 --> 00:11:32.116
  • The latest jobs report showed a lot of people found work.
  • 00:11:32.116 --> 00:11:34.852
  • In the most recent month, 170,000 plus jobs were added.
  • 00:11:34.852 --> 00:11:39.190
  • What are you seeing among your graduating students?
  • 00:11:39.190 --> 00:11:42.960
  • Well, it's an interesting time at the policy school.
  • 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:45.963
  • You know, washington, d.
  • 00:11:45.963 --> 00:11:46.998
  • Even though we're based out here in malibu,
  • 00:11:46.998 --> 00:11:48.666
  • We do have,
  • 00:11:48.666 --> 00:11:50.034
  • Operations and classes that we offer
  • 00:11:50.034 --> 00:11:51.869
  • In washington, d.c., and we certainly send
  • 00:11:51.869 --> 00:11:53.671
  • A number of our students
  • 00:11:53.671 --> 00:11:54.772
  • Are currently working in the administration.
  • 00:11:54.772 --> 00:11:57.708
  • But one of the
  • 00:11:57.708 --> 00:11:58.810
  • Interesting elements that came out of the jobs report
  • 00:11:58.810 --> 00:12:01.646
  • Is that one of the one of the sectors
  • 00:12:01.646 --> 00:12:04.715
  • Not driving job growth was federal employment.
  • 00:12:04.715 --> 00:12:08.619
  • There's a lot of public sector or private
  • 00:12:09.453 --> 00:12:11.756
  • Sector business employment that's that's really driving
  • 00:12:11.756 --> 00:12:15.159
  • These numbers.
  • 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:16.260
  • And i think that's that's really encouraging.
  • 00:12:16.260 --> 00:12:18.729
  • I think in many ways,
  • 00:12:18.729 --> 00:12:20.731
  • Through the efforts of the trump administration,
  • 00:12:20.731 --> 00:12:23.201
  • Especially in the first year with doge and,
  • 00:12:23.201 --> 00:12:26.070
  • Making government more efficient and effective,
  • 00:12:26.070 --> 00:12:28.339
  • We've seen a reduction overall in the federal workforce.
  • 00:12:28.339 --> 00:12:32.610
  • So when you see the numbers that we're seeing,
  • 00:12:33.511 --> 00:12:35.346
  • Which, again, are very positive, certainly beyond what
  • 00:12:35.346 --> 00:12:38.616
  • Many economists estimated to know
  • 00:12:38.616 --> 00:12:41.252
  • That that is not being driven by government hiring,
  • 00:12:41.252 --> 00:12:44.422
  • But by private
  • 00:12:44.755 --> 00:12:45.923
  • Sector hiring, that, that that's a real encouragement.
  • 00:12:45.923 --> 00:12:48.893
  • Well, there's some other good news
  • 00:12:49.660 --> 00:12:50.895
  • For the students and others.
  • 00:12:50.895 --> 00:12:52.530
  • It's a report from mit has found that the early signs are that
  • 00:12:52.530 --> 00:12:55.666
  • I it won't replace as many workers as feared.
  • 00:12:55.666 --> 00:12:58.803
  • The biggest reason
  • 00:12:58.803 --> 00:13:00.071
  • It's still less expensive to pay a human being
  • 00:13:00.071 --> 00:13:02.306
  • Than to install and maintain what it costs to use ai.
  • 00:13:02.306 --> 00:13:05.843
  • That's even more true for small businesses.
  • 00:13:05.843 --> 00:13:08.546
  • That said, is the ai corporate adoption had an effect on
  • 00:13:08.546 --> 00:13:11.282
  • What students are majoring in now.
  • 00:13:11.282 --> 00:13:14.485
  • Well, certainly here at the policy school,
  • 00:13:14.485 --> 00:13:16.654
  • We've been considering the impact of
  • 00:13:16.654 --> 00:13:19.891
  • Ai across a variety of different factors.
  • 00:13:19.891 --> 00:13:23.160
  • We've created new coursework that is looking at the use of ai
  • 00:13:23.160 --> 00:13:27.632
  • In local and state government,
  • 00:13:27.632 --> 00:13:30.201
  • As well as the federal government.
  • 00:13:30.201 --> 00:13:32.169
  • And i think in that we are going to see maybe not necessarily
  • 00:13:32.169 --> 00:13:36.240
  • A reduction in workforce, but an increase in efficiency.
  • 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:40.244
  • And back to the earlier point about the,
  • 00:13:40.244 --> 00:13:43.314
  • The reduction in federal
  • 00:13:43.848 --> 00:13:45.516
  • Workforce numbers, i think we're going to continue to see,
  • 00:13:45.516 --> 00:13:49.587
  • Improved efficiency in government, at all levels.
  • 00:13:49.587 --> 00:13:53.691
  • Largely due to technology.
  • 00:13:53.691 --> 00:13:55.159
  • And certainly ai is going to be a major, driver of that.
  • 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:59.196
  • Well, i think we could all celebrate
  • 00:13:59.964 --> 00:14:01.265
  • More efficient government.
  • 00:14:01.265 --> 00:14:03.301
  • We need to take a short break.
  • 00:14:03.301 --> 00:14:04.468
  • Could you stay for another segment?
  • 00:14:04.468 --> 00:14:06.837
  • For sure.
  • 00:14:06.837 --> 00:14:07.772
  • During the break?
  • 00:14:07.772 --> 00:14:08.673
  • Take a moment to log on to aj now.com.
  • 00:14:08.673 --> 00:14:11.042
  • Send me an email.
  • 00:14:11.042 --> 00:14:12.276
  • As you can see on the screen, it's easy to see how to do it.
  • 00:14:12.276 --> 00:14:15.446
  • I'll be right back.
  • 00:14:15.446 --> 00:14:22.007
  • I'll be right back.
  • 00:14:22.007 --> 00:14:27.359
  • We're back now with pete peterson.
  • 00:14:28.093 --> 00:14:29.861
  • He's the dean of pepperdine school of public policy
  • 00:14:29.861 --> 00:14:33.832
  • Because of the squeeze on oil through the strait of hormuz.
  • 00:14:33.832 --> 00:14:36.535
  • Gas prices are averaging over $4 now
  • 00:14:36.535 --> 00:14:39.638
  • And even higher in california since governor newsom issued
  • 00:14:39.638 --> 00:14:42.541
  • The executive order to phase out all oil drilling by 2045.
  • 00:14:42.541 --> 00:14:47.079
  • Here's how he put it. a couple of years ago,
  • 00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:49.047
  • When we lay out markers, we achieved them.
  • 00:14:49.915 --> 00:14:53.218
  • And so we have laid out ambitious markers 20, 45,
  • 00:14:53.218 --> 00:14:57.055
  • Not just 100% renewables, as it relates to our electricity
  • 00:14:57.055 --> 00:15:00.726
  • Grid, but carbon free future in the state of california.
  • 00:15:00.726 --> 00:15:04.997
  • Does he have much support for this?
  • 00:15:05.797 --> 00:15:07.432
  • With budgets so tight?
  • 00:15:07.432 --> 00:15:10.936
  • Allen.
  • 00:15:11.136 --> 00:15:11.703
  • It doesn't appear so.
  • 00:15:11.703 --> 00:15:13.505
  • We're seeing gas prices well over $6 a gallon.
  • 00:15:13.505 --> 00:15:16.441
  • I just filled up yesterday and it was about 650 a gallon.
  • 00:15:16.441 --> 00:15:19.911
  • And, this as as california likes
  • 00:15:20.545 --> 00:15:24.383
  • To think of itself as really the state
  • 00:15:24.383 --> 00:15:26.551
  • That supports the middle class.
  • 00:15:26.551 --> 00:15:28.186
  • And and those aspiring to rise into the middle class.
  • 00:15:28.186 --> 00:15:31.523
  • But really, what we're seeing
  • 00:15:31.523 --> 00:15:32.924
  • With these energy prices that are really only do,
  • 00:15:32.924 --> 00:15:37.262
  • To california policy and the policies of this governor
  • 00:15:37.262 --> 00:15:40.665
  • Is that it's driving the middle
  • 00:15:40.665 --> 00:15:42.200
  • Class and lower middle class out of this state
  • 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:45.203
  • At all levels and including the energy sector,
  • 00:15:45.203 --> 00:15:48.340
  • Whether it's gas or home heating or electricity.
  • 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:51.476
  • California is unnecessarily more expensive
  • 00:15:51.476 --> 00:15:54.946
  • Than just about any other state.
  • 00:15:54.946 --> 00:15:57.449
  • And when you think about where
  • 00:15:57.449 --> 00:15:58.583
  • People are leaving, they're coming
  • 00:15:58.583 --> 00:15:59.918
  • To you, allen in nashville, they're coming out to,
  • 00:15:59.918 --> 00:16:03.088
  • Texas and florida and arizona.
  • 00:16:03.688 --> 00:16:06.525
  • These are states that are have, frankly, much more
  • 00:16:06.525 --> 00:16:09.261
  • Rational policies around energy and environmental policy,
  • 00:16:09.261 --> 00:16:13.899
  • That can sustain and support a thriving middle class.
  • 00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:17.069
  • We just do not have that here in california right now.
  • 00:16:17.069 --> 00:16:21.039
  • Well, i'd like to get your thoughts on another
  • 00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:23.742
  • Simmering issue.
  • 00:16:23.742 --> 00:16:24.943
  • It's the voter id debate.
  • 00:16:24.943 --> 00:16:26.812
  • You know, all the polls show it's
  • 00:16:26.812 --> 00:16:28.080
  • Even more than an 8020 issue throughout the country.
  • 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:31.349
  • They want their vote to count
  • 00:16:31.349 --> 00:16:32.751
  • And not the votes of people who are here illegally.
  • 00:16:32.751 --> 00:16:35.554
  • Do you think most people understand
  • 00:16:35.554 --> 00:16:37.055
  • That this was part of the open border strategy
  • 00:16:37.055 --> 00:16:39.191
  • That the democrats designed to grow their ranks?
  • 00:16:39.191 --> 00:16:42.861
  • Well, one of the, classes that we had here
  • 00:16:43.762 --> 00:16:46.698
  • The other day is we we laid out a bunch of, voter integrity
  • 00:16:46.698 --> 00:16:51.436
  • Measures and asked them, where they thought
  • 00:16:51.436 --> 00:16:55.674
  • These measures came from, whether it's voter id or,
  • 00:16:55.674 --> 00:16:58.910
  • Reducing or at least,
  • 00:16:59.411 --> 00:17:01.413
  • Making it more difficult to vote absentee or vote by mail.
  • 00:17:01.413 --> 00:17:05.217
  • And frankly, all of these measures are in
  • 00:17:05.217 --> 00:17:08.553
  • European countries.
  • 00:17:08.553 --> 00:17:10.522
  • And many of our students were shocked that countries like
  • 00:17:10.522 --> 00:17:14.493
  • That, they think as being so, they think are being so
  • 00:17:14.493 --> 00:17:16.995
  • Progressive, like, you know, france or italy or, the uk.
  • 00:17:16.995 --> 00:17:22.834
  • I mean, we could go on.
  • 00:17:22.834 --> 00:17:24.736
  • We are in america, truly the outlier
  • 00:17:24.736 --> 00:17:27.772
  • When it comes to issues that that can open themselves
  • 00:17:27.772 --> 00:17:31.710
  • Up to true voter integrity,
  • 00:17:31.710 --> 00:17:34.746
  • Vote integrity, questions.
  • 00:17:34.746 --> 00:17:37.482
  • And in that, i think what the administration is doing.
  • 00:17:37.482 --> 00:17:40.886
  • And again, this goes back to a point we were discussing
  • 00:17:40.886 --> 00:17:43.088
  • Before, allen, is just how incredibly powerful,
  • 00:17:43.088 --> 00:17:47.859
  • That covid era was on a variety of policies.
  • 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:51.029
  • We were talking about the federal spending
  • 00:17:51.029 --> 00:17:52.764
  • That went out of control.
  • 00:17:52.764 --> 00:17:54.499
  • But a lot of these voter integrity policies, like moving
  • 00:17:54.499 --> 00:17:57.802
  • Towards all vote by mail, a lot of these things,
  • 00:17:57.802 --> 00:18:01.406
  • Came online in various states because of covid.
  • 00:18:01.406 --> 00:18:04.643
  • And as with so many policies that were put in place
  • 00:18:04.643 --> 00:18:07.579
  • That are so hyper
  • 00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:08.780
  • Progressive during covid, we've never truly unwound them.
  • 00:18:08.780 --> 00:18:12.684
  • We've never gone back to the status quo before covid.
  • 00:18:12.684 --> 00:18:16.188
  • And i think what this president
  • 00:18:16.188 --> 00:18:18.056
  • Is trying to do across
  • 00:18:18.056 --> 00:18:19.391
  • An array of measures, whether it's spending
  • 00:18:19.391 --> 00:18:21.660
  • Or ballot integrity measures, is just to understand,
  • 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:25.030
  • Yeah, we may have done these things
  • 00:18:25.030 --> 00:18:26.598
  • During a time of global crisis with covid,
  • 00:18:26.598 --> 00:18:29.801
  • But we need to return to a time,
  • 00:18:29.801 --> 00:18:33.405
  • That that understands that we're no longer under that threat.
  • 00:18:33.405 --> 00:18:37.375
  • It's ironic to me that in that covid
  • 00:18:38.176 --> 00:18:40.111
  • Season, while they shouted at us, follow the science,
  • 00:18:40.111 --> 00:18:43.381
  • We really ignored science and we practice lawlessness.
  • 00:18:43.381 --> 00:18:46.751
  • But do you think it takes
  • 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:48.286
  • To bring a reset back to us in a broad way?
  • 00:18:48.286 --> 00:18:51.590
  • Well, i really think that the trump
  • 00:18:52.390 --> 00:18:53.892
  • Administration is in some ways a response
  • 00:18:53.892 --> 00:18:57.028
  • To the overregulation, overspending of,
  • 00:18:57.028 --> 00:19:02.000
  • The biden administration and certainly more broadly,
  • 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:05.270
  • The, the democrat,
  • 00:19:05.270 --> 00:19:07.639
  • The democratic party in the country.
  • 00:19:07.639 --> 00:19:10.508
  • You know, we did see a time here during covid
  • 00:19:10.508 --> 00:19:12.844
  • When even our own governor newsom was,
  • 00:19:12.844 --> 00:19:16.448
  • Put forward to be recalled, how he managed to survive that.
  • 00:19:16.448 --> 00:19:20.318
  • But it showed that even in a blue state like california,
  • 00:19:20.318 --> 00:19:23.922
  • That if the government goes
  • 00:19:23.922 --> 00:19:25.223
  • Too far on an array of measures, whether it's shutdowns
  • 00:19:25.223 --> 00:19:28.526
  • Or overspending or these ballot measure issues,
  • 00:19:28.526 --> 00:19:32.163
  • Voters will respond.
  • 00:19:32.631 --> 00:19:34.432
  • And i think in in many ways, when we look back at the history
  • 00:19:34.432 --> 00:19:38.336
  • Of that 2024
  • 00:19:38.670 --> 00:19:39.971
  • Election, in a lot of ways, i think it was a response to,
  • 00:19:39.971 --> 00:19:44.175
  • The biden administration's dramatic oversteps during covid.
  • 00:19:44.175 --> 00:19:48.246
  • Yeah.
  • 00:19:48.246 --> 00:19:49.314
  • Well, one last question before we run out of time.
  • 00:19:49.314 --> 00:19:51.383
  • The four astronauts have now officially traveled farther
  • 00:19:51.383 --> 00:19:54.219
  • From earth than anyone before them.
  • 00:19:54.219 --> 00:19:56.087
  • It's the first step towards getting back on the moon.
  • 00:19:56.087 --> 00:19:58.823
  • A lot of people believe that we never should have
  • 00:19:58.823 --> 00:20:00.825
  • Stopped the space program. but now that it's back.
  • 00:20:00.825 --> 00:20:03.595
  • What's the reaction out west?
  • 00:20:03.595 --> 00:20:05.397
  • Well, we're so excited that they're going to be landing,
  • 00:20:06.531 --> 00:20:09.534
  • The end of this week just off the coast of san diego.
  • 00:20:09.534 --> 00:20:12.737
  • I hope we're not going to
  • 00:20:13.305 --> 00:20:14.406
  • Force them to pay any taxes after they land here.
  • 00:20:14.406 --> 00:20:17.375
  • On our shores.
  • 00:20:17.375 --> 00:20:18.576
  • I'm sure they're going to want
  • 00:20:18.576 --> 00:20:19.477
  • To get back to their home state very soon.
  • 00:20:19.477 --> 00:20:22.047
  • But that being said, you know, just up
  • 00:20:22.047 --> 00:20:24.816
  • The street here, we have vandenberg air force base.
  • 00:20:24.816 --> 00:20:27.852
  • Elon musk and and, the work that he's doing in
  • 00:20:27.852 --> 00:20:31.589
  • Launching rockets and satellites.
  • 00:20:31.589 --> 00:20:33.124
  • We just had some liftoff just last night.
  • 00:20:33.124 --> 00:20:36.294
  • Spacex is doing incredible work here in the state.
  • 00:20:36.294 --> 00:20:40.265
  • I just wish that the the kind of entrepreneurial spirit
  • 00:20:40.265 --> 00:20:44.502
  • That created some of these companies could be brought into,
  • 00:20:44.502 --> 00:20:48.473
  • Our public policies, especially to make it easier
  • 00:20:48.473 --> 00:20:51.242
  • For future space companies, to grow here.
  • 00:20:51.242 --> 00:20:54.646
  • Because, frankly, what we're seeing
  • 00:20:54.646 --> 00:20:56.581
  • Over and over and over again
  • 00:20:56.581 --> 00:20:58.049
  • Are great companies that are starting here.
  • 00:20:58.049 --> 00:21:00.685
  • And they get to a certain part, and they just can't
  • 00:21:00.685 --> 00:21:02.520
  • Take the overregulation and the cost of living anymore,
  • 00:21:02.520 --> 00:21:05.590
  • And then they move out of state.
  • 00:21:05.590 --> 00:21:08.326
  • So if we could just bring that ingenuity back to our public
  • 00:21:08.326 --> 00:21:11.062
  • Policies here in the state, we'd be a lot better off.
  • 00:21:11.062 --> 00:21:14.833
  • Well, pete peterson, thank
  • 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:16.701
  • You for sharing your insights with us today.
  • 00:21:16.701 --> 00:21:18.570
  • We very much enjoy having you on.
  • 00:21:18.570 --> 00:21:21.439
  • So good to be with you all.
  • 00:21:21.439 --> 00:21:23.241
  • In a moment, the feedback part of the show, it's your emails.
  • 00:21:23.241 --> 00:21:26.244
  • I'll be right back.
  • 00:21:26.244 --> 00:21:35.002
  • I'll be right back.
  • 00:21:35.002 --> 00:21:40.126
  • Thank you for taking the time to send us your emails
  • 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:43.462
  • There always a highlight on the program.
  • 00:21:43.462 --> 00:21:45.631
  • Wanda from florida wrote,
  • 00:21:45.631 --> 00:21:47.032
  • I was under the impression that you had to have an id
  • 00:21:47.032 --> 00:21:49.301
  • On your person when you left your property.
  • 00:21:49.301 --> 00:21:51.203
  • It's a federal law.
  • 00:21:51.203 --> 00:21:52.872
  • Well, if that's the case, then what's the big deal
  • 00:21:52.872 --> 00:21:54.573
  • About presenting an id to vote?
  • 00:21:54.573 --> 00:21:56.575
  • You have to prove who you are when you're in public.
  • 00:21:56.575 --> 00:21:58.778
  • Why not? when you go to vote?
  • 00:21:58.778 --> 00:22:01.147
  • Wanda, i don't know about having to have an id on your person
  • 00:22:01.147 --> 00:22:03.949
  • As federal law. i live in tennessee.
  • 00:22:03.949 --> 00:22:05.951
  • We're just happy to have shoes when we leave the property.
  • 00:22:05.951 --> 00:22:09.188
  • In all seriousness,
  • 00:22:09.655 --> 00:22:11.357
  • It's just common sense that you need id to vote.
  • 00:22:11.357 --> 00:22:13.959
  • And trying to suspend that makes us understand
  • 00:22:13.959 --> 00:22:16.662
  • That the people that don't want
  • 00:22:16.662 --> 00:22:17.897
  • Voter id are up to something that's not for the common good.
  • 00:22:17.897 --> 00:22:21.167
  • This is a complicated.
  • 00:22:21.634 --> 00:22:23.002
  • Our elected leaders need to do what's best for the nation
  • 00:22:23.002 --> 00:22:25.371
  • And stop pandering to their personal agendas.
  • 00:22:25.371 --> 00:22:27.907
  • Keep using your voice. it makes a difference.
  • 00:22:27.907 --> 00:22:30.142
  • Thank you for spending a few minutes with us today.
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  • God's moving in the earth and we get to be a part.
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  • God bless you.
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