Just in time for National Marriage Week and Valentine's Day, TPPF's Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen dive into the evolving landscape of marriage and family in America. Family policy experts Hannah Bruck and Noah Torres join to discuss declining marriage rates, fertility trends, cultural shifts like dating apps and "hetero fatalism," and pro-family policies to encourage family formation. This episode explores why fewer Americans are tying the knot and what policymakers can do about it.

01:10 - Hot Take: Worst Valentine's Day Gifts
04:20 - Guests Introduction: Hannah Bruck and Noah Torres
04:48 - Causes of Delayed Marriages: Technology, Dating Apps, and Economic Pressures
06:35 - What Young People Are Waiting For: Unrealistic Standards and Soulmate Myths
08:41 - Pro-Family Policy Philosophy: Family as the Core Unit of Society
14:10 - Cultural Communication: Convincing Young People Marriage Leads to Happiness
15:22 - Combating Social Media Echo Chambers and Influencer Lifestyles
17:07 - Who Are the Best Messengers? Celebrities, Pop Culture, and Community Leaders
18:56 - Role of Communities, Churches, and Friend Groups in Promoting Marriage
20:41 - The Success Sequence: Education, Job, Marriage – Path to Flourishing
21:44 - Pushback on Teaching Success Sequence in Schools
23:52 - Hetero Fatalism Explained: Why Boyfriends Are "Out" and Relationships Seen as Doomed
33:04 - Pushing Back: Policy and Culture to Restore Commitment
37:19 - Concern: Not Enough "Marriageable" People Due to Changing Expectations
39:10 - High-Connection Couples: Key to Satisfaction and Happiness
40:44 - Dating Apps: Still Destroying Relationships?
42:03 - Hurdles to Having Kids: Costs, Housing, and Cultural Parenting Pressures
44:50 - Politics and Marriage: Polarization, Tribalism, and Government Incentives
47:44 - Dating Across Political Lines: Focus on Love Over Ideology
49:45 - Conservatives and Pro-Family Government Policies: Tax Credits and More
52:10 - Marriage Tips and Communication Advice
53:57 - Future of Family Success Project: Parental Rights, TANF Reform, AI in Families

In this special emergency edition of The Right Idea, TPPF's Brian Phillips, Robert Henneke, and Mandy Drogin react to the recent wave of student walkouts protesting immigration enforcement.

Hundreds of students — including middle schoolers — left campuses during school hours, with some districts allegedly facilitating or failing to stop the disruptions. Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and Attorney General Ken Paxton have launched investigations, threatened funding cuts, and warned of educator accountability for enabling these actions.

0:00 – Intro: Massive Texas student walkouts protesting ICE
1:00 – Gov. Abbott, TEA & AG response: Funding threats & investigations
2:12 – Rob Henneke: First Amendment rights vs. school discipline rules
4:55 – Why schools MUST enforce rules — no "protest exception"
6:49 – Mandy Drogin: As a parent — terrified & furious at the dangers
7:52 – Indoctrination in schools: Low civics scores & Marxist influences
10:52 – What school leaders SHOULD do: Enforce consequences immediately
13:11 – Kids unsupervised downtown — safety failures exposed
16:47 – Abuse of power by administrators facilitating walkouts
19:40 – Investigations: Holding teachers & districts accountable
22:39 – Where is the line between neutrality & active support?
26:09 – Planned in advance — prior warnings ignored
31:02 – Consequences needed: Funding cuts & license revocations
34:49 – Parents: File complaints with TEA Inspector General
37:33 – Fight back: 90th Legislative Session & parent empowerment
39:21 – School choice explosion — alternative to failing districts
42:40 – It's not too late for parents to act & protect kids
47:16 – Rob's closing: Join the parent army to retake education

TPPF Chief Communications Officer Brian Phillips and Chief Policy & Research Officer Derek Cohen sit down with veteran college sports expert Michael Calabrese (New York Post, Action Network) to unpack the unprecedented mess in college athletics in 2026.

NIL deals are unraveling, schools are suing players to enforce multi-year contracts (see the explosive Darian Mensah-Duke-Miami saga), the House v. NCAA revenue-sharing model is straining budgets, most athletic departments are losing millions, and non-revenue/Olympic/women's sports face extinction. Is a super league or private equity takeover inevitable? Can pooling media rights or federal legislation (SCORE Act update) save the uniquely American institution of college sports?

0:00 – Cold Texas weather & snow day hot takes
3:16 – The crisis in college sports — NIL, revenue sharing, broke departments
5:35 – Guest intro: Michael Calabrese (NY Post, Action Network)
6:49 – What NIL actually is (and isn’t) — collectives, third-party money, no direct pay-for-play
8:59 – Darien Mensah-Duke-Miami case: multi-year NIL contracts, lawsuits, buyouts & precedent
14:00 – Can schools legally force players to stay? Contract loopholes exposed
18:00 – Fixing the transfer portal: residency rules, one free transfer, coach exit triggers?
24:07 – The $20–40M roster cost myth — boosters & collectives foot the bill
29:14 – Revenue sharing disaster: $20.5M cap too low, Title IX risks, foreign investment dangers
32:58 – Minor league / farm system comparison — short timelines kill loyalty
35:23 – Solution: New governing body + antitrust exemption + pooled media rights
47:11 – TV networks love the current discount — billions left on the table
51:41 – Gambling revenue, Saudi money, moral hazards if no fix
53:24 – Dystopia if nothing changes: organ donor programs, lost Olympic pipeline, middle-class mobility hit
59:04 – Federal legislation: SCORE Act status, executive orders, path forward