National Review's Radio Free California Podcast

A show about the perilous state of the Golden State—and what that means for you, wherever you live. California is the hothouse lab of the Left, the nation-state creating the statist policies, art, and lifestyles of the future – and generating the political dollars to make them a reality in a community near you. Hosts Will Swaim (California Policy Center) and David Bahnsen (The Bahnsen Group, Fox Business News commentator, conservative activist) beam this weekly show internationally, from mostly undisclosed pirate-radio platforms west of the Sierra Nevada. [Intro music graciously provided by Los Angeles-based Metalachi, the metal/mariachi soundtrack of the near-future. Find them at Metalachi.com.]

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Episodes

Episode 396: Where All the Cholos At?

A Southern California city official rallies local gang members to the fight against ICE, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli sues Los Angeles over its sanctuary city laws, Gavin Newsom signs off on the biggest state budget in history -- and then breaks the economy and sues Fox News for $787 million. Bonus! Remembering California’s first Fourth of July celebration. Music by Metalachi. Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show N...

Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 396

Episode 395: The Dodgers on ICE

The Los Angeles Dodgers will donate $1 million to supporters of illegal immigration. The Ninth Circuit halts Attorney General Rob Bonta’s effort to limit gun purchases to one per month. California can’t kick its foreign-oil addiction. Bonus! Dr. Kurt Miceli explains Do No Harm’s lawsuit alleging that UCLA’s medical school rejects highly qualified Asian and white students in favor of less-qualified applicants. Music by Metalachi. Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Fol...

Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 395

Episode 394: Newsom Leaps Bravely Halfway Across the Political Divide

Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Before Juneteenth was widely known, here’s how Black Angelenos celebrated emancipation Brian Wilson, Pop Auteur and Leader of the Beach Boys, Dies at 82 Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids The Padilla Incident and the Greater Peril Gavin’s Last Gasp President Trump Has Legal Authority to Suppress the Siege in L.A. How Trump Is Bypassing Los Ange...

Jun 18, 2025•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 394

Episode 393: The Retreat of the California Resistance

Email Us dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Note California track and field finals: Trans athlete AB Hernandez wins 2 events, shares podium California Backtracks on State Policies Allowing Boys to Compete in Girls’ Track Championship San Francisco Backtracks on ‘Equity’ Grading Program after Backlash Yelling, finger-pointing and cursing galore as California Democrats gather near Disneyland California’s Democrats Bet on Ra...

Jun 10, 2025•2 hr 29 min•Ep. 393

Episode 392: Remember Picacho Pass!

Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Note: Dr. Tony Lima: The Myth of Donor States Senate Votes to End California’s EV Mandate Austin’s Reign as a Tech Hub Might Be Coming to an End Villaraigosa blasts Harris and Becerra for not speaking out about Biden’s decline Kamala Harris takes swipe at Musk and warns world to ‘remember the 1930s’ at Gold Coast real estate conference The Next Tax Reform Glitch Is Coming to M...

May 27, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 392

Episode 391: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Banality

Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: 25-year-old suspect in fertility clinic bombing left behind ‘anti-pro-life’ writings, officials say Woman connected to the Zizians fired the bullet that killed a Vermont border agent, report says Is the California Dream a Mirage? Dave Eggers: Uncle Patrick’s secessionist breakfast GM Is Pushing Hard to Tank California’s EV Mandate Newsom says bailing L.A. out of budget ...

May 20, 2025•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 391

Episode 390: Newsom’s 19th Nervous Breakdown

Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Guest host Will O’Neill High-speed rail, abortion and the will of the voters: Takeaways from Gov. Newsom's budget Who’s the mayor of California? In unhinged rant, Gavin Newsom essentially admits he's at fault for homeless crisis in California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor of Turlock spar over homeless shelter funding Los Angeles County opposes Newsom's executive order, won't...

May 15, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 390

Episode 389: Escape to Alcatraz

Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Trump’s circle tries to soothe investors’ frayed nerves What to make of Trump’s big plans for Alcatraz The Tariff Impact on Main Street Trump’s First 100 Days Have Shattered California’s Left-Wing Illusions California overtakes Japan to become world’s fourth-largest economy. But tariffs pose threat House Votes to Block California’s Plan to Ban New Gas-Powered Cars Why C...

May 07, 2025•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 389

Episode 388: Blue on Blue Violence

Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Trump’s tariffs threaten Southern California’s $300-billion trade industry, report says Longshore union blasts Trump tariffs, warns of massive job losses Harris to criticize Trump in first major address since leaving office Kamala Harris Has Been Quietly, Carefully Working the Phones and Plotting Her Next Move Is Gavin Newsom changing his tune with the oil industry? Rep...

Apr 29, 2025•47 min•Ep. 388

Episode 387: San Francisco’s ‘New Pragmatism’

Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: California is first state to sue Trump on tariffs California’s lawsuit puts West Coast business leaders to the test The Hollywood Upside of Trump’s Trade War Gov. Gavin Newsom under fire for calling deported man’s case a ‘distraction’ Valero to shutter at least one of its California refineries California’s refinery capacity stretched to the limit Vistra withdraws Morro ...

Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 387

Episode 386: Joy Division

Email Us: dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.com will@calpolicycenter.org Follow Us: @DavidBahnsen @WillSwaim @TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes: Merle Haggard Why did it take Bernie Sanders and AOC to rally California liberals? ‘Not acceptable.' Not a single home building permit finalized in Altadena following Eaton Fire Homeowners sue California FAIR Plan, claim it’s not paying for home cleanups after wildfires Measure ULA is reducing apartment development in the city of L.A, report says CA Dems pass on funding...

Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 386

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