Show-Me Institute

Next Gen Connection with Show-Me Institute
2024-09-24 16:30 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Missouri
Every week, the headlines report significant issues affecting St. Louis public schools, from transportation and finances to school leadership, with no apparent solution on the horizon. Show-Me Institute Director of Research and Senior Fellow James V. Shuls will discuss how free-market state and local policies can make a difference.
RSVP Here for this Complimentary Event
Event Details
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Cafe Napoli
7754 Forsyth Boulevard
Clayton, MO 63105
Discussion and Q&A: 5:00 p.m.
Sponsored by: James G. Forsyth III, John Lamping, and Rex Sinquefield

What's Next for St. Louis Schools?
2024-09-19 15:30 - 17:00
Every week, the headlines report significant issues affecting St. Louis public schools, from transportation and finances to school leadership, with no apparent solution on the horizon.
Join us for an in-depth discussion about the current state of St. Louis schools and how state and local policies can make a difference. Panelists include Susan Pendergrass and James Shuls from the Show-Me Institute, and Robbyn Wahby from the Missouri Charter Public School Commission.
RSVP for this Complimentary Event Here
Details
Thursday, September 19
World Chess Hall of Fame
4652 Maryland Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
Doors open: 3:30 p.m.
Discussion and Q&A: 4-5:00 p.m.
Our panel of experts will explore these topics and more:

the current budget and financial state of our schools
Transparency issues
The transportation situation
Whether the city has too many schools

You must register online prior to the event to attend. Walk-in registration will not be permitted.
This event brought to you by: Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity

Private Screening of "Tune Out the Noise"
2024-08-13 17:00 - 19:00
Join us for a private screening of the documentary film “Tune Out the Noise,” followed by a Q&A session with Rex Sinquefield.
Details:
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Doors open at 5:00 p.m. | Show starts at 5:30 p.m.
Chase Park Plaza Cinemas, 212 Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
Ticket Price: $15.00 per ticket (includes popcorn and soda)
Purchase Tickets Here
About the Film: Directed by Academy Award winning director Errol Morris, “Tune Out the Noise” is a documentary film about a group of unlikely upstarts who crossed paths at the University of Chicago in the middle of the 20th century, just as computers were first being used to analyze data. That serendipitous, monumental shift enabled them to develop, and then apply, research that turned Wall Street upside down, from its ineffectual investing methods to how those were sold to the public.
It’s a story about how finance became a science and challenged the traditional methods of investing. That, in turn, led to the invention of index funds, the founding of Dimensional Fund Advisors—an investment firm dedicated to implementing the science—and the evolution of client-focused financial advice. These advances have benefited generations of investors.
Watch the Trailer Here

The Case for a Missouri Taxpayer Bill of Rights
2024-08-12 12:00 - 13:00
On August 12, join us for a virtual event where Elias Tsapelas, director of state budget and fiscal policy at the Show-Me Institute, and Aaron Hedlund, chief economist at the Show-Me Institute, will make the case for a Missouri Taxpayer Bill of Rights. This event will explore the limitations of the current Hancock Amendment, propose reforms to better protect taxpayers in the state, and more.
This event is an opportunity for taxpayers, policymakers, and anyone interested in state fiscal policies to engage with experts and learn about the future of taxpayer protections in Missouri.
Registration: This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Register here.

The Insider's Hour with Show-Me Institute: Candidate Policy Briefing - Two Times Available
2024-08-08 11:30 - 13:00
Join us as we discuss the biggest policy issues facing Missouri: tax policy and a taxpayer bill of rights, economic development, and education policy.
Brenda Talent, David Stokes, and Elias Tsapeles from the Show-Me Institute will share their expertise and non-partisan research and analysis on each of these important topics and answer your questions.
Candidates of all parties and the public are invited to attend the Show-Me Institute’s Candidate Policy Briefing during this month’s Insider Hour.
Two chances to get the scoop:
Both Thursday, August 8
Lunch Event
MAC West
1777 Des Peres Road
St. Louis, MO 63131
Doors open: 11:30 a.m.
Discussion and Q&A: 12-1:00 p.m.
Ticket Price: $15.00 (includes lunch and beverages)
Lunch Event Tickets Here
Evening Event
Cafe Napoli
7754 Forsyth Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63105
Doors open: 4:30 p.m.
Discussion and Q&A: 5-5:45 p.m.
Ticket Price: $15.00 (includes a beverage and light snacks)
Evening Event Tickets Here

Next Gen Connection Hour with Show-Me Institute
2024-06-18 17:00 - 18:00
Show-Me Institute’s CEO Brenda Talent and Chief Economist Aaron Hedlund will give an economic update and share a brief overview of a proposed Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Missouri’s $50 billion budget, and healthcare price transparency.
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Cafe Napoli, Clayton, MO
This is a complimentary event. Join us to connect with fellow professionals to hear facts and fair arguments from a free market perspective on important policies for our region.
RSVP Here

The Insider's Hour with Show-Me Institute - Two Times Available
2024-05-22 12:00 - 13:00
The Missouri legislative session is over. What did the House and Senate accomplish? How did Missourians fare?
Get the scoop from the experts at the Show-Me Institute at our Insider’s Hour!
Join us at one of two open discussions with Brenda Talent, James Shuls, and Elias Tsapelas from the Show-Me Institute.
Two chances to get the scoop:
Both Wednesday, May 22
Lunch Event
MAC West
1777 Des Peres Road
St. Louis, MO 63131
Doors open: 11:30 a.m.
Discussion and Q&A: 12-1:00 p.m.
Ticket Price: $15.00 (includes lunch and beverages)
Lunch Event Tickets Here
Evening Event
Cafe Napoli
7754 Forsyth Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63105
Doors open: 4:30 p.m.
Discussion and Q&A: 5-5:45 p.m.
Ticket Price: $15.00 (includes a beverage and light snacks)
Evening Event Tickets Here

K-12 School Choice Calculator Webinar with EdChoice and Reason Foundation
2024-05-08 11:00 - 12:00
Have you ever wondered how educational choice affects state and local taxpayers?
Earlier this year, EdChoice and Reason Foundation launched a brand-new tool, the School Choice Calculator, to provide legislators, legislative staff, and stakeholders with an easy way to learn about the potential fiscal effects of funding educational opportunities in their state.
Join us for a virtual event on Wednesday, May 8th at 11:00 AM CST as EdChoice’s Marty Lueken and Reason Foundation’s Christian Barnard discuss and demo the K-12 School Choice Calculator.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions via a Q&A session following the discussion.
You can access the K-12 School Choice Calculator here before the webinar. You won’t want to miss this!

Register here to reserve your spot for this virtual event.

About the Speakers

Martin Lueken is director of EdChoice’s Fiscal Research and Education Center (FREC), where he focuses on research and analysis of issues that pertain to school choice bills, current programs, and school funding. His work includes providing expert support and advice for policy makers in helping understand the fiscal impact of current school choice programs and potential fiscal effects of programs introduced in state legislatures. He also conducts data analysis and research on school choice.
His research work and interests include education finance in general and teacher pensions. He has provided expert testimony and advice about fiscal issues for numerous states that have introduced education choice legislation. His work has been mentioned in various media and education-specific outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Education Next, Education Week, and The 74.

Christian Barnard is assistant director of education reform at Reason Foundation.
He oversees and conducts analyses of state K-12 finance systems and on the fiscal effects of school choice. He has worked directly with policymakers and stakeholders across the country to implement reforms that expand education freedom.
Barnard’s writing has been featured in outlets including USA Today, National Review, Washington Times, and The Hill, among others.

Insider’s Hour with Show-Me Institute - Columbia, MO
2024-04-30 12:00 - 13:00
What’s happening as the session wraps up in Jefferson City? Missouri’s $50 billion budget, healthcare price transparency, and a proposed Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Get the latest information at the Insider’s Hour with Show-Me Institute and 93.9 The Eagle!

Join us for an open discussion with Chief Economist Aaron Hedlund and Director of State Budget and Fiscal Policy Elias Tsapelas from the Show-Me Institute.
Register Here

Where:
Country Club of Missouri
1300 Woodrail Avenue
Columbia, MO 65203
When:
Tuesday, April 30
11:30 a.m. doors open
12-1:00 Panel Discussion and Q&A
Cost: $20.00 (includes lunch and beverages)

The State of the Conflict in Ukraine with Jim Geraghty
2024-04-23 18:00 - 19:00
Two years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine – and the fighting continues.
The bitter and bloody war has devastated Ukraine, isolated Russia from the West, and stoked economic insecurity around the world. To date, the United States has sent billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine. But the decision to provide even more assistance has fractured along party lines in Congress.
Jim Geraghty, Fellow at National Review Institute and National Review’s senior political correspondent, has reported from Egypt, Israel, Italy, Jordan, and Spain, and covered national elections in the U.K. and Germany. He recently returned from his second reporting trip in Ukraine. Geraghty discusses the broader implications of the conflict and what it means for the United States, as well as a recent stop in Taiwan.
Register Here
Geraghty writes the National Review’s widely read daily “Morning Jolt” newsletter and appears on the magazine’s weekly “The Editors” podcast. He also co-hosts two podcasts and has written eight books, including Heavy Lifting with Cam Edwards and Voting to Kill.
This event is co-sponsored by Show-Me Institute, National Review Institute, the Kansas City Public Library, and Show-Me Opportunity

Next Gen Connection with Show-Me Institute
2024-04-09 17:00 - 18:00
Join the Show-Me Institute for ‘Next Gen Connection: Facts and Fair Arguments from a Free Market Perspective’ on April 9th from 5-6 PM at Cafe Napoli in Clayton, MO. Connect with Show-Me Institute experts and fellow free market enthusiasts while enjoying light hors d’oeuvres and a drink.
RSVP Here
Event Sponsored by: James G. Forsyth III, John Lamping, and Rex Sinquefield

The Insider's Hour with Show-Me Institute
2024-03-21
What’s happening in Jefferson City?
Get the scoop on the expanding Missouri budget, transparency in healthcare pricing, and free-market policies at our Insider’s Hour!
Join us at one of two open discussions with Brenda Talent, David Stokes, and Elias Tsapelas from the Show-Me Institute.
Thursday, March 21
MAC West
1777 Des Peres Road
St. Louis, MO 63131
Doors open: 11:30 a.m.
Discussion and Q&A: 12-1:00 p.m.
Ticket Price: sold out
The lunch event is sold out. Tickets still remain for the event below.

Thursday, March 21
Cafe Napoli
7754 Forsyth Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63105
Doors open: 4:30 p.m.
Discussion and Q&A: 5-5:45 p.m.
Ticket Price: $15.00 (includes a beverage and light snacks)
Purchase Tickets Here

The Stadium Tax Debate: Keeping The Chiefs, Royals At Home Sweet Home
2024-03-19 18:00 - 19:00
Join us in Kansas City!
Show-Me Institute Senior Fellow Patrick Tuohey joins Nick Haines from Kansas City PBS at a Town Hall Meeting that promises to be informative and lively!
On April 2, Jackson County voters will be asked to approve a new 3/8 percent sales tax to support “funding for park improvements consisting of Arrowhead Stadium and its surrounds, and a new Major League Baseball stadium in Jackson County.”

Will the city realize the economic benefits that are being promised for this investment by taxpayers?
What are the pros and cons and the economic risks and returns of subsidizing infrastructure for professional sports franchises?
Will either team, or both, consider relocating if the tax is not extended?
If so, what would that mean for the identity of Kansas City?

These questions and more will be discussed.

RSVP for This Free Event Here
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
5:30 p.m. Reception
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Town Hall Meeting
Kansas City Public Library
Truman Forum Auditorium
4801 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64112

Patrick Tuohey is senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute and co-founder and policy director of the Better Cities Project. Both organizations aim to deliver the best in public policy research from around the country to local leaders, communities and voters. He works to foster understanding of the consequences — often unintended — of policies regarding economic development, taxation, education, policing, and transportation.
Read Patrick’s full bio.For a sneak peek, listen to Patrick on the Show-Me Institute podcast.

Breakthrough or Setback? Examining the Four-Day School Week in Missouri
2024-02-07 07:30 - 08:30
Register Here
The four-day school week has become increasingly popular in Missouri in recent years. As of fall 2023, approximately 28 percent of all Missouri public school districts have adopted this schedule. But how much do we know about its impact on student achievement, district finances, teacher recruitment and retention, or parental satisfaction? The short answer is: not as much as you might expect.
At this free event, Show-Me Institute Director of Research James Shuls and Policy Analyst Avery Frank will share their latest research on the impact of the four-day school week, explore how Missouri parents feel about it, and more.
Related Publications
A Systematic Literature Review of the Four-day School Week
Five for Me: A Survey of Missourians Regarding the Four-day School Week
About the Speakers

James V. Shuls
Director of Research and Senior Fellow

James V. Shuls is an assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri St. Louis. His work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Phi Delta Kappan, Social Science Quarterly, Education Week, The Rural Educator, Educational Policy, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He earned his Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas. He holds a bachelors degree from Missouri Southern State University and a masters degree from Missouri State University, both in elementary education. Prior to pursuing his doctorate, James taught first grade and fifth grade in southwest Missouri.

Avery Frank
Policy Analyst

Avery Frank earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics (with honors) and political science from Sewanee: University of the South in 2022. He also studied at the London School of Economics in 2021 and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Societies. His research interests include education policy and economic development,

The 2024 Blueprint for Missouri Virtual Town Hall
2023-12-06 11:00 - 12:00
Join the Show-Me Institute for a Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m. The presentation will outline our 2024 Blueprint for Missouri, which consists of free-market policy solutions to the challenges facing our state. You will hear from our expert policy directors and analysts about a broad range of issues including education, healthcare, tax policy, transportation, and government accountability. Register through Zoom to receive the event link. We hope you can join us.
Register
This event is sponsored by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.

Beyond Reagan and Thatcher: The Future of Supply Side Economics
2023-11-30 11:00 - 12:00
Join the Show-Me Institute on Thursday, November 30, at 11:00 AM Central Time for a virtual townhall that delves into the future of supply-side economics beyond the legacies of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
Patrick Minford and Aaron Hedlund will share their insights and perspectives on the past, present, and future of supply-side economics, and answer audience questions.

Register Here
About the Speakers

Patrick Minford is a macroeconomist holding the chair of Applied Economics at Cardiff University where he directs the Julian Hodge Institute of Applied Macroeconomics, which publishes forecasts and analysis of the UK and world economy. Before academic life, Minford was an economic adviser to Her Majesty’s Treasury’s External Division and editor of the National Institute Review. From 1976 to 1997, he was the Edward Gonner Professor of Applied Economics at Liverpool University where he founded and directed the Liverpool Research Group in Macroeconomics; this built the “Liverpool Model” of the UK, which was influential in forecasting and policy analysis during the 1980s. He was a member of Monopolies and Mergers Commission 1990-96; and one of the H M Treasury’s Panel of Forecasters (‘6 Wise Men’) January 1993-December 1996. He was honored with a C.B.E. for services to economics in 1996.

Aaron Hedlund is an associate professor with tenure in the Mitch Daniels School of Business at Purdue University, as well as a research fellow at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. From 2020 to 2021, Hedlund was the Chief Domestic Economist and Senior Adviser at the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). Before joining the CEA, he was also the Acting Director of Academic Outreach and Senior Fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity. His other public policy experiences include stints at the Heritage Foundation and the International Trade Commission as well as service in senior state-level advisory roles. Hedlund’s research focuses on the intersection of macroeconomics, finance, real estate, and labor. Some of the topics he has studied extensively include the causes and consequences of housing booms and busts, the forces driving up college tuition and student debt, and the macroeconomic implications of China’s economic transformation. He has also written and spoken extensively on market-oriented reforms to the tax code and healthcare system. In addition to appearing in peer-reviewed academic journals, Hedlund’s work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and National Review, has been used as expert testimony in state-level policy initiatives, and has been presented at numerous think tanks, academic institutions, and central banks both in and outside of the United States. Hedlund received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and his Bachelor’s in economics and mathematics from Duke University.

The Drift: Stopping America's Slide to Socialism with Kevin A. Hassett
2023-10-24 18:00 - 19:00
Join the Show-Me Institute, National Review Institute, 97.1 FM Talk, and Show-Me Opportunity on Tuesday, October 24 for an evening with Kevin A. Hassett as he discusses his compelling memoir and analysis, The Drift: Stopping America’s Slide to Socialism.
Reception: 5:30 P.M.
Program : 6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.
At the World Chess Hall of Fame
4652 Maryland Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
RSVP Here for this Free Event

97.1 FM Talk’s Mark Reardon, host of The Mark Reardon Show, will emcee this special event!

About the Speaker
Kevin A. Hassett is the senior adviser to National Review Capital Matters and a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. Hassett served as the 29th Chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers beginning in 2017 and rejoined the White House in 2020 as Senior Advisor to the President. Prior to his White House service, Hassett was the research director at the American Enterprise Institute for many years. He also served as a senior economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and as an associate professor of economics and finance at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business, as well as a visiting professor at New York University’s Law School. He has been an adviser for many presidential campaigns and has contributed regular columns to National Review for almost 20 years.”

About the Book

Kevin Hassett wasn’t always a Trump supporter. Before his surprising appointment as the top White House economist, he took a dim view of the populist agenda and mercurial temperament of the man who had won control of the Republican Party. But experience would soon change his mind.
As chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, Hassett helped Donald Trump bring about a golden age of prosperity, in which Americans who had been left behind by decades of failed policy were given the opportunity to succeed. The miracle lasted three years, until a virus from China killed it.
Trump proved that a mix of free-market principles and enlightened nationalism could revive the American economic dynamo. Guided by an unlikely team of brilliant advisers and driven by his own force of will, he recognized that Washington bureaucrats had undermined the American dream by inserting themselves into every aspect of the economy. These “experts” were leading us down the path to socialism, and Trump fought like mad to turn things around.
Enjoying not only direct access to the president but also his trust and respect, Hassett was involved in almost every important policy debate. After two exhausting but successful years, he stepped down from the CEA and returned to private life—only to return as a special adviser on pandemic policy in 2020.
The Drift offers a unique perspective on a pivotal presidency. Unconnected and unbeholden to Donald Trump, Kevin Hassett came to the administration with a critical eye. But working with Trump the president convinced him that this flawed leader might be the only man who could halt the drift toward a statist and moribund economy. Filled with urgent lessons, this book is essential reading as the drift resumes.
“Now that the bloom is off the rose of Joe Biden’s presidency, it’s a good time to look back on his predecessor’s four turbulent years in office. Kevin Hassett has written a characteristically affable and fair memoir of his time running Donald Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers and otherwise assisting the 45th President with his economic policy. A free trader on Tariff Man’s team, Hassett nevertheless shared Trump’s ambition to revitalize the American economy through deregulation and tax cuts. It is easy to forget just how well that was going when Covid-19 struck. If Hassett is right about America’s secular leftward “Drift,” then the irony may be that Trump inadvertently ended up accelerating rather than reversing it. Should he ever return to power, readers of this smart, disarming book will fervently hope to see its author as Treasury secretary.” —Niall Ferguson, Milbank Family Senior Fellow, the Hoover Institution

Corey DeAngelis: The Case for School Choice
2023-09-06 17:00 - 19:00
RECEPTION: 5:00 P.M.
PRESENTATION : 6:00 P.M.
Join the Show-Me Institute in St. Louis, Missouri at our annual Next Gen event as Senior fellow at the American Federation for Children, Corey DeAngelis shares his vision to revamp our nation’s education system. Corey sheds light on the challenges faced by, and failures of, today’s government schools revealing a rising tide of mediocrity, and explores the need for alternative solutions to solve America’s education crisis.
Purchase Tickets Here
The event will take place at the Home of Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield. The Address will be provided to those who RSVP.
Show-Me Institute will pay Eventbrite ticketing fees.
*Estimated value of goods and services for reception and lecture: $80. Contributions to the Show-Me Institute are deductible for federal income tax purposes as allowed by law. The tax deduction is limited to the excess of the contribution over the fair market value of any goods or services received in exchange for the donation.
About the Speaker

Corey DeAngelis is a senior fellow at the American Federation for Children. He is also the executive director at Educational Freedom Institute, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, a senior fellow at Reason Foundation, and a board member at Liberty Justice Center.
He was named on the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work on education policy and received the Buckley Award from America’s Future in 2020. He additionally received the Future 40 Award from Maverick PAC in 2021 and the OCPA Citizenship Award in 2022.
DeAngelis has authored or co-authored over 40 journal articles, book chapters, and reports on education policy, and he is the co-editor of School Choice Myths: Setting the Record Straight on Education Freedom. His research has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals, including Social Science Quarterly, School Effectiveness and School Improvement, Educational Review, and Peabody Journal of Education. He is a regular on Fox News and his work has also been published in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the New York Post, and National Review.
DeAngelis received his PhD in education policy from the University of Arkansas. He holds a BBA and an MA in economics from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Springfield, MO - From Markets to Main Street: The State of the U.S. Economy
2023-07-12 12:30 - 13:30
Join Dr. Aaron Hedlund, Chief Economist at the Show-Me Institute, in Springfield, Missouri for an engaging presentation on the state of the U.S. economy and macroeconomic trends. Dr. Hedlund will discuss the housing and labor markets, inflation, and the role of the Federal Reserve.
Refreshments will be provided.
Save your spot now for this free event.

Joplin, MO – From Markets to Main Street: The State of the U.S. Economy
2023-07-11 12:00 - 13:00
Join Dr. Aaron Hedlund, Chief Economist at the Show-Me Institute, in Joplin, Missouri for an engaging presentation on the state of the U.S. economy and macroeconomic trends. Dr. Hedlund will discuss the housing and labor markets, inflation, and the role of the Federal Reserve.
Refreshments will be provided.
Save your spot now for this free event.

Jay Nordlinger in Kansas City: Adventures in Journalism
2023-05-10 17:30 - 19:00
When: Wednesday, May 10
Reception: 5:30pm
Program: 6:00 pm
Where: Kansas City Central Library
Register Here for This Free Event

About the Event
Jay Nordlinger surveys today’s media landscape with what has become frequent dismay.
“We’ve never had so much journalism and so many outlets, which is great,” the National Review senior editor says. “But politics and journalism have merged, and … I’ve seen a lot of journalists begin to act like politicians with political calculations. That’s crippling to a writer.”
“You’ve got to be free at the keyboard,” he says, “to pursue the truth as you find it.”
Nordlinger himself has gained a reputation for open-mindedness in writing about politics, foreign affairs, and the arts, among other subjects, for National Review. In an event co-presented by the Show-Me Institute, National Review Institute, The Kansas City Public Library, the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, and Show-Me Opportunity, he looks at journalists’ roles – from reporters to columnists, critics, and editors – and the practice of straight vs. opinion journalism. And he takes stock of his profession today. What’s good, and what’s bad? How does one navigate the current media environment? Is everyone siloed?
Nordlinger, who lives in New York, writes the column “Impromptus” for NationalReview.com and is a book fellow of the National Review Institute. He’s the author of two books, Peace, They Say: A History of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Most Famous and Controversial Prize in the World and Children of Monsters: An Inquiry into the Sons and Daughters of Dictators. Selections of his work have been republished in two anthologies.
He also is a music critic for The New Criterion and the host of two podcasts, Q&A and Music for a While.

Jay Nordlinger in St. Louis: Adventures in Journalism
2023-05-09 18:00 - 19:00
When: Tuesday, May 9
Reception 5:30 pm
Program: 6:00 pm

Where: Lindenwood University (Harmon Hall Auditorium) 209 South Kingshighway Street, Saint Charles, MO, 63301
Register Here for This Free Event

About the Event
Jay Nordlinger surveys today’s media landscape with what has become frequent dismay.
“We’ve never had so much journalism and so many outlets, which is great,” the National Review senior editor says. “But politics and journalism have merged, and … I’ve seen a lot of journalists begin to act like politicians with political calculations. That’s crippling to a writer.”
“You’ve got to be free at the keyboard,” he says, “to pursue the truth as you find it.”
Nordlinger himself has gained a reputation for open-mindedness in writing about politics, foreign affairs, and the arts, among other subjects, for National Review. In an event co-presented by the Show-Me Institute, the John W. Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise , National Review Institute, and Show-Me Opportunity, he looks at journalists’ roles – from reporters to columnists, critics, and editors – and the practice of straight vs. opinion journalism. And he takes stock of his profession today. What’s good, and what’s bad? How does one navigate the current media environment? Is everyone siloed?
Nordlinger, who lives in New York, writes the column “Impromptus” for NationalReview.com and is a book fellow of the National Review Institute. He’s the author of two books, Peace, They Say: A History of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Most Famous and Controversial Prize in the World and Children of Monsters: An Inquiry into the Sons and Daughters of Dictators. Selections of his work have been republished in two anthologies.
He also is a music critic for The New Criterion and the host of two podcasts, Q&A and Music for a While.

K-12 Without Borders: Public School Students, Families, and Teachers Shut in by Education Boundaries
2023-04-26 11:00 - 12:00
Join us on Wednesday, April 26, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT as EdChoice’s Marty Lueken, Director of Fiscal Research & Education Center, and Mike McShane, Director of National Research, join Show-Me Institute’s Director of Education Research, Susan Pendergrass, to discuss their recently published reports K-12 Without Borders: Public School Students, Families, and Teachers Shut in by Education Boundaries, which examines what a K-12 education system with fewer school district borders would mean for students, teachers, and taxpayers, and Breaking Down Public School District Lines: Policies, Perceptions, and Implications of Inter-District Open Enrollment.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions via a Q&A session following the discussion.
Register Here
About the Speakers
Martin Lueken is director of EdChoice’s Fiscal Research and Education Center (FREC), where he focuses on research and analysis of issues that pertain to school choice bills, current programs, and school funding. His work includes providing expert support and advice for policy makers in helping understand the fiscal impact of current school choice programs and potential fiscal effects of programs introduced in state legislatures. He also conducts data analysis and research on school choice.

His research work and interests include education finance in general and teacher pensions. He has provided expert testimony and advice about fiscal issues for numerous states that have introduced education choice legislation. His work has been mentioned in various media and education-specific outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Education Next, Education Week, and The 74. He previously studied in the Department of Education Reform and received his doctorate in Education Policy from the University of Arkansas.

Michael Q. McShane is the director of national research at EdChoice. Mike is the editor of New and Better Schools, the author of Education and Opportunity and coeditor of Educational Entrepreneurship Today, Teacher Quality 2.0 and Common Core Meets Education Reform. His analyses and commentary have been published widely in the media, including in the Huffington Post, National Affairs, USA Today and The Washington Post. He has also been featured in education-specific outlets such as Teachers College Commentary, Education Week, Phi Delta Kappan and Education Next. In addition to authoring numerous white papers, McShane has had academic work published in Education Finance and Policy and the Journal of School Choice. A former high school teacher, he earned a Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas, an M.Ed. from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. in English from St. Louis University.

Susan Pendergrass is the director of education policy at the Show-Me Institute. Before joining the Show-Me Institute, Susan Pendergrass was Vice President of Research and Evaluation for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, where she oversaw data collection and analysis and carried out a rigorous research program. Susan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, with a concentration in Finance, at the University of Colorado in 1983. She earned her Masters in Business Administration at George Washington University, with a concentration in Finance (1992) and a doctorate in public policy from George Mason University, with a concentration in social policy (2002). Susan began researching charter schools with her dissertation on the competitive effects of Massachusetts charter schools. Since then, she has conducted numerous studies on the fiscal impact of school choice legislation. Susan has also taught quantitative methods courses at the Paul H. Nitze School for Advanced International Studies, at Johns Hopkins University, and at the School of Public Policy at George Mason University. Prior to coming to the National Alliance, Susan was a senior policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Education during the Bush administration and a senior research scientist at the National Center for Education Statistics during the Obama administration.

Maverick: The Life of Thomas Sowell
2023-04-19 18:00 - 19:00
Join us on Wednesday, April 19, at the Saint Louis University Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business for a special event with Jason L. Riley, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and columnist for the Wall Street Journal. Riley will discuss his book Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell .
Mr. Riley will be signing books prior to the program from 5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Copies of Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell will be available for purchase. There will also be a reception starting at 5:30 p.m.
Program at 6:00 p.m. in the Anheuser-Busch Auditorium
Reserve Your Spot for This Free Event
Valet parking will be available at the circle drive off of Lindell Blvd.
About the Book
A biography of Thomas Sowell, one of America’s most influential conservative thinkers. Thomas Sowell is one of the great social theorists of our age. In a career spanning more than a half century, he has written over thirty books, covering topics from economic history and social inequality to political theory, race, and culture. His bold and unsentimental assaults on liberal orthodoxy have endeared him to many readers but have also enraged fellow intellectuals, the civil-rights establishment, and much of the mainstream media. The result has been a lack of acknowledgment of his scholarship among critics who prioritize political correctness. In the first-ever biography of Sowell, Jason L. Riley gives this iconic thinker his due and responds to the detractors. Maverick showcases Sowell’s most significant writings and traces the life events that shaped his ideas and resulted in a Black orphan from the Jim Crow South becoming one of our foremost public intellectuals.

About the Speaker
Jason Riley is an opinion columnist at The Wall Street Journal, where his column, Upward Mobility, has run since 2016. He is also a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and provides television commentary for various news outlets.
Mr. Riley, a 2018 Bradley Prize recipient, is the author of four books: “Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders” (2008); “Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed” (2014); “False Black Power?” (2017); and “Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell” (2021).
Mr. Riley joined the paper in 1994 as a copy reader on the national news desk in New York. He moved to the editorial page in 1995, was named a senior editorial page writer in 2000, and became a member of the Editorial Board in 2005. He joined the Manhattan Institute in 2015.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Mr. Riley earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Event sponsored by: Show-Me Institute, the Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research, the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, and Show-Me Opportunity

China, Russia, and the Changing Global Landscape Virtual Event
2023-03-21 11:00 - 12:00
Join us on March 21 at 11:00 am central time, for a virtual event with Senator Jim Talent and Heritage Foundation’s James Jay Carafano as they discuss rising tensions between the United States and China, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of conflict over Taiwan, and more.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions via a Q&A session following the discussion. You can submit questions ahead of the event to Zach.Lawhorn@showmeopportunity.org

Register Here
About the Speakers
Senator Jim Talent
Senator Jim Talent brings over 30 years of government and political experience including service in both chambers of Congress. He is a nationally-recognized leader on military affairs whose counsel is frequently sought by administrations and members of the House and Senate on both sides of the political aisle. During his service in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, Senator Talent served on each chamber’s Armed Services Committee where he worked to advance a strong national defense and military readiness. In the U.S. House, in the aftermath of the end of the Cold War, he was a vocal opponent of cuts in the size and strength of the military On the Senate Armed Services Committee, he fought to rebuild the force, which even then was too small, too stressed and desperately in need of recapitalization. An advocate for expanding the U.S. Navy’s fleet to project American power abroad and keep the peace, he chaired the committee’s Naval Power Subcommittee.
James Jay Carafano
James Jay Carafano, a leading expert in national security and foreign policy challenges, is the vice president of Heritage’s Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy and the E. W. Richardson Fellow. Carafano is an accomplished historian and teacher as well as a prolific writer and researcher. His most recent publication is “Brutal War” (Lynne Reinner, 2021), a study of combat in the Southwest Pacific. He also authored “Wiki at War: Conflict in a Socially Networked World” (Texas A&M University Press, 2012), a survey of the revolutionary impact of the Internet age on national security. He was selected from thousands to speak on cyber warfare at the 2014 South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Conference in Austin, Texas, the nation’s premier tech and social media conference.

Election Security Panel - Columbia
2023-02-22 18:00 - 19:00
Reception at 5:30 pm
Program at 6:00 pm
You are invited to join the Show-Me Institute for an expert panel discussion on election security on Wednesday, February 22 at the Country Club of Missouri in Columbia, MO. Four election officials will explain how they keep Missouri’s elections secure, offer suggestions for how to improve election security, and answer questions from the audience. The event is free, but you must reserve your spot.
Panelists:

Eric Fey, St. Louis County Democratic Director of Elections
Brianna Lennon, Boone County Clerk
Kurt Bahr, St. Charles County Director of Elections
Shane Schoeller, Greene County Clerk

Register Here
Presented by Show-Me Opportunity

NEXT GEN: The Red Vs. Blue Myth and the Real Threat to American Stability
2022-12-01 18:00 - 19:00
Join us for a special NEXT GEN presentation by Tony Woodlief, Executive Vice President at the State Policy Network, on how America can move toward depolarization, and reclaim our right to self-govern.
While pundits on the Left and Right perpetuate the notion that America is a deeply divided nation on the verge of civil war, ample data prove exactly the opposite. Most Americans are non-ideological and harbor a strong dislike of our two major political parties. What’s more, large majorities of Americans are patriotic, tolerant of others’ religious and political beliefs, enthusiastic about free enterprise, distrustful of big government, and firmly in favor of individual freedoms.
Despite what pundits and politicians assert, the real threat to America is not everyday Americans; it is a political class that has systematically taken authority that rightly belongs to individuals, communities, and states, and concentrated it in Washington, D.C.. This political class benefits from polarization and perpetuates the myth of looming civil war to justify its undemocratic impulses. Fortunately, there are actions any American citizen can take to resist. And by working in concert, we can even begin to restore the American self-governance bequeathed by our Founders.
Purchase Tickets Here

Host Committee
Stephanie Bell
Will Bubelis
Jake Burrola
Rich Chrismer
Susan Herold
Timothy Luby
James Moog
Brian Moore
Isaac Musselwhite
William Scharf
Katie Sinquefield
Carter Smith
Ethan Todd
James Townsend
Rebecca Willard

About the Speaker
Tony Woodlief is Executive Vice President at the State Policy Network. He helps oversee SPN operations, supports SPN’s president in her guidance of the leadership team, and helps ensure the organization’s projects and programs measure success, evolve as SPN grows, and maintain alignment with our vision and mission.
Tony previously served as president of the Bill of Rights Institute, and before that the Market-Based Management Institute. He has also served as president of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. An alumnus of the University of North Carolina, he has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan, and an MFA from Wichita State University. Tony has appeared in media outlets including Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, National Review, and C-SPAN’s Washington Journal.
Tony is also the author of I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance. In writing I, Citizen, Tony conducted extensive research on American public opinion to find out what Americans believe and uncover the source of their political animosities. Through his research, Tony discovered that America is more united than divided, despite what the pundits tell us, and traced the source of our perceived animosity to a small minority of dedicated partisans within the political establishment of Washington, DC. I, Citizen tells the story of how these partisans have created the myth of a divided America and how they’ve concentrated power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats and partisan elites, and offers practical solutions for how we can reclaim our right to self-governance by focusing on solutions and commonalities closer to home.
Presented by Show-Me Institute

What’s Next? Inflation, the Housing Market and the U.S. Economy
2022-11-07 12:00 - 13:00
Join us at noon on Monday, November 7 in Columbia, Missouri for a discussion on the state of the U.S. Economy.

RSVP HERE
About the Event
Dr. Aaron Hedlund, chief economist at the Show-Me Institute, will discuss the impact of decades-high inflation on the economy, housing market, workers, and consumers, as well as the role of the Federal Reserve in solving the problem and the risk of the next recession.
About the Speaker

Aaron Hedlund is an associate professor with tenure in the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, as well as a research fellow at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. From 2020 to 2021, Hedlund was the Chief Domestic Economist and Senior Adviser at the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). Before joining the CEA, he was also the Acting Director of Academic Outreach and Senior Fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity. His other public policy experiences include stints at the Heritage Foundation and the International Trade Commission as well as service in senior state-level advisory roles. Hedlund’s research focuses on the intersection of macroeconomics, finance, real estate, and labor. Some of the topics he has studied extensively include the causes and consequences of housing booms and busts, the forces driving up college tuition and student debt, and the macroeconomic implications of China’s economic transformation. He has also written and spoken extensively on market-oriented reforms to the tax code and healthcare system. In addition to appearing in peer-reviewed academic journals, Hedlund’s work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and National Review, has been used as expert testimony in state-level policy initiatives, and has been presented at numerous think tanks, academic institutions, and central banks both in and outside of the United States. Hedlund received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and his Bachelor’s in economics and mathematics from Duke University.
Presented by: Show-Me Institute, 93.9 The Eagle, and Show-Me Opportunity

CANCELED: Election Security Panel in Springfield, MO
2022-10-06 18:00 - 19:00
Due to unforeseen events, this event has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Taxes Have Consequences: Arthur B. Laffer, Jeanne Sinquefield and Brian Domitrovic
2022-09-20 17:30 - 18:30
Join us for a discussion with Arthur B. Laffer, Jeanne Sinquefield and Brian Domitrovic about their upcoming book Taxes Have Consequences: An Income Tax History of the United States.
Reception begins at 4:30 p.m.
Program begins at 5:30 p.m.

RSVP to events@showmeinstitute.org
Please include the first and last name of each guest planning to attend.

About The Book
Authors: Arthur B. Laffer, Brian Domitrovic and Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield
The definitive history of the effect of the income tax on the economy.
Ever since 1913, when the United States first imposed the income tax via constitutional amendment, the top rate of that tax has determined the fate of the American economy. When the top rate has been high, as in the late 1910s, the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1970s, the response of those with money and capital has been to curtail real economic activity in favor of protecting assets and income streams. Huge declines have come to the economy in these circumstances. The most brutal example was the Great Depression itself. When the top tax rate has been cut and held at reduced levels—as in the 1920s, the 1960s, in the long boom of the 1980s and 1990s, and briefly in the late 2010s—
astonishing reversals have occurred. The rich have brought their money out of hiding and put it to work in the economy. The huge swings in the American economy since 1913 have had an inverse relationship to income tax rates.
About the Speakers
Arthur B. Laffer is the legendary founder of supply-side economics and economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump in 2019.
Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield helped pioneer index-fund investing as executive vice president and head of trading at Dimensional Fund Advisors.
Brian Domitrovic is the author of five books, including the landmark history of supply-side economics Econoclasts.
