Texans are paying more in property taxes, but where is the promised tax relief? In this episode of Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin, Mandy sits down with Judge Shepard to expose how the Texas school bond process has been hijacked by an education cartel that profits from billions in taxpayer-funded debt. Based on Judge Shepard's groundbreaking research paper this conversation uncovers the network of architects, engineering firms, consultants, lobbyists, and political action committees driving massive school bond elections across Texas.

Learn how a handful of firms make small donations to school bond PACs, then receive millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded contracts after bonds pass. The discussion also examines why property tax relief from the Texas Legislature often fails to reach homeowners, how school district debt has ballooned to $236 billion, and what reforms could restore transparency and accountability.

In this video:
How Texas school bond elections really work
The "education cartel" and its financial incentives
Why property taxes continue to rise despite legislative tax relief
How bond PACs influence local elections
The role of architects, engineering firms, consultants, and taxpayer-funded lobbyists
Why May bond elections have low voter turnout
Proposed reforms to protect Texas taxpayers
The controversy surrounding Barbers Hill ISD's Education Foundation
Recommendations to increase transparency and stop conflicts of interest

If you care about Texas property taxes, school finance, government transparency, education reform, taxpayer rights, or local government accountability, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

What happens when Texas families are empowered with educational freedom?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with City School Austin's Head of School Karon Law and board member Travis Reese to discuss how Education Freedom Accounts are creating new opportunities for Texas families and allowing schools to better serve students with diverse learning needs.

From supporting students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences to helping low-income families access a high-quality education, City School shares how educational freedom is transforming lives, building student confidence, and expanding opportunities for children across Texas.

What can Texans learn from someone who watched their freedom disappear firsthand?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former Iranian citizen Julie Ruehle to discuss her experience living through Iran’s Islamic Revolution and the lessons it holds for America today. Julie shares how the Iranian Revolution transformed life for women, silenced political opposition, and dismantled personal freedoms.

Why are Texas property taxes still rising despite record education spending? Why has Texas school district debt ballooned to hundreds of billions of dollars? And how are taxpayer-funded lobbyists, education foundations, and public-private partnerships impacting local taxpayers?

In this eye-opening episode of Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin, Texas State Representative Terri Leo-Wilson (HD-23) joins Mandy to expose what she calls the "education cartel" and the powerful network of school districts, developers, consultants, lobbyists, and special interests driving debt, property tax increases, and political lawfare across Texas.

Rep. Leo-Wilson discusses:
✅ Texas school district debt and rising property taxes
✅ Education foundations and financial transparency concerns
✅ Public-private partnership (P3) agreements
✅ Taxpayer-funded lobbying in Texas
✅ Political targeting and lawfare against elected officials
✅ School bond elections and local government spending
✅ TEA investigations and accountability efforts
✅ Property tax reform and taxpayer protections
✅ Government transparency and public accountability
✅ The future of education policy in Texas

This conversation dives into the intersection of education policy, taxpayer rights, government transparency, school finance, and political influence in Texas.

If you're concerned about property taxes, school spending, government accountability, or education reform, this is a discussion you won't want to miss.

Why are Texas parents of special needs students leaving public schools for specialized private options?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with Taryn, a mom to Hadley and a paraprofessional at Oak Creek Academy in Killeen, Texas, along with Hadley herself. Taryn shares their powerful journey from frustrating public school experiences, including the loss of sign language support, ineffective “inclusion” practices, limited therapies, and behavioral challenges, to finding real hope at a private school built specifically for students with special needs. They discuss how Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are a lifeline of freedom for parents by direct funding to the environment where their child can thrive, instead of being stuck based on their zip code.

What’s really happening with Texas A&M’s ties to the Qatar Foundation, and why should Texans be paying attention?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with TPPF's Kate Bierly to discuss Texas A&M’s Qatar campus and the national security threat it poses for Texas and America. The two dive into the role of soft power, foreign funding, national security concerns, and university transparency and accountability. Mandy and Kate also discuss policy solutions lawmakers can pursue to safeguard Texas institutions.

Why are fewer young Americans getting married and what does this mean for the future of families?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with TPPF's family policy expert, Hannah Bruck, to examine the cultural, economic, and societal forces shaping marriage and family formation in America today.

From the rise of online dating culture and social media influence to shifting cultural views on relationships, and financial stability, this conversation explores why so many young people are delaying marriage... or avoiding it altogether. Mandy and Hannah also discuss the critical role strong families play in building healthy communities, raising successful children, and sustaining a thriving society.

On this episode of Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin, filmed live at Texas Policy Summit 2026, Mandy sits down with Texas Senator Adam Hinojosa to discuss one of the biggest government reform battles in Texas: ending taxpayer-funded lobbying.

Sen. Hinojosa explains how taxpayer-funded lobbyists use millions of taxpayer dollars to lobby against reforms like:

Property tax relief
School choice
Protecting girls’ sports
Keeping boys out of girls’ bathrooms
Education reform and accountability
Transparency in government spending

The conversation exposes how organizations like the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), Texas Municipal League (TML), and Texas Association of Counties (TAC) influence legislation while using public money to oppose the will of Texas taxpayers. Mandy and Sen. Hinojosa also break down the exploding local government debt crisis, skyrocketing school bond spending, and how taxpayers are being forced to fund lobbying efforts against their own interests.

Sen. Hinojosa shares why banning taxpayer-funded lobbying is critical to restoring accountability, protecting families, lowering property taxes, and defending Texas values.

If you care about government transparency, education reform, property tax relief, and stopping government waste, this is a must-watch conversation.

👉 Subscribe for more interviews from Texas Policy Summit 2026 and the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

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