# Episode 68: Rich States, Poor States

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/fresh-freedom-6168157/episode-68-rich-states-poor-states
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/fresh-freedom-6168157/episode-68-rich-states-poor-states.md
Podcast: [Fresh Freedom](https://stenobird.com/podcast/fresh-freedom-6168157)
Published: 2026-04-22T16:13:52+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fresh-freedom/episodes/Episode-68-Rich-States--Poor-States-e3i8kfq
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/db2f52d4/podcast/play/118820794/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-3-22%2F422617021-44100-2-d8d0c5c10703d.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/fresh-freedom-6168157/episodes/episode-68-rich-states-poor-states
Duration seconds: 1610

## Resource

- Filmed 4/20/26 - On this episode of Fresh Freedom, we sat down with Jonathan Williams, President and Chief Economist at ALEC, to break down why government continues to grow despite constant promises of limited government. We talked through the latest Rich States, Poor States rankings and what separates the states that are thriving from the ones falling behind. From tax policy and regulation to spending and labor laws, the data tells a clear story about what drives economic growth and what pushes people and businesses out. We also dug into the bigger issue of federal overreach, how states are becoming increasingly dependent on federal dollars, and what that means for the future of federalism. From Medicaid expansion to property taxes and runaway spending at the local level, this conversation highlights how policy decisions are directly impacting everyday Americans. If everyone claims to support limited government, why does it keep expanding? This is a conversation about what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change. Follow the Podcast Here: https://www.youtube.com/@freshfreedompodcast https://rumble.com/c/c-2453760 https://open.spotify.com/show/5gkOsKdfx2W1djarqenqTo?si=61ea99b178b44c4b https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fresh-freedom/id1674604542 Our Social Media Handles: @Taxeconomist https://x.com/Taxeconomist @RepEricBurlison https://x.com/RepEricBurlison @nlucas0 https://x.com/nlucas0

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## Transcript

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