Skip to content
PodParley
Brews & Views podcast artwork

PODCAST · news

Brews & Views

by Commonwealth Partners

Good coffee. Good conversation! Get to know Pennsylvania’s political players and policymakers with host Matt Brouillette, president and CEO of Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Apr 15, 2026 · Source feed

Subscribe · 0 Bookmark

Episodes

  1. Short Take 31: Headline Hit Jobs

    From skewing the news to fit a narrative, to spewing flat-out falsehoods, media headlines too often paint a one-sided picture. This episode looks at some headline hit jobs while setting the record straight on the real stories. This episode is an audio version of an op-ed that originally appeared…

    more

  2. Short Take 30: How standing for kids made one lawmaker an enemy of the Left

    What happens when a Philadelphia Democrat lawmaker dares to defy the teachers' unions by voting to help kids escape failing schools? Let's just say the unions don't take it lightly. Listen to this episode to hear how Rep. Amen Brown faced backlash after voting in favor of Lifeline Scholarships.

  3. Short Take 29: Elon Musk and the power of entrepreneurs

    Elon Musk’s recent move to buy Twitter has caused both elation and panic, depending on whom you ask. But at its root, Musk’s move shows the power of entrepreneurship to shape American culture. This episode is an audio version of an op-ed on the topic by Commonwealth Partners Chamber of...

  4. Short Take 28: Josh Shapiro's lieutenant governor problem

    From defending Gov. Wolf's business shutdowns to backing PA's entrance into the job-destroying Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Democrat Attorney General Josh Shapiro has some baggage when it comes to running for governor this November. But even before he gets there, Shapiro may have another...

  5. BVShortTake27 - Josh Shapiro TikTok

    As Democrat attorney general and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro makes TikTok videos, Philadelphia hit record high homicides last year. If Shapiro wants to convince Pennsylvanian’s he’s standing up for them, he should be prioritizing the things that matter most. This episode is an audio...

  6. Short Take 26: Reclaiming American Values

    Do you feel that America is losing sight of the values that make her unique? Abhi Samuel, Director of Entrepreneur Engagement at Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs, knows what it’s like to grow up in a socialist nation. He recently outlined three opportunities we have to show courage...

  7. Short Take 25: Wolf's 'green' energy agenda is fueling Putin's war

    As Vladimir Putin continues his brutal attacks on Ukraine, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf persists in his anti-energy policy that’s helping keep the world dependent on Russian gas. Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette recently explained in an op-ed how Wolf’s green agenda is…

    more

  8. Short Take 24: Taxpayers on the hook for lawbreakers' pensions

    In this episode, we take a look at former Pennsylvania state lawmakers who ran afoul of the law, but are still getting taxpayer-backed pension payments for life. This episode is an audio version of an op-ed that originally appeared at Broad + Liberty.

  9. Short Take 23: More Missing Covid Data

    When it comes to transparency, what's unsaid is often more important than what's said. This episode is an audio version of an op-ed in which we dive into Covid hospitalization data that Gov. Wolf's administration says it doesn't have, as well as the context that's missing when we talk about...

  10. Short Take 22: Counting down to a new direction in Pennsylvania

    After the latest U.S. census, Pennsylvania is losing yet another congressional seat. Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette recently wrote an op-ed looking at how Gov. Tom Wolf’s policies are driving families, business, and jobs out of Pennsylvania and how this November, voters...

  11. Short Take 21: The Covid context the Wolf administration isn't giving

    Recently, New York and New Jersey released data on how many patients were hospitalized “with” Covid vs. “for” Covid. But to date, Pennsylvania has not disclosed similar data. Instead, the PA Department of Health continues to release numbers without context. This episode is an audio version of an...

  12. Short Take 20: Josh's Wonderland

    Disney World is fun, but Pennsylvania has its own fantasy world in the form of Democrat Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s campaign for governor. Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs' political director, Jeremy Baker, recently had an op-ed in Broad + Liberty diving into Josh’s Wonderland…

    more

  13. Short Take 19: Need for election reform predates 2020

    Between “Stop the Steal” activists and “Big Lie” critics, it’s become difficult to have a civil conversation over election reform. But, it turns out that calls for many reforms have been both longstanding and bipartisan. Commonwealth Partners Board Member and entrepreneur Rob Shearer explained in...

  14. Short Take 18: How AG Josh Shapiro cost Pennsylvania royalty owners millions

    Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro likes to present himself as the champion of the little guy. But thanks to Shapiro, thousands of Pennsylvania landowners lost out on tens of millions of dollars in royalty payments from one of the nation’s largest natural gas companies. In this episode…

    more

  15. Short Take 17: Understanding this year's judicial races

    This November, Pennsylvania voters will elect four judges to our three statewide appellate courts. In this episode, we break down the difference between our state’s appellate courts, the types of cases each hears, and how these courts can impact our lives. This episode is an audio version of a...

  16. Short Take 16: Questions for Attorney General Josh Shapiro

    Since taking office as PA Attorney General, Josh Shapiro has issued more than 990 press releases—or one every 1.67 days. But while he says a lot, many questions remain unanswered. As Shapiro has set his sights on becoming Pennsylvania’s next governor, here are some of the many questions...

  17. Short Take 15: Justice needs her blindfold back

    What happens when judges who are supposed to be fair and impartial instead consistently issue rulings that align with the special interests that elected them? Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette recently authored an op-ed looking at partisan rulings by Pennsylvania's state...

  18. Ep97: Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill on Pa. state budget

    Pa. State Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York County) joins Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette to talk about the recently enacted state budget and the state's chronic overspending problem.

  19. Short Take 14: Harrisburg's Hottest Lies

    A lie repeated often enough can begin to sound credible, In this episode, we look at some of the hottest lies emanating from Harrisburg today. This episode is an audio version of an op-ed by Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette.

  20. Ep96: Rep. Seth Grove on PA Election Reform

    With calls coming from both sides of the aisle for changes to Pennsylvania's election laws, House State Government Committee Chair Seth Grove dives into the latest on his committee’s work on comprehensive election reform. What’s been reviewed? What problems have been discovered? And what’s ahead...

  21. Ep95: Debunking PA Education Funding Myths, with Sr. Policy Analyst Colleen Hroncich

    Are Pennsylvania’s public schools underfunded? Commonwealth Foundation Senior Policy Analyst Colleen Hroncich joins Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette to take a hard look at several myths surrounding public school funding and to set the record straight.

  22. Short Take 13: Group aims to upend PA redistricting process

    The National Democratic Redistricting Committee, founded by former President Barack Obama and his former Attorney General Eric Holder, claims to want fair congressional maps. But that claim is far from accurate. Here’s the story of how this committee is working not for fairness but for pure...

  23. Episode 94 Jeremy Baker, Political Director, Commonwealth Partners

    Tune in as Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs Political Director Jeremy Baker outlines our endorsements in the Pennsylvania judicial primary elections and why we are recommending "YES" votes on two proposed constitutional amendments to restore a legislative check and balance on a...

  24. Short Take 12: Gov. Wolf shielding appointees from confirmation hearings

    In late April, 2021, Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf abruptly withdrew all his pending nominations to lead key state agencies. In a recent op-ed, Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette explored the implications of Wolf’s move, which canceled Senate confirmation hearings, shielding his...

  25. Short Take 11: Learning from the past will help prepare for the future

    CHANNELLOCK® President and CEO Jon DeArment, who is also on our board of Trustees at Commonwealth Partners, recently wrote an op-ed on how Gov. Wolf shutdown his business last year and why he’s urging Pennsylvanians to vote yes on two proposed constitutional amendments so no one’s livelihood is...

  26. Ep93: Jon DeArment, President & CEO, CHANNELLOCK®

    If you work with hand tools, you probably have a pair of CHANNELLOCK® pliers. CHANNELLOCK® President and CEO Jon DeArment joins Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette to discuss how Gov. Wolf shut down his business last year and to encourage Pennsylvanians to vote yes on two...

  27. Short Take 10: How local politicians are betrayed by gov't unions

    In the past three years, a left-wing group called Pennsylvania Fund for Change has raised $9.8 million and spent nearly all of it trying to defeat state legislative Republicans. They're particularly fond of targeting Republicans who side with government unions. This is ironic, given where Fund…

    more

  28. Ep92: Judge Kevin Brobson, candidate for PA Supreme Court

    Commonwealth Court Judge Kevin Brobson is running for Pennsylvania Supreme Court this year. Judge Brobson recently sat down with Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette to share more about his background, how he became interested in public service, and why he’s running for the...

  29. Short Take 9: The COVID travel data that never existed

    As the COVID pandemic emerged last year, Gov. Wolf promised his decisions would be “data-driven”. But his Department of Health recently revealed that Wolf’s travel restrictions were unsupported by any data. This episode is an audio version of an op-ed by Commonwealth Partners Public Affairs...

  30. Ep91: Rep. Natalie Mihalek on PA's COVID nursing home policy, unemployment failures

    From Gov. Tom Wolf's administration's policy requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients, to Pennsylvanians' inability to reach the Department of Labor for months on end, state Rep. Natalie Mihalek has been asking public officials the hard questions. Are they giving her good…

    more

  31. Ep90: PA Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward

    Sen. Kim Ward made history by becoming the first female majority leader in the history of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. She sat down with Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette to talk about her path into politics, Gov. Wolf's latest tax hike plan, and the proposed...

  32. Short Take 8: Wolf’s pot-push is good politics (given his bad policies)

    Recently, PA Gov. Tom Wolf has upped his push to legalize recreational marijuana. And it’s actually politically savvy! After all, Wolf's policies throughout COVID have been such a disaster that he’d hardly want to talk about them. This episode is an audio version of a commentary by Commonwealth...

  33. Ep89: Sen. Scott Martin on Excellence in Education for All Act

    Education in the age of COVID has left students and parents frustrated to say the least. PA Senate Education Committee Chair Senator Scott Martin joins Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette to share how the Senate is taking bold action to deliver better educational opportunity…

    more

  34. ShortTake7: It's time to do right by kids

    In his 2021 budget address, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf asked for more than $1 billion in additional funding for public schools—even schools that are physically closed. In this episode, Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette says it’s time to do right by our kids by empowering...

  35. Ep88: Nate Benefield on Gov. Wolf's Budget Proposal

    Pennsylvania's Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf just proposed a $3 billion tax hike on working families, but he's calling it a...wait for it...tax cut? The Commonwealth Foundation's Nathan Benefield breaks down the spin and tells just how much more a family of four would pay under Wolf's plan.

  36. Ep87: A look at pending PA constitutional amendments with Rep. Seth Grove

    Lawmakers are advancing several proposed amendments to the Pennsylvania constitution, including one providing that the Legislature must approve the extension of a disaster declaration after the initial 21 days and one establishing judicial districts for electing judges to statewide appellate...

  37. Ep86: Redistricting in Pennsylvania, with Rep. Greg Rothman

    PA State Rep. Greg Rothman, who also chairs the state's House Republican Campaign Committee, reflects on the GOP's legislative wins in 2020 and looks ahead to the topic that will be front-and-center in 2021: redistricting.

  38. Ep85: Devlin Robinson, Incoming PA senator, combat veteran, small businessman

    Incoming state Senator Devlin Robinson defeated incumbent Democrat Sen. Pam Iovino in Nov. 2020, flipping the 37th Senate seat in Allegheny and Washington counties from blue to red. Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette speaks with Devlin about his background as a Marine Corps...

  39. Ep 84: Abhi Samuel: What makes America unique?

    For those of us who grew up in the United States, it can be easy to take for granted the freedoms we enjoy. But when we experience these freedoms through the eyes of someone who knows what it's like not to have them, our perspective can change. Abhi Samuel, who serves as Director of Entrepreneur...

  40. Ep83: Carrie DelRosso, Incoming PA State Rep & Small Business Owner

    In perhaps the biggest upset of the 2020 elections in Pennsylvania, Republican Carrie DelRosso defeated Democrat House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, who had been in office for nearly 30 years. Shortly after the election, Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette spoke with Carrie...

  41. Ep82: Lenny McAllister, CEO, PA Coalition of Public Charter Schools

    Lenny McAllister is a name well known in Pennsylvania and beyond. As the new CEO of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, Lenny joins Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette to talk about his passion for expanding educational opportunity for children across...

  42. Ep81: Ryan Aument, PA Senator and former U.S. Army Captain

    From fighting overseas as a Captain in the United States Army to fighting in Harrisburg so kids can get a better education, Pennsylvania State Senator Ryan Aument traveled a unique path to the Legislature. In this conversation with Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette, Sen....

  43. Ep80: Curt Schroder on COVID protections for businesses

    As the economy slowly reopens, businesses small and large are under significant threat of COVID related lawsuits, even when they do everything right. Curt Schroder, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, talks with Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt...

  44. Ep79: Tim DeFoor, GOP candidate for PA Auditor General

    Pennsylvania has not had a Republican Auditor General in decades. Tim DeFoor wants to change that. With 25 years of experience in fraud investigations and auditing, Tim is passionate about bringing transparency to government. In this conversation with Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt...

  45. Ep78: PA GOP Chair Lawrence Tabas on mail-in voting

    PA GOP Chair and election attorney Lawrence Tabas joins Commonwealth Partners President and CEO Matt Brouillette to talk about mail-in voting in this key swing state, and why election results may not be known until well after Election Day.

  46. Ep77: CapitAlism works, and CapitOlism doesn't

    Capitalism has been accused of many ills over the years, but is it guilty as charged? In this episode, Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs President and CEO Matt Brouillette talks about lessons learned from the Jamestown settlement's economic experience. He shares how capitalism has...

  47. Ep76: Reclaiming Public Education by Commonwealth Partners President & CEO Matt Brouillette

    Have we forgotten the true purpose of public education? As the COVID-19 pandemic has upended the educational landscape, more and more parents are considering options other than traditional brick-and-mortar public schools for their children. Now more than ever, we should revisit the original…

    more

  48. Ep75: Rep. Clint Owlett on getting PA students 'Back on Track'

    It’s not every lawmaker who can say his district includes the Grand Canyon—Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon, that is. But Rep. Clint Owlett (Tioga, Bradford, & Potter counties) can make that claim. In this conversation with Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs president and CEO Matt...

  49. Ep74: Dave Spigelmyer, president, Marcellus Shale Coalition

    In late June, 2020, PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro issued a scathing Grand Jury report taking aim at Pennsylvania's natural gas industry. But the report was more anti-natural gas politics than fact. Marcellus Shale Coalition President Dave Spigelmyer joins Commonwealth Partners President & CEO...

  50. Ep73: PA House Speaker Bryan Cutler

    Pennsylvania's newly elected House Speaker Bryan Cutler discusses his path from Majority Whip to Majority Leader to Speaker of the House. He also shares his thoughts on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the state Legislature’s priorities and why some of those who supported him for Speaker...

View all 128 episodes →

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

ABOUT THIS SHOW

Good coffee. Good conversation! Get to know Pennsylvania’s political players and policymakers with host Matt Brouillette, president and CEO of Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs.

HOSTED BY

Commonwealth Partners

Produced by Brews & Views

CATEGORIES

news

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Brews & Views have?

Brews & Views currently has 128 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Brews & Views about?

Good coffee. Good conversation! Get to know Pennsylvania’s political players and policymakers with host Matt Brouillette, president and CEO of Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs.

How often does Brews & Views release new episodes?

Brews & Views publishes regularly with 128 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to Brews & Views?

You can listen to Brews & Views on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Brews & Views?

Brews & Views is created and hosted by Commonwealth Partners.
URL copied to clipboard!