Hmm.

So, um, you know, reducing those regu- that reducing that regulatory burden can reduce the cost, increase the supply of childcare options.

The federal ACF can help states do this by publishing a framework, rewarding states that ease rules in, in kind of a quality grant competition methodology.

Um, even the way that states kind of measure costs, right? So right now they use something called a, you know, like, market rate surveys that ask childcare providers, um, you know, un...

They, they ask what childcare providers charge unsubsidized families and use that to inform the subsidy rates.

Instead, they should do the cost rate survey that would measure the cost of staffing, wages, benefits, facilities, et cetera, um, that tells you kind of a real cost of what, you know, what it takes to, to, to have one of these facilities.

And then the federal administration's actually done some decent work in this space-

Hmm

I mean, if they weren't like endorsing anyone, that'd be kind of one thing, but like they're,

yeah.

And there's an important distinction here, Mira.

Nobody is saying the unions shouldn't have a voice in the political process.

They were First Amendment rights and organization like anybody else does.

There's two problems here.

One, in almost half the states, they can force workers to pay dues, which are then used for a variety of advocacy causes, and money is sent to all kinds of different ideological and political organizations.

But it's also kind of really interesting when you think about The worker, these kind of highly educated, very elite kind of politicians who are pretending to represent workers really aren't, right?

... can you tell us a bit about your background and your work for FREOP?

Yeah, absolutely.

Thank you for having me.

It's good to see you again, Mike.

Um, so FREOP is a 501[c][3] nonpartisan public policy think tank.

Um, our mission is, uh, somewhat unique in the space.

We're a, a free market classical liberal think tank, but we are specifically dedicated to uplifting Americans on the bottom half of the socioeconomic ladder through the power of free enterprise, individual liberty, technological innovation, and pluralism.

So, uh, Akash, before I let you go, anything else you or your colleagues are working on that you'd like to promote to our listeners?