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The New Frontline

The New Frontline

Texas Public Policy Foundation's Jose Melendez: TFS Interviews

Jul 29, 2026 · 9 min · 8 segments

Jose Melendez leads the Taxpayer Protection Project and the Government Reform & Oversight Coalition at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, where he is an expert on local government and grassroots…

Jose Melendez leads the Taxpayer Protection Project and the Government Reform & Oversight Coalition at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, where he is an expert on local government and grassroots advocacy. At the 2026 Teacher Freedom Summit, Podcast Host Siena Rose got to interview Jose right after his panel discussion on teacher union politics and the importance of making sure the real voices of teachers are heard.

Jose Melendez leads the Taxpayer Protection Project and the Government Reform & Oversight Coalition at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, where he is an expert on local government and grassroots…

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Speakers: Jose MelendezGuestSiena RoseHost

Top entities: Texas×21 Texas Public Policy Foundation×14 Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts×2 Austin×7 Political action committee

Show signals: SuitabilityLimitedBiasRightAudience≈12k followers

Austin vs. “Real Texas” Jokes0:11 – 0:39

Jose MelendezGuest

0:11

I'm with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and I joked at the beginning of the panel-

0:15

[laughs]

Jose MelendezGuest

0:15

...

Jose MelendezGuest

0:15

I came up here from Austin, Texas, uh, or Austin I should say, and it's great to be back in Texas.

0:19

Yes.

0:20

[laughs]

Jose MelendezGuest

0:20

Uh, there's a lot of shenanigans that go on in Austin, so it's great to be out in real Texas.

0:24

Yes.

0:25

Um, your coworker Ariana has said that joke to me before-

Jose MelendezGuest

0:27

Yeah.

Jose MelendezGuest

0:27

[laughs]

0:27

... which when I first moved here I was not, I'm not from Texas originally, and I was like, "What are you talking about?"

Jose MelendezGuest

0:31

Sure.

0:31

But no, yeah.

0:32

God bless Austin, but it's nice to have you back in real Texas.

0:35

[laughs]

Jose MelendezGuest

0:35

Absolutely, not just the real Texas, but amongst patriots.

0:37

Amen to that, brother.

0:38

Yes.

Jose MelendezGuest

0:39

Mm-hmm.

TexasAdministrative AreaUS state
95%21 mentions
Texas Public Policy FoundationCompanyThink tank
85%14 mentions
Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsEntity
75%2 mentions
AustinCityCity in Texas
65%7 mentions
Political action committeeEntityOrganization type
55%1 mention
Freedom FoundationCompanyThink tank
45%2 mentions
Dallas Independent School DistrictOrganizationSchool district
35%2 mentions
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
25%2 mentions
DallasCityCity in Texas
15%1 mention
GodEntitySupreme being
5%1 mention

Political Action CommitteesPolitics
Society
Education BudgetFinance > Public Funding
Campaign FinancingPolitics > Political Action Committees
Public FundingFinance
StakeholdersSociety > Education System
FundingEducation
Education SystemSociety
Politics
Education
Government
Finance
LegislationGovernment
Union DuesEducation > Funding
Political InfluenceEducation > Funding > Union Dues
Classroom ResourcesEducation > Funding > Union Dues > Political Influence
Education PolicyPolitics > Political Action Committees > Campaign Financing
Voter TurnoutPolitics > Political Action Committees > Campaign Financing > Education Policy
Administrative CostsFinance > Public Funding > Education Budget
Teacher SalariesFinance > Public Funding > Education Budget > Administrative Costs
Advocacy GroupsSociety > Education System > Stakeholders
Profit MotivesSociety > Education System > Stakeholders > Advocacy Groups
Bond ElectionsGovernment > Legislation
Taxpayer ImpactGovernment > Legislation > Bond Elections
School DistrictsGovernment > Legislation > Bond Elections > Taxpayer Impact

Austin vs. “Real Texas” Jokes0:11 – 0:39

Jose MelendezGuest

0:11

I'm with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and I joked at the beginning of the panel-

0:15

[laughs]

Jose MelendezGuest

0:15

...

Jose MelendezGuest

0:15

I came up here from Austin, Texas, uh, or Austin I should say, and it's great to be back in Texas.

0:19

Yes.

0:20

[laughs]

Jose MelendezGuest

0:20

Uh, there's a lot of shenanigans that go on in Austin, so it's great to be out in real Texas.

0:24

Yes.

0:25

Um, your coworker Ariana has said that joke to me before-

Jose MelendezGuest

0:27

Yeah.

Jose MelendezGuest

0:27

[laughs]

0:27

... which when I first moved here I was not, I'm not from Texas originally, and I was like, "What are you talking about?"

Jose MelendezGuest

0:31

Sure.

0:31

But no, yeah.

0:32

God bless Austin, but it's nice to have you back in real Texas.

0:35

[laughs]

Jose MelendezGuest

0:35

Absolutely, not just the real Texas, but amongst patriots.

0:37

Amen to that, brother.

0:38

Yes.

Jose MelendezGuest

0:39

Mm-hmm.

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