Welcome to Freedom Rising!

The story of the United States begins in Pennsylvania. From the founding of our nation to becoming the beating heart of American industry, our commonwealth personifies everything—from its entrepreneurial spirit and fierce independence—that makes this country exceptional.

But we have fallen behind. Once a bellwether for the nation, Pennsylvania lags behind other states in economic prosperity and educational opportunities.

Now is the time for that to change. Now, it’s time for freedom to rise in the Keystone State—and you will want to tune in.

The Commonwealth Foundation is proud to announce the launch of our new flagship podcast, Freedom Rising with Andrew Lewis. Every other week, our president and CEO, Andrew Lewis, will tackle the issues facing everyday Pennsylvanians, exposing and addressing everything from failing schools and crushing regulations to energy mandates and government overreach.

We invite the best and brightest minds working to right these wrongs: allied lawmakers, policy experts, and active citizens dedicated to the free-market principles that will bring opportunity and prosperity to Pennsylvania.

For our first episode, Andrew dives into Medicaid fraud, specifically the colossal scandal that recently rocked Minnesota and robbed taxpayers of billions of dollars. Leading the conversation is John Hinderaker, president of the Center of the American Experiment, the Minnesota-based think tank that has been at the forefront of exposing and analyzing this scandal.

John’s insight and commentary reveal a dark reality: What happened in Minnesota can happen in Pennsylvania. In fact, it already is happening. In 2024, Pennsylvania charged more Medicaid fraud cases than any other state, reporting more than $44 million in fraudulent charges.

Medicaid fraud is on the rise throughout the United States, demanding genuine reform by state legislatures everywhere. Without safeguards like frequent eligibility checks and work requirements for the able-bodied (policies that Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Democrats oppose), our commonwealth is on a collision course with the same billion-dollar mistake that Minnesota made.

Andrew also invited his former colleague, Pennsylvania Rep. David Rowe, to discuss what’s happening in the State Capitol. As the chair of the House Republican Policy Committee, David is on the front lines, defending Pennsylvanians from the onslaught of terrible policies coming out of Harrisburg.

Freedom Rising embodies our mission and demonstrates the importance of our work in Pennsylvania. Our message highlights how our commonwealth, the nation’s largest swing state, can once again lead the way in advancing freedom and prosperity throughout this great nation.

If we can transform Pennsylvania, we can save America.

Click here to listen and watch our first episode, now available on YouTube. The podcast is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Be sure to subscribe and follow for future episodes of Freedom Rising. You can also sign up here for email alerts when new episodes drop.