American Viewpoints

After a recent online debate fired up on the Right, a new attention was brought to the HB-1 Visa program, which is used by American companies to recruit foreign workers to fill high-skill jobs, typically in technology. Some argue the program is good because it brings more skilled talent to the United States and others say it displaces or blocks opportunity for American workers and should be reformed or ended. In this segment, economist Dr. Howard Wall from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's Center For Regional Economic Research evaluates the claims on both sides. For more information: https://www.utc.edu/gary-w-rollins-college-of-business/center-for-regional-economic-research

Matt Kibbe, host of TheBlaze TV's Kibbe On Liberty and from FreeThePeople.org, assesses the political and cultural divides in America and as we approach the beginning of a new presidential administration. It's not just Republican versus Democrat or pro- versus anti- Trump, there's a bigger question of authoritarianism versus liberty. * image courtesy of TheBlaze TV

Dave Lauer was enjoying a life many would be envious of: a successful career in education, a loving family, apparent good health that left him strong enough to play competitive baseball in his 50's. In late 2023, much changed with a sudden and surprising diagnosis of a brain tumor. While Dave's life has changed, he's taking notes of his reflections and leffons and offers them in his book, Glad To Be here. For more information: https://www.amazon.com/Glad-Be-Here-Embracing-Diagnosis/dp/B0DQLF3WFS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3R3L4YER34J1R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4YqZw3-TfkaFrSuny0Xd5Z-y2Wr-TVqUTDYPARgkNsTGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.ag1Fc5TqQZIM5Hy7FPOGk8ACWkfvdW4fmSEXdKimyzE&dib_tag=se&keywords=glad+to+be+here+book+dave+lauer&qid=1736450936&sprefix=glad+to+be+here+book%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-1

Dave Lauer was enjoying a life many would be envious of: a successful career in education, a loving family, apparent good health that left him strong enough to play competitive baseball in his 50's. In late 2023, much changed with a sudden and surprising diagnosis of a brain tumor. While Dave's life has changed, he's taking notes of his reflections and leffons and offers them in his book, Glad To Be here. For more information: https://www.amazon.com/Glad-Be-Here-Embracing-Diagnosis/dp/B0DQLF3WFS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3R3L4YER34J1R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4YqZw3-TfkaFrSuny0Xd5Z-y2Wr-TVqUTDYPARgkNsTGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.ag1Fc5TqQZIM5Hy7FPOGk8ACWkfvdW4fmSEXdKimyzE&dib_tag=se&keywords=glad+to+be+here+book+dave+lauer&qid=1736450936&sprefix=glad+to+be+here+book%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-1

Kemberly Washington, CPA, who writes for Bankrate.com offers end-of-the year advice on reducing your tax burden and also provides tips on planning for 2025.

American Prosperity's Phil Kerpen discusses the ongoing debate over funding the federal government and avoiding a "government shutdown" and how the disfunction of Congress remains at the core of the problem.

Keith Hanson from QUX Technologies, who is also a former law enforcement officer, comments on the assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and what it's showing us about our own culture right now. He also offers advice on reducing your risk of being a victim of crime.

Recording on Bill of Rights Day, this conversation with David Bobb from the Bill of Rights Institute covers the importance - both historical and ongoing - of the first ten amendments to the US Constitution.

Trent England from Save Our States makes his case for keeping our Electoral College process of elections in the US. He distinguishes our system from a direct democracy/popular vote approach and answers critiques of the electoral college process. For more information: https://saveourstates.com/

Linda Hanson from Prosperity 101 argues that the recent trend of businesses embracing cultural activism and leftist thinking have found it hurt their business. Her organization argues that businesses should not just avoid taking sides in culture debates and politics but should actively educate employees on economic and policy issues that affect the economy and local businesses. For more information: https://prosperity101.com/

Dr Sal Giogiano from the Men's Health Network discusses a trend on some college/university campuses that teach against health and wellness, especially weight management. The activism in the academics equates promoting healthy lifestyles like exercise and weight loss to racism and sexism.

Caroline Melear from the R Street Institute looks at and beyond the current debate over the government's role in "making American healthy again", to borrow the phrase from Robert F Kennedy, Jr. Among her perspectives is that other federal programs, specifically subsidies for processed food manufacturing, create insentives to provide cheap, unhealthy food. For more information: https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/end-farm-subsidies-for-ultra-processed-foods/

Dr. Marschall Runge from University of Michigan Medicine discusses recent study showing that artificial intelligence has a slightly higher accuracy rate in diagnosing medical conditions. An article about the study was published in the New York Post. Dr. Runge also discusses how he sees the role of AI in health care in the future. * this discussion originally aired on NewsTalk STL in St Louis

Danny Santana from CNET provides updates on common and new scams being used to steal property and compromise personal information. These techniques tend to capitalize on the busy holiday season but are also used throughout the rest of the year. * this discussion originally aired on NewsTalk STL in St Louis

Phil Siegle from CAPTRS assesses the state of regulation on artificial intelligence, at least in the US. He explains the challenges the incoming Trump Administration faces and the risks of overregulating as the technology develops in the coming years.

OH Skinner from the Alliance for Consumers discusses their new short film, 2035. The movie is based on the premise that America's future includes the environmental and social regulations that today's Left wants. Skinner explains why they decided to use cinema to illustrate what they see as the dangers of increased government control of our lives. For more information: https://preparefor2035.com/

Herzog Foundation president Darrell Jones provides an assessment of how education could change in America if Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans follow through on their pledge to eliminate the Department of Education.

Fewer people get their news and commentary from traditional soucres (broadcast, newspaper, etc). We can debate if that's good or bad but have those "mainstream" media sources brought the competition - and losses - on themselves? Christine Rosen from the American Enterprise Institute argues that they have and continue to push the audience away through dishonesty, incompetence, and outright bias. For more information: https://www.aei.org/op-eds/the-suicide-of-the-mainstream-media/

Author Don Brown discusses his new book, Kangaroo Court: How Dirty Prosecutors and Sleazy Lawyers Destroy Political Opponents, Attack Free Speech, and Subvert the Constitution. Brown argues that frivolous civil and criminal legal actions are being increasingly used to affect politics and policy. For more information: https://donbrownbooks.com/

Teresa Murry from the Public Interest Research Group provides updates us on the rights consumers have when airlines bump passengers off flights or cancel flights.

CNET reporter Dasha Milden offers advice on protecting your physical property (like deliveries & gifts) and your financial information from thieves who use season-specific tactics during the holiday season.

Rick Manning from Americans For Limited Government makes his conservative case for Congressman Mike Johnson to keep his position as Speaker of the House of Represenatatives. * this discussion originally aired on NewsTalk STL in St Louis

A graphic novel to address housing policies and central planning? Yes. It's named Build, Baby, Build: The Science And Ethics Of Housing Regulation. In this discussion with author and George Mason University economist Bryan Caplan, he makes an argument for more homes and less government. From the book's description: "Why are housing prices in America so unbelievably high, especially in the country's most desirable locations? The superficial answer is “supply and demand,” but the deep answer―the reason supply is so low―is a regulatory system that treats developers like criminals." For more information: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Baby-Science-Housing-Regulation/dp/1952223415

A recent United Nations conference (the 29th Conference of the Parties or COP 29) recently took place in Baku. CFACT's Craig Rucker was there and provided this first-hand account of what happened. Much of the activity focused on collecting funds from developed countries and funnelling it to poor countries - with plenty of strings attached. For more information: https://www.cfact.org/2024/11/11/beggers-banquet-opens-the-un-climate-summit/ * this discussion originally aired on NewsTalk STL in St Louis

Host Mike Ferguson reflects on the election results with a focus on how the Left's extremism on several issues put Democrats outside of America's mainstream (or anywhere near it).

During the campaign, Donald Trump promised to do what many education reformers have been advocating for years: the elimination of the Department of Education. Now that he's won the election, can he do it? In this discussion, the American Culture Project's Corey DeAngelis assesses the claim and why he believes following through would be good for the nation.

Psychiatrist Dr Keith Ablow offers advice on how we can reduce anxiety related to being too invested in politics and elections. For more information: https://keithablow.com/

Elections, ultimately, are about the citizens and voters. In a political and media context, we look at elections as being about the winners and their agendas. In an interesting article from the R Street Institute's Matt Germer, the spotlight is also focused on those who lose elections. Why do their words and behaviors in defeat matter? That's the focus of this discussion. Germer says admitting a defeat does not mean admitting policies or principles failed but it does mean participating in a crucial part of our republic: the peaceful transfer of power. For more information: https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/admitting-defeat-is-crucial-for-the-future-of-democracy/

What happens to the legal cases - both criminal and civil - against Donald Trump now that he has been elected President again? In this discussion, Landmark Legal Foundation's Mike O'Neill breaks down the legal status of the cases, the likely outcomes, and why the processes of the cases could be changed as a result of the election. For more information: https://landmarklegal.org/

With the exception of the US House, where party control is still to be determined, we know that Republicans will control the majority of the federal government come January. In this discussion, Patrick Brown from the Ethics and Public Policy Center outlines what he says is a pro-family agenda for the next Congress. For more information: https://eppc.org/publication/what-the-next-president-could-do-for-families/

The Free Enterprise Project's Scott Shepard provides an update on the strategy many activists and investors are using to steer businesses out of politics and ideological virtue signalling and back to focusing on their core products and services. Among those tools is the Proxy Navigator that allows investors to automatically direct the votes that come with their shares to thateffect. For more information: https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/2024/10/24/scott-shepard-discusses-boycotts-hrc-wef-fascism-and-more-during-pray-vote-stand-summit/

Sgt Betsy Brantner-Smith from the National Association of Police discusses the Violence Against Women By Illegal Aliens Act, introduced by Rep Nancy Mace, and why the organization supports it. For more information: https://nationalpolice.org/main/the-national-police-association-supports-the-violence-against-women-by-illegal-aliens-act/

* this discussion aired before the November 5th elections* Kelly Shackelford from the First Liberty Institute reacts to recent comments by Vice President Kamala Harris and other left-of-center politicians promoting the idea of adding justices to the US Supreme Court. * this discussion originally aired on NewsTalk STL in St Louis

Elon Musk may have changed the world when he changed Twitter - now X. His purchase of the platform and his pro-free speech overhaul of it has been met with increased scrutiny and threats from regulators in Washington, specifically the Federal Trade Commission. NetChoice's Michael Winterton explains what's happened and why it's not just a case of controversial regulation. For more information (article referenced in this discussion: https://dailycaller.com/2024/10/28/lina-khan-elon-musk-ftc-house-judiciary-committee/ For more information: https://netchoice.org/

CNET reporter Katherine Watt outlines what she found while writing her recent article on the economic and financial struggles many Gen Zers are dealing with. To many, the economic and job market conditions are barriers to home ownership. For more information: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/the-election-and-gen-zs-housing-problem/

Andre Barnes, who works with both Project 21 and Numbers USA, discusses recent surveys that show an increase in minority voters switching from Democratic to Republican candidates. Among other reasons he cites is a shift in voter mindset away from identifying with a racial demogrphic to focusing on policy issues and economic impacts. For more information: https://www.numbersusa.com/team/andre-barnes/ For more information: https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/staff/andre-barnes/

Host Mike Ferguson assesses some of the scare tactics and campaign rhetoric that are dominating the discussion over the presidential election.

Daily Signal Managing Editor Tyler O'Neil comments on the controversies related to next week's presidential election. The conversation includes concerns - some valid, some wild conspiracy theories - about the accuracy of the forthcoming results due to questions about voter rolls and voting methods. The conversation also focuses on the importance of having an election process that is trustworthy. Also discussed is the possibility of some states not having vote totals complete on Election Night.

Former Missouri Governor, US Senator, and US Ambassador John Danforth discusses the state of today's divisive politics and what he sees as the Republican Party's drift away from its traditional conservative principles. In this two-part discussion, he contrasts his view on the direction the GOP should be going with it's current MAGA populism under Donald Trump. For more information: https://www.ourrepublicanlegacy.com/

Former Missouri Governor, US Senator, and US Ambassador John Danforth discusses the state of today's divisive politics and what he sees as the Republican Party's drift away from its traditional conservative principles. In this two-part discussion, he contrasts his view on the direction the GOP should be going with it's current MAGA populism under Donald Trump. For more information: https://www.ourrepublicanlegacy.com/ * thumbnail image courtesy of Our Republican Legacy

Taxpayers Protection Alliance president David Williams reacts to the hurricane response job FEMA is doing in the southeast US. He also critiques the narrative that only government and nonprofits should respond to disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Williams offers the perspective that free markets, including businesses, should be allowed to work in response to disasters. For more information: https://www.protectingtaxpayers.org/antitrust/the-free-market-is-americas-first-line-of-defense-in-the-wake-of-disaster/

Brandy Meeks, president of the Vitae Foundation, discusses the wave of pro-abortion referendums being decided in this year's elections. Ten states have some version of an abortion statute or state constitutional amendment before voters this year. Meeks assesses the trend and also discusses the changes in our culture that led to this point of having abortion become a defining issue in politics and beyond them. For more information: https://vitaefoundation.org/ * thumbnail image courtesy of the Vitae Foundation

Amy Lutz from the St Louis Kaplan Felman Holocaust Museum reflects on the one year mark of the October 7th terrorist massacre in Israel. She also explains why violent antisemitism in the US remains a threat, as shown by the fact many memorial events had to happen with extra caution. For more information: https://stlholocaustmuseum.org/

It's so common that we don't really notice anymore: you buy the phone or TV or other tech device, you set it up and click all those Terms of Service or Terms And Conditions boxes (because you have to to get the thinkg you just bought to work), and then start using it. Americans for Financial Reform, in a recent blog post, points out that we all may be signing away some of our legal rights in that process and that US law should be updated to protect consumers more. Here's the conversation with AFR's Christine Chen Zinner. For more information: https://ourfinancialsecurity.org/2024/10/blog-can-ordering-a-pizza-invalidate-your-fundamental-rights/

Host Mike Ferguson reacts to Vice President Kamala Harris apparently trying to score political/campaign points with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Gov. Ron DeSantis' response is part of the story that's assessed in this segment.

Phil Kerpen from American Committment assesses the differences between the Republicans' and Democrats' plans for taxes should they win/maintain power after next month's elections. He compares the probable political outcomes of the different scenarios (GOP president and Democratic-controlled Congress, Democratic presidnet and GOP-controlled Congress). * this discussion originally aired on NewsTalk STL in St Louis

Landmark Legal Foundation's Mike O'Neill reviews the legal controversies that are still being litigated in some states as we head into the final weeks of the 2024 Election.

Economist Judy Shelton, a senior fellow at the Independent Institute, discusses her new book: Good As Gold, How To Unlease The Power Of Sound Money. From the Independent Institute: She’s one of the few economists bold enough to challenge the inflationary policies of the Federal Reserve, emphasizing how today’s policies enrich elites at the expense of—you guessed it—poor and middle-class Americans. This, Shelton insists, must end. And it can end—easily. For more information: https://www.independent.org/store/book.asp?id=143 * note: this interview was edited due to time constraints for broadcast. Here's a version of the discussion that includes the entire conversation: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wso0gh6xkfulc7g88ppji/Judy-Shelton-Good-As-Gold-Book-FULL-LENGTH-VERSION.wav?rlkey=te4pdiodm6xa6d9tn7v8k63mb&st=s00zdkk9&dl=0

Pete Rose. Charlie Hustle. A key member of "The Big Red Machine". Champion. Greatest Hitter of All Time. Whatever you want to call him, you cannot deny his greatness in baseball. His work ethic put him in a position to win and the skills he built made him the winningest player of all time. In this segment, host Mike Ferguson (who still plays amateur baseball in St Louis) reflects on the legend for his on-field success and the debate over his legacy because of his off-field mistakes. * image courtesy of Pete Rose's official Facebook page

With the destruction of Helene still affecting Americans throughout the Southeast and Hurricane Milton on the the way to Florida, many politicial activists, pundits, and officials are - again - pointing to "climate change" as the reason for the frequency and intensity of dangerous storms. In this discussion, Craig Rucker from CFACT (Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow) disputes the claims and says political ideology has worked its way into the discussion. For more information: https://www.cfact.org/