Heard at Heritage

Barrels of ink have been spilt on the importance of allies to U.S. security interests. But allies are only of value if they do their part to contribute to shared interests. There are troubling trends in the U.S. alliance structure, especially in NATO. Russia is hard at work sowing dissension among our European partners while it aggressively moves to influence events across Europe, the Middle East, and even North Africa. China is expanding its reach across Asia, rapidly modernizing its ability to project military power, methodically building an overland trade network, and has become a key economic partner for many countries in Europe. Meanwhile, the military power of the NATO alliance has shrunk, aged, and (especially in Europe) become less ready for use than when it stood as a bulwark against Soviet aggression.  Has the divergence of U.S. and European perceptions of the threats posed by Russia and China become so great that security and economic interests are at substantial risk? Is there a path forward that ensures Western, democratic, free-market countries can sustain their systems in the face of expansionist authoritarianism?  Join us for a provocative conversation about all of this with Dr. Andrew A. Michta, Dean of the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies who will discuss the key elements of his new essay “U.S. Alliances: Crucial Enablers in Great-Power Competition” which will be featured in the Heritage Foundation’s 2021 Index of U.S. Military Strength. (Dr. Michta will be presenting his own views that do not necessarily reflect those of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government.)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett is President Trump’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Now that she has stepped onto the national stage, the American people have an opportunity to get to know Judge Barrett. What kind of boss, mentor, and judge is she? Join us as a panel with former clerks, former students, and a colleague from Notre Dame Law School describe their time working with and learning from her and explain why she will make an excellent Supreme Court justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February, the Trump administration launched its Central Asia Strategy to drive the United States' engagement in the countries of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Central Asia has always been the strategic and commercial crossroad of civilizations between Europe and Asia. The United States’ primary strategic interest in this region is to build a more stable and prosperous Central Asia that is sovereign, secure and connected to global markets.To implement this new vision, Acting Administrator John Barsa of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will announce a significant shift of USAID's presence in Central Asia that will help deepen the United States’ commitment to, and strategic partnership with, the countries and in the region more broadly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Navy’s four public shipyards, which exclusively maintain nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, are plagued with crumbling infrastructure, obsolete capital equipment, and a small, over-taxed workforce. These issues have contributed to years of maintenance delays for the nuclear fleet. Yet, both the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy emphasize that the new age of great power competition requires the U.S. Navy to play an outsized role in power projection and national defense.Right now the Defense Department is struggling to deliver a shipbuilding plan that reflects a viable path to 355 battle force ships. Even if such a plan can be produced, our naval forces are only as good as our ability to maintain them. Join us as we discuss how shortcomings at our Navy shipyards are constraining the Navy’s effectiveness and what can be done to solve them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Founding of the American Republic is on trial. Critics say it was a poison pill with a time-release formula; we are its victims. Robert Reilly declares "not guilty" in his new book, America On Trial: A Defense of the Founding. Learn more about the underlying drama: the conflict of might makes right versus right makes might. Reilly claims that the source of cultural decline is not to be discovered in the Founding principles, but in their disavowal.In honor of Dr. Russell Kirk, this lecture will trace the lineage of the ideas that made the United States and its system of ordered liberty possible. In the great and vital tradition of Dr. Russell Kirk, Reilly will help us understand American democracy. Dr. Russell Kirk argued that, although these roots run deep, they need watering from time to time. Join us for this timely and important conversation with Robert Reilly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the U.N. is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the U.N.’s Fourth World Conference on Women that took place in Beijing in 1995, conservatives must counter the prevailing liberal feminist perspective that reduces the diverse needs of women and girls to abortion rights under the guise of so-called “sexual and reproductive health.” Instead, to improve women and girls’ lives we must promote solutions that meet women’s real needs and desires, such as education, medicine and health care, economic empowerment, access to justice, and safety for their children and families. While many elites equate women’s empowerment with abortion rights, millions of women around the world reject this false and one-dimensional view of women’s needs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is an ongoing debate about the relationship between the Constitution and slavery prior to the 13th Amendment. On the one hand, the words “slave” and “slavery” do not appear in the document. On the other, there was no explicit federal ban of this evil practice until 1865. Some view this omission as a covert way of preserving slavery while shrouding the Founders’ hypocrisy. Others, such as Frederick Douglass, consider the Constitution to be an “anti-slavery” document because a “plain and common-sense reading of the Constitution” clearly prohibits slavery. Still others see it as a compromise, delicately omitting the word “slave” to avoid the implication that there could be “property in men,” but conceding its permissibility, with the hope that it would become extinct. Please join us for a thoughtful discussion about these rival conceptions of the Constitution with our distinguished historians and constitutional scholars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court returns October 5th for its 2020-2021 Term, and the justices will hear cases on a number of important issues: religious liberty, the administrative state, copyright protections, Obamacare, the Mueller report, and more. For instance, in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, the Court will determine whether states may bar faith-based foster care agencies if they have a traditional view of marriage. In Collins v. Mnuchin, the Court will further refine the extent of the President's appointment and removal powers and control over independent, single-director federal agencies, following its decision last term in Seila Law v. CFPB. In Google LLC v. Oracle, the Court will decide whether copyright protection extends to a software interface. The Court will consider whether states may challenge the minimum coverage provision in the Affordable Care Act in California v. Texas, and whether Congress is permitted access to the Mueller Report in its entirety in DOJ v. House Committee on the Judiciary. Please join us for a thoughtful discussion with two distinguished Supreme Court litigators about what is likely to unfold in the next Supreme Court term. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has raised concerns over the future course of Japan’s diplomatic, security, and economic policies. As Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, Abe brought political stability as well as enacting an impressive list of national security and diplomatic initiatives. He was a stalwart supporter of the alliance with the United States and championed policies that promoted freedom in the region.While none of Abe’s likely successors are expected to dramatically change course, there are questions as to whether Japan will continue Abe’s strong advocacy for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, and his planned security initiatives to combat the growing Chinese military threat. How will Tokyo respond to U.S. demands for greater security contributions, and deal with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 virus while balancing competing economic demands of Washington and Beijing?Join us for a discussion on these and other topics with a panel of distinguished experts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2020, American cities are being torn apart by riots and protests, much as they were in the 1960s. Race relations are a common issue in both eras, but in other respects, 2020 could not be more different. In the 1960s, Martin Luther King, Jr. called for racial integration and civil rights in a colorblind world. Today’s large-scale protests and rallies for racial equality attract racially diverse crowds. These record long demonstrations are a mix of peaceful and violent protestors. Alarmingly, the demands by violent protestors are finding fertile ground among local leaders, universities, media outlets, and corporations. Our featured speakers will analyze how today's protests compare to the 1960s and highlight what's changed and stayed the same. Join us to discover notable lessons on how to respond to the violent protests of today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Transatlantic alliance finds itself facing significant challenges. Russia is increasingly assertive and aggressive, and utilizes every means at its disposal to advance its strategic aims. Meanwhile, China aims to advance its power and influence across the globe through promoting its flagship policies and policing China discourse while suppressing human rights at home, including in Hong Kong. Coupled with these challenges is the ongoing economic, societal, political, and security upheaval resulting from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. What impact will Covid-19 have on the future of Europe, and European economic productivity?Transatlantic unity remains vital. The Netherlands is a crucial partner in protecting and advancing the principles that undergird the Atlantic alliance. Join us as Stef Blok, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Kingdom of the Netherlands, addresses the future of US-European cooperation at this critical juncture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Six of ten aerial drones used by American state and local law enforcement agencies are Chinese-made. Recent independent investigations reveal that Chinese drones and their supporting applications secretly collect sensitive user data and can imbed code that allows them to identify specific targets of interest, access that target’s networks and ultimately compromise the user’s phone. Chinese corporations like DJI, the world’s leading small drone manufacturer, use technology to harvest vast amounts of information that is fed, by Chinese law, to the Chinese government.Join industry, law enforcement and technology experts for a hard-hitting discussion on Chinese drones and the risks they pose to the communities where they are employed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Howard Zinn’s, A People’s History, to The New York Times 1619 Project, revisionists have claimed that America's past is nothing more than a history of oppression, slavery, and exploitation. During the ongoing battle to control American history, the media and the educational system have manipulated young Americans into turning a cold shoulder to bedrock principles of free speech, individual liberty, and limited government. Join us for the second of a three-part series, America’s History of Hope. You will gain a deeper understanding of the dangers of revisionist history and the importance of preserving America's founding ideals and principles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S.-Taiwan relationship is increasingly important in the face of a more aggressive China. While U.S. relations with Taiwan are strong and have, in fact, improved in some respects, economic cooperation remains underdeveloped. For years, The Heritage Foundation has called for increased economic cooperation and broader dialogue to address areas of private sector cooperation. Join us as we explore the potential of these initiatives and others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo announced the formation of a Commission on Unalienable Rights in July 2019 and charged the members to meet with a broad group of experts and write a report to advise the Secretary with advice on how to pursue and champion “human rights grounded in our nation’s founding principles and the principles of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” The Commission published its draft report last month and it has received both acclaim and criticism. Please join Commission member Peter Berkowitz and human rights expert Aaron Rhodes to discuss the report and why it elicited such varied reactions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

School Resource Officers play an important role in keeping students safe, even serving as role models in their local communities. However, since George Floyd's tragic death, protesters and policymakers have been calling for reform to, and in some cases the defunding of, police departments around the country. The Minneapolis Board of Education and others have severed their contracts with local police, yet removing School Resource Officers from local schools is a risky proposition. Join us as our panel delivers a wake-up call on this critical issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the re-arrival of great power competition, there has never been a greater need to modernize Army capabilities. As a result of a preoccupation with wars in the Middle East, caps imposed by the Budget Control Act, and false starts in programs, Army equipment has lost its dominance. Army leaders have now set new priorities with modernizing precision fires at the top of the list. An impressive number of programs have been initiated: a new precision missile, a hypersonic missile, extended range artillery and advanced munitions. Good progress is being made.During this session we will explore how the programs stand today, how the Army plans to employ these systems in a joint warfight, and claims that development of long-range strike capabilities encroaches on other services' roles. We will look at the future funding needs and balance those against the anticipated resource environment. You won’t want to miss this engaging and provocative session. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s back-to-school season, but millions of K-12 students are not going back—not to classrooms anyway. This semester finds parents anxious that children are falling behind and schools scrambling to keep students and teachers safe if and when their buildings open. To top it all off, a national teacher union has endorsed strikes if schools reopen, and special interest groups are demanding more federal spending for pandemic-related concerns. Policymakers and parents need solutions when unions put politics ahead of children, and every child deserves the chance to succeed this school year.Join us for an informative panel of education practitioners who have fought back against union interference before and helped teachers find better options for representation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COVID-19 has subjected Americans to unprecedented challenges in 2020. Liberal activists have wasted no time in using the coronavirus as a pretext to achieve a long sought goal: converting America’s elections to all mail voting and other radical changes to our election systems. They're investing millions of dollars and employing hundreds of lawyers nationwide to upend the election statutes in state after state.The stakes in the presidential elections have never been higher, making the integrity of the voting process all the more critical. It's also not implausible for the race to come down to one state or even one county, leaving little room for error.Join The Heritage Foundation and The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation for a virtual webinar on what is happening across the country and how conservatives can help support the fight for a fair and honest election in 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As China continues its rise, the actions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have implications across the globe and the need for transparency is increasingly important. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCP has often withheld, obfuscated, and falsified data for its own purposes. This year, The Heritage Foundation launched a transparency initiative to facilitate a global campaign to maximize public exposure of the CCP’s behavior. In this timely event, representatives from the GMFUS’ Hamilton 2.0 Dashboard, William & Mary’s AidData, and The Stimson Center’s Mekong Infrastructure Tracker discuss how these critical transparency projects are shining a spotlight on CCP’s actions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The future of U.S. homeland missile defense is in a state of uncertainty. The United States has 44 ground-based interceptors and a global network of sensors and radars to defend the homeland from a limited missile attack. However, as the missile threat from U.S. adversaries grows and these systems age, the Administration has labored to define a clear path forward. Following the abrupt cancellation of the Redesigned Kill Vehicle, the new plan includes programs such as development of a Next Generation Interceptor, a homeland defense “underlay,” and a space sensor layer. In the emerging 2021 defense authorization and appropriations bills, Congress has provided multiple perspectives on these subjects.What is the proper course of action on these key areas of our national defense? Can we be confident that the current fleet of aging ground-based interceptors will last until their replacements are ready? Is the Administration moving quickly enough to enhance U.S. missile sensing capability? Join us to hear experts give their candid assessments on the current state of homeland missile defense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. and North Korea have both indicated a willingness to hold another summit meeting while downplaying its likelihood. Pyongyang rejects working-level meetings that would lay the necessary groundwork for a detailed agreement, although Secretary of State Michael Pompeo commented that bilateral communication has occurred.Rampant speculation continues, however, of an abrupt summit to sign a minimalist denuclearization accord or a symbolic peace treaty or North Korea carrying out its threats of a major provocation such as a nuclear or ICBM test.How should the U.S. interpret recent high-level messaging from North Korea? What are regime objectives and how would they seek to achieve them? How will South Korean President Moon Jae-in seek to repair inter-Korean relations? Would North Korea resume nuclear or ICBM testing or would President Trump agree to another summit before the November election?Join us for a discussion on these and other topics with a senior former North Korean diplomat and a panel of distinguished experts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Partnering organizations include: Alliance Defending Freedom, California Family Council, Family Policy Alliance, Family Research Council, Family Watch International, and Massachusetts Family Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Launched in February 2019 under the leadership of White House Advisor Ivanka Trump, W-GDP is the first ever whole-of-government approach to global women’s economic empowerment. Join The Heritage Foundation for a discussion with the senior Trump Administration officials leading W-GDP’s implementation as they outline why economically empowered women in the developing world matters for U.S. national security and how W-GDP supports this objective. The panel will also discuss how free market orientated policy reforms in the legal and regulatory space can catalyze women’s lost economic potential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Nation is reeling from sustained physical, verbal, and political attacks on our brave and patriotic law enforcement officers. These men and women put their lives on the line every single day to keep our communities safe. Instead of thanking them, a large portion of our society has subjected them to vulgar criticisms and vile characterizations. We have also seen extreme cases, such as in Portland, where violent anarchists, domestic terrorists, and thugs have wreaked violent attacks against law enforcement. Unfortunately, this has turned into a large movement to eliminate them altogether.Commissioner Mark Morgan is the head of the largest law enforcement agency in the entire country. He has a long career in law enforcement, from police work, to the FBI, leading ICE, and now CBP. There is no one better situated to discuss how important law enforcement is and all the great work they are doing to restore law and order. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to know why there are riots in our streets and the country appears to be completely divided? It didn’t happen organically, and it was not a grassroots effort. The foundations for our division were laid decades ago. Mike Gonzalez’s book, The Plot to Change America, explains. Join author Mike Gonzalez and conservative commentator Michael Knowles for an illuminating conversation about the roots of identity politics and how this pernicious way of thinking divides America, featuring introductory remarks by Kay C. James. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since taking office, President Trump has been derided by the mainstream media and his critics as running roughshod over constitutional norms, fueling the conviction of liberals and some moderate conservatives that the 45th President poses an ongoing threat to the Constitution. In Defender in Chief, constitutional scholar John Yoo argues that Trump’s adversaries have things exactly backwards. Far from considering Trump an inherent danger to our nation's founding principles, Yoo contends that the Framers would have seen Trump as restoring their vision of presidential power. It is instead liberal opponents who would overthrow existing constitutional norms in order to unseat Trump, thereby inflicting permanent damage on the presidency.Join us for a lively and timely discussion on presidential power and constitutional norms in the Trump era, with the book’s author, John Yoo, and well-known legal scholar David Rivkin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As many schools across the country remain closed, parents are banding together to form “education pods,” pooling resources, grouping their children in co-quarantined clusters, and hiring a teacher or private tutor for instruction. It is a real-time, large scale example of civil society in action; what Edmund Burke called the “little platoons” that make America an exceptional nation. How do these education pods work for students, and how might they benefit teachers and families? How do you form an education pod of your own?Join us for a discussion on how to build your own education pod with policy experts and parents who have created successful pods and microschools. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

General David H. Berger, Marine Corps Commandant, is aggressively pushing a dramatic redesign of the Corps for future war incorporating new missiles, advanced sensors, unmanned platforms, and hypervelocity weapons. His Force Design 2030 effort has drawn enthusiastic support from those who agree that the Corps must change to remain relevant on a more lethal battlefield. But it has generated an equally fervent amount of criticism from others who think the effort is overly focused on China—rendering the Corps irrelevant across a range of other potentially more likely scenarios. To achieve its vision, the Corps is doing away with tanks, reducing conventional artillery, shrinking units, and placing new demands on the Navy, already struggling to modernize its fleet. But it is adding anti-ship missiles, doubling-down on unmanned systems, and reenergizing a profound discussion about the importance of naval power.Will a redesigned Corps make it irrelevant for land operations against conventional militaries of larger state powers or irregular forces like terrorist groups? Or are General Berger’s designs essential to America’s future ability to conduct nearly any military operation in any theater against a host of potential enemies?Join us for an in-depth conversation about all of this with nationally recognized experts who hold informed opinions on both sides of this issue: Dr. Frank G. Hoffman, Lt. Col. USMCR (Ret.), Distinguished Research Fellow at the National Defense University, and Mark F. Cancian, Colonel, USMCR (Ret.), Senior Advisor, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first half of 2020, the EPA has already taken numerous critical actions to help protect the environment while respecting the rule of law, federalism, and transparency. The agency has finalized efforts to both ensure that environmental regulations are based on sound and transparent science and environmental protections do more good than harm. Too often, however, opponents of these common sense reforms have used myths and scare tactics to distort the truth of the agency’s actions. These critics have even objected to the EPA using reasonable enforcement discretion during the pandemic. The reality is the EPA is taking a number of practical steps that are way past due. Join us as we hear directly from EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to get the truth about the agency’s 2020 regulatory actions and what they mean to Americans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the death of George Floyd, books such as White Fragility rose on bestseller lists and “anti-racist” training programs saw a massive increase in demand in corporate America and governments at all levels, and concepts like “unconscious bias” and “internalized racial superiority” found their way into everyday conversation. What is the origin of Critical Race Theory that informs much of this training and what are its goals? And, will this new form of identity politics truly heal our nation? Join us for a discussion on the pervasive trends that, under the guise of equality, make diversity training in government, corporate America, and schools pernicious, divisive, and destructive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court’s blockbuster 2019-2020 term is winding down. There were important cases involving religious liberty, DACA, faithless electors, separation of powers, the scope of anti-discrimination laws, and the president’s tax returns. Our scholars and scribes will break down some of the landmark cases, talk about the historic new procedures utilized during the pandemic, and discuss what it all means. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every year it seems another new effort to “reform the Pentagon” is announced. Every Secretary of Defense for the last five Administrations has “made it a priority” to address perceived bloat and inefficiency. Yet, few of these initiatives produce significant results, and the Pentagon bureaucracy lumbers on, as wasteful as ever. In his book, Defense Management Reform, author Peter Levine addresses why, despite a long history of attempted reform, the Pentagon continues to struggle with waste and inefficiency. Join us for a fascinating conversation on what works—and what doesn’t—in the world of Pentagon reform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On May 21, 2020, President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the 1992 Treaty on Open Skies (OST) in response to allegations of many years of Russian violations. While Open Skies has arguably benefited the United States by providing a level of military transparency, the Trump Administration assessed that Russian abuse of the treaty has become too grave to continue its participation. Is withdrawing from Open Skies the correct decision? What does this mean for arms control negotiations moving forward? On July 14, hear from experts on both sides of the debate who will assess the withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty and its implications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America is at a pivotal time in the history of our nation. Our country is torn apart by sharp disagreement on what it means to be an American. Many have forgotten that our nation is the best place of hope, opportunity, and freedom. Join us for the first of a three-part series, America’s History of Hope, as Dr. Lucas Morel and Dr. Thomas Krannawitter reflect on the triumphs of our American history, and ways to debunk the narratives of revisionist history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an effort to contain COVID-19, many governors have used emergency powers to limit business activity, social gatherings, and mobility. Without action by state legislators these emergency powers will remain in place. Further economic damage and constitutional concerns can be allayed by replacing vague statutory language with clear parameters for emergency powers. Such powers should expire without affirmative legislative renewal, and targeted litigation may be required to ensure governors adhere to statutory limitations. Join us for a panel discussion on how legislators can navigate these legal waters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the decades since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States has held sole global leadership. However, that leadership role is today contested by Russia and especially China. The crisis over the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the danger of the West’s dependence on Chinese exports and highlighted China’s pursuit of global technological and military dominance.Yet, as a democracy, the United States stands a good chance of maintaining its global leadership role. In his new book, "The Return of Great Power Rivalry," Matthew Kroenig argues that the human and social values embodied in the American system makes it far stronger and enduring than autocratic regimes. Join our all-star panel for a discussion of this important new work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Heritage Foundation recently commissioned a nationally representative survey of parents across the country, along with a corresponding survey of school board members, to gauge their attitudes toward the state of civics education and the New York Times’ 1619 Project. The foundational essay of this project, recently awarded the Pulitzer Prize, seeks to “reframe the country’s history” by changing our founding date from 1776 to 1619, the year the first enslaved Africans arrived in America.The Pulitzer Center estimates that 4,500 classrooms across the country have now adopted the 1619 Project and its associated curriculum, which states, “our democracy’s founding ideals were false when they were written.” Civics education has never been more important. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the world reels from the economic impacts of COVID-19, the U.S. and its allies can move beyond the current crisis together to foster increased economic freedom. The U.S.-European Economic Partnership Recovery Plan emphasizes transatlantic community cooperation on key issues such as free trade agreements, the Three Seas Initiative, energy security, and the future of 5G technology. As Americans and Europeans cooperate on these matters, Latvia is uniquely positioned to strengthen our understanding of how to successfully navigate these issues in Europe.Please join us on June 30th for a special conversation with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, His Excellency Mr. Krišjānis Kariņš. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has obfuscated important information about COVID-19. The Chinese government has silenced whistleblowers, forcibly disappeared citizen journalists, and misreported infection and death rates from COVID-19. Civil society and other critical responders, like Taiwan, have been sidelined. The CCP’s early decision to limit knowledge about the novel coronavirus significantly hampered other countries’ ability to respond to their own domestic outbreaks. The international community is now exploring various options for holding the CCP accountable. Join us for a conversation of how the U.S. and other countries can take effective, independent, and apolitical measures to hold the CCP accountable for mishandling COVID-19. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the importance of savings magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic, a new idea is gaining popularity: Universal Savings Accounts (USAs).These all-purpose savings accounts would allow every American to save for things other than just retirement, education, and health care. USAs could enable citizens to save for a rainy day, start a business, or grow their family. The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission also recently recommended USAs as a critical policy for reducing the financial risks of future pandemics by allowing more Americans to save for future unknowns. Hear from experts about how USAs not only protect savers from complicated and costly taxes but can help build local communities, support families, and shore up civil society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Due to worker illnesses and even deaths related to COVID-19, there has been a bottleneck at meat processing plants that has reduced the supply of meat and poultry. Fortunately, these problems appear to be easing, but the situation remains fluid. As a result of these supply problems, there has been significant attention placed on the nature of the meat processing industry and the regulatory barriers imposed by federal meat inspection requirements that make it more difficult to sell meat. What is the current status of the meat supply, and what has been the practical impact of the bottleneck on farmers, processors, and consumers? What kind of meat-inspection reforms are being proposed? Would they make an impact on the meat supply and do they properly consider food safety and consumer interests? Join us as our experts discuss these timely issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Capitalism offers greater prosperity and opportunity for everyone, while socialism, unnecessary interventionism, and other choices promise equal outcomes but inevitably fail. The findings of The Heritage Foundation’s annual Index of Economic Freedom reaffirm the truth of this statement year after year. A complete government takeover of healthcare, for example, would mean less competition among providers and a greater degree of statist intervention that would translate into lower quality healthcare treatment systems, less research, and fewer innovations. Fortunately, it is not too late to fix or avoid these problems. Join us for a discussion with author and internationally recognized economist Daniel Lacalle and Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Health Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amid revenue shortfalls caused by COVID-19, governors and lawmakers are calling for federal bailouts for state and local governments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since of the senseless death of George Floyd, the nation has started a serious conversation about police use-of-force policies and other potential reforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Civic literacy is at an all-time low. The majority of Americans agree that the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are essential to K-12 education. Parents and leaders of civil society are joining forces to ensure our children understand the function and role of the American government and civil society. Join us for a candid discussion that highlights modern trends toward the teaching of revisionist history, and action civics—promoting political activism to our youth. Scholars and advocacy experts will give a chilling account of our past failures to fight bad curricula and its devastating impact. Make sure to participate in this forum to learn the practical steps you can take toward preserving and transmitting our American story to the next generation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does the Constitution guarantee a right to a “basic minimum education”? How will a court’s decision affect the quality of education provided by public schools? Join us for a discussion with experts in education policy and law as they analyze the 6th Circuit’s recent ruling in Gary B. v. Whitmer, in which the court held that Detroit students’ Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated due to the school district’s poor learning environments and educational outcomes, and its implications for state’s rights and public education. That decision has been challenged and will be reconsidered by the Sixth Circuit en banc. Our experts will share their insights into the likely judicial outcomes of the impending hearing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The State of Florida received significant attention on its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to early predictions, Florida did not emerge as a hotspot like New York. Join us to discuss what the state of Florida did to mitigate the spread, what Congress can do to help the states in their response moving forward, and the importance of data in making these decisions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For decades, American higher education has been facing an untenable fiscal situation brought on by increasing administrative bloat and an ongoing facilities arms race. The coronavirus pandemic did not create these problems, but the pandemic is now exacerbating these challenges and impacting universities’ bottom lines. Endowments, tuition revenue, charitable contributions, and state appropriations have and will continue to be impacted by the economic effects of business shutdowns precipitated by the coronavirus. Universities cannot look to Washington for additional bailouts. They must begin an internal course correction now.Join us for a conversation on how university administrators can reopen their campuses safely, and what steps they need to take to survive financially. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How is COVID-19 affecting older Americans? How is the Federal Government responding? What information can help older Americans protect both their health and financial security? Join us for this important discussion with leaders from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Trade Commission, and The Heritage Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.