Heard at Heritage

A powerful, heartbreaking, and redemptive account of a boy who endured a childhood of poverty and abuse in an American Southwest trailer park named Cloud 9.Abandoned by his father at age two, Rick Sylvester lived with an abusive mother whose struggles as a member of the working poor led her to drugs, alcohol, theft, and prostitution – and eventually attempted suicide. Rick battled depression, anxiety, and PTSD as the chaos, neglect, and unpredictability of his childhood seemed to doom him to follow in his mother's footsteps.Well into adulthood, Rick stumbled through unemployment and divorce, using drugs and alcohol to numb the pain until he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Miraculously, though, he overcame the odds and today is a happy husband and father. How did this happen? Rick's answer is this: "It was the Lord." Ericka Andersen’s new book, Leaving Cloud 9, offers a powerful message of hope to those who are drowning from an undeserved childhood and feeling ignored and hopeless. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Reagan’s often mocked strategy of “peace through strength” won the Cold War. Critical to that success were his nuclear deterrent polices. By both modernizing our strategic nuclear deterrence while also initiating what would become a nearly ninety percent reduction in American and Soviet (now Russian) deployed strategic nuclear warheads – he changed the strategic nuclear landscape. Join us as our speakers review not only this history, but also explain how the lessons of the Reagan Presidency and the end of the Soviet empire hold key historical lessons which we can apply to today’s strategic and nuclear challenges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Islamist terror networks such as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), Boko Haram and al-Shabaab have had consistent success in recruiting local youth. This has helped such groups regenerate their ranks despite a string of military defeats in recent years. An equally troubling modern phenomenon has seen Western children taken by their parents to live under the control of terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria. There have also been children born in this territory to Western parents.As the “Caliphate” collapses, many of these families will be returning to Europe. While there has been significant focus on how governments should respond to the threat posed by the adults, the appropriate approach towards the children – who have been relentlessly exposed to ISIS propaganda – is not nearly as developed.These challenges present a unique quandary for governments around the world. What should the response be from the international community? How effective has the response been so far? What programs can draw at risk youth away from Islamist ideology? What should the balance be between promoting religious freedom versus human rights more broadly?Our panel will assess the nature of the threat and suggest appropriate policy responses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born into a military family, Harris Faulkner revered her father, a decorated career officer who served three tours of duty in Vietnam and raised his children with the values and ideals of the U.S. military. Accompanying him from posting to posting, young Harris experienced firsthand how success in life was rooted in the knowledge, integrity, and leadership that came from her military surroundings. Indeed, these formative lessons in leadership and work ethic became the guiding principles for her career as a journalist, lessons she credits with her rise to become one of the top hosts on Fox News. In 9 Rules of Engagement, she shares the advice, wisdom, and tools that she absorbed through her military upbringing, examining how these ideals have shaped her professional and personal outlook and how everyone can incorporate them into their own lives. Using her father’s career as the backdrop to her experience, Faulkner explores the lessons in courage, duty, patriotism, and responsibility that helped her succeed, demonstrating the truth to the axiom that in military families everyone serves – together. Along the way she also interviews current and former military families, generals and other officers, and tells stories from her father’s career to illuminate how and why the message and mission of the military is so effective at changing lives both on and off the battlefield. Harris Faulkner anchors her daytime show, Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner, in addition to cohosting the talk show Outnumbered. In 2017, she moderated the Women’s Inaugural Breakfast, a bipartisan inauguration event in Washington, DC. She lives in New York City. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally constructed in 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is sacred ground at Arlington National Cemetery. When the first Unknown Soldier was laid to rest in Arlington, General John Pershing, Commander of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, selected eight of America’s most decorated, battle-hardened veterans to serve as Body Bearers. For the first time in The Unknowns, Patrick O’Donnell portrays their heroics on the battlefield one hundred years ago, thereby animating the Tomb by giving voice to all who have served. The Body Bearers appropriately spanned America’s service branches and specialties. Their ranks include a cowboy who relived the charge of the light brigade, an American Indian who heroically breached mountains of German barbed wire, a salty New Englander who dueled a U-boat for hours in a fierce gunfight, a tough New Yorker who sacrificed his body to save his ship, and an indomitable gunner who, though blinded by gas, nonetheless overcame five machine-gun nests.Celebrated military historian and bestselling author Patrick O’Donnell illuminates the saga behind the creation of the Tomb itself and recreates the moving ceremony during which it was consecrated and the eight Body Bearers, and the sergeant who had chosen the one body to be interred, solemnly united. The Unknowns is a timeless tale of heeding the calls of duty and brotherhood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Johnson is the President of Medici Ventures, the venture capital subsidiary of online retailer Overstock.com. He played an integral role in getting the retailer known for its furniture stock to accept cryptocurrency, and he leads Medici’s efforts to pioneer growth and innovation in applying the blockchain to financial systems and beyond. Under Johnson's leadership, Medici has invested in several cutting-edge blockchain technology firms, and it successfully completed the world's first blockchain-based stock offering on its tZERO platform. Join us for a discussion of how this technology could reshape the financial industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When we think of constitutional law, we invariably focus on the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal court system. Yet much of our constitutional law is not made at the federal level. In 51 Imperfect Solutions, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton argues that American Constitutional Law should account for the role of the state courts and state constitutions, together with the federal courts and the federal constitution, in protecting individual liberties.51 Imperfect Solutions addresses four different areas of constitutional law: equal protection, criminal procedure, privacy, and free speech and free exercise of religion. Traditional accounts of these bedrock debates about the relationship of the individual to the state focus on decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. But these are only part of the story. Judge Sutton corrects this omission by looking at each issue – and some others as well – through the lens of many constitutions, not one constitution; of many courts, not one court; and of all American judges, not federal or state judges. A central conviction of his work is that an under-appreciation of state constitutional law has hurt state and federal law and has undermined the appropriate balance between state and federal courts in protecting individual liberty. Several ideas for reform are also offered to correct this imbalance. Join us for an interesting and lively discussion with Judge Sutton on his new book, followed by comments by Ed Whelan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has slated the week of June 11th for markup of its farm bill. Despite repeated calls for fundamental subsidy reform it appears that the Senate Agriculture Committee bill will be maintaining the status quo. One of the fighters for reform is Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). For years the Senator has been leading the charge to push for common sense reforms, such as ensuring that only actual farmers receive subsidies, and setting payment limits for commodity programs. He has also noted in the past that “there’s a problem when 10 percent of farmers receive 70 percent of the benefits. What’s worse is that the 10 percent receiving most of these benefits are wealthy farmers who use the money to bid up land prices and keep young and beginning farmers from the business.”As a farmer, citizen and legislator, Senator Grassley can provide a unique perspective on what reforms need to be made in the upcoming farm bill. After his remarks, there will be a panel of experts to further discuss farm subsidy reform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rise of China is a reality. Its influence – and the opportunity it represents – is being felt from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Southeast Asia, however, is a neighbor. Indonesia, in fact, given Indonesian maritime claims, is right next door. Indonesia has a centuries-long history of dealing with China’s power. How should its government today see the balance between threat and opportunity represented in its rise? How should it make the most of China’s economic contributions to the region’s development? How should it push back on unwelcome initiatives, particularly around issues of maritime security? Where are the intersecting areas of interest with the United States and how should it view a U.S.-China rivalry? What is ASEAN’s role? These are just a few of the questions on the table for this event. Please join us we explore them and many more with our distinguished guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grace Kennan Warnecke’s memoir, Daughter of the Cold War, is about a life lived on the edge of history. Daughter of George F. Kennan, one of the most influential diplomats of the 20th Century, as well as wife of the scion of a newspaper dynasty and mother of the youngest owner of a major league baseball team, she eventually found her way out from under the shadows of others to forge a dynamic career of her own. Born in Latvia, Warnecke lived in seven countries and spoke five languages before the age of twelve. As a child, she witnessed Hitler’s march into Prague, attended a Soviet school during World War II, and sailed the seas with her father. In a multi-faceted career, she worked as a professional photographer, television producer, and book editor and critic. Eventually, like her father, she became a Russian specialist, but of a very different kind. She accompanied Ted Kennedy and his family to Russia, escorted Joan Baez to Moscow to meet with dissident Andrei Sakharov, and hosted Josef Stalin’s daughter on the family farm after Svetlana defected to the United States. While running her own consulting company in Russia, she witnessed the breakup of the Soviet Union, and later became director of a women’s economic empowerment project in a newly independent Ukraine. Daughter of the Cold War is a tale of these adventures and much more. It is a compelling memoir of Warnecke’s path through life – a whirlwind journey of survival, risk, and self-discovery through a kaleidoscope of countries, historic events, and fascinating people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The concept of “soft power” evokes for many a benign alternative to the exercise of hard power as nations strive for strategic influence abroad. Among the United States and its democratic allies, soft power involves public diplomacy, people-to-people programs, student exchanges, cultural outreach and broadcasting news to foreign publics. For authoritarian regimes, however, the open exchange of ideas that characterize democracies is seen as a weakness and vulnerability to be exploited. In our globalized information environment, countries like China and Russia practice a very different kind of influence projection, termed “sharp power” by the authors of a new study published by the National Endowment of Democracy.As we near the anniversary of President Reagan’s address at Westminster in defense of liberty and democratic values, please join us for a discussion of the emerging “sharp power” threat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs A. Wess Mitchell will outline the Trump Administration’s strategy in Europe. He will highlight the important role of the transatlantic partnership in pushing back against resurgent big-power competition in Europe and guarding the peace, order, and prosperity the United States and Europe have nurtured since the end of World War II. Following his speech, Assistant Secretary Mitchell will be joined by Heritage Vice President James Carafano for a further discussion of these vital issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the ramifications of the sudden termination of the planned meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un? What factors led to the cancellation and has the door been permanently closed on a diplomatic solution to the North Korean nuclear problem? Will North Korea abandon its moratorium and resume nuclear and missile tests and escalate tension on the Korean Peninsula. Will there be a resumption of advocacy for a U.S. preventive military attack on North Korea? As Pyongyang, Seoul, Beijing, and Washington engaged in summit diplomacy, Japan had been the neglected partner. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had established the closest relationship with President Trump of any world leader but then seemed ignored during the summit mania. Does the U.S.-North Korea summit cancellation vindicate Abe’s firm approach to Pyongyang or has there been lasting impact on his political strength as well as Japan’s relationship with the United States?Join us as two panels of distinguished experts discuss these and other topics as well as make recommendations for U.S. policy in the uncertain time ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year marks the centennial of Georgia’s independence and the establishment of the First Republic in 1918 and the 10th year since the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008. Please join the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Embassy of Georgia and The Heritage Foundation for the Second Annual U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Conference as renowned experts explore the current state of regional affairs, focusing on the geopolitical interest of the United States and Georgia. The Conference will provide a unique opportunity for U.S. decision-makers, private sector leaders, experts, scholars, and journalists to focus on trends and challenges and to explore bilateral and multilateral opportunities from a regional and international perspective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Changes in trade policy are dominating conversations in Washington and on Wall Street. From President Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum, to the Administration’s plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and other trade deals, to the possibility of reviving the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – Capitol Hill is buzzing about what impact these changes could have on American businesses and consumers.Join us as the Washington Examiner leads a breakfast event “Examining Trade” on May 23 featuring Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who leads the Trump Administration’s trade investigations and reports. Additionally, key lawmakers Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE), who chairs the Senate Banking subcommittee focusing on international trade, will participate in one-on-one keynote interviews. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No one understands the Make America Great Again effort with more insight and more experience than former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.Gingrich helped President Ronald Reagan “Make America Great Again” in 1980. He authored the Contract with America and spearheaded the 1994 Republican Revolution that brought the House of Representatives under Republican control after 40 years. He knows what it is like to fight the Washington swamp and challenge the establishment – he has done it his entire career.Now, the author of the #1 New York Times best seller Understanding Trump is back to illustrate how our nation’s 45th President is leading our country’s great comeback. From the fight of over the Southern Border Wall, to the Republican tax cuts, to the swamp’s unending efforts to undermine and oppose the President, Trump’s America lays out the truth about the Trump presidency – the truth the mainstream media won’t tell you.In this book, Gingrich — who has been called the President’s chief explainer – presents a clear picture of this historic presidency and the tremendous, positive impact it is having on our nation and the world.Gingrich unmasks the various branches of the anti-Trump coalition that are trying to stop America’s great comeback. He reveals the flaws in their ideological assaults on the President and offers a battle plan for those in Trump’s America to help the President defeat these attacks. Throughout Trump’s America, Gingrich distills decades of experience fighting Washington with a lifetime of studying history to help every American understand how we can all keep working to make America great.Newt Gingrich is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and 2012 presidential candidate. He is a Fox News contributor and the author of 36 books, including 15 New York Times best sellers. Through Gingrich Productions, he has also produced and hosted documentary films. Recent films include The First American and Nine Days that Changed the World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Men of amazing entrepreneurial genius – like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Henry Ford – built commercial empires larger than the world had ever seen. They produced astronomical returns on investment and were rarely tricked out of their money in business deals. But when they turned to giving that money away, they failed. And as Martin Morse Wooster so clearly reports in this book, many other persons of somewhat smaller wealth have also had their charitable plans go awry.Wealthy and prestigious colleges have treated donors shamefully. Donors’ staff and assistants have betrayed the vision of the men and women who gave them the money they now abuse. Even family members have utterly disregarded what their ancestors wanted. Billions upon billions of dollars earned in the American marketplace are now in the hands of philanthropic elites who use that wealth to attack the very system that generated it.Wooster provides a detailed history of leading American philanthropic horror stories, accounts of luckier families who have achieved better results, and, most importantly, practical advice on how to achieve that which you wish with your giving. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When faith-based adoption and foster care providers are forced to choose between their faith and the families they serve, kids are the ones who suffer.Liberal activists have leveraged the power of government to drive out faith-based agencies in Illinois, Massachusetts, California, and Washington DC – a move that displaced thousands of children, placed additional strain on state resources, and reduced the options available to families seeking to foster or adopt. Now activist groups are targeting faith-based agencies in Michigan, Texas, and Pennsylvania.If they succeed, children will bear the cost, as states will be left with fewer partners to address the influx of children into the child welfare system due to the opioid epidemic. Our country needs as many agencies as possible to meet the needs of America’s children. Please join us for a conversation on this important topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers his first public address on the Trump administration’s Iran strategy. The speech comes less than two weeks after President Donald J. Trump’s May 8 announcement that the U.S. would withdraw from the flawed nuclear deal with Iran, “the world's leading state sponsor of terror.” Following the speech, Heritage President Kay Coles James joins Pompeo on stage for a brief discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The idea of human rights began as a call for individual freedom from tyranny, yet today it is exploited to rationalize oppression and promote collectivism. How did this happen? In The Debasement of Human Rights, Aaron Rhodes reveals how this emancipatory ideal became so adulterated.Rhodes identifies the fundamental flaw in the Universal Declaration of Human of Rights, the basis for many international treaties and institutions. It mixes freedom rights rooted in natural law – authentic human rights – with “economic and social rights,” or claims to material support from governments, which are intrinsically political. As a result, the idea of human rights has lost its essential meaning and moral power. The international community and civil society groups now see human rights as being defined by legislation, not by transcendent principles. Freedoms are traded off for the promise of economic benefits, and the notion of collective rights is used to justify restrictions on basic liberties. Few serious observers would deny that the concept has lost clarity. Rhodes provides a comprehensive analysis of the problem, joining philosophy and history with insights from his own extensive work in the field. Aaron Rhodes is an international human rights advocate. He was Executive Director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights for fourteen years and is President of the Forum for Religious Freedom–Europe. He received a B.A. from Reed College and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rise of the administrative state is the most significant political development in American politics over the past century. While our Constitution separates powers into three branches, and requires that the laws are made by elected representatives in the Congress, today most policies are made by unelected officials in agencies where legislative, executive, and judicial powers are combined. This threatens constitutionalism and the rule of law. In Bureaucracy in America, Joseph Postell examines the history of administrative power in America and argues that modern administrative law has failed to protect the principles of American constitutionalism as effectively as earlier approaches to regulation and administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2005, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation in Milwaukee began a tradition of convening a wide-ranging and substantive symposium on important political and cultural issues facing the country with prominent intellectuals, commentators, activists, and philanthropists. This year, conservative thinkers will gather for a panel-style discussion on “The State of the Constitution” at The Heritage Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All societies have an elite. The question is whether it will serve the republic or itself. John Adams – our second president and one of America’s greatest political theorists – thought the solution to that problem was a well created and managed Senate. The elite should be in power, on stage, and also checked and balanced by the rest of the government. Today, however, the most powerful Americans are not men like Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, and John C. Calhoun, they are, on the contrary, men and women outside the political process who seek influence or power without accountability. The result is tearing us apart. The challenge we face today is the one Adams recognized and described: how to bring our elites into the political system, and, at the same time, to ensure that they can only serve their ambition by serving the people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Reserve has released a notice of proposed rulemaking for its bank capital regulatory framework and is requesting public comments. The proposal seeks to integrate the Fed’s regulatory capital rule, its Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review, and its stress test rules. The goal is to simplify the capital regime. Join us for a discussion of the proposal and possible improvements to the Fed’s regulatory capital framework. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dangers and plight of those with severe mental illness typically grab headline attention after tragedies like mass shootings. As time passes, however, attention fades as the public struggles to deal with the complexities of the issue. In 2016, an estimated 10.4 million adults in the United States suffered from severe mental illnesses, and an estimated 1 in 5 in homeless shelters as well as 20 percent of those in jail or prison also were classified as having a severe mental illness. It is vitally important to understand, not only the medical condition and the legal challenges involved, but also to determine what policies can be helpful or hurtful. Join us as a panel of experts explores these issues and offers their perspectives on how best to help those facing the challenges of severe mental illness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hong Kong is an issue of growing concern in Washington. The State Department’s most recent human rights report singles out the “central PRC government’s encroachment on the SAR’s autonomy” among the most significant human rights issues in Hong Kong. It also identifies “government actions that had a chilling effect on political protest and the exercise of free speech.” Are these two problems related, why should it matter to the United States, and what can policy makers in Washington do? What exactly is the state of politics in Hong Kong today and the relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland? Please join us for an address by 2007 pan-democrat candidate for Chief Executive Alan Leong and a discussion to follow that will seek to answer these questions and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the last two weeks, massive anti-government protests have engulfed many parts of Nicaragua. Hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans, many of them students, took to the streets to initially demonstrate against an unpopular social security reform. The government of former Communist revolutionary Daniel Ortega cracked down on the demonstrators leading to over 60 deaths, dozens of disappeared persons, and hundreds injured. Most of the dead and injured have been university students. The continued demonstrations have now become a referendum on the Ortega regime.Nicaragua is at an inflection point. Under the leadership of Daniel Ortega and his wife and Vice President Rosario Murillo, Nicaragua has transformed from a fledgling democracy to an authoritarian regime. Ortega has repeatedly stolen elections, co-opted the private sector as a state instrument of power, and allied himself with countries hostile to U.S. interests.Please join us as Senator Cruz reflects on how Nicaragua got to this point and how the U.S. can support a responsible resolution to this crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite the collapse of the “so-called ‘Caliphate’” in Iraq and Syria, Islamist extremist movements are continuing to gain momentum. ISIS remains formidable. The group retains a significant physical presence in the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia and continues to direct or inspire acts of terrorism in the West. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda has taken advantage of the international community’s focus on ISIS to strengthen its own hand. Ongoing turmoil in the Middle East has allowed al-Qaeda to embed itself among Sunni opposition forces in Syria and Yemen. IsIamist ideology continues to attract new followers. Governments are facing an unrelenting flow of recruits to extremism and struggling to create an effective policy response. In the West, ongoing debates over pathways to radicalization, the effectiveness of de-radicalization and the efficacy of “countering violent extremism” programs epitomizes this struggle. Despite President Trump’s stated intent to “eradicate” radical Islamist terrorism, the threat posed by this ideology remains alarming and will continue to pose a significant challenge for years to come. Please join us as we discuss these and other issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The House Agriculture Committee recently reported out its 2018 Farm Bill. Expected on the House floor this month, the current legislation continues the out of control farm handout system that has been so prevalent in past iterations. Without reform, the farm subsidy system will continue to distort the agricultural marketplace, while primarily benefiting a small number of the largest and wealthiest farmers.Join us for a discussion with two leading members of the U.S. House of Representatives who will provide insight into why farm subsidy reform is so important, and how key reform ideas could help move Congress in the right direction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Lewis Gaddis, distinguished historian of the Cold War, has for almost two decades co-taught grand strategy at Yale University with his colleagues Charles Hill and Paul Kennedy. Now, in On Grand Strategy, Gaddis reflects on what he has learned. In chapters extending from the ancient world through World War II, Gaddis assesses grand strategic theory and practice in Herodotus, Thucydides, Sun Tzu, Octavian/Augustus, St. Augustine, Machiavelli, Elizabeth I, Philip II, the American Founding Fathers, Clausewitz, Tolstoy, Lincoln, Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Isaiah Berlin. On Grand Strategy applies the insights and wit readers have come to expect from Gaddis to times, places, and people he’s never written about before. On Grand Strategy offers a master class for anyone interested in the art of leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the years, India earned the epithet of a reluctant power in Asia – exuberant in its aspirations, yet guarded in its strategy. However, as the challenges in its immediate neighborhood and beyond continue to evolve, India is today gearing up to embrace a larger role in the far wider theatre of the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. has been a principal architect and the traditional guarantor of a liberal economic and maritime order in the Indo-Pacific. While the commentariat in the U.S. and India might express apprehension at the idea of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” strategy, this moment must be seen as an opportunity to rebalance the Indo-U.S. relationship to reflect a real convergence of strategic interests, as opposed to an abstract engagement based on values alone and one that has disregarded the core interests of both countries. As it remains an invested actor across the Middle East and in Afghanistan, and as it confronts an unrelenting North Korea, it must seek to empower regional like-minded nations such as India, which it recognizes as having an “indispensable role in maintaining stability in the Indian Ocean region.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump declared in January that he would not waive nuclear sanctions again for Iran unless the flawed 2015 nuclear agreement is fixed by addressing three major issues: the sunset of key restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities, inadequate verification, and Iran’s advancing ballistic missile program. The May 12 deadline for fixing the agreement is fast approaching. Are the ongoing negotiations between the United States, Britain, France and Germany likely to yield a satisfactory outcome? What approach should Washington take on the Iran nuclear issue in the future? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent congressional hearings on social media regulation are yet another reminder of the seemingly unceasing expansion of the administrative state. In their new book, McGroarty, Robbins and Tuttle examine the political philosophy and tactics behind this “seismic shift” of power from the people to unaccountable technocrats.Of particular note, the authors deconstruct the enduring myth that Big Government and industry are antagonists. Indeed, for a century or more, many corporations have cooperated with government to shape policies that secure their market position and minimize the harm of regulatory interference. As the authors note, the routine breach of constitutional limits on government power drives industries of all types to exercise political influence as a business strategy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is conservatism? For decades, American conservatism has thrived under Frank Meyer’s “fusionism,” uniting the three main strands of libertarianism, social conservatism, and anti-Communism. Yet as the communist challenge fades further into the past, the old conservative consensus is now tasked with responding to new challenges presented by the modern liberal order. How should conservatives respond to these new obstacles to ordered liberty, and what does the current moment tell us about the essence of conservatism? Join us as we explore the conservative disposition, and chart a way forward for conservative political thought. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a successful CEO in the restaurant industry, Andy Puzder uniquely understands how important the profit motive is to our country's ultimate prosperity. Furthermore, as the grandson of immigrants, the son of a car salesman, and someone who worked his way up from earning minimum wage to running an international business, he has a first-hand view of how America's exceptional capitalist spirit can lift everyone to success. In 2016, the American people faced a stark choice between two very different presidential candidates – one who spent most of her adult life involved in politics and promised to uphold and advance the progressive legacy and one who came from the business world and was an unapologetic capitalist. America was once a land where everyone was encouraged to seek their fortune – the more prosperous our citizens, the more our whole society could in turn prosper. But leftist forces in the United States have been seeking to tarnish the pursuit of prosperity and to paint profit as an evil motivation fit only for greedy plutocrats. In his new book, The Capitalist Comeback, Andrew Puzder traces the development of the anti-profit forces in the United States and shows how they can be vanquished for good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent Islamist terror attacks have ensured that the role of Islam in the West is debated more fiercely than ever before. There are people that feel threatened by Islam as a religion; others who feel that a true reading of the faith will inevitably draw people away from terrorism.During his career, Howk served as an assistant and advisor to three General officers involved with the Afghanistan war. He assisted Karl Eikenberry when he served in Kabul leading the U.S. effort to build the new Afghan National Army and to orchestrate the U.S. and U.N. led Afghanistan Security Sector Reform program. He later assisted Stanley McChrystal while he was evaluating and developing the new Afghan War strategy. Finally, Howk assisted Sir Graeme Lamb as he partnered with the Afghan government to develop an internationally supported Afghanistan Peace and Reconciliation process. In all these positions and in many others, Howk worked directly with Muslim colleagues from Middle Eastern and South Asian nations and dozens of military and diplomatic officers from the international community.Major (ret.) Jason Criss Howk, a student of Islam, aims to bridge gaps in understanding of Islam. Attempting to neither spread the religion nor denigrate it, Howk will lead a discussion about what he learned while translating the Koran into Modern English. He will aim to demonstrate what is and is not in the Koran and how those who adhere to it may be expected to act. He will also discuss the faith as well as the political ideology of Islamism. Howk will analyze different strands of the Islamist movement. He will discuss the ideology that animates terrorist groups, how they recruit, and how they sustain their numbers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Title III of the 2012 JOBS Act created a new crowdfunding exemption that allows entrepreneurs to raise up to $1.07 million from a large number of small investors using internet funding portals. The final Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule permitting crowdfunding was effective May 16, 2016. In 2016 as much as $28 million was raised using Title III crowdfunding and a reported $49 million was raised in 2017. These are relatively small sums compared to other means of raising capital. There are 38 funding portals currently registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). As we approach the two year anniversary of crowdfunding, please join us for a discussion of how crowdfunding is working to help small entrepreneurs raise capital, the prospects for crowdfunding, and what reforms are necessary for crowdfunding to work better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) will reach the half century milestone in several years and yet, many of the relatively few species that have supposedly “recovered” because of the law were, in reality, never endangered. Similarly, many species now regulated under the ESA were put on the list using erroneous data. The law’s problems are both in the way it is written and implemented and have made it so contentious that it has not been reauthorized in several decades. Federally regulated species can impose substantial burdens on private property owners and create huge conflicts in federal land management. This is true even when the data used to proclaim them endangered is erroneous which wastes scarce conservation resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born out of crisis a century ago, the Federal Reserve has become the most powerful macroeconomic policymaker and financial regulator in the world. In The Myth of Independence, Sarah Binder and Mark Spindel trace the Fed’s transformation from a weak, secretive, and decentralized institution in 1913 to a remarkably transparent central bank a century later. Offering a unique account of Congress’s role in steering this evolution, the authors explore the Fed’s past, present, and future and challenge the myth of its independence. Binder and Spindel argue that recurring cycles of crisis, blame, and reform propelled lawmakers to create and revamp the powers and governance of the Fed at numerous critical junctures. They pinpoint political and economic dynamics that have shaped interactions between the legislature and the Fed, and that have generated a far stronger central bank than anticipated at its founding. In retaining its unique federal style, the Fed dilutes the ability of lawmakers and the President to completely centralize control of monetary policy. In the ongoing wake of the financial crisis, partisan rivals in Congress seem poised to continue battling over the Fed’s statutory mandates and the powers given to achieve them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many Americans agree that Ronald Reagan and his legacy represent the best of America. Elegant, humble, and charismatic, Reagan reshaped conservatism, ushered in a new era of prosperity, and spurred the end of the Cold War. But what was Reagan like outside the White House? Americans never stop being enamored by what presidents are like when the cameras stop rolling. In The President Will See You Know, author Peggy Grande provides an answer to that question. As President Reagan’s longtime Executive Assistant, she worked closely with him for 10 years (1989-1999) after he left the White House. From this unique vantage point, she reflects upon the day-to-day life in the President’s California office, including his relationship with the First Lady and his interactions with friends, world leaders, and everyday Americans. Grande shares never-before-seen photos, intimate stories as well as the challenges and heartbreak surrounding his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 1994 and death in 2004. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During his recent Congressional testimony, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said his company has not taken “a broad enough view of our responsibility,” saying they have a duty “to not just build tools, but to make sure those tools are used for good.” This is a significant shift from the company’s original hacker mantra of “move fast and break stuff.” This shift is occurring after several years of significant challenges for Facebook, and we hope you will join us as we discuss what the company has learned, how it is planning to evolve, and what challenges it is likely to encounter going forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two hundred years after his birth, Frederick Douglass endures unequalled as the invincible adversary of racial despair and disaffection – the preeminent apostle of hopefulness in the American promise of liberty and justice for all. In America’s dedication to principles of natural rights set forth in the Declaration of Independence, Douglass found reason to love and identify with his country, despite the injustices that he and his people had suffered. A formidable thinker, activist, and polemicist, Douglass produced the most powerful argument for the affirmation of America’s Founding principles in the history of African-American political thought.Peter C. Myers is a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and the author of Frederick Douglass: Race and the Rebirth of American Liberalism. Reverend Dean Nelson is a licensed minister and ordained pastor who currently serves as the chairman of the Douglass Leadership Institute. Diana Schaub is a professor of political science at Loyola University Maryland and the author of several essays on African-American American political thought. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the most sweeping update to the U.S. tax code in more than 30 years, Americans are no longer suffering under its most burdensome features. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) simplified the tax paying process for many Americans, lowered rates on individuals and businesses, and updated the business tax code to jumpstart America’s global competitiveness. Unfortunately, in 2025, most individual and some business tax cuts will revert to pre-reform levels. To prevent this from happening Congress has an opportunity to revisit the tax code to make their reforms permanent. Join us for a discussion with Chairman Kevin Brady and a panel of experts on what the next phase of tax reform might look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Romania, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has been a steadfast ally to the United States. It sets an example in defending NATO allies from short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats as the first Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense site in Europe became operational on May 12, 2016. In addition to being a leader in the initiative of European missile defense, Romania has made remarkable contributions to the NATO alliance, including supporting NATO-led combat missions in Afghanistan. Romania has answered President Trump’s calls for burden sharing and staying committed to the NATO target of spending 2% of its GDP on defense. The country has been instrumental in maintaining security and stability in the Black Sea as a gatekeeper to the European continent.Please join H.E. George Cristian Maior, Ambassador of Romania to the United States, for a conversation on the status of U.S. missile defense efforts in Romania and the future of missile defense cooperation between the two countries in the framework of the robust Strategic Partnership they share. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. and nations of Europe are allies across a range of issues that have kept much of the world free, secure and growing in prosperity for decades since the end of World War II. Is there a future for greater such cooperation in the Indo-Pacific – particularly in the face of challenges presented by China? In areas like international trade and investment, China presents American and European capitals a dilemma. It brings capital to the table, but capital laden with state ownership and support that distorts the global economic environment, sometimes to the detriment of domestic concerns. Politically, Beijing models a system of governance that runs contrary to centuries of Western political tradition, while its growing clout gives comfort to some of the world’s most repressive regimes. And in some areas, like international maritime law, Beijing threatens to overturn standards that have underpinned not only the region’s peace and prosperity, but its own. How can the U.S. and Europe promote their common values in the face of these challenges? What is the balance between cooperation with China and opposition to the negative byproducts of its rise, and can the U.S. and Europe agree on that balance? Please, join us as we explore these question and others with a distinguished panel of experts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2017 saw several serious Hurricanes strike the United States. Harvey, Irma, and Maria left destruction in their wakes requiring massive response, cleanup, and recovery efforts. The different elements of the U.S. government, together with U.S. civil society and private individuals, were called upon to meet these large tasks. With multiple large storms coming in quick succession, the ability to respond was tested in different ways – tests that can now teach policymakers what worked well and what didn’t, thus guiding future policy changes.Join us for a discussion of the 2017 hurricane season response and areas that should be improved for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, the Supreme Court will hear a case dealing with whether states can require out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax when their residents make a purchase online. The Court previously held in North Dakota v. Quill Corp. that retailers must have a physical presence in the state in order to be required to collect state sales tax. Now many states argue that in the age of Internet shopping, they are missing out on billions of dollars in lost sales tax revenue. South Dakota passed a law mandating out-of-state retailers collect and remit sales tax, directly challenging the holding in Quill. The state sued several online retailers for failing to comply with its law. In South Dakota v. Wayfair, the Supreme Court will decide whether Quill remains good law and whether states may force businesses outside their borders to collect their taxes. Join us as a panel experts discusses the legal, policy, and constitutional implications of this case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rising religious persecution is one of many symptoms of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power. The suspicious death of Li Baiguang in February 2018 was a stark reminder that persons of faith are far from safe in China. Chinese Christians, Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners have long experienced persecution, but restrictions on religious freedom in China are on the rise. Join us for a discussion on the state of religious freedom in China as we consider how the U.S. can respond to alleviate the plight of religious communities living under these dire conditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. Coast Guard has a wide range of national responsibilities, from interdicting cocaine shipments and conducting search and rescue on the high seas, to enabling commerce and securing America’s ports. It protects and defends over 100,000 miles of U.S. coastline and inland waterways, and safeguards the largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world. It is an asset for both national security and economic prosperity, serving as a law enforcement agency, military service and member of the Intelligence Community at all times.It does this with over 56,000 members, a fleet of 243 Cutters, 201 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, and over 1,600 boats. However, the fleet is aging rapidly, with many vessels years past their intended service lives and requiring extensive maintenance to remain operational. The recapitalization of the Coast Guard’s fleet is critical to ensuring it can effectively meet the demands of the nation. For example, the President’s fiscal year 2019 budget request includes $750 million for the icebreaker program; essential funds for a currently struggling program.The urgent need for a more modern and larger Coast Guard Fleet is only increasing due to the rapidly evolving maritime security environment, which places an escalating strain on the Coast Guard’s limited resources. Melting Arctic ice has provided increased access in the region for energy exploration and potential shipping lanes, resulting rapidly increasing foreign activity in U.S. territorial waters. Organized crime in the Western Hemisphere creates instability and immigration that harm American security and economic interests. In addition, the recent return to great power competition increases the Coast Guard’s support of U.S. missions around the globe. Admiral Zukunft will discuss how the Coast Guard plans to protect America’s security and prosperity in the coming years, even as the world becomes progressively more dangerous. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress is considering whether to renew 26 tax provisions that expired in 2017. These include provisions relating to energy conservation and alternative energy, targeted changes to the capital cost recovery system, and renewing the rules governing the discharge of indebtedness on primary residences, tuition expenses and empowerment zones, among others.Please join us for a discussion of whether these tax provisions should be allowed to die or be given a new lease on life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.