Heard at Heritage

The Heritage Foundation is honored to announce its inaugural Edwin Meese III Originalism Lecture featuring Professor Josh Blackman from South Texas College of Law Houston.This annual lecture seeks to honor former Attorney General Ed Meese’s legacy of advancing an understanding and jurisprudence of originalism. When the Framers wrote the Constitution, “Their intention was to write a document not just for their times but for posterity,” Meese said in a 1985 speech to the D.C. Chapter of the Federalist Society Lawyers Division. Meese reiterated the theme of Original Intention in several speeches, warning of the danger of “seeing the Constitution as an empty vessel into which each generation may pour its passion and prejudice.” The Great Debate that he launched over three decades ago placed the idea of judicial originalism at the center of American jurisprudence and fundamentally altered the constitutional landscape of this nation.Today, originalism is no longer a novel concept; instead, it is now widely embraced in legal circles, including academia and the judiciary. Building on the work of Ed Meese, this lecture aims to continue the conversation he started and examine new trends and themes in originalist thought today. Please join us for our inaugural lecture with Professor Josh Blackman delivering a speech entitled Originalism and Stare Decisis in the Lower Courts­. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please join us for a timely conversation between senior British Cabinet Minister Brandon Lewis and The Heritage Foundation’s Dr. Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Lady Thatcher, in relation to Northern Ireland and the UK Secretary of State’s visit to Washington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Heritage Foundation is honored to host 70th U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for our signature event on U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific. Heritage’s annual B.C. Lee Lecture on international affairs was endowed by the Samsung Group in honor of its founder, the late B.C. Lee, to focus on the U.S. relationship with the Indo-Pacific. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The autonomous territory of Somaliland is one of the most strategically located areas in Africa. It sits near a global shipping chokepoint, is just across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, and neighbors Djibouti which hosts, among others, the U.S.’s only permanent military base in Africa and China’s first permanent overseas military base. Over the last three decades, Somaliland has built a still-consolidating but tenacious democracy while also serving as a bastion of relative stability in the tumultuous East Africa region that is increasingly resistant to U.S. influence. In 2020, it established diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Yet no country, including the U.S., recognizes Somaliland as independent despite its three decades-long practice of independence. By resting its policy for that region in part on the myth that Somaliland is functionally part of the rest of Somalia, the U.S. misses the opportunity to reward a home-grown, pro-American democracy, shore up its position in a strategic part of Africa, and honor the consistent aspirations for independence of millions of Somalilanders. Please join The Heritage Foundation as it hosts H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi, President of the Republic of Somaliland, as he kicks off his visit to the U.S. with a keynote address that will highlight the great potential that exists in stronger ties between the U.S. and Somaliland.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between April 2020 and April 2021, a record-breaking 100,000 Americans overdosed and died from illegal drugs. Nearly two-thirds of those deaths have been linked to synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. Fentanyl is 50-100 times more potent than the organically derived opiate morphine, and the fentanyl analogue carfentanil is 10,000 times as potent as morphine. A small number of grains—grains, not grams—of fentanyl can prove fatal. Smugglers working for the Mexican drug cartels ferry most of the fentanyl into America across our borders with Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The Biden administration has made no serious effort to halt the cartels’ use of illegal immigrants as smugglers.Join us for a discussion with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Congressman Brian Babin, Former Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon, and Former Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan to examine how fentanyl continues to wreak havoc across communities nationwide and what strategic approaches are necessary to halt its passage across our border with Mexico. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join a discussion about the arts of liberty hosted by The Heritage Foundation and The University of Dallas on March 9. Dr. Gerard Wegemer will moderate a conversation with Dr. Kevin Roberts, Dr. Jonathan Sanford, and Dr. Melissa Moschella about the relationship between the liberal arts, what it means to be human, self-government, and the nature of liberty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a year since the Burmese military carried out a coup. Since that time, the Burmese people have faced persecution, extrajudicial imprisonment, and severe restrictions on their freedoms. Despite the Burmese military’s best efforts, the Burmese people have demonstrated their resilience, fighting to defend freedom in their country. Join us on International Women’s Day for a program reflecting on the power of Burmese women as they actively thwart the military’s advances and safeguard freedom. The Biden administration’s efforts to respond to the coup have fallen far short of what is needed to fully support their cause. We will discuss how the U.S. government can support Burmese women as they fight for a brighter future in their country.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gender ideology has been working its way into America's public schools for years—in both the official curriculum and extracurricular activities. On a parallel track, students have been introduced to gender ideology through social media “influencers,” helping fuel a rise in gender dysphoria among children. As a result, schools have begun enabling gender-confused students to “socially transition”—without their parents’ knowledge or consent. But a few brave parents have started to speak out, to defend their rights and the rights of their children. Join us for a timely discussion of these issues, with firsthand accounts from public school parents.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What size, posture, warfighting concepts, and equipment should the U.S. military possess to defend our national interests? The Department of Defense makes these decisions every day. Made incorrectly, these choices could cost U.S. servicemembers their lives, and America, a war. While intuition can play a role, for the best chance of success, such decisions must be supported by data-driven analysis. Yet in 2018, the National Defense Strategy Commission found DOD “struggled to link objectives to operational concepts to capabilities to programs and resources” and blamed this on a “deficit in analytical capability, expertise, and processes.” A shortfall in DOD analytic capability should be a concern to all Americans. Join Heritage and a group of distinguished former DOD senior leaders—both producers and consumers of DOD analysis—to discuss the state of decision support analysis and what can be done to improve its quality.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Government mandates and authoritarian COVID rules are crushing small businesses in America. In the nation’s capital alone, hundreds of restaurants have closed. Others are struggling to make ends meet.For nearly two years, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council have invoked emergency powers—imposing mask mandates for schools and businesses and requiring restaurants to check customers’ vaccine status.We will hear from some of the courageous Washington, D.C. business owners on the frontlines who are directly affected by COVID regulations and have spoken out. They are fighting for their survival in a city where political leaders have amassed unprecedented power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Heritage Foundation’s 2022 Index of Economic Freedom—an annual global study that compares countries’ economic governance and competitiveness—highlights the urgent need for America to change policy course. The U.S. fell to 25th in the 2022 Index rankings—its lowest ranking ever. The decline of U.S. economic freedom, which has been driven by the deteriorating fiscal condition and further exacerbated by ongoing record inflation, is serious cause for alarm as it has real and tangible consequences for American consumers and producers. Yet the Biden administration is still barreling full steam ahead to implement a big government agenda that would add trillions to the debt, hike taxes, and centralize more federal power over the economy.Join us for a timely discussion on why 2022 should be the year of action to reverse the misguided policy choices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If the 20th century was defined by advances in manufacturing capability, agricultural prowess, and energy exploration, the 21st century will be shaped by advanced technologies in areas like artificial intelligence, semiconductor design and fabrication capability, cybersecurity and privacy quandaries, quantum computing and encryption, and geopolitical telecommunication security. As the United States looks at various policy issues around technology from the national security sphere to free speech to foreign malign influence campaigns, a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed by former National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien outlined a strategy to advance U.S. competitiveness and free expression while providing a word of warning to not empower China’s technology goals.  Join us for a timely fireside chat with former National Security Advisor O’Brien to examine where the United States stands in the tech race, how our adversaries are increasingly using it to even the national security playing field and promote digital authoritarianism, and where the U.S. must go to prevail in this competition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All eyes have been on our schools, but the ideology of wokeness has equally infected our churches. Theologian Owen Strachan will discuss how pastors preaching about white supremacy and collective guilt are undermining the unifying message of Christianity. He will make clear that not only is Critical Race Theory not the Gospel, it is anti-Gospel: it divides us from others, it foments pride, bitterness, and hatred, and perhaps most importantly of all, it reworks the nature of sin to make it structural instead of personal. This reworks the "good news" of Christianity, no small thing. But Strachan's message is ultimately one of hope: by his grace, Christ calls Christians to be salt and light. Strachan will offer concrete guidance on the role we all can play in fighting injustice while at the same time rejecting woke utopianism in our churches, and in broader institutions as well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Heritage for an eye-opening conversation about the BLM organizations’ Marxist goals as Mike Gonzalez, author of BLM: The Making of a Marxist Revolution, and James Lindsay, founder of The New Discourses, sit down with special guest moderator Genevieve Wood.When it comes to BLM it is best to break it down into its components. There is the concept, which no person of good will could disagree with. Then there is the movement, by which people mean different things, but it’s usually the demonstrators. Then there are the organizations that go under the BLM banner, which were founded by Marxists trained on ending the American experiment.>>> Heritage Explains: BLM Is in Trouble, but Still Making Our Lives WorseThe media only tell you about the first two, but not about the organizations. Mike Gonzalez, Heritage’s leading expert on critical race theory, BLM, and a variety of culture topics, has written a fascinating and important book that exposes the roots and ultimate goals of BLM’s seemingly well-intentioned movement.This is a must-see event for concerned parents, educators, members of Congress and their staff, media, millennials, and Gen Z, alike, who want to hear the untold part of the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For decades, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have struggled to define “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act - a definition that determines what waters the agencies can regulate. In general, the agencies engage in overreach trying to regulate almost every water imaginable, making it difficult for private property owners, such as farmers, to engage in even ordinary activities on their own properties. But, there’s good news. The United States Supreme Court recently decided to hear the case Sackett v. EPA, which could finally provide a reasonable and clear answer to what WOTUS means. Join Heritage’s Daren Bakst and Paul Larkin alongside special guests Jack LaPant, a California farmer, and Tony Francois, co-counsel with the Pacific Legal Foundation in this important new case, to discuss WOTUS, Sackett v. EPA, and the potential for a breakthrough for property owners all over America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please join us as senior British Cabinet Minister Oliver Dowden delivers remarks on the need for freedom loving nations to be confident in themselves, stand up for their values, and not allow themselves to be divided by pernicious cancel culture activism. Mr. Dowden’s remarks will be followed by a discussion with The Heritage Foundation’s Dr. Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Lady Thatcher.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. Army finds itself with no shortage of challenges. Recent budgets have exerted downward pressure on many of their programs; COVID-19 and a strong economy make recruiting difficult. The procurement holiday from 2001-2020 created a pressing need for Army modernization. As Congress turns its attention to the FY2023 annual budget and authorization bills they will have plenty of questions for Army leaders about how the service will navigate these challenges. Join Heritage’s Thomas Spoehr and special guest, General James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, for a preview of the Army’s answers to these relevant questions and the Army’s message to Congress for 2023.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are now in the second year since the signing of the Hong Kong National Security Law. As the situation continues to worsen, the U.S. must redouble efforts to assist Hong Kongers and hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its transgressions. Join us for this discussion on the worsening state of political freedom in Hong Kong and what Washington can do to help.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China is unfit to host the 2022 Olympics. President Biden's diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing was too little too late. It was the least the US could do. It does not express the degree of outrage appropriate to the Chinese Communist Party’s continuing and intensifying human rights abuses. These abuses have been highlighted best by the CCP’s genocidal campaign against the Uyghurs, crackdown in Hong Kong, and travails of tennis player Peng Shuai. Join NBA Star Enes Kanter Freedom of the Boston Celtics, Congressman Michael McCaul, and Heritage Foundation policy experts to discuss China’s abysmal human rights record and the cost of turning a blind eye to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every citizen's vote is sacred. The vote is how we guarantee that our government remains of the people, by the people, and for the people. Americans need and deserve elections that they can trust.  As we head into an important midterm election, our focus must be dedicated to ensuring that it is easy to vote, but hard to cheat.  As state legislatures convene this month across the country, election integrity will be taking center stage once again. In order to help voters, state legislators, election officials, and all Americans who are interested in ensuring a fair and secure election process, The Heritage Foundation released the Election Integrity Scorecard last month. This new interactive tool grades each state’s laws against best practice standards and provides model legislation to shore up vulnerabilities at all stages of the electoral cycle. Join us for a panel discussion where we will preview Heritage’s new Scorecard, outline what to anticipate in states from upcoming legislative cycles, and plans for grassroots advocacy on the ground. We will be joined by an esteemed panel of state officials, leading election law experts, and advocates.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

National School Choice Week 2022 is January 23-29 and arrives in the midst of another round of school closures due to COVID-19. Schools across the country have adopted on-again, off-again schedules for in-person instruction, all while leaving families and students wondering when students’ futures would be a priority again. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) will discuss ways to help parents and families keep students’ needs at the center of solutions for the problems COVID and special interest groups lobbying still poses today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Instead of fighting inflation, Washington sits idly by or, worse, pushes misguided legislation like Biden’s Build Back Better Act that would make inflation worse. Policy negligence leaves inflation to an increasingly overwhelmed Federal Reserve, a playbook that turned to disaster in the 1970s. As this leadership void continues, Americans stand alone to suffer the crushing effects of inflation. Join us as we discuss inflation and policy reforms that could ease the record inflation now hitting American families and businesses.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent weeks, Belarus has been causing a mass migration crisis along the borders of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. It is one of the most severe security threats Europe has faced in a few years. Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the Belarusian president, is weaponizing immigration with Russia’s support to retaliate against European Union sanctions imposed on Belarus this past year. Minsk is flying Arab migrants into Belarus and pushing them toward the borders of these NATO member nations, but these nations will not allow the migrants through. Besides the migration crisis, Belarus is growing ever so closer to Russia, posing a threat to the NATO alliance. How will these escalating issues affect European security and the NATO alliance in the weeks and months ahead?Policy professionals won’t want to miss this 30-minute Policy Pulse for a discussion between a Heritage foreign policy expert and U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus Julie D. Fisher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) hasn’t worked as intended, with only about three percent of listed species being removed from the list due to recovery. A significant part of the problem is how the law has been implemented by the government. The Trump Administration finalized regulations to improve ESA implementation. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration is getting rid of these reforms at the expense of species conservation. In October, Congressional Western Caucus members introduced five separate pieces of legislation to codify the Trump Administration’s regulatory changes. These bills, like the rules themselves, show a commitment to species protection and an understanding that a respect for federalism and private property rights will help to better achieve the objectives of the ESA. Join us as we discuss this critical legislative effort with Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under the leadership of Ambassador Mark Green, who served as Administrator from 2017 to 2020, conservative political appointees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) executed reforms and policies that would have previously been dismissed as unrealistic and audacious. The agency launched a reorganization that established a new structure to “end the need for foreign aid,” captured in the guiding principle of “the Journey to Self-Reliance,” while remaining true to America’s humanitarian impulse to help people in need. Traditional American values suffused agency programs with a culture of life and family and religious freedom as a first freedom. Under the Trump Administration, USAID confronted the challenge posed by an aggressive Communist China (and those of other malign global actors) and served as responsible stewards of American tax dollars. These reform efforts and achievements can provide the next conservative Administration with a solid base from which to launch even bolder reforms while offering a future Congress a basis upon which to reshape foreign aid authorizations and appropriations.Please join us for a conversation with Amb. Green reflecting on his tenure at USAID. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us as leading experts discuss why the Soviet Union was evil, why it collapsed, and yet why the allure of socialism persists today. Panelists will also explore how we best share these lessons with today’s youth.  Opening RemarksAngela Sailor, Vice President, The Feulner Institute, The Heritage FoundationJohn O’Sullivan, President, The Danube InstituteAlan Charles Kors, Ph.D., Henry Charles Lea Professor Emeritus, The University of PennsylvaniaSession I: The Collapse of the Evil EmpireKatie Gorka, Director, Civil Society and the American Dialogue, The Heritage FoundationLee Edwards, Ph.D., Distinguished Fellow in Conservative Thought, The Heritage FoundationDavid Satter, Journalist and Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research InstituteSebastian Gorka, Ph.D., Radio and TV HostSession II: Marxism Inside the GateMike Gonzalez, Senior Fellow, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy and Angeles T. Arredondo E Pluribus Unum Fellow, The Heritage FoundationZilvinas Silenas, President, Foundation for Economic EducationMorgan Zegers, CEO, Young Americans Against SocialismKatie Gorka, Director for Civil Society and the American Dialogue, The Heritage FoundationSession III: Communism TodayElizabeth Spalding, Ph.D., Vice Chairman, Victims of Communism Memorial FoundationRosa Maria Paya, Cuban freedom activistDaniel DiMartino, Senior Contributor, Young Voices and Venezuelan freedom activistLily Tang Williams, Chinese freedom activist Closing Remarks: Sharing the Lessons with the Next Generations Elizabeth Spalding, Ph.D., Vice Chairman, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ongoing Nuclear Posture Review gives the Biden Administration the opportunity to align policy, strategy, and capabilities against the current threat environment. As part of this process, the Administration is reportedly considering changing U.S. nuclear declaratory policy from one of strategic ambiguity to one of “no first use” or “sole purpose.” Under a “no first use” or “sole purpose” policy, the United States would pledge never to use nuclear weapons first in a conflict, including in response to chemical, biological, cyber, or massive conventional attacks on the U.S. or its allies. While proponents of such a change argue that “no first use” or “sole purpose” would help the U.S. achieve its nonproliferation goals, this change could have grave impacts on U.S. extended deterrence commitments.  On December 7, hear directly from esteemed speakers from the U.S. and abroad on the implications of changes in U.S. nuclear declaratory policy on both U.S. national security and extended deterrence.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protecting the free exercise of religion is a key aspect of fighting antisemitism. Regrettably, modern discourse often restricts the notion of antisemitism to those acts that deliberately target the Jewish people because they are Jewish. This approach overlooks the potential for facially neutral, general laws that burden Jewish religious practice under current free exercise doctrine from the Supreme Court’s decision in Employment Division v. Smith. This discussion will consider the legal arguments needed to restore a robust understanding of free exercise, an important bulwark against antisemitism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As one of the remaining democracies in Latin America, Guatemala is in a critical position to advance mutual values and interests in the region. From its recognition of Taiwan to its cooperation on trade, migration, and security, Guatemala is a critical U.S. partner in Latin America and the crucial Northern Triangle region. However, the Biden Administration is imposing a partisan and highly politicized agenda on Guatemala, demonstrated with its failed “root causes” strategy and its most recent decision to exclude Guatemala from the Summit for Democracy.President Alejandro Giammattei is entering his third year in office. The Heritage Foundation has invited President Giammattei as he highlights the importance of U.S.-Guatemala relations and our engagement with democratic partners in the region. From the border crisis to the rising threat of China and the prolonged need for strengthening trade relations, the need to highlight this importance could not be more timely. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1921, thanks to the communist policies of collectivization, the Soviet Union was in the throes of a famine that threatened the lives of millions of its citizens. In desperation, the Kremlin turned to the United States for help. Led by Herbert Hoover, the American Relief Administration went into action, supplying millions of tons of food, clothing, and medicine. At its peak, the program fed 10.5 million Russians a day. It is estimated that the US effort rescued about 10 million Soviet citizens from certain death by starvation and disease. Why did the United States decide to help its ideological enemy, the Soviet Union, at its moment of crisis, and what can we learn from this remarkable story in US diplomatic history? Join us for a lively discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. has held six rounds of indirect talks with Iran about reviving the flawed 2015 nuclear deal, which the Trump Administration withdrew from in 2018. Although the Biden Administration seeks to re-enter the agreement, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and then follow up with another agreement to “lengthen and strengthen” its weak and time-limited restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program, Iran has balked and is dragging its feet on returning to negotiations. Join us as a panel of experts explain why the United States should not settle for a risky return to the JCPOA, which rewarded Iran with disproportionate economic benefits in exchange for weak, temporary, and easily reversible restrictions on key aspects of its nuclear program and no restrictions whatsoever on its ballistic missile program, the most likely Iranian platform for delivering a nuclear weapon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Joe Biden’s first “Summit for Democracy” will meet on December 9-10, 2021. The summit is billed as an opportunity for political leaders, the private sector, and civil society to renew democracy at home and confront autocracies abroad. The idea of democratic cooperation is appealing. But the Administration’s catastrophic failure in Afghanistan has thrown grave doubt on its willingness to do more than pay lip service to leadership. Nor can democracy at home be separated from respect for genuine pluralism, free speech, and the Constitution, on which American democracy is based.Join The Heritage Foundation for an advance examination of the ideas behind, and the likely outcomes of, the Summit for Democracy.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Priti Patel was appointed Secretary of State for the United Kingdom Home Department on 24 July 2019. She was elected Conservative MP for Witham in May 2010. Patel was Secretary of State for International Development from July 2016 to November 2017. Patel served as Minister of State for Employment from May 2015 until July 2016. She was Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from July 2014 to May 2015. The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for all Home Office business, including the National Security Council (NSC), and oversight of the Security Service. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hospital market consolidation is a problem for every American, a problem that has generally been caused by the government. This government intervention has led to a harmful lack of competition in the nation’s hospital markets that undermines patient choice and increases consumers’ costs. Conversely, strong market competition not only increases patient choice and controls costs, but also stimulates innovation in health care delivery and improves the quality of care. Consumer-driven market competition can deliver what government bureaucracy cannot: fast, efficient, personalized, and patient-centered care. Join us as we discuss this timely and critical issue and identify solutions that will remove costly government barriers and adopt pro-competition policies.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A generation after welfare reform, program expansions in Washington threaten to undo its success. What will it take to overcome obstacles and renew reform for the next generation? Conservatives need an antipoverty roadmap that builds on what works and looks ahead to solve deeper challenges. We'll explore key aspects needed to advance this goal. What federal and state leadership do we need to build momentum for reform? What is the reform agenda to address not only material poverty but also lack of health care and educational opportunity? Join us as we address these questions to help more Americans overcome poverty and gain greater freedom to realize their hopes for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the country was reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress established the Paycheck Protection Program to provide a lifeline for businesses who, through no fault of their own, were struggling in the face of lockdowns and layoffs. Why did abortion providers like Planned Parenthood receive these loans they were explicitly excluded from, and what is Congress doing about it? Join us for an informative discussion with Senator Rand Paul, who is leading the charge to determine how abortion providers received PPP funds for which they weren’t eligible and is holding the Administration accountable for ignoring Congress’ explicit instructions that abortion providers were excluded from the program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please join us as distinguished historian and professor Andrew Roberts discusses his latest book, George III: The Last King of America, and his 2018 book, Churchill: Walking with Destiny. He will also assess the present state of the US/UK Special Relationship, the outlook for American leadership on the world stage, the future of the British Monarchy, and the prospects for Great Britain in the Brexit era. Andrew Roberts is presently the Roger and Martha Mertz Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, a Visiting Professor at the War Studies Department at King’s College, London, and the Lehrman Institute Lecturer at the New York Historical Society. He has written or edited nineteen books, which have been translated into twenty-three languages, and appears regularly on radio and television around the world. His best-selling books include George III: The Last King of America, Churchill: Walking with Destiny, Leadership in War: Lessons From Those Who Made History, Napoleon: A Life, The Storm of War, Masters and Commanders, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900, Waterloo, Napoleon and Wellington, Salisbury: Victorian Titan, and Eminent Churchillians.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abortion advocates have claimed that women rely on abortion in order to succeed in American life, and that this “reliance interest” is a critical aspect of the social and economic gains that women have made in the last half century. From increased participation in the labor market and higher education to women’s increasing political and professional successes, there’s no denying that women’s position in American society has vastly changed since Roe v. Wade in 1973. But is abortion actually a key driver of women’s advancement? Half a century of data tells a strikingly different story. As the Supreme Court considers a major abortion case this term, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, women scholars, professionals, and pro-life feminist organizations are speaking out to dispel the notion that women rely on the right to abortion in order to participate equally in society. Join us for an illuminating discussion with one of the distinguished women leading the effort to separate fact from fiction.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On behalf of The Heritage Foundation and the Reagan Alumni Association, please join us for a fascinating conversation about a pivotal moment in world history—the fall of the Berlin Wall.  On November 9th, 1989, in a remarkable display of people power, the Berlin Wall collapsed. The collapse of the Berlin Wall was due in large part to President Ronald Reagan’s “Peace Through Strength” foreign policy initiative shaped by The Heritage Foundation. As America awakes to another great power competition it is important to reflect on this day and honor those who played a critical role in making November 9th possible. The day the Berlin Wall was brought down occurs close to Armistice Day remembrances, serving as a reminder the dangers of war we still face.  Join Heritage’s Brent Sadler, Senior Fellow for Naval Warfare and Advanced Technology, and distinguished speakers to learn what lessons from the Cold War and collapse of the Berlin Wall can be applied to contemporary foreign policy questions.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden is proposing an unprecedented federal mandate that would compel employers with 100 or more workers to ensure they either get a vaccine or submit to weekly testing. The mandate is the focus of controversy; for example, 24 state Attorney Generals have threatened to sue. What should we think about this mandate? Is it legal? What are the pitfalls of implementing such a measure on an estimated 80 million Americans? What are the implications of such a mandate on the doctor-patient relationship? What alternative approaches should policymakers consider? These and other key issues will be discussed by a distinguished panel of experts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Heritage Foundation’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom is honored to announce that former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley will deliver the 2021 Margaret Thatcher Freedom Lecture.The Freedom Lecture honors the principles, ideals, vision, and legacy of Lady Thatcher. Previous lecturers have included former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky, U.S. officials Senator Ted Cruz and Ambassador John Bolton, foreign statesmen including former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and British Member of Parliament Liam Fox, and conservative authors and commentators Charles Krauthammer and Victor Davis Hanson.The Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom was founded at Heritage in 2005 thanks to a generous donation from Lady Thatcher. The Thatcher Center is the only center in the world that bears her name. Under the direction of Dr. Nile Gardiner, the Center focuses on promoting the legacy of freedom Lady Thatcher championed, and strengthening the U.S.-U.K. “Special Relationship.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most lasting and valuable gifts that America has provided the world was creating a system of government that recognized that all human beings possess unalienable rights and that governments should not violate these rights. Under the leadership of Eleanor Roosevelt, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) expounding this vision to the world. The UDHR was an extraordinary consensus among representatives from diverse countries, political systems, cultures, languages, and religions. However, this remarkable consensus has come under increasing challenge by those who seek to reinterpret and expand the number of “rights” to encompass matters never envisioned in 1948.  Please join us for a discussion on how “new rights” and new interpretations of established rights debase and undermine unalienable rights and why the United States should restore clarity to a domestic and global conversation that has become politicized and muddled. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Afghanistan’s fall poses a host of problems to the United States including the potential expansion of the Taliban’s opiate trafficking as it leverages its recently reacquired power. As the number of American lives lost due to opioid overdoses continues to rise, will the unfortunate developments in Afghanistan exacerbate the opioid epidemic in the U.S.?Policy professionals won’t want to miss Heritage’s Policy Pulse for a discussion between two leading experts in drug policy to find out.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. Navy has enjoyed a technological and numbers lead over threats from China and Russia, but not anymore. New thinking matched with exquisite capabilities is needed, which Cold War era procurement institutions have struggled delivering. A new bridge to industry and startup companies working on cutting edge technologies is needed. In doing this, the Navy could also become the genesis for maturing new technologies rapidly with marketable potential—thereby sustaining a renewed and more vibrant military-commercial relationship. Could a market bridge between the Navy and industry provide the demand and regulatory environment conducive to produce the next “internet” or “microchip”—developments that served a military use but became integral to our modern economy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Civics education must be concerned with the pursuit of the truth—veritas—wherever that truth is to be found. That is the authentic meaning of liberal education. For parents, it also means equipping their children with the knowledge, skills, and habits they need to become responsible citizens through fun, engaging, and inspiring materials. But finding great civics resources—and the time to use them—can sometimes be a challenge.  Level Up Civics makes it easy to learn the most important lessons from America’s history with tools from dinnertime discussion guides to in-person training and events. Join our Level Up Civics Expo and cast your vote for easy-to-use civics resources that promise to unite people of all backgrounds around the inspiring struggles and triumphs of our shared history.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Religious freedom is under attack on multiple fronts, but recently has found success in the Supreme Court. While religious adherents and institutions have prevailed in several recent cases before the Court, those wins have been very narrow. For instance, the Court’s decision upholding religious freedom in Masterpiece Cakeshop (2018) did not prevent multiple lawsuits against the same small businessman for “discriminating” under very similar circumstances. In City of Philadelphia v. Fulton (2021), Catholic Social Services won, but the Court declined to overturn a prior decision that many view as limiting Free Exercise rights. Please join us for a panel discussion with four legal experts who are actively involved in the theory and practice of religious freedom.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Launched in 2016, the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) is a valuable project for strengthening trade, infrastructure, energy, and political cooperation among 12 countries bordering the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Black Sea. The initiative, which seeks to grow north south interconnectedness, is a force multiplier that bolsters security in Europe and strengthens transatlantic trade ties by marrying private capital with some of the most dynamic and growing economies, while also helping to stymie Chinese and Russian efforts to make inroads in the region.Latvia is a strong supporter of 3SI and will host the Three Seas Summit and Business Forum in Riga in June 2022. Please join us for a conversation with Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs on Latvia’s goals for the initiative, 3SI’s importance to broader transatlantic security, why the business community should take notice, and what the U.S. and Latvia can do to ensure its long-term success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A widely known truism is that "there are three kinds of falsehoods, lies, damned lies and statistics." In that spectrum, where does the available information on the Chinese defense budget fall? At best—the Chinese Communist Party provides incomplete data,—and at worst—misleading or false information on the size and composition of their defense budget to the world.When concern is at an all-time high regarding potential Chinese aggression, it is critically important to come to a better understanding of what Beijing spends on its military. Join Heritage and a distinguished group of experts on the Chinese defense budget to get a better sense of what is currently known about the Chinese defense budget and what needs to be further studied and explored.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marriage and religion have been in decline in America since the 1960s. What are the roots of this decline and how can it be reversed? JP de Gance, President of Communio, has coauthored a new book entitled Endgame: The Church’s Strategic Move to Save Faith and Family in America, which draws from new research to determine the root causes of the faith and family crisis, how to address them, and how churches can implement these new strategies. JP will discuss his new book with Dr. Jay Richards and the Rev. Dean Nelson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Japan warned that regional security threats are “becoming more complex far more quickly than anticipated.” China’s military capacity continues to rise, while its foreign policy has assumed a more assertive and nationalist character. North Korea is producing a new generation of advanced mobile missiles that are more dangerous and difficult to locate and target.     Newly elected Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged strong support for the U.S. alliance, augmenting missile defenses, and to consider Japan developing strike capabilities. But the change in Japanese leadership raises questions as to the future of Tokyo’s role in responding to the deteriorating security environment, including an allied defense of Taiwan.  Join us for a discussion of the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance for regional security.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.