Hold These Truths with Dan Crenshaw

Stanford University's Dr. Nolan Williams is one of the world's leading researchers on psychedelic medicine. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to talk about the revolutionary clinical trial he recently conducted with the psychedelic ibogaine to treat veterans suffering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Industry, and addiction. The clinical trial showed a phenomenal 83% remission rate for participants after just one treatment. Dr. Williams explains what ibogaine is, the experiences patients have while taking it, what we know about how it affects the brain, and how it differs from classic psychedelics like MDMA and psylocibin. They also discuss the potential for ibogaine treatments to combat America's addiction epidemic. Nolan Williams, MD, is an Associate Professor of neurology and psychiatry at Stanford University and the Director of the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab. He is one of leading researchers in the study of how psychedelics can impact the human brain and be used to successfully treat various health challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and major depression. Read his study in Nature Medicine: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02705-w and follow him on X at @NolanRyWilliams.

China expert Michael Sobolik returns to the podcast to discuss America's new cold war with the Chinese Communist Party. Michael outlines the CCP's strategies – imperialism, the Belt and Road Initiative, and weaponizing America's own free speech – to displace the U.S. as the leading global superpower. Michael shares a strategic vision for how America can defeat the CCP by exploiting their own vulnerabilities and building upon our alliances with friendly East Asian neighbors like Japan and Australia. Michael Sobolik is the author of the just-released book "Countering China's Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance." He is a Senior Fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies at the American Foreign Policy Council. He previously served as a legislative assistant for Senator Ted Cruz, drafting legislation on China, Russia, India, Taiwan, North Korea, and Cambodia, as well as strategic systems and missile defense. Find him on X at @michaelsobolik and listen to him on Great Power Podcast.

There has been a lot of controversy - and lies - this week over the re-authorization of FISA (the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act). Rep. Crenshaw sat down with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent and member of House Intel, to debunk the hand wringing and misconceptions about FISA. They give an overview of FISA's history and its distinction between Title One and Title Three, and delve into the role of Section 702 in enhancing national security measures. Misconceptions surrounding FISA are addressed, including the distinction between evidence collection and querying lawfully obtained data. They scrutinize proposals for a secondary warrant requirement and their potential impact on law enforcement investigations. They also discuss limitations on law enforcement capabilities and proposed reforms to prevent abuses within intelligence agencies. For 14 years prior to representing his hometown of Pennsylvania's First Congressional District, Brian Fitzpatrick served our nation both as an FBI Special Agent and Federal Prosecutor, fighting both domestic and international political corruption, and supporting global counterterrorism and counterintelligence efforts – including being embedded with U.S. Special Forces as part Operation Iraqi Freedom. Follow him on X and Instagram at @repbrianfitz.

Former Senator Rob Portman joins the show to talk about all the benefits and pitfalls of American trade policy. We examine the history and evolution of trade policy, the debate over free trade vs protectionism, tariffs vs subsidies, and finding the right balance to create fair competition and the movement of goods between nations. We also discuss the prospects for the TikTok bill passing the Senate, and get into some Civics 101 on the differences between legislating in the Senate vs the House. Prior to serving as Ohio's Senator from 2011 to 2023, Sen. Portman served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget and United States Trade Representative in the George W. Bush administration. Today he is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at American Enterprise Institute with a focus on public policy and free trade expansion. Follow him on Twitter at @robportmanOH.

Dr. Joseph Loconte, Presidential Scholar in Residence at New College of Florida, joined Rep. Crenshaw to trace the origins of Western Civilization and America's founding values, from Greek and Roman cultures to the influence of Judaism, Christianity, and the Enlightenment. And they examine the deep resentment against Western Civilization among the far left and increasingly among populists on the right. Joseph Loconte, PhD, is a Presidential Scholar in Residence at New College of Florida, Senior Fellow at the Institute on Religion and Democracy, and the C.S. Lewis Scholar for Public Life at Grove City College. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller "A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm". Follow him on Twitter at @JosephLoconte.

Mark Cuban joined Rep. Crenshaw to talk about his latest endeavor to bring market-based competition to drug pricing and health insurance. Mark explains how the pharmaceutical industry currently works and how drugs are priced. They explore the intricacies behind drug pricing models, insurance coverage, and the complex role that Pharmacy Benefit Managers play in all of it. And Mark shares his vision for a transparent, market-driven, and more humanitarian approach to drug pricing. Mark Cuban is an owner of the Dallas Mavericks and investor on the TV series Shark Tank. Follow him on Twitter at @mcuban.

Ioan Grillo has spent over twenty years reporting on the frontlines of the Mexican cartel wars. He joined Rep. Crenshaw's Cartel Task Force to brief Congress on the rise of paramilitary cartels, their diversified portfolio of criminal operations (which includes tapping oil pipelines), and the complex duopoly of power they share with the Mexican government. They also discuss the challenges America faces working with Mexico to restrict weapons trafficking. And Ioan shares his methods for developing sources within the cartels, sometimes at great risk to his life. Ioan Grillo is a journalist and author who has been covering cartels and Latin America since 2001. He is the author of "El Narco", "Gangster Warlords", and "Blood Gun Money." Follow his reporting at www.crashoutmedia.com and on Twitter at @IoanGrillo.

Joe Grogan, President Trump's former Assistant for Domestic Policy, joins Rep. Crenshaw to take a deep dive into two of the most complex policy debates in Washington: the federal budget and healthcare policy. They examine how the budget process works, the different roles that the White House and Congress play in crafting it, and the political dynamics of current budget negotiations. And they cover some of the biggest challenges facing America's healthcare system, the regulatory frameworks surrounding it, and what Republicans' end goal for American healthcare should look like. Joe Grogan served as Assistant to President Donald J. Trump and Director of the Domestic Policy Council, where he was the lead advisor on a variety of domestic policy issues relating to health care and regulatory initiatives. Prior to that, he served as the Associate Director for Health Programs at the Office of Management and Budget, where he was responsible for overseeing all domestic health spending. He is a Senior Fellow at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. Follow him on Twitter at @RealJoeGrogan.

An ex-drug trafficker and former member of the Sinaloa Cartel joined Rep. Crenshaw in Washington to share his harrowing life story and give insight into how cartels really operate. From helping his father smuggle marijuana as a young boy, to moving thousands of kilos of cocaine as a teenager, to working closely with some of the most notorious drug lords in history – including El Chapo – and ultimately turning against them, our guest was witness to the inner workings and ruthless tactics employed by the most dangerous criminals in modern history.

As the House of Representatives narrowly loses a vote to impeach Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Rep. Crenshaw lays out the mechanism and constitutional history behind impeachment proceedings. He breaks down the arguments for and against impeaching Sec. Mayorkas, and explores the Founding Fathers' intentions behind the impeachment clause.

As part of Rep. Crenshaw's work on the Cartel Task Force, two officers from the West Coast joined him to share their perspectives of how local police departments are combating the fentanyl epidemic brought on by the Mexican drug cartels. SGT. Aaron Schmautz serves in the Portland Police Department and Officer Brian Marvel serves in the San Diego Police Department. They discuss the unique challenges facing both cities: Portland being a case study in drug decriminalization spinning completely out of control, and San Diego bordering the major cartel hub of Tijuana. They also share insights into the business model of the cartels, how fentanyl took over the local drug markets, the potential to prosecute dealers for murder, what good treatment programs for addicts look like, and much more. SGT. Aaron Schmautz is a 19-year veteran of the Portland Police Department. He is the President of the Oregon Coalition of Police & Sheriffs (ORCOPS), a non-partisan organization that advocates on behalf of police officers, deputy sheriffs, and others in Oregon law enforcement organizations. Brian Marvel is a 24-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department. He is an adjunct professor at the San Diego Regional Police Academy and President of Peace Officers Research Association.

Europe is entering its third year of the Ukraine-Russia War. There are multiple high-intensity conflicts ongoing in the Middle East. China is escalating its aggression in the western Pacific. Cartels and Marxist politicians are embroiling the Americas. Where is all this headed? Geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan returns to examine the rapidly deteriorating situations in regions around the world and their implications for global order in the 21st century. Peter Zeihan is the founder of Zeihan on Geopolitics and the author of the "The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization." His geopolitical analysis has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The New York Times, Fox News and more. Follow his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ZeihanonGeopolitics

Everything you need to know about FISA (the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) – one of the most controversial laws in the United States. FISA received a temporary extension recently as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. In the coming months Congress will debate reforms to FISA, with many populist members of both parties calling for its permanent repeal. Rep. Crenshaw joined House Intel Chairman Rep. Mike Turner and Rep. Darin LaHood to describe how FISA actually works, discuss the competing reform bills, and debunk common misconceptions about the government's ability to use FISA to spy on Americans. By the end of this episode, you'll have a solid grasp of Section 702, Title 1, FISA courts, the Crossfire Hurricane scandal, and, of course, what would happen if an analyst wanted to spy on Paul McCartney. Congressman Turner is the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, and member of the Oversight and Accountability Committee. Follow him on X and Instagram at @repmiketurner. Congressman LaHood is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Ways and Means Committee, and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Follow him on X and Instagram at @RepLaHood.

Journalist and author Asra Nomani joins Rep. Crenshaw to examine the strange coalition between radical Islamic extremists and far-left activists, two groups that have very contradictory views about morality and tradition, yet both sharing the common purpose to destroy Israel and upend western democratic systems. They look at how this alliance was fostered in the wake of 9-11 and the violent rhetoric that has emerged since Hamas' October 7th attack on Israel. Asra also gives us a tour of the woke curriculum being promoted at all grade levels in some American public school systems – including books that teach children about gender fluidity and how to start a webcam business. Asra Nomani most recent book is "Woke Army: The Red-Green Alliance That Is Destroying America's Freedom". She is a senior contributor at The Federalist, alumni of The Wall Street Journal, and former professor of journalism at Georgetown University. Follow her in X at @AsraNomani.

When China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, most people expected the country to be on the path to embracing western values of freedom and democracy. But the opposite occurred – more and more countries, institutions, and individuals now find themselves forced to comply with CCP authoritarianism or face serious consequences. Army War College's Dr. Azeem Ibrahim joined Rep. Crenshaw to examine how the Chinese Communist Party's strategies of economic colonization and transnational repression created this dramatic shift in the global order. Dr. Azeem Ibrahim is the author of "Authoritarian Century: Omens of a Post-Liberal Future." He is a Research Professor at the Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College, and a Director at the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington, D.C. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge after which he completed fellowships at the universities of Oxford, Harvard and Yale. Follow him on X at @AzeemIbrahim.

Security consultant Ed Calderon returns to give Rep. Crenshaw an update on the cartel wars, what's behind the deep cultural distrust of Mexicans towards the United States, and the political outlook for the country as AMLO's presidential term comes to an end in 2024. What are the current tactical capabilities of Mexico's police and military in their battles against the cartels, and what support from the U.S. military would help? How might Mexico's private sector be the ultimate end of the cartels? What do current political trends and Mexico's view of history have to do with their antagonism against the U.S? AMLO is on his way out, but why is his power and influence likely not going away anytime soon? Ed answers all these questions and more in this episode recorded as part of Rep. Crenshaw's work on the Congressional Cartel Task Force. Ed Calderon started his career as a police officer in Tijuana and worked in the fields of counter-narcotics, organized crime investigation, and public safety in the northern border region of Mexico. Today he is a security consultant who has worked with the FBI, Navy SEALs, and special forces groups from around the world. Check out his podcast Manifesto Radio and follow him on Instagram at @manifestoradiopodcast.

Pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson returns to give Rep. Crenshaw her insights into Trump vs DeSantis, how abortion is affecting the GOP's election prospects, good and bad candidate messaging strategies, and much more. What should DeSantis do if he had a time machine? How did Republicans get caught off guard by the Roe v Wade backlash and is there any hope to convince Gen Z to become pro-life? What effect is the political consulting industry having on candidate quality and the populist echo chamber of social media? They also discuss how to craft accurate voter surveys, what went wrong with the 2022 midterms, and Trump's chances of defeating Biden in 2024. Kristen Soltis Anderson is a pollster, speaker, commentator, and author of The Selfie Vote: Where Millennials Are Leading America (And How Republicans Can Keep Up). She is Founding Partner of Echelon Insights, an opinion research and analytics firm that serves brands, trade associations, nonprofits, and political clients. Through her work at Echelon, she regularly advises corporate and government leaders on polling and messaging strategy, and has become one of the foremost experts on the Millennial generation. She also leads focus groups for The New York Times' opinion section "America in Focus" series. Follow her on X at @KSoltisAnderson and read her Substack here: kristensoltisanderson.substack.com/

Jonah Goldberg returns for a conversation about everything wrong with the GOP and Congress today, and how we can fix it. They talk about the populist stranglehold over political institutions, broken incentive structures in the primary system, expectations vs reality in Congress, the media industrial complex, and much more. Jonah Goldberg is the host of The Remnant podcast, Senior Fellow and Asness Chair in Applied Liberty at American Enterprise Institute, and the author of Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics is Destroying American Democracy. Follow him on X at @JonahDispatch.

What does conservatism mean? What principles do we stand for? And what vision for conservatism is most aligned with both America's founding and its future? Avik Roy joined Rep. Crenshaw to answer these questions and look at how the New Right has diverged in favor of populism and nationalism. They steelman and respond to all the major arguments of the New Right on trade and industrial policy, government intervention, foreign policy, and immigration. Avik Roy recently co-founded the Freedom Conservatism project to address these questions and give us a Statement of Principles to guide the future of the conservative movement. Read their statement here: www.freedomconservatism.org/ Avik Roy is the President and Co-founder of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity. He is the principal author of The Apothecary (the Forbes blog on health care policy and entitlement reform), as well as author of Transcending Obamacare: A Patient-Centered Plan for Near-Universal Coverage and Permanent Fiscal Solvency (2014) and How Medicaid Fails the Poor (2013). His research interests include the Affordable Care Act, universal coverage, entitlement reform, international health systems, veterans' health care, and FDA policy.

Wildly fun episode with comedian JP Sears joining Rep. Crenshaw for a conversation about using comedy to reveal truths and bridge political divides (a strategy which might come in handy at the Thanksgiving table). Along the way they also talk about JP's prior career as a life coach, how evil captivates people, the Bill Burr joke that decimated the pro-choice argument, and – of course – how to survive bear/shark attacks. JP Sears is the author of the just-released children's book "Chomp Chomp Chomp: The Snapfast Challenge". Watch his insanely funny satire videos at AwakenWithJP on YouTube and Instagram.

Dr. Miriam Grossman joined Rep. Crenshaw to explain the dark origins of the phenomenon known as Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (when an adolescent or young adult expresses a sudden and intense belief that their gender identity is different from their assigned sex). We learn about Dr. John Money, a monster who pioneered gender-transition surgery for minors in the 1960s. Dr. Grossman explains how activists got once highly respected organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics to normalize transitioning minors. She covers everything that's wrong with the studies used by trans activists and doctors to manipulate the parents of these children. And she gives guidance to parents on how to prevent schools from exposing their kids to gender ideology. Miriam Grossman, MD has a Doctor of Medicine from New York University Medical School and is board certified in psychiatry, with a sub-specialty in child and adolescent psychiatry. She is the author of "Lost in Trans Nation: A Child Psychiatrist's Guide Out of the Madness." Follow her on X at @Miriam_Grossman.

Arthur C. Brooks returns to talk about the psychology of political movements, how fear is used as a tool to outrage and manipulate people, and how to preserve your happiness and sanity throughout all of it. Arthur explains why our brains are hardwired to emphasize negativity. He shows how politicians and influencers are exploiting that evolutionary trait to monetize your anger and gain power. He gives us some practical advice for how to disassociate yourself from outrage culture. And he gives us perspective on what real happiness should mean in work, school, family, and our purpose in life. Arthur C. Brooks is the co-author with Oprah Winfrey of the new book "Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier." He is the William Henry Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, where he teaches courses on happiness and leadership. He is the creator of the popular "How to Build a Life" column at The Atlantic, an acclaimed public speaker, and the author of numerous bestselling books, including "From Strength to Strength" and "Love Your Enemies."

Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris is a distinguished professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and one of the foremost experts on the interplay of neuroscience and psychedelics. He studies how psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD and DMT can change the human brain and be used to treat various mental health challenges such as trauma disorders, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and addiction. Dr. Carhart-Harris joined Rep. Crenshaw to discuss the latest findings from clinical trials of psychedelic therapies, how the mind is affected by the different kinds of psychedelics, the legal landscape for these therapies, and the risks and benefits he sees in psychedelics, other prescription drugs, and alcohol. Follow Dr. Carhart-Harris on X at @RCarhartHarris.

The one-and-only Kevin Sorbo (aka Hercules) joined Rep. Crenshaw to talk about the culture war battles in Hollywood over conservatism, masculinity, and Christianity. They look at how morality and traditional archetypes have transformed in modern movies and tv. Kevin talks about the business of Christian independent filmmaking, policies that enable states like Georgia and Texas to attract film productions away from Hollywood, and just how the hell Netflix is able to churn out so many terrible new movies every month. They end with some advice for how conservatives can communicate their views more purposefully to persuadable liberals. Kevin Sorbo portrayed Hercules on the classic 90s tv show. Since then he has become one of the leading actors and filmmakers in Christian independent cinema. His first children's book, The Test of Lionhood, was just published with Brave Books. Follow Kevin's snarky conservative wit and insights on X at @ksorbs.

Foreign policy analyst Kim Breier joined Rep. Crenshaw to cover the recent history of diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico over migrant flows and what we can learn from them to build cooperation between the two countries in the war against the drug cartels. They talk about her experiences across multiple Mexican administrations going back to Vicente Fox and the devolution of the country over time at the hands of the cartels. And Kim gets into the history behind Mexico's deeply embedded suspicions about the U.S. government's motives. Kim Breier was Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State under President Trump. She was previously the founder and Director of the U.S.-Mexico Futures Initiative, and the Deputy Director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and served for more than a decade in the U.S. intelligence community as a political analyst and manager, primarily focused on Latin America.

Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on the Middle East. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to cover the new war between Israel and Hamas. Dr. Schanzer gives an overview of the recent history of Israel and Palestine/Hamas, how Hamas conducts terrorist operations within the Gaza Strip, and the power dynamics playing out in the West Bank. They also cover the intelligence failures that caused Israel to miss Saturday's massive assault and what it looks like in practice to run a successful Israeli spy network in one of the most dangerous, closed-in territories on Earth. And they discuss the "what about-ism" and moral equivocation by people like Tucker Carlson who disparage American involvement in the war. Dr. Schanzer is also the author of "Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War", "State of Failure: Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Unmaking of the Palestinian State", "Hamas vs. Fatah: The Struggle for Palestine", and "Al-Qaeda's Armies: Middle East Affiliate Groups and the Next Generation of Terror". Follow him on X at @JSchanzer.

Christopher Rufo is the author of the NY Times best-selling book, "America's Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything." He joined Rep. Crenshaw to trace back modern wokeism to its 1960s cultural roots. Chris breaks down the operating cycles of race, class, and gender-based movements in progressive politics. And Chris gives valuable advice for activists and think tanks on how to work with politicians to pass their legislative priorities. Christopher Rufo is a senior fellow of the Manhattan Institute and a contributing edi­tor of the public policy magazine City Journal. Follow him on Twitter at @realchrisrufo.

Congressman Steve Womack, former Chairman of the House Budget Committee, joined Rep. Crenshaw to explain in layman's terms what is going on in Congress right now with the budget negotiations. They cover the tactical and strategic errors that got us into this mess and why the few GOP holdouts are pushing demands that will almost inevitably lead to more liberal spending bills. Rep. Womack also lays out the constitutional reforms he would like to see implemented to fix the budget process. And they cover the #1 problem that will drive America off a fiscal cliff: entitlement spending. Congressman Womack represents the 3rd District of Arkansas. He serves on the House Committee on Appropriations and serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. Follow him on X at @rep_stevewomack.

Former Attorney General Bill Barr joined Rep. Crenshaw to cover some of the important legal considerations in America's efforts to defeat the Mexican drug cartels. How would a second term of the Trump Administration have dealt with the cartels? What are the costs and benefits of designating them as Foreign Terrorist Organizations? What is the U.S. capable of doing to stop a Mexican politician if we have strong evidence that they are working with the cartels? What would be the repercussions if the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is not renewed? All this and more in our second episode in the series documenting Rep. Crenshaw's Task Force to Combat Mexican Drug Cartels. Bill Barr is the author of "One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General". He was attorney general twice under both President Trump and President George H.W. Bush.

Yascha Mounk is a writer and academic known for his work on the crisis of democracy and the defense of philosophically liberal values. His new book "The Identity Trap" traces the origins of identity politics and how it's rapidly transforming the modern world. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to discuss how identity politics grew out of postmodernism and Critical Race Theory. They talk about how postmodernists and populists are rejecting the history, institutions, and core values that make for a healthy democracy. And Yascha gives some sage advice on how to persuasively engage in debates with your political opponents. Yascha Mounk is the author of five books, including the forthcoming "The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time." He is a Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Johns Hopkins University, where he holds appointments in both the School of Advanced International Studies and the SNF Agora Institute. Yascha is also a Contributing Editor at The Atlantic, a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Founder of Persuasion. Follow him on Twitter at @Yascha_Mounk.

Father Vincent Lampert is a Catholic priest and the designated exorcist of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to unveil the fascinating mystery behind exorcisms and dispel the many myths and taboos associated with exorcisms. They discuss how priests become exorcists, how exorcisms are performed, and the steps to evaluating whether a person is truly possessed by a demon. Father Lampert shares some of the extraordinary and seemingly impossible events that he has witnessed while performing exorcisms. The hierarchy of demons, how they manifest in the world, entry points for possession, the occult, and much more are all discussed in this wide-ranging conversation. Father Lampert is the author of "Exorcism: The Battle Against Satan and His Demons." He was appointed exorcist of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in 2005.

Part 1 in a series with The Dissident Project, an organization dedicated teaching American high school and college students about the horrors of authoritarianism from young adults who experienced it firsthand. Daniel Di Martino is from Venezuela. Tahmineh Dehbozorgi is from Iran. Both were once among the freest and most prosperous nations on their respective continents. Daniel and Tahmineh joined Rep. Crenshaw to describe the roads their home countries went down to end up at the same point: violent, oppressive regimes where the citizens have no hope to make their own destinies. They ask us to consider what could lead America down that same road. Daniel Di Martino is the founder of the Dissident Project and a Graduate Fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He was born and raised in Venezuela and witnessed the collapse of his country under the socialist policies of Chavez and Maduro. He emigrated to the United States in 2016. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielDiMartino. Tahmineh Dehbozorgi escaped the Ayatollah of Iran on 4th of July 2015 at the age of 15. Today she is a student at the George Washington University Law School. Follow her on Twitter at @DeTahmineh.

The first episode in a special series documenting Rep. Crenshaw's work as Chairman of the Task Force to Combat Mexican Drug Cartels. Chad Wolf is the former Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Trump. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to give a high-level overview of the strategic challenges the United States faces targeting the Mexican drug cartels. They cover operational and hierarchical challenges within DHS, corruption in the Mexican government, how the Trump Administration made in-roads with Central American governments, how immigration flows are changing under Biden, the problem with designating cartels as terrorist organizations, and more. Chad Wolf is the Executive Director of the America First Policy Institute and the President of Wolf Global Advisors, a strategic advisory and public policy firm addressing domestic and international security and risk challenges. Follow him on Twitter at @ChadFWolf.

Dr. Brian Miller joined Rep. Crenshaw to talk about the coming Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution in healthcare. They cover the prospects for everything from automating mundane tasks to easing the patient experience to partially replacing doctor workload. They also talk about how to break the bureaucratic roadblocks within the Food and Drug Administration that are stalling innovation in all aspects of healthcare. Dr. Brian Miller is a Nonresident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and practices hospital medicine at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital, where he also serves as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Follow him on Twitter at @DrBrian4Health.

For years, the scientific consensus has been that the revolutions in biology, physics, and evolutionary theory would disprove the possibility of a God-made universe. But, as it turns out, new discoveries in each field are challenging that consensus. Dr. Stephen Meyer joined Rep. Crenshaw for a wide-ranging conversation about molecular biology, self-replicating RNA, discontinuities in the fossil and paleoanthropological records, the origin of human consciousness, multiverse theory, the philosophy of science, and what it all means for the origins of life and our universe. Dr. Stephen Meyer is a geophysicist and Director at Discovery Institute, a think tank dedicated to the study of intelligent design. He is the NY Times best-selling author of "Return of the God Hypothesis" and "Darwin's Doubt." Follow him on Twitter at @StephenCMeyer.

Hoover Institution's Lanhee Chen returns to survey the current state of the American healthcare system, including Medicare/Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and private insurance programs — along with new path breaking models, like Direct Primary Care. We discuss policy reforms that could bring much needed transparency and simplicity to care delivery. And we discuss why "choice and access for all" is a better way to think about healthcare policy as opposed to calling it a "human right." We also talk about the implications of the Supreme Court's recent ruling on affirmative action in college admissions. Lanhee J. Chen, Ph.D. is the David and Diane Steffy Fellow in American Public Policy Studies at the Hoover Institution and Director of Domestic Policy Studies and Lecturer in the Public Policy Program at Stanford University. Follow him on Twitter at @lanheechen.

Chloe Cole decided she wanted to be a boy when she was 12 years old. What happened next is a shocking indictment of mental health and medical professionals. Puberty blockers and testosterone therapy at age 13. A double mastectomy at 15. At every step of the way Chloe and her parents were manipulated by therapists and doctors who wanted to affirm a gender ideology which had no grounding in scientific reality. Chloe joined Rep. Crenshaw to share her journey and why she is fighting to stop minors from transitioning today. Chloe Cole is a Patient Advocate for the nonprofit Do No Harm, a diverse group of physicians, healthcare professionals, medical students, patients, and policymakers united by a moral mission to protect healthcare from a radical, divisive, and discriminatory ideology. Follow Chloe on Twitter and Instagram at @ChoooCole.

North America holds enough oil and gas reserves to provide cheap, clean, and reliable energy to the rest of the globe for many decades – so why isn't it? Energy analyst Arjun Murti breaks down the key factors at play: capital investors who are wary of uncertain regulatory environments, countries like China and India that won't give up on coal, and a little-known group called the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (which is actually implementing all the terrible ideas that groups like World Economic Forum only talk about). Arjun explains how America – through a new Marshall Plan of government and private sector initiatives – can overcome these roadblocks to become the leader in global energy. Arjun Murti has spent over 30 years as a global energy markets analyst with firms like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. Read his Super-Spiked substack at https://arjunmurti.substack.com/ and follow him on Twitter at @ArjunNMurti

Artificial Intelligence (AI) researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky makes the case for why we should view AI as an existential threat to humanity. Rep. Crenshaw gets into the basics of AI and how the new AI program, GPT-4, is a revolutionary leap forward in the tech. Eliezer hypothesizes the most likely scenarios if AI becomes self-aware and unconstrained – from rogue programs that blackmail targets to self-replicating nano robots. They discuss building global coalitions to rein in AI development and how China views AI. And they explore first steps Congress could take to limit AI's capabilities for harm while still enabling its promising advances in research and development. Eliezer Yudkowsky is a co-founder and research fellow at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, a private research nonprofit based in Berkeley, California. Follow him on Twitter @ESYudkowsky

Dr. Tom Oliverson serves as a State Representative in the Texas Legislature. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to cover some of the major political battles happening in the latest legislative session. They talk about why the legislature banned transgender therapies for minors, the debate between the State House and Senate over property tax reform, the latest on efforts to pass school choice, and the pros and cons of term limits. The conversation ends with a critique of a cottage political industry in Texas, and across the country, which is monetizing conservative outrage without doing anything to actually win elections. Dr. Tom Oliverson is an anesthesiologist and State Representative for Texas' 130th State House District. He is the Chairman of the Insurance Committee in the Texas House of Representatives. Follow him on Twitter @TomOliverson

Climate scientist Roger Pielke, Jr joined Rep. Crenshaw to talk about the intersection of climate science and politics. Roger describes what good science looks like and the challenge that climate scientists face with the unbiased reporting of facts. They examine the good and bad projections in the latest IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report and how confident we can feel about carbon emissions impact on sea levels, global temperatures, and extreme weather events. And they discuss how all this data should be interpreted by politicians to craft the energy policies which affect every aspect of our lives. Roger Pielke, Jr is a professor of Environmental Studies at UC-Boulder and Senior Fellow at the Breakthrough Institute. He was previously a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. His substack is The Honest Broker. Follow him on Twitter @RogerPielkeJr.

Manhattan Institute senior fellow Mark Mills is a physicist and venture capitalist in the field of emerging energy technologies. Mark joined Rep. Crenshaw to discuss the physics-driven trade-offs of transitioning to wind, solar, and electric vehicles. How many miles do you need to drive an EV just to break even on the carbon emissions it took to make one battery? How did China in one month wipe out 15 years of Germany's carbon savings? Why do electricity rates continue to rise with the transition to "cheaper" green energy? We answer all these questions and much more as we look at how renewables rank against oil, gas, and nuclear in terms of costs, emissions, land-use impact, and net societal benefits. Mark P. Mills is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a faculty fellow at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. He is the host of The Last Optimist podcast and the author of "The Cloud Revolution: How the Convergence of New Technologies Will Unleash the Next Economic Boom and a Roaring 2020s." Follow him on Twitter @MarkPMills

Rep. Garret Graves was one of Speaker McCarthy's lead negotiators on the debt ceiling deal with the White House. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to describe what really happened in negotiations behind closed doors, the strategies they used to maximize their leverage against Biden, and how they dealt with the blowback after false rumors about the deal started circulating among their Republican colleagues. Congressman Garret Graves represents the 6th District of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter at @RepGarretGraves.

David Mittelman is the founder and CEO of Othram, Inc – a private DNA laboratory that invented a revolutionary new method to recover and analyze forensic evidence from decades-old unsolved murder cases. David joined Rep. Crenshaw to explain how his laboratory is solving cases which were impossible to crack using conventional forensic analysis. We learn all about the science behind DNA forensics, how law enforcement utilizes it today, and how Othram's new technology is pushing the limits of what was once thought possible. Learn more about the cold cases Othram has solved here: https://othram.com/recent_casework.html

Dr. Marty Makary joined Rep. Crenshaw to explain how American healthcare pricing works, why the costs are skyrocketing, and what we need to do to fix it. Dr. Makary demystifies the convoluted system of middlemen, kickbacks, and hidden costs which have created so much confusion in the insurance marketplace. Rep. Crenshaw and Dr. Makary also discuss how conservatives could better articulate their vision for a more perfect system. The conversation ends with a look at lessons learned from COVID data and what it tells us about masking, lockdowns, and the vaccine. Dr. Marty Makary is a professor at the John Hopkins School of Medicine and the New York Times bestselling author of "The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care--and How to Fix It." Follow him on Twitter at @MartyMakary.

On May 31st, Congressman Crenshaw voted to pass the Fiscal Responsibility Act, voting with more than 2/3 of the Republican conference to avoid a catastrophic debt limit default. Below is a statement from the Congressman on why he voted yes: "We vote based on realistic choices, not what we wish were true. Of course, I wish that Ronald Reagan was resurrected, and we had 60 votes in the Senate. Then we could enact massive reforms that truly put our spending on a reasonable path. But this isn't the reality we have now. The reality we have is a slim House majority while radical Democrats have the Senate and White House. Our leverage is limited. But even with that limited leverage, we forced Biden to give up on every single demand he had. He first wanted a clean debt ceiling increase without reforms. We said no. He then wanted tax increases. We said no. He wanted cuts to our military. We said no. In the final bill, Biden got nothing, and we got about half of what we wanted. Of course we wanted more, but again, our leverage was limited. Here are other facts to consider. Whether you like it or not, there has to be a debt ceiling increase. The economic consequences are catastrophic if you let the government default on its debt. Your 401k would crash as markets crash, the cost of borrowing would increase and make our debt worse, and recession would be imminent. Only third-world countries have allowed this to happen. Some might say, "well if we cut spending, we wouldn't have to increase the debt!" But this isn't really true, not unless you're fine with abolishing our Social Security and Medicare programs for our seniors, which account for nearly TWO-THIRDS of all spending. Yes, you read that right. Nearly TWO THIRDS. That means during these negotiations we are only arguing over 11% of all spending. Why? Because no one wants to touch Social Security, Medicare, Veterans benefits, or the military. That leaves all the other government agencies and programs which only account for 11% of spending. So, even if you abolished the entire federal government apart from the military, you WOULD STILL HAVE TO INCREASE THE DEBT LIMIT! So, given that there is no choice but to increase the debt ceiling, and given we only have control of the House, where does that leave us? With what options? The options are clear. They are (1) a Biden-preferred clean debt ceiling increase with no reforms, (2) a default and say goodbye to your 401k, or (3) a debt ceiling increase with all the reforms we got. Anyone claiming there is another option is being EXTREMELY dishonest with you. So what reforms did we get? About $1.5 TRILLION dollar decrease in spending over 10 years. Not bad. Environmental permitting reform which is HUGE for our energy sector. This means Biden can't wait 10 years to allow a permit for a new highway lane or gas pipeline. We finally forced the reforms we've been trying to do for YEARS. Billions of dollars in investment and jobs for Texas will be unleashed because of this. We also got some additional work requirements on Food Stamp programs and required some spending limitations (called "pay as you go" requirements) on any administrative action taken by the Biden Administration. We also cut all funding for new IRS agents this year. There's more, but those are the basics. The complaints from other Republicans aren't about what's in the bill, they're about what's not in the bill. But this is faulty logic. I can ALWAYS vote against something because it doesn't have something I want. And it's true, I can come up with a MILLION things this bill doesn't have. No, it doesn't fix our border, nor does it cure cancer, nor does it give me a new eye. But these are ridiculous excuses not to vote for a bill. Some Republicans will nitpick each of those wins and say they're not enough. Well, I agree! They're not enough! But that's not that question. The QUESTION is (1) was this the best we could get? And (2) is it better than the alternatives, which is a clean debt ceiling increase or a default? The answers to both questions are very clearly YES. Many Members of Congress are afraid to take tough votes even when they know it's the right thing to do. I'm not. Never have been. I could EASILY have taken the easy way out and voted "no," and kept my voters in the dark about the truth. No one would write to me to complain about a "no" vote. But I won't do that. I can't help but tell you the truth. And the truth is that this bill was the best case scenario given the political reality we live in. There is no evidence from anyone that we could have negotiated a better outcome. None. Therefore, I had to vote yes."

Former drug czar and president of Hudson Institute John Walters joined Rep. Crenshaw to give a comprehensive overview of the origins of the fentanyl epidemic. Walters explains how the Obama Administration's policies made America's drug crisis exponentially worse and he debunks pervasive myths among leftists and libertarians about President Bush's "War on Drugs." Rep. Crenshaw and Walters dive into the root causes of the fentanyl crisis and what policies we can implement to stop this deadly epidemic. John Walters was director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and a cabinet member during the Bush administration. As the nation's "drug czar," Mr. Walters guided all aspects of federal drug policy and programs—supporting efforts that drove down teen drug use 25 percent, increased substance abuse treatment and screening in the healthcare system, and dramatically dropped the availability of cocaine and methamphetamine in the US. He is now the president and CEO of Hudson Institute and director of Hudson's Center for Substance Abuse Research Policy. Follow him on Twitter at @@john_walters_

National security expert Rebeccah Heinrichs joins Rep. Crenshaw to discuss strategic nuclear deterrence in the 21st century, the New Cold War against China and Russia, idealism vs realism in foreign affairs, and why America must re-establish itself as the global military and economic superpower if it hopes to survive. Rebeccah Heinrichs is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute and the director of its Keystone Defense Initiative. She specializes in US national defense policy with a focus on strategic deterrence. Ms. Heinrichs currently serves as a commissioner on the bipartisan Strategic Posture Commission, which was created in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. She also serves on the US Strategic Command Advisory Group and the National Independent Panel on Military Service and Readiness. Follow her on Twitter at @RLHeinrichs.

Nury Turkel is a Uyghur American attorney and human rights advocate who was born over 50 years ago inside a Maoist labor camp in China's Xinjiang province. Life for the average Chinese citizen has improved dramatically since then, but not for the ethnic Uyghurs. Nury joined Rep. Crenshaw to describe the wide-scale human rights abuses being committed by the CCP in Xinjiang: slavery, forced marriages, compulsory tracking, censorship, re-education camps, and the erasure of Uyghur culture and religious beliefs. Underlying Nury's story is a clear example of how Marxist ideology inevitably crushes the human spirit and compels people to commit the worst atrocities ever imagined. Nury Turkel is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. He is the author of "No Escape: The True Story of China's Genocide of the Uyghurs." Follow him on Twitter at @nuryturkel.

Much of what you hear about income inequality, poverty, and other measures of economic well-being in America is wrong, biased by government statistics and populist rhetoric. Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm joins Rep. Crenshaw to elucidate the real trends behind income equality in America today and why we should dispel the populist notions that some great economic injustice is occurring between the classes. Sen. Gramm also reflects on the changes he's seen in politics since he first took office in 1979 and why Americans are so much angrier now, despite living in arguably the best economic conditions in human history. Phil Gramm is the author of the WSJ Best Politics Book of 2022, "The Myth of American Inequality: How Government Biases Policy Debate." He was the U.S. Senator serving Texas from 1985 – 2002. He is now a Senior Fellow at American Enterprise Institute researching reforms to social security, health care, and taxes.