Hold These Truths with Dan Crenshaw

Roving journalist Michael Tracey joins us to discuss what he observed on his two month journey documenting the civil unrest across America. From Seattle to Philadelphia, with dozens of small and large cities in-between, Michael saw firsthand what's really motivating the riots, looting, and violence which has destroyed the lives and livelihoods of countless innocent Americans. Michael Tracey is an independent journalist with articles appearing in The Wall Street Journal, Vice, The Federalist, and numerous other publications. Follow him on Twitter at @mtracey.

Dr. Avik Roy joins us for a pragmatic look at America's approach to the COVID-19 response thus far and how it compares to other countries which fared better or worse than us. From lockdowns to school re-openings, there is much we can learn from the past eight months to better prepare ourselves for the future. Dr. Avik Roy is the co-founder of The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity – a non-partisan organization dedicated to considering the impact of public policies and proposed reforms on Americans with incomes or wealth below the U.S. median. He is the author of How Medicaid Fails the Poor, and Affordable Health Care for Every Generation: A Patient-Centered Plan for Universal Coverage and Permanent Fiscal Solvency. He is a senior advisor to the Bipartisan Policy Center, serves on the advisory board of the National Institute for Health Care Management, and co-chaired the Fixing Veterans Health Care Policy Taskforce. He is also the policy editor at Forbes. Follow him on Twitter at @Avik.

Dr. Bjorn Lomborg joins us to continue the conversation on rational environmentalism which we left off with Michael Shellenberger. What are the second order effects of climate change policies, like the ones we find in the Green New Deal, on poor communities and developing countries? How do these policies - counterintuitively - actually hurt the environment more than doing nothing? And what are the 21st century solutions humanity should pursue to propel everybody into safer, cleaner societies? Dr. Bjorn Lomborg is president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center and visiting professor at Copenhagen Business School. The Copenhagen Consensus Center is a think-tank that researches the smartest ways to do good. For this work, Lomborg was named one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. His most recent book is "False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet." Follow Dr. Lomborg on Twitter at @BjornLomborg.

Evolutionary biologist Dr. Bret Weinstein returns to explore the latest developments in gene splicing, stem cells, lifespan extension, the search for extraterrestrial civilizations, and the next (and perhaps final) step in human evolution - the Fourth Frontier. Dr. Bret Weinstein is host of the DarkHorse Podcast and a Visiting Fellow in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Follow him on Twitter at @BretWeinstein.

Historian Amity Shlaes joins us for a new look at the origins and aftermath of LBJ's Great Society – the massive federal poverty-reduction programs of the 1960's. The debates in that era were the same debates today: socialism vs capitalism, public-sector vs private-sector, victimhood vs self-empowerment. And the cost of these programs led to devastating outcomes which are still unfolding to this day. Amity Shlaes' most recent book is Great Society: A New History. She is the author of four New York Times bestsellers: The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression, The Forgotten Man/Graphic, Coolidge, and The Greedy Hand: How Taxes Drive Americans Crazy. Miss Shlaes chairs the board of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation and the Manhattan Institute's Hayek Book Prize, and serves as a scholar at the King's College. A former member of the Wall Street Journal's editorial board, Miss Shlaes published a weekly syndicated column for more than a decade, appearing first in the Financial Times, then in Bloomberg. Follow her on Twitter at @AmityShlaes.

Dr. Arthur Brooks is one of the world's most preeminent researchers on the topics of government, economic opportunity, happiness, and the morality of free enterprise. He joins us to talk about leadership principles that every aspiring politician needs to know, and how to use storytelling to craft a more persuasive argument for your opponent. Dr. Arthur C. Brooks is Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and Arthur C. Patterson Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School. Before joining the Harvard faculty in July of 2019, he served for ten years as president of the Washington, D.C.-based American Enterprise Institute (AEI), one of the world's leading think tanks. He is the author of eleven books, including the bestselling "Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from Our Culture of Contempt." Follow him on Twitter at @arthurbrooks.

Michael Shellenberger is an environmental activist, TIME's Hero of the Environment, an advisor to the U.N.'s Panel on Climate Change, and author of the new book "Apocalypse Never: How Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All." He joins us for an honest conversation about the devastating impact that wind and solar energy infrastructure is having on Earth's ecology, the sources of energy we can safely and efficiently utilize, and facts vs fiction behind everything from the rise in extreme weather events to plastics pollution. Follow Michael on Twitter at @ShellenbergerMD. Episode Timeline: 1:50 Recent Testimony at the Committee on the Climate Crisis 8:00 Climate Fatalism and the Myth We're All Going to Die in 12 Years 21:00 Climate Change Collusion + Backroom deals 32:00 Is Solar That Great? 42:00 California and the Grid 101 1:02:00 What about Wind? 1:13:00 Nuclear Proliferation 1:23:00 Why do People Hate Nuclear? 1:33:00 Extreme Weather Events 1:47:00: Plastic Straws and Plastic Waste 1:56:00 Recycling 1:58:00 Farting Cows and Meat Eating 2:04:00 Final Thoughts

Antonia Okafor is a Second Amendment advocate and the Founder of EMPOWERED, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, training, and equipping young women in the use of firearms for protection on college campuses. She joined us to talk about the practical reasons why young women should arm themselves, gun ownership in minority communities, and what's behind the skyrocketing demand for firearms since the rise of COVID-19. Antonia was the Southwest Regional Director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus and was instrumental in the passage and implementation of Texas' 2015 "campus carry" law. Read her NY Times oped "Why I Bring My Gun to School" here. Follow Antonia on Twitter at @antonia_okafor.

T.W. Shannon is the first African-American, and youngest person ever, to serve as the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He joins us to share what he's learned about debate and persuasion after years spent fighting in the political arena. How can Republicans do a better job at articulating why capitalism and conservative principles are the solution? What's the message we should be making to communities which believe they are systemically oppressed? T.W. answers these questions and much more. T.W. Shannon was elected Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2013. Today he serves as the President and CEO of Chickasaw Community Bank and the State Highway Commissioner for Central Oklahoma. He was previously a Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics (where he first met Dan). Follow him on Twitter at @TWShannon.

Rich Lowry returns to examine the mainstream media's manipulative (and often absurd) coverage of the pandemic. From propagating lies about the Trump Administration's national strategy to praising Gov. Cuomo while vilifying Gov. Abbott, there is one very obvious end goal to all of this toxic spin. Rich shares his reporting to uncover the truth and what all of this means for the future of our country. Rich Lowry began his career as a research assistant for Charles Krauthammer. In 1997 he was selected by William F. Buckley to lead National Review. He is the author of Lincoln Unbound, The Case for Nationalism: How It Made Us Powerful, United, and Free, and Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years — a New York Times bestseller. Follow him on Twitter at @RichLowry.

Allie Beth Stuckey joins us for a conversation about her new book, "You're Not Enough (And That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love." One of the most ubiquitous tenets of modern culture - preached by Instagram influencers and self-help gurus alike - is that the key to happiness is within you. All you have to do is find it. But is this quest to love yourself more actually making you miserable? Allie examines how trendy narcissism is harming individuals and society, and what we can do to overcome the trap of self-love. Allie Beth Stuckey is host of the Blaze Media podcast Relatable, where she tackles theological, cultural and political issues from a conservative, Reformed perspective. Stuckey speaks to college students, Republican organizations, Christian ministries, and businesses across the country about the importance of biblical and conservative values. She also offers frequent commentary on Fox News. Follow her on Twitter at @conservmillen.

Rich Lowry, Editor-in-Chief of National Review, joins us for a conversation about the past, present, and future of American culture. What's happening to the American identity? How do we go from reasonable protests against police brutality to the firebombing of a courthouse every night? Why is a very small contingent of the political left able to wield their intolerance to dominate and coerce American society? Rich answers these questions and much more. Rich Lowry began his career as a research assistant for Charles Krauthammer. In 1997 he was selected by William F. Buckley to lead National Review. He is the author of Lincoln Unbound, The Case for Nationalism: How It Made Us Powerful, United, and Free, and Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years — a New York Times bestseller. Follow him on Twitter at @RichLowry.

Dr. Reynolds Delgado, III, is a cardiologist specializing in heart failure and heart transplantation at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center/Texas Heart Institute. He joins us for a conversation about what doctors like himself are learning as they treat patients on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Delgado has been a Basic Science Researcher in Heart Failure at the Texas Heart Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, and The University of Texas Houston Medical School since 1997, and has held the position of Medical Director of Mechanical Support Devices in Heart Failure at the Texas Heart Institute since 2003. His academic appointments include clinical assistant professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and UT Health Science Center, Houston. He participates on numerous advisory boards, Including Thoratec Corporation, Medtronic Corporation, and Boston Scientific Corporation, and has been on the Medical Education Committee at Texas Heart Institute since 2004. He is also a long-standing research collaborator with NASA Johnson Space Center Human Space Flight Physiology Laboratory.

Biologist, evolutionary theorist, and member of the "Intellectual Dark Web" Dr. Bret Weinstein joins us for a conversation about cancel culture, politics, and his experience as a professor at Evergreen State College when he was one of the first people to be targeted for "cancellation" by radical progressives. Dr. Weinstein's research on human evolution gives us important insights into the impulses that motivate humans to join mobs and embrace chaos like what we see unfolding across America today - and which began on campuses like Evergreen just a few short years ago. Dr. Bret Weinstein is host of the DarkHorse Podcast and a Visiting Fellow in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Follow him on Twitter at @BretWeinstein.

Abolish the police. Take over free markets. End the Electoral College. Destroy our health care system. It's been a long time since Democrat leaders were this far apart from their Republican colleagues in either political or cultural perspectives. On this solo episode, Dan expands on his recent thoughts about the differences between the two parties policies, and what it all means for the future of America.

Journalist Andy Ngo joins us for an inside look at the chaos unfolding in Portland, OR from the perspective of Antifa. Andy has been investigating Antifa since early on in the extremist group's history. He frequently works undercover - and has been assaulted and injured multiple times by the violent extremists. For the past two months, Andy and his colleagues have risked their lives to document the widespread burning, looting, and violence being perpetrated by the notorious anarcho-communist movement. While you're listening to this episode, visit Andy Ngo's twitter @MrAndyNgo to witness the shocking examples of what Antifa is getting away with on the streets of Portland and other major cities. Andy Ngo is the Editor-at-Large of The Post Millenial and author of the forthcoming book "Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy."

Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf joins us for an inside look at his department's operations to enforce and (in the case of Portland, OR) restore the law across America. For weeks, the federal courthouse in Portland has been the target of escalating attacks by anarchists, criminals, and opportunists. Local and state officials have given these radicals free reign to attack the courthouse and federal officers with fireworks, molotov cocktails, high-powered lasers, and more tools of destruction. So how is Homeland Security protecting the courthouse? What's the truth behind the federal officers who Speaker Pelosi calls "storm troopers"? What's the current state of our southern border in the age of pandemic? And with the UFO bombshells coming out of the Pentagon, Dan obviously has to ask what Homeland Security is doing to protect us from aliens. Chad F. Wolf was designated as the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security by President Donald J. Trump and was also confirmed as the first Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (PLCY). Previously, he served as the Acting Under Secretary. As the senior official for PLCY, Mr. Wolf leads the Department's policymaking process to develop and coordinate strategies and policies that advance the homeland security mission and protect the American public. Follow him on Twitter at @DHS_Wolf.

Veteran and political commentator Rob Smith joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about identity politics, the culture war, "road trips" across Iraq, and how the far left's takeover of the Democratic Party made him question his own liberal views - ultimately leading him to become a strong voice for the conservative movement. Rob Smith is the author of the just released book, "Always a Soldier: Service, Sacrifice, and Coming Out as America's Favorite Black, Gay Republican." Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @robsmithonline.

Ben Shapiro joins us to talk about his very prescient new book "How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps." Ben defines the chaos unfolding in America today as a split between distintegrationists and unionists. So who are the disintegrationists? And what do they gain by stoking the tribalism, outrage, cancel culture, and invented inequalities which is taking over America? Ben is the Editor Emeritus of the Daily Wire, host of "The Ben Shapiro Show" podcast and syndicated radio, author of #1 NYT bestseller "The Right Side of History." Follow him on Twitter at @benshapiro.

Ambassador Rick Grenell, former Acting Director of National Intelligence, joins us for an inside look at leaks, dossiers, and unmasking since President Trump's election. Ambassador Grenell gives us a clear look inside a murky world as he discusses Russia's covert operations, the truth about the Steele Dossier, the Obama adminstration's investigations against President-elect Trump, and how Rep. Adam Schiff leaks and withholds classified information for political gain. Ambassador Rick Grenell is currently the Special Presidential Envoy to Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020 and for three critical months he served as the Acting Director of National Intelligence. Follow him on Twitter at @RichardGrenell.

Mike Lindell spent decades nurturing an addiction to cocaine, cheated death dozens of times, won and lost fortunes gambling, and decimated his 20-year marriage because of drugs. Along the way he started multiple businesses, and invented a new kind of pillow which he struggled to generate interest in. Then one night in 2009, after Mike hadn't slept for two weeks, his own drug dealers staged an intervention for him. What happened next is one of the great American stories of redemption and triumph. Mike joins us to tell the tale - and give advice for anyone who ever feels like all hope is lost. Mike Lindell is the inventor and CEO of MyPillow, Inc. and the author of "What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO." Follow Mike on Twitter at @realMikeLindell.

One month after 9/11, Robert Jordan took the job of United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia – the country where 15 of the 19 hijackers called home. From the roots of Sunni extremism to the internal conflict in the days after 9/11, Robert gives us an inside look at the greatest power player in the Middle East and one of America's most complicated alliances. What do U.S.-Saudi relations look like today, with China and Russia asserting more power in the region, the escalating threats from Iran, and the new dynamics of the war on terror? Robert Jordan is diplomat in residence and adjunct professor of political science in the John G. Tower Center for Political Studies at Southern Methodist University. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2001-2003. He was a partner in the international law firm Baker Botts L.L.P. for many years and headed the firm's Middle East practice based in Dubai. He is the author of "Desert Diplomat: Inside Saudi Arabia Following 9/11."

For this very special 4th of July episode, Dr. Danielle Allen returns to explore the history, meaning, and philosophical foundations of the Declaration of Independence. What did the Founding Fathers mean by the words, "We hold these truths to be self evident..."? In what ways did they weave the concept of equality into this founding document? How should we deal with the hypocrisy of Jefferson and others who pledged their lives to the words "all men are created equal" while at the same time enslaving people? What's the difference between our political constitution and our social constitution, and how are they aligned in America today? Dr. Danielle Allen is the author of "Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality." She is also the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University, Director of Harvard's Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, and the principle investigator for the Democratic Knowledge Project. Follow her on Twitter at @dsallentess.

Is western civilization in decline? Author and political commentator Jonah Goldberg joins us for a conversation about his book "Suicide of the West" - an exploration of the history and founding principles which gave us the miracle that we call America. The progressive left has spent decades stoking tribalism and identity politics to tear that miracle apart, erase history, and remake civilization. Do the events of the past few months mean their efforts are succeeding? Jonah Goldberg holds the Asness Chair in Applied Liberty at the American Enterprise Institute, is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, and hosts the podcast "The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg." Follow Jonah on Twitter at @JonahDispatch.

Dr. Ben Carson, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, joins us to talk about lessons learned overcoming the barriers he's encountered on his remarkable journey, and the implications of the left's victimhood narrative on American policies and culture. Dr. Carson went from spending much of his childhood in poverty, written off by teachers as a below average student, to becoming one of the world's top brain surgeons, and now he leads the Trump administration's efforts to combat the inequities facing today's inner cities. Follow Dr. Carson on Twitter at @SecretaryCarson.

As the House prepares to vote on the Democrats' police reform bill and Senate Democrats blocked Senator Tim Scott's police reform bill from even being consider, it's a good time to get the law enforcement perspective on these proposals from an actual police officer. Joining us is Joe Gamaldi, the President of Houston Police Officers' Union, Vice President of the Fraternal Order of Police, and an active member of the Houston Police Department. Officer Gamaldi still patrols the streets and knows exactly what our cops face up against every day and as the President of the HPOU has his finger on the pulse of the larger force. Officer Gamaldi served three years in the NYPD before coming to Houston in 2008. He's been President of Houston Police Officers' Union since 2017 and National Vice President of the Fraternal Order of Police since 2019. Follow Officer Gamaldi on Twitter at @JoeGamaldi.

Author and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza joins us for a conversation about his new book "United States of Socialism" - an examination of the twenty-first century resurrection of socialism and how the left weaves it together with identity politics to create the societal upheaval we see today.

Alex Herrgott leads an independent federal entity whose sole focus is cutting millions of dollars in unnecessary project costs that environmental groups add, while slashing red tape and preventing anti-development activists from using the court system to prevent much needed economic recovery through acceleration of investment in our national infrastructure which provides immediate and lasting economic benefits for states, local communities and small businesses. Alex joined us to explain how the Permitting Council cuts through the bureaucracy and serves as a one-stop Federal shop to provide coordination across the Federal government for America's largest, most complex infrastructure projects. Alex Herrgott was appointed by the President as the Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council on September 21st, 2018. Mr. Herrgott had been serving as the Associate Director for Infrastructure for the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) at the White House previously. Prior to his service with CEQ, Mr. Herrgott worked for Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma as Senior Staff from 2004-2011 at the Environment and Public Works Committee.

In the midst of national conversations about police brutality, violent protests, and the constitutionality of lockdowns, Attorney General Ken Paxton is responsible for finding the right solution to each problem for Texas. What would "defunding the police" actually mean for communities that are most vulnerable to crime? How should officials draw the line to prevent peaceful demonstrations from becoming destructive? What are the proper roles for federal and state governments when enforcing restrictions during a pandemic? A.G. Paxton gives his views and experiences as Texas's top law enforcement officer during one of the most contentious times in recent history.

Dr. Scott Atlas joins us to examine the science, data, and reasoning (or lack thereof) used to justify indefinite lockdowns, school closures, and other fear-based mitigation strategies that are still happening across America. Dr. Atlas is the Robert Wesson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University and a Member of Hoover Institution's Working Group on Health Care Policy. He served as Professor of Radiology and Chief of Neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical Center from 1998 until 2012. He is the author of "Restoring Quality Health Care: A Six-Point Plan for Comprehensive Reform at Lower Cost." Follow him on Twitter at @SWAtlasHoover.

Professor Randy Barnett of Georgetown University Law Center joins us on the podcast to discuss some of the constitutional elements of the COVID-19 lockdowns, as well as the ideological undercurrents fueling our polarized political climate. What real, practical problems do the lockdowns pose with regards to the Fourteenth Amendment? How is the pandemic becoming an arena for the arbitrary exercise of the police power by government officials? What do the lockdowns and the recent protests reveal about modern liberalism? Are we witnessing the destruction of the "moderate left" in real-time? Professor Barnett tackles these issues and others with Congressman Crenshaw. Professor Randy Barnett is the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Legal Theory at the Georgetown University Law Center. He teaches constitutional law and contracts and is the director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution. Professor Barnett has authored numerous books and textbooks, including the recently published "An Introduction to Constitutional Law: 100 Supreme Court Cases Everyone Should Know," which he co-authored with Professor Josh Blackman. Follow him on Twitter at @RandyEBarnett.

Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor has logged 197 days in space. She joined Dan to talk all things space travel. How close are we to colonizing the Moon and Mars? What's it like to break atmosphere and spend months in zero gravity? What's her take on the Navy UFO footage? From training in Antarctica to fixing toilets in outer space, being an astronaut brings surprising perspectives on life.

Since 1953, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has empowered small business owners by giving them the tools and resources they need to launch and grow their businesses. With the rise of COVID-19 and the economic shutdown, the SBA is facing its most monumental challenge in generations. SBA Regional Administrator Justin Crossie joined Dan to discuss how the SBA is helping America's entrepreneurs navigate this crisis, as well as ways the SBA can help guide entrepreneurs through the often confusing requirements for starting a business, hiring employees, and expanding operations. Justin Crossie leads the SBA's funding programs, counseling services, and government contracting and export initiatives for more than 3.8 million small businesses in the South-Central Region - including Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico.

In the wake of COVID-19, Democrat leaders are pushing for a federal takeover of the election system in order to implement some radical reforms - including mail-in ballots for all voters, voting by phone, and ending voter ID requirements. Why are these reforms fraught with potential for voter fraud? Hans von Spakovsky is a senior legal fellow and manager of the Heritage Foundation's Election Law Reform Initiative - which has collected 1,285 proven cases of voter fraud in America. Hans joined Dan to examine the risks and how we can better protect the integrity of our election system. Follow Hans on Twitter at @HvonSpakovsky.

Dr. Robert Kadlec is the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, managing the national response to public health emergencies - a position that deals with everything from hurricane disasters to anthrax attacks. Now Dr. Kadlec is writing the playbook of countermeasures in America's war against COVID-19. He joined Dan to examine how the nation's strategy for pandemic response is adapting as we learn more about the virus.

In this special episode, Dan joined comedian Adam Carolla for a live recording at Houston Improv to raise funds for the Houston Food Bank's COVID-19 relief efforts. Support Houston Food Bank at www.houstonfoodbank.org. Shout out to Adam Carolla for allowing us to re-broadcast this recording! Check out his own podcast The Adam Carolla Show at www.adamcarolla.com.

Robert Kaplan is the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. We've heard a lot about the Federal Reserve in the news lately, but what exactly is the purpose of America's central bank? How has their mission changed since COVID-19 and the shutdown wrecked havoc on the economy? Robert joined Dan to give listeners a practical understanding of the Fed's role in the financial system, and the pathway to economic recovery. Follow Robert Kaplan on Twitter at @RobSKaplan.

On this solo episode, Dan expands on his recently published oped for The Wall Street Journal to ponder the question, "Why do Democrats want to keep us shutdown and Republicans want us free to reopen?" The answer is part politics, part psychology. Read the oped here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-does-reopening-polarize-us-11589842995

Jon Huntsman returns to the podcast to talk China and what he learned as Ambassador to America's greatest trading partner and emerging rival. For the first time in centuries, China is a leader on the world stage. So how do Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party view their role as a global player? What moves are they making to change the geopolitical landscape across Asia and Europe? What is their endgame with the United States – and how should we react? Jon Huntsman is the only ambassador to ever serve in both China (2009 – 2011) and Russia (2017 – 2019). He was the Governor of Utah (Jan. 2005 – Aug. 2009), served as the Chair of the Western Governors Association, and under his leadership Utah was ranked as the best managed state in America by Pew Center on the States.

In this solo episode, Dan breaks down the Democrats' $3 trillion, 1800 page spending bill which was voted on by the House on Friday, May 15.

Jon Huntsman, Jr. served as U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2017 – 2019, during one of the most difficult periods in bilateral relationships since deep in the Cold War. He joined Dan to break down the complex foreign policy issues involving the two countries. What's the truth behind the Michael Flynn investigation and what would an actual Russian intelligence operation look like? How does the average Russian view America and their own country's place in the world? Why has Vladimir Putin's persona become so deeply entwined with their cultural identity? What is Putin's worldview – is he Peter the Great or Ivan the Terrible – and what can we expect to happen to Russia when he does exit the stage? Jon Huntsman is the only ambassador to ever serve in both China (2009 – 2011) and Russia (2017 – 2019), as well as Singapore (1992 – 1993). He was the Governor of Utah (Jan. 2005 – Aug. 2009), served as the Chair of the Western Governors Association, and under his leadership Utah was ranked as the best managed state in America by Pew Center on the States.

Why are so many young people motivated to join the far left? Charlie Kirk talks with Dan about the shallow yet persuasive arguments used by leaders like AOC and Bernie to win over the millennial/z generations, and the best ways to counter them. What's the one issue young people disregard which matters most to their futures? How is the progressive movement doing on college campuses these days? Charlie and Dan dive into these questions and give advice every young person should know before they venture into politics. Charlie Kirk is the Founder of Turning Point USA, host of The Charlie Kirk Show, and author of "The MAGA Doctrine." Follow him on Twitter at @charliekirk11.

Economist Dr. John Diamond joins Dan to examine the current state of the American economy and what's on the horizon for businesses and labor markets. What's working and not working with the CARES Act? How does an extended duration for unemployment relief slow the recovery even further? Are we close to reaching the crisis point with longer-term structural issues like entitlement programs, budget deficits, and government debt? Dr. John Diamond is a professor and director of the Center for Public Finance at the Baker Institute, an adjunct professor of economics at Rice University and CEO of Tax Policy Advisers, LLC. His research interests are federal tax and expenditure policy, state and local public finance, tax reform and other policy issues. Follow him on Twitter at @jw_diamond.

Kay Coles James is President of Heritage Foundation and leads the National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, an independent panel that works closely with the White House and congressional leaders to provide recommendations for the plan moving forward to protect the lives and livelihoods of Americans. What looming threats to economic freedom and liberty do we see beginning to play out across America and how can we stop them? What actions need to be taken at the federal, state, and local levels of government to get America back on track? How can private individuals and institutions take ownership of the recovery process? Kay brings decades of experience in public service to create a blueprint for restoring the American economy while also protecting public health and individual freedom. Learn more about the National Coronavirus Recovery Commission's recommendations at www.coronaviruscommission.com.

Steven Nabil is a journalist with extensive experience covering Iraqi politics and security. He joined Dan to examine the current state of Iraq and its long conflict with Iran. What has become of ISIS? How effective was the Soleimani strike at disrupting Iranian operations in Iraq, and what does this tell us about Iran's military power structure? What should we make of the ongoing Iraqi protests? Is it a movement toward peace and democracy or further terror across the region? Follow Steven Nabil on Twitter at @thestevennabil.

On this very special episode, Dan brings listeners into the historic site of Biblical Jerusalem, the City of David, to discover the cultural, political, and spiritual connections this once lost city has with our world today. How was the City of David lost and then rediscovered? What major discoveries have archaeologists recently made that link back to the times of Jesus and King David? What are the important geopolitical implications for this site which is at the heart of a city under constant threat from Palestinian terrorism? Our guide is Ze'ev Orenstein, the Director of International Affairs at the City of David Foundation. Learn more at https://www.cityofdavid.org.il/en

Dr. Nicole Saphier, physician and author of "Make America Healthy Again," joins Dan to examine the current state of the American health care system and the path to making it more accessible for everyone. Why is there a disconnect between the growing prevalence of preventable diseases in America and the culture of healthy diets and exercise which is projected on social media? Is there a difference between health care access and rights? What does the race to develop a cure for COVID-19 tell us about the rising cost of health care? Is there a practical middle ground between government-run and free market systems? Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, rising cancer rates among millennials, and the opioid crisis are all examined in depth, along with practical ways for individuals to take ownership of their own health and well being. Follow Dr. Saphier on Twitter at @NBSaphierMD.

With everyone in America so focused on dealing with the hardships brought on by the economic shutdown, it is easy to miss the disaster unfolding in Iran at the hands of their totalitarian regime. What role has China played in causing Iran to become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East? How do the Iranian people view the regime's handling of the crisis? What is the state of the Iranian regime five months out from the Soleimani strike? Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a non-partisan research institute focusing on foreign policy and national security, where he focuses on Iranian security and political issues. Behnam has authored or coauthored articles appearing in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Fox News, The Hill, and The National Interest. Follow Foundation for Defense of Democracies on Twitter at @FDD.

Harvard University's Dr. Edward Glaeser joins Dan to examine the implications of COVID-19 on the economics of American cities. Why has the role of cities in battling pandemics changed dramatically over the past century? Will urban or rural communities recover more quickly after the economic shutdown ends? What is the best way to reduce the economic harm to workers who lost their incomes because of the shutdown? Should cities approach their housing and infrastructure policies differently going forward? Dr. Glaeser also sheds light on the more fundamental question of why cities exist in the first place. Dr. Edward Glaeser is the Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. He has published dozens of papers on the growth, law, and economics of cities. His work is focused on the determinants of city growth and the role of cities as centers of idea transmission. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago.

On this episode we dive right into the mind of Dave Rubin. How did Dave evolve from being a "woke" leftist to a free thinking defender of individual rights and limited government? What's the difference between old school liberals and the progressive left that dominates the Democratic Party today? From starting out as a comedian struggling to make it in New York City, to the epiphany he had about the far left and outrage culture while working with the Young Turks, and now as the host of The Rubin Report and author of "Don't Burn This Book: Thinking for Yourself in the Age of Unreason" - Dave has developed deep, fascinating insights into the motivations of the far left and their governing principles - or lack thereof.