The Daily Signal

Growing up in North Korea, Hyun-Seung Lee says, he had no real understanding of the concept of freedom or human rights. The communist regime monitors citizens so closely, he couldn't speak freely even in his own home, says Lee, who goes by the nickname Arthur. “I believe that in my home, there [were] bugs or listening devices, so honestly, when we were in North Korea among our family, we cannot share honest opinion[s],” Lee says. When he was 29, Lee escaped North Korea with some of his family and eventually made his way to America. Today, he is director of the D.C. office of the Korean Conservative Political Action Conference. Lee joins “The Daily Signal Podcast" to talk about how his childhood in North Korea informs what he wants Americans to know about life under a totalitarian regime. We also cover these stories: Inflation in the U.S. soars to a 40-year high. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues the Biden administration over "gender-affirming" care. The Biden administration announces that federal guidelines mandating mask use on planes, trains, and buses will be extended through April 18. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year, America was ranked 20th in The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom. This year, America’s rating in the index fell five places and now stands at No. 25, behind nations such as Ireland, Canada, and Chile. “We've been on about a decadelong decline in our economic freedom,” Terry Miller, a visiting fellow for economic freedom at The Heritage Foundation, says. (The Daily Signal is Heritage's multimedia news organization.) Miller joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the recently released 2022 Index of Economic Freedom, and why America is falling further behind. We also cover these stories: Congress releases a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill to fund the government. The Kremlin accuses the United States of declaring economic war on Russia. The federal government gets involved in cryptocurrency. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum are popping up everywhere. But many Americans may not completely understand what they are. As governments around the globe struggle to legislate on this new digital money, it can be useful to know exactly what’s going on. Heritage Foundation research fellow Peter St. Onge, an economist, says he sees incredible possibilities for a future with various forms of cryptocurrency. "You could replace the entire insurance industry with a couple of lines of code, and then you could run those on something like ethereum, so the concept of cryptocurrency is astoundingly powerful," St. Onge says. "The main application most people are aware of is bitcoin, but there are many, many applications. We've only just begun with it." Unfortunately, governments seem intent on limiting cryptocurrencies. "There are a number of government agencies that have been trying to either harness bitcoin or to destroy it intentionally and they haven't really resolved who's the top dog on that hill," St. Onge says. "It has created an enormous amount of regulatory risk within crypto." St. Onge joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss what the future holds for cryptocurrencies and what you need to know. We also cover these stories: President Joe Biden announces a ban on energy imports from Russia. The Florida Senate passes the Parental Rights in Education bill amid distortions from the left. U.S. gas prices reach a historic high. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent elections, conservatives have seen large gains with Latino voters. But what is causing this increase in conservative Latino engagement? FreedomWorks vice president of policy Cesar Ybarra joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to dive into the reasons. "The Democrats label [Donald] Trump as the most racist, anti-Hispanic president in America in history, and what happened?" says Ybarra. "He increased his share of the Latino vote in those four years by nearly 10 points." Issues that drive Hispanic voters, Ybarra says, include supporting law enforcement, increasing parental oversight of schools, and lowering prices. Listen to the full interview on the podcast, or read a lightly edited transcript below: We also cover these stories: Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Latvia Monday, affirming the United States’ support for the Baltic countries. Florida’s surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, announces the Sunshine State won’t be advising healthy kids get COVID-19 vaccines. Texas is taking steps to ensure cities that defund the police face penalties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Government mandates and authoritarian COVID-19 rules have crushed small businesses in America. In the nation’s capital alone, hundreds of restaurants are now closed. Others are struggling to make ends meet. Despite all the happy talk from President Joe Biden in last week's State of the Union address, some businesses will never recover. For every Democrat politician who is suddenly abandoning COVID mandates, there are scores of shattered businesses left in their wake. 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. A few courageous Washington, D.C., business owners spoke at The Heritage Foundation last week about the city's restrictive COVID rules. They've felt the effects firsthand. One of them is Eric Flannery, a Navy veteran and co-owner of The Big Board on H Street NE in Washington, D.C. Flannery and his lawyer, Robert Alt, president and CEO of The Buckeye Institute, joined "The Daily Signal Podcast" to explain why they're fighting for The Big Board's survival in a city where political leaders have amassed unprecedented power. And follow the links below if you are interested in learning more about organizations helping the people of Ukraine: World Vision's Ukraine Fund Operation Blessing Samaritan's Purse International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For nearly a month a convoy of truckers in Canada captivated the nation by raucous but largely peaceful protesting with parked trucks in downtown Ottawa. To the surprise of the government, public opinion was mixed over the convoy's appearance. The truckers opposed the severe regime of Covid restrictions and mandates that the Canadian federal government had imposed on the population. The long-distance truckers stridently rejected the vaccination requirement, among other burdens placed on their daily work. After weeks spent parked in Ottawa, adjacent to the Canadian Parliament, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, imposed the Emergencies Act to bring the Freedom Convoy to an end. In this manner, Trudeau used a law meant for true situations of national security and applied it expansively and without factual justification to a civil protest. Banks froze the accounts of anyone suspected of supporting the protests. The truckers were dispersed in short order. In acting outside the bounds of law, the Canadian government may have created a new moment in Canadian politics. In opposing one of the strictest Covid regimes in western democracies, the Freedom Convoy seems to have sparked an end to much of Canada's worst Covid policies. But what is the real legacy of the Freedom Convoy? Joanna Baron, a lawyer in Canada and Executive Director of the the Canadian Constitution Foundation, is on the legal front lines in Canada and joins us to discuss this question. She observes that "we're going to see an injection of populism into Canadian politics going forward." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Moscow—and much of the rest of the world—expected Ukraine to fall quickly after Russia invaded it. Why hasn't it? How are the Ukrainian people effectively fighting the Russians, and what could be next? Will Russia invade the Baltic States next, as some have predicted? And are American sanctions enough to weaken Russia? The Heritage Foundation’s Luke Coffey joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to answer those questions and explain how likely a Ukrainian victory is. Coffey also explains why Ukraine has not yet been made a member of NATO. We also cover these stories: The first wave of foreigners arrives to fight the Russians in Ukraine. South Dakota passes legislation banning telemedicine abortions. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy demands data on COVID-19 "misinformation" from several major tech companies. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early treatment for COVID-19 was not prioritized. Why? Cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough says he believes health officials did not pursue early treatment options because they did not want to discourage Americans from being vaccinated. "There was a belief, and I think there's still a belief today among many stakeholders, is that the only way a vaccine is going to work is if every single person takes it. ... In order to do that, if we have suppression of early treatment and people think there's no other or option, they're going to be much more likely to take the vaccine," says McCullough. "I think, actually, a suppression of early treatment was by design a vaccine promotion strategy." In December, McCullough joined “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast to discuss failures to pursue early treatment options for COVID-19. Rogan was criticized for the interview with McCullough. Only a few weeks later, Dr. Robert Malone also joined Rogan’s show to discuss the pandemic. Afterward, a movement arose to deplatform Rogan. “Joe Rogan is in the thick of it now,” McCullough says. McCullough joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the failures in the fight against COVID-19, and the left’s reaction to his interview with Rogan. Also on today’s show, we speak with British conservative Nigel Farage. He explains how Russia’s war on Ukraine will influence the Western world. We also cover these stories: President Joe Biden expresses his support for Ukraine. The United Nations passes a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces new guidance concerning mask requirements for Florida workers. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did corporate media become so biased and corrupt, and why isn't it being held accountable? Corporate media exists “to support corrupt regimes,” Mollie Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist, says. She is optimistic because “a lot of people have lost trust in corporate media in recent years, [and] that's a good thing," Hemingway says. "It's bad if people believe the propaganda.” Hemingway joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the state of the media today and to share her reaction to President Joe Biden's nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Also on today’s show, Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., explains what he saw in Ukraine a week before Russia invaded. We also cover President Joe Biden's first State of the Union address. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The streets of Seattle are filled with drug needles, homeless tents, and violent political agitators. What used to be a city known for its Space Needle and Nirvana has now become one of a series of case studies for the consequences of leftist rule over America's cities. Jason Rantz, a Seattle-area radio host, has seen firsthand the horrific impact the radical left has had on his city. "It looks like a hellscape at this point," Rantz says. "You have tent cities everywhere. You have used needles on the ground. You have human waste on the ground ... . The Pacific Northwest in general is known as being just beautiful. Really, supposedly, we respect nature. Not anymore, not with how bad it's gotten. You've got graffiti all over the place, which just doesn't feel good to live in that kind of area anymore." Rantz joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to share his experiences of living in Seattle. We also talk with Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, about his concerns about Congress' select committee on the Jan. 6 riot and what it is doing. You can read a write-up of that conversation here. We also cover these stories: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally requests European Union membership for Ukraine. Former President Donald Trump answers the question of whether he would have behaved similarly to Zelenskyy were he in charge of Ukraine. President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address is set for Tuesday night. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russia will succeed in its invasion of Ukraine, national security expert KT McFarland predicts. And once Russian President Vladimir Putin takes Ukraine, he won’t stop there, she says. “I think [Putin’s] going to start looking to the Baltics, those three little countries—Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,” McFarland says on “The Daily Signal Podcast.” America is now in another Cold War with Russia, one that the United States has not prepared for as well as it should, according to McFarland, whose government posts in national security date to the 1970s and who was deputy national security adviser early in the Trump administration. McFarland joins the podcast from the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, to discuss Putin’s ultimate goal in invading Ukraine and what America should be doing in response. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former President Donald Trump weighed in Saturday evening on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, repeatedly praising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his bravery. Ahead of the former president’s remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, The Daily Signal asked Trump whether he would take up arms like Zelenskyy if Trump were president during such an invasion. Also on today's show, former presidential candidate and celebrated neurosurgeon Ben Carson says he is disappointed with how President Joe Biden selected Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Enjoy this special edition of "The Daily Signal Podcast." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can conservatives have a voice in Big Tech? Why is the left working so hard to promote a radical ideology in classrooms across America? How is America doing under President Joe Biden’s leadership? And how should Biden respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? Offering solutions to such pressing questions are four House Republicans—Ted Budd of North Carolina, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Jim Banks of Indiana, and Ken Buck of Colorado—who join “The Daily Signal Podcast” at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hormone treatment and puberty blockers for children are a form of “child abuse,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says. Paxton is in the middle of a battle to protect children from a radical left that wants to corrupt them. “If you're going to sterilize a child, whether it's through some type of chemical process or whether it's through some physical process," he says, "that's child abuse in Texas. It's not legal." Paxton joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss his efforts to protect Texas’ children, as well as investigations of popular social media site TikTok and a lawsuit against Meta/Facebook over privacy concerns. Also on this episode, Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., sits down with us to discuss the confining dangers of Obamacare and the perils of government-enforced mandates. We also cover these stories: Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine from several directions. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell calls on the U.S. to “ratchet the sanctions all the way up” on Russia. Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, urges America and NATO to form an "anti-Putin coalition” in response to the invasion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Josh Hawley accused President Joe Biden of “haphazard, feckless foreign policy” Thursday, insisting that “we do not need American soldiers fighting in Europe.” The Missouri Republican discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during a Thursday interview with The Daily Signal's Mary Margaret Olohan at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, where he repeatedly emphasized that Biden’s “weakness” has led to the escalating situation in Ukraine. “We need to be really clear that what the Russians are doing is absolutely wrong, that it is a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, and now we need a policy,” Hawley said. “Joe Biden hasn’t had any policy.” “We should shut down Russia’s energy production and open ours,” he added. “We are the greatest energy-producing nation in the world. Joe Biden has shut down our energy production, that’s sent a message of weakness, it’s sent a message of dependence, that made us more dependent on foreign adversaries.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Illegal immigration is taking the spotlight at the Supreme Court. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich argued Wednesday before the nine justices in favor of former President Donald Trump’s "public charge" rule. That rule, based on a concept that goes back to 1882, would prevent illegal immigrants from gaining citizenship if they use too many social services such as food stamps or Medicaid. In Brnovich's words, it's only fair that hardworking Americans get priority over those "cutting the line." "I just think that a lot of folks, hardworking, middle-class taxpayers in our country, not just in Arizona, all over, understand what's fair is what's fair," Brnovich says. "It's not fair for someone to come in and basically cut in line and then get government benefits." Brnovich, a Republican, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss how the Supreme Court arguments went, and what the "public charge" rule means for our immigration system. We also cover these stories: The United States warns that Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine could result in a massive refugee crisis as well as threaten international security. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces that as of Feb. 28, the city for the most part no longer will mandate masking or require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for restaurants and other indoor businesses. Viewership ratings for the 2022 Beijing Olympics show it was the lowest-viewed in the televised history of the games. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Black Lives Matter has been amassing huge sums of money as the organization messaged on racial justice over the past few years in the wake of national unrest following the death of George Floyd. Andrew Kerr, an investigative reporter at the Washington Examiner, has dug into the organization's activities and found that Black Lives Matter's "shocking lack of transparency surrounding its finances and operations" raises serious moral and ethical issues. Listen to this bonus podcast episode below or read the lightly edited transcript. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Lindsay first came to national attention after he and his colleagues published a series of hoax papers in social science journals to demonstrate their loose academic standards. Lindsay used to be a liberal, but recognizes the very real threat ideologies like critical race theory represent for America and became more conservative. "My position though, even when I did identify on the left in the past, has always been, 'I'm going to hold the beliefs that I believe are the most accurate and where I fall is where I fall.'" Lindsay explains, before adding he's "Team Reality." Lindsay joins the show to discuss how he moved from being a liberal to a conservative, and how we can help convince reasonable liberals in our lives about the danger of philosophies like critical race theory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could the conflict between Russia and Ukraine turn into a long-term war in Europe? Is World War III on the horizon? How will America be affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? And what can China’s response to the situation tell us? Luke Coffey, director of The Heritage Foundation’s Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy, joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to answer these questions and explain what Russia ultimately hopes to achieve from the invasion. (The Daily Signal is Heritage’s news organization.) America, and many European nations, likely will face significant challenges because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict Coffey says, because it “doesn’t take a great leap of imagination to see how this conflict could spill over, could spiral out of control.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this age of cancel culture, nothing is off limits for the woke left. Christians and conservatives increasingly find themselves on the defensive. Deplatforming and censorship are the norm on social media. In fact, it happened to The Daily Signal just last week for allegedly violating YouTube’s COVID-19 “misinformation” policy. And while having a video removed or a Twitter account suspended is deeply problematic, it’s not nearly as insurmountable as when your financial institution decides to cancel you. That happened earlier this month in Canada when Toronto-Dominion Bank froze two personal accounts with $1.1 million over support for the “Freedom Convoy” protest against the country’s vaccine mandates. Unfortunately, that’s now a reality in the United States, too. Last November, JPMorgan Chase subsidiary WePay—an online payment processor—canceled the account of a conservative PAC in Missouri after it scheduled an event with Donald Trump Jr. While big banks and financial institutions cave to the woke left, there are fortunately alternatives in the marketplace. America’s Christian Credit Union, founded in 1958, is one. On today’s episode of “The Daily Signal Podcast,” Frank Clement, the credit union’s director of strategic partnerships, explains how things have changed in recent years and why America’s Christian Credit Union remains true to its mission. Clement also shares how the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the education landscape and created an unprecedented opportunity for school choice. America’s Christian Credit Union is attempting to do its part by helping the formation of new schools and providing financial assistance to parents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A single month determined the course of the 20th century. That’s what historian Craig Shirley writes about in his newest book, “April 1945: The Hinge of History.” It’s Shirley’s follow-up to “December 1941,” in which the author and political consultant recounted stories from the lives of leaders and everyday Americans during the attack on Pearl Harbor and the days that followed. The events of April 1945 are the bookend to the greatest war in human history, as Shirley outlines on this episode of “The Daily Signal Podcast.” President Franklin Roosevelt died, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was captured and executed by his angry countrymen, and Adolf Hitler shot himself in a Berlin bunker alongside his mistress, Eva Braun, as the Red Army and Western armies closed in. Discovery of Nazi death camps at Dachau and Auschwitz revealed the depth of evil committed by the Nazi regime. “What’s really interesting,” Shirley says, “is that The New York Times and The Washington Post rarely if ever reported that it was Jews who were primarily being exterminated by the Nazis.” What followed was a world wholly changed. As the German Reich crumbled and the war drew down to its last days, the United States found itself in a new position as the unquestioned leader of the free world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new group of thinkers and activists calling themselves national conservatives believe American politics and policy questions increasingly invite a national approach. They seek to combat the left's attempt to bury our constitutional order and replace it with a matrix of identity politics, vast social spending, and other objectives. Chris DeMuth, a leader of the national conservatism movement and former president of the American Enterprise Institute, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to explore the main trends of American conservatism and what national conservatism brings to the discussion. Conservatism must move beyond, DeMuth argues, a fusionism that makes individual freedom the only end sought by policy and understand that culture, patriotism, community, and faith are equally important for policymaking. On today's episode, we discuss the thinkers, ideas, and books that national conservatism offers amid current political challenges and debates: Should conservatism embrace a worker first set of policies—industrial policy, labor-union revival, and wage subsides? How would national conservatism navigate foreign policy? Is realism and restraint the best approach for American defense strategy in the 21st Century? What does national conservatism bring regarding health care, environmental, and education policies? Our lively discussion also considers the post-liberal conservatives and how they fit or do not fit into national conservatism. Listen to the interview or read a lightly edited transcript at DailySignal.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia's new law banning mask mandates in schools isn't optional, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears says. Schools are “not going to be able" to require students to continue wearing masks, Sears said during an interview Thursday with "The Daily Signal Podcast." Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill Wednesday that, as of March 1, will prohibit schools across the commonwealth from requiring the wearing of masks because of COVID-19. Although many school districts across the country have ended mask mandates, several counties in Northern Virginia have opted to continue masking children. Schools have to "allow the parents the opportunity to decide for themselves whether their children will wear a mask," Sears says in the podcast interview. Youngkin and Sears, both Republicans, were sworn in Jan. 15 for four-year terms after winning Virginia's Nov. 2 election. During the campaign, the two committed to returning power to parents in the education of children. On the podcast, Sears discusses why she and Youngkin stand against critical race theory and other far-left policies that have affected children across the state. We also cover these stories: Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns that the world is in a "moment of peril" because of Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, sues the Biden administration over mask mandates for air travel. A local Black Lives Matter chapter in Kentucky pays the $100,000 bond of the man charged with trying to assassinate a candidate for Louisville mayor. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America's elites are selling out their country to the Chinese Communist Party. Politicians, athletes, filmmakers, and others from the highest echelons of American society have apparently decided it is more profitable to kowtow to Beijing than it is to support their own country. So says Peter Schweizer, author of the new book "Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win," which exposes how even President Joe Biden's family is implicated. As Schweizer explains, "In the case of the Bidens, these commercial ties really began when Joe Biden was vice president of the United States. [His son] Hunter Biden went to Beijing looking for financial deals and what we found is that the Bidens have received some $31 million from four Chinese businessmen. "The story takes an even more dramatic turn when you realize that those four Chinese businessmen all have links to the highest levels of Chinese intelligence." Schweizer joins the show to discuss how and why these elites are "helping China win." We also cover these stories: Biden orders that Trump White House visitor logs for Jan. 6, 2021, be provided to the special congressional committee investigating the Capitol riot. NATO's secretary-general says Russia is continuing to build up its military around Ukraine, contradicting Russia’s claims of pulling troops back from the Ukrainian border. Voters recall and oust three members of the San Francisco Board of Education over the city’s slow reopening of schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the board's plan to rename 44 of the city's schools because of the alleged racism of the people they are named after. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nate Hochman is on the ground in Canada reporting on the unfolding situation with the Freedom Convoy protests. He joins this bonus episode of the Daily Signal Podcast to paint a picture of what’s really going on, regardless of what the corporate media says. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Masks have become a flashpoint in the global response to COVID-19. But what the corporate media doesn’t want you to know is: They don’t work. "I think it's one of the most consistent things we can see across locations, is that there's been really no impact from masking," Ian Miller, the author of the new book "Unmasked: The Global Failure of COVID Mask Mandates," says. "The data's publicly accessible. It's all from [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] or The New York Times or Johns Hopkins [University] or the World Health Organization. ... [People] are getting their information exclusively from either the experts like [Dr.] Anthony Fauci, who have been provably wrong over and over again, or from mainstream media outlets that have just done a really poor job of covering this and presenting the data." Miller joins the show to discuss why masks and mask mandates didn’t work, and in fact, might have made things worse. We also cover these stories: President Joe Biden says he still wants diplomacy to prevail in the Ukraine-Russia crisis, but adds that the U.S. is prepared to impose severe sanctions against Russia if it invades its neighbor. Former Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann demands that the "factual background" section in special counsel John Durham’s most recent filing be removed from the record. The Senate votes 50-46 to confirm Robert Califf as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed disturbing trends about how critical race theory and LGBT indoctrination were being promulgated in schools. Parents, infuriated that their kids are being brainwashed, went to school board meetings to express their discontent. Now, some educators are attempting to hide their lesson plans from parents who would take issue with them. But there’s pushback. Many state legislators across the country are introducing bills that would require educators to be transparent about what they're teaching kids. The director of education policy at the Arizona-based Goldwater Institute, Matt Beienburg, says these bills are simply about empowering parents with respect to their children's education. "It's bringing transparency. These are our public schools, and it's to say, 'We don't think that the content that's being taught to K-12 students should be materials that are taught in secret,'" he explains. Beienburg joins the show to discuss efforts by state governments to promote curriculum transparency. We also cover these stories: Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, says a federal filing by Special Counsel John Durham proves former President Donald Trump was illegally spied on at Trump Tower and at the White House. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is walking back his earlier claim that Russia would attack his country on Feb. 16. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser says the city soon will lift its COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The integrity of our elections is under assault from Democrats in Washington and left-wing forces across America. Using the pretext of COVID, a web of well-funded organizations, working with Democrat lawmakers and friendly judges, systematically changed state election laws in 2020. Cleta Mitchell, who has spent a lifetime fighting for free and fair elections, is calling out the left's tactics and encouraging Americans to take an active role in their local elections. Mitchell, a senior legal fellow at the Conservative Partnership Institute, leads the Election Integrity Network and hosts a podcast, "Who's Counting?" With high-stakes debates taking place in Washington and state capitals, Mitchell tells The Daily Signal that it's a crucial moment to champion election integrity. Read a lightly edited transcript of the interview at DailySignal.com or listen to our conversation on "The Daily Signal Podcast." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a conversation many have had at least once in their life. A friend or family member shares that he or she is struggling with same-sex attraction. No doubt there are countless opinions on the most loving way to respond in these moments, but a new law in Canada mandates the response to be given. Affirm the same-sex attraction—or risk jail time. Yes, Canada’s “conversion therapy” ban requires parents, pastors, counselors, friends, and others to affirm a person's gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, or face jail or prison time. Canada has surrendered “to the political sphere to let them decide how we can counsel, how we can love our LGBT neighbors in the name of Jesus, and how to teach our own kids what a biblical view of sexuality and gender looks like,” says Jojo Ruba, the communications director for the Calgary, Alberta-based Free to Care. Ruba joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss Canada’s new “conversion therapy” ban and the possibility of the U.S. adopting similar federal legislation. We also cover these stories: A group of GOP lawmakers says the FBI is refusing to take responsibility for using counterterrorism resources “to target concerned parents at local school board meetings.” Consumer prices increase by 7.5% last month compared with a year ago. Illegal immigrant deportations fell by 70% in 2021. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Stephen Skoly's request for a medical exemption to the state's vaccine mandate was denied. Then the Rhode Island Department of Health ordered him to stop his critical surgical care in October. Now, represented by the Washington, D.C.- based civil rights group the New Civil Liberties Alliance, he is suing Rhode Island to stop the state from prohibiting him from practicing medicine. Skoly shares with "The Daily Signal Podcast" why he asked for a medical exemption to the vaccine mandate, what he hopes to gain through his lawsuit, his views on the vaccines as a medical professional, and more. "I would think that in most instances a vaccination like this that was authorized under emergency use authorization, you should have some freedom of choice and some freedoms that exist still in America," he says. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just over 20 years ago, the Chinese Communist Party began persecuting those in China who followed the spiritual practice of Falun Gong. Today, Uyghur Muslims face imprisonment and torture at the hands of the Chinese government. Tomorrow, more innocent lives will fall victim to suffering at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party if Beijing’s totalitarian leaders do not face consequences for those human rights abuses. In the new film “Unsilenced,” director Leon Lee tells the true story of those who were persecuted and killed by China’s government because they practiced Falun Gong. The film highlights the stories of those who “risk their lives and use their wisdom to find ways to counter the propaganda and fight for their freedom” in China, Lee says. But the threats of the Chinese Communist Party extend far beyond its borders, the film director says. It’s past time for America to recognize “that the [Chinese Communist Party] is the biggest threat the West faces,” says Leon Lee, the director of “Unsilenced.” Lee joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss China’s human rights abuses and the danger China poses to the Western world if China’s crimes go unpunished. We also cover these stories: Republican leaders call on podcaster Joe Rogan to stop apologizing. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tells truckers to stop their protests. TikTok announces new LGBT guidelines. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The crisis on our southern border continues to get worse by the day, critics say. Washington's failure to control illegal immigration is resulting in an influx of drugs and gang violence that makes the country less safe. Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection during the Trump administration, is furious that a solid southern border has been transformed into the Wild West in the first year of the Biden administration. "President [Joe] Biden inherited the most secure border in our lifetime, and with the stroke of a political pen from Day One, he started to systematically dismantle it," says Morgan, now a visiting fellow in national security at The Heritage Foundation, parent organization of The Daily Signal. "And as each month in the past year has gone by," he says, "the border has become less secure and our country has become less safe because of this administration's, I believe, ideologic and politically driven open-border policies." Morgan joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss how the border crisis affects Americans, and what can be done to fix it. We also cover these stories. The trucker protest in Canada, called the Freedom Convoy, is up against government opposition. New Jersey and Delaware announce timelines for ending school mask mandates. Rumble offers to pay podcaster Joe Rogan $100 million over four years to move to its platform from Spotify. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The events of Jan. 6, 2021, are often portrayed by Democrats and their friends in the media as an insurrection. It's a loaded word meant to imply that protesters were mounting an organized rebellion against the U.S. government. That description might fit the left's narrative of what happened on that day in Washington, D.C., but it's a far stretch from the truth, according to Julie Kelly, author of a new book, "January 6: How Democrats Used the Capitol Protest to Launch a War on Terror Against the Political Right." Kelly, who is also a contributor to American Greatness, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to reveal what she's uncovered in her new book. Listen to the full interview or read a lightly edited transcript at DailySignal.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Antisemitism is a problem, not only in the Middle East, but also in the United States. It’s also a problem that some members of Congress are willing to engage in and/or are willing to ignore in their own ranks. In 2019, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., made a series of remarks many considered to be antisemitic. Rep. David Kustoff of Tennessee is one of two Jewish Republicans in Congress and was horrified by what she has said. Among other things, Omar has implied that American Jews hold a dual loyalty to the U.S. and to Israel, and stated that Jews had "hypnotized the world." "What a congressman or senator says or does or demonstrates matters, and it gets magnified," he explained. "The fact of the matter is, when you have members who say some of the things that some of their members say, people pay attention, and it gains some resonance around the world." Kustoff joins the show to discuss where Congress has failed to push back against antisemitism in its ranks and what Congress’ role in combating it is. Also on today's show: The global leader of ISIS is dead following a counterterrorism raid in Syria by U.S. special forces. Virginia's new attorney general is getting involved in a lawsuit over mandatory masks in the state's schools. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and other officials emphasize the importance of mask-wearing at the Super Bowl after he was spotted not wearing one at an NFL playoff game last weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Joe Biden has been in office for just over a year, and Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., says the nation would be better off without him at the helm. If Biden “went home, back to Delaware to his beach house … and never came out, the country would be much better off,” Good says. “Everything he's done has been harmful to the country.” As America’s national debt hits $30 trillion, Good joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to explain the greatest challenges facing the nation and how the Biden administration should address rising prices and the crisis at the southern border. Also on today's show: Defense Department press secretary John Kirby announces President Biden's plans to deploy 2,000 troops to Germany and Poland. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell calls for state governments to stop requiring masks for children in schools. Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer for the University of Pennsylvania, is in troubled waters. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's no secret nowadays that Hollywood stars and directors slant left. But Hollywood wasn't always so woke. Years ago, actors would star in movies celebrating America. So how did we get here? Christian Toto has the answer. Toto is founder of the conservative entertainment site HollywoodInToto.com as well as author of the new book "Virtue Bombs: How Hollywood Got Woke and Lost Its Soul." He says Hollywood is just another casualty in the left's dominance of American culture. "It's the same way the culture went woke and lost its soul," Toto explains. "A few studio executives make a few decisions, a few actors realize if they share some woke virtue signaling on social media, they'll get more attention, more positive press. And it goes from there." Toto joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to tell the story of Hollywood’s turn to the left and what conservatives are doing to push back. We also cover these stories: Russian President Vladimir Putin says America has ignored Russia’s concerns over the West’s position on Ukraine. Senate Democrats release legislation to amend the law governing the counting of Electoral College votes. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says National Guard troops are required to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, churches were some of the hardest-hit institutions in terms of crowd controls. Men and women were forced out of their places of worship by onerous government-imposed shutdowns, and it seemed like they were subject to additional restrictions that secular operations like liquor stores and massage parlors weren't. In a nation that finds itself increasingly separating from the biblical principles that were the basis of its founding, those church shutdowns were devastating. Grace Church, in Maryland Heights, Missouri, is one church that has decided to take a stand against COVID-19 restrictions—and against the drift away from biblical values. Marty Haas, a biblical counseling pastor at Grace Church, joins the show to discuss the efforts his church is making to steer America back on track. We also cover these stories: During a U.N. Security Council meeting, Russia accuses the U.S. of “whipping up hysteria” over Ukraine. Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., criticize former President Donald Trump for suggesting that then-Vice President Mike Pence should have overturned the 2020 presidential election results. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, attending the 49ers-Rams NFL playoff game, is photographed not wearing a mask. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a parent of three kids, including two boys who are obsessed with the latest technology, I know how challenging it can be to keep tabs on what they're doing on the internet. So, when I recently heard about Canopy, I immediately wanted to talk to Sean Clifford, its CEO. Canopy is an app that puts parents in control of a customizable internet experience for their kids. Clifford, a father of four, wanted to create a solution that blocked the worst of the internet. His goal was to give parents peace of mind by protecting their kids from pornographic content and other explicit material. "We've really brought two amazing, cutting-edge technology advances to the problem that we're trying to confront here," Clifford says. "The first is, our software uses artificial intelligence to identify pornography with greater than 99.7% accuracy. The second big advance is, we figured out how to do that in real time, on the fly." Clifford joins today's episode of "The Daily Signal Podcast" to explain why an unfiltered internet isn't safe for kids and what parents can do to take back control. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem criticized President Joe Biden Thursday for his decision to pick a Supreme Court justice based on race and gender. “I think that's very unfortunate that he chose that approach,” the Republican governor said in a Thursday interview with The Daily Signal. “It almost divides people based on what they look like and their background, rather than just who's the best person for the job?” Noem also talks about why the new bill protecting women's sports she introduced. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Daily Signal has previously reported on investment giant BlackRock and its ties to the Chinese Communist Party. But now, at least one state is taking action to distance itself from the China-friendly asset-management company. Riley Moore, the state treasurer of West Virginia, announced Jan. 17 that his state was cutting ties with BlackRock over its ties to the Chinese Communist Party as well as over its dedication to a goal of net-zero carbon emissions, which would hurt the state's coal industry. West Virginia is the second-largest producer of coal in the country. "It's like we're paying them with our own money to destroy us," he says, adding, "We're going to move in our direction, and ... not to continue to do business with firms like BlackRock that obviously have all the worst intentions for our industries here in West Virginia." Moore joins the show to discuss what led him to that decision and what other states should be doing about companies such as BlackRock. We also cover these stories: Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer plans to retire at the end of the court's current term in June. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., calls for President Joe Biden to tap a black woman to replace Breyer. San Jose, California, passes an ordinance requiring gun owners to purchase liability insurance and pay an annual fee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Joe Biden has finished his first year in office with a number of foreign policy tests he has had to confront. The Afghanistan pullout, the situation in Ukraine, and our growing rivalry with China all represent tests the president has had to face. They are tests that Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti and Senior Policy Director Amanda Rothschild say he’s failed. "You just go around the world in every region: We're worse off today than we were a year ago," says Rothschild. "Whether it's North Korea, Afghanistan, China, Ukraine, it's worse than we were a year ago, and that's a result of his policies." Filipetti adds, "Our word mattered in the past because it was backed by our power, and we no longer have the power backing our word." Filipetti and Rothschild, both of whom served in the Trump administration, join "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss a year of foreign policy events, and how the president has failed America on the world stage. We also cover these stories: Republican lawmakers accuse the Biden administration of targeting federal employees seeking religious exemptions from its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Fearing a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration begins planning sanctions and export controls on the Russian economy, in addition to mitigation procedures if Russia withholds energy supplies in retaliation. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announces a tip line for parents to report the teaching of anything that could be considered divisive in the classroom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the pandemic, the number of Americans enrolled in Medicaid skyrocketed from 75 million to 90 million. The issue? Not everyone currently enrolled in Medicaid is eligible. And the federal government is trying to prevent states from removing ineligible Americans from their rolls. This costs the taxpayer serious money, explains Hayden DuBlois, deputy research director at the Foundation for Government Accountability. "The reality is very, very disastrous for state and federal taxpayers alike, for the truly needy who are kept waiting, for other budget priorities, which are now getting more and more crowded out by Medicaid as it's just consuming so much of state budgets," DuBlois says. "So it's really snowballed into this crisis that is quickly falling out of control." DuBlois joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss how the federal government is handcuffing states to Medicaid, and what conservatives should do to respond. We also cover these stories: The Supreme Court agrees to hear a case challenging affirmative action in higher education. California state Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat who represents San Francisco, introduces a bill to allow children 12 and up to get a COVID-19 vaccine without parental consent. Seven Virginia school districts sue newly elected Gov. Glenn Youngkin over his executive order giving parents the right to decide whether their child wears a mask at school. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools to in-person learning in the spring of 2020, parents across America began to see firsthand what their kids were learning via Zoom meetings and other virtual platforms. One of those parents, Jill Simonian of California, didn't like what she saw. Simonian decided to speak out. She began posting on social media and raising awareness among other parents about what she calls "the radicalization in our schools." Her outspokenness eventually led to a job at Prager U, the educational organization founded by Dennis Prager. Last year, The Daily Signal interviewed Simonian about PragerU's Resources for Educators and Parents. Since then, she's helped launch PragerU Kids, which offers even more content for family and children—material many of them probably aren't seeing in school. "We do not want to radicalize our children. We don't want to indoctrinate our children. We don't want to do anything that's political. We merely want to present families and educators with resources that unite us as Americans, that provide the rightful telling of who we are as Americans," Simonian says. Read a lightly edited transcript at DailySignal.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We likely all have felt the effects of high gas and grocery prices, but what is the government doing to address inflation? Policymakers' negligence has left inflation to an overwhelmed Federal Reserve, a move that resulted in disaster in the 1970s. Four Heritage Foundation policy experts—Rachel Greszler, Katie Tubb, Peter St. Onge, and Daren Bakst—recently gathered to discuss the core factors driving inflation and what Congress and the Biden administration need to do to fight rising costs. Today on "The Daily Signal Podcast," we share their insights on how policymakers can act to curb inflation. (The Daily Signal is the multimedia news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) Also on today's show, we explain what you need to know about the 49th annual March for Life taking place Friday in Washington. We also cover these stories: New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, announces that National Guard units will receive certification to work as substitute teachers and child care workers, to fill holes left by COVID-19 infections. President Joe Biden responds to criticism after making comments that seemed to imply a minor incursion by Russia in Ukraine would not be met with severe consequences. The National Collegiate Athletic Association announces changes to its transgender athlete policy to follow a sport-by-sport model. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the midst of the so-called Great Resignation, the far left is calling for the abolishment of all work. Leftist politicians and activists call for the government to step in and create a massive welfare state to eliminate the need for Americans to work at all. Robert Rector, The Heritage Foundation’s senior research fellow for domestic policy studies, joins the podcast to explain that work is crucial for a functioning and flourishing society. The left’s proposals to replace work with government handouts, Rector says, can have only bad consequences. “We’re now violating that contract when you [eliminate work],” Rector says. “Those who choose to work [will] have a double obligation to support themselves and their families and the families of those who choose not to work. Society will fall apart under that, and there’s no way of stopping it.” We also cover these stories: President Biden gives his first press conference since November, taking questions for over an hour and a half. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell accuses Democrats of trying to divide the nation for their own political gain. Fearing an imminent attack on Ukraine by Russian forces, Secretary of State Antony Blinken lands in Kiev for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NBA's Golden State Warriors basketball franchise is trying to distance itself from billionaire co-owner Chamath Palihapitiya following a remark he made on his podcast that "nobody cares" about the Uyghur Muslims facing persecution in China. "Nobody cares about what's happening to the Uyghurs, OK? You bring it up because you really care, and I think it's nice that you care. The rest of us don't care," he said Saturday on the "All-in Podcast." In 2021, the U.S. government declared China's persecution of the Uyghurs people to be genocide. Team management responded to Palihapitiya’s remark Monday, saying the investor “does not speak on behalf of our franchise.” Amid criticism, Palihapitiya has since backpedaled on his remarks, writing on Twitter, “I believe that human rights matter, whether in China, the United States, or elsewhere." Millions of Uyghurs have been forced "inside political reeducation camps in China," says Olivia Enos, a senior policy analyst for Asian studies at The Heritage Foundation. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) Enos joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to respond to Palihapitiya's remark that "nobody cares" about the Uyghurs, and to explain why China is targeting the ethnic group. We also cover these stories: White House press secretary Jen Psaki says Russia could attack Ukraine at any time. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., releases a report highlighting the impact of mass inflation. A school district in Northern Virginia removes a controversial gender-identity book from its libraries. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A mere 30% of Americans think their country is heading in the right direction. President Joe Biden, elected on the promise of being a uniter with better solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic, has resorted to divisive rhetoric and a socialist agenda. It's no wonder many Americans are pessimistic about America's future. Yet, there is reason to be hopeful, says Hugo Gurdon, editor-in-chief of the Washington Examiner. Restoring America, a new Examiner initiative is celebrating what's great about America while at the same time confronting the left's assault on our values. "We think that we are at an extremely important point in the country where, as I say, the left is now triumphant and they're pushing successfully against all of the traditional values that have made this country great. We need to push back and we need to encourage people to realize that they can win this fight," Gurdon says. "We need to realize, and people need to realize, that they can steer their country where they wish it to go. Most people do not wish it to go where the extreme left is currently pushing it." Gurdon joins "The Daily Signal" to discuss Restoring America, how it contrasts with The New York Times' 1619 Project, and why he remains encouraged about our country's future. A lightly edited transcript is available at DailySignal.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly 54 years since civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, his words still resound across our nation and his legacy has influenced millions. If alive today, how would King encourage us to tackle the renewed racial tensions America faces? And what would he have to say about divisive ideologies such as critical race theory? As an ordained Baptist pastor and firm believer in Jesus Christ, King would oppose critical race theory because it “was socially engineered by Marxists and socialists, by people who don't believe in God,” says Alveda King, one of his nieces. Her uncle’s message to the nation would remain centered on the Gospel of Christ because his desire was to see America “serve God [and] serve others,” Alveda King says. King, a pro-life leader who is founder of Speak for Life, joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to reflect on her uncle's legacy and address some of the greatest issues facing America today. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big Tech actors like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube feel increasingly comfortable banning conservative voices from their platforms. But as Big Tech is willing to censor conservatives for their speech, other platforms devoted to free expression are starting to fill the gap. The director of The Heritage Foundation's Center for Technology Policy, Lora Ries, contends that as long as these big platforms continue to censor dissent, alternative platforms will crop up to try to serve as alternatives. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) "The new CEO [of Twitter] has been quoted as less concerned with free speech and more about driving their users toward information that Twitter wants to provide," Ries said as an example of Big Tech censorship. "That doesn't bode well for free speech or true public discourse or having disagreements about difficult topics like COVID and COVID response." "So as long as that trend continues, then these alternatives, I think, will grow and compete with each other," she added. Ries joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss how Big Tech censors conservatives and how platforms such as Gettr and Rumble are putting free speech at the forefront. We also cover these stories: The Supreme Court blocks the Biden administration from enforcing its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., confirms she will not back efforts to alter the filibuster, seemingly ending attempts by Senate Democrats to change the procedure. The House of Representatives passes a controversial elections-related bill that would greatly expand the federal government’s control of state and local election laws. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is the latest in a string of left-wing mayors to institute a proof-of-vaccination mandate. Starting on Saturday, anyone 12 or older who wants to eat at a restaurant, go to a concert, or see a movie in the nation’s capital will have to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., is one of 19 lawmakers to sign a letter asking Bowser to reverse her decision. Norman thinks Bowser’s mandate will have adverse consequences for people living in or visiting the District of Columbia. “It’s a draconian overreach of government,” Norman says, adding: “This has been a nightmare for so many of the people that are trying to put food on the table, and they’re getting hit with cost increase after cost increase. There is a limit.” Norman joins the show to discuss Congress’ efforts to prevent the mandate from taking effect—and the consequences for the city’s businesses and residents if it does. We also cover these stories: According to the Department of Labor, the inflation rate hit a 39-year high in December. A new study out of California suggests that the omicron strain of COVID-19 is far less severe than previous strains of the virus. A D.C. administrative agency announces a policy that could serve as a model for government lists of Americans who object to vaccinations on religious grounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices