The Daily Signal

There is still little data available on the new omicron variant of COVID-19 but that is not stopping some political leaders from implementing new policies and requirements. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has issued a vaccine mandate for employees across the city. The Biden administration is restricting travel from some nations while heavily promoting COVID-19 booster shots. But what do experts say is the right response to the omicron variant? Political leaders “shouldn't respond reflexively with the same old, same old tools that haven't worked all that well in the past,” says Doug Badger, a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, the parent organization of The Daily Signal. Badger joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss what we do, and do not, know about the new COVID-19 variant and how our elected leaders can respond without restricting freedom. We also cover these stories: During a video meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Joe Biden expresses concerns over Russia's intents toward Ukraine. Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows says he no longer plans to cooperate with a congressional probe into the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Lawmakers strip from the National Defense Authorization Act a controversial provision that would have required women to register for the military draft. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aubrey and Bryan Schlackman say they are just a normal couple who happen to have a unique vision to help pregnant women in crisis. “There are lots of women that are in desperate need, that need help,” Bryan Schlackman says. “And it's just devastating that we, that this culture, doesn't think first of how we can help the mom.” About a year ago, the Texas couple had an idea to create a “maternity ranch”—a term they coined. The mission of the ranch is to create a loving and safe environment for single pregnant women who need a fresh start. The vision for their Argyle, Texas-based ministry, Blue Haven Ranch, is to have 15 to 20 homes for mothers on the property of a fully functioning ranch that will produce income that will one day make the nonprofit self-sustaining. The couple is currently mentoring five pregnant women and helping them find a fresh start, but they can only house them in apartments until they have the resources to purchase the ranch and build the homes. Ultimately, they want to purchase 100 acres or more in the Dallas area to build the ranch. The Schlackmans say they think their vision to help women in unplanned-pregnancy circumstances is particularly relevant now in light of enactment of Texas' new heartbeat law, which restricts most abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, and the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned by the Supreme Court. Roe v. Wade is the 1973 high court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. When “abortion [becomes] illegal, other things have to come and take the place of that,” Aubrey Schlackman says. The couple joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to explain how the model of Blue Haven Ranch could be an answer to the challenges some women face during an unplanned pregnancy. We also cover these stories: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all private businesses. The Justice Department is taking legal action against Texas over the state's redistricting plans. The White House announces a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics over China’s human rights abuses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is social-emotional learning? By now, many Americans are aware of critical race theory, which makes race the focus of all aspects of American life. The philosophy categorizes individuals into groups of oppressors and victims, and is currently making its way through the political sphere, the military, and of course, education. But less well known is its ideological cousin, social-emotional learning. The program seeks to indoctrinate kids into leftist ideology by reinforcing a series of critical race theory-based morals and values. Jennifer McWilliams was working as a reading teacher at Frankton Elementary School in Indiana when she noticed that social-emotional learning was being taught as part of the curriculum at her school. When she voiced her concerns about the racist ideology, she was summarily fired. McWilliams says there’s nothing good about social-emotional learning, and that it’s based in racist critical race theory. “It is all negative,” she says, “When you understand the program fully, and you understand the framework and the ideology behind it, you will understand that it is not good. The entire social-emotional learning framework is based on the critical race theory ideology.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do lockdowns work? Do masks? What have we learned about what government actions help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and which don't? As public health officials and the media sound the alarm about the omicron variant of COVID-19, the answers to those questions are crucial. Alex Berenson, a former New York Times reporter and author of the new book "Pandemia: How Coronavirus Hysteria Took Over Our Government, Rights, and Lives," joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to answer all those questions and more, drawing on data from various states and countries. Berenson also unpacks the damage caused by some measures taken against COVID-19. We also cover these stories: The Biden administration is preparing to reinstate the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy for migrants seeking asylum. The administration announces new measures to control COVID-19 on the heels of the first confirmed U.S. infection involving the omicron variant. A Massachusetts teacher sues her former principal and superintendent after being fired for posting videos on TikTok voicing opposition to critical race theory and gender identity ideology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The days of abortion on demand could be numbered. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case in which the high court could overturn its 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade and send power back to the states to determine their own abortion laws. "I feel like the Supreme Court right now has a very clear, intellectually honest blueprint to overturn Roe v. Wade, restore the Constitution to its proper meaning and understanding, and return the issue of abortion back to the people of America," says Denise Harle, a senior attorney at the Christian legal aid group Alliance Defending Freedom. The case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization stems from a Mississippi law, passed in 2018 but not in effect, which aims to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Mississippi’s only remaining abortion clinic immediately challenged the a lawsuit. Now, the Supreme Court again is considering the constitutionality of abortion. Harle, who directs Alliance Defending Freedom's Center for Life, joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to break down the oral arguments heard by the nine justices and predict what the future holds for Roe v. Wade. We also cover these stories: The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a major abortion case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The House Freedom Caucus urges Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to refuse to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government open if that measure funds President Biden’s vaccine mandate for private employers. CNN host Chris Cuomo expresses embarrassment on his Sirius XM radio show after his indefinite suspension Tuesday from the cable news outlet. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans are familiar with the idea of a dystopian future, dominated by an inescapable metaverse and ruled over by Big Tech overlords. Films such as “Blade Runner” and “Minority Report” depict a world conquered by technology and the terrifying consequences. Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that he wants to take that world from the screen and make it our own. “Facebook is making itself bigger. It’s basically making an incursion into your everyday life with this metaverse conception,” explains Kara Frederick, research fellow in technology policy at The Heritage Foundation, parent organization of The Daily Signal. “This is going to be, in my mind, a totalization of control of your life in the future.” Frederick joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss Zuckerberg, the metaverse, and how dire the consequences might be if Big Tech is allowed to take over our lives. We also cover these stories: The Supreme Court prepares to hears oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the abortion case that could overturn Roe v. Wade. Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows reaches an initial agreement to cooperate with a House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. New York City becomes the first American city to open government-sanctioned drug-injection sites for addicts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The upcoming Supreme Court abortion case could be "the most important" case of "our lifetimes," predicts Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Erin Hawley. Hawley, mother to three and wife to Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican, discussed Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization during a podcast interview with The Daily Signal. The Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments in the highly divisive case on Wednesday. "History is clearly on the pro-life side, and there's no way you can make a historical argument for a deeply-rooted right to abortion," Hawley said. The Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel explains the Mississippi law at the center of the Supreme Court case, how the justices may decide on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, why most abortion advocates don't properly understand Roe v. Wade, and more. We also cover these stories: President Joe Biden says he believes the United States will see cases of the new omicron variant in America sooner or later but says the variant is not a "cause for panic." Two major trials began Monday: the trial of Jeffrey Epstein's friend Ghislaine Maxwell, facing sex trafficking charges, and the trial of Jussie Smollett, the actor accused of faking a hate crime. The Students for Socialism group at Arizona State University is working to get Kyle Rittenhouse kicked out of the school after a jury in Kenosha, Wisconsin acquitted Rittenhouse of homicide charges. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More and more, it seems big corporations and even banks have become tools of the left. Americans have been fired from their jobs, deplatformed from social media, and have even seen their bank accounts closed, simply for not bending a knee to the left. This has prompted many conservatives to rethink where they spend and invest their money. John Coleman, a managing partner of Sovereign's Capital, a values-driven private equity and venture capital firm, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss a more thoughtful way of investing in the age of "woke corporatism." "You've got this dynamic where progressives are much more likely to actually act on their political or cultural beliefs against a company than conservatives are," says Coleman. "And so, we've ended up in a situation where if you're a public company, those who hold more progressive values have much greater sway on what you are going to do, because you suffer the consequences more [directly] if you don't listen to that voice." Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looking at the country today, it's easy to fall into despair. As the radical left pushes policies and ideas leading to the degradation of our nation, it's hard not to lose hope. But the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, says there's a way to keep going in the face of encroaching darkness: Rely on your own faith and fortitude. "Your battle is truly between destiny and drama," Rodriguez says. "And when your hunger for righteousness is greater than your fear of criticism, nothing can stop you. When your integrity is more important to you than your influence, nothing can stop you." Rodriguez joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss his new book "Persevere With Power" and to give our listeners the hope they may need to get through these troubled times. We also cover these stories: The Biden administration asks a federal court to reinstate its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for businesses and other organizations with 100 or more employees. President Joe Biden announces he will release 50 million barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to counter rising gas prices before Christmastime. Officials remove a statue of America’s third president, Thomas Jefferson, from New York City Hall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers is on hold pending court action, the fight is on in Congress to ensure that it never can come back. Out of 50 Republicans in the Senate, however, one man is issuing a rallying cry against such mandates. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., is leading the charge against Biden's vaccine mandate for employers of 100 or more. Braun is galvanizing colleagues to push back against the White House and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the agency within the Labor Department that the president designated to issue an emergency rule to implement the mandate. Braun joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss what he and his congressional colleagues are doing to fight Biden’s plan. We also cover these stories: At least five are dead and 40 injured, including at least 18 children, after an SUV driver rams through a crowd during a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin. A jury in Georgia hears closing arguments in the trial of three white men charged with murdering a black man in their neighborhood. Biden announces that he will renominate Jerome Powell as chairman of the Federal Reserve despite calls from the left to replace the Trump nominee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Joe Biden's sweeping COVID-19 vaccine mandates are facing a slew of lawsuits from states and private employers. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is leading the charge against three of those mandates, already securing one favorable decision while awaiting action on the other two. Landry joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss Biden's mandates and the legal challenges he's pursuing to halt their implementation. "The president is actually contradicting the whole reason that we're having these mandates," Landry says. "To me, that becomes prima facie evidence of exactly why or what this administration's up to. It's not about health care. It's not about fighting the Chinese virus. It's about controlling you." In addition to vaccine mandates, Landry also discusses: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland's recent memo targeting parents who speak at school board meetings; Louisiana's efforts to support law enforcement and counter the "defund the police" movement; JP Morgan Chase's discrimination against gun manufacturers and Second Amendment supporters; Biden's failure to halt an oil-and-gas lease sale in Louisiana, which could deliver $100 million to the state. Listen to the full interview below 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

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss his concerns with Dr. Anthony Fauci and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also talks about Attorney General Merrick Garland's war on parents and why he has concerns about whether the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for kids. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, after eight days of testimony, has gone to a jury in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to arrive at verdicts in the highly publicized case. The jury, which finished its second day of deliberation Tuesday, was considering seven counts, including first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, and attempted first-degree homicide. As Americans wait to learn Rittenhouse's fate, it's helpful to look back and see how we got here. Self-defense expert and attorney Andrew Branca extensively covered the trial’s ins and outs. Branca has written that he thinks the jury should find Rittenhouse, 18, not guilty because he acted in self-defense in shooting three men who pursued him during a riot in Kenosha, killing two. "I don't even think it's close. It should be an acquittal on all these criminal charges," Branca says. "I'm sure what we're experiencing here is a holdout of one or perhaps two jurors. The evidence is not close on any of these issues." Branca joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss what you need to know about the case. We also cover these stories: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration suspends implementation of President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for private employers, pending litigation. The International Olympic Committee releases new guidance for intersex and transgender athletes, reversing policies requiring biological males who identify as females to lower their testosterone levels. House Democrats censure and strip committee assignments from Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., over an edited anime clip he posted on Twitter depicting him as physically attacking characters with the faces of Biden and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The same day President Joe Biden announced details of his COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers, The Daily Wire filed a lawsuit to stop it. The Daily Wire, a media outlet founded by conservative commentator and author Ben Shapiro, filed the suit because the mandate on employers of 100 or more workers is unconstitutional, the organization said in a public statement Nov. 4. Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal aid organization, is representing The Daily Wire in its fight to halt Biden's vaccine mandate. Although it is risky for any lawyer to predict a case will go to the Supreme Court, Ryan Bangert, a senior attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom, says this case is different. “I think this one has a very good chance of going to the Supreme Court because of the stakes,” Bangert says. Bangert joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the constitutionality of the vaccine mandate and what could be next for The Daily Wire’s lawsuit. We also cover these stories: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the ongoing crisis in which large numbers of illegal immigrants cross the southern border. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes aim at the Biden administration and Washington's ruling class. Californians are paying more at the gas pump than ever before. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nike, Coca-Cola, and American Airlines are just a few of the companies Consumers’ Research is targeting over their woke business practices. Consumers’ Research, an educational organization seeking to highlight issues concerning to consumers, now has a new target: American investment firm BlackRock and their ties to the Chinese Communist Party. "Where [is BlackRock] investing your money? China. Pouring in billions, propping up Chinese communist leaders, putting money into surveillance companies used by the Chinese military. Even left-wing billionaire George Soros knows BlackRock is harming U.S. national security," says Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research. Hild joins the show to talk about Consumers’ Research's new campaign targeting BlackRock's Chinese ties and to discuss other woke businesses. We also cover these stories: Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon surrenders himself to law enforcement. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., announces he will not seek reelection in 2022, putting an end to his nearly 50-year career. Judge Bruce Schroeder dismisses a misdemeanor charge against Kyle Rittenhouse for possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remember when Sen. Bernie Sanders pointed to Europe as the solution for America's problems? “I think we should look to countries like Denmark, like Sweden and Norway,” Sanders, I-Vt., said during a 2016 presidential debate, “and learn what they have accomplished for their working people.” He's not alone. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said, "What we have in mind and what my policies most closely resemble are what we see in the U.K., Norway, in Finland, in Sweden.” These self-proclaimed socialists profess that a European model is superior to the United States. It isn't. David Harsanyi, a senior writer at National Review and columnist for The Daily Signal, is the author of a new book, "Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent." Harsanyi debunks the American left's myths about Europe and explains why we shouldn't look across the Atlantic to solve our problems. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China has reportedly tested a new strategic weapon: a fractional orbital bombardment system armed with a hypersonic glide vehicle. What exactly does this weapon do and what is the threat to the United States? Peter Brookes, a senior research fellow focusing on weapons of mass destruction and counterproliferation at The Heritage Foundation, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to shed some light on this startling development. (The Daily Signal is Heritage's multimedia news organization.) "This weapon—because of its unlimited range—could be flown over the South Pole towards the United States, which would give it certain capabilities that would be difficult to defend against," Brookes explains. "For years and years, going back to the Cold War, we have developed our radar capabilities looking towards things coming over the North Pole or from east and west, and not from the south." Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Lednicky, a student at Arizona State University, joined the Veterans Heritage Project because he wanted to learn more about the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. He was matched with a Vietnam veteran, retired Lt. Col. Fred Shirley, and was tasked with documenting Shirley’s story. Lednicky says he was a little nervous about interviewing Shirley, but “as soon as Fred and I got talking, we really just had a conversation about his time in the military, and it was just a great conversation.” Lednicky plans to serve in the military himself and says his conversations with Shirley have influenced how he hopes to one day lead as a Marine. The way in which Shirley led with “humility" is "something that really struck me,” Lednicky says. The way Shirley looked after “those that serve under [him] ... it makes me want to lead my Marines the same way, to care about them deeply, and to let them know that I care, like Fred did,” he says. Lednicky and Shirley join “The Daily Signal Podcast” to share their experience in the Veterans Heritage Project and how we can all care for our veterans. We also cover these stories: Inflation rates have hit a new 30-year record high. The American Medical Association’s recently released "Advancing Health Equity" guide comes under fire. America’s most elite private K-12 schools are teaching critical race theory, according to a new study by CriticalRace.org, founded by Cornell law professor William Jacobson. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Josh Hawley discusses the "crisis" of manhood in the United States with The Daily Signal. Hawley suggests that liberal messaging on "toxic masculinity" has driven able-bodied men to forsake their masculinity and withdraw into idleness. The Missouri Republican calls for a new message to be sent to the men of America: one that focuses on what men can accomplish if they orient their masculinity towards the good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID-19 vaccine mandates are wreaking havoc across the country as employees are forced to get vaccinated or possibly risk losing their jobs. Employees' religion-based objections to vaccination are clashing with those mandates, and often, the mandate wins out. Hunter Creger was suspended from his job at a Colorado-based spacecraft launch service after he refused the vaccine on religious grounds. "It was awful," Creger explains. "These are people that I work for, and that I've developed a relationship with, and they're telling me that … . They walked me out the door. They had security walk me out the door because I didn't want to take the shot." Creger joins the show to share his story and to offer advice to others who find themselves in circumstances similar to his. We also cover these stories: The Biden administration insists that mandating COVID-19 vaccines and testing for employees of larger companies is necessary to keep the public safe. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, signs legislation amending state law to make it more difficult for Illinoisans to refuse to be vaccinated. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra refuses to address GOP accusations that he violated federal conscience protections and worked at "the behest of the abortion lobby." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diversity officers slowly are corrupting K-12 education by bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives into schools and teaching children divisive topics such as critical race theory, a Heritage Foundation scholar says. A new report from Jay Greene, a senior research fellow in education at Heritage, highlights how harmful these diversity officers and their initiatives can be. Worse than simply indoctrinating children, the report says, proposals to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion contribute to a widening achievement gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students. In some cases, the gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students can be utterly crippling, he explains. "So it's easy to understand, this is how many grade levels apart the average white student is from the average black student in that [school] district. That average, by the way, is almost two grade levels," Greene says at one point. Greene joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and how they negatively affect disadvantaged students. We also cover these stories: The Biden administration encourages schools to promote the new COVID-19 vaccine for children. The president’s approval ratings are in bad shape, according to a new USA Today/Suffolk University poll. America is now open to travelers from Europe, Canada, and Mexico, providing they're fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"What if Christian parents of children reading comic books don’t want their kids exposed to bisexual characters?" Sophia Nelson thought it was a reasonable question in the wake of DC Comics' announcement that Superman's son, Jon Kent, would have a pink-haired boyfriend in an upcoming comic. Nelson, a scholar-in-residence at Christopher Newport University in Virginia and a bestselling author, never expected her Oct. 11 tweet to ignite her own ordeal with cancel culture. Students petitioned, professors protested, and the university's president—a former Republican U.S. senator from Virginia—acquiesced to the pressure rather than defending Nelson. Today, Nelson joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to share her concerns about cancel culture, fear of returning to campus, and what she has planned next. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Joe Biden has rolled out a COVID-19 vaccine mandate affecting about 80 million American workers. Biden is ordering all businesses and other organizations with 100 or more employees to make sure those employees either become vaccinated or are tested weekly for the disease. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., says he is outraged by what he views as a massive government overreach. Vaccine mandates "are freedom-robbing," Johnson says. "They're unbelievably coercive." "I've always thought that nobody should be pressured, coerced, or fear reprisal for refusing any medical treatment, including the COVID vaccine," Johnson adds. "But we've just turned our society, our laws, our ethics on their head during this pandemic. It's time for Americans to reclaim their freedom." Johnson joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss what he and congressional colleagues plan to do about Biden's largest vaccine mandate, as well as to share some stories of Americans who have been affected by side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines. We also cover these stories: The Biden administration formally announces its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for many private employers. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Dr. Anthony Fauci get into another heated exchange during a Senate committee hearing. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler calls for over $5 million in additional police department funding nearly a year after Oregon's largest city cut its police budget in response to protests and riots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Civics education has become a flashpoint in American politics. Many schools are asking how students should learn about themselves and their country in a way that fully encompasses American history, both good and bad. Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen recently updated the state’s standards for social studies to better teach students about civics and the things they need to know to be a good American citizen. When asked what she hopes Montana's students are getting out of their civics education, Arntzen responded, "That our country is a great country. ... We did not want a king ... And I believe that's where our Republic is and our Republic is founded. That yes, there are symbols that have come across from monuments, from our flag, and our Pledge of Allegiance and all of that. And I believe all of those parts are to be honored." Arntzen joins the show to talk about those changes to the social studies standards, as well as offer insight on how other states can do better with their civics education standards. We also cover these stories: Democrat West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin justifies his cautious stance towards Democrats unprecedented 1.75 trillion dollar spending package as a result of Tuesday's election. For the first time in more than a decade, the Supreme Court hears arguments in a major Second Amendment case. Florida second grader Fiona Lashells joins Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on a Fox News segment, after the little girl was suspended from school for refusing to wear a mask. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2020 election was unprecedented, what with the COVID-19 pandemic and controversy over expanded early and mail-in voting. “There were more lawsuits filed last year before the election trying to change the laws and the rules governing the election process than in any year in our entire history,” Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow and election expert at The Heritage Foundation. The political left used the pandemic to try to undo requirements for voter ID and for witness signatures on absentee ballots, von Spakovsky, who oversees Heritage's Election Law Reform Initiative. (The Daily Signal is Heritage's multimedia news organization.) The question now is: How do we ensure clean and honest elections across America? In his new book with former Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund, “Our Broken Elections: How the Left Changed the Way You Vote,” von Spakovsky addresses the election issues of 2020 and provides solutions with which lawmakers can prevent voter fraud. Von Spakovsky joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss his new book and why Americans should support safeguarding our elections through measure such as voter ID. We also cover these stories: Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin is poised to be the next governor of Virginia. Democrat and former New York City Police Captain Eric Adams wins the city’s mayoral election, beating out Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. A proposal to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a new Department of Public Safety fails. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Jim Banks, chair of the Republican Study Committee, shares with The Daily Signal how Twitter censored him for calling Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Rachel Levine, who now identifies as a woman, a man. The Indiana Republican breaks down why Twitter censored him and what conversations he has had with the social media giant since its censorship. He also explains why it is so important for Americans to pay attention to tech censorship—particularly of a sitting U.S. congressman—and what may be next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Election Day in Virginia, and no issue has captured the attention of voters in the Old Dominion more than education. Battles between school boards and frustrated parents have attracted national attention, and led to a close race for governor. Ian Prior, a Loudoun County, Virginia, father and executive director of parents-based grassroots organization Fight for Schools, feels the enthusiasm that parents engaged in their children's education are bringing to the election. "Parents have this burning fire inside of them to protect their children, and it's almost a bit of a hero's journey, like Joseph Campbell, where they have really risen to the occasion and have found skills and strength within them that they may not have known that they've had, and that is really what this movement is about," he says. "It's about parents that have found that inner strength and are willing to put it all on the line." Prior joins the show to discuss how education took center stage in the race, and implications for parents’ rights in their child’s education. We also cover these stories: President Joe Biden warns that unless immediate and definitive collective action is taken by the world, the “existential threat” of climate change could destroy people’s lives and livelihoods. Demonstrators for and against abortion stand outside the Supreme Court as the justices hear arguments on Texas' heartbeat abortion law. Philadelphia becomes the first city to end traffic stops for minor infractions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the former governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker learned firsthand how to confront cancel culture. In 2012, he became the first governor in American history to survive a recall election. His economic recovery plan and budget reforms ultimately proved more popular with voters. Now, as president of the Young America's Foundation, he's educating the next generation of conservatives how to fight back against the left—and win. Walker is also on quest to expand YAF's reach by engaging a larger number of young Americans on the issues that matter most. He's optimistic about the future and believes more young people will reject big-government socialism once they understand the consequences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How would you feel if your business forced you to do something based solely on your race? For some minority lawyers, that's a reality. Racial preferences from clients take minority lawyers away from cases they’d prefer to work on, all to fulfill a quota. GianCarlo Canaparo, a legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation (of which The Daily Signal is the news outlet), says that this can lead to mismatches in what a lawyer wants to do, and what he or she is forced to do. In some cases, that can lead to minority lawyers leaving their firms, exacerbating the problem. "[Law firms] may pull a minority associate off cases that he or she wants to work on and put them on these matters, sometimes against their will, just so that they can fulfill these quotas," Canaparo explains. Canaparo joins the show to talk about racial preferences and how they affect the careers of minority lawyers. We also cover these stories: President Joe Biden unveils a new, pared-down version of Democrats' social welfare spending bill. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., expresses reservations about cuts to the spending bill. The NAACP asks professional athletes to boycott Texas over the state's laws on abortion, voting rights, and COVID-19 mask mandates. We also have a discussion about Halloween and some of the festivities that The Daily Signal team will take part in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chinese Communist Party’s system of mass surveillance is like something out of a dystopian sci-fi novel, destroying any semblance of privacy in the country for both individuals and businesses. In a recent international incident, popular job networking site LinkedIn shut down operations in China after the strain of working with the authoritarian government became too much. According to Riley Walters, LinkedIn was being forced to share data with the Chinese Communist Party. Amid privacy concerns, the company left the country. Walters, deputy director of the Hudson Institute Japan Chair, warns that the surveillance state can have real consequences for both Chinese citizens and the international community. "If you happen to be one of the few people left in the United States who has a Huawei phone, or if you live in Europe and you have some Chinese telecommunications device, is that information being transported back to China? If it's out in China, you're out of luck. It's there," he says. Walters joins the show to discuss the implications of China’s surveillance state on Chinese domestic life, as well as the world at large. We also cover these stories: Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the ongoing fallout surrounding his Justice Department memo asking the FBI to address alleged violence and harassment aimed at local school officials. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., says he does not like the idea of a billionaire tax. Consumers’ Research launches a new ad campaign targeting investment management company BlackRock’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a crisis in San Francisco. Homelessness has skyrocketed and drug use is rampant. Michael Shellenberger moved to San Francisco in 1993 to work on liberal causes, and even spent time working for George Soros' foundation. He advocated the decriminalization of drugs and promoted drug treatment programs. But, Shellenberger says, he began to worry when he saw the number of drug overdose deaths in America rise from 17,000 in 2000 to more than 70,000 by 2017. “Clearly, we are in the midst of a massive drug crisis,” Shellenberger says, “and it felt like nobody was offering a particularly clear explanation of it or offering very good solutions.” Out of frustration over the problems he was seeing in San Francisco and other liberal cities, Shellenberger became determined to diagnose the problems driving the homeless crisis and find solutions. He presents the result of his research and investigation in his new book, “San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities.” Shellenberger joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss how the left’s "victim" ideology has harmed West Coast cities and what can be done to save those communities from complete ruin. We also cover these stories: The Ohio School Boards Association ends its formal relationship with the National School Boards Association over the national group's letter associating irate activist parents with “domestic terrorism.” Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee ask Attorney General Merrick Garland to withdraw his memo directing the FBI and Justice Department to investigate incidents involving aggrieved parents and local school boards. Biological males no longer are allowed to compete on women’s scholastic sports teams in Texas. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since The New York Times released its 1619 Project in 2019, schools have been quick to adopt the curriculum. Tensions over race and racism over the past year and half have only added to the number of schools using the curriculum, says Charles Love, host of the "Cut the Bull" podcast and executive director of the nonprofit Seeking Educational Excellence. While Americans are “arguing ... about [critical race theory], what's the definition, what does it really mean, [the] 1619 [Project] is a behemoth, and it's growing,” Love warns. Many schools are choosing to adopt aspects of the 1619 Project curriculum because “it's easy,” Love says, adding that teachers need to be presented with better education options, such as the 1776 Unites curriculum. Love joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to explain the ways in which the woke education agenda is a threat to the American experiment and to discuss his forthcoming book, “Race Crazy: BLM, 1619, and the Progressive Racism Movement.” We also cover these stories: Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., says that Twitter suspended his account over a tweet that “misgendered” Rachel Levine, a transgender woman who is an assistant secretary for public health at the Department of Health and Human Services. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says his state will offer a $5,000 bonus to any out-of-state police officer who chooses to relocate to Florida. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp mocks Major League Baseball and Stacy Abrams, whom he defeated in 2018, for “stealing” the 2021 All-Star Game from the state now that the Atlanta Braves are going to the World Series. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean Spicer wants you to take President Joe Biden at his word—his policy agenda really will radically transform America as we know it. Spicer's new book, "Radical Nation: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's Dangerous Plan for America," details the Biden administration's agenda and how it is already proving disastrous. He also provides readers with a roadmap for doing something about it. "[F]or the next three years, we're going to be dealing with Joe Biden," Spicer tells The Daily Signal. "You better know who these policies and people are that he's pursuing. Because as I said, if we don't look right now and engage, we are going to end up with a radical nation." Not long ago, Spicer was sparring with the media as White House press secretary under President Donald Trump. Today, he's host of "Spicer & Co." on Newsmax and a bestselling author. He shares what life it like behind the camera and how he approaches the news each day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans across the nation are feeling the effects of an unprecedented supply chain crisis. Prices for everyday essentials like milk and gas have skyrocketed and public officials are warning people to start buying their Christmas gifts now. But what is causing all of these supply chain issues? And how do we get out of this crisis? Heritage Foundation research fellow Joel Griffith talks about the different factors affecting the supply chain, from organized labor to COVID-19 shutdowns to government policies. Griffith joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss all this and offer some commonsense solutions to get America back on track. We also cover these stories: Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on a memo he sent out regarding school board meetings and domestic terrorism. Former President Donald Trump announces he's planning on launching a new social media platform called TRUTH. Following comments by Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter critical of the Chinese Communist Party and supporting Tibetan independence, videos featuring the team are wiped from Chinese social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With aging equipment, a lack of adequate funding, and limited production capabilities, the U.S. military is ranked "marginal" at best. That’s the conclusion of the 2022 Index of U.S. Military Strength, an annual report from The Heritage Foundation that assesses the status of the military and the global threat level to the United States, which was released Wednesday. "It's right there on the edge. It could handle one major war for, we believe, a limited period of time, but it couldn't do anything other than that," said Dakota Wood, the lead editor of the index and a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation's Center for National Defense. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) Wood joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the findings of the latest index. We also cover these stories: The White House is preparing a plan to vaccinate children against COVID-19 pending the approval of the Food and Drug Administration. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces that the city will extend its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to all public employees, as well as remove the option to opt out of vaccination through regular testing. Democrats announce plans to alter a proposal that would give the IRS the authority to obtain information on Americans’ bank transactions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats' $3.5 trillion dollar spending package gives the IRS permission, and funding, to snoop on nearly every American's bank account, Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action for America, says. The "Biden administration is asking Congress to go ... weaponize the IRS to spy on Americans," Anderson says. The future of the bill is unclear after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., said he could not support a spending bill over $1.5 trillion. Anderson joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss how likely it is for the bill to move forward in Congress, and what we know about the provisions in the package. We also cover these stories: Christian schools are experiencing a boom in enrollment. Director of the Berkeley Atmospheric Sciences Center David Romps resigns, saying the organization has become political. City council members in New York City vote unanimously to remove a statue of Thomas Jefferson. Enjoy the Show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelvin Cochran served as a firefighter for over three decades. He was named “Fire Chief of the Year” in 2012, and former President Barack Obama appointed him the U.S. Fire Administrator, the highest fire service post in the nation. But Cochran faced a different kind of fire in 2015 when he was terminated as Atlanta’s fire chief for writing a book in which he expressed his personal views that marriage is between one man and one woman. Cochran reached a settlement with the city of Atlanta in 2018, but says the experience of losing his job because of his faith was “challenging, to say the least.” As Americans, “we have the freedom to live out our faith, religious liberty, and we have freedom to speak our faith in whatever form of speech that we feel convicted to do without consequences,” Cochran says. “You shouldn't have to lose anything for living out your faith or speaking in your faith in our country.” Cochran joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss his new book, “Facing the Fire: The Faith That Brought ‘America’s Fire Chief’ Through the Flames of Persecution.” We also cover these stories: Former Secretary of State and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell dies due to complications from COVID-19. The Supreme Court issues two opinions that are being hailed as big wins for police officers. Ongoing tensions continue between Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and city police officers over vaccine mandates. 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 is a well-known oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Rhode Island. He has been called to testify before lawmakers and serves as chairman of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity. But recently, Skoly made news for another reason: He opposes his state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Because of his principled stand, he no longer is allowed to see patients or practice medicine. Skoly joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" along with Mike Stenhouse, president of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, to explain why they're fighting heavy-handed government mandates. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Heritage Foundation announced Thursday that Kevin Roberts will serve as the organization’s next president. Roberts says he is eager to advance the conservative movement and address some of the most pressing issues facing our nation today. "The top three [critical issues that we are facing right now] are education, education and education,” Roberts says, adding that conservatives will miss an “opportunity of a lifetime” if we cannot come together and address what is “broken about the education system.” The immigration crisis at America’s southern border and the “administrative state, the power of the executive branch to do the legislating rather than the legislative branch [doing it]” are also critical issues Roberts says he looks forward to working to fix. Roberts is coming to the Washington, D.C. based think tank after serving as president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation in Austin, Texas. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) He joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss his vision for the future of The Heritage Foundation and the conservative movement. We also cover these stories: YouTube temporarily suspends Steven Crowder, host of the "Louder With Crowder" podcast, for “hate speech.” The Supreme Court changes the way it handles asking questions during oral arguments. Benjamin Franklin Day Elementary in Seattle, Washington, cancels its Halloween Pumpkin Parade because school officials say it “marginalizes students of color who do not celebrate the holiday.” Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cancel culture is endemic on college campuses. Every day come stories of professors, speakers, and students who run afoul of the radical left and suffer the consequences. With the frequency of these incidents, it can be difficult to keep track. The College Fix, the news site dedicated to providing a conservative perspective on news from campuses across the nation, now offers what it calls the Campus Cancel Culture Database to document many examples. "If you want to know the truth, if you want to know how America really used to be ... come to the database and we'll list everything that used to be there," says Jennifer Kabbany, editor-in-chief of The College Fix. Kabbany joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to talk about the database as well as offer solutions for those getting canceled at their universities. We also cover these stories: The number of Americans quitting their jobs has reached record levels, the Labor Department says. To address bottlenecks in the global supply chain, the Biden administration announces that Walmart, FedEx, and UPS will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The drugstore chain Walgreens announces the closing of five more stores in San Francisco because of organized shoplifting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blacks who don’t adopt the doctrines of victimhood or critical social justice erode the narrative promoted by woke activists, Erec Smith, a professor of rhetoric at York College of Pennsylvania and co-founder of Free Black Thought, says. “The illogic that is inherent in a lot of anti-racist activism ... is absurd," Smith says. Smith doesn't like how The New York Times' 1619 Project, authored by Nikole Hannah-Jones, only has furthered division within the nation. As a professor of rhetoric, Smith, who is black and the author of “A Critique of Anti-Racism in Rhetoric and Composition: the Semblance of Empowerment,” says he is concerned that anti-racist dogma contains “no sincere attempt to persuade” but is instead “an attempt to intimidate." Smith joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” from the Parents Unite conference in Boston on Oct. 1 to discuss why blacks who oppose critical race theory are being “erased.” Smith also explains what he would talk about discuss Ibram X Kendi, author of “How to Be an Antiracist,” if he were given the opportunity. We also cover these stories: Democrats move to slash their $3.5 trillion social spending bill to $2 trillion. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announces that Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, no longer will conduct worksite raids. Eleven state-level school board groups put distance between themselves and a National School Boards Association letter to President Joe Biden asking for federal authorities to investigate parents. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to be an American citizen today? Victor Davis Hanson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and a professor emeritus at California State University, joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to talk about citizenship and other topics covered in his new book, “The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America.” A bestselling author and one of The Daily Signal’s most popular columnists, Hanson’s latest book serves as a wake-up call for citizens to take their responsibility seriously. “I think we have to just take a deep breath and say, ‘We have to reassert citizenship,'” Hanson says. “We’re starting to see it with local school boards, where somebody, somehow, thought that either school bureaucrats or locally elected people are not responsible for the will of the voters who either elected them or they were hired by elected officials through that vote. And yet parents are starting to object and hold them accountable.” Hanson also reflects on historical comparisons to the tumultuous year 2020. And he explains why, despite the challenges we face today, he remains optimistic about America’s future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a decision representing the triumph of anti-Columbus sentiment, President Joe Biden announced Friday he plans on officially commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day, rather than Columbus Day, on Monday. The controversy surround Christopher Columbus has spanned decades. To some, Columbus serves as a symbol of bloodthirsty colonial expansion, a petty tyrant hellbent on pillaging native lands. To others, Columbus is a misunderstood and unjustified target of anti-American scorn who should be praised for his tolerance and kindness towards indigenous people. Jarrett Stepman, a Daily Signal contributor and author of the book "The War on History: The Conspiracy to Rewrite America's Past," falls squarely in the latter camp. Stepman joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss the long-running controversy surrounding the much maligned Columbus and to share the true story of the man who discovered America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rhode Island mom Nicole Solas says she is just one of many parents “with legitimate concerns about our kids’ education.” Solas drew national attention earlier this year when her local school board in South Kingstown, R.I., threatened to sue her over public record requests she made to learn what her local school district was teaching students. The school board ultimately opted against taking legal action against her. But Solas made headlines again in August, when a teachers union, the National Education Association Rhode Island, filed a lawsuit against her over the records requests. Solas made the requests to determine whether her child would be taught about gender identity and critical race theory ideology, two controversial issues that have led to an increase in parental attendance at school board meetings across the country this year. Parents “simply want to know what their kids are learning, and they want to have a say if what their kids are learning is not appropriate,” she says. Solas is actively speaking out against Attorney General Merrick Garland's order to the FBI and federal prosecutors to meet with federal, state, and local leaders to look into a “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence” allegedly being made against “school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff.” Garland’s directive came less than a week after the National Association of School Boards asked President Joe Biden for assistance looking into whether threats against school board members and other school leaders could be classified as "domestic terrorism.” Solas joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to share her personal story of speaking out against her local school board, and to discuss Garland’s order. We also cover these stories: Congress reaches an agreement to raise the debt ceiling. Former President Donald Trump asks a federal judge to order Facebook to reinstate his account. Texas will appeal a federal judge's injunction against the state’s pro-life Heartbeat Act. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Northern Virginia continues to be a battleground between school boards and parents over what should be taught in public schools. The latest incident involves a series of books in Fairfax Public School libraries containing graphic depictions of sex between children and adults. Stacy Langton, a mom from Fairfax County, Virginia, made headlines after she read aloud and showed images from those books, “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe and “Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison, during a School Board meeting. While the books have been temporarily removed from the Fairfax County Public School libraries, Langton is still concerned that a child will be permanently affected by the obscene pictures. "You're going to accidentally have your child stumble across this and open up. And once you see this, you can't unsee these images," she says. Langton joins "The Daily Signal Podcast” to talk about that School Board meeting, and the larger issue of such books being in public school libraries in the first place. We also cover these stories: Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., won't agree to spend more than $1.5 trillion on congressional Democrats’ social welfare spending bill. A Colorado woman was told she would be unable to receive a lifesaving kidney transplant unless she received a COVID-19 vaccine. The national gas price average is currently $3.22 per gallon. The last time the average was that high was October 2014. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Small businesses around the country are attempting to bounce back from the devastating effects of the pandemic. But vaccine mandates imposed by the Biden administration, critics say, threaten to crater the progress made by small companies just as they’re starting to get back on their feet. Alfredo Ortiz is president and CEO of Job Creators Network, an organization representing small businesses that is suing the Biden administration over its vaccine mandates. "[Small businesses] were the ones that really particularly got hit hard," Ortiz says. "[W]hen we all look back now, it looks like big businesses just continue to get bigger, but our small businesses just really suffered." "Whether it was mandate regulations in terms of the masks, whether it was seating arrangements, capacity, I mean you name it. They were just getting hit hard left and right," he says. Ortiz joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to talk about that lawsuit and the impact of government policies on small businesses. We also cover these stories: Attorney General Merrick Garland orders investigations into criminal conduct at school board meetings. Prominent Republicans, including Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, criticize the Department of Justice’s investigation. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testifies before a Senate subcommittee on how the company is putting its profits before users. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month, yet another 30 days of identity-focused celebration, following on the heels of Black History Month in February or Gay Pride Month in June. But while the ubiquity of the terms "Hispanic” and "Latino” might make it seem that they've always been there, Heritage Foundation senior fellow Mike Gonzalez contends that those terms were invented by Marxist activists attempting to persuade so-called Hispanics that they were oppressed. "I'm very proud of [my heritage], but this amalgamation, this artificial label that is created, the officiality of it is what I'm opposed to, because I know that it is done on purpose and with malice and forethought towards the country of the United States," Gonzalez says. He joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss the Marxist history of terms like "Hispanic” and "Latino,” and to detail the radical left's plans to use identity politics to seize power. We also cover these stories: President Joe Biden announces his frustration with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., over the ongoing fight to raise the debt ceiling. McConnell tells Biden he should ask Democrats, not Republicans, to vote to raise the debt limit. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., issues a statement criticizing left-wing activists who followed her into a restroom at Arizona State University and yelled at her to support Biden’s $3.5 trillion Build Back Better spending bill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Wrightstone, a geologist and expert reviewer for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has posted content on LinkedIn for years. It would often spark discussions and debates among his followers—and the occasional trolls. That changed last month. Wrightstone, who serves as executive director of the CO2 Coalition, says he was banned from LinkedIn for posting factual information related to climate change. His appeal was denied, leaving him without a voice on a platform where he had cultivated a significant following. Having been stripped of his ability to communicate on LinkedIn, he’s now speaking out and sharing his story publicly with The Daily Signal. Wrightstone warns others about social media censorship and the consequences of limiting discussion and debate. Also on today's show, a conservative activist calls out Facebook for suppressing his posts. For more than a decade, Texas native Don Kirchoff has used Facebook to share news and information with fellow conservatives. The longtime Heritage Foundation supporter and Heritage Action Sentinel frequently posts Daily Signal stories as well as content from other conservative organizations and media outlets. But is anyone seeing them? Many of his Facebook posts that have zero likes or comments, prompting Kirchoff to take his case directly to Facebook. While that has worked in the past, he’s noticed the problem more often. Kirchoff captured screenshots and shared them with The Daily Signal as well as Facebook. (The Daily Signal is the multimedia news organization of Heritage.) Kirchoff joined the podcast to explain the situation and raise awareness for other conservatives. 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 national debt has topped $28.4 trillion, but Democrats want to raise the debt limit and keep on spending. For months, Democrats have been pushing a $3.5 trillion tax-and-spend bill, but they may have hit a roadblock Thursday. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he can’t support the social welfare spending package. “My top line has been $1.5 [trillion],” Manchin told reporters outside the Capitol. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., says congressional Democrats' $3.5 trillion bill would significantly harm the economy if they succeed in passing it. Although Manchin and some other centrist Democrats say they can’t support the bill, McClintock says, he “would hate to see the fate of the republic rest on those narrow shoulders.” Democrats also worked Thursday to promote a more bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. But McClintock says that bill provides funding to “Green New Deal subsidies to green energy companies” and other leftist priorities. The California Republican joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to break down the state of the economy and the likelihood that Democrats will be able to pass the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and the other $3.5 trillion spending bill. We also cover these stories: Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., says he won’t support Democrats' $3.5 trillion spending bill. The Supreme Court will take up a case about Boston’s refusal to fly a flag representing a Christian organization outside Boston City Hall. The gunmaker Smith & Wesson is moving its headquarters from Springfield, Massachusetts, to Maryville, Tennessee. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melbourne, Australia is in its sixth COVID-19 lockdown and is now the longest locked-down city in the world. Australia has taken an unprecedented approach to fighting the pandemic within its borders, implementing extreme lockdown measures. Leaders across Australia have instantly put their states and cities into lockdown when COVID-19 cases are reported, believing that “zero cases [means] freedom,” Evan Mulholland, director of communications at the Institute of Public Affairs in Australia, says. “But … zero cases actually means zero jobs. It means zero hope. It actually means zero freedom at the end of the day because you're not getting on with life,” Mulholland says. The ongoing lockdowns have led to protests in Melbourne and other parts of the country where citizens are demanding an end to the strict pandemic measures. Mulholland, who lives in Melbourne, joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss what life is like in Australia right now, and what lessons other free nations should heed from Australia’s handling of the pandemic. We also cover these stories: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says it was the State Department’s “call” not to conduct early evacuations of American citizens and special immigrant visa holders out of Afghanistan. United Airlines is firing almost 600 employees for refusing to be vaccinated for COVID-19. YouTube announces it no longer will target only misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, but also content that promotes misinformation about other vaccines. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices