The Daily Signal

Churches in the nation's capitol either haven’t been able to meet in person or have had extremely limited ability to do so because of COVID-19 restrictions imposed by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Capitol Hill Baptist Church went to court against the mayor in September, and just achieved a big win for religious freedom. Joining the podcast to discuss is Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel for First Liberty Institute, which represented Capitol Hill Baptist. We also cover these stories: Senate Democrats and Republicans question Judge Amy Coney Barrett during the second day of her confirmation hearing before the Judiciary Committee. During the hearing, Barrett says she owns a gun but that fact wouldn't interfere with her judgment in deciding Second Amendment cases. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., presses Barrett on how she would decide abortion cases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second day of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings begin Tuesday morning. GianCarlo Canaparo, a Heritage Foundation legal fellow and co-host of the "SCOTUS 101" podcast, joins our show to discuss what to watch for and what questions he hopes Senate Judiciary Committee members will ask Barrett. Canaparo also previews how he and Heritage colleague Amy Swearer plan to cover the confirmation hearings on "SCOTUS 101." Also on today’s show, we share a “good news story” about The Daily Signal’s recent trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to see how the community there is coming together to recover after rioters burned and looted many of the city's businesses at the end of August. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the podcast, The Daily Signal's executive editor, Rob Bluey, interviews Brian Morganstern, the White House's deputy communications director. They discuss President Donald Trump's health; the COVID-19 pandemic; liberals' threat to pack the Supreme Court; and next week's Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, the president's third nominee to the high court. We also cover these stories: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi makes a curious comment that "we’re going to be talking about the 25th Amendment"--which addresses what happens when the president is incapacitated. The FBI charges six men for plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. What do voters think of adding more justices to the nine-member Supreme Court? A new poll suggests that almost half aren’t fans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's Daily Signal Podcast features an interview from the great “Problematic Women” podcast. As Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett prepares for Senate hearings next week, many are wondering whether she’ll again face harsh questions about her Catholic faith. Mary Vought, executive director of the Senate Conservatives Fund and wife of Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, joins us to explain why this line of questioning is unconstitutional. Her husband, she recalls, faced similar scrutiny in his own Senate confirmation hearing. We also cover these stories: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is speaking out against attacks on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. President Donald Trump says he no longer feels any symptoms of COVID, according to his doctor, Sean Conley. Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck, has been released from jail after posting a million dollar bail. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joins the "Daily Signal News" podcast to talk about the committee's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Barrett, set to begin next week. Senate Democrats, who generally have supported virtual hearings during the pandemic, now demand in-person hearings to consider Barrett. How is the Judiciary Committee's Republican leadership responding? What kind of questions will Barrett face? Blackburn breaks it down. We also cover these stories: The White House physician, Sean Conley, announces that President Trump no longer has symptoms of COVID-19. President Trump tweets: “Flu season is coming up! Many people every year, sometimes over 100,000, and despite the Vaccine, die from the Flu." The president breaks off negotiations with congressional Democrats over a new coronavirus relief bill. The "Daily Signal News” podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Pippa, Google Play, and Stitcher. All of our podcasts may be found at DailySignal.com/podcasts. If you like what you hear, please leave a review. You also may leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write us at [email protected]. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's "Daily Signal News" podcast features a panel discussion on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett sponsored by The Heritage Foundation. (To tune into more Heritage Foundation events, subscribe to the "Heritage Events" podcast wherever you get your podcasts.) We also cover these stories: President Donald Trump returns to the White House on Wednesday evening after his hospitalization Friday with COVID-19. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and two of her aides test positive for the coronavirus. The Supreme Court will not take up the case of Kim Davis, the Kentucky court clerk who was embroiled in legal trials after refusing to issue marriage licenses for same-sex weddings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disturbing parallels can be drawn between the United States and the Soviet bloc of Eastern Europe, commentator and bestselling author Rod Dreher says. Dreher, a senior editor at The American Conservative, received a phone call in 2015 that sent him on a journey to investigate whether America is losing its freedoms in the same way that Eastern Europe lost its liberty to the Soviet Union. What he found inspired his latest book, “Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents.” Dreher joins The Daily Signal Podcast to discuss the book and what the future may hold if Americans do not stand against the agenda of the radical left. Also on today’s show, we read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about a Coast Guard veteran who saved multiple people from a fire in Washington state. “The Daily Signal Podcast” is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Pippa, Google Play, and Stitcher. All of our podcasts may be found at DailySignal.com/podcasts. If you like what you hear, please leave a review. You also may leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write us at [email protected]. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Navy Secretary J. William Middendorf says America has entered a new cold war with China. Middendorf, author of the new book “The Great Nightfall: How We Win the New Cold War,” joins the show to explain the threat that China poses to America's interests. Middendorf, a member of The Heritage Foundation's Board of Trustees since 1989, also outlines what the U.S. military must do to be prepared to stand against our adversaries. We also cover these stories: Senate Democrats led by Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California formally ask Senate Republicans to postpone confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett until after the presidential inauguration. The Trump administration proposes lowering the number of refugees allowed to settle in the U.S. to 15,000 during the next fiscal year. California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoes a bill requiring ethnic studies for high school students. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., is a powerful voice for conservative women across America. Lesko, the only female member of the House Freedom Caucus, joins “Problematic Women” to explain how she is working to defend women’s sports from the agenda of radical LGBTQ groups. Lesko also share her own journey into the pro-life movement and why she fights to protect the lives of the unborn. We also cover these stories: The Senate Judiciary Committee questions James Comey, the former FBI director, about his knowledge of the beginning stages of the Russia investigation. Senator Tim Scott says he believes the President misspoke when he did not directly condemn white supremacists during Tuesday night’s first presidential debate. Daniel Cameron, the attorney general of Kentucky, asks for more time before releasing the recordings of the grand jury during the Breonna Taylor hearing. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The principles of patriotism and the history of America’s founding are not being taught in schools as they once were. Now, many parents are taking it upon themselves to instill national pride in their children. Rachel Gerli is one such parent. Gerli, along with friends Alli Pillinger Choi and Britt Riner, founded the online platform Primerrily to offer families the resources to help raise the next generation of American patriots. Gerli joins the show to discuss Primerrily's mission and how you can take advantage of those resources. Visit Primerrily's website here: https://www.primerrily.com/. We also cover these stories: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., says he won't meet with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, the president’s Supreme Court nominee. Voters in New York receive ballots in the mail with incorrect addresses, voter ID numbers, and names. The Justice Department says San Francisco Mayor London Breed, a Democrat, may be violating First Amendment rights by limiting church meetings to one person. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conservatives who make up the House Freedom Caucus last week forced a meeting of the House's entire Republican conference to discuss a motion "to vacate the chair," which is a push to force Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to step down. The Freedom Caucus has worked on this effort to remove Pelosi since July. What was the deciding factor in going ahead now? How does the motion to vacate work, especially given the House's Democrat majority? Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., chairman of the Freedom Caucus, joins The Daily Signal Podcast to discuss. We also cover these stories: The New York Times publishes an article detailing President’s Trump's income tax returns. Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham says that confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett will begin Oct. 12. Chris Wallace, host of “Fox News Sunday,” will moderate tonight's first presidential debate tonight, but doesn't plan to fact-check either Donald Trump or Joe Biden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Black Lives Matter movement is promoting a communist agenda, says investigative journalist James Simpson. Simpson has done extensive research on the founders of Black Lives Matter and joins the show to explain how the movement is being used to further the goals of the radical progressive left. To learn more about Simpson and read his articles, click here. And click here to learn more about his books. Also on today's show, we read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about how Heritage Action, the grassroots organization of The Heritage Foundation, is backing the blue and rallying all Americans in support of law enforcement. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Was the grand jury's decision not to indict any of the three police officers for Breonna Taylor's death just? Why was there a warrant for the 26-year-old medical professional's home in the first place, and why was it a no-knock warrant? What do we know about what really happened that night? Amy Swearer, a legal fellow at the Meese Center in The Heritage Foundation, joins us in this bonus episode to break down all this and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Carter Snead is one of the world's leading experts on public bioethics at the University of Notre Dame. He is also a colleague of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, one of President Donald Trump's finalists to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Snead joins The Daily Signal Podcast to talk about Barrett, her legal career, media attacks, and more. We also cover these stories: Riots break out in Louisville, Kentucky, after a grand jury announces three felony charges of wanton endangerment against a former police detective in the Breonna Taylor case. President Trump declines to directly answer loaded questions about what he will do if he loses reelection. President Trump pays his respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as her body lies in repose just outside the doors of the Supreme Court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Sayfie, a lawyer, government relations consultant, and digital entrepreneur, says he has known Judge Barbara Lagoa, one of President Donald Trump's finalists for the Supreme Court, for 20 years. He joins The Daily Signal Podcast to talk about their friendship, Lagoa's career, and her potential as a Supreme Court justice. We also cover these stories: President Trump says he will sign an executive order to protect babies born alive after a botched abortion. The president announces new sanctions on Cuba. Kentucky's attorney general announces a grand jury's charges in the mistaken police killing of Breonna Taylor, an emergency medical technician who was shot and killed in her home when three officers broke in with a search warrant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran journalist Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow in The Heritage Foundation's Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy, recently did some investigative reporting. In an exclusive commentary last week for The Daily Signal, Gonzalez wrote that Alicia Garza, one of three founders of the Black Lives Matter organization, had partnered with a left-wing San Francisco group known to carry water for China: the Chinese Progressive Association. Gonzalez joins The Daily Signal Podcast to discuss the ramifications. We also cover these stories: President Trump says he will announce his third nominee for the Supreme Court on Saturday, and it looks like Senate Republicans have the votes necessary for confirmation. The president asks the United Nations to hold China accountable for “unleashing” the new coronavirus. The COVID-19 death toll in America hits 200,000, Johns Hopkins University reports. The total for U.S. cases is close to 7 million. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What steps are involved in a Supreme Court confirmation process and are any optional? What do we know about Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa, reportedly two of the top contenders to be nominated? Can Democrats pack the Supreme Court? And what lessons did the left and right learn from the Kavanaugh hearings? John Malcolm, who heads the Meese Legal Center at The Heritage Foundation, joins the podcast to discuss all this and more. We also cover these stories: President Trump pledges to announce a Supreme Court nominee Friday or Saturday. Democrats won't rule out impeaching Trump as a way to slow down Supreme Court confirmation process. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco says the city's rules on religious services during COVID-19 are discriminatory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Antifa claims to be an anti-fascist organization that fights white supremacy and discrimination. But the group's true aim is to overthrow the American government, says Martin Scott Catino, a Fulbright scholar and member of the nonprofit Anti-Communist Action Team, which exposes communism's lies through research and personal stories. Catino, who has spent over 20 years studying terrorist organizations, joins the podcast to explain Antifa's tactics to gain support and how its spread its propaganda. Also on today’s show, we read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about a new pro-life documentary featuring former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mia Love, the first black Republican woman in Congress, represented the state of Utah from 2015 to 2019. She joins The Daily Signal podcast to discuss her perspective on the riots and violence this summer, how it has impacted America, and her views of the Black Lives Matter organization. We also cover these stories: FBI Director Christopher Wray said Thursday during a hearing that Antifa is no joke. Last week, 790,000 Americans applied for unemployment for the first time according to the Department of Labor. President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, is taking issue with the timeline of Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the coronavirus vaccine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Kyle, a retired deputy sheriff from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in California, has a lawman's perspective on what happened Aug. 23 when a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old African American man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kyle joins the podcast to discuss how he views the incident in which police officers confronted Blake. We also cover these stories: An organization run by a co-founder of Black Lives Matter asks for donations to a group with ties to communist China Insurance companies are going to be out at least $1 billion after paying for damage claims resulting from riots following the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of police. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, tells a Senate committee that masks are crucial in the fight against COVID-19. “The Daily Signal Podcast” is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Pippa, Google Play, and Stitcher. All of our podcasts can be found at DailySignal.com/podcasts. If you like what you hear, please leave a review. You can also leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write us at [email protected]. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greenland plays an important role within America’s economic and military interests. Carla Sands, the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, joins the show to explain Greenland's significance in U.S. Arctic policy. Sands also explains the history between Greenland and America, and how relations between the two countries have grown stronger over the past several years. We also cover these stories: History is made at the White House in the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain. The city of Louisville, Kentucky, agrees to a “substantial” settlement in the case of Breonna Taylor’s death. The Justice Department opens a criminal inquiry into a book by former national security adviser John Bolton. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The wildfires raging in California have killed at least 24 in less than a month. How well has the state responded to the wildfires, including steps to prevent them? What is the perspective of Californians on how well the state has dealt with the threat? Is something not being done to get this season's fires under control? John Cox, head of the nonpartisan organization CHANGE-CA, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss. We also cover these stories: Fully 65% of American voters say they are concerned about “law and order.” President Trump signs an executive order aiming to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Law enforcement offers a $100,000 reward as police search for a gunman who shot two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disconcerting similarities exist between the modern progressive left and the communist movement. Take it from someone who knows. Tony Salinski, once a student radical and now an expert on communist ideology, identified as a communist for several years during the Vietnam War era. Salinski joins the podcast to explain why he was drawn to communism as a youth and to identify similarities between communism and socialism. Learn more about the work of the Anticommunism Action Team here. And click here to learn more about Tony Salinski. Also on today's show, we read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about a school principal who is using his skill as a barber to mentor his students. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patriot Week, launched in 2009, is a week dedicated to honoring America’s past and studying its founding principles. Every year, Sept. 11 marks the first day of Patriot Week and Constitution Day, Sept. 17, brings it to a close. Judge Michael Warren of Oakland County, Michigan, and his daughter, Leah, founded Patriot Week to celebrate national pride and educate Americans about the history of our country. Warren joins the podcast on this first day of Patriot Week 2020 to explain how you and your family can take part in remembering our past over the next seven days. Click here to register for Patriot Week. We also cover these stories: About 857,000 workers file for unemployment insurance for the first time. Presidential daughter Ivanka Trump says she will take the coronavirus vaccine, when it comes, on “The View.” A new poll by Gallup and Knight Foundation finds that 69% of Americans say there is bias in the news others consume, while only 29% worry that the news they consume contains bias. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new podcast from The New York Times suggests that “Nice White Parents” are the reason for failures in the education system. The podcast, according to The Heritage Foundation's Mary Clare Amselem, cites “examples of parents getting involved in the day-to-day operation of the school, and paints this involvement as an affront to public schooling," implying parental involvement is somehow detrimental. Amselem joins the podcast to discuss it. We also cover these stories: About 2,000 American troops are coming home from Iraq this month. Attorney General Bill Barr said Wednesday during a press conference that a federal program called Operation Legend is cracking down on Chicago’s surging crime, making more than 500 arrests and charging 124 people with federal criminal counts since the beginning of the program. The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it will represent President Donald Trump in a defamation case filed by E. Jean Carroll, a woman who claims to have been raped by Trump in the 1990s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. Marshals Service found 39 missing children in Georgia over two weeks in a mission called Operation Not Forgotten. The rescued children “were considered to be some of the most at-risk and challenging recovery cases in the area,” the agency said. How did Georgia state officials work with the Marshals Service to rescue these children, many of whom were being sold for sex? Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss. We also cover these stories: Georgia's secretary of state says that 1,000 voters double-voted in the state's primary election. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is the subject of a new investigation by the House Oversight and Reform Committee. The U.S. has its lowest numbers of coronavirus cases since June. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retail plays a significant role within the nation’s economic health. About 17 million Americans work for brick and mortar stores, according to Abby Jagoda, vice president of government affairs at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, which specializes in owning, developing, and managing retail assets. And despite the narrative that retail is dying to e-commerce, she says, sales at physical stores have climbed in recent years. Jagoda joins the podcast to explain the important role retail plays on the road to economic recovery. We also read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about how a classic American company is stepping up to help Hurricane Laura victims. 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 buying guns at a record pace. A surprising number of the sales are from first time firearm owners, says Stephen Gutowski, a reporter at the Washington Free Beacon and a certified National Rifle Association instructor. Gutowski joins the podcast to explain some of the reasons for the spike in gun sales and to offer safety tip for first time gun owners. We also cover these stories: President Trump is threatening to cut federal funding to four American cities that have allowed violence to spike. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany says Trump did not tell voters to vote twice. Trump criticized New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his handling of New York nursing homes during the pandemic. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The nation's monuments are under fire from the progressive left. A new report commissioned by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser recommends that the federal government "remove, relocate, or contextualize" the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, and six other statues and monuments. Jarrett Stepman, a contributor to The Daily Signal and author of "The War on History: The Conspiracy to Rewrite America's Past," joins the podcast to discuss the report from the DCFACES Working Group and explain the intrinsic threat that cancel culture poses to American history. To read the working group's report to the mayor, click here. And for more analysis of the report, read the commentary for The Daily Signal by Joseph Loconte, director of the B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies at The Heritage Foundation, headlined "The Mayor, the Monuments, and the Mayhem." We also cover these stories: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo imposes new restrictions on Chinese diplomats. United Airlines announces plans to put 16,000 employees on involuntary furlough or cut their jobs entirely, beginning in October. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler plans to move because of the number of protests outside his condo building. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jacob Blake, 29, was shot seven times in the back by a police officer Aug. 23 after police responded to a report of a domestic dispute in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, is accused in the fatal shootings of two men who his lawyers say attacked the teen Aug. 26 as he was trying to protect property from rioters in the wake of the Blake shooting. What is the media alleging about Rittenhouse, and what are the known facts? Amy Swearer, a legal fellow in the Edwin Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast"to discuss. We also cover these stories: President Trump visits Kenosha, despite the wishes of state and local politicians who asked him not to come. Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, tells Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler in a letter that the federal government will get involved if local leaders don’t quell the ongoing violence since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The Department of Justice is looking into possible criminal activity by the Black Lives Matter organization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabe Johnson was sitting in his apartment Saturday night in Portland, Oregon, when he heard the gunshots that took the life of a man later identified as Aaron "Jay" Danielson. Johnson, a Marine Corps veteran and Portland local, has watched the violence unfold in his city over the past three months. He also watched with frustration as the media often failed to report what is actually happening there. After he heard the gunshots Saturday night, Johnson said, he was concerned that the media would not report the incident accurately, so he walked the four blocks to the scene of the crime to see the situation firsthand. Johnson joins the podcast to explain what he witnessed and what it has been like living so close to the ongoing riots in Portland. Click here to support Johnson's fundraiser for police chaplains in and around Portland, Oregon. We also cover these stories: President Trump is going to Wisconsin despite a request by Gov. Tony Evers that he not visit the state. The case of former national security adviser Michael Flynn will continue to weave its way through the courts. The number of coronavirus cases reported in the United States is now over 6 million. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The left largely has ignored the Trump administration's role in negotiating the recent peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The Abraham Accord, announced Aug. 13, normalizes relations between the Jewish state and the UAE. Helen Raleigh, policy fellow at the Centennial Institute and a senior contributor at The Federalist, calls the agreement a historic achievement. Raleigh joins the podcast to explain how the Israel-UAE accord could affect diplomatic relations in the Middle East for years to come, and why the mainstream media has chosen to ignore its significance. She also discusses how the Chinese Communist Party strategically spreads propaganda on American college campuses. Plus, we read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about a nonprofit that converted its parking lot into an outdoor learning center and tutoring hub for children who are distance learning this fall. Enjoy the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Netflix in early September is releasing a French film, "Cuties,” which has been criticized for its hypersexualization of young children. Some of the promotional material for the film has likewise been criticized, for which Netflix has since apologized. Lila Rose, the founder and president of Live Action, a nonprofit opposed to abortion and dedicated to promoting a culture of life, characterizes the film as “the outright promotion of pedophilia" and joins "The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss it. We also cover these stories: The Justice Department has deployed about 200 federal agents to Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid the violence and unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an African American man, on Sunday. President Barack Obama praised the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks for boycotting a playoff game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night in response to the Blake shooting. An additional 1 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance benefits last week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Portland, Oregon, is three months into rioting after the May 25 death of George Floyd with no end in sight. What do you think is the driving force behind the continued violence? The far-left anarchist group Antifa has been behind a lot of the violence in Portland. How is the situation developing? Lora Reis, a senior research fellow for homeland security at The Heritage Foundation, joins the podcast to discuss it. We also cover these stories: Two people are dead and a third was badly wounded after a third night of violence Tuesday and into Wednesday morning in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man. Julia Jackson—the mother of Blake, the 29-year-old man shot multiple times by police Sunday in Kenosha—had harsh words for rioters in an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon, and she also apologized to President Donald Trump for missing his call. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers turned down federal assistance to curb the violence in Kenosha. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Riots have erupted in the state of Wisconsin following the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, by police on Sunday night. What happened? The Racine County Eye reported that rioters have taken over Kenosha, Wisconsin and that the area has turned into a war zone. Is that is a fair assessment of what is happening? Brett Healy, president of the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy, joins The Daily Signal Podcast to discuss. We also cover these stories: President Trump is now looking to make Chad Wolf the official secretary of the department of homeland security. Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old man shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is reportedly paralyzed from the waist down. Greg Goodman, co-president of Portland’s Downtown Development group, is speaking out about conditions in Portland hurting businesses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A French teacher at West Point High School in West Point, Virginia, was fired for not using pronouns preferred by a transgender student. Should people be forced to contradict their core beliefs just to keep a job? Can you be compelled to speak a message you don't believe in? Caleb Dalton, a counsel with the Christian legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom who represents the teacher, Peter Vlaming, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss the issues involved. We also cover these stories: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified before a House oversight committee on Monday. Riots broke out in Wisconsin following the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, by police on Sunday night. Kellyanne Conway, a long-time adviser to President Donald Trump, is leaving the White House. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Daily Signal's White House correspondent, Fred Lucas, had a front row seat to the impeachment of President Donald Trump, an impeachment that Lucas says began even before Trump took office. Lucas’ newly released book, “Abuse of Power: Inside the Three-Year Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump,” dives deep into the left's plot to remove the president from office and the key players involved in the partisan effort. Lucas joins the podcast to discuss his book and how the American people should view Trump’s impeachment. Also on today’s show, we read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about a 107-year-old woman who has beaten both the Spanish flu and COVID-19. Click here to purchase a copy of "Abuse of Power: Inside The Three-Year Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump." Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elias Zarate was told he could not pursue his dream of being a barber in Tennessee because he didn't have a high school diploma. Zarate, whose mother died when he was a child, dropped out of school as a teen to support two younger siblings. As an adult, he found his passion in barbering. Braden Boucek, a lawyer at the Beacon Center, heard Zarate’s story and stepped in to help the aspiring barber fight a legal battle to realize his dream. Boucek and Zarate join today’s podcast to share their story of working together for two years to cut through government red tape. We also cover these stories: Steve Bannon, a former top adviser to President Trump, is one of four men charged with running an online fundraising scam based on building a border wall. A federal district court judge rules against the president in his battle to hold onto his tax records. A $600 million settlement is reached in Michigan over the Flint water crisis. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called lawmakers back early to vote on legislation centered on the U.S. Postal Service. Pelosi and the Democrats asked Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Postal Service Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan to come before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Aug. 24, fast-tracking a hearing originally set for mid-September. What is really going on with the Postal Service? Is it true that the Postal Service is removing sorting machines to sabotage mail delivery before the November election? David Ditch, a research associate in budget and transportation issues at The Heritage Foundation who focuses on federal spending and fiscal policy, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss. We also cover these stories: A group of Democrat and Republican lawmakers asks House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to focus on issues faced by minorities and women during the coronavirus pandemic. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott proposes legislation to prevent cities in the state from defunding their police departments. Wildfires in California are forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate and Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many families, home has become both office and school during the coronavirus pandemic. Parents across America are facing the challenge this fall of managing a full-time job with their child's education. Memories of a chaotic spring have driven moms and dads to find creative solutions. Education pods are one way families can ensure their children still get a good education during the pandemic. Jenny Clark, founder of Love Your School and Cottage School Life, joins the podcast to explain how she created a pod in her community and how you can do the same. Check out Jenny Clark's website here: Love Your School. We also cover these stories: The state of California suffers from electrical blackouts for the first time in 19 years. The Senate Intelligence Committee releases the fifth and final volume of the report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. President Trump pardons women’s rights icon Susan B. Anthony. We want to improve your podcast experience. Find our five-minute survey at dailysignal.com/survey. Again, that’s dailysignal.com/survey. Enjoy the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How has the pro-life movement affected culture and politics? Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, examines that impact in her new book, "Life Is Winning: Inside the Fight for Unborn Children and Their Mothers." She joins the podcast to discuss how the pro-life cause went from “an orphaned political problem” to a winning issue "embraced at the highest levels of the Republican Party,” how women built the pro-life movement, and more. We also cover these stories: The Trump administration announces plans to begin drilling for oil and gas in 1.5 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alaska. Protests against police in Seattle again become violent, and police arrest 18 on Sunday when another riot breaks out. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks in support of the city's police Sunday after violence erupts again over the weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kimberly Ells arrived at the United Nations excited to engage in work to strengthen families around the world. What she found was an agenda to dismantle the traditional family, promote sexuality to children, and reduce parenthood to a burdensome civil construct. Kimberly Ells, a policy adviser for Family Watch International and author of the new book, “The Invincible Family: Why the Global Campaign to Crush Motherhood and Fatherhood Can't Win,” joins the podcast to explain the anti-family agenda being promoted by the United Nations. Also on today’s show, we read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about peaceful gatherings of prayer and worship taking place in cities that have been most hurt by riots. To watch Sean Feucht's full Fox News interview, click here. Visit the Hold The Line website here. Please take five minutes to complete The Daily Signal Podcast survey here. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Progressive activists seek to expand sex education in schools across America to include topics such as sexual orientation and gender identity. Their proposed curriculum also promotes abortion. On today's episode of "The Daily Signal Podcast," we listen in on The Heritage Foundation's virtual event Wednesday, the Protecting Children in Education Summit. Participants break down proposed leftist curriculum and addresses how Americans can stand against the sexualization of children. We'll hear from Irene H. Ericksen, senior research analyst at the Institute for Research & Evaluation; Monica Cline, a former sex educator with Planned Parenthood who founded the group It Takes a Family; and Mary Hasson, the Kate O'Beirne fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Serving as moderator for the discussion is Jonathan Butcher, senior policy analyst at Heritage's Center for Education Policy. We also cover these stories: President Trump announces a historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Unemployment claims fell below 1 million for the first time since March, according to the Labor Department. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says we could see the worst fall in history if Americans don't continue to follow CDC guidelines to fight COVID-19. And be sure to take The Daily Signal Podcast survey here. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Janice Dean is Fox News' senior meteorologist. She lost both of her in-laws to COVID-19, and then was pulled from testifying at hearings on New York nursing home deaths. Why was she prevented from testifying, and what does she think of how New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has handled COVID-19? Dean joins the podcast to discuss. We also cover these stories: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned of China’s growing threat to the free world. The United Kingdom's GDP went down by 20.4%, which is the sharpest decline any major economy has ever seen. Hoboken, New Jersey is considering implementing a $250 fine for not wearing a mask outside. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of vandals looted Chicago businesses Sunday night and into Monday morning. The images of shattered storefronts in and around the city's Loop look more like a war zone than an American city. John Tillman, chairman and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, joins the podcast to offer insight into how the streets of Chicago so quickly fell into chaos, and what must be done to prevent further violence and looting. Tillman also explains how Illinois' economy may be affected by the city’s surge in criminal activity and spike in murders this year. We also cover these stories: The police chief of Seattle resigns after the City Council votes to cut the department's budget by almost $4 million. The Chicago man accused of firing shots at police officers Sunday afternoon is now charged with two counts of attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Russian President Vladimir Putin announces that his nation has approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. “The Daily Signal Podcast” is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Pippa, Google Play, and Stitcher. All of our podcasts can be found at DailySignal.com/podcasts. If you like what you hear, please leave a review. You can also leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write us at [email protected]. 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 not just statues and American history that are under attack. The most essential ideas from America’s founding are under siege and on trial. Robert R. Reilly, the director of the Westminster Institute and widely published author, joined “The Right Side of History” podcast to discuss his new book “America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding.” Reilly discusses the deeper origins of the American Revolution—rooted in Western thought, philosophy, and religion—and explains why America’s current success and survival depends on embracing those ideas rather than abandoning them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A battle is raging for the future of our nation as "extremists and criminals literally try to rip out [statues and other monuments] to destroy the history of America," Interior Secretary David Bernhardt says. Bernhardt joins the podcast to explain how he is working alongside President Donald Trump to protect monuments that tell the story of America. The interior secretary also discusses the president’s signing of the Great American Outdoors Act and how the administration is preserving our national parks. We also read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about an 8-year-old boy who started an organization to serve veterans, seniors, and others in need. Please take five minutes to complete The Daily Signal survey here. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the end of June, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to "defund" the city's police. Now crime is on the rise. John Hinderaker, president of the Minnesota policy organization Center of the American Experiment, joins the show to explain what the future may hold for the Minneapolis Police Department and what his organization is doing to support local law enforcement. We also cover these stories: New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, moves to shut down the National Rifle Association. The votes of more than 84,000 New York City residents weren't counted during the summer’s Democratic primary. A Secret Service report reveals that many shootings are carried out with illegal guns. Please take five minutes to complete The Daily Signal survey here. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A large explosion Tuesday in Beirut, Lebanon, killed at least 100 and wounded 4,000 others, authorities say. The president of Lebanon said the explosion was caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that was not safely stored. Was foul play involved? How should Lebanon respond? Are there likely to be any shifts of power because of what happened? Jim Phillips, senior research fellow for Middle Eastern affairs at The Heritage Foundation, joins the podcast to discuss. We also cover these stories: Sally Yates, deputy attorney general in the Obama administration, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee about investigating the 2016 Trump campaign. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., asks Attorney General William Barr to investigate the vandalism of Catholic churches across the country in recent weeks. New York City cracks down on out-of-state travelers by setting up checkpoints at the main entries to all five boroughs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Climate activists continue to sound the alarm over carbon dioxide emissions and climate change. Caleb Rossiter, the executive director of CO2 Coalition, an organization of climate scientists and experts who research and report the facts of climate change, joins the show to explain just how worried we really should or should not be about the planet's warming. Rossiter also explains “a long campaign to … cancel climate voices in the mainstream media,” including his own. To learn more about CO2 Coalition, visit the website or Facebook page. We also cover these stories: The New York City health commissioner has left her job, reportedly over New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s handling of the coronavirus. The Trump administration announced Tuesday that the Justice Department is giving $35 million in grant money to help survivors of human trafficking. Ariana Pekary resigned from her position as a producer at MSNBC and has released an open letter describing mainstream cable news networks as a "cancer.” Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices