The Daily Signal

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie brings a personal and family history of military service to his high-profile job—characteristics that have helped him lead an government agency responsible for providing care for approximately 9.5 million of America's veterans. The Daily Signal speaks to him about the issues confronting America's veterans and his leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs. We also share your letters to the editor and an interview with U.S. Special Forces veteran and author Brad Taylor about his new book, "Hunter Killer," which is available Tuesday. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcast app. All of our podcasts can be found at dailysignal.com/podcasts. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. forces killed one of Iran's most powerful men, Qassim Suleimani, early Friday morning in Baghdad. He was leader of Iran's elite Quds Force, and the order came directly from President Donald Trump. Jim Carafano of The Heritage Foundation unpacks the details, what led to the attack, and what to look for next. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Maj Toure, founder of Black Guns Matter, comes from inner-city Philadelphia, where he teaches black youth about their Second Amendment rights. "Gun control is about people control," he says, adding that, "It’s not about safety. ... It’s about taking large percentages of American populations—urban centers; urban metropolises; New York City, 8.5, sometimes 9 million people—and telling them they do not have the right as stated in the Second Amendment to defend their lives. Our organization is there to push that back and the education and the understanding is how we do it." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At 16, Casey Diaz went to prison for murder. The son of an alcoholic father, Diaz grew up in a rough neighborhood and first saw three men killed when he was 8. By the time he was 11, he had joined a gang. But after years in prison, Diaz, the author of new book “The Shot Caller,” had a radical conversion, and his transformed life began to have an impact on others, including a founder of MS-13. Enjoy this top episode from 2019. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When she was around 13, Eliana Bookbinder began questioning her gender after reading a lot online. But in time, she came to realize she was a woman—and now she’s fighting for feminism. Daniel Davis and Katrina Trinko interview Bookbinder to learn more about her journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're featuring some of our favorite interviews from 2019. Today, we're sharing Daniel Davis and Rachel del Guidice's interview with Christopher Scalia, the co-editor of "On Faith: Lessons from an American Believer.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer Zeng grew up admiring the Communist Party of China and adhering to its stringent rules. But her life changed forever when she embraced religion and was swept up in a government crackdown on Falun Gong. Arrested four times as a young adult and held in as a prisoner in a labor camp, he quickly woke up to the horrors of living in a socialist state. After being subject to brutal torture, Zeng managed to escape China and now tells about the evils of socialism and communism. At a time when more Americans are embracing Karl Marx’s teachings, Chris Wright has helped Zeng share her story as part of a network called the Anticommunism Action Team. They recently spoke to The Daily Signal along with Darian Diachok, who escaped from Soviet-era Ukraine as an infant and has helped former Soviet satellite states democratize and overcome their failed communist systems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The American economy has had a strong year. How much of this can we attribute this to the federal tax reform passed in 2017? Rachel del Guidice speaks with Joseph Sepervivo, the founder and CEO of Joseph's Lite Cookies. Sepervino explains how tax cuts have not only benefitted his business but Americans as a whole. Rob Bluey joined del Guidice in an interview with economist Stephen Moore, a fellow at The Heritage Foundation, who explains how tax cuts have benefitted the economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heritage legal scholar Tom Jipping joins the podcast to discuss the House's impeachment process, and what's next in the Senate. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Monica Crowley, Treasury Department assistant secretary of public affairs, joins the podcast to talk about the "incredible economic boom" that followed the tax reform passed in 2017. Jessica Ditto, deputy communications director at the White House, joins for an interview as well, discussing tax cuts and the future of trade. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Is Alaska a model of success for the rest of the country? Virginia Allen speaks with Alaska Gov. Michael Dunleavy, who took office in December 2018. Dunleavy, a Republican, talks about how he is working to make the state more fiscally responsible, why he sent National Guard troops from Alaska to the U.S.-Mexico border, and his education reforms in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Read a lightly edited transcript of the interview, posted below, or listen on the podcast: We also cover the next step in impeachment, the Supreme Court's refusal to hear a case on homelessness. and a proposal to raise the legal age for smoking. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Accuracy in Media recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Founded by Reed Irvine to combat liberal media bias, Accuracy in Media has a new leader. Adam Guillette speaks to The Daily Signal about his plans for the organization, the threat of "fake news," and the media's attacks on President Donald Trump. Also on today's show: We read your letters to the editor. You can leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write to us at [email protected]. And we share a good news story about a Marine veteran and his family who were surprised with a special gift during this Christmas season. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcast app. All of our podcasts can be found at dailysignal.com/podcasts. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two years ago, the Supreme Court handed down a major ruling in the Janus decision. That decision freed up public-sector workers from having to pay unions against their will. But since then, a lot of states haven’t been complying -- and unions have fought back. Alaska is leading the charge in the opposite direction -- bringing its state into compliance with the Supreme Court decision. Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson joins the podcast to discuss. Plus: Peloton, the home workout bike, is taking heat after an ad that some say is offensive and sexist. We also cover the following stories: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces the House will vote on impeachment next week. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks out about impeachment in the Senate. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., blames the New Jersey shooting on "white supremacy." The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

“One of the biggest questions I have back home in the 10th District of Georgia is, ‘When are heads going to roll over all this corruption?'” says Rep. Jody Hice, a Republican. “People want justice.” Hice joins the podcast to discuss the new report released by the Justice Department’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz. He also discusses government spending and the impeachment process. We also cover the following stories: Michael Horowitz testifies on the Hill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell talks about impeachment. Time names climate change activist Greta Thunberg as its person of the year. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

In the 1980s, Patricia Rucker’s family left Venezuela, planning that her father would work for a time in the U.S. “Venezuela to me was the most perfect country you could have on this earth,” Rucker recalls. “Not only beautiful weather--beautiful people, very moral, very safe, very free, never had an income tax. The Constitution of Venezuela was modeled after the U.S. Constitution.” But the family’s plans changed, even as Venezuela fundamentally changed. ”Hugo Chavez was able to win an election by making promises and sowing envy, telling folks you should have what others have, you should have whatever, the nice houses,” Rucker warns. “You should get this, you should get that.” Now a U.S. citizen and a West Virginia state senator, Rucker is speaking out about the dangers of socialism. We also cover the following stories: The House Democrats announce the next impeachment step. President Trump criticizes FBI Director Christopher Wray. Most Americans didn't talk politics at Thanksgiving. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Family members are grieving after a shooter killed three Navy servicemen at a Pensacola, Florida, Navy base. Details are just starting to emerge about the shooter, 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, a Saudi Arabian air force pilot training in the U.S. Heritage Foundation scholar Cully Stimson discusses possible motives and the FBI investigation. We also cover the following stories: · The Justice Department’s inspector general issues a report about the surveillance of Trump aides during the 2016 election. · House Democrats hold another impeachment hearing. · Sports Illustrated makes Megan Rapinoe “Sportsperson of the Year.” The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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 is no secret that Americans love to shop! Whether in department stores, small boutiques, or online - America is a powerhouse of consumerism. But it was not always this way. Professor Josh McMullen, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA explains the rise of consumer culture in America. McMullen delves into the striking similarities between advertising then and now, the influence of transportation and department stores on consumerism, and the importance of consumption in the battle against communism in the mid-1900s. Also on today's show: We read your letters to the editor. You can leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write to us at [email protected]. And we share a good news story about the “Mountain Man Santa” in Kentucky that delivers gifts to the poor. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcast app. All of our podcasts can be found at dailysignal.com/podcasts. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad and Hilary Scott run a family jewelry business. They sell jewelry across state lines – and that’s become a huge liability. A recent Supreme Court says they—and other businesses—have to pay sales taxes to other states, which could potentially ruin small businesses like theirs. Daniel Davis recently spoke to them at the annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council in Phoenix. We also cover the following stories: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces the House is moving forward on impeachment. Pelosi also has a heated exchange with a reporter. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promotes the importance of religious freedom. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Schools are increasingly moving in a radical direction on sex-ed, LGBT activism, and more, "When we're talking ... about the transgender issues and education, you have to realize that you can bring those subjects up in any area. It can be taught in history, it can be taught during reading time," says Lydia Gutierrez, a second grade teacher, and chair of the National Education Association Conservative Educators Caucus. She wants to help parents understand how to both help their own children and how to work within the system for change. We also cover the following stories: We cover the highlights of Wednesday's House Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing. The Trump administration takes action on food stamps. The incoming Georgia senator says the "abortion on demand agenda is immoral." The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Amid declining church attendance, and cultural storms, do Americans still take faith seriously? "We're a no longer deeply Christian country that is not yet post-Christian and is still heavily influenced by Christianity," says Ross Douthat, a New York Times columnist and author. We also cover the following stories: House Democrats release a new impeachment report. President Trump has a strained exchange with French President Macron. Facing charges over his use of campaign dollars, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., pleads guilty. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

“After I began to volunteer with this alderman and learn the ways of the Democratic Party … I began to question some of the narratives,” says Gianno Caldwell, author of “Taken for Granted: How Conservatism Can Win Back the Americans That Liberalism Failed.” He found himself wondering, “Why is it that although these politicians come every year during election time, why is it the conditions and the communities never get better?” That was the beginning of his journey to the right. We also cover the following stories: · The Supreme Court hears the first major gun rights case in almost a decade. · President Trump criticizes Democrats for having impeachment hearings during a NATO event. · Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg says social media shouldn't censor politicians. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

For the past 16 years, Herbie Newell has been the President and Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services, an organization that serves vulnerable children around the world. Newell shares his views on the child welfare system, how his organization approaches finding homes for kids in need and how they train and equip parents who want to adopt. Newell also discusses Lifeline’s international outreach (un)adopted, a program that helps children right in their home country. Through powerful stories of children they have worked with, Newell explains how they are equipping children for successful futures. Whether you are looking to adopt or not, learn how you can be a part of changing the lives of vulnerable children. To learn more or be apart of their programs, go to Lifelinechild.org. Also on today's show: We read your letters to the editor. You can leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write to us at [email protected]. And we share a good news story about an act of kindness at a diner that reveals how hard times can allow us to support and connect with others. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcast app. All of our podcasts can be found at dailysignal.com/podcasts. 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 truly be educated? Great Hearts Academies, a series of charter schools in Texas and Arizona, is focused on a classical curriculum. "We are trying to provide a form of education where our students' loves are tapped into. They begin to learn to love what is true. They are drawn to what is beautiful. They recognize that goodness is desirable and they want it for themselves," says Robert Jackson, the chief academic officer of Great Hearts Academies. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

What actually happened at the first Thanksgiving? And how did our memory of it, over the centuries of American history, get tinged with a bit of “fake news”? Today we're re-playing a special Thanksgiving podcast episode. Tracy McKenzie, author of “The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About Loving God and Learning from History,” joins us to discuss the holiday. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Google Play, or 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

Identity politics and group mentality is driving the left today, says David Limabugh, author of the new book, “Guilty By Reason of Insanity.” “You can’t watch an award show without these people obsessing on race, gender, sexual orientation,” Limbaugh says. “That’s all they care about. And that they even wrap that into their Marxist economic idea that it’s all related to oppression and oppressed and oppressor and victim and victimizer. It’s really a negative, sad way to look at the world. And yet that is what drives leftism today.” We also cover the following stories: · President Trump has pardoned this year’s turkeys. · A new study shows a surprising numbers of deaths among Americans aged 25 to 64. · Robert DeNiro criticizes President Trump as a “fake president.” The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

At age 19, Kathy Grace Duncan decided she was ready to live as a man. "Before I went to kindergarten, probably ages 3 to 4, I would ride my tricycle over to get my girlfriend, pick her up. We were going to get married," she recounts. "So I knew that I wanted to be a boy and I would play like a boy." But eleven years after her gender transition, Duncan decided she was now going to live as a woman again. She joins the podcast to share what happened. We also cover the following stories: President Trump celebrated Conan, the dog instrumental in taking down a terrorist. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., isn't backing down on his calls for a look at the Bidens and Burisma. A Massachusetts town wants to let 16 and 17-year-olds vote. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Andrew Beckwith calls the Massachusetts ROE Act what it is--infanticide. Beckwith, President of the Massachusetts Family Institute, explains why this bill would endanger women’s health and remove restrictions that would allow abortion up to, and even during, delivery. Beckwith also discusses his institute’s effort to stand against transgender legislation. And he explains a new Massachusetts law that places a counseling ban on licensed mental health professionals, stopping them from helping children feel comfortable in their own bodies. Also on today's show: We read your letters to the editor. You can leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write to us at [email protected]. And we share a good news story about a young mother that Students for Life of America helped get back into college. To get involved with Students for Life of America, or learn how they can help educate you on title IX and connect you with resources, click here. The Heritage Foundation is now accepting applicants for the spring 2020 semester. Apply here! The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcast app. All of our podcasts can be found at dailysignal.com/podcasts. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As impeachment hearings draw to a close, witnesses have failed to produce hard evidence of wrongdoing on the part of President Donald Trump. Heritage Senior Legal Fellow Hans von Spakovsky will join the podcast to unpack what we learned this week—and what to expect going forward. We also cover the following stories: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicted on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Senate approves a stopgap bill to prevent government shutdown. House Democrats demand Trump fire top advisor Stephen Miller. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

"They are searching for every haystack they can possibly find in hopes that there's a needle somewhere that they can bring forward and say, 'A-ha, we have something to impeach him,'" says Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga. "And the American people are seeing it for what it is." Tune in for a special bonus podcast interview. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the beginning of November, Cody Howdeshell has been in Hong Kong, delivering first aid to the protesters. He's seen some of the violence first hand: the Hong Kong police, he says of one time, "went in and they beat these kids that were already half dead with their nightsticks and began to absolutely tear them out with no mercy, probably dislocating limbs, and shoved them against the wall and arrested them." He joins the podcast to share why the protesters want freedom and more, what he thinks will happen in the long term, and what he believes Americans should learn from Hong Kong's experience. "Nothing in communism is voluntary, and it has to be enforced with violence at the end of the day against those that would preserve their own freedom and liberty," Howdeshell says. We also cover the following stories: What happened during Ambassador Gordon Sondland's hearing. Jussie Smollet is fighting Chicago in the courts. Once again, Californians are facing power outages. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Health care continues to be a top issue for Americans -- but it’s not getting much attention from Congress. Rep. Greg Murphy, a urologist and House member, brings a unique perspective to the health care debate. We also cover the following stories: Why Chick-fil-A's surrender in the culture wars is so depressing. What happened during Tuesday's impeachment hearings. Colleges students protest economist Art Laffer. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Charles Mitchell, who leads the Commonwealth Foundation in Pennsylvania, is worried about children's access to charter schools in the Keystone State. "Our governor has declared war on opportunity for Pennsylvania families," Mitchell says, referring to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. "He's issued 11 executive orders, the plain intent of which is to put the kibosh on charter schools." We also cover the following stories: Supreme Court plaintiff Mark Janus discusses workers' rights. Two impeachment hearings will occur today. Chick-fil-a makes a notable change in its charitable giving. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Should students go straight to college after High school? Tommy Nelson, Senior Pastor of Denton Bible Church, would argue no. “Colleges now are trying to make you a living, but not a life,” he says. To combat this problem, Nelson has created GAP, a 9-month leadership program where high school graduates can learn theology, life skills, job skills, and more before attending a university. In today’s episode, Nelson discusses why he started GAP, how it operates, and how we can prepare young people to stand against the rise of secularism on college campuses. Visit https://www.dbcmedia.org/ to learn more about GAP. Also on today's show: We read your letters to the editor. You can leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write to us at [email protected]. And we share a good news story of a sergeant who ran a race, saved a life, and got engaged all in one day. The Heritage Foundation is now accepting applicant for the spring 2020 semester. Apply here! The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcast app. All of our podcasts can be found at dailysignal.com/podcasts. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Democrats are intent on impeaching President Trump for something. It really doesn't matter to them what it is," says Heritage Foundation legal scholar Tom Jipping. He joins the podcast to explain why lawyers, not lawmakers, are doing much of the questioning, what's next for the impeachment process, and what the main takeaways are from the hearing Wednesday. We also cover the following stories: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggests President Trump's actions are worse than President Nixon's offenses. At least two people were killed in another school shooting. Pop star Ellie Goulding has backed down after demanding Salvation Army donate to an LGBT group. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

“I consider myself a liberal. I still consider myself a feminist,” says writer Meghan Daum. But the past few years have left her shaken. “I did not feel that the new left was necessarily representing my values all the time. There was a sort of purity-policing that interestingly we used to associate with the right," she says. Between #MeToo, smugness on social media, the Covington high schooler incident, and an interest in the so-called "intellectual dark web", Daum is carving out her own political path. We also cover the following stories: What happened during the first public impeachment hearing. Hillary Clinton says Margaret Thatcher wasn't worthy of being in her new book about gutsy women. Disney is warning viewers of its older films that they may contain outdated cultural depictions. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

In 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote--and lost the election. Cue a renewed interest from the left in demolishing the Electoral College. Now 15 states and the District of Columbia have joined the National Popular Vote Compact. Trent England, director of Save Our States, joins the podcast to discuss what his group is doing to increase enthusiasm for the Electoral College. We also cover the following stories: The first public impeachment hearing is today. The Supreme Court rejected a major gun case. A new study details the amount of media bias against President Trump. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

When she was 21 years old, Claire Culwell found out a huge secret about her past: her biological mom had tried to have an abortion when she was pregnant with Claire and her twin. While Claire's twin didn't survive, Claire did--and that revelation changed her life,."I knew that I couldn't stand for what abortion does. And so, I chose to take a stance and to speak out," she says. Plus, Dan Bartkowiak of the Pennsylvania Family Council joins the show to discuss what's going on in the Keystone State. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

A 130-year-old bakery in Ohio was accused of racism after arresting an Oberlin College student for shoplifting. Hostilities and boycotts against Gibson’s Bakery have escalated into a court case debating free speech. Legal Insurrection, a must-read political and law website, has followed this case since its beginnings in 2016. Bill Jacobson, founder and publisher of Legal Insurrection and director of the Securities Law Clinic at Cornell Law School, shares his insights on Gibson’s Bakery vs. Oberlin College. Jacobson also shares how he turned a hostile greeting at Vassar College into an incredible teaching experience and what his views are on social media censorship. If you have had content removed from social media and don’t feel you have a voice or know what to do, email your story to [email protected]. Also on today's show: We read your letters to the editor. You can leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write to us at [email protected]. And we share a good news story of how one Army Reserve honors Vietnam Veterans in a uniquely wonderful way. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcast app. All of our podcasts can be found at dailysignal.com/podcasts. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

None of us want to think about another attack on America. But nor do we want to be unprepared if such an attack occurs. Dakota Wood, the lead editor of The Heritage Foundation's Index of U.S. Military Strength, explains that right now the military's readiness status is "marginal." In other words, between aging equipment and other problems, we're far from ready to fight if have to wage war against two different enemies. "Near the end of the Cold War, we had 770,000 soldiers in the active-duty Army. Today, we have less than 480,000. We had nearly 600 ships in the Navy; today we have 290 and most of that stuff is very, very old," says Wood, a veteran himself. We also cover the following stories: President Trump reacts to the news that the whistleblower's lawyer had called for his impeachment in early 2017. Democrats have a new proposal to tax millionaires. Donald Trump Jr. spars with Joy Behar and Whoppi Goldberg on "The View." The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

President Donald Trump's nominations of Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh may be the most high profile judicial nominations he's made, but they're far from the only. "One out of every 4 active judges on the United States Court of Appeals have been appointed by President Trump," says Adam Kennedy, deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of communications at the White House. "And the average age is actually a full 10 years younger for these justices than under President [Barack] Obama." We also cover these stories: A federal judge blocked President Trump’s conscience rule for health providers. Mexican authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of 9 members of a Mormon family in northern Mexico. We share part of Carly Fiorina's interview with Heritage Foundation president Kay Coles James. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, SoundCloud, Google Play, or 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

Free speech has seen better days on the college campus. Increasingly, conservative ideas are unwelcome and even shouted down. At some schools, religious groups are being kicked off campus for not allowing non-believers to run their organization. It’s a concerning state of affairs—and yet, many students are pushing back and winning in the courtroom. In today's episode, I speak with Casey Mattox about upholding the First Amendment on campus. We also discuss whether tech companies have any role in protecting free speech. Read the lightly edited transcript of the interview, posted below, or listen on the podcast: We also cover the following stories: Daily Signal pushes back on YouTube after being censored. U.S. family is massacred in Mexico by drug cartels. Project Veritas hot mic sheds light on a potential Epstein cover-up. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Chicago is known for its deep dish pizza, skyscrapers, and freezing cold winters. Unfortunately, it’s also known for high crime, fiscal woes, and political dysfunction. Other major cities have reformed their political system over time, but not Chicago. The city remains stuck with an outdated political model where the mayor is essentially king, making it harder to address long-term problems. My guest today, Austin Berg, has co-authored a book about this that explains how Chicago can finally break free from its past. We also cover the following stories: House releases transcripts of impeachment inquiry hearings. Four Trump administration officials defy House subpoenas. Court rules that President Trump's accounting firm must hand over eight years of tax returns. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Those struggling with same-sex attraction or hoping to walk away from a homosexual lifestyle may find some encouragement from Liz Flaherty and Elizabeth Woning, who both once lived a lesbian lifestyle. While leading their own organizations to help individuals transition out of homosexuality, Flaherty and Woning are also a part of a growing movement called CHANGED - a supportive and loving community of those who once identified as LGBTQ+. In today’s episode, we sit down with Flaherty and Woning to hear their stories and discuss some of the current legislation being advocated for that could have detrimental effects on organization that offer counseling services for those struggling with homosexuality. Learn more about Elizabeth Woning’s organization, Equipped to Love, here: https://www.equippedtolove.com/. And learn more about Liz Flaherty's organization here: http://lizgflaherty.com/. You can also follow the CHANGED Movement at their website or on Instagram. Also on today’s show: We read your letters to the editor. You can leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write to us at [email protected]. And we share a good news story about a police officer who went above and beyond to help a local family in need. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcast app. All of our podcasts can be found at dailysignal.com/podcasts. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the national debt grows larger and larger, our lawmakers continue to spend obliviously--and even on frivolous things. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa., is not happy about how much government agencies are spending on swag, and she recently introduced legislation to end things like the government spending over $600,000 on coloring books. We also cover the following stories: Two Democrats buck the party line and do not vote for the impeachment resolution. A National Security Council official who heard the Ukraine call told House Members, “I want to be clear, I was not concerned that anything illegal was discussed." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addresses the resignation of Rep. Katie Hill. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

The New York Times' 1619 Project is the latest attempt from the left to re-tell history. But Dr. Allen Guelzo thinks the Times made some key errors. " The hope of many members of the Constitutional Convention, that slavery could be abolished, was linked to their conviction that the abolition of slavery was simply one more step that needed to be taken to free us from the inheritance of British colonialism and British imperialism," Guelzo, a research scholar at Princeton University says. "The 1619 Project tends to invert that." Guelzo also talks about reparations, capitalism and its role in our history, and more. We also cover the following stories: A nominee for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals cried when asked about a liberal group suggesting he would not be fair to LGBT people. Rep. Matt Gaetz calls on the House Ethics Committee to investigate Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff. Former President Barack Obama had some harsh words on Tuesday for those who consider themselves “politically woke." The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

Lynn Meagher has two adult children who identify as transgender. "A lot of these kids have concurrent mental health issues, and they find a place to fit in because as soon as you say that you're trans, you get love-bombed," she reflects. "You get love-bombed online, you get love-bombed on at school ... As soon as you say you're trans, you turn into a star. And kids are thirsty for that kind of affirmation." Meagher joins us to discuss what parents should (and shouldn't) do, what resources exist, and what she thinks is going on. We also cover the following stories: A new witness testifies about President Trump's call with the Ukrainian president. Trump says another key ISIS leader has been "terminated." Teens are spending an insane amount of time staring at screens. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

The leader of ISIS is dead. The man who directed so many brutal killings, tortures, and atrocities took his own life in a tunnel after being hunted down by U.S. forces. What does that mean for the fight against ISIS, both in Syria and abroad? Today we discuss that with Jim Phillips, a Middle East expert at The Heritage Foundation. Plus: Kanye West’s full embrace of the Christian faith is doing pop culture a new one. We discuss his latest album and film. We also cover the following stories: President Trump blasts Chicago leaders in their own backyard. Rep. Katie Hill, D-Calif., resigns over affair scandals. 7 in 10 millennials say they would vote for a socialist; 1 in 3 are "favorable" to communism. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

“I Like Mike” was the campaign Taylor University freshman David Muselman created when a handful of progressive students tried to keep Vice President Mike Pence from visiting Taylor’s campus. The Vice President was invited to deliver the 2019 commencement address at the Christian college in Upland, Indiana. When a few leftist students tried to block the Vice President's visit, Muselman rallied the student body in support of Pence through the “I Like Mike" campaign, that spread like wildfire across campus. Muselman joins the Daily Signal podcast to discuss how the campaign was created and why he chose to take a stand-up for the Vice President. Also on today's show: Vice President Mike Pence joined 1,500 Heritage Foundation members and friends last week at the first ever Heritage honors gala. The vice president addressed a number of the key issues facing our nation right now, including our First Amendment rights. We also read your letters to the editor. You can leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write us at [email protected]. And we share a good news story about how a simple act of kindness from a garbage man led to a new friendship and a viral video. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkC7yvd0qHU. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcast app. All of our podcasts can be found at dailysignal.com/podcasts. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Puzder has lived the American dream. Raised in a working-class home, he worked his way to become a CEO in the fast food industry. "What I didn't think was, 'That son of a b---- is stealing from us.' Or, 'He's in the 1%,' and we're in whatever percent you were in when your dad sold Fords in the 1960s," Puzder recalls of his childhood experience seeing a rich man's mansion. "What I thought was, 'I could do that.' And thank God I lived in a country where I could do that." We also cover the following stories: Sen. Lindsey Graham announces a new Republican response on the impeachment push. Vice President Mike Pence criticizes the NBA and Nike over currying favor with China. The Trump administration is reportedly telling federal agencies to stop subscribing to the New York Times and Washington Post. The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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

More and more Democrats have come out in favor of impeachment, but it’s worth remembering that some wanted to impeach him from Day 1. Those voices are often associated with "the Resistance." In today's episode, Kimberly Strassel of the Wall Street Journal argues that the Resistance is the truly destructive force in American politics—not President Trump. Strassel is author of the new book, "Resistance (At All Costs): How Trump Haters Are Breaking America." We also cover the following stories: President Trump lifts sanctions on Turkey after announcing a permanent cease-fire in Syria GOP members stage sit-in outside impeachment inquiry proceedings 39 bodies found in England amid human trafficking concerns The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet,iTunes, Pippa, Google Play, or 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