Heritage Explains

Graduation season is once more upon us. The long school year has come to a close, and now, in caps and gowns, the nation’s graduates gather to receive their various certifications, diplomas, and degrees, and listen to wisdom from a speaker.  However, many college graduations are not the same tranquil affairs they used to be. FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, reports that attempts by students to disinvite commencement speakers over political beliefs have increased sharply over the last decade or so. To name one example, students at Morehouse School of Medicine are attempting to block the commencement speech of alumnus Congressman Rich McCormick, over his stances against DEI, abortion, and transgender surgeries among other views. Some schools, such as New York University, have switched to recorded remarks by students in lieu of an in-person speaker.  At this point, the level of intolerance and intellectual coddling taking place at American universities is not a new story. It’s bad, but is there a way back? This week, the Heritage Foundation is releasing a new book: Higher Education in America: It’s Worse than you Think. I sat down with Jonathan Butcher, Acting Director of Heritage’s Center for Education Policy and one of the book’s authors, to ask whether he believes there is hope for the American university.  --- Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org  --- Jonathan Butcher on X: https://x.com/JM_Butcher?lang=en Higher Education in America: It's Worse Than You Think: https://a.co/d/0aMuIWzN

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2026

Along with Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Massachusetts, Virginia describes itself as a commonwealth. In reality, a commonwealth is no different from a state. But in the English of colonial times, “commonwealth” denoted something along the lines of “a state for the common good”, and had a more revolutionary connotation. The state was for the people, not the people for the state. In some ways, this has been carried through to the present day. In other ways, it has not.  This week, my colleague here at Heritage Christian Lasval, had the privilage of sitting down with former Virginia legislator Nick Freitas to talk about Virginia, his experience in our current political discourse, and what we can learn from The Mother of States.  ---Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org ---Follow Nick Freitas on X: https://x.com/NickJFreitas 

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2026

The tiny town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire is located just 20 miles south of the Canadian boarder. Home to an idyllic hotel known for its skiing and golfing, the town itself had a population of four. At the time of the 2020 census.  But if you happen to be one of those residents, your election day experience is a bit different from most. At the stroke of midnight, you enter the polling place, set up in one of the rooms of hotel. New Hampshire law states that polls can close if all registered voter have cast ballots. And so, a few minutes later, once all have voted, the polls close. This tradition of Midnight Voting, in place since the 1960s, makes Dixville Notch the first polling place to report results in the New Hampshire primary.  Midnight voting first came into existence to accommodate the schedule of railway workers, who were often unavailable to vote during normal hours. It’s an example of local officials ensuring that the vote is both fair and accessible for voters. Election Integrity is a high priority here at Heritage, and we have been very excited to welcome Election integrity expert Don Palmer to the team. I sat down with Don to talk about his thoughts leading into 2026, 2028, and beyond.  --- Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org  --- Follow Don Palmer on X: https://x.com/VotingGuy 

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2026

During the Second World War, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, joined by Winston Churchill, sat down with Chinese nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek. The purpose of the meeting, now known as the Cairo Conference, was to strategize against the Empire of Japan and make preparations for a post-war Asia.  Nearly 30 years later, President Richard Nixon, seeing an opportunity to widen the distance between China (now Communist) and the Soviet Union, paid a visit to China to meet Mao Zedong, the chair of the Communist Party. This opened diplomatic relations between the countries.  Since then, presidents have held meetings with Chinese leaders with some regularity. And President Trump is no exception. This week, he will be meeting with Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China. From AI to Iran, there is a lot on the table. To understand what to expect from this meeting, I sat down with Andrew Harding, Policy Analyst for National Securityand Indo-Pacific Affairs at The Heritage Foundation.    Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org   More on China from Heritage Experts: https://www.heritage.org/china 

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2026

Jim Crow laws are the blanket name given to the the state and local laws that pervaded the American South from the 19th century all the way to the 1960s, which were meant to enforce racial segregation.  They limited the public services and facilities available to Black Americans. They included poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures designed to limit the ability of Black Americans to exercise their right to vote. Jim Crow laws went the way of the dodo back in 1965, with the passage of the Voting Rights Act.  Now, over eighty years later, the Supreme Court has passed down the Callais vs Louisiana ruling. The case deals with the courts interpretation of this law, and some are declaring this decision nothing less than the resurrection of Jim Crow.  But is that the case? To find out, I sat down with Zack Smith, Senior Legal Fellow here at the Heritage Foundation.   Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org   Zack Smith on X: https://x.com/tzsmith 

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2026

The Southern Poverty Law Center, founded in 1971, has its roots in the Civil Rights movement. But there’s reason to believe that this American institution, like so many others, has drifted from its original mission.   Here to talk about that is our resident SPLC expert here at the Heritage Foundation, Daily Signal Senior Editor, Tyler ONeil.   Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org   Tyler O’Neil on the Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/author/tyler-oneil/ Tyler’s Book on the SPLC: https://amzn.to/3Kmvi0u 

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2026

The US House and Senate are storied institutions and packed with traditions and procedures like these. Some, like the fabled “candy desk”, are whimsical artifacts of history. Others are more central to the way that government works, and one such is the Budget Reconciliation process. This is a unique mechanism for passing budget and finance related legislation in the House and Senate. In the wake of Democrats refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security, reconciliation is back in the news. Here to talk about why and what we’d like to see happen is Dan Kowalski, Director of the Grover M Hermann Center for the Federal Budget here at the Heritage Foundation.    Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org   Rob Bluey on X: https://x.com/RobertBluey The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/ 

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2026

The American press has had high moments and low moments over the years, and it’s safe to say that we’re in a low one. After decades of dishonest reporting and blatant bias, trust in media has cratered. According to a 2025 Gallup poll, the number of Americans who report that they have a “great deal or fair” amount of trust that mass media reports the news “fully, fairly, and accurately has fallen to 28%. Among Republicans, it’s fallen to 8%.  But the worse the situation gets, the more important it is for good journalists (and yes there are good journalists) to fill the void. And nowhere is that more important than at the Daily Signal, a national news organization that has its roots here at the Heritage Foundation. They’ve been at the forefront of a lot of big stories over the last few years, and are announcing some new exciting developments. To understand it all, I sat down with Rob Bluey, Editor in Chief, at the Daily Signal.   Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org   Rob Bluey on X: https://x.com/RobertBluey The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/ 

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2026

In some online subcultures, Women have been drawn into a debate between two competing archetypes: the girlboss and the tradwife. The girlboss is an ambitious woman who confidently takes on the business world, which is often dominated by men. The tradwife is a woman who subverts modern expectations by taking on traditional gender roles, prioritizing homemaking and the raising of children. But Heritage Senior Policy Analyst Emma Waters characterizes herself as neither of these. In her new book, Lead Like Jael, she suggests that neiterh side of the debate serves women’s interests, and instead plots a third path. I sat down with Emma to talk about it.   Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org   Emma Waters at Heritage: https://www.heritage.org/staff/emma-waters Emma’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Like-Jael-Timeless-Principles/dp/1510783539 

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2026

Over the last few decades, serious concerns have arisen about the fitness of our Navy to counter America’s enemies, most importantly China. This has led the Trump Administration to announce a vision for a "Golden Fleet". Here to talk about that is Brent Sadler, former Naval Officer and a Senior Research Fellow here at Heritage.  ---Have thoughts, questions, or suggestions? Email us at heritageexplains@heritage.org. ---Follow Brent on X: https://x.com/brentdsadler"To Build the Golden Fleet" report at Heritage.org: https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/build-the-golden-fleet

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2026

Last week, the Trump administration announced major changes to the way that student loan debt will be managed, specifically moving that management from the Department of Education to the Department of the Treasury. I sat down with Jonathan Butcher, Senior Research Fellow in the Center for Education Policy here at the Heritage Foundation, to talk about why this is a huge step in the movement to return education to local control. --- Thoughts? Questions? Email us at: heritageexplains@heritage.org.  --- Jonathan Butcher on X: https://x.com/JM_Butcher 

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2026

The refusal of Democrat leaders in the senate to pass funding for the Department of HOmeland Security has had ramifications across the country. It has affected employees of FEMA, the Coast Guard, the TSA, and many other agencies. To explain why this happening and what to expect in the coming weeeks, I sat down with Lora Ries, Director of the Border Security and Immigration Center, here at the Heritage Foundation. --- Thoughts? Questions? Email us at: heritageexplains@heritage.org.  --- Lora Ries on X: https://x.com/lora_ries 

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2026

This week, on March 8, people around the world celebrated International Women’s Day. Too often, we’ve been conditioned to see the complementary of the sexes more as a conflict, and that has ramifications for all of society. At the Heritage Foundation, we believe that there is a better way, where the contributions and uniqueness of men and women are recognized and honored. This week, I wanted to introduce you to one of our most experienced team members, Marguerite Bowling, a Senior Communications Manager here at the Heritage Foundation, who is herself a mother of three, including one daughter. We also recognize the work of Emma Waters, Policy Analyst in the Center for Technology and the Human Person.  --- Thoughts? Questions? Email us at: heritageexplains@heritage.org.  --- Emma Waters on X: https://x.com/emlwaters 

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2026

On Saturday, after a third round of failed negotiation with the aspiring nuclear state of Iran, the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation called Epic Fury. Those strikes were successful in eliminating the majority of Iranian Senior leadership, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. War is never a decision to be taken lightly, as lives and nations hang in the balance. I sat down with Victoria Coates, Vice President of the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy here at Heritage, to talk about what has led up to this conflict in Iran and what she hopes to see going forward. --- Thoughts? Questions? Email us at: heritageexplains@heritage.org.  --- More on Defense from Heritage: https://www.heritage.org/defense Victoria Coates on X: https://x.com/VictoriaCoates 

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2026

The State of the Union Address is one of the most anticipated political events of the year. Of course, it’s surrounded by tradition and ceremony. All three branches of the federal government gather in the House Chamber, the galleries pack with guests from every walk of life, the pundits gather their audiences, and the cameras all focus on one carefully crafted message from the leader of the free world.  But it’s not just custom or tradition that gives rise to this historic event every year. It actually goes all the way back to the American founding, to the Constitution itself. Article II, Section 3, Clause 1 of the constitution reads as follows:  The President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” George Washington, then, was the first to give an address to congress. His eventual successor, Thomas Jefferson, submitted his remarks in writing, which set a precendent of written States of the Union. Over a century later, in 1913, Woodrow Wilson restored the practice of giving the speech in person. And that custom has stood to this day.  Last night, we heard President Donald Trump give the first State of the Union address of his second term. The speech covered many of his accomplishments over the first year of this administration. Here to walk us through it is Dan West, Government Relations Director at Heritage Action for America.  --- Thoughts? Questions? Email us at: heritageexplains@heritage.org.  --- More from Heritage Action for America: https://heritageaction.com/ Dan West on X: https://x.com/Dan_J_West 

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2026

Business is not just about making money. It’s about making opportunity. Supporting families. Making culture. That’s why the Heritage Foundation is standing up the Free Enterprise Initiative, to support merit and integrity in business. To Explain what the Free Enterprise Initiative is up to these days, I sat down with the Senior Advisor to the project, Allen Mendenhall. --- Thoughts? Questions? Email us at: heritageexplains@heritage.org.  --- The Free Enterprise Initiative at Heritage: https://www.heritage.org/free-enterprise-initiative Allen Mendenhall on X: https://x.com/allenmendenhall 

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2026

Washington is abuzz with talk of the SAVE America act, a piece of legislation that is designed to secure American elections and ensure that only American citizens have the right to vote. The proposed law is experiencing a groundswell of popular support, but also opposition. To understand what makes this law consequential, I sat down with Chip Wyatt and Dan West, both ofHeritage Action for America. --- Thoughts? Questions? Email us at: heritageexplains@heritage.org.  --- More from Heritage Action for America: https://heritageaction.com/ Chip Wyatt on X: https://x.com/ChipTWyatt Dan West on X: https://x.com/Dan_J_West 

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2026

The ways that human beings exchange value are complicated and often involve tradeoffs. Things you think were a great idea often come with hidden costs. And so it is with federal financial policy. Everything the government does has consequences downstream.  I sat down with Heritage chief Economist EJ Antoni to discuss his outlook on the first year of economic policy from the Trump Administration. --- Thoughts? Questions? Email us at: heritageexplains@heritage.org.  --- More by EJ at The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/staff/ej-antoni-phd Lora Ries on X: https://x.com/realEJAntoni 

Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2026

This audio comes from Minneapolis Minnesota earlier this week, as Anti-ICE protestors mobbed a hotel where they believed ICE agents were staying. Two federal agents were left trying to defend the building and staff as protestors smashed windows and attempted to enter. Normally, local law enforcement would be present to defuse a situation like this, but Minneapolis police were nowhere to be found.  Local authorities in Minneapolis, headed by Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, seem in no hurry to turn down the rioting in their streets. In the wake of two tragic deaths of protestors impeding federal investigations, unrest has only ramped up.  Here to talk about why is Lora Ries, director of the Border Security and Immigration Center here at the Heritage Foundation. --- Thoughts? Questions? Email us at: heritageexplains@heritage.org.  --- Work on Immigration by The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/border-security Lora Ries on X: https://x.com/lora_ries 

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2026

On Sunday morning, a group of anti-ICE protestors stormed Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota during services, reportedly because the pastor of the church appears to also be an ICE official.  This is the latest escalation in an ongoing confrontation taking place in Minneapolis between Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (also known as ICE) carrying out their duties and protestors (often encouraged by media and politicians) who are determined to obstruct them.  To understand some of the dynamic that is going on in Minneapolis, I sat down with Mike Gonzalez, a Senior Fellow here at the Heritage Foundation.   --- Email us with any thoughts, questions, or suggestions: heritageexplains@heritage.org. --- Mike's work at Heritage.org: https://www.heritage.org/staff/mike-gonzalezMike's book "NextGen Marxism": https://www.amazon.com/NextGen-Marxism-What-How-Combat/dp/1641773537

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2026

We are surrounded by endless choices for engagement and entertainment, but feel more isolated than ever. And nowhere is that more keenly felt than in the family. What should be the central node of human society, for many, has become distant. Fathers are absent. Children feel disconnected. Fertility has fallen. Government programs have replaced providers. Mass media has replaced human connection.  One thing we should all be able to agree on. It’s time to stop scrolling and look up. It’s time for a renaissance in the family. Roger Severino and his colleagues here at the Heritage Foundation want to do just that. I sat down with Roger to discuss the new special report, released by Heritage this week: Saving America by Saving the Family: A Foundation for the Next 250 years.  --- Email us at heritageexplains@heritage.org. --- More about the family: Heritage.org/family Heritage Family Paper: Saving America by Saving the Family: https://www.heritage.org/family/saving-america-by-saving-the-family

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2026

On January 3, US operatives arrested Venezuelan Nicolas Maduro. Maduro’s arrest is an event that has people talking, not just about the capture of one narcoterrorist, but about a fundamental shift in the way that the US goes about foreign policy. Here to talk us through that shift is Mike Gonzalez, a Senior Fellow for the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, here at the Heritage Foundation.  ---Have questions, suggestions, or comments? Email us at Heritageexplains@heritage.org---Follow Mike Gonzalez on X: https://x.com/GundisalvusMore of Mike's work: https://www.heritage.org/staff/mike-gonzalez

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2026

As the days get shorter and shorter, and the focus turns from work to home, we enter that end-of-year frame of mind. It’s the natural time to look back on the lessons of 2025 and to look forward to 2026 and beyond. Americans intuit that this season of self-reflection is an important one to keep alive. And we at the Heritage Foundation agree. That’s why this week on Heritage Explains, I sat down with our President, Dr. Kevin Roberts, to talk about what we’ve learned from 2025 and what to look forward to in the new year. —The Kevin Roberts Show: https://www.heritage.org/the-kevin-roberts-show—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 22 December 2025

In the 20th century, the traditional agriculture term “earmarking” gained traction in US politics, becoming slang for the mechanism of including smaller, regionally targeted spending for particular constituencies in larger spending bills. This was often done to appease a particular group or to provide leverage to get an individual legislator on board with a bill. But do they really serve the American public? At Heritage, we don’t think so. I sat down with Chip Wyatt, Government Relations Director at Heritage Action for America, to learn why. —Check out Heritage Action: heritageaction.com— Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2025

Family life does not stop, especially at this time of year. The Supreme Court of the United States has also been busy. Over the last week or so, the court has taken up or listened to arguments in three potentially landmark cases. All three have to do with the Trump administration’s goals for the executive branch. Heritage Senior Legal Fellow, and frequent guest on this our show, Hans von Spakovsky was kind enough to take a break from his own busy holiday season, to stop by and break down these three cases for us. 

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2025

This week, the people of Webster Springs, West Virginia ZXZ mourn one of their own: National Guard Member Sarah Beckstrom. The 20-year old service member had volunteered to remain in Washington, DC, as part of President Trump’s crackdown on crime in the district, when she was shot on Thursday by an Afghan national. Once again, the national issue of immigration has found its ways to the small towns of our nation. Lora Ries, Director of the Center for Border Security and Immigration, joined Heritage Explains to talk about what this tragedy means and how the conversation has changed around immigration. —Follow Lora on X: https://x.com/lora_riesMike Howell’s Paper: https://www.heritage.org/border-security/report/significant-policy-changes-needed-meet-mass-deportation-goals—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

As we enter this Thanksgiving week on the eve of our nation’s 250th anniversary, it is critical to understand places of historical significance in our country. Here to explain a bit about what Heritage is doing in that regard is Brenda Hafera, Assistant Director of the Simon Center for American Studies, here at the Heritage Foundation. —The Heritage Guide to Historic Sites: https://historicsites.heritage.org/—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org__ Take care and Happy Thanksgiving!

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

Immigration is a key part of the American story. Many, many people have come to the United States committed to loving and serving their new country.  But nations have to exercise caution and prudence with the way that they conduct immigration. Bad policy and abuses of the system can lead to all kinds of problems, as we know well here in the United States. The Second Trump Administration has gone a long way toward improving immigration policy, and one of the areas now being discussed is that of H1B visas. These are visas intended to be issued to skilled workers, but there are serious concerns about the number of visas being issued and the ways that they affect American citizens. To understand this issue, I sat down with Simon Hankinson, Senior Research Fellow in the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation.—Follow Simon Hankinson at Heritage.org: https://www.heritage.org/staff/simon-hankinsonSimon’s Book, The Ten Woke Commandments You Must Not Obey: https://thetenwokecommandments.com/—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2025

This week, we honor veterans of long ago, as well as those who still live and walk among us. Their sacrifice has helped to secure the freedoms that we enjoy today. One of the key features of American democracy is civilian control of the military. We, the people, elect the Congress which controls the military’s budget, conducts oversight, and declares war, as well as the the president, who serves as the military’s Commander in Chief. President Donald Trump, in his second term in office, has signaled a return to the military’s core mission. Here to talk about what that return looks like is Wilson Beaver, an Army Veteran and Senior Policy Advisor, here at the Heritage Foundation.—Follow Wilson Beaver on X: https://x.com/WilsonCBeaverMore about Heritage: www.heritage.org—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2025

What Is Arctic Frost? | Mike Howell Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) revealed last week that ‘Arctic Frost’—the FBI's election-related investigation into President Donald Trump, launched in 2022 by the Biden administration—issued 197 subpoenas for 430 conservatives, including the late Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA, Ed Martin, Dan Scavino, and Ed Corrigan.This investigation was used as a method to spy on the conservative movement as a whole. Mike Howell, President of the Oversight Project, joins the show to talk about why Arctic Frost demands accountability. —Follow Mike on X: https://x.com/MHowellTweetsSwamp Justice Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yVpKjwTCfuxwTGePiFM3hMore about Heritage: www.heritage.org–Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2025

The Affordable Care Act was signed in 2010, with President Barack Obama promising that “If you like your insurance plan, you can keep it.” Fifteen years later, we are all painfully aware that Obama’s promise was not a sincere one. The ACA’s mess of government subsidies and astronomical payouts have made the American healthcare system considerably more expensive than it needed to be. And now the Government shutdown is forcing Americans to consider the ACA in a whole new light, with COVID subsidies ending on November 1. Here to talk about what this may mean is Nina Schaefer, Senior Research Fellow here at the Heritage foundation. __ More about Heritage: www.heritage.org—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2025

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a federal law designed to end these practices, and ensure that all Americans could exercise the right to vote. It is a law that has had massive impact and been used to reshape America politically, in ways both bad and good. Now, the Supreme Court is hearing a case called Louisiana vs. Callais, which is calling into question how part of the Voting Rights Act is being interpreted. Here to talk about what makes this case so important is Hans von Spakovsky, Senior Legal Fellow, here at the Heritage Foundation. —More about Heritage: www.heritage.orgThe Election Integrity Scorecard: https://www.heritage.org/electionscorecard/Follow Hans on X: https://x.com/HvonSpakovsky—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2025

On Monday, the 20 living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were returned to their families. What brought this deal about and what might we expect to see happen in the future? To answer some of those questions, I sat down with Daniel Flesch, Senior Policy Analyst for Middle East and North Africa, here at the Heritage Foundation.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2025

There are certain things we take for granted in life. When we flick the switch, the light comes on. When we turn the tap, water comes out. When we take the garbage bin down to the curb on Thursdays, it is empty by Friday afternoon. But then a storm blows through. A pipe bursts. Heavy snowfall closes the roads. And suddenly those amenities which we took for granted are no longer there. It’s a discomforting and unsettling feeling. And one we’re experiencing at a national level right now, as we’ve now passed a week since the shutdown of the federal government began. Just like a burst pipe or a downed electrical line, something has gone wrong in our politics, and now we’re feeling the effects. Some government workers have been sent home. Some services are unavailable. Here to talk about what caused the shutdown, what it means, and what to expect fo the future is Chip Wyatt, Government Relations Director here at Heritage Action for America.  —Heritage Action for America: https://heritageaction.com/Follow Chip Wyatt on X: https://x.com/ChipTWyatt—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2025

The Chinese-owned social media app TikTok collects your most sensitive information. And worse, it uses it in pretty sinister ways. It encourages self-harm and depression among youth. It interferes in elections. It compromises national security. This week, President Trump signed an executive order authorizing an agreement to separate TikTok from Chinese control. At the Heritage Foundation, we have been talking about TikTok policy for years, and one of the key voices is Wesley Hodges, Acting Director of the Center for Technology and the Human Person, here at the Heritage Foundation. He sat down with me to talk about exactly what this executive order means. —Heritage Tech Policy: https://www.heritage.org/big-techFollow Wes Hodges on X: https://x.com/wesghodges—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2025

While government has the power to protect our rights, it can use that power to abuse those rights. Especially in those areas of the government which resist accountability to elected officials. The administrative state (or deep state) is a strong focus of the Trump Administration, which has taken action to reinstate accountability in the federal bureaucracy. Ryan Williams, president of the Claremont Institute and friend of Heritage, joined the podcast to talk about what to do when government stops serving the people and targets them instead. —Learn more about the Claremont Institute: https://www.claremont.org/Follow Ryan Williams on X: https://x.com/RpwWilliams— Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2025

Last week, the country was shaken to its core by the assassination of Christian husband, father, and patriot Charlie Kirk, one of the most prominent voices in the conservative movement, particularly among young Americans. His death has left countless Americans experiencing combinations of sorrow, fear, and anger. How should we as conservatives respond to this tragic and politically motivated attack, and what role should policy play in our response? President of The Heritage Foundation, Dr. Kevin Roberts, joins this episode of the Heritage Explains podcast to discuss.

Transcribed - Published: 16 September 2025

President Trump’s utilization of ICE and the National Guard in Washington, D.C. has significantly lowered crime in the city, modeling success of the agency’s presence in blue cities.Since Trump federalized Washington, D.C. there has been a 45% drop in violent crime, an 87% drop in carjackings, a 38% drop in homicides, and a 62% drop in robberies. There has also been a 20% increase in arrests and 12% increase in gun recoveries.Cully Stimson and Zack Smith join the show to discuss the impact of Trump’s actions and explain what we might expect in the future. —Follow Cully and Zack’s work at heritage.org.Follow Cully Stimson on X: https://x.com/cullystimsonFollow Zack Smith on X: https://x.com/tzsmithRogue Prosecutors book: https://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Prosecutors-Destroying-Americas-Communities/dp/1637586531Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2025

The August Recess has been a staple of the congressional calendar for decades. In the 1960s the demands placed on the US Congress were changing. Lawmaking had moved from a part-time to a full-time gig. And as the pace of life intensified, so too did the workload on legislators. Looking for a way to balance their busy schedules with those of families, some members of Congress pushed for a defined summer recess. This they received in the form of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970. Now, every summer, the Congress takes a recess in the month of August, allowing members to go home, meet with constituents, or simply take vacation. But the political machine in Washington never stops turning, and when the members come back, more work is always waiting. So it is now, as Congress returns this week. Here to discuss what we might expect over this next session is Steve Chartan, Vice president of Government Relations, here at the Heritage Foundation.

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2025

Hello Heritage Explains Listeners! Mark Guiney here. It’s the first week of August and this month we are taking a short vacation. Until we return with our regular show in September, we are looking back at some of the greatest hits of the year so far.  This past April, Heritage Foundation Digital Content Producer Samantha Hince spoke with Dr. David Gortler about the concerns that many Americans have around our use of artificial food dyes and the policy changes we might expect around them. It’s summer, so maybe listen to this episode with some ice cream. Just check the label first to make sure it doesn’t have any red 40. Enjoy.

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2025

Hello everybody, we at the Heritage Foundation hope you are enjoying these last weeks of summer. We here at Heritage Explains are taking the opportunity for a brief rest during the month of August. Our regularly scheduled episodes will return in September, but until then, we are revisiting some of our favorite episodes from the year so far. Back in March, I sat down with Jeff Smith to discuss why we should not forget about COVID. Particularly, the way it exposed the rot inside our professional and managerial classes. It’s an eye-opening listen and well worth keeping in mind. Enjoy. https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/the-lie-the-century-the-origin-covid-19

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2025

Hello to all of our loyal listeners at Heritage Explains. We are on break for the month of August and will be coming back with new episodes in September. But in the meantime, we’re rounding up some of our favorite shows from earlier this year. One of the key moments in the early Trump Administration were the cuts to USAID.  For the first time, many Americans got an up-close-and-personal look at the way that the sausage gets made in Washington. What most people assumed was an innocuous aid organization was actually involved in much more sinister activities. Check out this conversation with David Ditch, who breaks down why this moment mattered so much. Follow David Ditch on X: https://x.com/davidaditchLearn more about The Heritage Foundation: ⁠www.heritage.org⁠—Have thoughts? Let us know at ⁠heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 13 August 2025

Hi everybody, and welcome back to Heritage Explains. We, like many of you, are enjoying a little bit of vacation this summer. We are taking a break from our regularly scheduled episodes for the month of August. In the meantime, we are bringing you some of our favorite shows from this past year.We have seen a lot of important moments come and go in that time. And one was the verdict delivered in the case of Daniel Penny, this past December. It felt like an inflection point in our national conversation on race and justice. I sat down with Heritage Senior Legal Fellow Cully Stimson to talk about why. Take a listen. Follow Cully Stimson on X: ⁠https://x.com/cullystimson⁠Rogue Prosecutors Book: ⁠https://www.heritage.org/rogue-prosecutors⁠—Have thoughts? Let us know at ⁠heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2025

We find ourselves in the midst of a new revolution: The AI Revolution. Complex computer models are now able to replicate human thought, making them capable of an entirely new realm of tasks. AI is going to affect the way we work, where we live, how we learn and process information, how we bank, how we write, even how we interact with people around us. Governments around the world are paying attention to the possibilities that AI offers, and ours is no exception. I sat down with Daniel Cochrane, senior research associate for the Center for Technology and the Human Person at The Heritage Foundation, to talk about what the Trump Administration is saying about AI. —Follow Daniel Cochrane on X: https://x.com/realdcochrane Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2025

In 1965, the Johnson Administration signed into law the programs we now know as Medicare and Medicaid. They were designed to provide healthcare to Americans who were particularly in need. But over the years, the programs have expanded hugely, and focus has shifted away from people who really need assistance to much larger groups of people. This can be a real problem for the people that Medicare and Medicaid were originally designed to be a safety net for. Here to explain why and to talk about the recent reforms to Medicare and Medicaid is Nina Schaefer, Senior Research Fellow at the DeVos Center for Human Fluorishing here at the Heritage Foundation. —Follow Nina Schaefer at Heritage.org: https://www.heritage.org/staff/nina-owcharenko-schaeferHave thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2025

Attacks on ICE agents are escalating nationwide, now up nearly 700% over the same time last year. Organized riots followed recent ICE enforcement actions. Investigations reveal coordination by known radical groups that also organized the 2020 BLM/Antifa riots and 2023 pro-terrorism demonstrations. These are not spontaneous uprisings—they are well-funded, highly-organized anti-American efforts.Here to explain why these attacks on are on the rise is Simon Hankinson, Senior Research Fellow in the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation.—The Ten Woke Commandments You Must Not Obey: https://www.amazon.com/Ten-Woke-Commandments-Must-Obey/dp/1680533614Follow Richard on X at: https://x.com/WatchfulWaiter1 Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2025

Rescissions It’s a word that we’re hearing a lot in the news today. A member of a family of words and phrases that come trotting out whenever folks in Washington start talking about money. Appropriations. Sequestration. Omnibus. Continuing Resolutions. Budget caps. Debt Ceiling. Earmarks. Baseline Budgeting. But it isn’t that complicated. Basically, the President can request that Congress return money that has been appropriated, but not yet spent. A rescissions package is making its way through Congress now, but it’s likely we’ll hear more about this process throughout the Trump administration. Here to explain why is Richard Stern, Director for the Center for the Federal Budget here at the Heritage Foundation. —Follow Richard on X at: https://x.com/richastern?lang=en Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2025

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...How many times have we heard these words? Back in 2007, the Washington Post ran an article by Gene Weingarten called “Pearls Before Breakfast”. In it, he chronicles an experiment by the newspaper, in which world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell put on a baseball cap and a t-shirt, and entered the L’Enfant Plaza metro station in Washington DC. Once there, he removed his Stradivarius violin from its case, and began to play. This is the music you’re hearing right now. This an artist who has sold out opera houses and played for heads of state, playing a $4 million dollar violin. Of the approximately 1,000 people who walked past, only seven stopped to listen.  And so it is, sometimes, with our national identity as Americans. We are busy, we are desensitized, that it is an act of the will to stop, screen out the noise, and appreciate for a moment just how fundamentally unique and beautiful our country is. And the Declaration of Independence, the founding document of our country, has its own special music. In an effort to listen, I sat down with Brenda Hafera, Assistant Director of the Simon Center for American Studies, here at the Heritage Foundation. —Follow Brenda Hafera at Heritage.org:https://www.heritage.org/staff/brenda-haferaWashington Post Video of the Joshua Bell Experiment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhwFull Text of the Declaration of Independence: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcriptHave thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2025

While there are still several high-profile cases awaiting rulings, the Supreme Court has delivered several wins for the Trump administration, common sense, and all Americans.So far this term, the Supreme Court issued stays of lower court orders attempting to block the Trump administration from pursuing its agenda, upheld religious freedom and parental rights, and upheld laws protecting kids from dangerous gender treatments. Justices also have stopped lower court judges from rewriting discrimination law and allowing foreign governments to infringe on Americans’ right to bear arms.Here to talk about what has happened this year and what we might expect to see over the next week is Heritage Senior Legal Fellow Hans von Spakovsky. —Hans on X: https://x.com/HvonSpakovsky?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorCase in Point Podcast: https://www.heritage.org/caseinpoint—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2025

On Friday, Israel initiated "Operation Rising Lion," conducting airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military command centers. The strikes led to at least 75 Iranian deaths and significant infrastructure damage, including oil refineries and missile launchers. Iran responded with a large-scale missile and drone assault on Israel, targeting over 150 military and intelligence sites. The strikes resulted in at least 14 Israeli fatalities and over 400 injuries. Israel claimed to have damaged or destroyed 150 military and intelligence sites, including missile launchers and air defense systems.Here to talk about the implications of this attack and how we might expect this to change the situation in the Middle East is Robert Greenway, Director of the Allison Center for National Security, here at the Heritage Foundation. —Rob Greenway on X: https://x.com/RC_GreenwayMore of Rob’s work: https://www.heritage.org/staff/robert-greenway—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2025