The weekly flagship podcast from The Heartland Institute features in-depth policy discussions connected to current news. Host Donald Kendal leads the discussion with the usual crew of Heartland Institute Vice President Jim Lakely, Socialism Research Center “Commissar” Justin Haskins, Editorial Director Chris Talgo, and others at this national free-market think tank. The entertaining and informative discussions often hit topics such as the environment, energy policy, Big Tech censorship, the…
One of the biggest tech-related debates right now, which also overlaps with concerns about privacy rights and government overreach, is over new Flock camera systems being used on public and private property. These camera systems are interconnected, in part so police departments can more easily coordinate between jurisdictions to solve crimes... but at what cost? Supporters say it's worth it to…
Conservatives often point at socialism and more or less leave the argument at "these guys are crazy!" -- But the DSA do point to some real problems, like the cost of medical care, how big companies can run roughshod over ordinary Americans, and that public infrastructure is failing in our cities as well as rural communities. But socialist solutions from Medicare for All to eating the rich will…
Anthony Fauci was recently hauled before the Senate to explain his role in the COVID 19 pandemic, and the multitude of lies he told as head of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and advisor to the president. He pleaded the fifth more than 100 times during the hearing, refusing to answer pointed questions. Next steps are as unclear as his…
President Trump revealed that China has been interfering with our elections, especially the fraught 2020 election, in a speech that the mainstream media attempted to debunk before they even had the details. Trump brought receipts, and then as if to re-emphasize his point about election integrity, another bombshell dropped: illegals have been voting in New Jersey elections. The panel will discuss…
The Democratic Socialists in America have one of the most extreme platforms of any rising political group. They identify some real problems, but their solutions would be catastrophic. The team breaks down the most dangerous elements of the DSA's stated goals, and presents what would ACTUALLY help the poor and working classes in America. Also discussed is the unexpected positive consequences of…
Trump is refusing to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act unless lawmakers first pass the SAVE AMERICA Act, which Trump says is far more important. There is a lot of skepticism about whether or not the now-hostage Housing Act is a good idea anyway, the panel discusses the nuances. On another issue, Trump has also said that the administration is working on a National Right to Carry bill, but…
One would think a major terror attack just occurred on U.S. soil, for all the reactions that Democrats and socialist friends are having to the news that Elon Musk's net worth just hit a trillion dollars. He is the first person in history to make that mark, and leftist progressives absolutely hate it. We will discuss the politics of ENVY, and how poisonous jealousy is to society and the economy.…
Social Security trustees predict the retirement trust fund is now projected to run dry a full year earlier than previously forecast, in just 2032. What got us here, and what does Congress need to do about it? Can we keep pushing insolvency forward forever? And: where does good government end and dangerous negligence begin? The Belfast riots are the latest example of a Western government that…
More and more, parents and government agencies are preventing kids from doing things like walking home from school on their own. It’s clear that this kind of helicopter parenting is bad for kids’ development, we discuss where the line between child safety and independence is, and whether government should even have a say. Bernie Sanders, in classic socialist form, is looking to nationalize AI. His…
As the Justice Department's war on fraud continues, a new report by City Journal says that California is giving free appliances, including solar panels, to illegal immigrants in the name of fighting climate change. Absurd enough on its face, but something else is very fishy about who exactly is benefitting from the program. Leftists are being irresponsible with other people's money on the other…
This week, President Trump agreed to drop a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the Biden administration targeting him and his family, and in exchange the DOJ will set up a fund that will be available to cover the legal fees and losses of other Americans who were politically targeted by government. Democrats hate it, some Republicans hate it. Is this corruption, or compensating people the…