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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: [email protected]      Rob Bluey on X: https://x.com/RobertBluey  The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/ 

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: [email protected]      Rob Bluey on X: https://x.com/RobertBluey  The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/ 

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: [email protected]      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 

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 [email protected]. --- 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

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: [email protected].   ---  Jonathan Butcher on X: https://x.com/JM_Butcher 

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: [email protected].   ---  Lora Ries on X: https://x.com/lora_ries 

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: [email protected].   ---  Emma Waters on X: https://x.com/emlwaters 

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: [email protected].   ---  More on Defense from Heritage: https://www.heritage.org/defense  Victoria Coates on X: https://x.com/VictoriaCoates 

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: [email protected].   ---  More from Heritage Action for America: https://heritageaction.com/  Dan West on X: https://x.com/Dan_J_West 

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: [email protected].   ---  The Free Enterprise Initiative at Heritage: https://www.heritage.org/free-enterprise-initiative  Allen Mendenhall on X: https://x.com/allenmendenhall 

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: [email protected].   ---  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 

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: [email protected].   ---  More by EJ at The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/staff/ej-antoni-phd  Lora Ries on X: https://x.com/realEJAntoni 

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: [email protected].   ---  Work on Immigration by The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/border-security  Lora Ries on X: https://x.com/lora_ries 

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: [email protected]. --- Mike's work at Heritage.org: https://www.heritage.org/staff/mike-gonzalez Mike's book "NextGen Marxism": https://www.amazon.com/NextGen-Marxism-What-How-Combat/dp/1641773537

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 [email protected]. --- 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