Heritage Explains

Heritage Podcast Network

A podcast that explains major policy issues at a 101 level. Experts from America's leading public policy organization break down major news stories and policy debates raging in culture and Congress alike.

  1. 2d ago

    250 Years of the Greatest Country on Earth | Brenda Hafera

    In July of 1777, gunshots rang out over Philadelphia. At first glance, this may not be surprising, as America was still in the throes of the Revolutionary War. But it was not the redcoats who were firing that night. It was Americans, celebrating the very first anniversary of their independence. The edition of the Philadelphia Evening Post, published on July 15 1777 described the celebration thus:   Yesterday the 4th of July, being the anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America, was celebrated in this city with demonstrations of joy and festivity. About noon all the armed ships and gallies in the river were drawn up before the city, dressed in the gayest manner, with the colors of the United States and streamers displayed. At one o’clock, the yards being properly manned, they began the celebration of the day by a discharge of thirteen cannon from each of the ships, and one from each of the thirteen gallies, in honor of the Thirteen United States … The evening was closed with the ringing of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.  Next month, our nation will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Independence. While our struggles have changed, our civic and spiritual heritage has not. I invited Brenda Hafera, the Assistant Director for the Simon Center for American Studies, to share some thoughts about Independence Day and what we are doing this Fourth of July to keep the American dream alive.        Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org      Heritage Guide to Historic Sites: https://historicsites.heritage.org/  American Founders: https://www.heritage.org/american-founders  More by Brenda Hafera: https://www.heritage.org/staff/brenda-hafera

    16 min

  2. Jun 17

    What is the American Opportunity Agenda? | Dan Kowalski

    In 2025, data analytics company Gallup asked 144,000 people in 140 countries a survey question they have been asking for decades:   “Ideally, if you had the opportunity, would you like to move permanently to another country, or would you prefer to continue living in this country?”  If the respondent says they would like to move, they are then asked which country they would like to move to.   In 2025, the answer to this question was the same as it has always been. Among those who wish to move, the number one response by a wide margin is the United States of America. If you listen to the mainstream American media, you may be surprised. But our brethren overseas understand that more than any country in the world, America offers opportunity, the ability for anyone to take their shot.   At a time when many Americans are concerned about the state of the economy, we know we need to stay focused on preserving that opportunity for future generations. How do we do that? Enter the American Opportunity Agenda. I sat down with Dan Kowalski, Director of the Grover M Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, to understand exactly what that is.        Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org      Setting the American Opportunity Agenda Report: https://www.heritage.org/budget-and-spending/report/setting-the-american-opportunity-agenda  More by Dan Kowalski: https://www.heritage.org/staff/daniel-kowalski

    16 min

  3. Jun 10

    Trump, SCOTUS, and the First Step Act | Cully Stimson

    In our political climate, it is always nice to have a bit of authentic bipartisanship. The Marshall plan to rebuild Europe following World War 2, the Interstate Highway System under President Eisenhower, and the Apollo Program are all examples of both political parties coming together for a common goal.   The first Trump Administration saw another of these moments in the passage of the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act  or First Step Act in 2018. The bill was designed to reform federal prison policy and reduce the rates of recidivism, meaning criminals returning to incarceration. It had supporters from all over the political spectrum, and in its seven years of life, has indeed lowered recidivism, extended credits to prisoners for good behavior, and allowed some elderly or sick prisoners to return home.   Last week, the Supreme Court handed down decisions on three decisions having to do with criminal justice, two of them having to do with the First Step Act. Here to explain, and to talk about what he’s watching for from the land’s highest court this term, is Cully Stimson, Senior Legal Fellow here at the Heritage Foundation.       ---   Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org     --- Follow Cully Stimson on X: https://x.com/cullystimson

    20 min

  4. Jun 3

    Is There Hope for American Colleges? | Jonathan Butcher

    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

    16 min

  5. May 27

    Lessons from Virginia | Nick Freitas

    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

    35 min

  6. May 20

    Modernization, Security, and Election Integrity | Don Palmer

    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

    20 min

  7. May 13

    What Will Come from the Trump-Xi Meeting? | Andrew Harding

    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

    13 min

  8. May 6

    Is the Callais Decision the New Jim Crow? | Zack Smith

    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

    16 min
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A podcast that explains major policy issues at a 101 level. Experts from America's leading public policy organization break down major news stories and policy debates raging in culture and Congress alike.

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