Heritage Explains

Heritage Podcast Network
Heritage Podcast Network
  • 4.7 (844)
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  • Updated Weekly

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. 1d ago

    How Do We Fix America's Elections? | Ken Cuccinelli

    As stories about non-citizen voting and voter fraud become disturbingly common, Americans are beginning to lack confidence in our elections. The debate over the elections process has taken on a renewed urgency given we are just months away from the 2026 midterms and a few years out from what promises to be a contentious 2028 election. That's why Heritage Foundation recently launched the latest edition of its Election Integrity Scorecard, a tool that evaluates how states are protecting election integrity. The scorecard provides Americans a clear look at where states are making progress and where reforms are still needed. Mark Guiney recently sat down with Ken Cuccinelli, former Virginia attorney general and the Chairman of Heritage Action’s Election Transparency Initiative, to discuss Heritage's election integrity projects and what election officials must do to strengthen confidence in our elections.

  2. Sep 9

    Can America Keep the Lights On? | Jack Spencer

    Energy is the nucleus of everything. The oil that powers our cars, the natural gas heating out homes, and the nuclear keeping the lights on: it’s all tied back to energy policy. Reliable energy is essential to both American prosperity and national security. To help lay out just how essential understanding energy policy is, and what the future holds for it, we spoke to Jack Spencer, Director of the Center for Energy, Climate and Environment at The Heritage Foundation, host of The Power Hour podcast, and author of the book “Nuclear Revolution: Powering the Next Generation.”    Power Hour Podcast: https://www.heritage.org/the-power-hour Nuclear Revolution: Powering the Next Generation: https://www.amazon.com/Nuclear-Revolution-Powering-Next-Generation/dp/088890357X

  3. Sep 2

    How do We Make the American Dream Affordable Again? | John Gibbs

    A few weeks ago, conservative online discourse was focused on the price of a burrito. Yes, the Vice President of the United States, along with the right’s most celebrated minds, were arguing over whether a burrito should cost $20. Beneath the viral posts was a serious question: why does it feel like the American Dream keeps getting more expensive? Me and my wife certainly feel the squeeze on the cost of groceries, housing, and everyday necessities. We own a house, but homeownership is increasingly out of reach for young Americans. The problem has become existential, and Congress is once again debating how to tackle affordability. To figure out what to do about this deeply pressing issue, I spoke with John Gibbs, Director of the Institute for Economic Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation. We chatted about what’s really driving America's affordability crisis, how we get more American families in homes, and what policymakers can do to make it happen.

  4. Aug 26

    How Prepared Is America for a More Dangerous World? | Bob Peters

    New York Times journalist James Reston once quipped that "This is the devilish thing about foreign affairs: they are foreign and will not always conform to our whim."  Never have those words been truer than now. The world is a very dangerous place at the moment. We are still engaged in Iran, with little sign of things improving. China looms large in Asia, though we have abruptly stopped engaging with regional ally South Korea on military drills. The Ukraine/Russia war continues to rage, all while America’s defensive capabilities are under increased scrutiny. It’s a lot to take in, but we think we have just the guy to break it down. Bob Peters is the Director for the Heritage Foundation’s Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for National Security. He’s here to walk us through the dire threats facing the nation from abroad.

  5. Aug 19

    Why Did AOC Freeze Her Eggs? A New Look at Fertility | Marguerite Duane

    Fertility is often framed as a women's issue, but do men have any place in the conversation? In this episode of Heritage Explains, Heritage Action's Doug Blair sits down with Dr. Marguerite Duane to discuss the realities of fertility, the factors contributing to declining birth rates, and why men play a much bigger role in the fertility conversation than many realize. The pair also discuss Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's recent revelation that she is planning on freezing her eggs and the truth behind IVF, egg freezing, and all forms of fertility technology. Check out FACTS About Fertility here: https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/ Follow FACTS About Fertility on X: https://x.com/FACTS_Fertility

  6. Aug 12

    Did Communists Kill Portland, OR? | Mike Gonzales

    Portland was once held up as a model of urban America: a walkable, vibrant city known for parks, restaurants, breweries, and a thriving downtown. Today, record office vacancies, rampant homelessness, drug use, and shuttered businesses have turned the City of Roses into a warning for other American cities. So what happened? On this episode of Heritage Explains, we’re joined by Heritage Senior Fellow Mike Gonzalez, author of Next Gen Marxism, to examine the ideological forces reshaping Portland and cities like it. We discuss how political activism can displace basic governance, why failing local leaders so often escape accountability, how modern Marxism differs from its predecessors, whether the Left is really moving away from “woke” politics, and why schools, museums, universities, and other civic institutions have become central battlegrounds in America’s political divide. Can cities like Portland pull themselves back from the brink, or is their decline a preview of what’s coming elsewhere? Follow Mike on X: https://x.com/Gundisalvus Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/NextGen-Marxism-What-How-Combat/dp/1641773537

  7. Aug 5

    Re-run | What is the Save America Act? | Chip Wyatt & Dan West

    This epsiode originally aired on February 11th, 2026. Enjoy! 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

  8. Jul 30

    BONUS | The Supreme Court’s Biggest Hits | Cully Stimson & Zack Smith

    The last Supreme Court term was a very busy and consequential one. With decisions from redistricting to birthright citizenship to boys in girls’ sports, many cases made headlines and there is a lot to talk about.   That’s why we decided to bring you a very special bonus episode this week. Heritage Action’s Doug Blair sat down with Heritage legal fellows Cully Stimson and Zack Smith to break down the cases and highlight the big takeaways.    ---  Follow Cully Stimson on X: https://x.com/cullystimson?lang=en  Follow Zack Smith on X: https://x.com/tzsmith  ---  Email us at heritageexplains@heritage.org

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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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