Defending Ideas

Sutherland Institute
  • 4.6 (9)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, by equipping listeners to become more effective champions of sound principle and good policy. Visit defendingideas.org.

  1. 2d ago

    The Next Welfare Reform: Paul Ryan on Work, Technology, and RISE Pilots

    Thirty years after the landmark welfare reform law, what should the next generation of social safety-net reform look like? Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan joins Defending Ideas to discuss the future of welfare reform and how policymakers can build a system today that helps more families move toward work and economic independence. Speaker Ryan and host Nic Dunn examine RISE pilots, a state-led approach that tests whether combining multiple welfare benefits into a single, trackable monthly payment can simplify the social safety net, improve work incentives, and help families move out of poverty. The conversation explores how technology could help reduce benefit cliffs, better coordinate programs, and improve accountability. Ryan explains why states should have the freedom to test different welfare reform approaches and why good data is essential if we want to know what works before expanding reforms more broadly. Ryan, who is also the founder of the American Idea Foundation, a professor of the practice at the University of Notre Dame, and a Distinguished Visiting Fellow in the Practice of Public Policy at AEI, discusses with Dunn universal basic income and why RISE offers a more promising path forward for welfare reform and, ultimately, people's economic independence. Show Notes:  Reforming the Safety Net through RISE Pilot Programs - American Idea FoundationAmericans Are Getting Caught in the Safety Net - Paul Ryan and Les Ford Wall Street Journal op-ed The Safety Net We’d Build Today: Empowerment Accounts as a State-Led Pilot Concept - Nic Dunn report for Sutherland Institute Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

  2. Aug 18

    The hidden problem with America’s safety net | Erine Gray

    America spends a ton of money on our social safety net, yet many people still feel trapped. That means maybe the biggest problem isn't how much we spend. On this episode of Defending Ideas, Erine Gray, founder and CEO of Findhelp, joins Nic Dunn to explain why navigating America's fragmented network of government programs, nonprofits, churches, and other community organizations can be just as hard as qualifying for the benefits themselves. Gray shares the personal experiences that led him to build Findhelp, what he learned working inside Texas' public-benefits system during the financial crisis, and why he believes AI, better data, and greater coordination could make the safety net more effective, without adding more programs or spending. Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

  3. Aug 11

    Why America needs a principled center-right | Todd Weiler

    What can Utah teach America about the future of conservatism?  On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn sits down with Todd Weiler, the new president and CEO of Sutherland Institute and a member of the Utah State Senate. They discuss the future of the conservative movement, the importance of principled and evidence-based policymaking, and why states may be better positioned than Washington, D.C., to tackle some of America's biggest challenges by bringing policymaking closer to the people it affects. Weiler shares his vision for Sutherland and explains why Utah's experience – from family policy and religious freedom to immigration, affordability and a citizen legislature – offers lessons that other states and the nation can learn from. They also explore why returning to true center-right conservatism could be the way to fix many of the rifts in our current politics. Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

  4. Aug 4

    Why our children need more education choices | Shaka Mitchell & Christine Cooke Fairbanks

    No two children learn exactly the same way. So why should families be expected to rely on a one-size-fits-all education system?  In this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn speaks with Shaka Mitchell of the American Federation for Children and Sutherland Institute education policy fellow Christine Cook Fairbanks about the growing movement for education choice.  They discuss how parents have driven recent reforms, the legal and political challenges facing education choice programs, the new federal education freedom tax credit, and how policymakers can build an education system that serves children rather than forcing every kid into the same model. Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

  5. Jul 28

    Should county clerks be nonpartisan? | Kevin Johnson & Brian McKenzie

    We want referees to enforce the rules, not play for one team. Should the same principle apply to county clerks and elections officials?  In this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nick Dunn sits down with Kevin Johnson, Executive Director of the Election Reformers Network, and Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzie to discuss whether county clerk elections should be nonpartisan. They explore the unique role of election administrators, the political pressures they can face, and whether removing party labels could strengthen public confidence in elections. Show notes:  Reform Options for County Clerk Elections  Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

  6. Jul 21

    How the federal government keeps expanding its power | Kevin Williamson & Bill Duncan

    Why does the federal government keep expanding into every corner of our lives? It's not always by passing new laws. Guidance documents, letters, handbooks, and informal directives from federal agencies can cause headaches for states, schools, businesses, and regular people.  In this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn is joined by Kevin Williamson, National Correspondent at The Dispatch and Writer in Residence at Competitive Enterprise Institute, as well as Sutherland Institute constitutional law and religious freedom fellow Bill Duncan, to examine how federal guidance works and why it raises serious concerns about accountability and constitutional authority. They discuss regulatory “dark matter,” the decline of congressional responsibility, practical examples of federal agencies pressuring states, and how federalism, transparency, and a renewed commitment to separation of powers could help rein in Washington’s influence. Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

  7. Jul 14

    Understanding the Supreme Court’s biggest decisions in 2026 | Dr. Matthew Brogdon & Bill Duncan

    The Supreme Court has spoken. And the internet has some...interesting opinions.  On this episode of Defending Ideas, Utah Valley University's Senior Director of the Center for Constitutional Studies Dr. Matthew Brogdon and Sutherland Institute's Bill Duncan discuss several of the Supreme Court's most talked-about rulings this year.  They unpack the legal reasoning behind the decisions on birthright citizenship, executive power, the Federal Reserve, and more. Brogdon and Duncan explain why many popular interpretations you see online often fall short, and how we should be thinking about these cases instead. Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

  8. Jul 7

    The human benefits of AI | Shoshana Weissmann

    Is artificial intelligence something to fear—or a tool to help us thrive? In this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn talks with Shoshana Weissmann, Digital Director and Policy Advisor at Abundance Institute, about the positive opportunities AI creates for workers, patients, creators, and entrepreneurs. Weissmann shares how AI has helped her navigate complex medical issues, as well as how she uses it every day to enhance her work. Dunn and Weissmann also discuss the principles that should guide smart AI policy so everyone can benefit from this technology. Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

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4.6
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, by equipping listeners to become more effective champions of sound principle and good policy. Visit defendingideas.org.

Information

  • Creator
    Sutherland Institute
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    161
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sutherland Institute
  • Show Website
    Defending Ideas

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