In The Tank

The Heartland Institute
  • 4.8 (51)
  • GOVERNMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 troubling rise of socialism, globalism, health care, education, that state of freedom in America and around the world, and much more. This podcast is also available as part of the Heartland Daily Podcast, the “firehose” of all the organization’s podcasts that take deep and entertaining dives into public policy.

  1. The Future of Movies — In the Tank Podcast #522

    6D AGO

    The Future of Movies — In the Tank Podcast #522

    Hollywood is at a breaking point—and audiences can feel it. On In the Tank Podcast #522, Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, S.T. Karnick, and Donald Kendal dig into what’s reshaping movies and TV right now: DEI-era gatekeeping, studios quietly changing course, shrinking opportunities for creators, and the growing role of AI in entertainment. They’re joined by Christian Toto, returning for his fifth annual appearance, to break down how Hollywood’s incentives filtered out creative voices—and why so many films now feel safe, preachy, and lifeless. The panel also tackles Disney’s new AI deal involving OpenAI’s Sora platform and what it means for writers, actors, and storytelling itself. Plus: the crew runs through their “Unhinged” list of the worst movies and TV of 2025—and what might actually be worth watching next. If Hollywood has lost its edge, this episode explores why—and what comes next. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET every Friday on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook. Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals Chapters: 00:33 Intro01:57 Special Guest Introduction03:55 Support Our Sponsor! 05:50 Unhinged: Worst Movies of 2025 22:08 Film Affected By DEI49:15 AI in Movies? Good or Bad?1:19:25 The Future of Movies: Embracing The Experience STORIES COVERED ON THE SHOW: DEI To Blame? - Writers and other roles in movie companies are being filtered by DEI politics in Hollywood. Does this have an effect on the quality of films? https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-lost-generation/ https://variety.com/2025/film/news/hollywood-drops-dei-programs-donald-trump-disney-paramount-amazon-1236327202/ AI in Movies - Where is it good, and Where does it suck? https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-openai-sora-agreement/https://archive.ph/2xtns  Optimism for the Future: the best films of 2025, what to look forward to in 2026 and beyond. https://x.com/vegasstarfish/status/1961588349799731453https://www.imdb.com/calendar/

    1h 38m
  2. Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Frauds - In the Tank Podcast #521

    DEC 4

    Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Frauds - In the Tank Podcast #521

    "Woke" and its pushers continues to be exposed for the ugliness, fraud and tyranny their policies unleash on the rest of us, all over the world. We'll cover how the architect of Jaguar’s disastrous rebrand has finally been canned, and Rep. Aftyn Behn’s loss to Matt Van Epps in Tennessee reveals her and her party as very sore losers indeed. We'll also take a look at the years of widespread fraud inside Minnesota’s social services system, and discuss how Governor Walz not only buried the problem but may be setting the stage for even more abuse through a new program. And on UNHINGED: Multiple-time violent criminals are being released to attack people again, and other craziness. The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and S.T. Karnick will talk about all of this and more on Episode #521 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook. Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

    1h 10m
  3. Who’s Really Driving Up Your Thanksgiving Grocery Bill? — In the Tank Podcast #520

    NOV 21

    Who’s Really Driving Up Your Thanksgiving Grocery Bill? — In the Tank Podcast #520

    Thanksgiving is approaching, but grocery prices seem to just keep getting higher. We will discuss what causes food costs to rise, and how it can be stopped. A new exclusive from the Free Beacon reports that George Soros gave a quarter million dollars to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which works with advertisers for Big Tech trying to deplatform conservative voices and destroy X.com. Plus, Rasmussen polling found that a worrying chunk of young voters would be willing to hand functions of government over to AI, including policymaking decisions and our very rights. And on UNHINGED: Trump Derangement Syndrome increasingly appears to be a genuine pathology, with sufferers totally unable to cope. The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo will talk about all of this and more on Episode #520 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook. Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals Interesting and recommended video on AI: We Are Not Ready for Super Intelligence:  Chapters: 00:38 Intro 02:17 Panel Introduction06:47 UNHINGED: Trump Derangement Syndrome Continues20:57 Real Reason Food Cost is High43:30 Advisory Metals 45:33 Soros continues to control the media54:31 AI OVERLORDS?

    1h 38m
  4. How Do We Fix This? — In the Tank Podcast #519

    NOV 14

    How Do We Fix This? — In the Tank Podcast #519

    America’s great exodus from major cities and entire states keeps accelerating — and the election of socialist Mayor Mamdani in New York City is only speeding things up. Yet polls show young Americans becoming more favorable toward socialism, even embracing ideas like government-run grocery stores. What does that say about our culture, our education system, and the nation’s future? On the education side, things are just as alarming. UC San Diego reports that incoming students can’t meet basic math expectations — not just at grade level, but far below it. How did we get here, and how can states and the federal government fix this before it truly spirals out of control? PLUS on UNHINGED:An AI-generated country song has charted in online music sales. Is this a sign of an unhinged future — or has mainstream music been formulaic and awful for years anyway? The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo break it all down on Episode #519 of the In the Tank Podcast. Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat!Streaming on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook. Support our sponsor, Advisor Metals:https://climaterealismshow.com/metals Chapter: 02:08 Intro5:48 TOP Country song is AI????24:36 Exodus of NYC and other Blue States36:11 Most Young Voters Embrace Socialism1:10:43 How Do We Fix Our Education System?

    1h 38m
  5. They Voted Blue No Matter Who - In the Tank #518

    NOV 7

    They Voted Blue No Matter Who - In the Tank #518

    On Tuesday, New York City elected a trust-fund communist as mayor. New Jersey, which seemed to be trending red, put a scandal-ridden Democrat in the governor's mansion. In Virginia, voters rejected a black Republican conservative woman over a woke former CIA spook who pledged to force girls and women to endure biological men in their private spaces again. Oh, and Dems in the Old Dominion also elected a man who wished a political opponent and his children would be murdered so his grieving wife would finally agree with him on policy as she held her family in her arms. The weird part is that all these results were expected for weeks. What happened? On Episode #518 of the In the Tank Podcast, the Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo will break it all down. It seems that the rise of socialism has not been arrested after all. Is this an outlier, or a sign that the midterm elections in 2026 will be a bloodbath for Trump and the MAGA movement. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

    1h 42m
  6. Night of the Democratic Socialists! — In the Tank Podcast #517

    OCT 31

    Night of the Democratic Socialists! — In the Tank Podcast #517

    Are Democrats holding SNAP funding hostage to keep the Schumer Shutdown alive? The In the Tank crew dives into the latest Washington tricks — and whether major reforms are long overdue. As the Democratic Party embraces openly socialist candidates, we ask: are there any moderates left? On UNHINGED, the team rants about Christmas displays popping up before Halloween 🎃 — and then wraps up with a lighter segment on our favorite spooky-season books and movies. Featuring Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, and Chris Talgo of The Heartland Institute. 🕐 Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, and X — and join us in the live chat! Visit our sponsor, ADVISOR METALS: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

    1h 29m
  7. Do We Need An AI Bill Of Rights? - In The Tank #516

    OCT 24

    Do We Need An AI Bill Of Rights? - In The Tank #516

    The AI Revolution is happening at an incredible speed. New AI products, like OpenAI's Sora 2, continue to push the envelope and blur the lines between reality and fabrication. And as this revolutionary technology continues to advance and integrate deeper into our daily lives, serious questions are emerging about power, control, and human rights in the digital age. Should there be a framework—an “AI Bill of Rights”—to protect individuals from algorithmic abuse, data manipulation, and government or corporate overreach? The ITT crew discusses how real this future is becoming, the potential threats to privacy and autonomy, and whether society is prepared for the moral and political challenges AI is bringing to the surface. The Heartland Institute’s Donald Kendal, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, and Justin Haskins will discuss all of this and more on Episode #516 of the In The Tank Podcast. Watch LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat! Chapters: 0:37 Intro2:06 Start6:41 Debate on the role of AI in education26:05 The Radical Normalization of AI Tech43:12 AI Game: Is it real?58:30 AI Bill of rights?

    1h 34m
  8. CNN Declares Men Are a "Disease" — Yes, Really - In The Tank #515

    OCT 21

    CNN Declares Men Are a "Disease" — Yes, Really - In The Tank #515

    The government is still shut down, and Democrats are warning that the expiration of Obamacare subsidies at the end of this year will make healthcare unaffordable for millions. But that’s not true. While the system certainly needs reform, the real problem lies deeper than temporary subsidies. The Heartland crew will break down what needs to change to make healthcare work for everyone. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has floated the idea that the United States may need to “decouple” from China if they continue to play unfairly in global markets. What would that mean for essential materials and the broader economy—and has America waited too long to act? And on this week’s UNHINGED segment, CNN revives an old feminist slogan that claims men who find women attractive are a societal problem. The panel will discuss why this narrative keeps failing and what it says about modern media culture.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, Chris Talgo, and special guest AnneMarie Schieber will discuss all of this and more on Episode #515 of the In The Tank Podcast. Watch LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat! VISIT our sponsor: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals SHOW NOTES: CNN, After years of progress on gender, the male gaze is back:https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/11/health/male-gaze-wellness The Epoch Times: US May Decouple From China If Rare Earths Dispute Persists: Bessenthttps://www.theepochtimes.com/us/bessent-says-if-china-refuses-to-be-a-reliable-partner-us-and-allies-will-have-to-decouple-5929817 The Federalist: No, Obamacare Premiums Are Not Doublinghttps://thefederalist.com/2025/10/08/no-obamacare-premiums-are-not-doubling/ The Federalist: Here’s How Republicans Should Fix Health Care Rather Than Bailing Out Obamacarehttps://thefederalist.com/2025/10/07/heres-how-republicans-should-fix-health-care-rather-than-bailing-out-obamacare/ Forbes: How Obamacare Set In Motion Today’s Premium Crisishttps://www.forbes.com/sites/sallypipes/2025/10/14/how-obamacare-set-in-motion-todays-premium-crisis/

    1h 25m
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4.8
out of 5
51 Ratings

About

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 troubling rise of socialism, globalism, health care, education, that state of freedom in America and around the world, and much more. This podcast is also available as part of the Heartland Daily Podcast, the “firehose” of all the organization’s podcasts that take deep and entertaining dives into public policy.

Information

  • Creator
    The Heartland Institute
  • Years Active
    2010 - 2025
  • Episodes
    170
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Heartland Institute
  • Show Website
    In The Tank

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