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Recent Episodes
The murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, after eight days of testimony, has gone to a jury in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to arrive at verdicts in the highly publicized case. The jury, which finished its second day of deliberation Tuesday, was considering seven counts, including first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, and attempted first-degree homicide. As Americans wait to learn Rittenhouse's fate, it's helpful to look back and see how we got here. Self-defense expert and attorney Andrew Branca extensively covered the trial’s ins and outs. Branca has written that he thinks the jury should find Rittenhouse, 18, not guilty because he acted in self-defense in shooting three men who pursued him during a riot in Kenosha, killing two. "I don't even think it's close. It should be an acquittal on all these criminal charges," Branca says. "I'm sure what we're experiencing here is a holdout of one or perhaps two jurors. The evidence is not close on any of these issues."
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The Heritage Foundation
The same day President Joe Biden announced details of his COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers, The Daily Wire filed a lawsuit to stop it. The Daily Wire, a media outlet founded by conservative commentator and author Ben Shapiro, filed the suit because the mandate on employers of 100 or more workers is unconstitutional, the organization said in a public statement Nov. 4. Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal aid organization, is representing The Daily Wire in its fight to halt Biden's vaccine mandate. Although it is risky for any lawyer to predict a case will go to the Supreme Court, Ryan Bangert, a senior attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom, says this case is different. “I think this one has a very good chance of going to the Supreme Court because of the stakes,” Bangert says. Bangert joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the constitutionality of the vaccine mandate and what could be next for The Daily Wire’s lawsuit. We also cover these stories: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the ongoing crisis in which large numbers of illegal immigrants cross the southern border. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes aim at the Biden administration and Washington's ruling class. Californians are paying more at the gas pump than ever before. Enjoy the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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Nike, Coca-Cola, and American Airlines are just a few of the companies Consumers’ Research is targeting over their woke business practices. Consumers’ Research, an educational organization seeking to highlight issues concerning to consumers, now has a new target: American investment firm BlackRock and their ties to the Chinese Communist Party. "Where [is BlackRock] investing your money? China. Pouring in billions, propping up Chinese communist leaders, putting money into surveillance companies used by the Chinese military. Even left-wing billionaire George Soros knows BlackRock is harming U.S. national security," says Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research. Hild joins the show to talk about Consumers’ Research's new campaign targeting BlackRock's Chinese ties and to discuss other woke businesses. We also cover these stories: Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon surrenders himself to law enforcement. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., announces he will not seek reelection in 2022, putting an end to his nearly 50-year career. Judge Bruce Schroeder dismisses a misdemeanor charge against Kyle Rittenhouse for possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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Remember when Sen. Bernie Sanders pointed to Europe as the solution for America's problems? “I think we should look to countries like Denmark, like Sweden and Norway,” Sanders, I-Vt., said during a 2016 presidential debate, “and learn what they have accomplished for their working people.” He's not alone. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said, "What we have in mind and what my policies most closely resemble are what we see in the U.K., Norway, in Finland, in Sweden.” These self-proclaimed socialists profess that a European model is superior to the United States. It isn't. David Harsanyi, a senior writer at National Review and columnist for The Daily Signal, is the author of a new book, "Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent." Harsanyi debunks the American left's myths about Europe and explains why we shouldn't look across the Atlantic to solve our problems. Enjoy the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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China has reportedly tested a new strategic weapon: a fractional orbital bombardment system armed with a hypersonic glide vehicle. What exactly does this weapon do and what is the threat to the United States? Peter Brookes, a senior research fellow focusing on weapons of mass destruction and counterproliferation at The Heritage Foundation, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to shed some light on this startling development. (The Daily Signal is Heritage's multimedia news organization.) "This weapon—because of its unlimited range—could be flown over the South Pole towards the United States, which would give it certain capabilities that would be difficult to defend against," Brookes explains. "For years and years, going back to the Cold War, we have developed our radar capabilities looking towards things coming over the North Pole or from east and west, and not from the south." Enjoy the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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James Lednicky, a student at Arizona State University, joined the Veterans Heritage Project because he wanted to learn more about the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. He was matched with a Vietnam veteran, retired Lt. Col. Fred Shirley, and was tasked with documenting Shirley’s story. Lednicky says he was a little nervous about interviewing Shirley, but “as soon as Fred and I got talking, we really just had a conversation about his time in the military, and it was just a great conversation.” Lednicky plans to serve in the military himself and says his conversations with Shirley have influenced how he hopes to one day lead as a Marine. The way in which Shirley led with “humility" is "something that really struck me,” Lednicky says. The way Shirley looked after “those that serve under [him] ... it makes me want to lead my Marines the same way, to care about them deeply, and to let them know that I care, like Fred did,” he says. Lednicky and Shirley join “The Daily Signal Podcast” to share their experience in the Veterans Heritage Project and how we can all care for our veterans. We also cover these stories: Inflation rates have hit a new 30-year record high. The American Medical Association’s recently released "Advancing Health Equity" guide comes under fire. America’s most elite private K-12 schools are teaching critical race theory, according to a new study by CriticalRace.org, founded by Cornell law professor William Jacobson. Enjoy the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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COVID-19 vaccine mandates are wreaking havoc across the country as employees are forced to get vaccinated or possibly risk losing their jobs. Employees' religion-based objections to vaccination are clashing with those mandates, and often, the mandate wins out. Hunter Creger was suspended from his job at a Colorado-based spacecraft launch service after he refused the vaccine on religious grounds. "It was awful," Creger explains. "These are people that I work for, and that I've developed a relationship with, and they're telling me that … . They walked me out the door. They had security walk me out the door because I didn't want to take the shot." Creger joins the show to share his story and to offer advice to others who find themselves in circumstances similar to his. We also cover these stories: The Biden administration insists that mandating COVID-19 vaccines and testing for employees of larger companies is necessary to keep the public safe. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, signs legislation amending state law to make it more difficult for Illinoisans to refuse to be vaccinated. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra refuses to address GOP accusations that he violated federal conscience protections and worked at "the behest of the abortion lobby." See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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Diversity officers slowly are corrupting K-12 education by bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives into schools and teaching children divisive topics such as critical race theory, a Heritage Foundation scholar says. A new report from Jay Greene, a senior research fellow in education at Heritage, highlights how harmful these diversity officers and their initiatives can be. Worse than simply indoctrinating children, the report says, proposals to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion contribute to a widening achievement gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students. In some cases, the gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students can be utterly crippling, he explains. "So it's easy to understand, this is how many grade levels apart the average white student is from the average black student in that [school] district. That average, by the way, is almost two grade levels," Greene says at one point. Greene joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and how they negatively affect disadvantaged students. We also cover these stories: The Biden administration encourages schools to promote the new COVID-19 vaccine for children. The president’s approval ratings are in bad shape, according to a new USA Today/Suffolk University poll. America is now open to travelers from Europe, Canada, and Mexico, providing they're fully vaccinated against COVID-19. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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"What if Christian parents of children reading comic books don’t want their kids exposed to bisexual characters?" Sophia Nelson thought it was a reasonable question in the wake of DC Comics' announcement that Superman's son, Jon Kent, would have a pink-haired boyfriend in an upcoming comic. Nelson, a scholar-in-residence at Christopher Newport University in Virginia and a bestselling author, never expected her Oct. 11 tweet to ignite her own ordeal with cancel culture. Students petitioned, professors protested, and the university's president—a former Republican U.S. senator from Virginia—acquiesced to the pressure rather than defending Nelson. Today, Nelson joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to share her concerns about cancel culture, fear of returning to campus, and what she has planned next. Enjoy the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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President Joe Biden has rolled out a COVID-19 vaccine mandate affecting about 80 million American workers. Biden is ordering all businesses and other organizations with 100 or more employees to make sure those employees either become vaccinated or are tested weekly for the disease. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., says he is outraged by what he views as a massive government overreach. Vaccine mandates "are freedom-robbing," Johnson says. "They're unbelievably coercive." "I've always thought that nobody should be pressured, coerced, or fear reprisal for refusing any medical treatment, including the COVID vaccine," Johnson adds. "But we've just turned our society, our laws, our ethics on their head during this pandemic. It's time for Americans to reclaim their freedom." Johnson joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss what he and congressional colleagues plan to do about Biden's largest vaccine mandate, as well as to share some stories of Americans who have been affected by side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines. We also cover these stories: The Biden administration formally announces its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for many private employers. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Dr. Anthony Fauci get into another heated exchange during a Senate committee hearing. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler calls for over $5 million in additional police department funding nearly a year after Oregon's largest city cut its police budget in response to protests and riots. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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Civics education has become a flashpoint in American politics. Many schools are asking how students should learn about themselves and their country in a way that fully encompasses American history, both good and bad. Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen recently updated the state’s standards for social studies to better teach students about civics and the things they need to know to be a good American citizen. When asked what she hopes Montana's students are getting out of their civics education, Arntzen responded, "That our country is a great country. ... We did not want a king ... And I believe that's where our Republic is and our Republic is founded. That yes, there are symbols that have come across from monuments, from our flag, and our Pledge of Allegiance and all of that. And I believe all of those parts are to be honored." Arntzen joins the show to talk about those changes to the social studies standards, as well as offer insight on how other states can do better with their civics education standards. We also cover these stories: Democrat West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin justifies his cautious stance towards Democrats unprecedented 1.75 trillion dollar spending package as a result of Tuesday's election. For the first time in more than a decade, the Supreme Court hears arguments in a major Second Amendment case. Florida second grader Fiona Lashells joins Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on a Fox News segment, after the little girl was suspended from school for refusing to wear a mask. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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The 2020 election was unprecedented, what with the COVID-19 pandemic and controversy over expanded early and mail-in voting. “There were more lawsuits filed last year before the election trying to change the laws and the rules governing the election process than in any year in our entire history,” Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow and election expert at The Heritage Foundation. The political left used the pandemic to try to undo requirements for voter ID and for witness signatures on absentee ballots, von Spakovsky, who oversees Heritage's Election Law Reform Initiative. (The Daily Signal is Heritage's multimedia news organization.) The question now is: How do we ensure clean and honest elections across America? In his new book with former Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund, “Our Broken Elections: How the Left Changed the Way You Vote,” von Spakovsky addresses the election issues of 2020 and provides solutions with which lawmakers can prevent voter fraud. Von Spakovsky joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss his new book and why Americans should support safeguarding our elections through measure such as voter ID. We also cover these stories: Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin is poised to be the next governor of Virginia. Democrat and former New York City Police Captain Eric Adams wins the city’s mayoral election, beating out Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. A proposal to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a new Department of Public Safety fails. Enjoy the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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It's Election Day in Virginia, and no issue has captured the attention of voters in the Old Dominion more than education. Battles between school boards and frustrated parents have attracted national attention, and led to a close race for governor. Ian Prior, a Loudoun County, Virginia, father and executive director of parents-based grassroots organization Fight for Schools, feels the enthusiasm that parents engaged in their children's education are bringing to the election. "Parents have this burning fire inside of them to protect their children, and it's almost a bit of a hero's journey, like Joseph Campbell, where they have really risen to the occasion and have found skills and strength within them that they may not have known that they've had, and that is really what this movement is about," he says. "It's about parents that have found that inner strength and are willing to put it all on the line." Prior joins the show to discuss how education took center stage in the race, and implications for parents’ rights in their child’s education. We also cover these stories: President Joe Biden warns that unless immediate and definitive collective action is taken by the world, the “existential threat” of climate change could destroy people’s lives and livelihoods. Demonstrators for and against abortion stand outside the Supreme Court as the justices hear arguments on Texas' heartbeat abortion law. Philadelphia becomes the first city to end traffic stops for minor infractions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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As the former governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker learned firsthand how to confront cancel culture. In 2012, he became the first governor in American history to survive a recall election. His economic recovery plan and budget reforms ultimately proved more popular with voters. Now, as president of the Young America's Foundation, he's educating the next generation of conservatives how to fight back against the left—and win. Walker is also on quest to expand YAF's reach by engaging a larger number of young Americans on the issues that matter most. He's optimistic about the future and believes more young people will reject big-government socialism once they understand the consequences. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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October 2021
How would you feel if your business forced you to do something based solely on your race? For some minority lawyers, that's a reality. Racial preferences from clients take minority lawyers away from cases they’d prefer to work on, all to fulfill a quota. GianCarlo Canaparo, a legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation (of which The Daily Signal is the news outlet), says that this can lead to mismatches in what a lawyer wants to do, and what he or she is forced to do. In some cases, that can lead to minority lawyers leaving their firms, exacerbating the problem. "[Law firms] may pull a minority associate off cases that he or she wants to work on and put them on these matters, sometimes against their will, just so that they can fulfill these quotas," Canaparo explains. Canaparo joins the show to talk about racial preferences and how they affect the careers of minority lawyers. We also cover these stories: President Joe Biden unveils a new, pared-down version of Democrats' social welfare spending bill. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., expresses reservations about cuts to the spending bill. The NAACP asks professional athletes to boycott Texas over the state's laws on abortion, voting rights, and COVID-19 mask mandates. We also have a discussion about Halloween and some of the festivities that The Daily Signal team will take part in. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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The Chinese Communist Party’s system of mass surveillance is like something out of a dystopian sci-fi novel, destroying any semblance of privacy in the country for both individuals and businesses. In a recent international incident, popular job networking site LinkedIn shut down operations in China after the strain of working with the authoritarian government became too much. According to Riley Walters, LinkedIn was being forced to share data with the Chinese Communist Party. Amid privacy concerns, the company left the country. Walters, deputy director of the Hudson Institute Japan Chair, warns that the surveillance state can have real consequences for both Chinese citizens and the international community. "If you happen to be one of the few people left in the United States who has a Huawei phone, or if you live in Europe and you have some Chinese telecommunications device, is that information being transported back to China? If it's out in China, you're out of luck. It's there," he says.
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There’s a crisis in San Francisco. Homelessness has skyrocketed and drug use is rampant. Michael Shellenberger moved to San Francisco in 1993 to work on liberal causes, and even spent time working for George Soros' foundation. He advocated the decriminalization of drugs and promoted drug treatment programs. But, Shellenberger says, he began to worry when he saw the number of drug overdose deaths in America rise from 17,000 in 2000 to more than 70,000 by 2017. “Clearly, we are in the midst of a massive drug crisis,” Shellenberger says, “and it felt like nobody was offering a particularly clear explanation of it or offering very good solutions.” Out of frustration over the problems he was seeing in San Francisco and other liberal cities, Shellenberger became determined to diagnose the problems driving the homeless crisis and find solutions. He presents the result of his research and investigation in his new book, “San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities.”
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Since The New York Times released its 1619 Project in 2019, schools have been quick to adopt the curriculum. Tensions over race and racism over the past year and half have only added to the number of schools using the curriculum, says Charles Love, host of the "Cut the Bull" podcast and executive director of the nonprofit Seeking Educational Excellence. While Americans are “arguing ... about [critical race theory], what's the definition, what does it really mean, [the] 1619 [Project] is a behemoth, and it's growing,” Love warns. Many schools are choosing to adopt aspects of the 1619 Project curriculum because “it's easy,” Love says, adding that teachers need to be presented with better education options, such as the 1776 Unites curriculum. Love joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to explain the ways in which the woke education agenda is a threat to the American experiment and to discuss his forthcoming book, “Race Crazy: BLM, 1619, and the Progressive Racism Movement.” We also cover these stories: Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., says that Twitter suspended his account over a tweet that “misgendered” Rachel Levine, a transgender woman who is an assistant secretary for public health at the Department of Health and Human Services. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says his state will offer a $5,000 bonus to any out-of-state police officer who chooses to relocate to Florida. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp mocks Major League Baseball and Stacy Abrams, whom he defeated in 2018, for “stealing” the 2021 All-Star Game from the state now that the Atlanta Braves are going to the World Series. Enjoy the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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Sean Spicer wants you to take President Joe Biden at his word—his policy agenda really will radically transform America as we know it. Spicer's new book, "Radical Nation: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's Dangerous Plan for America," details the Biden administration's agenda and how it is already proving disastrous. He also provides readers with a roadmap for doing something about it. "[F]or the next three years, we're going to be dealing with Joe Biden," Spicer tells The Daily Signal. "You better know who these policies and people are that he's pursuing. Because as I said, if we don't look right now and engage, we are going to end up with a radical nation." Not long ago, Spicer was sparring with the media as White House press secretary under President Donald Trump. Today, he's host of "Spicer & Co." on Newsmax and a bestselling author. He shares what life it like behind the camera and how he approaches the news each day. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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Americans across the nation are feeling the effects of an unprecedented supply chain crisis. Prices for everyday essentials like milk and gas have skyrocketed and public officials are warning people to start buying their Christmas gifts now. But what is causing all of these supply chain issues? And how do we get out of this crisis? Heritage Foundation research fellow Joel Griffith talks about the different factors affecting the supply chain, from organized labor to COVID-19 shutdowns to government policies. Griffith joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss all this and offer some commonsense solutions to get America back on track. We also cover these stories: Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on a memo he sent out regarding school board meetings and domestic terrorism. Former President Donald Trump announces he's planning on launching a new social media platform called TRUTH. Following comments by Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter critical of the Chinese Communist Party and supporting Tibetan independence, videos featuring the team are wiped from Chinese social media. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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With aging equipment, a lack of adequate funding, and limited production capabilities, the U.S. military is ranked "marginal" at best. That’s the conclusion of the 2022 Index of U.S. Military Strength, an annual report from The Heritage Foundation that assesses the status of the military and the global threat level to the United States, which was released Wednesday. "It's right there on the edge. It could handle one major war for, we believe, a limited period of time, but it couldn't do anything other than that," said Dakota Wood, the lead editor of the index and a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation's Center for National Defense. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) Wood joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the findings of the latest index. We also cover these stories: The White House is preparing a plan to vaccinate children against COVID-19 pending the approval of the Food and Drug Administration. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces that the city will extend its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to all public employees, as well as remove the option to opt out of vaccination through regular testing. Democrats announce plans to alter a proposal that would give the IRS the authority to obtain information on Americans’ bank transactions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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Democrats' $3.5 trillion dollar spending package gives the IRS permission, and funding, to snoop on nearly every American's bank account, Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action for America, says. The "Biden administration is asking Congress to go ... weaponize the IRS to spy on Americans," Anderson says. The future of the bill is unclear after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., said he could not support a spending bill over $1.5 trillion. Anderson joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss how likely it is for the bill to move forward in Congress, and what we know about the provisions in the package. We also cover these stories: Christian schools are experiencing a boom in enrollment. Director of the Berkeley Atmospheric Sciences Center David Romps resigns, saying the organization has become political. City council members in New York City vote unanimously to remove a statue of Thomas Jefferson. Enjoy the Show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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Kelvin Cochran served as a firefighter for over three decades. He was named “Fire Chief of the Year” in 2012, and former President Barack Obama appointed him the U.S. Fire Administrator, the highest fire service post in the nation. But Cochran faced a different kind of fire in 2015 when he was terminated as Atlanta’s fire chief for writing a book in which he expressed his personal views that marriage is between one man and one woman. Cochran reached a settlement with the city of Atlanta in 2018, but says the experience of losing his job because of his faith was “challenging, to say the least.” As Americans, “we have the freedom to live out our faith, religious liberty, and we have freedom to speak our faith in whatever form of speech that we feel convicted to do without consequences,” Cochran says. “You shouldn't have to lose anything for living out your faith or speaking in your faith in our country.” Cochran joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss his new book, “Facing the Fire: The Faith That Brought ‘America’s Fire Chief’ Through the Flames of Persecution.” We also cover these stories: Former Secretary of State and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell dies due to complications from COVID-19. The Supreme Court issues two opinions that are being hailed as big wins for police officers. Ongoing tensions continue between Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and city police officers over vaccine mandates. Enjoy the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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Dr. Stephen Skoly is a well-known oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Rhode Island. He has been called to testify before lawmakers and serves as chairman of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity. But recently, Skoly made news for another reason: He opposes his state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Because of his principled stand, he no longer is allowed to see patients or practice medicine. Skoly joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" along with Mike Stenhouse, president of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, to explain why they're fighting heavy-handed government mandates. Enjoy the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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