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Tim Doescher

Timothy Doescher (pronounced Desher) is the associate director of Coalition Relations at The Heritage Foundation, tasked with maintaining relationships and promoting Heritage policy surrounding tax, energy, agriculture, budget, and economics in general. Prior to this, Doescher spent two years as a research associate in Heritage's Project for Economic Growth, supporting the work of economist Stephen Moore, and writing frequently on various economic issues.

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Series

Heritage Explains372 episodes

Recent Episodes

Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

Why is France on Fire? | Nile Gardiner

It’s a day ending in Y in France, which means rioting. Following in the spirit of 1789, the French are burning buildings, fighting the police, and overall behaving very poorly. This time, the revolutionaries are highschoolers joined by Islamo-communists and anarchists waving Palestinian flags, but France has seen this style of faux revolution before. The rioters are the proud heirs of May ’68, an event that looms so large in the French psyche, the mere mention of soixante-huitards, or 68ers, is enough to spark furious debate. Against the smoke and sirens lies a bigger question over whether France’s current system can hold. French presidential elections are coming soon, and far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to replace the Fifth Republic with a Sixth, led by, in his words, créolisation. By contrast, leader of the right-wing Marine Le Pen represents a nationalist defense of the old France, but both movements are deeply skeptical of the European Union. That’s a lot to cover. And who better to navigate us through some French politics than a Brit? My conversation with Nile Gardiner, Director of The Heritage Foundation’s Margaret Thatcher Center.
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

Are We Winning the War on Fraud? | Dan Kowalski

Washington has spent decades proving the bigger government gets, the more money it wastes and the less accountable it becomes. The infamous Minnesota “learing centers,” incident showed how craven many fraudsters are when it comes to stealing federal funds, while the downstream benefits of dismantling USAID show how effective government action can be in saving taxpayer money. Waste, fraud, and abuse are the inevitable results of a federal government that measures success not by results, but by the size of budgets. The Trump Administration has taken several steps towards remedying America's fraud problem, but many questions remain. To help answer some of those questions, we asked Director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget at the Heritage Foundation Dan Kowalski to break it all down. Check out more of The Heritage Foundation's wrok here: https://x.com/Heritage

September 2026

Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

Should We be Friends With China? | Jeff Smith

For the better part of a decade, China has played the role of America’s greatest long-term strategic competitor. American foreign politicos have long advised a pivot to Asia as Washington slaps tariffs on Chinese goods. The CCP has served as America’s bête noire, guilty of repeated intellectual property theft, human rights abuses, and imperial ambitions towards the essential island of Taiwan. And yet, as Bob Dylan once crooned, the times, they are a changin'. President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently wrapped up a new round of talks here in Washington, with many noting the meeting seemed much more amicable than expected. If polls are to be believed, Americans are less hostile toward China than they were just a few years ago with younger Americans considerably less likely than their parents to see China’s rise as a critical threat. Overseas, countries that have traditionally looked to Washington are increasingly weighing closer economic ties with Beijing. At the same time, China still dominates critical supply chains, including rare earth minerals and questions remain about whether the United States can or should decouple its economy from Beijing. So where does the U.S.-China relationship stand? Are Americans becoming more comfortable with Beijing and Can China really present itself as an alternative to the United States on the world stage? Jeff Smith, director of The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center may have the answers. Watch Myth vs. Fact: The Closing of The Department of Education
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

Is AI Going to Wipe Out Humanity? | Jay Richards

I was eight years old when my family got our first home computer. I remember this hulking grey Dell computer taking up most of the desk space, and I remember thinking how amazing technology was. The mood around tech is no longer nearly as cheery. Over the past five years, Americans have grown increasingly concerned about the broadening prevalence of AI. Pew Research reports 52% of Americans say they are more concerned than excited about the increased use of AI in daily life, a 15-point jump since 2021. That’s not to say that AI and tech have always been thought well of in the American consciousness or that these fears are entirely new. In 1984, audiences gasped as killer robots sent by rogue AI Skynet hunted Kyle Reese and Sarah Connor in Terminator. Nearly two decades earlier, in 1967, sci-fi author Harlan Ellison penned "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream." The short story depicts an AI uprising and a military supercomputer named AM that gains sentience and eradicates humanity except for five individuals who it tortures in perpetuity. And who could forget the cold, unfeeling gaze of HAL 9000 in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey? But is humanity condemned to face an army of Terminators or a maniacal AI overlord? I wanted to cut past the doomsaying, so I invited Jay Richards, Heritage Foundation’s Vice President of Social and Domestic Policy and the William E. Simon Senior Research Fellow in American Principles and Public Policy and author of the Human Advantage, to discuss.
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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 election process has taken on 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 American citizens' right to fair elections. 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.
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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? My wife and I 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.

August 2026

Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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.
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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

July 2026

Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

What’s in the Biden Tapes? | Mike Howell

For much of the 2024 presidential campaign, Biden supporters as well as legacy media insisted that the president was mentally sharp and fully competent to execute his duties. Most Americans doubted this, and this debate performance confirmed that they were right. In the weeks that followed, Biden stepped down from the race, replaced by Vice Presidenet Kamala Harris. But the situation left Americans wondering, if President Biden wasn’t running the White House for much of his presidency, who was? And to whom were they accountable? Fortunately, Mike Howell and his colleagues at the Oversight Project are asking these questions. And getting some answers. They were instrumental to the release of previously sealed materials referred to as the Biden Tapes. I sat down with Mike to understand what was in them and why it matters. --- Follow Mike on X: https://x.com/MHowellTweets?lang=en Follow The Oversight Project on X: https://x.com/itsyourgov --- Email us at heritageexplains@heritage.org
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

Defending American Sovereignty After the Birthright Citizenship Case | Roger Severino

When President Trump took office in January of 2025, he signed 26 executive orders on the first day. In that pile of executive orders was one entitled: Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship. In it, the president directed that federal officials were not to issue documents recognizing United States citizenship to anyone who is born in the country to illegal immigrants or legal migrants here in a temporary capacity. This practice, known as birthright citizenship, has gathered a lot of attention over the last few years for the immigration chaos it has created. Last month, the Supreme Court in Trump v. Barbara decided that the executive order was unconstitutional. Now, conservatives are looking for ways to preserve American sovereignty. Here to discuss some ideas for how to make that happen is Roger Severino, Vice President of Economics and Public Policy, here at the Heritage Foundation. --- Roger Severino on X: https://x.com/RogerSeverino_ --- Email us at heritageexplains@heritage.org
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

Using Public Lands for Public Good | Dr. Dawn Buckingham

Who ever heard of a state-based agency that is older than the state itself? The Texas General Land Office was established in 1836 by the Congress of the Republic of Texas, the sovereign country that became the State of Texas ten years later, in 1846. When that transition happened, Texas retained control of all of its public lands. That made the General Land Office’s role even more important, and it remains to this day as custodian of things like mineral rights, surveying and maps, disaster relief, immigration enforcement, and a whole host of other missions. Dr. Dawn Buckingham is the elected Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, and has held that office since 2023. She joins Heritage Explains today to talk about her role and the uniquely American way her office is using public lands for public good. --- The Texas General Land Office: https://www.glo.texas.gov/ Dr. Dawn Buckingham on X: https://x.com/DrBuckinghamTX?lang=en --- Email us at heritageexplains@heritage.org
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

Political Activism at the Smithsonian Institution | Mike Gonzalez

Harriet Tubman’s Shawl and Hymnal. Abraham Lincoln’s Hat. Chuck Berry’s Red Cadillac. These are just a few of the estimated 157 million items currently held by the Smithsonian Institutions. Spread across 21 museums, 21 libraries, 14 education and research centers, a zoo, and various other facilities, the Smithsonian was created by the federal government in 1846, and named after its founding donor british scientist James Smithson. In Smithson’s bequest, he willed the money “to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian institution, an establishment for the increase & diffusion of Knowledge among men”. Today, about two thirds of the Smithsonian Institution’s $1.25 billion annual budget comes from taxpayers. And those taxpayers are asking some significant questions about the way that the Smithsonian is spending their money. A recent report from the Trump Administration highlights, in particular, abuses at the National Museum of American History, where American history seems to have taken a backseat to political activism. I sat down with Heritage Senior Fellow Mike Gonzalez to understand what’s going on. --- Next-Gen Marxism by Mike Gonzalez & Katie Gorka: https://www.amazon.com/NextGen-Marxism-What-How-Combat/dp/1641773537 White House Report: Saving America’s Story: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Smithsonian-Report-Saving-Americas-Story.pdf Email us at heritageexplains@heritage.org
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

Will America Get Another 250? | Derrick Morgan

America’s 250th anniversary of independence is being celebrated on the Fourth of July, this very week. And celebrations are taking place across the country. Tractor pulls. Concerts. Competitions. UFC Fights on the white house lawn. But there’s another, slightly quieter, event happening in Philadelphia this year for America250: the burying of a time capsule. America’s Time Capsule, as it’s called, has been sealed and will be buried in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia on the Fourth of July. The hermetically sealed cylinder will be not be opened until July 4, 2276. It will contain memorabilia from the three branches of the federal government, partner organizations, and all fifty states. Amid the challenge coins, letters, pictures, and postcards, a few unique items stand out. A pocket constitution signed by 11 past and present Supreme Court Justices. An Olympic Gold Medal. A piece of fabric from the original 1903 Wright Flyer. For me, there’s a kind of temporal vertigo I feel when thinking about these things lying in wait until 2276. It seems like an amazingly long time, and it makes me grateful that our republic has existed for such a period already. Who knows what kind of world these items may enter 250 years from now? And it falls to us to do all we can to ensure that that future is a bright one. That question is one I posed to Derrick Morgan, Executive Vice President here at the Heritage Foundation. --- Follow our policy work: https://www.heritage.org --- Email us with thoughts, questions, or suggestions: HeritageExplains@heritage.org

June 2026

Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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 fo 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.
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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

May 2026

Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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 privilege 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
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

Modernization, Security, and Election Integrity | Don Palmer

The tiny town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, is located just 20 miles south of the Canadian border. 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 the hotel. New Hampshire law states that polls can close if all registered voters 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. We 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
Heritage Explains
Heritage Explains

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
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