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Defending Ideas

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, by equipping listeners to become more effective champions of sound principle and good policy. Visit defendingideas.org.

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24 episodes
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Avg 44 min
English

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Yesterday · 37 min
Who runs elections best? A 50-state ranking | Chris McIsaac
Which states have the strongest election policies? And what can they teach us about how elections should really be run? R Street Institute's Chris McIsaac joins Defending Ideas to discuss a new 50-state election scorecard. The ranking judges states...
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October 6 · 35 min
Do religious institutions deserve constitutional protection? | William J. Haun & Bill Duncan
Are religious institutions afforded special rights under the Constitution? And what does that mean for religious liberty, the rule of law, and the role of government? On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn talks with William J. Haun,...
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September 29 · 42 min
Will AI kill us in 10 years? | Chris Koopman & Ford Copple
Is AI really on track to destroy humanity, or are we confusing small risks with science fiction? On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn sits down with Chris Koopman, CEO of Abundance Institute, and Ford Copple, tech policy analyst at Sutherland...
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September 22 · 46 min
Rethinking Head Start | Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams
Head Start is at the center of a heated public debate over federal regulations and how best to support families. But what exactly should the federal government do, and what should states be empowered to do, to fix America’s social safety net? On...
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September 15 · 41 min
America has a community problem. Here’s why it matters | Michael Tanner
What would America look like without strong families, churches, civic organizations and local communities? We're starting to find out and the picture is...not good. But there is a better way to live. Michael Tanner, Senior Fellow at FREOPP, joins...
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September 8 · 45 min
Can states lead the next welfare reform movement? | Daniel Erspamer
America’s social safety net is supposed to help families through difficult times, ultimately moving people toward work and independence. But navigating a maze of disconnected programs and agencies can make that goal harder to achieve. The good news is...
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September 1 · 46 min
Can the states fix what Washington can’t? | Sen. John Curtis
Could giving states more freedom to experiment help America find better answers to our toughest challenges? On this episode of Defending Ideas, Sen. John Curtis of Utah joins host Nic Dunn to discuss how state-level experimentation can lead to...
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August 25 · 41 min
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...
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August 18 · 41 min
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...
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August 11 · 38 min
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...
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August 4 · 43 min
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...
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July 28 · 39 min
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...
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July 21 · 42 min
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,...
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July 14 · 38 min
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...
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July 7 · 39 min
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...
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June 30 · 50 min
The Future of Conservatism: Principles, Populism, and the American Founding | Tim Chapman
Conservatism is at a crossroads. Does it stick with Trump-style populism, or embrace the principles of limited, effective government that led to some of the movement's biggest victories? In this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn sits down with Tim...
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June 23 · 44 min
The U.S. needs a new safety net | Angela Rachidi
Congress is considering a major anti-poverty reform: giving states more flexibility to redesign welfare and social safety net programs. In this episode, AEI Senior Fellow Angela Rachidi joins host Nic Dunn to discuss benefit cliffs, the Upward...
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June 16 · 47 min
The roadmap to restore trust in elections | Matthew Weil & Derek Monson
Election integrity is back in the headlines. But beneath the political arguments lies a more important question: what actually builds trust in elections? On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn is joined by Matthew Weil, Vice President of...
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June 9 · 44 min
Rebuilding trust in America's elections | Ben Ginsberg & Bill Duncan
Debates over election integrity have dominated American politics for years. But beneath many of those disagreements lies a deeper constitutional question: who should be responsible for administering elections? On this episode of Defending Ideas,...
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S1 · E149
June 2 · 53 min
What the Declaration of Independence still teaches us | Jay Lapeyre & Lawson Bader
As America marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, an important question remains: what do the nation’s founding principles have to say about the challenges we face today? On this episode of Defending Ideas, host...
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