Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, equipping listeners to become more effective champions of sound principle and good policy.
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 Institute, to discuss the growing debate over AI safety, regulation, data centers, and technological innovation.
Rethinking Head Start | Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams
On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn speaks with Alex Adams, Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), about his efforts to reduce ineffective federal regulations and give states more room to innovate.
America has a community problem. Here’s why it matters | Michael Tanner
On this episode of Defending Ideas, Michael Tanner, Senior Fellow at FREOPP, joins host Nic Dunn to explain why civil society is so important and why its decline should concern all Americans.
Can states lead the next welfare reform movement? | Daniel Erspamer
On this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn talks with Daniel J. Erspamer, CEO of the Pelican Institute, about Louisiana’s effort to create a “One Door to Work” model, bringing safety net and workforce programs together around a common goal: helping people get jobs and achieve financial independence.
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 better policy on some of the country’s most difficult questions.
The Next Welfare Reform: Paul Ryan on Work, Technology, and RISE Pilots
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 hidden problem with America’s safety net | Erine Gray
Erine 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.
Why America needs a principled center-right | Todd Weiler
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.
Why our children need more education choices | Shaka Mitchell & Christine Cooke Fairbanks
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.
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 Institute, to discuss the growing debate over AI safety, regulation, data centers, and technological innovation.
Rethinking Head Start | Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams
On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn speaks with Alex Adams, Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), about his efforts to reduce ineffective federal regulations and give states more room to innovate.
America has a community problem. Here’s why it matters | Michael Tanner
On this episode of Defending Ideas, Michael Tanner, Senior Fellow at FREOPP, joins host Nic Dunn to explain why civil society is so important and why its decline should concern all Americans.