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.
A firsthand account of overcoming ‘benefits cliffs’ to escape poverty
Trying to get out of chronic poverty is challenging. Sometimes, government programs designed to help can actually make upward mobility feel harder to achieve.
A better way to frame the child care debate
Child care is frequently at the center of family policy debates in Washington, D.C., and in state capitals across the country.
Eboo Patel on how religious differences are actually necessary for healthy democracy
Religious differences can actually lead to bridges of cooperation to solve some of our biggest challenges, and that faith has an important role in public life.
Rep. John Curtis on the conservative approach to climate change
Debates about climate change, energy policy and the environment can feel very polarizing. These discussions often pit right and left against one another, while also suggesting fossil fuels and free enterprise are at odds with environmental stewardship.
Rep. Blake Moore on urgency of reining in federal spending
Rep. Blake Moore of Utah's 1st Congressional District joins the show to discuss runaway federal spending and how to shift away from America's "debt culture."
Rep. Burgess Owens on education, family and infrastructure
Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah's 4th Congressional District joins the show to discuss upward mobility, with a special focus on the importance of options in both K-12 and post-secondary education.
Denial of Catholic foster couple is a loss for kids & religious freedom
A Massachusetts couple's application to become foster parents was denied by the state. The reason? Their Catholic faith.
How programs to help the poor can harm upward mobility
Imagine you're offered a raise that, if you accepted, would actually make your family worse off. This is the experience of some families in poverty when they hit something called the benefits cliff.
Want to Improve Education? Stop Looking to Congress
It's common for voters to complain that Congress doesn't do enough on a number of different issues, citing gridlock and political dysfunction. But what about areas where it would actually be better if Congress did less?
Could artificial intelligence actually improve elections?
The 2024 election is the first time artificial intelligence has begun to play a noticeable role during campaign season. What does that mean for the way we conduct elections in this country?
Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson on the state of election security
We’ve all seen the controversy in recent years in the news and online over the issue of election security. So, what is actually going on, and is your vote secure?
The missing constitutional questions in Utah’s Amendment D debate
What’s the proper role of citizen ballot initiatives compared to laws passed by the state Legislature as different methods to create public policy?
