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.
Empowering Parents Through Open Enrollment
How do open enrollment policies empower parents to make educational choices for their children within the public school system?
Should Utah change its vote-by-mail system?
We discuss whether proposed policy changes would boost or diminish public confidence in elections, examining how to balance voter convenience with election integrity.
Special episode: Is a constitutional amendment the answer to money’s influence in politics?
Can a constitutional amendment truly address the issue of money in politics? Is it the right approach?
The case for app store age verification to protect kids online
How much control do parents really have over the online content their children have access to?
How states can improve transparency to rein in federal agencies and restore federalism
State government agencies are supposed to be accountable to that state’s voters through their elected representatives. But what happens when federal agencies try to directly influence what state agencies do in ways that elected officials may not even know about?
What’s next for Utah’s effort to return federal public lands to state control?
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Utah’s public lands lawsuit. What does this mean for the states' prospects for having stronger management of land within their own borders?
Why Utah Gov. Spencer Cox focused on social capital in his second inaugural
What does it really take for a state to be successful, and what is Utah's secret?
Work Disincentives and the Safety Net: Insights from the Atlanta Fed’s Alex Ruder
If you work harder and earn more, your family should be better off. But for some on the government safety net, that may not always be the case.
What 2024 means for the nation’s political future, with Jason Perry and Maura Carabello
As 2024 winds down, what do the results of this election year mean for the future of politics and policy debates for the United States?
Yuval Levin on how the Constitution is the solution to America’s broken politics
If you’re frustrated by the dysfunction in American politics, you’re not alone. But what if the solution already exists within the very framework for our nation?
Richard Reeves on why we need to address the challenges boys and men are facing today
There’s a growing body of evidence that boys and men are struggling in today’s society, and political controversies can make this issue difficult to talk about. We offer a roadmap for finding solutions.
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown on defending the rule of law and constitutional structure
These days, many political disagreements hinge on misunderstandings of the constitutional structure of state and federal government. How can we address this?
