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.
Why the lawsuit challenging Utah’s education choice program is on weak footing
On this episode, we examine the constitutional claims of the Utah Education Association's new lawsuit against the Utah Fits All scholarship program.
The Two-Parent Privilege, with Melissa Kearney
Most policy debates about upward mobility often ignore the most important variable that impacts outcomes for the next generation: family.
The case for curriculum transparency in public schools
Do parents have the right to know what their children are learning in school?
Is there consensus on solving poverty?
On this episode we profile seven common ground solutions to poverty that should reshape debate about the health of the American Dream.
What good does religion actually do for society?
On this episode, we explore new research that catalogs how far-reaching the positive impacts of religion are for individuals, families and communities.
What the college protesters get wrong
College campus protests over the war between Israel and Hamas continue to make headlines. Do these protests stand in opposition to American principles?
Why we need to fix Social Security within 10 years
On this episode we sit down with an expert to dispel some of the myths about the state of retirement today and offer a framework for how to fix Social Security before it's too late.
Defending education choice the right way
Education choice has exploded in popularity across the nation in recent years. So why does it remain a contentious point of debate in some parts of the country?
What you need to know about election integrity
It should be easy to vote and hard to cheat. This oft-quoted phrase has been articulated as a guiding principle by many elected officials wading into voting and election policy debates in recent years. So why has this issue been so contentious, and what’s the solution?
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?
