College has long been seen as a gateway to opportunity and upward mobility. But today, fewer young men are pursuing higher education, accounting for just two out of every five degrees in the U.S. — a reversal of trends seen a generation ago.

On this episode, Host Nic Dunn is joined once again by Defending Ideas Feature Contributor and AEI Senior Fellow Beth Akers. Together, they explore this growing gender gap in higher education with Mike Kofoed, an economist and professor at the Haslam College of Business and the Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Melinda Brock of the American Institute for Boys and Men. They discuss why male enrollment and completion rates are declining, and whether college is still seen as a worthwhile path for young men, tying these trends to broader cultural questions: Are young men retreating from institutions of civil society altogether, like work, education, and community? And how should society respond?

Show notes:
Wanted: More young men enrolling in college https://www.deseret.com/utah/2025/01/15/male-college-enrollment-declines-education-utah-higher-social/
New national survey data sheds light on the “silent, struggling subset” of American men https://sutherlandinstitute.org/the-silent-struggling-subset-of-american-men/
Higher Education Male Achievement Collaborative https://www.menincollege.com/

Is our higher‑education system doing enough to meet the real needs of today’s job market?

With a serious shortage of skilled workers across key industries, many are asking whether we’ve overinvested in traditional academia and underinvested in skill‑based training.

On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn sits down with Illinois Policy Institute Head of Policy Josh Bandoch to discuss his new paper, Beyond Degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education.

They explore the notion of adopting a career‑first mindset in education with apprenticeships playing a central role—rebalancing our system to lift more people into dignified, in‑demand professions.

Teachers are stretched thin, but artificial intelligence could help.

On this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn talks with Caleb Hicks, CEO of SchoolAI, about how AI tools are enhancing personalized learning, supporting one-on-one instruction, and improving classroom outcomes.

Also joining is Sutherland Institute’s Christine Cooke Fairbanks, who explores how Utah and other states are approaching AI in schools, and how policymakers can balance innovation with accountability. 

- How AI supports teachers, not replaces them
- Real classroom examples of AI use
- State policy on AI in education

Show notes:

Does AI belong in home schooling? https://sutherlandinstitute.org/does-ai-belong-in-home-schooling/
How AI could prevent teacher burnout https://sutherlandinstitute.org/how-ai-could-prevent-teacher-burnout/
Utah’s path to leadership on Artificial Intelligence in education https://sutherlandinstitute.org/utahs-path-to-leadership-on-artificial-intelligence-in-education/

Should Medicaid include work requirements? Utah thinks so. On this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn talks with Nate Checketts, deputy director of Utah’s Health & Human Services, about Utah’s push for a Medicaid work requirement.

They discuss:
- Utah’s federal waiver request
- Benefits cliffs and incentives
- How to build a pro-work safety net
- What reforms are needed in D.C.

Show notes:
State of Utah Medicaid Work Requirement Waiver Request https://medicaid-documents.dhhs.utah.gov/Documents/pdfs/1115/Community%20Engagement%20Amendment.pdf
What Both Sides Are Missing About Medicaid Work Requirements https://sutherlandinstitute.org/what-both-sides-are-missing-about-medicaid-work-requirements/
Work & Opportunity Initiative https://sutherlandinstitute.org/work-and-opportunity/

This week marks the 100th episode of Defending Ideas—and to celebrate, we’re joined by one of the nation’s leading conservative thinkers. Ramesh Ponnuru is editor of National Review, a columnist for The Washington Post, and a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

In this milestone conversation, Ramesh and host Nic Dunn explore the current state of the conservative movement, where it’s headed, and how to build a forward-looking, reform-minded vision grounded in constitutional principles and the promise of the American Dream.

If you’re ready to move beyond short-term political fights and focus on what conservatism should stand for, this episode is for you.

Imagine getting access to potentially life-saving medical care or screenings in the same place you buy shampoo. Thanks to artificial intelligence — coupled with advances in telehealth — this is already happening.

The impact of AI on healthcare certainly raises important questions, such as whether AI will ultimately replace your doctor or simply help them better do their jobs. To explore this, Nic Dunn sat down with Naomi Lopez, founder and principal of Nexus Policy Consulting and contributor to a range of state-based public policy institutions. They discuss the promises and potential concerns that may arise as the use of this technology becomes more widespread.

Show Notes:
– AI in Healthcare 2025: A Toolkit for State Lawmakers https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/3d59810b-da6b-48d2-a6d6-111715862e23/downloads/9cf601e9-f941-4d96-9e65-360f0a904fb0/AI%20in%20Healthcare%202025%20A%20Toolkit%20for%20State%20Lawm.pdf?ver=1741059407034
– Lifesaving AI in Aisle 12? https://www.discoursemagazine.com/p/lifesaving-ai-in-aisle-12
– AI-Supported Mammogram Reading Detects 20% More Cancers https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/ai-mammogram-reading
– Supporting Mothers, Strengthening Futures: Reforming Tennessee’s Policies for Families with Young Children https://lozierinstitute.org/supporting-mothers-strengthening-futures-reforming-tennessees-policies-for-families-with-young-children/

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

President Trump’s tariffs have reignited a national debate: Are they a path to restoring working-class prosperity, or a protectionist misstep that ultimately hurts American consumers?
 
Defenders of tariffs often argue that the measures will restore manufacturing jobs, which they claim have suffered and negatively impacted the economic prospects of male workers in particular. The more traditional economic view is that tariffs amount to a tax on American consumers, and that claims of broad benefits are dubious at best.
 
On this episode, host Nic Dunn is joined once again by AEI Senior Fellow and Defending Ideas Contributor Beth Akers. Beth and Nic talk with two expert guests — Mark DiPlacido of American Compass and Scott Winship of the American Enterprise Institute — to steelman the arguments on both sides.

Work is essential for upward mobility, stability, and overall well-being. Yet for millions of men across the United States, work is increasingly absent from daily life. What’s behind this trend, and how does it impact society?

On this episode, Defending Ideas contributor and AEI Senior Fellow Beth Akers joins host Nic Dunn for a conversation with Nick Eberstadt, author of the book Men Without Work. Nick also holds the Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at AEI.

They explore the troubling reality that millions of working-age men in America are no longer working or looking for a job, and discuss how it impacts society as a whole.

New technology can profoundly change our lives, and artificial intelligence is no exception. But as AI becomes more ubiquitous, especially in the workplace, will its impact be more innovative or disruptive?

On this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn is joined by AEI Senior Fellow Brent Orrell. Brent offers an optimistic yet grounded vision of how the advent of AI can positively affect the future. They discuss how AI is reshaping the world of work and why — if it’s properly leveraged — this new technology could become a huge accelerator for human productivity and flourishing.

Show notes:
AI Talent: It’s Not Just for High Tech Anymore — AEI https://www.aei.org/domestic-policy/ai-talent-its-not-just-for-high-tech-anymore/
Measuring and Building Human Leadership in an AI World — AEI https://www.aei.org/domestic-policy/measuring-and-building-human-leadership-in-an-ai-world/

College has long been seen as a gateway to opportunity and upward mobility. But today, fewer young men are pursuing higher education, accounting for just two out of every five degrees in the U.S. — a reversal of trends seen a generation ago.

On this episode, Host Nic Dunn is joined once again by Defending Ideas Feature Contributor and AEI Senior Fellow Beth Akers. Together, they explore this growing gender gap in higher education with Mike Kofoed, an economist and professor at the Haslam College of Business and the Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Melinda Brock of the American Institute for Boys and Men. They discuss why male enrollment and completion rates are declining, and whether college is still seen as a worthwhile path for young men, tying these trends to broader cultural questions: Are young men retreating from institutions of civil society altogether, like work, education, and community? And how should society respond?

Show notes:
Wanted: More young men enrolling in college https://www.deseret.com/utah/2025/01/15/male-college-enrollment-declines-education-utah-higher-social/
New national survey data sheds light on the “silent, struggling subset” of American men https://sutherlandinstitute.org/the-silent-struggling-subset-of-american-men/
Higher Education Male Achievement Collaborative https://www.menincollege.com/

Is our higher‑education system doing enough to meet the real needs of today’s job market?

With a serious shortage of skilled workers across key industries, many are asking whether we’ve overinvested in traditional academia and underinvested in skill‑based training.

On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn sits down with Illinois Policy Institute Head of Policy Josh Bandoch to discuss his new paper, Beyond Degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education.

They explore the notion of adopting a career‑first mindset in education with apprenticeships playing a central role—rebalancing our system to lift more people into dignified, in‑demand professions.

Teachers are stretched thin, but artificial intelligence could help.

On this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn talks with Caleb Hicks, CEO of SchoolAI, about how AI tools are enhancing personalized learning, supporting one-on-one instruction, and improving classroom outcomes.

Also joining is Sutherland Institute’s Christine Cooke Fairbanks, who explores how Utah and other states are approaching AI in schools, and how policymakers can balance innovation with accountability. 

- How AI supports teachers, not replaces them
- Real classroom examples of AI use
- State policy on AI in education

Show notes:

Does AI belong in home schooling? https://sutherlandinstitute.org/does-ai-belong-in-home-schooling/
How AI could prevent teacher burnout https://sutherlandinstitute.org/how-ai-could-prevent-teacher-burnout/
Utah’s path to leadership on Artificial Intelligence in education https://sutherlandinstitute.org/utahs-path-to-leadership-on-artificial-intelligence-in-education/