Have Americans forgotten the actual purpose of the Constitution?

This week on Defending Ideas, we delve into key themes from a recent Sutherland Institute event featuring Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, author and American Enterprise Institute scholar Yuval Levin, and former federal judge Thomas Griffith. Join host Nic Dunn and guest Bill Duncan as they explore how the Constitution serves as more than just a legal document – it's a “framework for national cohesion.”

They discuss the importance of civic engagement, the balance between standing up for principles and seeking consensus, and how to foster unity in a divided nation through broader coalitions.

This episode challenges us to view the Constitution not just as a protector of our rights, but as a guide for our responsibilities in self-government.

What really matters to Utah voters? This week on Defending Ideas, we analyze a new voter priority survey with Jade Burt, director of research for Y2 Analytics, and Derek Monson, chief growth officer for Sutherland Institute. We break down issue priorities by demographic and voting profiles and analyze the diverse perspectives within the state's electorate. Join host Nic Dunn as we examine the data and explore its implications for elected officials, future candidates and Utahns seeking to understand their fellow citizens.

Show notes:
2025 Utah Voter Priorities https://sutherlandinstitute.org/publications/2025-utah-voter-priorities/

There’s a ferocious debate in Washington, D.C., right now over possible cuts to a variety of different programs in the federal government. So what does this mean for the federally funded social safety net?

Alliance for Opportunity Senior Fellow Les Ford joins host Nic Dunn to give an overview of some of the proposals in Congress through the lens of potential reforms to federal welfare programs. They discuss whether it’s possible to save taxpayer dollars while improving outcomes for families who truly need help getting back on their feet. Ford also offers perspective on broader reforms to the safety net, along with some updates on the Alliance for Opportunity's ongoing work.

Show notes:
Strengthening the American Dream: Addressing benefits cliffs to empower safety net participants to pursue work and opportunity https://sutherlandinstitute.org/publications/strengthening-the-american-dream/
H.C.R. 8 Concurrent Resolution on State Innovation for Transition from Government Benefits to Self-reliance https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HCR008.html
Why America needs a new welfare reform movement https://sutherlandinstitute.org/why-america-needs-a-new-welfare-reform-movement/
House Republicans unveil blueprint to extend $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and lift the debt ceiling https://www.yahoo.com/news/house-republicans-unveil-blueprint-extend-180524608.html?guccounter=1

This episode of Defending Ideas explores how open enrollment policies empower parents to make educational choices for their children within the public school system. Guests Halli Faulkner, senior legislative drafter with yes. every kid., and Christine Cooke Fairbanks, education policy fellow with Sutherland Institute, discuss the benefits and challenges of open enrollment and how it can be improved.

Show notes:
Innovative Reforms for Utah’s Open Enrollment Law — Sutherland Institute https://s35049.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Reforms_Utah_Open_Enrollment.pdf

The Utah Legislature is considering changes to the state's vote-by-mail system. On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn sits down with R Street Institute Resident Fellow in Governance Jonathan Madison and Sutherland Institute Chief Growth Officer Derek Monson to discuss whether these changes would boost or diminish public confidence in elections, examining how to balance voter convenience with election integrity.

Show notes:
Election Reform and Public Trust: What Utah voters think about proposed election reforms https://sutherlandinstitute.org/publications/election-reform-and-public-trust/
Elections Policy — Sutherland Institute https://sutherlandinstitute.org/elections/

From super PACs, to “dark money,” to the increasingly eye-catching dollar amounts campaigns raise each year, the role of money in political campaigns raises serious questions and has been the source of much debate. This week on Defending Ideas, we’re releasing a special episode to ask: Can a constitutional amendment truly address the issue of money in politics? Is it the right approach? We explore the issue with American Promise CEO Jeff Clements. His organization is leading the charge for amending the U.S. Constitution to allow states the ability to regulate campaign finance issues in ways they currently can’t.

How much control do parents really have over the online content their children have access to? Is there an appropriate role for government policy in this area? This episode of Defending Ideas explores the proposed App Store Accountability Act and whether government intervention to give parents more control over their kids' app downloads is warranted. The discussion features Utah State Sen. Todd Weiler, Sutherland Institute Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow Bill Duncan, and child advocate and online safety expert Melissa McKay. They join Nic Dunn to discuss the potential harms of unfettered online access for children, precedents for age verification laws, and how this bill could empower parents.

Show notes:
Parents can’t be involved in child’s app downloads? That’s a legal stretch https://sutherlandinstitute.org/parents-cant-be-involved-in-childs-app-downloads-thats-a-legal-stretch/
Perspective: App stores are exploiting our children. We must change that https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2025/01/27/app-store-accountability-act-parents-children/
Opinion: Taking on Big Social Media — protecting kids, one bold move at a time https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2025/01/22/big-social-media-tiktok-exploitation-of-children-kids-utah/
SB 142 App Store Accountability Act https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/SB0142.html

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?

On this episode, Nic Dunn welcomes a small roundtable of experts to discuss a new bill in Utah that aims to make federal communication to state agencies more transparent. They also explore the broader efforts to restore the principle of federalism to the core of constitutional government in Utah and beyond.

Guests:

Utah State Sen. Keven Stratton https://senate.utah.gov/sen/STRATKJ/
Tony Woodlief, Senior Executive Vice President for the State Policy Network and Senior Fellow for SPN’s Center for Practical Federalism https://spn.org/staffer/tony-woodlief/
Bill Duncan, Sutherland Institute Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow https://sutherlandinstitute.org/william-c-duncan/

Show notes:
The State of Federalism in Utah: Progress and Potential — Sutherland Institute https://sutherlandinstitute.org/publications/the-state-of-federalism-in-utah-progress-and-potential/
Obscured guidance from federal agencies creates an accountability gap. What can the state do? — Sutherland Institute https://sutherlandinstitute.org/obscured-guidance-from-federal-agencies-creates-an-accountability-gap-what-can-the-state-do/

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Utah’s public lands lawsuit. So what does this mean for the states' prospects for having stronger management of land within their own borders?

On this episode, Nic Dunn is joined by Sutherland Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow Bill Duncan to give an update on the status of the public lands dispute between the state of Utah and the federal government. He outlines prospects for making progress through other legal means, through the presidency, or through Congress.

Show notes:
– Why the Supreme Court should take up Utah’s public lands case — Defending Ideas https://sutherlandinstitute.org/why-the-supreme-court-should-take-up-utahs-public-lands-case/

Have Americans forgotten the actual purpose of the Constitution?

This week on Defending Ideas, we delve into key themes from a recent Sutherland Institute event featuring Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, author and American Enterprise Institute scholar Yuval Levin, and former federal judge Thomas Griffith. Join host Nic Dunn and guest Bill Duncan as they explore how the Constitution serves as more than just a legal document – it's a “framework for national cohesion.”

They discuss the importance of civic engagement, the balance between standing up for principles and seeking consensus, and how to foster unity in a divided nation through broader coalitions.

This episode challenges us to view the Constitution not just as a protector of our rights, but as a guide for our responsibilities in self-government.

What really matters to Utah voters? This week on Defending Ideas, we analyze a new voter priority survey with Jade Burt, director of research for Y2 Analytics, and Derek Monson, chief growth officer for Sutherland Institute. We break down issue priorities by demographic and voting profiles and analyze the diverse perspectives within the state's electorate. Join host Nic Dunn as we examine the data and explore its implications for elected officials, future candidates and Utahns seeking to understand their fellow citizens.

Show notes:
2025 Utah Voter Priorities https://sutherlandinstitute.org/publications/2025-utah-voter-priorities/

There’s a ferocious debate in Washington, D.C., right now over possible cuts to a variety of different programs in the federal government. So what does this mean for the federally funded social safety net?

Alliance for Opportunity Senior Fellow Les Ford joins host Nic Dunn to give an overview of some of the proposals in Congress through the lens of potential reforms to federal welfare programs. They discuss whether it’s possible to save taxpayer dollars while improving outcomes for families who truly need help getting back on their feet. Ford also offers perspective on broader reforms to the safety net, along with some updates on the Alliance for Opportunity's ongoing work.

Show notes:
Strengthening the American Dream: Addressing benefits cliffs to empower safety net participants to pursue work and opportunity https://sutherlandinstitute.org/publications/strengthening-the-american-dream/
H.C.R. 8 Concurrent Resolution on State Innovation for Transition from Government Benefits to Self-reliance https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HCR008.html
Why America needs a new welfare reform movement https://sutherlandinstitute.org/why-america-needs-a-new-welfare-reform-movement/
House Republicans unveil blueprint to extend $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and lift the debt ceiling https://www.yahoo.com/news/house-republicans-unveil-blueprint-extend-180524608.html?guccounter=1