
Written by Defending Ideas
October 6, 2026
Available On: Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Music
Is AI really on track to destroy humanity, or are we confusing small risks with science fiction?
Are religious institutions afforded special rights under the Constitution? And what does that mean for religious liberty, the rule of law, and the role of government?
On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn talks with William J. Haun, nonresident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and Sutherland’s Bill Duncan, about the constitutional role of religious institutions and why religious freedom is about more than government exemptions and accommodations.
They discuss the growing number of legal battles over religious freedom, why churches and other religious institutions deserve space to govern themselves, and how strong civil society can help prevent government from becoming the center of everything.
The conversation also explores the distinct roles of the family, religious institutions, and government—and why protecting those institutions is essential to a free and self-governing society.
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. Visit defendingideas.org.