Heritage Explains

This week, we honor veterans of long ago, as well as those who still live and walk among us. Their sacrifice has helped to secure the freedoms that we enjoy today. One of the key features of American democracy is civilian control of the military. We, the people, elect the Congress which controls the military’s budget, conducts oversight, and declares war, as well as the the president, who serves as the military’s Commander in Chief. President Donald Trump, in his second term in office, has signaled a return to the military’s core mission. Here to talk about what that return looks like is Wilson Beaver, an Army Veteran and Senior Policy Advisor, here at the Heritage Foundation.—Follow Wilson Beaver on X: https://x.com/WilsonCBeaverMore about Heritage: www.heritage.org—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

What Is Arctic Frost? | Mike Howell Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) revealed last week that ‘Arctic Frost’—the FBI's election-related investigation into President Donald Trump, launched in 2022 by the Biden administration—issued 197 subpoenas for 430 conservatives, including the late Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA, Ed Martin, Dan Scavino, and Ed Corrigan.This investigation was used as a method to spy on the conservative movement as a whole. Mike Howell, President of the Oversight Project, joins the show to talk about why Arctic Frost demands accountability. —Follow Mike on X: https://x.com/MHowellTweetsSwamp Justice Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yVpKjwTCfuxwTGePiFM3hMore about Heritage: www.heritage.org–Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Nina Schaefer, a Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation specializing in health care policy, dives deep into the Affordable Care Act's shortcomings and rising medical costs. She highlights how Obama’s promises fell flat and what the current government shutdown means for ACA subsidies. Nina discusses the impact of COVID-era changes to Obamacare and argues that rising premiums are due to broader healthcare costs and mandates. She suggests policy changes to increase consumer choice and lower costs, painting a vivid picture of today's healthcare landscape.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a federal law designed to end these practices, and ensure that all Americans could exercise the right to vote. It is a law that has had massive impact and been used to reshape America politically, in ways both bad and good. Now, the Supreme Court is hearing a case called Louisiana vs. Callais, which is calling into question how part of the Voting Rights Act is being interpreted. Here to talk about what makes this case so important is Hans von Spakovsky, Senior Legal Fellow, here at the Heritage Foundation. —More about Heritage: www.heritage.orgThe Election Integrity Scorecard: https://www.heritage.org/electionscorecard/Follow Hans on X: https://x.com/HvonSpakovsky—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

On Monday, the 20 living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were returned to their families. What brought this deal about and what might we expect to see happen in the future? To answer some of those questions, I sat down with Daniel Flesch, Senior Policy Analyst for Middle East and North Africa, here at the Heritage Foundation.

There are certain things we take for granted in life. When we flick the switch, the light comes on. When we turn the tap, water comes out. When we take the garbage bin down to the curb on Thursdays, it is empty by Friday afternoon. But then a storm blows through. A pipe bursts. Heavy snowfall closes the roads. And suddenly those amenities which we took for granted are no longer there. It’s a discomforting and unsettling feeling. And one we’re experiencing at a national level right now, as we’ve now passed a week since the shutdown of the federal government began. Just like a burst pipe or a downed electrical line, something has gone wrong in our politics, and now we’re feeling the effects. Some government workers have been sent home. Some services are unavailable. Here to talk about what caused the shutdown, what it means, and what to expect fo the future is Chip Wyatt, Government Relations Director here at Heritage Action for America.  —Heritage Action for America: https://heritageaction.com/Follow Chip Wyatt on X: https://x.com/ChipTWyatt—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

The Chinese-owned social media app TikTok collects your most sensitive information. And worse, it uses it in pretty sinister ways. It encourages self-harm and depression among youth. It interferes in elections. It compromises national security. This week, President Trump signed an executive order authorizing an agreement to separate TikTok from Chinese control. At the Heritage Foundation, we have been talking about TikTok policy for years, and one of the key voices is Wesley Hodges, Acting Director of the Center for Technology and the Human Person, here at the Heritage Foundation. He sat down with me to talk about exactly what this executive order means. —Heritage Tech Policy: https://www.heritage.org/big-techFollow Wes Hodges on X: https://x.com/wesghodges—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

While government has the power to protect our rights, it can use that power to abuse those rights. Especially in those areas of the government which resist accountability to elected officials. The administrative state (or deep state) is a strong focus of the Trump Administration, which has taken action to reinstate accountability in the federal bureaucracy. Ryan Williams, president of the Claremont Institute and friend of Heritage, joined the podcast to talk about what to do when government stops serving the people and targets them instead. —Learn more about the Claremont Institute: https://www.claremont.org/Follow Ryan Williams on X: https://x.com/RpwWilliams—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Last week, the country was shaken to its core by the assassination of Christian husband, father, and patriot Charlie Kirk, one of the most prominent voices in the conservative movement, particularly among young Americans. His death has left countless Americans experiencing combinations of sorrow, fear, and anger. How should we as conservatives respond to this tragic and politically motivated attack, and what role should policy play in our response? President of The Heritage Foundation, Dr. Kevin Roberts, joins this episode of the Heritage Explains podcast to discuss.

President Trump’s utilization of ICE and the National Guard in Washington, D.C. has significantly lowered crime in the city, modeling success of the agency’s presence in blue cities.Since Trump federalized Washington, D.C. there has been a 45% drop in violent crime, an 87% drop in carjackings, a 38% drop in homicides, and a 62% drop in robberies. There has also been a 20% increase in arrests and 12% increase in gun recoveries.Cully Stimson and Zack Smith join the show to discuss the impact of Trump’s actions and explain what we might expect in the future. —Follow Cully and Zack’s work at heritage.org.Follow Cully Stimson on X: https://x.com/cullystimsonFollow Zack Smith on X: https://x.com/tzsmithRogue Prosecutors book: https://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Prosecutors-Destroying-Americas-Communities/dp/1637586531Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org