Heritage Explains

As the days get shorter and shorter, and the focus turns from work to home, we enter that end-of-year frame of mind. It’s the natural time to look back on the lessons of 2025 and to look forward to 2026 and beyond. Americans intuit that this season of self-reflection is an important one to keep alive. And we at the Heritage Foundation agree. That’s why this week on Heritage Explains, I sat down with our President, Dr. Kevin Roberts, to talk about what we’ve learned from 2025 and what to look forward to in the new year. —The Kevin Roberts Show: https://www.heritage.org/the-kevin-roberts-show—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

In the 20th century, the traditional agriculture term “earmarking” gained traction in US politics, becoming slang for the mechanism of including smaller, regionally targeted spending for particular constituencies in larger spending bills. This was often done to appease a particular group or to provide leverage to get an individual legislator on board with a bill. But do they really serve the American public? At Heritage, we don’t think so. I sat down with Chip Wyatt, Government Relations Director at Heritage Action for America, to learn why. —Check out Heritage Action: heritageaction.com—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Family life does not stop, especially at this time of year. The Supreme Court of the United States has also been busy. Over the last week or so, the court has taken up or listened to arguments in three potentially landmark cases. All three have to do with the Trump administration’s goals for the executive branch. Heritage Senior Legal Fellow, and frequent guest on this our show, Hans von Spakovsky was kind enough to take a break from his own busy holiday season, to stop by and break down these three cases for us. 

Lora Ries, Director of the Center for Border Security and Immigration at the Heritage Foundation, dives deep into the ramifications of the tragic shooting of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom in West Virginia. She discusses the implications of this incident on immigration policy, highlighting vetting issues during the Kabul evacuation. Ries also tackles broader immigration concerns, suggesting strategies to enhance deportation efforts and improve transparency within DHS. Her insights offer a raw look at the complexities of border security and public support for enforcement initiatives.

As we enter this Thanksgiving week on the eve of our nation’s 250th anniversary, it is critical to understand places of historical significance in our country. Here to explain a bit about what Heritage is doing in that regard is Brenda Hafera, Assistant Director of the Simon Center for American Studies, here at the Heritage Foundation. —The Heritage Guide to Historic Sites: https://historicsites.heritage.org/—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org__Take care and Happy Thanksgiving!

Immigration is a key part of the American story. Many, many people have come to the United States committed to loving and serving their new country.  But nations have to exercise caution and prudence with the way that they conduct immigration. Bad policy and abuses of the system can lead to all kinds of problems, as we know well here in the United States. The Second Trump Administration has gone a long way toward improving immigration policy, and one of the areas now being discussed is that of H1B visas. These are visas intended to be issued to skilled workers, but there are serious concerns about the number of visas being issued and the ways that they affect American citizens. To understand this issue, I sat down with Simon Hankinson, Senior Research Fellow in the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation.—Follow Simon Hankinson at Heritage.org: https://www.heritage.org/staff/simon-hankinsonSimon’s Book, The Ten Woke Commandments You Must Not Obey: https://thetenwokecommandments.com/—Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

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