Heritage Explains

In May of 2023, a man named Daniel Penny boarded a subway car in New York City. During transit, a man named Jordan Neely began to threaten Penny and the other passengers on the car. Expressing a desire to defend himself and others, Penny, an ex-Marine, put Neely in a chokehold until the train arrived at the next station. Shortly after the incident ended, Neely unfortunately died.  New York has brought a criminal case against Daniel Penny. The highly publicized trial concluded yesterday in Manhattan, with the jury delivering a verdict of “Not Guilty”. Because of the immediate nature of the event, we’ve decided to bring Heritage Explains to you a bit early this week. I sat down with Cully Stimson, Senior Legal Fellow here at the Heritage Foundation, to discuss the case. He’s a lawyer, but also a former prosecutor and judge, so it would be hard to find someone more qualified to shed light on Daniel Penny’s exoneration.  — Follow Cully Stimson on X: https://x.com/cullystimson Rogue Prosecutors Book: https://www.heritage.org/rogue-prosecutors — Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Tariffs have been a hotly debated point in American politics since the country began. President-elect Donald Trump has demonstrated his support for tariffs, receiving criticism from both the left and some sections of the right. To understand the conservative approach to tariffs, we sat down with Richard Stern, the director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget here at the Heritage Foundation.  — Follow Richard Stern on X: https://x.com/richastern?lang=en — Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Brenda Hafera, Assistant Director of the Simon Center for American Studies, dives into the life of Mercy Otis Warren, a pivotal yet often overlooked figure of the American Revolution. They explore Warren’s contributions as a political writer and playwright, showcasing her influence on early American thought. The discussion connects themes of gratitude to her legacy, especially timely with Thanksgiving approaching. Hafera highlights Warren's bravery in advocating for justice, reflecting on how these lessons from history resonate in today’s America.

George Washington. Abraham Lincoln. Martin Luther King, Jr.  These names are (hopefully) familiar to just about every kid growing up in the United States of America. They’re individuals who shaped the times that they lived in, whose impact has trickled down even to the present day. We remember them in order to understand how our country has developed over time, but also to learn from them, exceptional individuals that they were. Sometimes they demonstrated tremendous virtue. Other times they showed weakness and vice.  But it would be a mistake to only learn from these great figures of national history. We also have to turn to the personal, to the uncles, aunts, parents, and grandparents who have much to teach us from their own pasts.  One such example is Andre Joseph Scheinmann. Although his name doesn’t have the same reach as George Washington, his story is a truly remarkable one.  Heritage Vice President Victoria Coates sat down with author Diana Mara Henry and Dr. Gabriel Scheinmann, president of the The Alexander Hamilton Society, to hear some of that story.  — The Alexander Hamilton Society: https://www.alexanderhamiltonsociety.org/ I Am Andre by Diana Mara Henry: https://www.amazon.com/Am-Andr%C3%A9-Resistance-Fighter-British/dp/191655637X —Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

The election has swung decisively toward conservatives. But Inauguration Day is not until January 20th and the new Congress will not be in session until January 3rd. What happens between now and then? Connor Semelsburg, Government Relations Director for the Heritage Foundation, and Sarah Ursprung, Director of Government Relations for Heritage Action for America.  — The Heritage Foundation: www.heritage.org Heritage Action for America: www.heritageaction.com — Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

As of early this morning, Wednesday November 6th, Donald J Trump has won the presidency of the United states of America. There are still several house and senate races that are up in the air, but conservative policy has won a decisive victory in this cycle.  I sat down with Heritage Senior Legal Fellow, Hans von Spakovsky, to get his take on the events of last night and this morning.  — Hans von Spakovsky on X: https://x.com/hvonspakovsky — Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

A future Trump or Harris administration would take fundamentally different approaches to critical facets of American life. One such facet, an issue that has been at the forefront of both political campaigns, is the southern border.  Here to explain what to expect from a potential Harris or Trump administration on the border is Lora Ries, Director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation. — Lora Ries on X: https://x.com/lora_ries — Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

Today, education as the key to self-advancement and a better life is still a principle held dear by Americans. But today, many families find the education that they desire for their children out of reach. Public school systems are often mired in bureaucracy and misplaced priorities, which puts political objectives over the wellbeing and education of children. In the absence of competition, academic outcomes are an afterthought. The values of conservative families are denigrated.  We at the Heritage Foundation believe that the best thing we can do for families is to give them choices. And the availability and quality of those choices seems to be on the minds of voters heading to the polls this November.  Lindsey Burke is the Director of the Center of Education Policy here at the Heritage Foundation. She joins the podcast to explain.  — Lindsey Burke on X: https://x.com/lindseymburke Heritage Education Freedom Report Card: https://www.heritage.org/educationreportcard/ — Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.or

Hurricanes Helene and Milton have caused devastation across several states in the American southeast, most notably in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. With the 2024 Election only a few weeks ago, many are concerned about whether these voters will have the ability to be heard this cycle. Hans von Spakovsky joins the podcast to explain.  — Hans von Spakovsky on X: https://x.com/HvonSpakovsky Heritage Election Integrity Scorecard: https://www.heritage.org/electionscorecard/ — Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org

We are very excited that our partners at the Daily Signal have recently released a new podcast, The Signal Sitdown, hosted by politics reporter Bradley Devlin. In the show, Bradley sits down with movers and shakers in Washington who are willing to take him behind the scenes on how policy comes about in our Nation’s Capitol. How does the sausage actually get made in Washington, DC? Bradley joins us in the studio to explain.  — Bradley Devlin on X: https://x.com/bradleydevlin The Signal Sitdown Podcast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown — Have thoughts? Let us know at heritageexplains@heritage.org