The Kevin Roberts Show

In this address delivered at the Academy of Philosophy and Letters conference on June 5, 2025, Heritage President Dr. Kevin Roberts lays out a clear and unapologetic roadmap for rebuilding the American republic. The speech—“America’s Golden Age: A Return to the Permanent Things”—calls conservatives to reject the stale, consultant-driven playbook of the past and instead lead with moral clarity, intellectual courage, and unshakable conviction. Dr. Roberts makes the case that our national revival won’t come from Washington, Wall Street, or Silicon Valley—but from Main Street. From families, churches, schools, and communities rooted in timeless truths. This is not a moment for caution. It’s a moment for boldness. For reclaiming our country through the very things that made it great: faith, family, freedom, and ordered liberty.

As tensions with China escalate and global conflict looms, how can America regain its strategic footing and peace through strength?In this best of episode of The Kevin Roberts Show, we bring together some of the most experienced minds in national security, diplomacy, and defense. Hear from:🔹 Tulsi Gabbard reveals the bipartisan failures that keep feeding the war machine and how Americans can fight back.🔹 Brent Sadler lays out what it will take to counter China’s growing military confidence and why 2027 could be a breaking point.🔹 Adam Crum connects the dots between economic policy and national strength—and why American prosperity is our best weapon.🔹 Victoria Coates explains how we must think long-term in rebuilding military readiness while avoiding the traps of endless war.🔹 Rob Greenway offers a firsthand look at the threats brewing in the Western Hemisphere and why the U.S. must reclaim strategic ground—starting with the Panama Canal.🔹 Wilson Beaver shares what a real national security reset looks like—from taking on China to the strategic importance of the Panama Canal.This is a must-watch for anyone who cares about peace through strength, protecting American sovereignty, and building a foreign policy that puts America First.

After the victories of 2024, the greatest threat to the conservative movement isn’t defeat — it’s complacency. In this powerful keynote address from The Heritage Foundation’s Annual Leadership Conference, Heritage President Dr. Kevin Roberts issues a call to action: this is no time for a victory lap. It’s time to write the next chapter of American greatness.Drawing on the legacy of Ronald Reagan and the enduring words of Patrick Henry, Dr. Roberts urges Americans to reject timidity, resist the woke Left’s regrouping, and fight for a future rooted in family, faith, freedom, and Truth.This is your moment. Don’t let it slip away.📍 Originally delivered in Naples, Florida | April 2025

We’re living in a new moment—one where truth is winning, normalcy is making a comeback, and the Left has finally overplayed its hand.In this best of episode of The Kevin Roberts Show, we revisit some of the most powerful conversations about the cultural realignment happening right now—from the role of artists and new media to the collapse of elite institutions and the spiritual hunger rising in America.Hear Andrew Klavan reflect on building conservative cultural infrastructure, John Rich on how pain awakened the American people, and Spencer Klavan on why the end of materialism may spark a revival. This episode is a roadmap for conservatives ready to press the advantage—and rebuild a culture rooted in truth, beauty, and freedom.📚 Featuring:Andrew Klavan | Novelist & FilmmakerSpencer Klavan | Author, How to Save the WestJohn Rich | Country Music Star & EntrepreneurPeter Robinson | Hoover InstitutionNick Freitas | Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates

The Panama Canal isn’t just a trade route—it’s a lifeline for American commerce and a key to military dominance. But here’s the problem: China knows that too. As the CCP tightens its grip on ports and infrastructure surrounding the canal, the question isn’t if we should act—it’s how fast.Heritage Foundation President Dr. Kevin Roberts is on-site at the Panama Canal with national security experts Victoria Coates, Wilson Beaver, Mike Gonzalez, and Andrés Martínez-Fernández to expose what’s really at stake.🔹 China’s growing grip on key ports and infrastructure🔹 The canal’s crucial role in U.S. economic and military power🔹 What America must do to reclaim its strategic advantage

We’re taking a quick break this week to take the show on the road. Be sure to stay tuned next week for an extra special episode on the ground at the Panama Canal.

President Trump is using his executive power to rip the lid off the deep state's most egregious fraud, waste, and abuse—starting with USAID. But what about Congress? Reps. Keith Self and August Pfluger join The Kevin Roberts Show to reveal how they’re working to codify Trump’s reforms, gut the bureaucracy, and put America back on the path to military strength and fiscal sanity. From cutting trillions in waste to dismantling Biden’s radical policies, this episode breaks down the real fight for America’s future.About Rep. Pfluger: Serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman August Pfluger represents 20 counties in Texas’ 11th Congressional District, including Brownwood, Killeen, Llano, Midland, Odessa, and San Angelo. August grew up in San Angelo, where he lives with his wife Camille and three daughters. August graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy before serving in the military for twenty years as a decorated fighter pilot and squadron commander, including two deployments to Syria and Northern Iraq. August also served on the United States National Security Council (NSC) during President Trump’s first presidency and still serves as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. In Congress, August is the first Member to represent Midland and Odessa on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He also serves as Chairman of the Republican Study Committee – the largest caucus of conservatives on Capitol Hill – and as Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. Additionally, August co-founded the MACH 1 Caucus and the Texas Ag Task Force. He is a conservative Republican, a proud husband and father, and a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.About Rep. Self: Keith Self was born in a military hospital during his father’s service in the United States Army and was raised in Texas.  After graduation from High School in Amarillo, he accepted an appointment to The United States Military Academy at West Point, where he began a 25-year career of service to our country.Keith’s Army tours included Airborne Infantry Platoon Leader, Airborne Infantry Company Commander, Special Forces Detachment Commander and Special Forces Company Commander.  His service took him to Europe, the Middle East, and the Pentagon, where he worked on the most sensitive military programs.  He deployed to Grenada, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraqi Freedom. During his career, Keith received the Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, and Joint Staff Badge.  He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.Upon retiring from the Army, Keith was elected County Judge in Collin County, TX, in 2006.  He served three consecutive terms before retiring in 2018.Keith and his wife Tracy have been happily married since his graduation from West Point.  They reside in McKinney, TX and are active members in their church and local community.

Dr. Kevin Roberts joins Henry Olsen's Beyond the Polls to dive into his new book, Dawn’s Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America, where he makes a compelling case for a renewed American future. Kevin and Henry explore the spiritual battle confronting the nation, the struggle for control of our institutions, and the ongoing debate over America as an idea versus America as a nation.About Beyond the Polls: Henry Olsen, Washington Post columnist and senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, will talk about the presidential and congressional races with leading political journalists and analysts, people who are out in the field and won't give you media spin. Find out who's leading the pack and who's an also-ran, with Beyond the Polls with Henry Olsen.

Spencer Klavan, associate editor of the Claremont Review of Books, dives deep into the unraveling of Western civilization and the end of modernity. With a sharp analysis of culture, faith, and politics, Klavan argues that America is at a pivotal crossroads—one that transcends mere elections. He explores the rise of materialism, the challenges of modern science, and the urgent need for a spiritual revival. As Klavan puts it, the Trump era marks the manifestation of a deeper cultural shift, and the very future of self-governance is on the line. He also breaks down why the trans debate encapsulates the worst excesses of late-stage modernity, and why millions of Americans are instinctively rejecting it.Spencer takes us through his new book Light of the Mind, Light of the World—which contends that science and faith are not opposites but, in fact, two sides of the same coin. With the rise of the “trust the science” mantra, Spencer argues that we’ve reached a dangerous inflection point in the way we view the world, and it's time for a reset back to timeless truths.If you’re concerned about the direction of our culture and looking for real solutions rooted in history, philosophy, and faith, this conversation is a must-watch. Don't miss it.

In this episode of The Kevin Roberts Show, Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow Brent Sadler joins Dr. Roberts to discuss the urgent need to overhaul America’s maritime strategy. With China asserting control over global trade routes, our nation finds itself in a dangerously vulnerable position. Sadler makes the case for bold action—through innovation, investments in human capital, and a revitalized maritime industrial base—to secure America’s future.From modernizing shipping infrastructure to strengthening our military and maritime capabilities, Sadler outlines a clear path for America to reclaim its rightful place as a global leader. He also emphasizes the crucial role of the SHIPS Act, Jones Act, port infrastructure, workforce development, and groundbreaking technologies—such as small modular nuclear reactors—to propel American ships forward.About Brent Sadler: Bent Sadler joined Heritage Foundation after a 26 year Navy career with numerous operational tours on nuclear powered submarines, personal staffs of senior Defense Department leaders, and as a military diplomat in Asia. As a Senior Research Fellow, Brent’s focus is on maritime security and the technologies shaping our future maritime forces, especially the Navy.Brent is a 1994 graduate with honors of the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Systems Engineering (robotics) and a minor in Japanese. As a 2004 Olmsted Scholar in Tokyo, Japan, he studied at Keio University, Jochi University and the United Nations University. He has a master of arts from Jochi University and master of science from National War College, where he graduated with distinction in 2011 and received several writing and research awards.In 2011, he established the Navy Asia Pacific Advisory Group (NAPAG), providing regionally informed advice directly to Chief of Naval Operations’ (CNO). He again served on the CNO’s personal staff in 2015-2016, playing a key role in developing the Defense Department’s Third Offset. At Pacific Command from 2012-2015, he held numerous key positions. As lead for Maritime Strategy and Policy, he incorporated all 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) into the first regional maritime domain awareness forum and was instrumental in the eventual passage of the $500 million-dollar Maritime Security Initiative. As Special Advisor on Japan, and a Council of Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in Tokyo, he played a key role in revising the U.S. and Japan Defense Guidelines. As Deputy Director Strategic Synchronization Group, he oversaw a think-tank like body of over 30 advisors and analysts. Brent led the Commander’s Rebalance Task Force coordinating execution of the President’s Defense Strategic Guidance—Rebalance to the Asia-Pacific resulting in over $12 billion USD of additional monies budgeted in fiscal years 2013 through 2015 during a time of fiscal austerity.Following his final tour on CNO’s staff, Brent returned to Asia as Senior Defense Official, Defense and Naval Attaché in Malaysia. During his tenure he played a key role in coordinating responses to the USS McCain collision in August 2017, opened several politically sensitive ports and airfields to U.S. forces, oversaw unprecedented expansion of U.S. military relations, and steadied relations during the historic May 2018 national elections ushering in an opposition party for the first time since independence.His final Navy assignment was China Branch of Navy Staff at the Pentagon.