The Kevin Roberts Show

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.

America is rich in natural resources—more than enough to free us from reliance on adversaries like Iran and China. Yet federal overreach keeps Alaska, a state abundant in energy and rugged independence, shackled. Adam Crum, Alaska’s Commissioner of Revenue, joins The Kevin Roberts Show to share his insights on the state’s unique, self-reliant way of life—and what Washington needs to learn from it.About Adam Crum: Born and raised in Alaska, Adam Crum has significant public and private sector experience in strategic management, organizational development, executive consulting and large-scale projects. He was Commissioner for the Alaska Department of Health for four years, leading the state through the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Commissioner Crum moved over to the Department of Revenue, focusing on developing a durable economic development model for Alaska. In this role he has put together a team that has improved the State’s credit rating, used public financing tools never used in the state such as bond tendering and forward delivery, and developed robust relationships with investment funds to focus on the growth opportunities in Alaska. Commissioner Crum is a fiduciary for over $130 billion, as he sits on the boards for Alaska’s Retirement system and the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation – the largest sovereign wealth fund in the US. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Northwestern University and a Master of Science in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.

Andrew Klavan, an award-winning screenwriter and bestselling author known for his crime novels, dives into the urgent need for conservatives to reclaim storytelling in America. He highlights the transformative power of narratives and emphasizes the importance of fostering a creative culture within conservative circles. Klavan shares his journey from liberalism to conservatism and discusses the role of humor and collaboration in shaping cultural and political dialogue. He envisions a renaissance led by new creative voices that can counter the prevailing narratives in media and entertainment.

Our healthcare system is fundamentally misaligned—it’s not designed to keep Americans healthy. Instead, it’s structured to manage sickness, focusing on endless prescriptions and symptom management rather than addressing the root causes of disease. This approach isn’t about real wellness—it’s about perpetuating a broken status quo. This week on The Kevin Roberts Show, we’re joined by Calley Means, a bold voice trusted by leaders like President Trump, RFK Jr., and Joe Rogan. He exposes the corrupt forces undermining our healthcare system and discusses the path to Make America Healthy Again.

Why are companies like Disney so intent on pushing the transgender agenda? The answer lies with a small, influential group of financial elites who have hijacked American institutions to impose harmful woke policies like ESG and DEI. But here's the good news: Americans are fighting back, rejecting these radical and unjust initiatives. Andy Puzder, former CEO of Hardee's and Carl's Jr. joins The Kevin Roberts Show to expose the dangers of stakeholder capitalism and its impact on our nation. About Andy: Andrew Puzder, former Chief Executive of CKE Restaurants and economic expert, is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow for business and economic freedom at The Heritage Foundation. Puzder began his career as a commercial trial lawyer in St. Louis in 1978 and later served as the personal attorney for entrepreneur Carl Karcher. He went on to become CEO of the well-known fast food powerhouses Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s chains in 2000, expanding to 3,800 locations and leading the company out of serious financial difficulties. He has authored several books, including Job Creation: How It Really Works and Why Government Doesn’t Understand It; The Capitalist Comeback: The Trump Boom and the Left's Plot to Stop It; Getting America Back to Work; It’s Time to Let America Work Again; and A Tyranny for the Good of its Victims: The Ugly Truth about Stakeholder Capitalism. Earlier in his career, Mr. Puzder was a commercial trial lawyer in St. Louis. He authored legislation in Missouri—acknowledging that life begins at conception and granting unborn children rights in contexts other than abortion (such as criminal, tort, and inheritance laws)—which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services in 1989.