Heard at Heritage

For decades, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have struggled to define “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act - a definition that determines what waters the agencies can regulate. In general, the agencies engage in overreach trying to regulate almost every water imaginable, making it difficult for private property owners, such as farmers, to engage in even ordinary activities on their own properties. But, there’s good news. The United States Supreme Court recently decided to hear the case Sackett v. EPA, which could finally provide a reasonable and clear answer to what WOTUS means. Join Heritage’s Daren Bakst and Paul Larkin alongside special guests Jack LaPant, a California farmer, and Tony Francois, co-counsel with the Pacific Legal Foundation in this important new case, to discuss WOTUS, Sackett v. EPA, and the potential for a breakthrough for property owners all over America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please join us as senior British Cabinet Minister Oliver Dowden delivers remarks on the need for freedom loving nations to be confident in themselves, stand up for their values, and not allow themselves to be divided by pernicious cancel culture activism. Mr. Dowden’s remarks will be followed by a discussion with The Heritage Foundation’s Dr. Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Lady Thatcher.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. Army finds itself with no shortage of challenges. Recent budgets have exerted downward pressure on many of their programs; COVID-19 and a strong economy make recruiting difficult. The procurement holiday from 2001-2020 created a pressing need for Army modernization. As Congress turns its attention to the FY2023 annual budget and authorization bills they will have plenty of questions for Army leaders about how the service will navigate these challenges. Join Heritage’s Thomas Spoehr and special guest, General James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, for a preview of the Army’s answers to these relevant questions and the Army’s message to Congress for 2023.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are now in the second year since the signing of the Hong Kong National Security Law. As the situation continues to worsen, the U.S. must redouble efforts to assist Hong Kongers and hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its transgressions. Join us for this discussion on the worsening state of political freedom in Hong Kong and what Washington can do to help.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China is unfit to host the 2022 Olympics. President Biden's diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing was too little too late. It was the least the US could do. It does not express the degree of outrage appropriate to the Chinese Communist Party’s continuing and intensifying human rights abuses. These abuses have been highlighted best by the CCP’s genocidal campaign against the Uyghurs, crackdown in Hong Kong, and travails of tennis player Peng Shuai. Join NBA Star Enes Kanter Freedom of the Boston Celtics, Congressman Michael McCaul, and Heritage Foundation policy experts to discuss China’s abysmal human rights record and the cost of turning a blind eye to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every citizen's vote is sacred. The vote is how we guarantee that our government remains of the people, by the people, and for the people. Americans need and deserve elections that they can trust.  As we head into an important midterm election, our focus must be dedicated to ensuring that it is easy to vote, but hard to cheat.  As state legislatures convene this month across the country, election integrity will be taking center stage once again. In order to help voters, state legislators, election officials, and all Americans who are interested in ensuring a fair and secure election process, The Heritage Foundation released the Election Integrity Scorecard last month. This new interactive tool grades each state’s laws against best practice standards and provides model legislation to shore up vulnerabilities at all stages of the electoral cycle. Join us for a panel discussion where we will preview Heritage’s new Scorecard, outline what to anticipate in states from upcoming legislative cycles, and plans for grassroots advocacy on the ground. We will be joined by an esteemed panel of state officials, leading election law experts, and advocates.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

National School Choice Week 2022 is January 23-29 and arrives in the midst of another round of school closures due to COVID-19. Schools across the country have adopted on-again, off-again schedules for in-person instruction, all while leaving families and students wondering when students’ futures would be a priority again. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) will discuss ways to help parents and families keep students’ needs at the center of solutions for the problems COVID and special interest groups lobbying still poses today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Instead of fighting inflation, Washington sits idly by or, worse, pushes misguided legislation like Biden’s Build Back Better Act that would make inflation worse. Policy negligence leaves inflation to an increasingly overwhelmed Federal Reserve, a playbook that turned to disaster in the 1970s. As this leadership void continues, Americans stand alone to suffer the crushing effects of inflation. Join us as we discuss inflation and policy reforms that could ease the record inflation now hitting American families and businesses.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent weeks, Belarus has been causing a mass migration crisis along the borders of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. It is one of the most severe security threats Europe has faced in a few years. Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the Belarusian president, is weaponizing immigration with Russia’s support to retaliate against European Union sanctions imposed on Belarus this past year. Minsk is flying Arab migrants into Belarus and pushing them toward the borders of these NATO member nations, but these nations will not allow the migrants through. Besides the migration crisis, Belarus is growing ever so closer to Russia, posing a threat to the NATO alliance. How will these escalating issues affect European security and the NATO alliance in the weeks and months ahead?Policy professionals won’t want to miss this 30-minute Policy Pulse for a discussion between a Heritage foreign policy expert and U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus Julie D. Fisher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) hasn’t worked as intended, with only about three percent of listed species being removed from the list due to recovery. A significant part of the problem is how the law has been implemented by the government. The Trump Administration finalized regulations to improve ESA implementation. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration is getting rid of these reforms at the expense of species conservation. In October, Congressional Western Caucus members introduced five separate pieces of legislation to codify the Trump Administration’s regulatory changes. These bills, like the rules themselves, show a commitment to species protection and an understanding that a respect for federalism and private property rights will help to better achieve the objectives of the ESA. Join us as we discuss this critical legislative effort with Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.