Heard at Heritage

For the first time since the end of the Cold War, rising authoritarian powers are unapologetically attempting to undermine the international order and challenge the American way of life. To confront this threat, the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) must undergo the biggest transformation since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.We face geopolitical upheaval around the globe, and “hybrid warfare” enabled by widespread disinformation campaigns are on the rise. Furthermore, America’s enemies are leveraging rapidly-evolving technological capabilities, including cyber warfare, on par with the U.S.Are America’s intelligence agencies well postured to respond to the rapidly evolving threats from China, Russia and their closest allies? No one is better positioned to answer that question than John Ratcliffe, former Director of National Intelligence and former member of the House Intelligence Committee. Join us as he discusses the opportunities for America’s spies, principal barriers holding our intelligence agencies back, and how to best protect America in the new age of Great Power Competition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pacific Islands are an important area of cooperation for the United States and Taiwan, as both have major interests at stake in the region.For the U.S., the Pacific Islands are critical to the Indo-Pacific strategy and its status as a resident power in the Western Pacific. Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa are all part of the United States. Furthermore, the U.S. has maintained close political, economic and especially security relationships with Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau under the Compacts of Free Association.The Pacific Islands are indispensable to Taiwan’s political status. Taiwan and China and continue to compete over diplomatic support, with the Pacific Islands being a hotly contested battleground. Currently, four Pacific Island nations have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.For years, The Heritage Foundation has not only called for increased cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan, but also U.S. support for Pacific Island nations. Both of these objectives serve to counter China’s efforts to push the U.S. out of the region. Join us for a discussion of these important strategic issues and the importance of cooperation for the U.S., Taiwan, and our partners in the Pacific. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

American small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. These entrepreneurs are responsible for two-thirds of all new job creation and employ over 60 million Americans. Many small business owners are asking if the Biden Administration will turn back Trump’s specific economic policies that directly led to lower unemployment rates for Blacks and Hispanics.Join us for a fireside chat with Kevin Hassett, Trump’s Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, to hear the facts about specific policies that created an economic boom for the minority community!This event serves as the kick-off for a roundtable series to explore key economic policies that benefit minority businesses. The Heritage Foundation and Black Americans for a Better Future Education Fund will convene small business leaders, major corporations, and economic policy leaders to discuss best practices and models that lead to economic flourishing. Stay tuned for your invitation to participate in these upcoming roundtables. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First Principles Townhall: Parents Bringing Civics to the Public SquareAmerica is experiencing a cultural crisis, and parents across the country have asked us how to pass the American legacy to the next generation in a culture increasingly hostile to American identity. The Heritage Foundation’s First Principles Townhall will speak into this moment, offering participants the educational tools to give their children an honest understanding of our history: to help them appreciate America’s political and cultural achievements, as well as our debt to the classical-Christian tradition.Session 1: “Why Future Leaders Need to Understand the Past”Near the center of our cultural crisis is a crisis of memory: The most powerful forces in society are either ignoring the remarkable history of the United States or are attempting to rewrite and pervert this history in the pursuit of a radical political and social agenda. Never before has the meaning and significance of the American Founding come under such sustained attack. Join Dr. Joseph Loconte for a discussion of how American democracy grew out of the classical-Christian tradition and why an honest understanding of our history is a democratic necessity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The radicalism of the Iranian regime has destabilized the Middle East since 1979. Three generations of the Kim dynasty have taunted every president since Truman. However, neither have presented as dangerous a threat to the United States and its allies as they do today. As North Korea continues to test and improve weapons, the Iranians may be rebooting their nuclear program. Hear about the state of these threats, and what we can do to confront them.Back to Reagan’s Future: The Importance of Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense for an Uncertain World The American public often associates nuclear deterrence with the Cold War. Unfortunately, the nuclear threat from America’s adversaries is arguably more dangerous than ever before. In the face of strategic competitors like China and Russia and threats from rogue states such as Iran and North Korea, American nuclear deterrence and missile defense must be at the top of the national security agenda. In order to build a realistic nuclear policy for today’s world, it is important to take stock of the threat and our capabilities, and carefully consider policy options for the future. This series will convene leading experts to discuss the current nuclear landscape.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Chinese Navy has rapidly grown, so too has its Coast Guard and Maritime Militia. This places added stress on the U.S. Navy to uphold a rules-based order, while our regional partners struggle to secure their own waters.Last November, the Secretary of the Navy sought to address this by resurrecting the defunct First Fleet and basing it at the crossroads of the Indo-Pacific. One would be forgiven in assuming the idea passed with the outgoing administration, but the facts on the ocean have made the idea a continuing priority. The Biden Administration’s recently-released interim national security strategic guidance makes a strong case for enhancing existing alliances and seeking new partners in the contest with China, and the Commander of the Pacific Fleet recently acknowledged an ongoing review of the idea.As the season for a new South China Sea crisis approaches, there is no better person to assess the idea of a new First Fleet than the man who suggested it in the first place—Ambassador Kenneth Braithwaite, the 77th Secretary of the Navy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Free, fair, and secure elections are the bedrock of a democracy. In the wake of the 2020 election, it has never been more apparent that significant work needs to be done to ensure Americans, regardless of party affiliation, have trust and confidence in our electoral process. We witnessed significant voting irregularities, last-minute changes, and numerous instances of officials setting aside state election law, amongst a host of other troubling patterns. While state legislatures are beginning to take action to reform vulnerabilities that currently exist, the U.S. Congress is trying to make a power grab to federalize elections and unconstitutionally impose unnecessary, dangerous and unwise mandates on the states. Join us for a timely and important discussion with Senator Rand Paul on states’ efforts on election reform and an update on H.R. 1: The “For the People Act of 2021,” that just passed the House and has a looming vote in the Senate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Described as the ‘largest and most sophisticated attack ever,’ the hacking of SolarWinds Inc. shocked the cybersecurity world and led to a massive compromise of networks owned by the U.S. government and Fortune 500 companies.After breaching SolarWinds, a top tier technology company, the hackers used their access to infiltrate its many clients. The list of exposed organizations included the Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury, Department of Justice, and many others. The most likely culprit is a hacking organization affiliated with the Russian military, often referred to as “Cozy Bear.”The full extent of the breach remains unknown, but the hackers operated in the networks for months before being detected. The amount of sensitive information stolen is likely massive.To protect the American people, it is critical that we understand this hack and what the Russian government hopes to get out of it. The United States must know how to confront this threat going forward, as it is only a matter of time before Cozy Bear, or another group like it, strikes again.As the former head of the Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf brings a unique view to this topic based on his direct experience. Scott Jasper is an expert in Russian cyber operations. Together they will provide a great window into the hack and why it should matter to everyone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early 20th century, the federal government engaged in housing “redlining”—a practice that conditioned access to federally backed home loans on the perceived economic health of a neighborhood and used demographic factors such as race in those decisions. Today, underperforming public schools are too often located in the areas “redlined” by government agencies in the 20th century. Yet local government policies largely maintain attendance zone boundaries and residential assignment, relegating students with few means to whatever public school is on their side of the street.Understanding the history of government-sanctioned redlining in the housing sector demonstrates a major problem with continuing to tie housing to schooling. This arrangement is an historical relic that impedes opportunity, limits choice, and prevents parents from selecting a school that best fits their child. There is, however, a clear policy remedy. Join us for a conversation about this history and specific remedies for addressing the lingering effects of housing redlining on education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the Cold War ended, many thought that democracy had triumphed over authoritarianism. However, today’s Russia and China are both attempting to undermine U.S. values and leadership and install a new world order based on autocratic values. Nuclear weapons will serve as a central feature in this struggle, presenting the urgent need to ensure America’s own nuclear deterrence remains safe, secure, and reliable. Hear about this threat and what America must do to preserve peace.Back to Reagan’s Future: The Importance of Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense for an Uncertain WorldThe American public often associates nuclear deterrence with the Cold War. Unfortunately, the nuclear threat from America’s adversaries is arguably more dangerous than ever before. In the face of strategic competitors like China and Russia and threats from rogue states such as Iran and North Korea, American nuclear deterrence and missile defense must be at the top of the national security agenda. In order to build a realistic nuclear policy for today’s world, it is important to take stock of the threat and our capabilities, and carefully consider policy options for the future. This series will convene leading experts to discuss the current nuclear landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.