The Commonwealth Matters

What’s the role of religion in American society? Is Christianity antithetical to America’s idea of liberty? And what does it mean to be an American? On this week’s edition of The Commonwealth Matters, we’re gonna tackle these questions with Dr. John Wilsey, Professor of Church History and Philosophy at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Wilsey has recently written the book Religious Fr...

In this week’s episode of the Commonwealth Matters, we are joined by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to discuss the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and how he and others in Washington, DC are working to reign in ridiculous government spending. If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ri...

Kentucky is one of twelve states that only allows abortion when necessary to save the mother’s life. Critics argue that this restriction has endangered women facing life-threatening pregnancy complications. In response, the Kentucky State Legislature recently passed a bill to clarify the legal definition of abortion and outline exceptions for serious medical emergencies. State Representative Nancy...

What does it really mean to be free? Is freedom simply the ability to do whatever you want as long as no one gets hurt? Or is there a deeper, richer understanding of freedom? This week on The Commonwealth Matters, we sit down with Brad Littlejohn, Director of Programs & Education at American Compass, to explore his latest book, Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of Licen...

In this episode, we delve into the fundamental aspects of a healthy society, questioning whether it is rooted in the individual or the family. We explore the impact of family breakdowns and examine the connection between such occurrences and government policies. Joining us to talk about this important issue is Colin Smothers, executive director of the Center for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and...

In this episode, we delve into the escalating issue of wildfires in the American West, a trend that has been on the rise for several decades. As debates stir around the role of global climate change in intensifying these fires, we invite Danielle Franz, CEO of the American Conservation Coalition, to discuss whether these changes are contributing to the severity of the LA fires. We also discuss whe...

For years, we’ve heard the phrase “drain the swamp,” but what does it actually mean for a congressman tasked with investigating corruption? What challenges come with exposing abuse at the highest levels of government? In this episode, we sit down with Congressman James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, to discuss his new book, All the President’s Money: Investigating the Secret Foreig...

Strengthening families is a bipartisan goal—but the real debate is how to make it happen. In this episode, CPC Executive Director Richard Nelson explores the role of tax policy in supporting Kentucky families and discusses how the state can create a more family-friendly economic environment. If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please...

Presidential pardons are making waves as President Biden grants clemency to his son Hunter and close family members, while former President Trump issues a sweeping pardon for over 1,500 individuals tied to the January 6th riots. In Kentucky, lawmakers are seeking to limit the governor’s pardon power, raising questions about executive authority. Plus, we examine the state legislature’s push to redu...

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, ushering in what many see as a new day in our federal government. In this episode of The Commonwealth Matters, CPC Executive Director Richard Nelson examines Trump’s first days in office, analyzing his executive actions, policy agenda, and the potential impact of his administration. If you would like to i...

Do your words matter? Does it matter that society has an agreed-upon definition of those words? What happens to culture when definitions of really important words change? Joining us to help us answer these questions is Scott Allen, president of Disciple Nations Alliance, whose vision is to shape nations according to biblical truth so they might be blessed with freedom, justice, and human flourishi...

In this episode, we dive into the contentious issue of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in schools. Are they fostering inclusion or perpetuating division? We focus on a recent controversy in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), where the Chief Equity Officer made sweeping claims about an entire race. State Senator Lindsey Tichenor (R-Smithfield), representing Kentucky’s 6th Distr...

How should we handle money? Is money something that Christians should avoid? After all, isn’t it the root of all kinds of evil? And what about the next generation and their view and stewardship of money? Joining us to talk further about the Next Gen Challenge: God, Money, and Stewardship is Dan Lewis, who is the executive director of the River Foundation in Kentucky and teaches at Asbury Universit...

It is hard to believe that another year is in the books. Much has happened this year, including the campaign between Trump and Pres. Biden and then VP Harris, President Trump was elected, legacy media outlets lost their influence, and many social issues were at the fore. Joining us to reflect on 2024 is Ron Hicks, Pastor of Henderson Memorial Baptist Church. If you would like to interview Richard...

In this week's edition of The Commonwealth Matters we are joined by Pastor Ron Hicks of Henderson Memorial Baptist Church to discuss the true meaning of Christmas and the hope of the gospel. If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠richard@commonwealthpolicy.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.fac...

On this special Christmas episode of The Commonwealth Matters, we take a step back from the hustle and bustle of the season to reflect on its true meaning. Amid gift-giving, parties, and festive decorations, it’s easy to forget the central focus of Christmas: Christ Himself. Joining us this week to talk about the character of Christ and the deep theology behind of our great Christmas carols is Jon...

What would you do if your child’s school library contained books that were inappropriate for children? For our guest Miranda Stovall, this was not a hypothetical situation. After discovering explicit books in her child’s middle school library in Louisville, she took action—but found no support from teachers, principals, or the school board. Joining Miranda is Beanie Geoghegan, her co-founder of Fr...

America faces its toughest economic challenges in decades: record-high inflation, a staggering $35 trillion federal debt, and heavy-handed regulations that threaten to stifle growth. These conditions set the stage for Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency. But what’s the way forward? How can the federal government create policies that foster economic growth and prosperity? Joining us to talk furth...

Thanksgiving is a cherished American tradition, filled with turkey, pumpkin pie, and football, but have you ever stopped to wonder what we’re truly celebrating? Is it just about family and food, or the story we learned in school about Pilgrims and Indians sharing a feast? How accurate is the history we’ve been told? In this episode, we explore the true story behind the first Thanksgiving and exami...

In this episode, we dive into the the 2024 presidential election, where Donald Trump secured a significant victory over Kamala Harris with 312 electoral votes. Reflecting on an analysis written the day before the election, we explore the key factors that tipped the scales, including voter sentiment and the impact of Democratic policy priorities. You can read Richard Nelson's article, "Voter Anger,...

School choice was dealt a blow in Kentucky when Amendment 2 went down in flames on election day by nearly 2 to 1 margin. Voters rejected the idea that Kentucky parents should have some kind of choice in education by teacher deception and misinformation about the amendment, and it was funded by the National Educational Association. Was defeat of Amendment 2 good for Kentucky? Big education hasn’t d...

In this week's episode, we dive into a pressing question: Is overpopulation the true challenge we face, or is depopulation a more urgent concern? To discuss this important issue, we are joined by Lyman Stone, a senior fellow and Director of the Pronatalism Initiative at the Institute for Family Studies, and the Chief Information Officer at Demographic Intelligence. Lyman has extensively studied gl...

Election day is next week (Nov. 5, early voting begins Oct. 31)! Also on the ballot in Kentucky is Amendment 2, which would open up the opportunity of school choice to parents across the Commonwealth. Yet, there’s strong opposition and misinformation going around. To learn more about the amendment go here . To view other election resources, including voter guides, go here . Is school choice a good...

To what extent should Christians be engaged in politics? Do Christians have a responsibility to vote? And what if there are two bad choices at the top of the ticket? Joining us to discuss this issue further is pastor and author Bob Russell. Bob is the former pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, the author of a number of books, and has a mentorship ministry to younger pastors. To vie...

With Election Day fast approaching on Tuesday, November 5th, the choices we make will shape our nation’s future—from the presidency to Congress and to state leaders. In this episode, we explore how Christians can thoughtfully engage in the public arena, guided by distinctly Christian principles. Join us as we unpack biblical tenets that offer a clear, Christian perspective for you to apply this el...