Common Sense for America

Picture a retired schoolteacher in Katy, Texas, standing in line 40 minutes to vote early, in a midterm she would have skipped four years ago. She had company: about 21 million Americans cast a ballot early. Why are people who never cared about a midterm suddenly standing in line? The left's case is a serious one: this election is a referendum on the cost of living. Gas, diesel, 3.7% inflation, an...

In this short edition of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford revisits his immigration proposal: secure the border, restore cooperation with local law enforcement, deport criminals, and create a path to legal residency and citizenship for immigrants who meet strict requirements. Bruce argues that border security was the first step, and the next challenge is deciding what should happen to peo...

In this episode of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford explores a difficult question facing voters: **Should character or policy matter more when choosing a president?** Bruce presents both sides of the debate. Critics argue that a leader’s temperament can directly affect national policy, while supporters argue that a president’s decisions on taxes, immigration, and government spending matt...

In this episode of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford examines the new U.S. agreement on Greenland and the debate over whether pressure on Denmark was necessary to strengthen America’s Arctic security. Bruce presents both sides of the argument. Critics question whether the agreement delivered enough to justify the damage to trust with a NATO ally. Supporters point to expanded U.S. defense...

In this episode of *Common Sense for America*, Bruce Rutherford examines the growing debate over the Iran war and the question Washington still needs to answer: **What does winning look like?** Bruce explores the case for winding down the war, including concerns about an undefined objective, the cost of prolonged conflict, and the risk of another forever war. He also presents the case for pressing...

In this episode of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford examines America’s corporate income tax and asks a simple question: Who actually pays the corporate tax? Bruce uses the story of Maria, a small-business owner in Baytown, Texas, to explain how the tax code can influence business decisions from when to buy equipment to how companies invest and hire. He presents both sides of the debate....

In this episode of *Common Sense for America*, Bruce Rutherford introduces a different approach to taxation: a voluntary luxury consumption tax designed to raise revenue without taxing work, wages, or productivity. Bruce compares the progressive and conservative arguments around consumption taxes and explains why the 1990 luxury tax failed. He then presents his proposed **1% tax on luxury purchase...

In this episode of *Common Sense for America*, Bruce Rutherford examines the growing Social Security crisis and what could happen when the Retirement Trust Fund is projected to run dry in 2032. Bruce uses the story of Margaret, a 71-year-old former school nurse who spent 40 years paying into Social Security, to explain what the looming benefit cuts could mean for millions of Americans who depend o...

America’s $40 Trillion Debt: Who Will Pay the Bill? In this episode of *Common Sense for America*, Bruce Rutherford breaks down America’s growing national debt, the rising cost of interest, and why Washington continues to borrow even while collecting record amounts of revenue. Bruce presents both the progressive and conservative arguments on the debt crisis before examining the bigger problem: **A...

In this episode of *Common Sense for America*, Bruce Rutherford examines the fight over Section 702, one of the government’s most powerful surveillance tools, and why its expiration exposes a deeper problem in Washington. Section 702 allows the government to collect communications involving foreigners overseas. But when Americans communicate with those individuals, their messages can also be colle...

In this episode of *Common Sense for America*, Bruce Rutherford takes a closer look at America’s complicated tax system and how taxes and benefit cliffs can sometimes discourage people from working, earning more, and getting ahead. Bruce explores what a simpler tax system could look like including a generous tax-free exemption, a low flat tax, a voluntary luxury consumption tax, and eliminating co...

What does winning in Iran actually look like? In this episode of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford breaks down the growing debate over the Iran war, America's military strategy, and the billions being spent to sustain the conflict. Bruce examines both sides of the argument — the case for ending the war and the case for pressing forward — while asking the question Washington still needs to...

How does **hate turn into violence and genocide**? In this episode of **Common Sense for America**, Bruce Rutherford breaks down the 3-step machine of **motive, dehumanization, and elimination** and explains how ordinary prejudice can become something far more dangerous. From the **Holocaust and Nazi Germany to Jim Crow, slavery, and racial segregation in America**, Bruce examines how hatred is ta...

A seven-year-old who cannot read today can face a very different future tomorrow. But what if we stopped waiting for struggling students to fall further behind and intervened while the gap was still small? In this episode of **Common Sense for America**, Bruce Rutherford examines Tennessee's approach to early literacy and asks a simple question: **What actually works when a child starts falling be...

America created **441,000 new millionaires in 2025** more than 1,200 new millionaires every day. So how can that be happening while millions of Americans still feel like the economic ladder is out of reach? In this episode of **Common Sense for America**, Bruce Rutherford examines both sides of America's inequality and economic mobility debate. The left is right that wealth has become increasingly...

Can the rules of America's highest court be changed every time political power shifts? In this episode of **Common Sense for America**, Bruce Rutherford examines one of the most important constitutional debates of our time: **the future of the U.S. Supreme Court**. Beginning with Benjamin Franklin's famous warning *"A republic, if you can keep it"* Bruce explores the arguments surrounding court ex...

Is the U.S. Supreme Court simply a political rubber stamp or is it doing exactly what the Constitution intended? In this episode of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford breaks down three of the Supreme Court's most significant decisions from late June 2026 and explains why the headlines don't tell the full story. Rather than viewing every ruling through a partisan lens, Bruce examines the st...

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Bruce Rutherford reflects on the courage, sacrifice, and faith that gave birth to the United States. In this special Independence Day message, Bruce revisits the events of July 1776, explaining why July 2 marked the vote for independence, why July 4 became America's celebrated birthday, and what those historic days meant for the men who risked everythin...

Can a republic survive if its citizens stop trusting elections? In this episode of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford explores one of the most important and divisive issues in American politics: election integrity. Rather than focusing on partisan talking points, Bruce presents the strongest arguments from both sides before examining the deeper issue that affects every voter public trust....

Do women vote differently than men or is there a bigger story hidden in the data? In this episode of **Common Sense for America**, Bruce Rutherford explores one of the most discussed topics in American politics: the voting patterns of men and women. But instead of relying on headlines and stereotypes, this conversation looks at what the numbers actually suggest. Bruce examines both progressive and...

In this episode of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford examines one of the most influential and controversial forces in modern American politics: identity politics. The discussion begins by presenting both sides of the debate. On one hand, group identity has played an important role in addressing historical injustice and ensuring representation. On the other, reducing people to race, gender...

What causes great nations to collapse? In this premiere episode of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford explores a thought experiment: If you wanted to destroy the strongest, freest nation in history without firing a shot, how would you do it? This episode examines six long-term forces that, according to the conservative perspective presented here, can weaken a country from within: Division...

In this episode of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford examines the departures of Mike Waltz, Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi, and Tulsi Gabbard, exploring what these events may reveal about leadership, accountability, and the challenges of governing in today's political climate. Rather than taking sides, Bruce presents both the progressive and conservative perspectives before asking the larger ques...

It's 2 a.m. in Tallinn, 40 miles from the Russian border, and the call going to Washington is simple: are you with us? In 2026, the answer may not be clear not because Americans don't care, but because the intelligence infrastructure built to see this threat coming was just dismantled. In this edition of Common Sense for America, Bruce Rutherford follows the money behind one of the most consequent...