The American Idea

On April 25th, 1945, the 15th Air Force launched the last mass bombing raid in the war in Europe, on Hitler's self-declared hometown of Linz, Austria. This strategically-important transportation hub was also the location where Hitler dreamed of creating a shrine to himself and Nazism, in the form of museums, monuments, (stolen) art collections, and eventually his grave. Mike Croissant, author and...

World War 1 had a profound and far-reaching impact on American politics, government, law, international standing and, perhaps even more significant, on American culture and society. Many of the most important movements of the 20th Century - Civil Rights, Women's Suffrage, the growth of government power and size - have their roots in how America and Americans understood the war, took part in it, an...

Jeff moderates a panel with mayors of four small towns in Ohio, discussing their work and the importance of good local government and how we can, with our neighbors, play an essential role in America’s civic life. This episode was recorded live at one of the Ashbrook Center’s recent “Major Issues Lecture Series,” held at Ashland University. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Pro...

Building a winning team - in business, education, sports, or the military - is hard, essential work; sustaining excellence over time is, perhaps, even harder. Kari Pickens, head coach of Ashland University’s Women’s Basketball Team, knows a lot about both, and shares her experiences and insights with Jeff in this episode. Kari’s reflections are also firmly connected to the American tradition of se...

Jeff is joined by Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-4, R) to discuss some of most essential elements of a leader, as well as some of the most pressing challenges facing American today. They discuss government-sponsored threats to the First Amendment,and the challenges presented internationally by Russia and China. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: ht...

With the Senate now having to consider a House bill that would force the sale of TikTok or ban the app in the United States, it's time to get the truth on why this social media platform is not like Facebook or Instagram or others. Jeff is joined by foreign policy expert Michael Sobolik of the American Foreign Policy Council to discuss what TikTok is, how the Chinese Communist Party is able to infl...

John Moser discusses the origins, evolution, and impact of the Harlem Renaissance with historian David Krugler. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

Jeff Sikkenga and Dr. Sarah Burns discuss the long, complicated history of how presidential war powers have been understood, implemented, and expanded, and how these changes have impacted American government and America's place in the world. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

Jeff discusses the unique history of American civilian-military relations with Miles Smith IV of Hillsdale College in today's episode. Suspicious of standing armies, but cognizant of the need for military power, the Founders were emphatic about civilian supremacy over the military - especially senior officers. From George Washington's handling of the Newburgh Conspiracy to Lincoln's relations with...

Jeff discusses the evolution of the U.S. healthcare system since the late 19th Century with Dr. Lauren Hall of the Rochester Institute of Technology. At issue are the surprising, and disheartening, unintended consequences of changes in technology and policy that have yielded the high-cost, low-efficiency and in some ways even lower-effectiveness "system" Americans face today. Host: Jeff Sikkenga E...

Jeff discusses the history and sad state of U.S. national energy policy with Peter Grossman, Emeritus Professor of Economics. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

Jeff Sikkenga discusses the “Chevron Doctrine” with Mark Chenoweth, Director of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, and how this 1984 Supreme Court decision has led to a runaway federal regulatory regime. They discuss the history of the decision and current challenges to it - including NCLA’s appearance before the Supreme Court to challenge Chevron in January 2024 - as well as its implications...

Jeff is joined by Dr. Eric Sands of Berry College to discuss the origins, role, evolution, and impact of political parties in America. This is one of those episodes wherein you learn some history, and your understanding of our current situation becomes more clear. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe through your favorite platform: https://linktr....

John Moser and Greg Schneider discuss the background to the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981, and America's broader, longer-term problems with Iran. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

Jeff discusses the complicated ideas and legacy of Thomas Jefferson as they pertain to race and slavery, with Dr. Cara Rogers Stevens, author of a new book on the subject. Far more complex than presented in textbooks and conventional histories, Jefferson condemned slavery in some of the harshest language of his times, owned slaves, perhaps fathered children with them, and had a sensibility of race...

Jeff is joined by Dr. Joseph Griffith, Professor of Political Science, to discuss the history, norms, laws, and current and possible future state of parental rights in education in America. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe via YouTube or another platform: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

Jeff discusses the Electoral College - its origins, the rationale behind it, and controversies surrounding it over the years, with Michael Maibach, a noted authority on the topic. They dig deeply into the origins of the system, as created at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, debunk contemporary claims of its connection to slavery, and analyze the current "National Popular Vote" movement, whic...

Jeff is joined by David Parker - musician and music educator, philanthropist, and investor - to discuss the origins, meaning, and importance of a uniquely American genre of music: jazz. Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe through your favorite platform: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

Jeff is joined by Dan Monroe of Millikin University to discuss John Brown, the man some claim 'lit the fuze' that caused the Civil War. Monroe explains and analyzes Brown's background, his influences, and his firm embrace of violence as a means-of-choice for addressing the scourge of slavery. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe through your favor...

Jeff is joined by historian and author Dr. Jonathan White to discuss "Shipwrecked: A True Civil War Story of Mutinies, Jailbreaks. Blockade-Running, and the Slave Trade." This fascinating tale is of a little-known story of ship captain Appleton Oaksmith and his, to put it lightly, varied and adventurous life experiences, many of which intersected and overlapped one of the greatest events, the Civi...

Jeff is joined by Rebeccah Heinrichs, Senior Fellow and defense policy expert at the Hudson Institute, to discuss current developments in Israel, Ukraine, and China. How do these conflicts impact American politics and policy? Get a thoughtful strategic analysis in this week's episode. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamer...

John Moser and Eric Pullin discuss rapprochement and detente with China during the Nixon administration - how it came about, what resulted from it in the short-term, and what longterm challenges it created for America and the world. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/3jcrp73m Google Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9n67a...

Jeff is joined by Steve Knott to discuss JFK"s assassination on the 60th anniversary of this key event in American history. The two cover the day itself, the investigation by the Warren Commissions, early and more recent conspiracy theories, and the evidence as best we know it, along with the enduring legacy of this event. Take a look at Steve's JFK book on Amazon Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Prod...

Jeff is joined by Jason Stevens, professor of Political Science at Ashland University, to discuss the meaning and legacy of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered 160 years ago this month. Learn what made it so important then, and what we can draw from it now. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe through your favorite platform: https://linktr.ee/...

In this week's episode of The American Idea, we look back 80 years to the pivotal Battle of Tarawa, the first in America's 'Island Hopping' campaign during World War 2 in the Pacific. Dr. John Moser is joined by military historian Bruscinocino to discuss why the battle took place, why America suffered such a high casualty rate, and how the battle and its outcome shaped U.S. war policy, strategy, a...