American Viewpoints

Economist Victor Claar, PhD, discusses his recent Discourse.com article about minimum wage policy. Claar, a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, argues against any federal minimum wage law. The conversation includes both an overall economic look at the issue and an examination of the current minimum wage debate. Here's his article on the topic: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2021/03/747...

Rick Manning, president of Americans For Limited Government, discusses a new center-right coalition his organization joined in response to recent corporate political activism. The campaign, called “Back To Neutral”, calls for businesses to reject pressures to get involved in partisan politics. Manning explains why the coalition says broad corporate political activism is bad for the country and the...

Prager University’s Director of Outreach for the PREP program, Jill Simonian, explains why the conservative organization created a program to provide parents and teachers with educational resources they say gives a balance to biased programs and curriculum being used in K-12 schools now. PREP stands for PragerU Resources for Educators and Parents.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is one of several Attorneys General who are suing the Biden Administration over executive orders that, he says, exceed presidential authority when it comes to policy decisions. Specifically, the lawsuits deal with the stoppage of the Keystone XL pipeline and the moratorium on drilling for oil and natural gas on federal lands. Schmitt also addresses a lawsuit...

CreditCards.com analyst and reporter Ted Rossman provides advice for those who have unused airline or other travel credits due to trips cancelled during the COVID pandemic. For some airlines, the credits may expire without refund soon. Rossman explains how to get clarification from the airline or credit card companies and provides tips on ways to preserve the availability of the credits. Rossman a...

Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker discusses “The Long Game” project of the Young America’s Foundation, of which he is now president. The project focuses on countering left-leaning and left-wing bias in education, media, and culture through messaging focused on college students, high school, students and younger students. The project includes issue and ideological-based content on social media...

Mike McShane, PhD, the National Director of Research for Ed Choice, discusses his new book, Hybrid Homeschooling, which argues for more flexible K-12 education. McShane’s research started prior to the COVID pandemic and related school closures and includes lessons learned from both data, case studies, and the impact of the shutdowns. McShane suggests a system that blends parental and school contro...

Sean Higgins from the Competitive Enterprise Institute compares two labor law proposals in Congress: the National Right To Work Act and the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Among those impacted if either of these bills becomes law are employers, labor unions, non-union workers, and freelance “gig” workers (including ride share drivers, photographers, and entertainers). *image from CEI.o...

National Taxpayers Union president Pete Sepp discusses the potential long-term effects of the massive COVID relief spending plan that is behind payments going to most US households now. He also critiques the idea of another multi-trillion dollar infrastructure spending plan with no specific mechanism to deal with the resulting debt. Sepp argues for limited support to some households and businesses...

Convention of States president Mark Meckler argues for an Article V Convention of States to be called in order to amend the United States Constitution. His effort has already been approved by 15 states, butting the campaign near the halfway point of what is needed. Meckler explains the process as outlined in the Constitution, the specific areas his group wants to see addressed with constitutional...

Bankrate.com Senior Analyst Mark Hamrick assesses the recently passed stimulus spending plan. He discusses both the short term and long term economic effects but, more importantly, how the stimulus payments to households and additional subsidies of businesses could change current job conditions.

Religious freedom and LQBT rights are colliding in many aspects of the law, the courts, and in culture. World Magazine reporter Steve West discusses the conflicts and two approaches to public policy that seem to be competing. One would make exceptions for religious organizations to LGBT rights laws and policies. The other would not allow for religious objections or exemptions from local, state, or...

Chris Arps from Project 21 (a national network of black conservatives) discusses the “For The People Act” and other efforts to reform elections in the US. Arps disagrees with the assertion that many liberal proposals are needed as part of making voting more accessible to minorities. He also pushes back against the argument that changes including universal mail in voting, automatic voter registrati...

Amity Shlaes from the Coolidge Foundation relates the content of The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge, which she co-edited, to today’s political climate. The conversation includes discussion of changing mindsets of those in (or who pursue) political power, partisan dynamics, and a lack of clear messaging of party platforms in today’s politics.

Consumer Affairs’ Mark Huffman discusses recent increases in gas prices and explains why those prices are likely to continue to go up over the spring and summer. He also provides an update on the stimulus payments recently approved by Congress and President Biden. Huffman provides consumer advice regarding credit card costs and potential taxes as well.

Landmark Legal Foundation’s Mike O’Neill discusses the politics behind the decisions to keep schools partially or completely closed to in-person learning in many parts of the country. O’Neill focuses on the political power of teachers’ unions and their work to keep classes online or not happening at all.

Dr. Roger Klein, a clinical pathologist and former advisor to the CDC and the US Department of Health and Human Services, comments on the updated CDC guidelines for those who have received COVID vaccinations or have recovered from the virus. Klein, now with the Regulatory Transparency Project, argues that many of the precautions still being promoted (and, in some cases, mandated) may not be necess...

National Center for Public Policy Research Vice President David Almasi discusses his brief exchange with Disney CEO Bob Chapek over what Almasi says are cultural and business double standards. Almasi asked Chapek about Disney’s decision to fire conservative actress Gina Carano after she posted controversial statements on social media but did not respond to controversial posts & tweets from liberal...

American Legislative Exchange Council Chief Economist Jonathan Williams reviews recent government spending designed to address hardships caused during the COVID19 pandemic. He discusses the current debate over another COVID relief bill and other economic proposals being debated in Congress.

Can you have too many choices to get news coverage and opinions to consider? In this segment, the Free Enterprise Project’s Scott Shepard discusses efforts by some members of Congress to pressure media companies into dropping specific news and opinion programming based on which viewpoints are shared. The Members of Congress specifically called for conservative channels, including FOX News, One Ame...

Prof. Hunter Baker of Union University assesses the state of the conservative movement in America. Dr. Baker evaluates the ideological changes happening within conservative and Republican ranks and the challenges that face them. Baker comments on the history of the voter bases of both major parties and assesses the role Donald Trump could still have within the GOP regardless of whether he runs for...

The Heritage Foundation’s manager of their Election Law Reform Initiative, Hans Von Spakovsky, discusses the “For The People Act” proposed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several other Congressional Democrats. Spakovsky, a former member of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, assesses the changes the bill would make and the effect those could have on elections and politics in th...

Washington Examiner columnist Brad Polumbo assesses the “cancel culture” controversy of actress Gina Carano being fired from Disney’s The Mandalorian after reaction to her social media postings. Polumbo explains why not all “cancels” are First Amendment issues but they are likely cultural and free market issues. The discussion includes the trend of politization of businesses.

The data from many, maybe most, parts of the US indicate that the rate of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are all decreasing. American Commitment’s Phil Kerpen discusses some of the responses to the virus that resulted in job losses, negative economic effects on many areas, a hiatus on education for children, and the emotional tolls on individuals. Kerpen argues that lessons lear...

Institute for Energy Research Director Kenny Stein assesses the situation that led to millions of Americans being without power in Texas during a recent winter storm. Among the topics discussed are the region’s reliance on renewable energy, federal regulations that slowed down the response to the increased demand for electricity, and accusations of the utilities and government being unprepared.