Defending Ideas

It feels like there is very little common ground on most policy and political issues these days. But poverty could be an area where there is more consensus than you might think. On this episode we profile seven common ground solutions to poverty that should reshape debate about the health of the American Dream. Nic Dunn is joined by two experts from the Illinois Policy Institute , Head of Policy ...

Is religion's impact on society overall a force for good? Some say no. A recent survey shows that 40% of Americans thought religion’s influence was more negative than positive.   On this episode, we explore new research that catalogs how far-reaching the positive impacts of religion are for individuals, families and communities.   Sutherland Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow Bill Dun...

College campus protests over the war between Israel and Hamas continue to make headlines. Do these protests stand in opposition to American principles? On this episode we discuss the proper role of formative institutions like universities, what the Constitution teaches us about the right way to express political views, and how to assess the recent protests through a civic and constitutional lens. ...

Do you think you'll be able to retire comfortably in the future? This question is directly related to the ongoing debate over Social Security reform. On this episode we sit down with an expert to dispel some of the myths about the state of retirement today and offer a framework for how to fix Social Security before it's too late.  Nic Dunn is joined by American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow A...

Education choice has exploded in popularity across the nation in recent years. So why does it remain a contentious point of debate in some parts of the country?  Nic Dunn sits down with experts in two states to compare notes on differing approaches to putting more power in the hands of parents to direct how, where and in what way their children learn.  Dr. Robert Luebke is the director of the Cent...

It should be easy to vote and hard to cheat. This oft-quoted phrase has been articulated as a guiding principle by many elected officials wading into voting and election policy debates in recent years. So why has this issue been so contentious, and what’s the solution?  Nic Dunn sits down with Justin Jones , executive director of the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley Unive...

Is raising the minimum wage a good tool to help low-income workers achieve upward mobility?  That's the key question at the heart of the debate over California's new $20-an-hour minimum wage law for fast food workers. Economist Beth Akers joins host Nic Dunn to explore the arguments on both sides and explore the unintended consequences of this policy. They discuss the impact this new law is having...

Most people would agree that civility seems to be in short supply in our current political environment. But in recent years, a growing chorus of voices across the political spectrum has been calling for a return to principles of civility in politics, as well as all areas of public life.  This week's guest is Alexandra Hudson, author of The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and...

Do we need to reinvigorate the conservative movement, and is "Freedom Conservatism" the answer? This week's Defending Ideas episode addresses both of those questions and helps equip listeners to apply long-standing American principles to what seem like intractable modern political and policy challenges.  Nic Dunn is joined by John Hood , one of the leaders behind the Freedom Conservatism movement...

Is it harder to raise kids today than it was in years or decades past? For many current or prospective parents, this question may often be top of mind as they navigate decisions about marriage and family. Tim Carney joins host Nic Dunn on this week's Defending Ideas episode to discuss his new book:  Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be . Tim is a sen...

Housing affordability is one of the most important issues for Utah voters, and for too many families, owning a home may feel out of reach. Amid rising housing costs, many Utahns are wondering what can be done to make homeownership more affordable. On this episode, Nic Dunn welcomes back AEI Senior Fellow and Defending Ideas Feature Contributor Beth Akers for another Defending Enterprise installmen...

With Utah's 2024 legislative session now in the rearview mirror, what actually passed, and will it benefit Utahns? Sutherland Institute was involved with legislation impacting issues including religious freedom, family policy, education and elections. On this episode,  Nic Dunn sits down with Sutherland's policy experts to profile these issues and discuss the policy impacts of what passed and what...

Education has become one of the most polarized issues in state and national politics in recent years. The debates over what should be taught to students, and even the overall purpose of education, prompt an important question: What is the right vision for education in America? Rick Hess joins Nic Dunn on this week's episode to discuss his new book, co-authored with Michael McShane: Getting Educati...

What is going on at the U.S./Mexico border in Texas? After a wave of national news coverage profiling recent significant increases in border crossings, questions remain about the legal conflict between state and federal authorities over who is actually in charge of border security. On this episode, Deseret News Politics Reporter Brigham Tomco joins host Nic Dunn to give a first-hand account of wha...

Should municipal governments be allowed to use ranked choice voting for local elections? The Utah State Legislature has recently taken up the question . On this episode we explore how this form of voting works and discuss new Sutherland survey data showing that most likely voters in Utah support keeping the option. Host Nic Dunn is joined by Josh Daniels , a former Utah County Clerk who is current...

What if many of the challenges American society is facing today – declining happiness, "deaths of despair," eroding civic engagement, insufficient upward mobility – all tie back to one major institution? Brad Wilcox returns to the show to discuss his new book: " Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization ." He and host Nic Dunn discuss the evidenc...

Utah could strengthen religious freedom protections in a significant way during the current legislative session, with the passage of a state version of a "religious freedom restoration act." Sen. Todd Weiler joins host Nic Dunn to discuss Senate Bill 150 Exercise of Religion Amendments , which would create a higher standard in the law to prevent undue restriction of religious liberties. Sutherland...

What are the right ingredients for creating the best chance of upward mobility for the most people? Policy experts and elected officials trying to reduce poverty have asked versions of this question for decades. There's a strong argument to be made that Utah has the answer. A new report from the Archbridge Institute ranks social mobility in all 50 states, with Utah taking the top spot as the best...

Sixty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson launched America's "War on Poverty." The goal? To equip Americans stuck in poverty with the tools to achieve success. If we fast forward to 2024, we might ask: Are we winning or losing the war on poverty? On this episode we explore why the national effort to address poverty started with laudable goals, how the government policies that have resulted sinc...

Is work a punishment or a blessing? This question is often at the heart of debates about how to help people striving to get out of poverty as well as discussions on the role of things like work requirements. Utah has an answer to this question, and on this episode we explain why many other states are looking to Utah's unique approach to welfare and workforce development. Nic Dunn sits down with tw...

Are you better off today than you were four years ago? This is a common question voters hear from candidates during an election year. But on this episode, two economists ask that question, then try to answer it using economic data. They say the evidence shows that overall the economy is showing signs of strength, but there's a disconnect: Regular Americans don't believe they're better off. What's...

As the policy implications of intact families gain traction in public debate, one positive impact of healthy marriages and strong families often gets ignored: civic engagement. This week, guest Brandon Dabling sits down with Nic Dunn to discuss how the institution of marriage and family impacts the civic health of the United States. Brandon is an independent researcher and the author of A New Birt...

Public discussions of "the good life" usually center on things like a quality job, decent pay and other benefits that are primarily material. But what if – as a society – we're missing the things that truly impact happiness and human flourishing? Even when we discuss what's been described as America's "loneliness epidemic," too often the importance of human connection and strong families get left...

New survey data shows that a majority of likely voters in Utah support the concepts of the success sequence and approve of teaching them in schools. So, when critics still push back against the sequence – education, work, and marriage before kids – as one of the best frameworks for avoiding poverty and living a successful and happy life, what's the best response? Sutherland Visiting Scholar Brad W...

Debates about family policy often focus on an array of programs or interventions like licensed child care, pre-K or the K-12 education system. But all too often, the family itself as an optimal environment for the healthy development of young children – and a fundamental institution of civil society – gets left out of the discussion. This week’s guest explains why we need to elevate the family as...