The Commonwealth Matters

Kentucky's foster care system is in crisis, with children placed in unsafe environments. State Auditor Allison Ball uncovers shocking findings from a 129-page investigation, revealing systemic failures and neglect. Discover how bureaucratic resistance and lack of transparency have allowed these conditions to persist. Learn about innovative solutions from other states and how Kentucky can adopt...

Most Kentuckians are unaware of the powerful role faith and morality play in shaping public policy—and why Christian involvement in government is deeply biblical, not optional. Richard Nelson uncovers how biblical principles justify believers’ active engagement in politics, spotlighting specific legislation that aligns with their values and the risks of remaining silent. Discover why God cares abo...

It’s becoming common for Christian leaders and denominations to reject biblical authority when it comes to human sexuality and marriage. In a recent column in the  Lexington Herald-Leader  one Kentucky pastor goes so far as to bless the LGBTQ community. The column says Kentucky’s conversion therapy is an affront to the gospel of Jesus Christ. But does God really bless all sexual identities? We are...

This episode features Chelsey Yeoman from Alliance Defending Freedom discussing the harmful effects of social media on minors, recent legislative efforts in Kentucky, and the need for regulation to protect children's mental health and well-being.

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠richard@commonwealthpolicy.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . The Commonwealth Matters has moved to our new website at www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org . Please visit the new site to access the program. Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4...

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠richard@commonwealthpolicy.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . The Commonwealth Matters has moved to our new website at www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org . Please visit the new site to access the program. Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Ke...

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠richard@commonwealthpolicy.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . The Commonwealth Matters has moved to our new website at www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org . Please visit the new site to access the program. Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kent...

In this week's edition of The Commonwealth Matters we are joined by Alexandra DeSanctis, a writer for National Review and fellow at the Ethics & Public Policy Center, to discuss her new book, co-authored with Ryan Anderson, "Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing." If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Po...

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.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy Follow us on X: @CPC4Kentucky Follow us on YouTube: @commonwealthpolicycenter E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/

In this compelling episode, Richard Nelson engages with Vernadette Broyles, founder of the Child and Parental Rights Campaign, to explore the contentious issues surrounding gender ideology, parental rights, and the protection of minors. They delve into the legal battles and societal implications of gender transitions in minors, the role of medical organizations, and the critical involvement of chu...

In this episode of The Commonwealth Matters, Richard Nelson engages with State Senator Lindsay Tichenor to explore the implications of Senate Bill 26, which seeks to remove Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs from Kentucky's K-12 public schools. The discussion delves into the rationale behind the bill, the potential impact on educational content, and the broader societal implicatio...

Kentucky is one of the few states that allows 18-year-olds to gamble on sports, even as most set the minimum age at 21. On this episode of Commonwealth Matters , we examine the risks legalized sports betting poses to young adults—especially college students—through aggressive advertising, mobile apps, and in-game wagering. Drawing on research from the NIH and NCAA, we discuss the growing concerns...

In a candid year-end reflection, Richard Nelson surveys the tumultuous political landscape of 2025. From the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk to ongoing controversies over gambling, from debates around Medicaid reform to the sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill,” Nelson examines how the nation navigated a year of profound change and conflict. Looking forward, he identifies the nation’s best hope for...

This week, Richard Nelson sits down with Dr. Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, for a wide-ranging conversation on human dignity and the moral challenges posed by abortion, IVF, and medical aid in dying (MAID). Drawing on philosophical and theological foundations, they explore why these issues matter and how Kentucky can better protect human life and up...

Richard Nelson of the Commonwealth Policy Center sits down in the office of Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise for an in-depth conversation on priorities for Kentucky’s 2026 legislative session. The discussion explores a range of pressing moral and social issues facing the Commonwealth, as well as key fiscal concerns, including income tax policy and broader questions of economic stewardship. To...

Join us as we tackle the complexities of today's political climate and discuss how to stay grounded in the chaos. We'll dive into recent polling data, explore the media's impact, and consider how timeless principles can guide us through these challenging times. It's all about finding ways to engage positively and make a difference, even when things get tough. If you liked the video...

What would you do if you were told by your boss to use gender-preferred pronouns in the work place forcing you to violate your conscience, and if you refused to do so, you would lose your job? Or what would you do if you were a pro-life nurse and were forced to give abortion-inducing drugs to a patient? These issues aren’t theoretical, but are issues facing Kentuckians. To help us understand and t...

In this week's edition of The Commonwealth Matters we are joined by Dr. Thomas Kidd, a professor and historian at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, to discuss the first Thanksgiving and how to study history from a Christian perspective. If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠richard@commonwealthpolicy.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this week's edition of The Commonwealth Matters we are joined by Dr. Jeanne Allert, Executive Director of the Institute for Shelter Care, to discuss human trafficking in the United States and in Kentucky. You can find out more and contact Institute for Shelter care at www. InstituteForShelterCare.org. If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Poli...

How should Christians engage the culture? And should Christians engage politically? To help us think through these important questions with help from the wisdom of the early Church, we are joined by Dr. Stephen Presley to discuss his latest book  Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church . Dr. Presley is a professor of Church History at The Southern Baptist Theological Semi...

Is America a Christian nation? If so, how should Christianity influence public policy? In this week's edition of the Commonwealth Matters, we are joined by Dr. Mark David Hall, professor at the Robertson School of Government at Regent University. We discuss his latest books  ⁠ Proclaim Liberty Through All the Land: How Christianity Has Advanced Freedom and Equality for All Americans ⁠  and  ⁠...

On this episode of The Commonwealth Matters , Richard Nelson addresses the controversy surrounding sexually explicit LGBTQ books found in the Daviess County Public Library’s youth section. Nelson explains why protecting children from pornographic and graphic material is not an act of censorship, but a necessary stand for decency and community responsibility. He discusses how parents and concerned...

In this week's edition of the Commonwealth Matters, we are joined by Robert Cunningham, founder and director of Christ for Kentucky and former Senior Pastor of Tates Creek Presbyterian Church. We discuss what it means to be faithful and to do God's will in our post-modern society, and we discuss his new organization Christ for Kentucky, which provides "public theology and strategy for...

In this episode, Richard Nelson explores what it means to hold fast to Christian hope amid the challenges of modern life. He examines how faith can remain steady in a culture marked by doubt, distraction, and moral confusion. Through biblical reflection and personal insight, Nelson shows how the hope of Christ shapes our perspective on suffering, purpose, and the future. The conversation invites l...

What is leadership? How do you become a leader? What biblical principles can leaders integrate into their lives and work? To talk further about biblical leadership is Todd Gray, the Executive Director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and host of the podcast "Leadership Lessons." If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please...