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Defending Ideas

Sutherland Institute
Federalism
Utah
Sutherland Institute
Constitution
Artificial Intelligence
Education Policy
Religious Freedom
Education
Public Policy
Election Security
Open Enrollment
U.S. Congress
Upward Mobility
Mental Health
U.S. Supreme Court
Education Choice
Federal Government
Land Management
American Politics
Civility In Politics

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, by equipping listeners to become more effective champions of sound principle and good policy. Visit defendingideas.org.

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Artwork for Defending Ideas

Latest Episodes

No two children learn exactly the same way. So why should families be expected to rely on a one-size-fits-all education system?

In this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn speaks with Shaka Mitchell of the American Federation for Children and Suth... more

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We want referees to enforce the rules, not play for one team. Should the same principle apply to county clerks and elections officials?

In this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nick Dunn sits down with Kevin Johnson, Executive Director of the Elect... more

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Why does the federal government keep expanding into every corner of our lives? It's not always by passing new laws. Guidance documents, letters, handbooks, and informal directives from federal agencies can cause headaches for states, schools, busines... more

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The Supreme Court has spoken. And the internet has some...interesting opinions.

On this episode of Defending Ideas, Utah Valley University's Senior Director of the Center for Constitutional Studies Dr. Matthew Brogdon and Sutherland Institute's Bil... more

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Recent Guests

Kevin Johnson
Founding Executive Director, Election Reformers Network
Election Reformers Network
Episode: Should county clerks be nonpartisan? | Kevin Johnson & Brian McKenzie
Brian McKenzie
Davis County Clerk
Davis County Clerk's Office
Episode: Should county clerks be nonpartisan? | Kevin Johnson & Brian McKenzie
Kevin Williamson
National correspondent for The Dispatch; writer in residence at the Competitive Enterprise Institute
The Dispatch; CEI
Episode: How the federal government keeps expanding its power | Kevin Williamson & Bill Duncan
Matthew Brogdon
Senior Director at the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University
Episode: Understanding the Supreme Court’s biggest decisions in 2026 | Dr. Matthew Brogdon & Bill Duncan
Shoshana Weissmann
Digital Director and Policy Advisor for the Abundance Institute
Abundance Institute
Episode: The human benefits of AI | Shoshana Weissmann
Tim Chapman
President of Advancing American Freedom
Advancing American Freedom
Episode: The Future of Conservatism: Principles, Populism, and the American Founding | Tim Chapman
Angela Rachidi
Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and national expert on upward mobility and social safety net reform
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: The U.S. needs a new safety net | Angela Rachidi
Matt Weil
Vice President of Governance and Bipartisanship
Bipartisan Policy Center
Episode: The roadmap to restore trust in elections | Matthew Weil & Derek Monson
Ben Ginsberg
Volcker Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution; veteran election-law advocate
Hoover Institution
Episode: Rebuilding trust in America's elections | Ben Ginsberg & Bill Duncan

Host

Nic Dunn
Host of Defending Ideas

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 13 ratings
  • Empty Suits

    Congratulations on finding a podcast featuring empty suits and insipid ideas. The capper was listening to Jon “Randazzo” Husted lecturing poor people on money management.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jim Ohio1
    United States5 months ago
  • Spot On

    So good. I love how this podcast turns down the heat of politics and gets into the principled parts of public policy. It can really help regular people out with their civic involvement.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PetCheetah94
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests bring credible expertise and practical policy perspectives.
Clear, approachable explanations of complex policy topics.
Civics-focused and principled discussions that stay away from shouting matches.
Consistently highlights how policy affects everyday people, not just ideology.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How the federal government keeps expanding its power | Kevin Williamson & Bill Duncan
Q: What are some compelling examples of federal guidance overstepping traditional authority?
Two notable examples include Dear Colleague letters in education that signal enforcement priorities and a highway safety handbook that imposes expectations on state transportation agencies, illustrating how guidance can function as de facto policy without formal rulemaking.
Absent fathers are America's hidden crisis | Ian Rowe
Q: How should states approach the issue beyond policy levers?
States should combine policy with efforts to strengthen family formation, faith-based and community institutions, and civic campaigns that promote pro-social masculinity, while recognizing that responsible fatherhood and stable families have broad, cross-cutting benefits.
Absent fathers are America's hidden crisis | Ian Rowe
Q: What are the main findings of the Virginia report on Good Fathers Flourishing Kids?
The Virginia report shows that when children grow up with involved fathers, particularly in married two-parent households, they tend to have better grades, fewer disciplinary issues, and better mental health; it also finds no racial difference in outcomes for children raised in intact families, underscoring the value of family stability across communities.
The human benefits of AI | Shoshana Weissmann
Q: What infrastructure considerations should policymakers focus on for AI to scale?
Invest in energy and grid capacity, streamline permitting reform for energy projects, reform occupational licensing to ease workforce mobility, and support data-center readiness while ensuring safety and reliability.
The human benefits of AI | Shoshana Weissmann
Q: Is there a regulatory path that protects innovation without stifling it?
Yes—regulation should be narrowly tailored to address specific problems, leveraging industry guardrails and open-source tools, with national-level coherence to avoid a patchwork of state rules.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Defending Ideas

What is Defending Ideas about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show tends to center on public policy with a conservative lens, focusing on education policy, welfare reform, and constitutional governance. Episodes frequently feature policy researchers, lawmakers, and scholars who discuss practical reforms, accountability in schooling, and the social and economic consequences of policy choices. A standout pattern is bridging high-level ideas with real-world impact, such as how parental involvement in education, welfare work requirements, and empowerment-based approaches might influence mobility and reform. The format often combines personal anecdotes from guests with analysis from policy experts, making complex topics accessible to listeners who're curious about practical solutions to civic challeng... more

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1. Political as Heck Utah
2. Inside Utah Politics with Lindsay Aerts
3. Both Sides of the Aisle
4. Mormon Land
5. Deseret Voices

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Defending Ideas launched 3 years ago and published 158 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Defending Ideas?

Recent guests on Defending Ideas include:

1. Kevin Johnson
2. Brian McKenzie
3. Kevin Williamson
4. Matthew Brogdon
5. Shoshana Weissmann
6. Tim Chapman
7. Angela Rachidi
8. Matt Weil

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