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Defending Ideas

Sutherland Institute
Federalism
Utah
Sutherland Institute
Constitution
Artificial Intelligence
Education Policy
Religious Freedom
Education
Public Policy
Election Security
Education Choice
Open Enrollment
U.S. Congress
Upward Mobility
Mental Health
U.S. Supreme Court
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

What would America look like without strong families, churches, civic organizations and local communities? We're starting to find out and the picture is...not good. But there is a better way to live.

Michael Tanner, Senior Fellow at FREOPP, joins ho... more

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America’s social safety net is supposed to help families through difficult times, ultimately moving people toward work and independence. But navigating a maze of disconnected programs and agencies can make that goal harder to achieve. The good news i... more

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Could giving states more freedom to experiment help America find better answers to our toughest challenges?

On this episode of Defending Ideas, Sen. John Curtis of Utah joins host Nic Dunn to discuss how state-level experimentation can lead to bett... more

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Thirty years after the landmark welfare reform law, what should the next generation of social safety-net reform look like?

Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan joins Defending Ideas to discuss the future of welfare reform and how policymakers can b... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Shaka Mitchell
Senior Fellow, American Federation for Children
American Federation for Children
Episode: Why our children need more education choices | Shaka Mitchell & Christine Cooke Fairbanks
Christine Cook Fairbanks
Sutherland Education Policy Fellow
Sutherland Institute
Episode: Why our children need more education choices | Shaka Mitchell & Christine Cooke Fairbanks
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

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 States6 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.

Listeners value principled, policy-focused discussions that cut through partisan noise.
Guests are generally seen as credible experts with real-world experience in governance or policy research.
Some critics feel the show can skew toward formal policy analysis over practical accessibility.
Sponsorships are viewed as aligned with audiences seeking thoughtful civic discourse.

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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?

A policy-focused, civics-oriented discussion show that favors thoughtful, principle-driven conversations about law, governance, and public policy. Episodes center on education freedom, election administration, federalism, Supreme Court decisions, AI governance, and welfare reform, often featuring policy researchers, lawmakers, and think-tank analysts. Noteworthy are its emphasis on state roles, constitutional framing, and practical implications for everyday governance, with guests ranging from education policy experts to election integrity specialists and AI policy voices. The show likely appeals to listeners who want clear, principled analyses of current issues, with an emphasis on conservatism grounded in constitutionalism and local gover... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Defending Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Defending Ideas:

1. Take 2
2. Inside Utah Politics with Lindsay Aerts
3. Both Sides of the Aisle
4. PoliticIt Podcast
5. Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

How many episodes of Defending Ideas are there?

Defending Ideas launched 3 years ago and published 164 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. Shaka Mitchell
2. Christine Cook Fairbanks
3. Kevin Johnson
4. Brian McKenzie
5. Kevin Williamson
6. Matthew Brogdon
7. Shoshana Weissmann
8. Tim Chapman

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