Rick Manning from Americans For Limited Government makes his conservative case for Congressman Mike Johnson to keep his position as Speaker of the House of Represenatatives. * this discussion originally aired on NewsTalk STL in St Louis

A graphic novel to address housing policies and central planning? Yes. It's named Build, Baby, Build: The Science And Ethics Of Housing Regulation. In this discussion with author and George Mason University economist Bryan Caplan, he makes an argument for more homes and less government. From the book's description: "Why are housing prices in America so unbelievably high, especially in the country's most desirable locations? The superficial answer is “supply and demand,” but the deep answer―the reason supply is so low―is a regulatory system that treats developers like criminals." For more information: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Baby-Science-Housing-Regulation/dp/1952223415

A recent United Nations conference (the 29th Conference of the Parties or COP 29) recently took place in Baku. CFACT's Craig Rucker was there and provided this first-hand account of what happened. Much of the activity focused on collecting funds from developed countries and funnelling it to poor countries - with plenty of strings attached. For more information: https://www.cfact.org/2024/11/11/beggers-banquet-opens-the-un-climate-summit/ * this discussion originally aired on NewsTalk STL in St Louis

Host Mike Ferguson reflects on the election results with a focus on how the Left's extremism on several issues put Democrats outside of America's mainstream (or anywhere near it).

During the campaign, Donald Trump promised to do what many education reformers have been advocating for years: the elimination of the Department of Education. Now that he's won the election, can he do it? In this discussion, the American Culture Project's Corey DeAngelis assesses the claim and why he believes following through would be good for the nation.

Psychiatrist Dr Keith Ablow offers advice on how we can reduce anxiety related to being too invested in politics and elections. For more information: https://keithablow.com/

Elections, ultimately, are about the citizens and voters. In a political and media context, we look at elections as being about the winners and their agendas. In an interesting article from the R Street Institute's Matt Germer, the spotlight is also focused on those who lose elections. Why do their words and behaviors in defeat matter? That's the focus of this discussion. Germer says admitting a defeat does not mean admitting policies or principles failed but it does mean participating in a crucial part of our republic: the peaceful transfer of power. For more information: https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/admitting-defeat-is-crucial-for-the-future-of-democracy/

What happens to the legal cases - both criminal and civil - against Donald Trump now that he has been elected President again? In this discussion, Landmark Legal Foundation's Mike O'Neill breaks down the legal status of the cases, the likely outcomes, and why the processes of the cases could be changed as a result of the election. For more information: https://landmarklegal.org/

With the exception of the US House, where party control is still to be determined, we know that Republicans will control the majority of the federal government come January. In this discussion, Patrick Brown from the Ethics and Public Policy Center outlines what he says is a pro-family agenda for the next Congress. For more information: https://eppc.org/publication/what-the-next-president-could-do-for-families/

The Free Enterprise Project's Scott Shepard provides an update on the strategy many activists and investors are using to steer businesses out of politics and ideological virtue signalling and back to focusing on their core products and services. Among those tools is the Proxy Navigator that allows investors to automatically direct the votes that come with their shares to thateffect. For more information: https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/2024/10/24/scott-shepard-discusses-boycotts-hrc-wef-fascism-and-more-during-pray-vote-stand-summit/

Sgt Betsy Brantner-Smith from the National Association of Police discusses the Violence Against Women By Illegal Aliens Act, introduced by Rep Nancy Mace, and why the organization supports it. For more information: https://nationalpolice.org/main/the-national-police-association-supports-the-violence-against-women-by-illegal-aliens-act/

* this discussion aired before the November 5th elections* Kelly Shackelford from the First Liberty Institute reacts to recent comments by Vice President Kamala Harris and other left-of-center politicians promoting the idea of adding justices to the US Supreme Court. * this discussion originally aired on NewsTalk STL in St Louis

Elon Musk may have changed the world when he changed Twitter - now X. His purchase of the platform and his pro-free speech overhaul of it has been met with increased scrutiny and threats from regulators in Washington, specifically the Federal Trade Commission. NetChoice's Michael Winterton explains what's happened and why it's not just a case of controversial regulation. For more information (article referenced in this discussion: https://dailycaller.com/2024/10/28/lina-khan-elon-musk-ftc-house-judiciary-committee/ For more information: https://netchoice.org/

CNET reporter Katherine Watt outlines what she found while writing her recent article on the economic and financial struggles many Gen Zers are dealing with. To many, the economic and job market conditions are barriers to home ownership. For more information: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/the-election-and-gen-zs-housing-problem/

Andre Barnes, who works with both Project 21 and Numbers USA, discusses recent surveys that show an increase in minority voters switching from Democratic to Republican candidates. Among other reasons he cites is a shift in voter mindset away from identifying with a racial demogrphic to focusing on policy issues and economic impacts. For more information: https://www.numbersusa.com/team/andre-barnes/ For more information: https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/staff/andre-barnes/

Host Mike Ferguson assesses some of the scare tactics and campaign rhetoric that are dominating the discussion over the presidential election.

Daily Signal Managing Editor Tyler O'Neil comments on the controversies related to next week's presidential election. The conversation includes concerns - some valid, some wild conspiracy theories - about the accuracy of the forthcoming results due to questions about voter rolls and voting methods. The conversation also focuses on the importance of having an election process that is trustworthy. Also discussed is the possibility of some states not having vote totals complete on Election Night.

Former Missouri Governor, US Senator, and US Ambassador John Danforth discusses the state of today's divisive politics and what he sees as the Republican Party's drift away from its traditional conservative principles. In this two-part discussion, he contrasts his view on the direction the GOP should be going with it's current MAGA populism under Donald Trump. For more information: https://www.ourrepublicanlegacy.com/

Former Missouri Governor, US Senator, and US Ambassador John Danforth discusses the state of today's divisive politics and what he sees as the Republican Party's drift away from its traditional conservative principles. In this two-part discussion, he contrasts his view on the direction the GOP should be going with it's current MAGA populism under Donald Trump. For more information: https://www.ourrepublicanlegacy.com/ * thumbnail image courtesy of Our Republican Legacy

Taxpayers Protection Alliance president David Williams reacts to the hurricane response job FEMA is doing in the southeast US. He also critiques the narrative that only government and nonprofits should respond to disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Williams offers the perspective that free markets, including businesses, should be allowed to work in response to disasters. For more information: https://www.protectingtaxpayers.org/antitrust/the-free-market-is-americas-first-line-of-defense-in-the-wake-of-disaster/

Brandy Meeks, president of the Vitae Foundation, discusses the wave of pro-abortion referendums being decided in this year's elections. Ten states have some version of an abortion statute or state constitutional amendment before voters this year. Meeks assesses the trend and also discusses the changes in our culture that led to this point of having abortion become a defining issue in politics and beyond them. For more information: https://vitaefoundation.org/ * thumbnail image courtesy of the Vitae Foundation

Amy Lutz from the St Louis Kaplan Felman Holocaust Museum reflects on the one year mark of the October 7th terrorist massacre in Israel. She also explains why violent antisemitism in the US remains a threat, as shown by the fact many memorial events had to happen with extra caution. For more information: https://stlholocaustmuseum.org/

It's so common that we don't really notice anymore: you buy the phone or TV or other tech device, you set it up and click all those Terms of Service or Terms And Conditions boxes (because you have to to get the thinkg you just bought to work), and then start using it. Americans for Financial Reform, in a recent blog post, points out that we all may be signing away some of our legal rights in that process and that US law should be updated to protect consumers more. Here's the conversation with AFR's Christine Chen Zinner. For more information: https://ourfinancialsecurity.org/2024/10/blog-can-ordering-a-pizza-invalidate-your-fundamental-rights/

Host Mike Ferguson reacts to Vice President Kamala Harris apparently trying to score political/campaign points with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Gov. Ron DeSantis' response is part of the story that's assessed in this segment.

Phil Kerpen from American Committment assesses the differences between the Republicans' and Democrats' plans for taxes should they win/maintain power after next month's elections. He compares the probable political outcomes of the different scenarios (GOP president and Democratic-controlled Congress, Democratic presidnet and GOP-controlled Congress). * this discussion originally aired on NewsTalk STL in St Louis

Landmark Legal Foundation's Mike O'Neill reviews the legal controversies that are still being litigated in some states as we head into the final weeks of the 2024 Election.

Economist Judy Shelton, a senior fellow at the Independent Institute, discusses her new book: Good As Gold, How To Unlease The Power Of Sound Money. From the Independent Institute: She’s one of the few economists bold enough to challenge the inflationary policies of the Federal Reserve, emphasizing how today’s policies enrich elites at the expense of—you guessed it—poor and middle-class Americans. This, Shelton insists, must end. And it can end—easily. For more information: https://www.independent.org/store/book.asp?id=143  * note: this interview was edited due to time constraints for broadcast. Here's a version of the discussion that includes the entire conversation: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wso0gh6xkfulc7g88ppji/Judy-Shelton-Good-As-Gold-Book-FULL-LENGTH-VERSION.wav?rlkey=te4pdiodm6xa6d9tn7v8k63mb&st=s00zdkk9&dl=0

Pete Rose. Charlie Hustle. A key member of "The Big Red Machine". Champion. Greatest Hitter of All Time. Whatever you want to call him, you cannot deny his greatness in baseball. His work ethic put him in a position to win and the skills he built made him the winningest player of all time. In this segment, host Mike Ferguson (who still plays amateur baseball in St Louis) reflects on the legend for his on-field success and the debate over his legacy because of his off-field mistakes. * image courtesy of Pete Rose's official Facebook page

With the destruction of Helene still affecting Americans throughout the Southeast and Hurricane Milton on the the way to Florida, many politicial activists, pundits, and officials are - again - pointing to "climate change" as the reason for the frequency and intensity of dangerous storms. In this discussion, Craig Rucker from CFACT (Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow) disputes the claims and says political ideology has worked its way into the discussion. For more information: https://www.cfact.org/

It's as predictable as can be in politics, right? Organized labor, especially the biggest unions, align with Democrats. Most of the time, that's the case but the Teamsters' national leadership surprised many political observers and operatives by declining to endorse any candidate in the 2024 presidential race. In this discussion, the Competitive Enterprise Institute's Sean Higgins assesses that decision and explains how that could affect both the current and future races. For more information: https://cei.org/blog/teamsters-non-endorsement-outlier-or-sign-of-things-to-come/

Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Wilson Freeman explains why some broadcasters are going to court to fight an FCC proposal that would mandate the reporting of racial and gender demographics of their employees. Among the immediate concerns are the possibility of DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion), hiring-quota type of requirements. Among the long-term concerns is that the possibility of mandating hiring and workforce decisions could eventually affect broadcast content. For more information: https://pacificlegal.org/washington-examiner-the-fccs-public-dei-shaming-is-unconstitutional/

Before activist ideas take hold and grow in places of influence like business board rooms, governments, and even non profit groups, they are generated and grown somewhere - that's often on college and university campuses. In this discussion that originally aired on NewsTalk STL, Speech First's Cherise Trump explains why she belives the pushback against the leftist ideas has momentum and could win the battle of ideas at some point. For more information: https://speechfirst.org/

Paul Hutchinson, executive producer of Sound of Freedom - the film that spotlighted the horrors of the child sex trafficking trade, reacts to the shocking news & allegations we're now getting about sex-based parties in Hollywood. Those accusations are related to the parties hosted by "P Diddy" (aka Sean Combs). Hutchinson says the trafficking trade and sexual abuse is far more widespread than most people realize and is probably happening closer to your home than you realize. For more information: SoundOfFreedomBook.com For more information: LiberateChildren.org

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently issued an official advisory on mental health and parenting, saying government should offer more support and resources to parents because rearing children today is harder than it has been for previoius generations. In this discussion, Chris Bullivant from the Institute for Family Studies takes issue with the doctor's prescription of more government to be involved in the home. For more information: https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-surgeon-generals-dour-picture-of-parenthood-misses-the-mark

Inflation is coming back down to earth and it's rising at a lower rate than before. That's the good news. The bad newes is that today's inflation - while better - piles on top of the high inflation over the past few years. A new report says what most of us already feel: wages have not kept up with inflation. In other words, we've fallen behind and it could take years for many people to catch up financially. In this discussion, Bankrate.com's Sarah Foster explains what the new study found and what it means to our personal finances. For more information: https://www.bankrate.com/banking/federal-reserve/wage-to-inflation-index/

Often relegated to an historical artifact, the US Constitution isn't often held in the same regard as in generations past. Former Virginia Deputy Attorney General Ken Davis, writing for Townhall.com, argues that last week's Constitution Day (it's a real thing, look it up) should be a reminder for our nation to recommit to the principles of the document and to the restraints it puts on government. For more information: https://townhall.com/columnists/j-kennerly-davis/2024/09/15/constitution-day-should-be-an-occasion-for-celebration-and-a-time-for-recommitment-n2644749

Former IDF paratrooper Uri Goldflam has fought Islamic terrorists first-hand. Now, he's making the case for the West to support Israel in its battle for survival at a time when antisemitic protests are far too common around the nation. In this discussion, Goldflam details the current war against Iran and her proxiesas well as why he believes all western nations, especially the US, should be on Israel's side. For more information: https://www.traveltrailerisrael.com/uri/

Can we be too connected? Maybe. New research indicates that the pressure of being connected online and on text could come at a cost to our mental and physical health. In this discussion, Dr Marschall Runge from the University of Michigan Medical School explains what we now know. He also discusses the debates over banning cell phones in schools, which is happening in some states and districts around the country. For more information: https://nypost.com/2024/08/25/us-news/cell-phones-stress-out-parents-just-like-kids-study-finds-constant-connectivity-comes-at-a-cost/ For more information: https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/parents-who-frequently-pick-phones-due-device-notifications-may-be-more-stressed

Jordan Fischetti, immigration policy analyst for Americans For Prosperity, assesses both the debate about and the policies related to immigration in the US. This includes discussions of both legal and illegal immigration.

Host Mike Ferguson assesses the ABC Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. * thumbnail image courtesy of ABC News via Youtube

The Conservative Partnership Institute's Hugh Fike discusses the current debate over keeping the federal government from "shutting down". Basically, the current spending authorization to keep the government running expires at the end of this month. The continuing resolution to extend government funding isn't generally controversial but the GOP addition of the SAVE Act has Democrats (and a few Republicans) opposing the plan. The SAVE Act requires proof of US citizenship in order to register to vote. For more information: https://www.cpi.org/2024/09/compass-the-save-act-is-a-fight-worth-having/

Depending on who you ask, Donald Trump is either the most pro life president in US history or he's unprincipled on the issue. Or somewhere in between. Suzanne Bowdey from the Washington Stand's recent article on his mixed messaging regarding abortion looks at the conflict between pro life advocates, conservatives, and Trump's MAGA movement. She discusses that in this segment. For more information: https://washingtonstand.com/commentary/trumps-abortion-pivot-sparks-outcry-this-is-wrong--and-we-cannot-be-silent-about-it

Chris Dorr from the American Firearms Association reacts to the news of the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia and the immediate call by some on the Left to enact more gun control laws. This discussion took place on NewsTalk STL and happened before the 14-year-old suspect's father was also charged in connection with the four deaths.

It's playing in theaters across the nation now: Reagan, the biopic about our 40th President. Marshall R. Teague plays Eduard Shevardnadze (USSR Foreign Minister under Mikhail Gorbachev) in the film and discusses his role, the effort to make a movie about Reagan that's fair, and the need for history to reflect Ronald Reagan's legacy - good, bad, and otherwise, accurately. For more information: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1723808/

Is there a stealth lobbying campaign designed to bolster climate activism within the courts? In this discussion, OH Skinner from the Alliance for Consumers details the work some environmental interest groups are doing under the guise of education and training for judges. For more information (National Review article): https://allianceforconsumers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Climate_Activism_Coming_to_a_Courtroom_Near_You___National_Review.pdf

Congress is debating two (related) ideas for regulating what happens online. Specifically, the question is how to best protect children from the ills of social media. That includes everything from blocking ads targeting children to the dangers of groomers and traffickers. Some of the complexity lies in the need to protect freedom of speech and as open of a marketplace as possible. In this discussion, the American Consumer Institute's Logan Kolas explains the proposals and what lawmakers should keep in mind before imposing new regulations. For more information: https://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2024/08/dc-journal-kosa-and-coppa-2-0-miss-the-mark-on-protecting-kids/

Academic freedom is important but can it be abused to the point of making taxpayers fund political activism? According to Rick Hess from the American Enterprise Institute, the answer is yes. Where is the line between respecting the right to free speech and making the public pay for specific opinioins and activism? That's the focus of this discussion. For more information: https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/scholarly-associations-gone-wild-stop-publicly-funding-scholarly-groups-that-trade-academics-for-advocacy/?mkt_tok=NDc1LVBCUS05NzEAAAGVMkC6wuPTheUgtt54HmBgxRLQLBex24qy1DJF8GvOagXLMOErmbUFatIkyy6qbF1ubyh1ZPgW1yQXl8dAUQhUXsoZJU7XyznGRKIJgOGd2szeBC5H

To some degree, there's one area of economic policy that find agreement with some Republicans and some Democrats. The problem is that area of agreement pushes prices up on things most people need to buy. In this discussion, the National Taxpayer Union's Bryan Riley discusses the effort to use tariffs (and other costs added to imports) and how that affects our cost of living. For more information: https://www.ntu.org/publications/detail/import-taxes-inflate-back-to-school-prices-2

It's one thing to understand the issues. It's another to understand how to debate those issues, which cam be divisive. In this discussion, Mercatus Center Executive Director Ben Klutsey discusses the campaign to teach civil discourse in America. Is there a place for that in our classrooms? For more information: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/teaching-civil-discourse-a-classroom-blueprint-for-all-america/ For More information: Mercatus.org