American Heroes with Kathy Hoekstra

Josh Sabey and Sarah Perkins: The Government Took Their Children Without a Warrant

When their infant son developed a fever, Josh Sabey and Sarah Perkins rushed him to the emergency room. Just 36 hours later, child welfare and police officers arrived at their home at 1 a.m. and removed their two young children—without a warrant or court order. On this episode of American Heroes, Josh and Sarah share the devastating impact of that night, their fight to reunite their family, and why they chose to challenge the government's actions in court. Their case raises important questions about parental rights, due process, and the constitutional protections every family should be able to rely on.

Dr. Sean McBride: Is a doctor’s call a crime?

Is a doctor’s call a crime? Can a doctor be punished just for speaking with their patient across state lines? Dr. Sean McBride joins American Heroes to discuss his challenge to California’s telehealth restrictions, which treat even routine virtual consultations as the “practice of medicine” requiring in-state licensure—turning follow-up care into a legal risk.

John Morgan: When the Government Wipes Out Your Property—and Your Family Legacy—Overnight

When a California law shuts down access to oil and gas, John Morgan’s family loses more than income—they lose a legacy nearly a century in the making. In this episode of American Heroes, John shares how SB 1137 wiped out the value of his property overnight and what his fight says about the future of property rights in America.

Eva St. Clair and Rebecca Melsky: Beating Illegal Tariffs

Small business owners Eva St. Clair and Rebecca Melsky know the real impact of tariffs—because they lived it. In this episode of American Heroes with Kathy Hoekstra, they share how their companies, Princess Awesome and Boy Wonder, were destabilized by unpredictable presidential tariffs—and how their courage in joining Princess Awesome & Stonemaier Games v. Customs helped secure a landmark Supreme Court ruling reaffirming that only Congress—not the president—can impose such taxes. Hear their personal story of struggle, triumph, and the fight to reclaim what was taken, and discover how standing up for constitutional limits can protect small businesses everywhere.

Christina Martin: Fighting for Homeowners’ Rights

In this episode of American Heroes, host Kathy Hoekstra sits down with Pacific Legal Foundation Senior Attorney Christina Martin to examine the fight against home equity theft—when local governments seize far more than a homeowner owes in taxes. The conversation centers on Pung v. Isabella County [https://pacificlegal.org/case/pung-isabella-county-home-equity-theft/], a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court, where a Michigan family lost their nearly $200,000 home over a $1,600 tax that never should have been imposed. The county sold the home at a steep discount and kept the proceeds, wiping out the family’s equity. Christina explains why cases like this represent an excessive and unconstitutional punishment, and how a win for the Pungs could set a nationwide precedent protecting homeowners from unfair government takings. Drawing on her decade-long career—and prior unanimous victories at both the Michigan Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court—Christina highlights why defending property rights is essential to protecting everyday Americans from government overreach.