The Ripon Society Policy and Politics Series Podcast

Senator Capito Discusses Legislative Sprint to the Finish on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, DC, December 11, 2019 – The Ripon Society hosted a breakfast discussion with U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), who discussed not only the sprint to the finish currently underway on Capitol Hill to wrap up legislative business before the end of the year, but what she’s hearing from the people she represents back home.

Businessman & Author Hank Meijer Discusses Life of Late Senator and the Lessons for Today

WASHINGTON, DC – “Arthur Vandenberg may be the most important political figure of the 20th century for whom there was no biography” says Hank Meijer, who recently authored the long-overdue narrative of one of the most influential Senators of the twentieth century. Though he is otherwise known for his role as executive chairman of the Midwestern grocery chain Meijer, in 2017 Hank Meijer published his second book, Arthur Vandenberg: The Man in the Middle of the American Century. Meijer inherited the papers of a “would-be biographer”, which he says gave him “a sense of mission” to complete the biography over the next twenty-plus years. Meijer joined The Ripon Society on Wednesday of last week to discuss his recent publication and what he’s learned of former U.S. Senator Vandenberg’s character.

Upton and Walden Look at the Future of American Health Care Innovation

WASHINGTON, DC November 20– In remarks before a breakfast meeting of The Ripon Society, U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (MI-6) and Greg Walden (OR-2) talked about the current state of health care policy in America, and what Congress can do to promote innovation.

Blackburn Pushes for Action on Expanding Rural Broadband

WASHINGTON, DC October 23 —Although the 21st century has ushered in a new age of information sharing and interconnectivity, some communities have been left behind. Lack of access to broadband internet plagues millions of Americans living in rural areas, and one leader in the Congress is working to close the gap for constituents across her state. The leader is U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who appeared before The Ripon Society yesterday morning for a breakfast discussion focusing on her efforts to expand rural broadband. She began her remarks by explaining why high-speed internet access is so important to these communities.

Veteran Strategist Ed Goeas Discusses Political Landscape Heading Into 2020

WASHINGTON, DC — With the 2020 election just over a year away, The Ripon Society hosted a luncheon discussion on Monday with veteran pollster, President & CEO of The Tarrance Group, Ed Goeas. Among other things, Goeas discussed the results of a recent poll he conducted on behalf of Georgetown University and what it means for next year’s election. The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 — Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.