America’s safety net needs an aspirational vision

Can a return to federalism fix our politics? | Rep. Ken Ivory & Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost

What if one of the biggest solutions to America’s political dysfunction isn’t electing better people, but restoring the principles of federalism? In this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/nic-dunn/] speaks with two Utah representatives, Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost [https://house.utleg.gov/rep/DAILEJ/] and Rep. Ken Ivory [https://house.utleg.gov/rep/IVORYK/], about the constitutional balance between state and federal power. They discuss polarization, congressional dysfunction, the role of states as laboratories of democracy, and why shifting more decisions to local communities could improve both governance and civic trust. Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org. [http://defendingideas.org/]

Who should protect kids online? | Joel Thayer & Chris Marchese

As lawmakers debate how to protect children online, a major legal and constitutional question is emerging: should app stores be required to verify users’ ages and involve parents before minors download apps?   On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/nic-dunn/] is joined by Joel Thayer, president of the Digital Progress Institute [https://digitalprogress.tech/], Chris Marchese, founder and co-director of the NetChoice Litigation Center [https://netchoice.org/team/chris-marchese/], and Sutherland Institute Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow Bill Duncan [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/william-c-duncan/] for a thoughtful discussion about parental rights, free speech, consumer protection, and the growing debate over App Store accountability laws. Their conversation explores the tension between protecting children online and preserving constitutional freedoms in the digital age. Show notes: * Why states are right on app store age laws [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/why-states-are-right-on-app-store-age-laws/] * The case for app store age verification to protect kids online [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/the-case-for-app-store-age-verification-to-protect-kids-online/] * FAQ: Utah’s app store age verification bill [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/faq-utahs-app-store-age-verification-bill/] * App store regulations are necessary, constitutional, and popular [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/app-store-regulations-are-necessary-constitutional-and-popular/] * A deeper look at Utah voters’ support for requiring app stores to verify age [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/a-deeper-look-at-utah-voters-support-for-requiring-app-stores-to-verify-age/] * Congress should follow Utah’s lead on protecting kids online with app store law [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/congress-should-follow-utahs-lead-on-protecting-kids-online-with-app-store-law/] Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org. [http://defendingideas.org/]

Are we thinking about AI the wrong way? | Bennett Borden

Many conversations about artificial intelligence focus on fear, risk, and worst-case scenarios. But what if we’re asking the wrong questions? Host Nic Dunn [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/nic-dunn/] is joined by Bennett Borden [https://clarionai.com/about], founder and CEO of Clarion AI Partners, along with Sutherland Institute's Derek Monson [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/derek-monson/], to explore how AI is already positively affecting health care, education, government, and family life. Their conversation examines the promise and risks of AI, the difference between regulating development versus deployment, and why Utah’s approach to AI governance is emerging as a national model for innovation and responsible policymaking. Show notes: * Utah & AI: Doom or boom? [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/utah-ai-doom-or-boom/] Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org. [http://defendingideas.org/]

Is the Supreme Court as political as we think? | Sarah Isgur

The U.S. Supreme Court is often portrayed as just another political battleground. But that is a fundamental misunderstanding of its role. On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/nic-dunn/] speaks with Sarah Isgur [https://x.com/whignewtons] about her new book, Last Branch Standing: A Potentially Surprising, Occasionally Witty Journey Inside Today's Supreme Court [https://a.co/d/08X8ZrkL]. They cover how the Court actually works and why it doesn’t fit neatly into today’s partisan narratives. They discuss the limits of outcome-based thinking, the importance of institutional independence, and what citizens can do to better understand and engage with one of the most important components of America's federal government. Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org. [http://defendingideas.org/]

America’s safety net needs an aspirational vision

America’s safety net wasn’t designed all at once. It was built piece by piece over decades, and that may be part of the problem. On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/nic-dunn/] asks what real progress in social welfare reform should look like and whether it’s time to rethink the system from the ground up. He explores how benefit cliffs and program fragmentation can hold families back, why states like Utah are already leading the way on reform, and how new approaches could better support upward mobility and long-term independence. Show notes: * State Innovation to Address Benefit Cliffs [https://www.aei.org/events/state-innovation-to-address-benefit-cliffs/] * Stranded by the Safety Net: How to Fix the Benefit Cliff Problem [https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/stranded-by-the-safety-net-how-to-fix-the-benefit-cliff-problem/] * Sutherland Institute's Work & Opportunity Initiative [https://sutherlandinstitute.org/work-and-opportunity/] Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org. [http://defendingideas.org/]