If you’re frustrated with politics, you’re not alone. But there’s a way to fix America’s broken political culture, and it’s more straightforward than you think. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said in his 2022 State of the State address that “if America is the last great hope of the world, then Utah is the last great hope of America.” That’s because in many …

Federal government agencies will have a little less power thanks to a new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. Will this be a good thing for Americans? On this episode, Nic Dunn talks with Deseret News Assistant Managing Editor and reporter Kelsey Dallas and Sutherland Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow Bill Duncan to break down the cou…

A question that often comes up in an election year is whether to make any changes to voting and election policy. On this episode we survey different approaches to the primary election process, with a focus on how to improve the voter experience and increase public trust. Host Nic Dunn sits down with R Street Institute’s Matt Germer and Sutherland I…

A new lawsuit is threatening to take away Utah's education choice program. But is the challenge on solid legal footing? On this episode, we examine the constitutional claims of the Utah Education Association's new lawsuit against the Utah Fits All scholarship program. Two Sutherland Institute scholars – Education Policy Fellow Christine Cooke Fairb…

Most policy debates about upward mobility cover things like education, workforce programs, or tax policy. Too often, they ignore what's actually the most important variable that impacts outcomes for the next generation: family. On this episode, Nic Dunn sits down with Melissa Kearney to discuss her new book The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans S…

Do parents have the right to know what their children are learning in school? Public school curriculum transparency has become a hotly debated topic in recent years. But there may actually be a consensus approach that helps make curriculum transparency broadly popular across the political spectrum. Sutherland Education Policy Fellow Christine Cooke…

It feels like there is very little common ground on most policy and political issues these days. But poverty could be an area where there is more consensus than you might think. On this episode we profile seven common ground solutions to poverty that should reshape debate about the health of the American Dream. Nic Dunn is joined by two experts fro…

Is religion's impact on society overall a force for good? Some say no. A recent survey shows that 40% of Americans thought religion’s influence was more negative than positive. On this episode, we explore new research that catalogs how far-reaching the positive impacts of religion are for individuals, families and communities. Sutherland Constituti…

College campus protests over the war between Israel and Hamas continue to make headlines. Do these protests stand in opposition to American principles? On this episode we discuss the proper role of formative institutions like universities, what the Constitution teaches us about the right way to express political views, and how to assess the recent …

Do you think you'll be able to retire comfortably in the future? This question is directly related to the ongoing debate over Social Security reform. On this episode we sit down with an expert to dispel some of the myths about the state of retirement today and offer a framework for how to fix Social Security before it's too late. Nic Dunn is joined…

Education choice has exploded in popularity across the nation in recent years. So why does it remain a contentious point of debate in some parts of the country? Nic Dunn sits down with experts in two states to compare notes on differing approaches to putting more power in the hands of parents to direct how, where and in what way their children lear…

It should be easy to vote and hard to cheat. This oft-quoted phrase has been articulated as a guiding principle by many elected officials wading into voting and election policy debates in recent years. So why has this issue been so contentious, and what’s the solution? Nic Dunn sits down with Justin Jones, executive director of the Gary R. Herbert …

Is raising the minimum wage a good tool to help low-income workers achieve upward mobility? That's the key question at the heart of the debate over California's new $20-an-hour minimum wage law for fast food workers. Economist Beth Akers joins host Nic Dunn to explore the arguments on both sides and explore the unintended consequences of this polic…

Most people would agree that civility seems to be in short supply in our current political environment. But in recent years, a growing chorus of voices across the political spectrum has been calling for a return to principles of civility in politics, as well as all areas of public life. This week's guest is Alexandra Hudson, author of The Soul of C…

Do we need to reinvigorate the conservative movement, and is "Freedom Conservatism" the answer? This week's Defending Ideas episode addresses both of those questions and helps equip listeners to apply long-standing American principles to what seem like intractable modern political and policy challenges. Nic Dunn is joined by John Hood, one of the l…

Is it harder to raise kids today than it was in years or decades past? For many current or prospective parents, this question may often be top of mind as they navigate decisions about marriage and family. Tim Carney joins host Nic Dunn on this week's Defending Ideas episode to discuss his new book: Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Ki…

Housing affordability is one of the most important issues for Utah voters, and for too many families, owning a home may feel out of reach. Amid rising housing costs, many Utahns are wondering what can be done to make homeownership more affordable. On this episode, Nic Dunn welcomes back AEI Senior Fellow and Defending Ideas Feature Contributor Beth…

With Utah's 2024 legislative session now in the rearview mirror, what actually passed, and will it benefit Utahns? Sutherland Institute was involved with legislation impacting issues including religious freedom, family policy, education and elections. On this episode, Nic Dunn sits down with Sutherland's policy experts to profile these issues and d…

Education has become one of the most polarized issues in state and national politics in recent years. The debates over what should be taught to students, and even the overall purpose of education, prompt an important question: What is the right vision for education in America? Rick Hess joins Nic Dunn on this week's episode to discuss his new book,…

What is going on at the U.S./Mexico border in Texas? After a wave of national news coverage profiling recent significant increases in border crossings, questions remain about the legal conflict between state and federal authorities over who is actually in charge of border security. On this episode, Deseret News Politics Reporter Brigham Tomco joins…

Should municipal governments be allowed to use ranked choice voting for local elections? The Utah State Legislature has recently taken up the question. On this episode we explore how this form of voting works and discuss new Sutherland survey data showing that most likely voters in Utah support keeping the option. Host Nic Dunn is joined by Josh Da…

What if many of the challenges American society is facing today – declining happiness, "deaths of despair," eroding civic engagement, insufficient upward mobility – all tie back to one major institution? Brad Wilcox returns to the show to discuss his new book: "Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civiliz…

Utah could strengthen religious freedom protections in a significant way during the current legislative session, with the passage of a state version of a "religious freedom restoration act." Sen. Todd Weiler joins host Nic Dunn to discuss Senate Bill 150 Exercise of Religion Amendments, which would create a higher standard in the law to prevent und…

What are the right ingredients for creating the best chance of upward mobility for the most people? Policy experts and elected officials trying to reduce poverty have asked versions of this question for decades. There's a strong argument to be made that Utah has the answer. A new report from the Archbridge Institute ranks social mobility in all 50 …

Sixty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson launched America's "War on Poverty." The goal? To equip Americans stuck in poverty with the tools to achieve success. If we fast forward to 2024, we might ask: Are we winning or losing the war on poverty? On this episode we explore why the national effort to address poverty started with laudable goals, h…

Pari Singh is the CEO of Flow Engineering NEWSLETTER SIGN UP: - https://www.joshuasutherland.com/newsletter/ TRANSCRIPT AND EPISODE DETAILS: - https://www.thesystemsengineeringpodcast.com/podcast-012/ EPISODE LINKS: - Flow Engineering: https://flowengineering.com/ - Pari’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parisingh/ OUTLINE TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:0…

Is work a punishment or a blessing? This question is often at the heart of debates about how to help people striving to get out of poverty as well as discussions on the role of things like work requirements. Utah has an answer to this question, and on this episode we explain why many other states are looking to Utah's unique approach to welfare and…

Are you better off today than you were four years ago? This is a common question voters hear from candidates during an election year. But on this episode, two economists ask that question, then try to answer it using economic data. They say the evidence shows that overall the economy is showing signs of strength, but there's a disconnect: Regular A…

Ivan Mactaggart was INCOSE UK President 2016 – 2018. NEWSLETTER SIGN UP: - https://www.joshuasutherland.com/newsletter/ TRANSCRIPT AND EPISODE DETAILS: - https://www.thesystemsengineeringpodcast.com/podcast-011/ EPISODE LINKS: - INCOSE UK (to be renamed IfSE): https://INCOSEuk.org/ - Ivan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanmactaggart/ OUTL…

As the policy implications of intact families gain traction in public debate, one positive impact of healthy marriages and strong families often gets ignored: civic engagement. This week, guest Brandon Dabling sits down with Nic Dunn to discuss how the institution of marriage and family impacts the civic health of the United States. Brandon is an i…

Public discussions of "the good life" usually center on things like a quality job, decent pay and other benefits that are primarily material. But what if – as a society – we're missing the things that truly impact happiness and human flourishing? Even when we discuss what's been described as America's "loneliness epidemic," too often the importance…

New survey data shows that a majority of likely voters in Utah support the concepts of the success sequence and approve of teaching them in schools. So, when critics still push back against the sequence – education, work, and marriage before kids – as one of the best frameworks for avoiding poverty and living a successful and happy life, what's the…

Debates about family policy often focus on an array of programs or interventions like licensed child care, pre-K or the K-12 education system. But all too often, the family itself as an optimal environment for the healthy development of young children – and a fundamental institution of civil society – gets left out of the discussion. This week’s gu…

Many public policy debates in recent years have focused on the concept of equity, and what impact race and ethnicity have on opportunity for the next generation. This week's podcast guest believes we need to replace equity with agency, as a more compelling – and more effective – vision to help young people of all races lead successful and fulfillin…

Rabbi Chaim Zippel was in Israel with his wife and baby on October 7, 2023 – the day of the Hamas terrorist attack. He joins host Nic Dunn to recount his experience getting his family to safety and react to the recent wave of antisemitism abroad and at home. Sutherland Institute Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow Bill Duncan also retur…

Marriage is often viewed as a personal matter that isn't usually included in public policy discussions. But a growing body of evidence shows that strong families, anchored by healthy marriages, are among the biggest drivers of upward mobility and long-term success for the next generation. This prompts the question: does government have a role in pr…

Roughly 37.9 million Americans live in poverty according to the United States Census Bureau's official poverty measure. By any assessment, that's far too many Americans struggling to get by. So a coalition of state-level policy thinktanks called the Alliance for Opportunity is working to bring that number down, starting with its goal of leading 1 m…

The U.S. Supreme Court began its new term in October, with several weighty issues already on the docket. Between now and June 2024, the court will review various cases touching on free speech, separation of powers, property rights and more that could be added throughout the term. Sutherland Institute Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow …

This week’s episode of Defending Ideas brings you another installment of our feature segment: Defending Enterprise, with contributor and AEI Senior Fellow Beth Akers. Beth joins Nic Dunn to provide listeners with a guide to what candidates for office in 2024 might say about the economy – and how voters can stay focused on policy proposals that supp…

Americans don't trust the news media. Polling data shows over and over that many Americans tend to believe the press is politically biased and not trustworthy. At the same time, it seems that our collective ability to engage in healthy, robust debate has also declined. Is there a link between diminishing trust in the press and the dying art of publ…

We often hear that the best way to prepare the next generation for a successful life is through a quality education. But what about another institution of civil society that might actually play a bigger role in upward mobility and human flourishing? On this episode we profile the recently created Utah Office of Families and show you why the best wa…

Trying to get out of chronic poverty is challenging. Sometimes, government programs designed to help can actually make upward mobility feel harder to achieve. On this episode, we talk with Chris Robinson, Graduated Circle Leader with the local nonprofit Circles Salt Lake. Chris shares what it was like when she lived in poverty and relied on governm…

Child care is frequently at the center of family policy debates in Washington, D.C. and in state capitals across the country. As evidenced by the Biden administration's proposal in April 2023, often the core focus is promoting broad access to licensed institutional child care as a tool to maximize parents' participation in the workforce. But the st…

Religious faith is often viewed as a source of division, and sometimes there's an expectation that people of faith should keep their religion confined to their private lives. This week's discussion shows that religious differences can actually lead to bridges of cooperation to solve some of our biggest challenges, and that faith has an important ro…

Debates about climate change, energy policy and the environment can feel very polarizing. These discussions often pit right and left against one another, while also suggesting fossil fuels and free enterprise are at odds with environmental stewardship. Our guest this episode is Rep. John Curtis, who represents Utah's 3rd Congressional District and …

Rep. Blake Moore of Utah's 1st Congressional District joins the show to discuss runaway federal spending and how to shift away from America's "debt culture." The congressman talks with Beth Akers, AEI senior fellow and Defending Ideas feature contributor, on our new monthly feature segment: Defending Enterprise. Show notes: Sutherland Institute Con…

Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah's 4th Congressional District joins the show to discuss upward mobility, with a special focus on the importance of options in both K-12 and post-secondary education, the role of the family, and how transportation and infrastructure play an important role. Show notes: Home - Burgess Owens (house.gov) Education and the Workf…

A Massachusetts couple's application to become foster parents was denied by the state. The reason? Their Catholic faith. Sutherland Institute Religious Freedom Policy Fellow Bill Duncan returns to the show to walk us through why the state denied an otherwise exemplary foster couple, Mike and Kitty Burke, and why the lawsuit the Burkes filed in resp…

Imagine you're offered a raise that, if you accepted, would actually make your family worse off. This is the experience of some families in poverty when they hit something called the benefits cliff. This "cliff effect" is triggered when a family's increase in earned income prompts a disproportionately larger decrease in the benefits they receive th…

It's common for voters to complain that Congress doesn't do enough on a number of different issues, citing gridlock and political dysfunction. But what about areas where it would actually be better if Congress did less? On this episode, we discuss why education has become such a polarized issue, and why Congress is ill-suited to make real progress …