Defending Ideas

Hosted by Sutherland Institute

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150

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, by equipping listeners to become more effective champions of sound principle and good policy. Visit defendingideas.org .

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60 recent

June 16, 202647 min

The roadmap to restore trust in elections | Matthew Weil & Derek Monson

Election integrity is back in the headlines. But beneath the political arguments lies a more important question: what actually builds trust in elections? On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn is joined by Matthew Weil, Vice President of Governance and Bipartisanship at the Bipartisan Policy Center, along with Sutherland Institute Executive Director Derek Monson.They discuss California’s ballot counting process, why states should learn from one another, a new survey on voter confidence, and why transparency, evidence, and citizen engagement remain essential to maintaining trust in American elections.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.

June 9, 202644 min

Rebuilding trust in America's elections | Ben Ginsberg & Bill Duncan

Debates over election integrity have dominated American politics for years. But beneath many of those disagreements lies a deeper constitutional question: who should be responsible for administering elections? On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn is joined by Ben Ginsberg, Volker Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, election law expert, and former counsel to multiple Republican presidential campaigns, along with Bill Duncan, Sutherland Institute's Constitutional Law Fellow. Their conversation explores the constitutional role of states in election administration, the limits of federal authority, the importance of institutional trust, and why federalism may offer a better framework for addressing election concerns moving forward.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.

June 2, 2026Episode 14953 min

What the Declaration of Independence still teaches us | Jay Lapeyre & Lawson Bader

As America marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, an important question remains: what do the nation’s founding principles have to say about the challenges we face today? On this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn is joined by Jay Lapeyre, co-founder of the Free Society Coalition, and Lawson Bader, president and CEO of DonorsTrust, to discuss the enduring ideas that shaped the American experiment. Their conversation explores individual dignity, natural rights, constitutional self-government, and how a renewed focus on America’s founding principles could help reduce political division and strengthen civic culture for the next 250 years.Show notes:Free Society Coalition: The Philadelphia DeclarationDefending 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.

May 26, 202656 min

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 speaks with two Utah representatives, Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost and Rep. Ken Ivory, 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.

May 19, 2026Episode 14757 min

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 is joined by Joel Thayer, president of the Digital Progress Institute, Chris Marchese, founder and co-director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, and Sutherland Institute Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow Bill 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 lawsThe case for app store age verification to protect kids onlineFAQ: Utah’s app store age verification billApp store regulations are necessary, constitutional, and popularA deeper look at Utah voters’ support for requiring app stores to verify ageCongress should follow Utah’s lead on protecting kids online with app store lawDefending 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.

May 12, 2026Episode 14643 min

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 is joined by Bennett Borden, founder and CEO of Clarion AI Partners, along with Sutherland Institute's 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?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.

May 5, 2026Episode 14543 min

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 speaks with Sarah Isgur about her new book, Last Branch Standing: A Potentially Surprising, Occasionally Witty Journey Inside Today's Supreme Court. 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.

April 28, 2026Episode 14411 min

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 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 CliffsStranded by the Safety Net: How to Fix the Benefit Cliff ProblemSutherland Institute's Work & Opportunity InitiativeDefending 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.

April 21, 202654 min

How states can redesign the safety net | Aly Rau Brodsky

America’s safety net is designed to help people in times of need. But what happens after that initial help is provided?On this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn is joined by Aly Rau Brodsky, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, to explore how states can improve upward mobility and better support families. Their conversation examines the gaps in the current system, the “one door to work” progress in Louisiana, and how connecting social services with workforce development can help individuals move from temporary assistance to long-term independence and human flourishing.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.

April 14, 2026Episode 14231 min

Returning to principles in American politics | Josh Lewis

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, many political debates feel increasingly focused on personalities, parties, and division rather than principles. On this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn is joined by Josh Lewis, host of the Saving Elephants podcast, to discuss how to bring principled thinking back to the center of American political life. Their conversation explores the role of classical conservatism, the importance of grounding political movements in ideas, and how citizens can balance coalition politics with a commitment to enduring principles. They also reflect on the long-term nature of political change and why hope and patience remain essential for the future of the American experiment.Show notes:Saving Elephants: Defending Wonks with Nic Dunn (on Apple Podcasts)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.

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