Heritage Events Podcast

At a time when some European leaders are seeking to build alternative structures to NATO and wondering aloud if Europe can go it alone, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has spoken out in favor of a solid transatlantic relationship, a robust NATO, and an engaged, strong U.S. presence on the continent. Romania has committed to collective defense, likely meeting the NATO target of 2% of GDP on defense this year, hosts an important component of the U.S. and NATO missile defense system, hosts U.S. troops and equipment at key Romanian bases, and Romanian men and women have deployed in support of NATO missions, including the ongoing Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, where Romania is the 4th Allied contributor. Romania’s geopolitical importance and value as a key ally of the United States is today perhaps more important than ever before. A crucial NATO member state along the southeastern flank of the Alliance, Romania has emerged as a regional leader, seeking ways to bolster collective defense in and around the Black Sea. Romania is also an important anchor of stability near the Balkans, a region where friction is bubbling under the surface and where the pernicious influence of Russia and Islamists have exacerbated ethnic and religious tensions. Join us as President Klaus Iohannis discusses how to advance U.S.-Romania national security cooperation. How relevant is Romania for U.S. security? How can we deter Russian aggression against NATO and push back against Russian aggression in the Balkans and Ukraine? What is the future of the transatlantic relationship, and what role should the U.S. and Romania play in it?

Emily Vanderbush and Tommy Binion analyze this week's activity on Capitol Hill, including former FBI directory James Comey's testimony before Congress. Heritage Foundation legal expert Hans von Spakovsky shares his perspective, plus Heritage tax expert Adam Michel on the state of tax reform.

William F. Buckley Jr. is widely regarded as the most influential American conservative writer, activist, and organizer in the postwar era. In this new biography, Alvin Felzenberg sheds light on overlooked aspects of Buckley’s half century career, including his role as back-channel adviser to policymakers, his intimate friendship with both Ronald and Nancy Reagan, his changing views on civil rights as well as his break with George W. Bush over the Iraq War.

Vietnam lies at the heart of the Asia-Pacific, a region that is facing immense opportunities and challenges in its economic, political, and security situation. In the midst of complex issues, Vietnam is working to find the best path forward to guarantee the prosperity and security of its people, and its place both in regional architectures like ASEAN, and in the wider community of nations in the Asia-Pacific and the world. Please join us for a special address by the Prime Minister of Vietnam as he outlines Vietnam’s views on issues facing the Asia-Pacific region, and the potential for U.S.–Vietnam cooperation.

The Daily Signal’s Jarret Stepman discusses whether Republicans can be the party of both Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson. Find out the latest from behind the bench with Tiffany Bates and Elizabeth Slattery, and listen to some of John “JV” Venable’s favorite experiences as a 25-year Air Force veteran and former commander of the Thunderbirds.

The Dalai Lama has long advocated a “middle way” – neither assimilation nor independence -- in Tibet’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China. It is an approach that has been endorsed by the U.S. government as the most promising framework in which to “support the aspirations of the Tibetan people to safeguard their distinct identity,” (in the words of the 2002 Tibet Policy Act) and maintain the U.S. position that Tibet is part of the PRC. What is the future of the middle way approach? What are the policy options for the United States? Join us for an address by Tibet’s Prime Minister in Exile and an expert panel discussion on the way forward.

The Trump Administration has made it clear that the slogan “Buy American, Hire American” will be a cornerstone of its policy agenda. For an Administration that claims to support economic growth and job-growth policies, this policy completely misses the mark. Domestic content requirements, like those found in the Buy American Act, the Berry Amendment, and various other “Buy America” laws, result in additional regulatory burdens for producers, and increased costs for American taxpayers. These policies also make defense procurement more difficult, and in many cases decrease choice for our service members. All for little or no gain: The policies are unlikely to stimulate job growth in target industries. Rather than strengthening “Buy American” laws, Congress and the Administration should work together to eliminate all such laws currently on the books. Such a move would result in more than 300,000 additional private-sector jobs (net) and contribute $22 billion to U.S. GDP. Join us for a panel discussion on the many complex and burdensome laws on the books that impose domestic content requirements. Following the panel, we will feature the personal story of a business that is already feeling the negative consequences of the Trump Administration’s “Buy American” agenda.

Tommy Binion, director of Congressional and Executive Branch Relations, gives a preview of President's budget. Also, Daily Signal reporter Kelsey Harkness discusses her recent coverage of the border wall in San Diego and her video series, "Underreported."

More than 2500 years ago a confederation of small Greek city-states defeated the invading armies of Persia, the most powerful empire in the world. In his newest study, historian Paul Rahe argues that Sparta was responsible for the initial establishment of the Hellenic defensive coalition and was, in fact, the most essential player in its ultimate victory. Drawing from an impressive range of ancient sources, including Herodotus and Plutarch, the author veers from the traditional Atheno-centric view of the Greco-Persian Wars to examine from a Spartan perspective the grand strategy that halted the Persian juggernaut. Rahe provides a fascinating, detailed picture of life in Sparta circa 480 B.C., revealing how the Spartans’ form of government and the regimen to which they subjected themselves instilled within them the pride, confidence, discipline, and discernment necessary to forge an alliance that would stand firm against a great empire, driven by religious fervor, that held sway over two-fifths of the human race.

Popular legend has it that before the Federal Radio Commission was established in 1927, the radio spectrum was in chaos, with broadcasting stations blasting powerful signals to drown out rivals. In his new book, The Political Spectrum, Thomas Hazlett, a distinguished scholar in law and economics, debunks the idea that the U.S. government stepped in to impose necessary order. Instead, regulators blocked competition at the behest of incumbent interests and, for nearly a century, have suppressed innovation while quashing out-of-the-mainstream viewpoints. Hazlett details how spectrum officials produced a “vast wasteland” that they publicly criticized but privately protected. The story twists and turns, as farsighted visionaries –and the march of science – rise to challenge the old regime. Over decades, reforms to liberate the radio spectrum have generated explosive progress, ushering in the “smartphone revolution,” ubiquitous social media, and the amazing wireless world now emerging. Still, the author argues, the battle is not even half won.

An important provision in Title IX of the Financial CHOICE Act repeals Section 619 of Dodd–Frank, otherwise known as the Volcker Rule. The rule’s original intent was to prohibit banks from engaging in what’s known as proprietary trading – that is, making risky investments solely for their own profit. Experts disagree over the impacts of the rule, and it’s a subject of debate as the House Financial Services Committee considers the measure.

Born as small appendages to the conventional armies of World War II, America’s most elite warriors – the Special Operations Forces – have grown into a behemoth of 70,000 troops, including Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, Special Operations Marines, Rangers, and Delta Force. In Oppose Any Foe, historian Mark Moyar introduces a colorful cast of military men with exceptional talent, courage and selflessness. America's Special Operations Forces have become the most popular members of the military. Yet, the public knows little about their seventy-five year history and the neither easy nor glamorous journey that they took to reach these heights. Presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama have championed Special Operations Forces, but their enthusiasm has often surpassed their understanding, resulting in misuse or overuse of these troops. Lacking clearly defined missions, Special Operations Forces have had to reinvent themselves time and again to prove their value in the face of fierce critics. Highlighting both the heroism of America's most elite soldiers and the controversies surrounding their growth, Oppose Any Foe presents the first comprehensive history of these warriors and their daring missions.

As a coalition of Peshmerga forces, Iraqi Security Forces and American forces continue to roll back ISIS militants in Mosul and beyond, numerous questions remain about the future of social and political contracts in Iraq. Though the impending victory in Mosul represents a new chapter for Iraq, with significance far beyond a devastating three year war, defeating ISIS does not end a crisis underpinned by distrust. How will displaced families, traumatized by genocide and violence, return to homes flattened by war? What political conditions are needed to prevent a resurgence of ISIS and inter-communal conflict? Can a political reckoning allow the Iraqi state to move forward? Kurdish political parties, meanwhile, have agreed to hold a referendum on independence this year - what are the regional implications? Masrour Barzani is the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and an important figure in the US-led Global Coalition. He will give insights on the anti-ISIL campaign; immediate and long-term political challenges in Iraq and the broader Middle East; and future relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq and the United States. Chancellor Barzani will also outline strategies to address Iraq's unending conflict.

Nile Gardiner, director of Heritage's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, discusses President Trump's first overseas visit. Also, Melanie Israel, a research associate in Heritage's DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society, looks at the state of play with Planned Parenthood funding.

The Mekong River – the “Amazon of Southeast Asia” – is one of the most important river systems in the world, politically, economically, and environmentally. Complicating this situation is the fact that several countries – China, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam – have a huge stake in its use and management. But not everyone has an equal voice in the decisions that affect 3,000 miles of river and 60 million people. Upstream decisions, particularly in China, have potentially devastating consequences downstream. What is the strategic significance to the United States of the Mekong? What U.S. policy options are available to address this emergent source of potential conflict in Southeast Asia? Join us as our expert panelists look at the future prospects of this great river and all who depend on it.