In The Tank

The impact of Charlie Kirk’s assassination has been felt far wider and deeper than many expected. Tributes have sprung up around the globe — from the UK and Australia to South Africa, Europe, South America, and Asia. Yet much of the media first misinformed the public and then tried to push the “both sides are violent” narrative, while thousands of online leftists cheered his death and desecrated memorials. What does this say about the moral health of our institutions — and the people shaping public opinion?Speaking of what’s wrong with our institutions: this week The Heartland Institute received a letter from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) clearly intended to bully. He’s demanding that by September 30 Heartland hand over any and all communications since Election Day 2024 discussing why the Endangerment Finding for carbon dioxide should be rescinded — after reports that Heartland influenced the Trump administration’s decision to attempt that rescission. Heartland President James Taylor has a simple reply: poun

Unspeakable horror struck on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah yesterday. Charlie Kirk, the founder of TurningPoint USA, was murdered by an assassin's rifle shot while he was speaking to a crowd of thousands. Charlie's talent, credibility, intelligence, authenticity, patience, and courage were on display for all to see to the very end of his life. He was a champion of liberty and a tireless patriot whose love of country was deep and heart-felt. More than that, Charlie was a devoted Christian and a loving father and husband. At the age of just 31, he left a legacy greater than many public figures twice his age.The assassination of Charlie Kirk was an act of evil. It was also undoubtedly a political act spawned out of the dark heart of modern leftism. We live in a country in which prominent media outlets suggested Charlie brought his public slaying upon himself. In today's media and political environment, anyone who vigorously differs from leftist ideology and Democratic Party talking points is

The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen recently collaborated on a poll asking voters under the age of 40 what kind of government they support. Shockingly, more than half said they would back socialist candidates for president — and even more favored nationalizing major industries. This reflects the same troubling trend seen across Europe in recent decades, where increasingly left-wing governments took hold, even with supposedly “conservative” politicians supporting leftist policies.On UNHINGED, we examine the case of a British comedian arrested for making jokes on Twitter, the broader war on free speech (even at the pub!) in Britain, and the looming threat of digital IDs. Join The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, and Chris Talgo for Episode #509 of the In the Tank Podcast. Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat!

Labor Day has long been claimed by socialists in the United States who pretend to be champions of the working class — but history shows they’ve never truly stood with America’s workers. In fact, socialist policies hurt the middle class and working poor more than anything else, and leftist “soft on crime” agendas only make matters worse.This week, we’re reclaiming the holiday as an America First Labor Day. Plus, we’ll talk about Cracker Barrel’s embarrassing backpedal on their woke redesign after massive customer and social media backlash. And we’ll cover how Trump’s energy policies are driving gas prices back down to sane levels, making this one of the most affordable Labor Day weekends in years.Join The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, and AnneMarie Schieber for Episode #508 of the In The Tank Podcast. Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat!

Just because a war is abroad—and between countries other than your own—doesn’t mean it won’t have impacts at home. In the USA, history shows that U.S. intervention in foreign wars increases federal intervention in our everyday lives; constant involvement in wars has led to much of the creeping expansion of our government over time. The whole world seems to be watching as Trump attempts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. We’ll talk about why it’s good for domestic freedom that Trump is resisting getting the U.S. directly into the war.On UNHINGED, Loudoun County schools are once again in the news—this time for suspending boys who complained about a girl in their locker room. Also, bank executives are beginning to point the finger at the Obama and Biden administrations for debanking conservatives, and some college students have apparently been exaggerating their progressive bona fides to keep attention off themselves in school.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and S.T. Karnick

We are only six months into the Trump Administration 2.0, and The Age of Trump is already in full swing. National Review hails his presidency as “truly historic,” outlining a laundry list of accomplishments he has already achieved. The left and right clash over what Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C., really means. Is this a bold reset of a broken city or a dangerous power grab?Also, California Governor Gavin Newsom is threatening a political counterstrike over Texas’ redistricting push, setting the stage for another coast-to-coast political showdown.The Heartland Institute’s Donald Kendal, Jim Lakely, and S.T. Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode #506 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and sound off in the live chat!PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSOR, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metalsCHAPTERS00:00 Intro5:01 Sam Altman's AI Nightmare Coming True?20:37 The Age of Trump46:30 The Federalization of Washington, DC58:28 Texas Redistricting and Gavin Newsom

Over just the last seven months, Trump’s administration has landed one blow after another on the administrative state and “deep state.” Most recently, Trump’s EPA and Department of Energy teamed up to announce a pending repeal of the greenhouse gas Endangerment Finding, which has allowed the government to regulate nearly every aspect of our lives since its passage in 2009.  Democrats still try their best to “resist” the Trump administration—either petulantly, like Cory Booker’s grandstanding, or through activist judges. All of it began with the Russia Hoax, which we are still unraveling.  Meanwhile, on the culture war front: Leftists are losing it over an ad series put out by American Eagle featuring Sydney Sweeney and a pun involving “great jeans.” They claim this is literal fascism, and we wonder if it’s another sign that “woke” is falling out of favor in media.  The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and S.T. Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode #504 of the In The Tank Podcast

A recent and highly disturbing New York Times article promoting the idea that doctors should expand the definition of death in order to harvest more organs is stirring up disgust and debate about utilitarianism and the role of doctors or so-called “bioethicists” in shaping medical policy. What is the current state of the organ donation industry and what kind of policy actually makes sense. How far is too far when it comes to medical care?Along similar lines, in this week’s UNHINGED segment, we spotlight another disturbing case: ex-CNN reporter Jim Acosta conducted a ghoulish interview with an AI simulacrum of a teenager killed during the Parkland school shooting—all for the purpose of pushing gun control.Finally, the Swedish Prime Minister is facing criticism for “consulting” AI language models for opinions on how to govern the country.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, (possibly Justin Haskins), and AnneMarie Schieber, along with special guest Dr. Heidi Klessig, will dive into

Ever wonder what happens when political spin meets reality? It's like watching a magician whose tricks have been exposed – suddenly everyone can see the wires!

Is America quietly shifting from a nation of property owners to a nation of renters? In this episode, we expose the growing forces behind the decline in homeownership—from skyrocketing prices to the corporate consolidation of housing. How is this trend impacting society and the political landscape?Plus, we dive into another urgent emerging issue: the rise of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and what they mean for your financial freedom.The Heartland Institute's Donald Kendal and Justin Haskins discuss all of this and more on Episode #502 of the In the Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and participate in the show in the live chat!

After losing the presidential election and seeing the administrative state’s efforts steamrolled by Trump’s agenda, the left is ramping up its calls to violence—and even acting on them. Just in the last week, there were two attempts on the lives of ICE agents, resulting in injuries and deaths. Likewise, real "color revolution" insurrection plots are being staged by ex-USAID employees who believe they are the rightful government of the United States—not the president. Also, an AI impostor mimicked Marco Rubio in an effort to gain access to other high-level government officials, and Elon Musk has expressed interest in starting his own political party.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and Sam Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode #501 of the In the Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and participate in the live chat!

On this special 500th episode of the In The Tank Podcast, the team takes a look at Culture -- from pop culture like movies, to broader American cultural trends like national pride. Is the dominant left-wing culture finally on its way out? Or are recent flops just a a hiccup in some eternal progressive march? Should conservatives even participate to try to influence it, or is it a lost cause?The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, Sam Karnick, as well as our special guest--the ever-popular Donald Kendal, will discuss all of this and more, on Episode #500 of the In the Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and participate in the show in the live chat!

Riots are once again breaking out in California, all the way to Chicago and East coast cities. The National Guard is on the streets of LA to handle violent protests against ICE, and it seems there is evidence that these multi-day protests are anything but organic. Similar protests are planned around the country this weekend, attempting to counter a military showcase parade President Trump has planned for the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. The media can't be trusted to cover it fairly, which leads to our next question: is the "knowledge" economy falling apart? The mainstream news media, academia, and scientific establishment are rapidly losing credibility in the eyes of the average person, and it may be well deserved.Turning our eyes abroad, Trump says he struck a deal with China on trade, we'll look at the good, the bad, and the ugly -- and the UK's Labour Party recently levied taxes that resulted very quickly in a nice demonstration of the Laffer Curve, ending in less government income rather than more.The

Join The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, and Jim Lakely as they dive into Episode 497 of the In The Tank Podcast. This episode explores timely and provocative topics, including the Democrats' ongoing quest to find their own version of podcast superstar Joe Rogan—can they cultivate a voice that resonates widely in the digital age?The team also discusses President Joe Biden's reliance on the autopen presidency. With Biden increasingly using automation and pre-scripted methods to fulfill presidential duties, what does this mean for transparency, authenticity, and public perception of leadership?Finally, they break down former President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." The hosts analyze its economic promises, potential impact on climate and energy policies, and how it stacks up against the Biden administration's previous legislation. Tune in for insightful discussion, sharp analysis, and engaging debate on today's critical issues.

The legacy media that half this country relies on to inform them about the world is irrevocably broken. For the past five years, they’ve lied constantly to cover up the biggest political scandal of the century: that Joe Biden has been in accelerating cognitive decline since before he was sworn in as president.Of course, it's worse than that. The media attacked anyone who merely stated that obvious fact, calling what you saw with your own eyes and heard with your own ears “misinformation,” “disinformation,” or even “Russian propaganda.”CNN's Jake Tapper is now promoting his new book Original Sin and pretending that he and the rest of the legacy media innocently missed Biden’s decline until his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last summer. This, like everything else the media peddles these days, is a lie. Tapper—now serving as an avatar for the entire corrupt media—says he looks back on his coverage of Biden with “humility.” That simply won’t do. The word he must use is “regret,” or “embarrass

The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen just completed another polling study—this one asking people how worried they are about AI and what should be done about it legislatively. To no one's surprise, people are worried and think the government has a responsibility to get ahead of it.We’ll also cover the way people can fool even themselves with AI, how some are totally outsourcing their thinking to it, what effect that has (or seems to have), and what the mass expansion of AI is going to do to the economy—especially in terms of energy demand and white-collar jobs. The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, S.T. Karnick, and Donald Kendal will discuss all this and more on Episode #495 of the In the Tank Podcast.

The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports released a new poll showing that 71% of Democrats support Elon Musk being IMPRISONED for his DOGE work. This insane position is held by 80% of self-reported "liberals" from the polling. The poll results were released the same day as this episode.This is sadly not very shocking, as we take a look at what leftist-dominated Reddit says about Elon in our Unhinged segment. We also discuss DOGE's work so far, including issues at the U.S. Treasury Department, and whether or not the pork uncovered by DOGE is actually being cut. It seems many representatives want the spending to keep on rolling along. The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode 494 of the In the Tank Podcast.

Spend any time at all watching or reading the news, and you may notice an odd trend in the Democrat party-- they seem to be embracing policies more and more that totally alienate the "normies," people who hold generally average views on social and political issues. Democrats increasingly favor extreme positions, like defending gang members and embracing ideologies that would have been universally rejected just a few years ago. Where it may end is anyone's guess, we try to parse it out here.We also cover anti-gun activist David Hogg's potential expulsion from the DNC, how Trump Derangement Syndrome apparently was the deciding factor for many baby boomers in Canada,  and a look back on Trump's first hundred days as President, part deux. The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode #492 of the In the Tank Podcast.

Tariffs are the subject of heated debate not just between Democrats and Republicans, but within the spectrum of right wing economic thought as well. Trump has announced reciprocal tariffs for every country on the planet, in an attempt to end unfair trade imbalances across the board. Some countries have already started falling in line, the question is, what will the end result for American citizens be?The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will discuss. Join us as we also discuss the staff purges at various U.S. health agencies, Tim Walz' weird Marxist comic book, the house arrest of Marine Le Pen, and more on Episode #490 of the In the Tank Podcast.

The 2024 election will go down in history as a radical and lasting political realignment in America on the right. The Republican Party of the 80s and 90s is gone, and with it the influence of past presidents and the thought leaders of the right. In their place is a new populism led by former Democrats who were driven out by radical leftists. But is this unusual coalition of former Democrats and populist writers and YouTube stars built to last?The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will discuss. Plus, we will cover the Supreme Court ruling on “ghost guns,” the defunding of American Pravda (NPR and PBS), and more on Episode #489 of the In the Tank Podcast.SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://donate.heartland.org/campaign/594169/donate