Today, we continue our “meet the candidates” series and are joined by Jarrin Jackson, a young and philosophically grounded candidate challenging Rep. Markwayne Mullin in OK-2. Markwayne Mullin has broken his promise to serve only three terms. Jackson is unusual for a young candidate, not just from his life-experience as a captain serving in Afghan kill zones, but from his deeply philosophical and theological views.   Jackson discusses how he thinks we can pitch liberty and constitutional values to young voters. “Our society today learns with their eyes and thinks with their feelings. One of the responsibilities for conservatives running for office is to understand what makes a worldview persuasive to convert people.” He attempts to define what conservatism actually is before listing his agenda.   We also discuss how both parties are holding hostage our military in order to grow government, which Jackson believes is “immoral.” This is our fifth episode of “meet the candidates” at "The Conservative Conscience."  The first four episodes were with Chip Roy, Art Halvorson, Nick Freitas, and Chris McDaniel.   Show links My 2016 write-up on Jarrin Jackson Mullin breaks term-limit pledge My podcast with Jackson last year on Afghanistan

In this episode, we discuss why the betrayal from both Congress and the president is worse than you think. This was the last opportunity to promote a winning narrative for the November elections, and Trump blew it. But a lot of this is the fault of the “conservative” movement, which is bankrupt and is incapable of keeping focused for any period of time to demand that the president take the right actions.  We delve into the long history of the budget betrayal, beginning last year. We take apart the president’s talking points from his press conference and show how he is contradicting himself on the military and the opioid crisis.  We need a new movement that is willing to think deeper and broader.   Show links The political morphine of the conservative movement 10 worst aspects of the omnibus My 10-minute video rant on Steve Deace’s show

Today, we are joined by Dr. Kevin Wacasey, a successful direct primary care health care provider who has written two books on the economics of health care.  He offers practical advice for patients wanting better service and cheaper prices in order to combat the growing health care cartel. In this episode, Dr. Kevin draws upon his experience to explain how government created the corporate conglomerate practice of medicine.  Not only has this induced a price-gouging monopoly, it has degraded the quality of health care delivery.  We no longer have the best scientific methods dictating the best clinical practices, we have doctors serving corporate masters who serve the insurance cartel…who are bought and paid for by government.  The loss of private practice and the rise of corporations practicing medicine built off a government-run-and-created cartel, is the most dangerous trend in medicine.    Ultimately, Dr. Wacasey believes it’s up to patients to solve the health care crisis by utilizing this era of high deductibles to ditch insurance and shop around with resources such as Health Care Blue Book.  Dr. Wacasey is the author of two books: 'The Guide to Buying Health Insurance, and Health Care;' and 'Healthcareonomics 101: 500 Ways You’re Being Ripped Off By The Health Insurance, and Health Care Industries.’ He maintains a blog athealthcareonomics.com, and you can follow him on twitter at @HConomics, or at his Facebook page Healthcareonomics."   Show links Our previous show with Dr. Kevin last year (ep. 131) Insurance stocks beat the market by almost three to one Obamacare gave conglomerates a monopoly and destroyed private practice   Brand new data showing how our tax system is more progressive than ever

This week, Republicans plan to pass their last major piece of legislation for the remainder of the year … even though it’s only March! And unfortunately, the omnibus bill will be a bundle full of betrayals for conservatives. In this episode, we discuss the betrayal of the omnibus and how Trump’s only option is to threaten a veto. We go through the constitutional history of the presidential veto and its power to leverage a president’s priorities. So why is Trump so bashful about using it? It is the best way to fight for his priorities and salvage the midterm elections. Republicans refuse to address in this bill our immigration problems, which have been made worse by the lawless courts. The courts have actually gotten worse than you think, and we update you on some recent rulings. Finally, we touch on the big lies of the opioid crisis and how the refusal to properly diagnose it and understand its cause will lead to solutions that not only obfuscate the real problem, but exacerbate it.  Show notes The great big opioid lie Trump must use his veto pen or lose it  

Today we are joined by Mississippi state Senator Chris McDaniel to discuss his run for U.S. Senate in the Magnolia State. He discusses why he chose to switch from challenging incumbent Senator Roger Wicker to the open seat now being vacated by retiring Senator Thad Cochran and how this should bring peace to the intra-party civil war … if everyone stands by their stated goals of defeating the Democrats. McDaniel opens up about the successes and mistakes of his 2014 run and what he has learned for this battle. He responds to criticism from Governor Phil Bryant and explains how Mitch McConnell has his fingerprints all over the race. McDaniel also delves into the lessons he learned as a state senator for how to fight the duopoly in Washington. And the end, he touches on the paradox of running as a conservative outsider and how hard it is to raise money when everyone who sympathizes with the message in the state is scared to be associated with those challenging the status quo.    This is our fourth episode of “meet the candidates” at "The Conservative Conscience."  The first three episodes were with Chip Roy, Art Halvorson, and Nick Freitas.   Note: Daniel Horowitz worked at the Madison Project when the PAC endorsed Chris McDaniel for Senate in Mississippi in 2013. Show links How DACA-driven policies caused the drug overdose epidemic Republicans are giving us no reason to vote for them    

We are joined today by Rep. Jim Butler (@repjimbutler), R-Ohio, a one-man think tank on health care, to discuss the compelling narrative conservatives should be pushing on health care. Why health care? Republicans are about to get crushed in the midterm elections, and health care is the top issue. Yet Republicans let the Left get away with murder – quite literally sometimes – on the health care issue by ignoring how they empowered and monopolized a cartel.  Jim explains a number of ways government programs and interventions in health care have not only driven up costs but have destroyed private practice and degraded the quality and delivery of health care itself. He explains how Medicaid and the cartel monopoly helped fuel the addiction crisis with opioids. He also explains how open-border fanatics in Ohio are refusing to increase penalties for the worst type of heroin dealers, most often criminal aliens.  Listen to this episode and then ask yourself how Republicans would perform in November if this was their top message. Show links Why bailing out the insurance cartel is the worst thing we can do  The chart of Maryland “opioid” deaths that is worth 1,000 words Copyright CRTV. All rights reserved.

The next few weeks will determine whether Trump is a lame duck or Republicans have a narrative to win in November. The omnibus spending bill is the last point of leverage Trump has to enact his priorities, but unless he threatens a veto to bolster his leverage, his rhetoric is meaningless. Instead of defunding bad court decisions, Planned Parenthood, and sanctuary cities, Congress is planning to put in gun control, an internet sales tax, and an Obamacare bailout. And, of course, raise the debt to unimaginable levels.   In this episode, we discuss all the ways Trump’s good messaging is not converted into policy outcomes and how to change that. We also delve into a number of examples of policies where the political firefighters were really the arsonists who caused the problems to begin with. Whether it’s Dodd-Frank, Sarbanes-Oxley, ethanol, CAFE standards, school violence, drug problems, public safety issues with criminal aliens, or yes, even daylight saving time, it’s the very people who caused the problems who are proposing "solutions" that exacerbate the crisis rather than address the root cause.    Show links CAFE standards and ethanol killing our economy No religious liberty rights, but a right to someone else’s Twitter account Mexican president campaigns in California: How dual voting violates our sovereignty GOP is selling us out on the policies and narratives on guns and school safety  

To celebrate our 200th episode, we are joined by Senator Ted Cruz to discuss the important issues of the day and his strong showing in the Texas primary. Republicans had a better-than-expected showing in Texas last night, but there are strong indications that they could get swamped by an enthusiasm gap less conservative states. Cruz lays out a winning agenda for keeping the base as engaged nationwide as it is in Texas. He tackles the courts, immigration, regulations, and explains his conversion on the filibuster. Unless something is done with the de facto 60-vote threshold, Republicans will have no narrative to run on and will accomplish absolutely nothing. And as Cruz notes, if they have nothing to show for their control of government but a massive amnesty and gun control, they will easily lose both houses. Finally, the senator gives us an update on his fight for free market energy policy and explains how the EPA ransom being used to enforce the ethanol mandate is destroying jobs.   Show notes Analysis of Texas primary results

In our next installment of “meet the candidates,” we are joined by Nick Freitas, who is running for U.S. Senate in Virginia. Freitas (@NickforVA) is an army veteran of the Special Forces and is currently serving his second term in the Virginia House of Delegates. He has recently made national news with his impassioned speech in the state legislature, saying that Democrats have no right to call conservatives Nazis and segregationists and that when it comes to morals and violence, Democrats should look in the mirror.   In this very wide-ranging interview, Freitas reveals his philosophy on an array of important issues from guns and immigration to health care and foreign policy. He discusses the way he would message them and how he would serve as a voice for constitutional conservatives.  Show links “The speech” by Nick Freitas Nick’s speech on Medicaid expansion Freitas goes on offense after Democrats act offended by his speech  

It’s already March, and Republicans have accomplished nothing this year other than passing a Democrat spending bill, raising the debt ceiling, promoting amnesty, ignoring the judicial assault on separation of powers, and validating every Democrat narrative on every major policy. It’s no wonder polls show them heading for a wipeout in November. In this episode, we go through the latest on how amnesty is continuing because of Congress’ impotence in the face of the courts. We discuss how Parkland was a criminal justice problem, not a gun problem, yet Trump and Republicans refuse to launch this counter-narrative. Next, we discuss how the problem with our exports is not trade or imports, but crushing government mandates, regulations, market distortions, and the fiscal deficit.  We explain how debt crowds out investment both here and from foreign nations by incentivizing them to invest in dependency and Democrat votes rather than capital goods. The fiscal deficit, not the trade deficit, is also the bigger national security problem. We note how a sane conservative party could go one by one and show the American people how government interventions hurt consumers on every major basket of goods and services. It’s something we intend to promote with our bill of rights for taxpayers and consumers.  Next, we discuss how Mattis has gotten so bad on foreign policy that even H.R. McMaster now seems relatively conservative compared to him.  Finally, we close by showing how McConnell is using phony Senate rules to hide behind the fact that he is allowing Democrats to win on issues and not using the Senate calendar to our advantage.     Show links How McConnell is obstructing any positive agenda in the Senate Head of Centcom cares about Iraqi sovereignty, not American sovereignty Why the fiscal deficit, not trade, is hurting exports How jailbreak policy led to Parkland Ethanol mandate is killing the lifeblood of our economy    Copyright CRTV. All rights reserved.

Congressional Republicans are similar to some of the deputies at the Parkland shooting when it comes to confronting a political firefight, according to Rep. Thomas Massie, chairman of the House Second Amendment Caucus. On today’s show, we are joined by Rep. Massie to discuss his prescient warning last December on our show, when he predicted that Republicans would pass gun control without the agreed-upon right-to-carry reciprocity legislation. Indeed, that premonition is playing out today before our very eyes.  In a wide-ranging and engaging interview, Massie tells it like it is on the gun debate and what really needs to be done to protect our soft targets. He explains how the expanded background check bills will never prevent an attack and will only serve to strip rights away from Americans. He reveals that several employees of the VA have come forward to expose the problems with the NICS system and how it wrongly targets seniors and veterans.    Show links Our December interview with Massie

Conservatives are so focused on substance-less and short-sighted victories that they don’t realize how the Left is winning 50-year battles overnight, even as conservatives think they are in power. Nowhere is this more evident than with the courts.   In this episode, we delve into some recent happenings in the courts that demonstrate how the Supreme Court is purposely allowing lower courts to enact a tyrannical agenda against the law of the land. Nobody is willing to do anything about it. There are no words in the English language to describe the degree of insanity of district judges forcing an entire country to issue Social Security cards to illegal foreign nationals, but we try to best capture the consequences in this show. After this show, you will come away with an understanding of why simply “appointing better judges” is not working.  Then we outline some ways out of this morass. But that will require conservatives to wean themselves off their political morphine and feel the pain.  Show links Judicial amnesty is 'law of the land' — unless we stand and fight Judges forcing Trump to continue lawless environmental regulations of Obama SCOTUS ignores the Second Amendment   The budget deficit is really twice as large than it's being reported

What about the children? What about our schools? What about the tens of thousands dying from poison brought here by DACA and UAC illegals and their networks? Why is it that Republicans will only discuss and address what the media tells them to and refuse to launch their own counter-attacks? In this episode, we discuss how the Left is so successful at harnessing an atrocity to promote a political agenda that won’t redress the issue but ignores a very preventable crisis in public safety that stems from other countries' criminals. DACA and sanctuary cities are single-handedly responsible for the resurgence of MS-13 and growth of heroin and fentanyl ravaging our communities, beyond any other public policy crisis.  Show links Gun-grabbers don’t want to discuss Baltimore   DACA and sanctuaries causing MS-13 and opioid crises Testimony of officer Nick Rogers on sanctuary cities blocking us from fighting opioid smuggling  

Today, as part of our next installment in “meet the candidates,” we are joined by Art Halvorson, running for Congress in southwest Pennsylvania. Art has run several times against Rep. Bill Shuster in District 9, and because he had a good chance of winning, Shuster decided to retire. Now the seat is open, with several candidates running. After graduating from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1977, Art served 29 years in the Coast Guard as a rescue helicopter pilot, flight instructor, test pilot, commanding officer, and eventually as a senior adviser at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington. After retiring from the Coast Guard in 2006, Art went into real estate investment and now runs four companies that own and manage real estate around the country. He also owns a family farm. Art has been married for 38 years, has six children, and is a devout Christian. We delve into the need for judicial reform, and Art promises to make the legislature strong again. It is especially relevant as unelected judges are literally redrawing Pennsylvania’s election maps in middle of the election. Art also focuses on the need to fight the gas tax increase, and instead, return transportation authority to the states – an issue few on the Right are even familiar with.  Show notes The judicial emergency gets worse  Copyright CRTV. All rights reserved.

As we celebrate George Washington’s birthday this week (no, not all presidents), we examine the news of the day through the prism of his legacy and how he would not recognize the republic that he fought so hard to establish. In today’s show, we delve into the actual meaning of politics and public policy and distinguish what is and what is not a political issue. With that in mind, we discuss not just the mass murder in Florida, but rising crime in general and the desire of both parties to loosen criminal justice laws. We close with an update on immigration and how the courts have rendered the victory over legislative amnesty moot. George Washington feared an all-powerful executive, but he never imagined that the worst usurpations would come from what was supposed to be the weakest branch of government.     Key quotes  “His was the directing spirit without which there would have been no independence, no Union, no Constitution, and no Republic. His ways were the ways of truth. He built for eternity. His influence grows. His stature increases with the increasing years. In wisdom of action, in purity of character, he stands alone. We can not yet estimate him. We can only indicate our reverence for him and thank the Divine Providence which sent him to serve and inspire his fellow men.”  ~President Calvin Coolidge, remarks celebrating Washington’s birthday in 1927 Show links Calvin Coolidge’s tribute to George Washington 10 quotes that prove Washington would not recognize the country today Senate Committee passes bill to release firearms felons…but gun control!   Copyright CRTV. All rights reserved.

It’s time for us, as a movement, to take things to the next level or suffer a slow and humiliating political death.  In this episode of "The Conservative Conscience," we update you on all of the issues on which conservatives are being beaten down. There is simply no counter-narrative on the Right. It’s time for a new Contract with America that revolves around protecting taxpayers and consumers and that speaks to the hearts of many voters, conservatives and non-conservatives. And it’s time to get the candidates to sign on to it. We go through the lessons of the 1994 effort, how to build on it, and what issues and principles should be established.  Show links Illegal alien kills toddler in ambulance Time to abolish federal gas tax – the true conservative plan for infrastructure How chain migration is creating a permanent socialist majority  8 examples of eye-popping debt from Trump's budget proposal It’s time for the Forgotten Man Caucus  

Is there anyone left in Washington who will stand for the forgotten men and women of this country who don’t have a special interest representing them? One man, Rep. Jim Jordan, has been very vocal over the weekend, telling it like it is about the act of political adultery committed by GOP leaders.  Jordan joins us to discuss how leadership reneged on their promises and why this particular betrayal came at a time when Republicans could have secured a major victory with Democrats on the run. He reminds us that despite excuses about not having 60 votes in the Senate, Democrats are the ones who don’t have 60 votes … or the House and White House. So why do they get everything they want, every time? We close by revealing why this budget betrayal is the nail in the coffin to fiscal solvency and will condemn us to a Greece-style meltdown within a decade. Watch for the big amnesty debate in the coming days. Let’s not get distracted by the nonsense in the news that other conservative media use to distract from where they can really make an impact.  Show links My advice to the Freedom Caucus   The Federal Reserve interest rate shenanigans will exacerbate the debt crisis

Not only is the GOP-controlled Congress screwing us on every issue, it is doubling down on the very policies in each issue portfolio that caused the problem to begin with. Both parties should change their symbol to that of a firefighter engaging in arson. Republicans are screwing us on immigration. You won’t believe McConnell’s new tactic of introducing a blank bill. It is the perfect metaphor for a leader of a party who has no convictions. We delve into a host of health care betrayals and give a vision for free-market health care that so many conservatives are failing to provide. Republicans are agreeing to expand the very programs that gave the insurance cartel a monopoly to gouge us.  Next, we tackle the budget betrayal, which is worse than you think. Which brings us to a long discussion about Pentagon spending and the crisis of innovation to rethink our strategic vision in the world and how it will solve the budget problem, in which Democrats hold military spending hostage for increased non-defense spending.  Key quotes: “The cruel irony of the GOP abolishing the Budget Control Act is that they are now undoing, with control of all three branches, what they accomplished with just one branch. Then again, they are Republicans, and perfidy is the main plank of their platform.” "If you are a non-illegal alien U.S. citizen who doesn’t want a handout, just a fair chance in a free market, you don’t exist — to either party." Show links: McConnell would support dog manure if it gets 60 votes 9 US tanks wind up in Iran’s hands Pentagon magically loses $800 million My 10 observations on GOP perfidy GOP’s disgraceful retreat on Obamacare     Copyright CRTV. All rights reserved

In this episode, we explore the revelations in the Nunes memo and the broader cover-up of the Hillary email-scandal – not so much from a focus on the technical details but from the standpoint of the constitutional crisis that is confronting us. We now have progressives in all areas of government, but particularly in the unelected courts and bureaucracies, who are willing to breach all legal firewalls in order to achieve their political goals. The ends now justify the means. They openly thwart immigration law, maintain sanctuary cities, and set up autonomous “fourth branch” agencies seeking to operate outside constitutional charter. It would be bad enough to adopt an “ends justify the means” mindset, but the people who are doing so are simultaneously seeking to inoculate themselves from all constitutional checks on their ill-gotten power.    Show links Rod Rosenstein thinks he is above the law 

To review the SOTU and the opportunities with which the president’s successful address presents to conservatives, we are joined by Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., one of the brightest policy innovators in Congress.  We delve into ways to take even the less conservative policy ideas of the president and turn them into winning ideas, if only we had leadership willing to fulfill their campaign promises. DeSantis describes some of his bills and ideas for Congress to have a successful legislative year. He brings up the point that Republicans could so easily put Democrats into an awkward position by forcing a vote on making the tax cuts permanent. Later in the show, we broach a number of other political matters including the budget and ways to reform the filibuster. Finally, DeSantis discusses his run for governor of Florida and how he intends to make state governments great again with conservative policy leadership. Show links Ron DeSantis' campaign website How the president can follow up from a successful SOTU  

In this episode of "The Conservative Conscience," we discuss some of the news of the week through the prism of the GOP’s lack of consistency.  On immigration, Republicans have a chance to go on offense and keep up the momentum from the Schumer Shutdown, yet they are going backward. We continue the theme from last week on why Trump’s strategy on immigration is wrong. If Trump’s strategy was to show how radical Democrats are on amnesty, then now is the time to walk away. We also detail how chain migration is killing our immigration system and creating a permanent Democrat majority.  Next, we discuss how the inconsistency of the GOP on the life issue exposes the fact that Republicans only champion pro-life initiatives when they know it will not result in a meaningful change. The minute they have a chance to actually change the game, they drop the issue like a hot potato. Finally, we discuss the government covering up the failure and lack of strategy in Afghanistan and how this is hurting our ability to get our budget priorities straight, not to mention care for the lives of our soldiers.      Show links The facts on immigration that categorically disprove the Left’s thesis on the issue 6 reasons why the Senate abortion vote was a sham Pentagon ordering inspector general not to publish truth on Afghanistan

It takes a lot more than a vapid soundbite to understand the policy and politics surrounding immigration. This is why we dedicate a full hour to all of the angles the commentary class are missing about Trump’s amnesty proposal and his broader messaging and how it betrays every promise he made in spectacular fashion.  The key in politics is to understand the political atmosphere, the context, where something is coming from, and where it is headed. Get ready for a complete education on this issue that encompasses all of these elements.  Show links Interview with Mark Levin on Trump Amnesty Why 12-year path for amnesty will “morph” into 5

The convergence of so much positive economic news with the tax cuts, the Schumer shutdown flop, and the unraveling of the Russia scandal has given Republicans a second chance to plow forward with a winning agenda. In this episode, we lay out an agenda for McConnell and the Republicans. They can press their advantage on immigration in many ways. They can move back to repeal of Obamacare by learning the lessons of the successful tax bill. They can make the tax cuts permanent. They can unite behind rooting out the corruption at the FBI with the newly released evidence of systemic rot at its highest levels. They can finally end the dumpster fire in Afghanistan and use the savings to build up base defense rather than agreeing to spend more on non-defense in order to build up the military.   Finally, we discuss how the alt-left takeover of all western institutions, including the military, has created a dynamic where people in charge of important institutions are willing to break all norms, laws, and trust in order to advance their agenda. We discuss the military brass in the context of their disregard for facts on the ground in Afghanistan and Syria and how they couldn’t care less about the lives of the troops. Congress must reassert itself, and there is actually a bipartisan opportunity to change things.   There are so many important things to accomplish. The GOP will likely never get a second chance before the midterm elections to demonstrate leadership on these and many other issues.  Show links Majority of voters want less immigration McConnell’s opportunity to become a statesman   Schumer’s 3 decades of lies on immigration Military covering up pedophilia among Afghans    

When will we have a party that cares about the citizenry as much as Democrats care about illegal aliens?  In this episode, we go through the facts and myths of a government shutdown. We also show the enormity that an entire political party is willing to pull out all the stops for illegal aliens. We delve into some background on immigration to show how Republicans are failing to make the strongest arguments against this assault on American sovereignty by using some of Schumer’s own quotes from the past. There are some important lessons we can learn from immigration battles and chicanery of the past.   We also discuss the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. What does that have to do with a government shutdown and illegal immigration? Tune in and you will learn everything you need to know about the asymmetrical warfare between the two parties. Show links Amnesty documents still being processed during shutdown Schumer’s 3 decades of lies on immigration Schumer admitted in 1986 that amnesty was a gamble The tough love for the pro-life movement that some don’t want to hear  

In this episode, we kick off our series of “meet the candidates,” where we introduce you to those running for office who are willing to challenge the existing paradigm in both parties. Our first candidate is Chip Roy (@chiproytx), former chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz and all-around conservative warrior. He is running for the open seat in TX-21, spanning from parts of Austin and San Antonio.  We don’t just discuss the typical issues, but delve into the inner workings of how a conservative warrior can go to Washington and actually implement his promises. Chip has some unique and thoughtful ideas that most candidates don’t typically articulate.  Between not caring about re-election, using a smart inside-outside game to give voice to the forgotten man and the forgotten issues, and a focus on systemically reforming the role of Congress relative to the other branches, Chip is ready to hit the ground running.   Show links Chip Roy: The candidate we’ve been waiting for What a conservative caucus would do with the budget Nobody cares about deficits any more, despite record revenue