Here is what conservatives need to know this week. Every day new claims are made about our environment and climate change. In a new video, a Heritage policy expert explains the truth about our environment and what the government should or shouldn't do about it. Also, Heritage has a new report out on the real meaning of American citizenship. Plus, as the House gets ready to dive into defense budget discussions, Heritage has a new video that breaks down how strong our military is and what we could take on. Take notes, we have your conservative policy solutions right here. —Michelle Cordero

The truth about climate change.

“In the 1970s, Americans were told we were in a global cooling crisis and if something weren’t done, we’d enter a new ice age,” says Nick Loris, deputy director of Heritage’s Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies and Herbert and Joyce Morgan fellow in energy and environmental policy. “When that didn’t happen, a few decades later we were told that entire nations could be wiped off the face of the Earth by rising sea levels if the global warming trend was not reversed by the year 2000.” As part of Heritage’s video series on America’s Biggest Issues, Loris explains if the climate is actually changing, if alarmists proposals would work, and what the government can do to keep a cleaner environment for America. Watch the new video.

What’s the real meaning of American citizenship?
American citizenship is a responsibility and a privilege based on shared values like individual rights and equality under the law. “Regrettably, the meaning of American citizenship has become distorted by political interests,” writes Carson Holloway, a visiting fellow in American political thought at The Heritage Foundation, in a new report. “Principles have degenerated into slogans. We live in an age that venerates equality and is preoccupied with individual rights.” Halloway says that we tend to think of citizenship purely in terms of the equal sharing in individual rights. Keep reading his new report on how we can preserve and pass to the next generation the nation we have been blessed to inherit.

How ready is our military?
The Senate recently passed its defense budget bill. Next, the House must reconcile any differences it has with the bill before it moves forward. “Lawmakers must find a way to keep good items in this bill—and eliminate the bad—so the Pentagon can continue restoring the military our nation needs,” writes Tom Spoher, director of Heritage’s Center for National Defense. So what is the state of our nation's military and how much do we need? In a new video, Dakota Wood, a senior research fellow in Heritage’s Center for National Defense, explains the readiness of our military and why we are at risk. Watch the new video.

Kay Coles James, president of The Heritage Foundation, has a new column in The Washington Times. This week she focuses on why America is a nation worth lauding. Read the column.

This week on the Heritage Explains podcast, Dakota Wood, a senior research fellow in Heritage’s Center for National Defense, breaks down how strong the United States military really is. Listen to the podcast. (LINK COMING TONIGHT)

This week on the season finale of the SCOTUS 101 podcast, John Malcolm joins host Elizabeth Slattery to discuss the Supreme Court’s rulings on agency deference, the census citizenship question case, partisan gerrymandering, and a few cases coming up next term. Listen to the podcast.

Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Heritage will host two discussion panels about the Supreme Court’s 2018-2019 term. Learn more about the agenda and watch the event.

Romina Boccia, director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget at The Heritage Foundation, joined Fox Business’ “The Evening Edit” to discuss the tax impacts of the left’s policies. Watch the interview.

Dakota Wood, a senior research fellow in Heritage’s Center for National Defense, joined Fox Business’ “FBN:am” to discuss Iran’s nuclear blackmail. Watch the interview.

Marie Fishpaw, director of Heritage’s domestic policy studies, appeared on Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria” to explain why Congress needs to return it’s attention to reforming health care. Watch the video.

Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow in Heritage’s Asian Studies Center, joined Fox Business’ “Bulls and Bears” to talk about the violent protests in Hong Kong. Watch the interview.