Jul 06, 2020

Good morning from Capitol Hill. We hope you had a safe and happy Independence Day. In a time when mobs are rampaging through our streets and monuments are being destroyed, we must do everything we can to stop the left’s agenda. One radical group has infiltrated the mainstream, going relatively unrecognized for what it truly stands for.

• This week, Heritage is revealing the truth about the Black Lives Matter organization.
• Heritage experts have also released a new report explaining the Trump administration's actions on immigration.
• Plus, we are rounding up the latest Supreme Court decisions and providing clear, in-depth analyses.

To learn more keep reading below!

Heritage President Reveals the Truth About Black Lives Matter
Our country is under attack from radical leftists. Mobs rampage through our streets, monuments are being destroyed, and the very law and order that ensures our communities’ peace and security is being undermined. In far too many instances, radical groups have hijacked peaceful protests to sow violence and division. One such radical group has infiltrated the mainstream, going relatively unrecognized for what it truly stands for. According to Heritage President Kay C. James, that group is the official Black Lives Matter organization. “One look at the BLM organization’s website shows that the idea of protecting black lives and seeking justice is merely a vehicle to advance a different, radical set of ideas. The organization is more dedicated to gaining political power and remaking America according to Marxist ideology,” James writes in her latest op-ed. Read James’ full op-ed to find out exactly what the BLM organization stands for and what America must do to stop its assault on our values.

Heritage Experts Explain the Trump Administration’s Immigration Actions
A country cannot remain an independent, sovereign nation if it is unable or unwilling to control its borders. With the immigration policy of past presidential administrations leading to an increase in illegal immigration, the rule of law and Americans’ safety have come under increasing threat. But how have the actions of the current administration concerning immigration policy affected this issue? According to a special report authored by Heritage senior legal fellows Charles Stimson and Hans von Spakovsky, and senior research fellow Lora Ries, the current administration has done much to reform our broken immigration system, but more work remains. “When read together, the actions taken by the Trump administration have been bold and decisive. The administration has made major strides in rolling back the bad policies of the Obama administration, has enforced existing laws as written, and has attempted to modernize and rebalance the way we attract new citizens by transitioning from a family-based system to a merit-based system,” the experts write. Read the full report to see Heritage experts’ detailed analysis of the Trump administration’s immigration policy actions and what remains to be done to protect our nation’s sovereignty.

Heritage Presents a Roundup of the Latest Supreme Court Decisions
The last couple weeks have been jam-packed with momentous Supreme Court decisions, with cases that have touched everything from abortion to immigration to religious freedom. While it can be hard to keep track of exactly what each of these decisions mean for the future of policy in our country, Heritage experts have been hard at work providing clear, in-depth analyses of each of these cases, including:

• Senior Policy Analyst Amy Swearer’s on the Rejection of the Louisian Abortion Law
• Legal Fellow GianCarlo Canaporo’s on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Senior Legal Fellow Hans von Spakovsky and Cully Stimson on Immigrant Asylum Claims
• Senior Legal Fellow Thomas Jipping’s analysis on Discrimination Against Religious Schools

Read these articles to stay informed about the latest developments from the highest court in the land.

The Heritage Foundation headquarters was illuminated in red white and blue to celebrate independence day. “July 4, 1776, began the foundation of a unique nation that would stand for individual liberty and the power of the people over their government. We are like no other place on earth,” said Heritage President Kay C. James. “That is the beauty of America. That is why I am a proud American.”

Heritage Foundation leaders were among presenters at this week’s Global Think Tank Virtual Town Hall. The meeting, organized by the University of Pennsylvania’s Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, brought together more than 550 scholars and executives from the leading think tanks from around the world. Learn more about the town hall.

The Heritage Foundation’s acclaimed Young Leaders Program recently launched The Academy, an online program for rising leaders. The program was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which required a shift to virtual programming. “We wanted to educate students, young professionals, and civic leaders on the principles of American political thought and the important policy debates facing our country,” said Helena Richardson, director of Heritage’s Young Leaders Program. “In just over a month, the program had over 400 applicants. It was amazing.” Learn more about The Academy.

Heritage is providing virtual event programming that can connect Americans with experts on key policy issues ranging from domestic and foreign policy, health care, the economy, and ethics and faith. Register for Heritage Events Live.

MONDAY at noon, Heritage’s Mike Gonzalez will discuss if America is doomed to repeat its history in a webinar hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Register for the webinar.

THURSDAY at noon, Heritage will host a webinar on how state legislatures can curtail governors’ shutdown powers. Featured speakers include, Carrie Ann Donnell, president and founder of American Juris Link; Robert Alt, president and chief executive officer of The Buckeye Institute; John Malcolm, vice president of Heritage’s Institute for Constitutional Government; and Jonathon Hauenschild, director of the Communications and Technology Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council. Register for the webinar.

THURSDAY at 2 p.m. Heritage will host a conversation on the implications of the 1619 Project for schools and families. The webinar kicks off Heritage’s “Education in America” Series and will be hosted by Angela Sailor, vice president of Heritage’s Feulner Institute. Featured speakers include, Lenny McAllister, director of Western Pennsylvania for The Commonwealth Foundation, Mike Gonzalez, a Senior Fellow in Heritage’s Davis Center for Foreign Policy, Lindsey M. Burke, director of Heritage’s Center for Education Policy, and Jonathan Butcher, a senior policy analyst in Heritage’s Center for Education Policy. Register for the webinar.

Here are highlights from Heritage experts on TV. This week they talked about wearing masks, mail-in voting, China and Hong Kong, and more. Watch the clips.