Dec 07, 2020

Greetings from Washington D.C., where our local leaders have joined a host of politicians around the country once again imposing harsh restrictions on businesses, ostensibly to combat COVID-19. Heritage President Kay C. James has something to say about that. Meanwhile, our experts take a look at what America can do to actively recover from the economic devastation caused by the pandemic, and expert Hans von Spakovsky’s interviews about voter fraud soar on YouTube. Find out about all that and more in this week’s Agenda. We also encourage you to take a moment today for reflection and remembrance in honor of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms, as today is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

More Lockdowns Aren’t the Answer to Stopping COVID-19
As the “second wave” of the coronavirus continues and infections increase, too many politicians are reimposing harsh restrictions like business shutdowns, curfews, and home confinements. But the harsh reality is that these restrictions often do more harm than help. When it comes to stemming the tide of the virus, there are more effective things that our leaders could be doing, writes Heritage President Kay C. James in her latest column. “The answer to defeating the coronavirus can’t be choosing between our health and our economy. The answer isn’t either-or, rather it’s both-and. Our economic health has an incredible effect on our physical and mental health, and vice versa,” James writes. Read James’ full commentary to learn more about the more effective alternatives to severe restrictions.

New Report on How to Dig Out of Debt After COVID-19
The federal budget is at a crossroads. Where the president and Congress go from here could fundamentally redefine what America is and will be. Once the country re-emerges from COVID-19, lawmakers and the administration must pursue policies to dig the budget and the economy out of the hole. “The pandemic and its fiscal and economic repercussions should serve as a wake-up call for lawmakers to work with the administration to put America on a sustainable fiscal track,” writes Heritage research associate David Ditch in his latest report. Read the full report to find out what policymakers can do to recover from the economic trials of the COVID crisis.

Voter Fraud Interviews Draw Millions of Video Views
In just the last month, Heritage’s Hans von Spakovsky has raked in over 2.4 million video views for interviews on election integrity. And that’s just on Heritage’s YouTube channel. How has he done this? Simple—by working tirelessly to expose the real threat of voter fraud. One interview with Newsmax, where von Spakovsky discussed whether the Supreme Court will get involved in the 2020 election results, received over half a million views (click here to watch it). Additionally it brought in over 9,000 new subscribers to Heritage’s channel. Von Spakosky, a senior legal fellow in Heritage’s Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies and manager of the Election Law Reform Initiative, has appeared in hundreds of interviews since the election. Check out his interviews and subscribe to Heritage’s YouTube channel.

Heritage is mourning the loss of Walter Williams. “Walter Williams was an American hero. Born in poverty, raised by a single mother in the projects of North Philadelphia, a college drop-out, he overcame all types of adversity to become a nationally renowned professor, economist and columnist,” wrote Heritage President Kay C. James. Read her full statement. 

The Heritage Foundation’s innovative health care plan is receiving praise from several high-profile individuals and media outlets. Health Care Choices 20/20, a set of policy suggestions by a litany of health care experts to improve the American health care system, has been touted as an ideal conservative solution. Learn more.

The Heritage Foundation has been recognized as a world leader among think tanks. That’s why the University of Pennsylvania’s Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program invited a Heritage vice president to serve as a featured speaker at two of its signature events. Learn who was invited and what they disussed. 

WEDNESDAY at 3 p.m., Heritage and the Institute for the American Worker will host an online event to discuss safeguarding worker freedoms in 2021. Featured speakers include F. Vincent Vernuccio, president of the Institute for the American Worker, and Erica Jedynak, director of Economic Opportunity at Stand Together. Register for this event.

THURSDAY at noon, Heritage will host a virtual event to discuss how rapid self-testing kits for COVID-19 could be the answer we are looking for. Keynote remarks will be made by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. Register for this event.

FRIDAY at 1 p.m., Heritage will host an online conversation about how the Navy should meet threats on the ocean presented from China and Russia. Featured speakers include Geoffrey F. Gresh, professor of International Security Studies at National Defense University, and Rockford Weitz, director of the Maritime Studies Program at Tufts University. Register for this event.

On a special episode of “Heritage Explains," The Daily Signal’s Jarrett Stepman walks us through how the left is attempting to teach your children to see everything through the prism of racism and critical race theory. Listen to the episode.

This week, on the "SCOTUS 101" podcast, Zack Smith is back to discuss this week's oral arguments. Host GianCarlo also discusses the Court's midnight Thanksgiving order granting houses of worship a win against discriminatory COVID-19 restrictions. Listen to the podcast.

Heritage visiting policy analyst, Dr. Kevin Pham, joined One America News to discuss how COVID-19 lockdowns have affected mental health and how we can protect the elderly who are most at risk. Watch the interview. 

The left is attacking pro-life convictions and conservative women must stay strong. Read more from Heritage President Kay C. James. Email us your thoughts and questions at [email protected].