Dec 21, 2020

Greetings from Washington, D.C., where Heritage President Kay C. James shows conservatives how to take a swing at leftist bias in the media. Plus, lawmakers agreed on a $900 billion stimulus deal last night that includes more direct payments to Americans; our experts explain why this is the wrong move. And, Heritage.org unveils a brand new look! Learn about all this and some upcoming events in this week’s Agenda.

How to Counter Leftist Media’s Election Meddling
While there’s little doubt that left-leaning bias is rampant throughout much of the political media, is that bias powerful enough to swing a presidential election? According to a survey of those who voted for Joe Biden in November, it made a big enough difference to hand six swing states to the former vice president. But how can conservatives defend against this kind of meddling? Heritage President Kay C. James has some ideas. Read her commentary to learn how conservatives can and should counter the leftist media’s effects on our elections.

Americans Don’t Need More Stimulus Checks
Congress agreed on another coronavirus relief bill last night. This time, the deal is for another $900 billion and includes $600 direct payments to Americans. Given that Congress has already authorized $4.1 trillion in coronavirus-related aid, Heritage policy analyst Adam Michel and research fellow Rachel Greszler say more stimulus checks are a mistake. “The first round of checks were not a prudent use of taxpayer dollars and a second round would be even more wasteful,” Greszler and Michel write. Read their full article to find out five reasons why stimulus checks aren’t the solution.

Heritage.org Has a New Look
At Heritage, we recognize that the media habits and content needs of our audiences are always evolving. To serve you better we have made a few changes to Heritage.org. On our new homepage you will find a section highlighting trending reports and commentary, our latest video and podcast content, as well as articles that showcase our impact. Additionally, we highlight our training programs and other resources for conservatives. As we promised with our last redesign, we will work to continuously improve and adapt Heritage.org. We would love to hear what you think of the refresh. Check out the new homepage and let us know what you think.

Stand for Your Principles in 2021
We’re counting on conservatives like you to fight for limited government, economic growth, and personal freedom. Your tax-deductible donation will defend and advance your conservative values now and well into the future. Please give now, to start 2021 right.

President Donald Trump announced the launch of the President’s Advisory 1776 Commission, a group of 18 patriotic Americans who will work together to safeguard America’s founding principles. Mike Gonzalez, a Heritage senior fellow and author of “The Plot to Change America,” was named as one of the scholars that Trump intends to appoint to the commission. Learn more about the commission.

Monday at 11 a.m., Heritage will host an exclusive conversation on the China challenge between Heritage’s James Carafano and Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf. Register for this event.

This week on the “Heritage Explains” podcast, Tommy Binion, vice president of government relations at Heritage discusses the policy issues conservatives should watch in 2021. Listen to the podcast.

On the “China Uncovered” podcast, host Olivia Enos and Heritage senior research fellow Dean Cheng interview Gregory Poling on the maritime disputes and artificial islands in the South China Sea. Poling is director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Listen to the podcast.

“It’s Not Yet a Space Race”
Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow in Heritage’s Asian Studies Center, joined CNBC Asia to talk about the latest on China, Beijing's recent moon mission, and why the U.S. and China are at odds when it comes to our objectives in space. Watch the interview.

“Operation Warp Speed—the national initiative to fast-track the development of a coronavirus vaccine—accelerated the development process by cutting the slack while maintaining rigorous safety precautions,” writes Dr. Kevin Pham, a visiting policy analyst at Heritage. Read more from Pham on the recently released COVID-19 vaccine.

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