Jul 19, 2021

Greetings from Washington, D.C., which is 1,197 miles from Havana, Cuba, where Cubans yearning to breathe free staged massive protests. Our experts look at what it means and why we should support the Cuban people. We also feature a new animated series that makes it easy to understand the federal budget crisis. And we explain how Congressional Democrats' reckless spending plan would fuel inflation and increase government dependency. There are lots of events, podcasts, and more to check out as well in this week’s Agenda.

Unprecedented Protests in Cuba Deserve America’s Support
For the first time in 62 years, the people of Cuba have taken to the streets to demand freedom from communist oppression. They deserve America’s unstinting support. “The struggle of the people of Cuba this July reminds us once again that we should defeat the effort to install Marxism on our shores, especially in our schools and places of work through critical race theory,” write James Carafano, vice president of Heritage's Davis Institute and E.W. Richardson fellow, and Mike Gonzalez, Angeles T. Arredondo E Pluribus Unum senior fellow. Read their latest commentary to learn more about how and why America should support the Cuban protests.

New Heritage Video Series Exposes Runaway Government Spending
Heritage released the second of five animated shorts that explain the nation’s budget crisis in an entertaining, easy-to-understand way. The series, called “Road Trip on a Budget,” was produced in collaboration with Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. The newest episode focuses on the so-called debt ceiling. Scott says constantly raising the debt ceiling “is like calling your bank and just upping your line of credit every time you’re close to maxing out a credit card.” Watch the latest episode of “Road Trip on a Budget.”

Democrats’ Budget Plan Will Stoke Inflation and Boost Dependency
Senate Democrats reached a deal last week on a budget resolution with a whopping $3.5 trillion price tag. This new spending spree would not only fuel inflation but would make Americans more dependent on government than ever. “The spending will be used to create an unprecedented cradle-to-grave welfare state,” said Heritage policy analyst David Ditch. "It is urgent that Congress avoid such a radical step toward socialism and centralized federal power.” Read the full statements from Ditch and other Heritage experts to learn more about the harmful implications of this mammoth budget resolution.

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Former Vice President Mike Pence, a Heritage distinguished visiting fellow, gave the annual B.C. Lee lecture this past Wednesday. He discussed the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party, the U.S.-China relationship under the Biden administration, and steps the Biden administration must take to confront the China challenge. Watch the lecture or read the transcript of his remarks.

How Gender Ideology Undermines Title IX, Monday at noon. Featured speakers include DeVos Center director Emilie Kao and Meese Center legal fellow Sarah Parshall Perry. Register for this virtual event.

Restoring U.S. Leadership In Patent Law and Innovation, Tuesday at noon. Featured speakers include former chief judge at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Paul Michel, visiting intellectual property fellow Adam Mossoff, and Qualcomm senior vice president and counsel for government affairs Laurie Self. Register for this event in-person and virtually.

Why Columbia’s Violent Protests Matter to the U.S., Tuesday at 2 p.m. Featured speakers include Center for a Secure Free Society executive director Joseph M. Humire and National Defense University professor Celina B. Realuyo. Register for this virtual event.

30-Minute Policy Pulse: Keeping Children Safe at School, Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Featured speakers include Heritage’s Will Skillman fellow in education Jonathan Butcher and American Enterprise Institute research fellow Max Eden. Register for this virtual event.

30-Minute Policy Pulse: Enhancing Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Featured speakers include nuclear deterrence and missile defense policy analyst Patty-Jane Geller and naval warfare and advanced technology senior fellow Brent Sadler. Register for this virtual event.

Getting More Out of Our Defense Dollars, Friday at 11:00 a.m. Featured speakers include Naval Postgraduate School senior lecturer Philip Candreva and George Mason University senior fellow Eric Lofgren. Register for this virtual event.

This week on “Heritage Explains,” Jarrett Stepman, a contributor to The Daily Signal, talks about why Cubans are protesting and what Americans should learn from it. Listen to the episode.

He Fled Cuba at 12; Here's His Message to Biden
Cuban-born Mike Gonzalez, Heritage’s Angeles T. Arredondo E Pluribus Unum senior fellow, joined Fox Business to discuss the unprecedented protests against Cuba's communist regime.

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