Here is what conservatives need to know this week. Every year, politicians continue to spend hundreds of billions of dollars more than the government takes in. In our new video, a Heritage policy expert breaks down the ways that politicians can reform their reckless spending habits and save America from a fiscal disaster. Also, Congress is getting ready to make a deal to raise the debt ceiling. We explain why this is a mistake and how we got to this point. Plus, Heritage has launched a new podcast for millennials by millennials. Take notes, we have your conservative policy solutions right here. —Michelle Cordero

America has a serious spending problem.
“With an economy that’s strong, that creates opportunities and grows wages, people are experiencing the American dream. But this dream is in danger of becoming the American nightmare,” says Romina Boccia, director of Heritage’s Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget. “Despite their promises to the contrary, every year, politicians continue to spend hundreds of billions of dollars more than the government takes in.” As part of Heirage’s video series on “ America’s Biggest Issues,” Boccia easily breaks down the ways that our politicians can reform their reckless spending habits and save us from this fate. Watch the new video.

Suspending the debt limit has been a mistake.
Last Friday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin asked Congress to increase the debt limit. News reports indicate that it’s likely lawmakers will reach a deal to do so by the end of this week. Paul Winfree, director of Heritage’s Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, says this is a mistake. For years Heritage experts have begged Congress to put the U.S. budget on a path toward balance before raising the debt limit. But “since 2013, Congress has ‘suspended’ the debt limit—effectively giving Treasury unlimited borrowing authority for a period of time,” writes Winfree in The Hill. “Meanwhile, some in Congress have considered eliminating the debt limit altogether.” Read Winfree’s op-ed on how we got where we are today and Heritage’s new report on how Congress should more forward.

Heritage launches new podcast series for millennials.
Heritage has a brand new podcast series called “Millennial Myths.” It combines “on the street” interviews from around Washington, D.C., with personal stories and expert analysis. What makes this podcast unique is that it’s created by millennials for millennials. Its host and producer is Samantha Renck, a member of Heritage’s Young Leaders Program. In the first episode of “Millennial Myths,” Renck asks young Americans about socialism, then debunks the myths with Daniel DiMartino, a college student who was born and raised in Venezuela. Three years ago, Daniel fled his homeland and its corrupt, socialist government. Listen to the podcast.

This week in a bonus episode of the “SCOTUS 101” podcast, host Elizabeth Slattery talks with Carrie Severino and Mollie Hemingway to talk about their new book “Justice on Trial: The Kavanaugh Confirmation and the Future of the Supreme Court.” Listen to the podcast.

Monday at 11 a.m., as part of Heirtage’s series on  "Free Markets: The Ethical Economic Choice," Ryan Anderson, Heritage’s William E. Simon senior research fellow in American principles and public policy, will discuss conservative social justice. Watch the event.

Wednesday at 11 a.m., Heritage will host an event addressing Asia's digital future. Featured speakers include Robert Strayer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy at the State Department, and Jonathan Fritz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Department of State. Watch the event.

Romina Boccia, director of Heritage’s Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, joined CNBC's “Squawk Box” to discuss the state and local tax deductions. Watch the interview.

Nile Gardiner, director of Heritage’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, joined Fox Business’ “The Evening Edit” to discuss how President Trump’s approach to Iran is working. Watch the interview.

Robin Simcox, Heritage's Margaret Thatcher fellow, was featured on MSNBC’s “Meet the Press” in a discussion on ICE immigration raids. Watch the interview.

Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow in Heritage’s Asian Studies Center, joined CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” to discuss North Korean threats against the U.S. Watch the interview.