Mar 14, 2022

On the Agenda: The Biden administration hopes people will blame Russia for the astronomical prices they’re paying for gas. We explain why Biden’s policies are largely to blame, not just for pain at the pump, but the troubling rise in overall inflation. We also look at the lessons China is learning from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and why Biden’s plan to restart the Iran nuke deal is a terrible idea. There are podcasts, events, and more in this week’s Agenda.

Biden’s Policies Are to Blame for Skyrocketing Gas Prices

At the pump: Gasoline prices have reached record highs across the U.S., putting an enormous burden on all Americans.

Looking for blame in all the wrong places: Oil companies. Putin. Anyone but the Biden administration. That’s who President Joe Biden blames for this crisis. In truth, his administration’s clampdown on oil production set the stage for this crisis long before the war in Ukraine.

What to do: If Biden truly cares about Americans who are struggling with high prices, he should act now. “To start, this administration could immediately hold lease sales on federal lands—including in ANWR—and waters for new oil and gas exploration, suspend the Jones Act, and provide regulatory relief under the Renewable Fuels Standard,” writes Heritage President Kevin Roberts.

Learn more: Read Roberts’ full statement on the crisis here. Learn more about the administration’s sanctions on Russian oil here.

Rising Inflation: Another Tax on Working Americans

In the news: Prices aren’t just spiking for gasoline. Overall inflation is the highest it’s been since 1982, and it’s climbing. Families now face an average $480 increase in monthly costs, outweighing wage gains.

The cause: A combination of things is driving the surge in prices, and all of those things are Biden administration policies, from reckless federal spending to printing more money.

The solution: “Instead of ramming through a massive omnibus spending bill that doesn’t take any inflation pressure off American families, lawmakers should put forth a more sober plan that cuts federal spending and gets rid of regulations that are holding back our economy,” writes Heritage research fellow Joel Griffith.

Learn more: Read Griffith’s full statement here.

What China Is Learning from Putin’s Ukraine Invasion

Not what they expected: If Chinese President Xi Jinping hoped for a quick Russian victory over Ukraine and a demoralized and divided NATO, he must be very disappointed.

Shock to the system: “The resistance in Ukraine,” writes James Carafano, vice president of Heritage’s Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, “has stirred some buried truth in the West, like being dead asleep and then shocked awake—a reminder that if we don’t defend our freedom, safety and prosperity, no one will.”

An unexpected lesson: This may persuade China that now isn’t the time to move on Taiwan, Carafano says. Read more about the lessons China is learning here.

4 Reasons Why Renewing the Iran Nuclear Deal Is a Bad Idea

In the news: After months of negotiations, the Biden administration may be on the verge of restarting the seriously flawed Iran nuclear deal that the Trump administration rightly put the kibosh on.

The problem: The deal would put money in Iran’s pocket while failing to stop its production of nuclear weapons.

What the experts say: There are four big reasons why the U.S. should prevent Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism, from obtaining nuclear weapons, write Heritage senior research fellows Peter Brookes and James Phillips.

Learn more: Find out what those four reasons are here.

DID YOU KNOW?

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On the air: Heritage experts have dominated cable airwaves over the past few weeks discussing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They have done more than 250 broadcast interviews, covering the invasion from many angles: China’s role in the crisis, the possible fallout of Russia’s talk of using nuclear weapons and its recent assault on nuclear energy facilities, and the Biden administration’s efforts to block a transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine. Watch their interviews.

The Great Promise of Closer U.S.-Somaliland Ties: An Address by H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi, Monday, 11 a.m. ET. Featured speakers include:

• H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi, president of the Republic of Somaliland
• Joshua Meservey, Heritage senior policy analyst for Africa and the Middle East

Register for this event

The 2022 B.C. Lee Lecture featuring Mike Pompeo, Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET. Pompeo, distinguished fellow of the Hudson Institute and 70th U.S. secretary of state, will discuss U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific.

Register for this event

“The Kevin Roberts Show”: Journalist Julio Rosas, author of “Fiery But Mostly Peaceful: The 2020 Riots and Media Gaslighting of America,” shares his insights on the consequences of media malpractice. Listen to the episode.

“Heritage Explains”: Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow in Heritage’s Asian Studies Center explains why China is watching Ukraine closely. Listen to the episode.

John Venable, a senior research fellow in Heritage’s Center for National Defense, joined ”Fox News @ Night” to discuss Ukraine’s fighter jet requests. Watch the interview.

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Email us your thoughts and questions at [email protected].