A weekly roundup of news, commentary, research, events, and more
from The Heritage Foundation.
Aug 29, 2022
Biden’s Student Loan Bailout Is a Slap in the Face
In the news: President Joe Biden announced he is committed to “canceling” thousands of dollars of unpaid student loans, and forcing working Americans to pay off those loans instead.


- The administration will cancel up to $20,000 in debt for Pell Grant holders and up to $10,000 for all other debt holders who earn less than $125,000 a year.



When helping hurts: Debt holders are no doubt tempted to rejoice over this move, but the truth of the matter is that canceling student loan debt actually hurts everyone in the long run.


- It’s a slap in the face <[link removed]> to every college student who made personal sacrifices in order to pay off their loans already—and those who made financially responsible decisions to minimize their debt load.
- It places the burden of these loans on all taxpayers—including those who never went to college <[link removed]>.
- In the long run, this move will worsen the already terrible inflation crisis in our country and encourage colleges to hike tuition even higher.
- Perhaps most importantly, canceling student loans in this way is actually unlawful, according to Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “The president can’t do it. That’s not even a discussion.”



Learn more: Read more about why “canceling” student loan debt hurts far more than it helps here <[link removed]>.
Fauci Is Stepping Down, and None Too Soon
The end is in sight: Dr. Anthony Fauci is stepping down from his position at the National Institute for Health in December, bringing an end to his disastrous tenure as chief medical adviser to President Biden.


- “The net of his actions during the last two-and-a-half years has been tremendously damaging to the health and well-being of Americans—and, in fact, people around the world who followed his policy direction on lockdowns. And I think will be an enormous part of his legacy,” said Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a professor of medicine at Stanford University and one of the authors of the Great Barrington Declaration.



The death of expertise: Fauci’s legacy is one of lives lost and businesses destroyed in the name of ideology thinly veiled as science. It’s also a legacy of newfound distrust <[link removed]> in American institutions of health and wellness


- “His actions and attitude have only drawn public attention to the rot and illegitimacy of American institutions, institutions that have squandered their reputations in the name of revolution,” writes Daily Signal columnist Jarrett Stepman.



Learn more: Read more about Fauci’s disastrous legacy from The Daily Signal here <[link removed]>.
Back to School Means Back to Fighting the Woke Agenda
It’s that time of year: Students across the country, from elementary school to university, are headed back to the classroom. While that should signal another round of quality education, for many students and families it means contending with woke indoctrination.


- Many schools continue to push radical gender ideology and curricula based on critical race theory in the classroom, cultivating division, confusion, and even the sexualization of young students.
- Those schools that won’t bow to leftists’ demands are ruthlessly targeted <[link removed]> by the corporate media for adhering to traditional values and classic approaches to education.



How parents can fight back, and win: Taking on a thoroughly corrupt education system can feel thoroughly overwhelming, especially with stakes as high as your children’s education and wellbeing. Thankfully, Jill Simonian, director of outreach for PragerU Kids, lays out some practical, effective tools that parents can use to do just that on a new episode of “The Daily Signal Podcast.”

Learn more: Find out all about those practical tools for fighting back here <[link removed]>.
ALWAYS ON OFFENSE
Heritage’s Pressure Makes District of Columbia Delay Vaccine Mandate for Schoolchildren
Fighting for children: Until last Friday, the District of Columbia did not appear to have a contingency plan for unvaccinated students ages 12 and older, who had been banned from attending schools this fall after the first 20 days. Daily Signal reporter Doug Blair’s article exposing this went viral <[link removed]>, and D.C. delayed this mandate until January 2023.

Learn more: Read more about this victory here <[link removed]>.
Heritage’s Solutions Journal Achieves National Recognition
What’s new: Graphic Design USA honored <[link removed]> the new iteration of Heritage’s Solutions Journal—a publication designed to educate candidates and members of Congress—with its award for journals and publications.

What’s better: This prestigious recognition comes in the wake of Heritage’s work to revamp the long-popular Solutions product, which is now a quarterly journal highlighting four timely policy issues per edition and pairing the evergreen Solutions content with supporting stories, many of them gleaned from Daily Signal coverage.

Instant access: The Solutions Journal is now available in an online format as well, accessible any time you need it or want to share it with others. Check it out here <[link removed]>.
Heritage President Strengthens Ties With Allies in Guatemala
Conservatism goes global: Heritage President Kevin Roberts spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast in Guatemala on Aug. 18 and met with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammetti.

Looking ahead: Roberts and Giammetti discussed shared policy objectives and opportunities for future collaboration. This international trip, which was Roberts’ first as Heritage president, represents a growing relationship between Heritage and Giammetti, who spoke at Heritage during his visit to Washington, D.C., in 2021.

Why it matters: Guatemala and the U.S. share mutual economic and security goals, despite the Biden administration’s attempt to sow division. Collaborating on and supporting each other in those goals is especially important in the face of China’s expansionist efforts across the world.

Learn more: Read more about Roberts’ trip to Guatemala here <[link removed]>.
EVENTS
Join Heritage President Kevin Roberts and other Heritage experts—Dr. Jay Richards, Mike Gonzalez, Andy Puzder, and Hans von Spakovsky—at the upcoming National Conservatism Conference <[link removed]> in Miami, Sept. 11-13. We hope to see you there! Make sure to register today <[link removed]>.
NEW RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
- Why the American Founding Matters for American Conservatism <[link removed]>
- School Choice Reform Ought To Be a Bipartisan Effort <[link removed]>
- Now or Never: We Must Seize the School Choice Movement <[link removed]>
- ‘Zero Sincerity’: Father of Marine Killed During Afghan Retreat Doesn’t Trust Team Biden <[link removed]>
- Facebook Suppressed Hunter Biden Laptop Story After FBI Warning <[link removed]>
- Pro-Life ‘Trigger’ Laws Take Effect in Idaho, Tennessee, Texas <[link removed]>
- COVID and Federalism: Rich Opportunities for Public Accountability <[link removed]>
- To Contain Xi, Defeat Putin in Ukraine <[link removed]>
- The Public-Relations Ploy of “National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day” <[link removed]>
- Xi Enters Final Stretch Ahead of Precedent-Breaking Third Term <[link removed]>
- China’s Taiwan Strategy After the Nancy Pelosi Visit: Forever Crisis? <[link removed]>
- Homeland Security’s ‘Equity Action Plan’ Doubles Down on Discrimination <[link removed]>
HERITAGE PODCASTS
“The Kevin Roberts Show”: When it comes to foreign policy, America is no longer leading from a place of “peace through strength.” In an era of great power conflict, Americans are looking for a third way between the failed establishment on both sides of the aisle. Elbridge Colby, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development, joins the show to discuss what a 21st-century American foreign policy should look like given the growing threat of China and how to rebuild our reputation amongst our allies. Listen here. <[link removed]>

“Heritage Explains”: China is rapidly expanding its nuclear capabilities. This week, Patty Jane Gellar, a senior policy analyst in Heritage's Center for National Defense explains how many nukes the U.S. has in comparison to Russia and China and what a nuclear deterrence strategy looks like in today’s environment. Listen here. <[link removed]>

Check out Heritage’s complete lineup of podcasts here <[link removed]>.
HERITAGE IN THE NEWS
The student loan bailout is un-American, says Heritage President Kevin Roberts on Fox News. He suggests that America use a “common sense” approach to college loans, rather than rely on federal bailouts. Watch the clip here. <[link removed]>
POLICY PICTURE
Follow The Heritage Foundation <[link removed]> and The Daily Signal <[link removed]> on Instagram.

Email us your thoughts and questions at [email protected] <[link removed]>.

-