What Keeps You Up at Night?

 Karen Kirk of Lydia's House and Lorie Westhoff with Nestle Purina talks with Lynn Schmidt about their partnership in developing and maintaining pet-friendly domestic violence shelters. https://lydiashouse.org/ https://www.purina.com/purple-leash-project https://www.thehotline.org/

Retired Marine Corps pilot Garret Biss inspires Lynn Schmidt with his personal story as a veteran and how we all need to "Be the connection." https://unspokentrauma.vet/ https://thewarriorreset.com/ https://988lifeline.org/

Lynn Schmidt hosts a solo episode to discuss the stress that a majority of Americans are feeling in the run up to the election and shares ways in which the electorate can make it through    https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2020/07/7-ideas-to-reduce-political-polarization-and-save-america-from-itself?lang=en

Greg Kramer, Vice President of Government Relations at Easterseals Midwest, sits down with Lynn Schmidt to help spread awareness about the challenges people with disabilities face in voting and the need for policy change.

Lynn Schmidt talks with G. William Hoagland from the Bipartisan Policy Center who explains why the federal deficit is out of control and no one, including the two presidential nominees, wants to address it. 

Michael Oberlander sits down with Lynn Schmidt and discusses the year since Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel, grief and the promise of consolation, and the hope for peace. 

Marine veteran and Democratic U.S. senatorial candidate Lucas Kunce joins Lynn Schmidt to share why he's running for the U.S. Senate, the opioid crisis, and how he would like to reinvest in Missouri communities. Link: https://lucaskunce.com/

 National security expert Major General Randy Manner shares with Lynn Schmidt the work that he and others are doing to counter growing threats to our democratic institutions, norms, and processes. Link: https://www.nsl4a.org/

The Chief Development Officer of The Ocean Clean Up, Julian Searle, joins Lynn Schmidt to share the amazing work that The Ocean Clean Up is doing to rid the world's oceans and rivers of plastic and the challenges to funding this work. https://theoceancleanup.com/

 National security expert Elizabeth Neumann talks with Lynn Schmidt about the drivers of political violence and extremism and how a return to social norms might be the way to heal the nation.

Former Congresswoman Claudine Schneider (R-RI) discusses the intersection of climate change and the United State's economic prospects and why she is supporting Kamala Harris.  

  Editor in Chief of The Texas Tribune, Sewell Chan, sits down with Lynn Schmidt on facing the implications of the loss of local media and moving forward in part 2 of this 2 part episode hosted my Lynn Schmidt. Listen to Part 1 here.

Erica Beshears Perel, Director of the University of North Carolina's Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media joins Lynn Schmidt to discuss the what the loss of local media means to American society and some solutions that innovators are already doing

Lynn Schmidt hosts a solo podcast and share why Project 2025 and the current state of America's politics keeps her up at night. She dives into details about Project 2025, what a possible second Trump administration might bring, the current state of the race with Pres. Biden, and why this election should really be viewed through the lens of checks and balances.  https://thefulcrum.us/

Author and co-founder of NewsGuard Steven Brill sits down with Lynn Schmidt and shares how we got to a place where there is little shared truths and offers some practical solutions for what we can do about it. 

Ken Block, data analyst and author of the new book "Disproven", talks with Lynn Schmidt about his unbiased search for voter fraud in the 2020 election, the data that shows Donald Trump lost, and how to push back on election denialism.

  Former FBI Director James Comey talks with Lynn Schmidt about his newest crime novel "Westport", the real threat that Donald Trump poses to our democracy and the rule of law, and why he is optimistic about our future. 

 Nick Troiano, executive director of Unite America talks with Lynn Schmidt about political polarization and extremism and how modernizing partisan primaries might be the primary solution https://www.uniteamerica.org/

Best-selling children's book author Christen Jeschke discusses why the cicada broods shouldn't keep you up at night and shares the inspiration behind her book "Cicadas Don't Bug Me"    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Christen-M-Jeschke/author/B093MP8F9J

Political scientist and author of "The Rural Voter. The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America" Nicholas Jacobs joins Lynn Schmidt for some political wonkery. They discuss the misconceptions of rural voters and why we should all work to overcome the "Us versus Them" mentality. 

Futurist Ari Wallach talks about his PBS docuseries "A Brief History of the Future" and how innovators and entrepreneurs are addressing the four big megatrends facing all of us.  

Co-founder and president of the San Francisco Briones Society Jay Donde and Lynn Schmidt talk about the practical ways principled conservatives can engage in progressive enclaves.  Show notes: Click to read Lynn's column about the closure of a north city Walgreens.

The Washington Post's national political reporter Isaac Arnsdorf talks with Lynn Schmidt about his new book "Finish What We Started. The MAGA Movement's Ground War to End Democracy" and the ways the radicalized MAGA movement has transformed Republican Party politics from the ground up. 

Naomi Petel Adler and Mirjam Heutlink, survivors of Oct. 7, share their stories of enduring Hamas' terrorist attacks of their homes on Kibbutz Nahal Oz and why Hamas is responsible for the Palestinian humanitarian crisis. 

Dr. Susan Polan talks with Lynn Schmidt about the frightening rise of measles outbreaks in the U.S. and the need to push back on vaccine misinformation.  https://apha.org https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html

Brian Klaas, author of Fluke. Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters" talks with Lynn Schmidt about how apparently insignificant choices of people we will never meet can seal our own fates and why it can benefit all of us if we can give up our illusion of control. 

  Joplin Missouri's Jared Young tells Lynn Schmidt why he has entered the race of the U.S. Senate as an independent, whether Missouri is ready to elect and independent candidate, and why he would have voted yes on the U.S. Senate's national security bill. 

Author and speaker Q. Moore is an inspiration. Q. sits down with Lynn Schmidt to discuss his new book "F My Dad. Overcoming the Anger, Rage, and Pain of being Fatherless." The goal of the book and the discussion is to help those who struggle with fatherlessness understand that their pain is real, and it wasn't their fault. Q. and Lynn also talk about the staggering statistics around fatherless children and how the problem impacts all of us.  

Harlan Cohen is a bestselling author and journalist who has visited over 500 high school and college campuses. He is also a social media influencer with over 1 million followers. Harlan sits down and talks with Lynn Schmidt about how to help your teens and yound adults cope with rejection, whether it is regarding college acceptances or relationships. His advice is great for people of all ages. 

Behavioral scientist and author Leidy Klotz sits down and talks with Lynn Schmidt about his book "Subtract. The Untapped Science of Less." In a world of constantly adding things and commitments to our lives, subtracting might be the way to solve problems and find more joy.

Israel’s Consul General to South Florida Maor Elbaz-Starinsky sits down with Lynn Schmidt to discuss Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, the rise of antisemitism, and the desire for living in peace. 

Veteran political reporter and author of his forthcoming book "The Lie Detectives. In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age" Sasha Issenberg talks with Lynn Schmidt about how voters and campaigns can fight back during this age of disinformation and how we all need to be lie detectives during this crucial election cycle. 

Principles First founder Heath Mayo joins Lynn Schmidt to discuss Principles First and the upcoming Principles First Summit in Washington D.C.. Principles First is the grassroots movement of people who share a love of American democracy and concern for the direction of conservative leadership.  Mayo describes how principles define who we are, what we believe in, and the type of country we’ll become. That’s why we need to choose to put principles first—before politicians and before party.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The director of Education of the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum discusses the alarming rise in antisemitism in this country, especially among college students, and strategies people of all ages can use when confronting this hatred. Helen Turner joins podcast host Lynn Schmidt, columnist and St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board member.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alita Harmon, Social Work National Program Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) shares stories, hope, and resources for veterans and their families, especially during this holiday season. Additional resources for Veterans:  VA Social Work VA Caregiver Support Line:  1-855-260-3274 VA Volunteerism and Donations – Center for Development and Civic Engagement Veterans Crisis Line -Dial 988, then press “1” or text 838255 Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence  - Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) RAINN - Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) National Human Trafficking - Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yuval Levin talks with Lynn Schmidt, columnist and Editorial Board member with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about our social institutions, the lost trust in them, and how we as individuals owe it to each other to hold each other accountable and begin the work of rebuilding them. Levin teaches us that it is “A Time to Build. From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to our Institutions Can Revive the American Dream.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geoff Kabaservice, author and the vice president of political studies at the Niskanen Center, a Washington DC think tank, discusses the loss of Republican Party moderates, especially in Congress, and what that means for the GOP and the country. Lynn Schmidt, columnist and St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board member, hosts the podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economist Melissa Kearney discusses her new book 'The Two Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind" with  host Lynn Schmidt, a columnist and St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board member, They also talk about why society needs to work to strengthen families and increase rates of marriage, for our children’s sake as well as the sake of our communities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The co-founder of Blue Star Families, Kathy Roth-Douquet, talks about ways people can support military families and begin to turn around the U.S. military’s record low recruitment. Host Lynn Schmidt is a columnist and St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board member.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Sarah Fangman, joins the podcast to discuss why coral reefs are important, how this summer’s extended marine heat wave is impacting our marine life, the work that The Coral Rescue Project is doing, and how Fangman worries that time is not on our side when it comes to slowing down climate change. Fangman is responsible for leadership, vision, and strategic direction for one of the most complex marine protected areas in the United States. St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist and editorial board member Lynn Schmidt hosts the podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The executive director of Moms Demand Action, Angela Ferrell-Zabala, talks with Lynn Schmidt about the group’s work to reduce gun violence. Ferrell-Zabala says the group with millions of volunteers advocate for common-sense actions to reduce gun violence, not for taking away people’s guns. Schmidt is a columnist and St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board member. The Moms Demand Action website, where listeners can learn more and get involved: https://momsdemandaction.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Vice President Mike Pence talks about the conservative movement, American leadership and world affairs. He joins host Lynn Schmidt, columnist and St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board member, in the latest episode of the “What Keeps You Up At Night?” podcast. Episode transcript Note: The following transcript was created by Headliner and may contain misspellings and other inaccuracies as it was generated automatically: Lynn Schmidt: Hi, my name is Lynn Schmidt, and welcome to the What Keeps You Up at Night? Podcast, the show where we discuss the big issues and worries facing America and the world, and then begin the conversations about how we can go about solving them. I am a columnist and editorial board member with the St. Louis Post Dispatch. It is my pleasure to welcome Vice President Mike Pence to the podcast. Vice President Pence served as the 48th Vice President of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. He also served as the Governor of Indiana, as well as a member of the House of Representatives. He is currently running for the Republican presidential nomination. Welcome to the podcast, Mr. Vice President. Mr. Vice President. What keeps you up at night? Mike Pence: Well, and thank you for having me on the podcast. I appreciate it very, you know, I think this is a very challenging time in the life of our nation and also in the wider world. I think American families are struggling over the last two and a half years under the worst inflation in 40 years. We have a border crisis the likes of which we've never witnessed in our nation's history. Energy prices continue to put an enormous burden, and of course, war raging in Eastern Europe, war in Israel, China's, continued provocations. For me, and my part, I am determined to do my part to ensure that our nation and our party have new leadership. And, that's been the focus of our efforts since, we announced our campaign. And we're going to continue to fight to restore American prosperity and security. Populism versus conservatism Lynn Schmidt: You recently gave a speech, populism versus conservatism Republicans. Time for choosing. I suggest that Republicans have already made their choice, but I was hoping we could talk a little bit about populism versus conservatism. You, said in that speech that populism would lead the Republican Party to ruin, that the populist swing of the party would substitute faith in limited government and traditional values for an agenda stitched together by little else than personal grievances and, performing outrage, and that these Republican populace would abandon American leadership on the world stage, embracing a posture of appeasement in the face of rising threats to freedom. This last part concerns me very much, as well as both the senators from my home state of Missouri oppose further support of Ukraine. Can you speak to this isolationist posture as how it relates to supporting Ukraine? Mike Pence: Well, Lynn I think, look, the American people are going to face a choice in 2024, but in the Republican Party, I wanted to go to New Hampshire and lay out what I believe is the choice that Republican voters face in our primary. And it's whether we're going to continue to hew, to, our long standing commitment to a strong, defense American leadership in the world limited government, fiscal responsibility, traditional values, and the right to life, or whether we're going to follow what I call the siren song of populism unmoored to conservative principles. I still believe, Lynn, that the majority of Republican voters believe in that, ah, agenda really brought to the fore in our country in the days of Ronald Reagan. But there's no question that there's a vigorous debate. We’ve got people in our party that are walking away from a, commitment to advancing the cause of the right to life. Want to relegate that issue only to the states. I've been a champion for life throughout my career. Would continue to be if I have the privilege of being President. There are people in our party, including my former running mate, that won't even talk about tackling the national debt reforming entitlements. We're the party of fiscal responsibility and reform, and if I'm President, we'll continue to be. But to your point, the Republican Party has always stood for the principle, that we're the leader of the free world, we're the arsenal of democracy, and that, it is the role of America, as Ronald Reagan articulated, not only to defend our nation, but to stand beside those that are defending their freedom around the world. There was something Ronald Reagan called what came to be known as the Reagan Doctrine. It was, 1985. He essentially said, here's the deal. If you're willing to fight the Communists in your country, we'll, give you the means to fight them there with your soldiers so we don't have to fight them, Lynn. It's part of what brought down the Soviet Union. And, I believe that, military support for the soldiers in Ukraine who are fighting against the unprovoked, unconscionable Russian invasion is consistent with that longstanding Republican principle. Standing, with people that are fighting for their freedom in Ukraine, standing, without hesitation, with Israel as they fight against terrorists of Hamas, in the wake of that horrific terrorist attack on October 7. And, frankly, standing strong in the Asia Pacific as China continues its provocations, I believe, is essential for our security and for the peace and security of the wider world. And, I believe Republicans, are uniquely positioned to provide that kind of strong leadership, and I'm going to continue to be a voice for that. While many in our party are sounding retreat, in Eastern Europe, and even some, are joining a chorus of restraint, when it comes to Israel's right of self-defense. Lynn Schmidt: Yesterday, Representative Matt Gates said on Steve Bannon's podcast, the swamp is on the run. MAGA is ascendant. And if you don't think moving from Kevin McCarthy to MAGA, Mike Johnson shows the ascendance of this movement and where the power in the Republican Party truly lies, then you're not paying attention. So I guess I would ask you again, do you think there's still time to choose, or has that ship already sailed? Mike Pence: Oh, I think, this is a Republican time for choosing. And, look, I was the Republican Conference Chairman, during my twelve years of Congress, and, I must tell you, I never hesitated to battle against the big spenders in my own party. People know my reputation. I fought against the Wall Street bailout, I fought against no Child Left Behind in the prescription drug bill. But never in my worst day, Lynn, would I ever have, thought, of working with a handful of Republicans and every Democrat in Congress to throw out a Republican Speaker. And I must tell you that the Chaos Caucus, can, spin this transition into Congress however they want. But at the end of the day, I'm pleased that Republicans have finally settled on a sound, principled conservative, in Speaker Mike Johnson, but honestly, I would have rather seen Kevin McCarthy continue in that role. Steve would have been an outstanding, you know, at the end of the day, I'm just glad that, the methods of the Chaos Caucus, that started all this a few weeks ago appear to have been abandoned, by the House Republican Conference. Because it's time to get back to work. Secure our border, revive our economy, ensure that our military and our allies around the world have the support they need. And I'm grateful that, Mike Johnson and Republicans in Congress came together to set the stage to do just that. Lynn Schmidt: So if the Republican Party rejects the traditional conservative values that you and I believe in, which again, to me, it kind of looks like that's what they're doing, and further embraces populism. What do you think that ruin would look like? Ruin of the party? Mike Pence: Well, look, we've had populist movements throughout the history of this country and, I simply believe that Republicans have an obligation to offer the American people a choice, not an echo. Look, we already have a party that is prepared to abandon American leadership on the world stage. Joe Biden has been practicing the politics of appeasement since he came into office, and, I think he's emboldened the, enemies of freedom around the world early, appeasement toward Russia, in authorizing the Nordstream Two pipeline, the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, begging Iran to get back in the Iran nuclear deal, I think have all created conditions where our adversaries and enemies have been moved to act. And I think Republicans need to offer a clear alternative to that on fiscal responsibility. We already have a party that believes in big government, runaway spending and deficit and debt. So Republicans need to offer a solution. And also, we already have a party that supports abortion on demand all the way up to the moment of birth. I joined the Republican Party back in the days of Ronald Reagan because I believe in limited government, a strong defense, traditional values and the right to life. And I, still believe, Lynn, that the majority of Republican voters hold to those things. And I'll also tell you that the reason I believe that is because that's how we governed in the Trump Pence administration. That was our agenda. And one of the messages that I've been delivering is that Donald Trump, when he ran in 2016, promised to govern as a conservative. And we did. Appointing conservatives to our courts and passing tax cuts and unleashing American energy and rebuilding our military. But, people need to know. Donald Trump makes no such promise today. Won’t talk about fiscal, responsibility and reform, actually is advocating a massive tax increase on all goods imported into the United States from anywhere, in the world. he is joining a chorus of others that are, astounding the retreat, as war rages, in Eastern Europe, and he and others want to relegate the question of abortion to the states only when if I'm president, I'll be a champion for, the right to life and seek to move protections, even at the national level, even as we champion protections of the unborn in one state after another. Why did you step forward in this campaign? Lynn Schmidt: Before we wrap up, is there anything you wanted to share about how your campaign is? Mike Pence: We're just, we're working hard. I said not long ago, it's become obvious in the last few weeks, there's some people that have more money than me, but nobody's got more experience. And I will tell you, Lynn, the reason my wife and I stepped forward in this campaign is because I think the country's in a lot of trouble. I think Joe Biden has weakened America at home and abroad. And when I looked at my experience, serving this country at home, and around the world as Vice President, leading a successful conservative state here in Indiana as Governor, and serving as a conservative leader in Congress for twelve years, I thought of that old verse that says to whom much is given, much will be required. And, we just felt an obligation, in fact, a duty, to step forward, every bit. As long as we have the ability to make that case and to be in that fight, we're going to stay in that fight. But I'll never stop fighting for the conservative values that have animated my life. And it's those values and those principles that carried us into this campaign. Meeting Iowa caucus voters Lynn Schmidt: So I've met you a couple of times on the campaign trail in Iowa. How has your reception with Iowa caucus voters been? Mike Pence: Karen and I have loved it. We've been to 49 counties in Iowa out of 99, so we're about halfway there. And, Iowa, it's living rooms. It's, barns, it's, ah, stop into a Pizza Ranch. I know that people tend to think that, campaigning is about great big rallies, and sometimes it is. But in Iowa, what I love about it is, it's very personal, very down to earth, and the chance for people to get to know Karen and me for who we are, not, for whatever image we might have. Gleaned it's one of the things, Lynn, I came to realize I'm well known, but I'm not known well. People, I think, mostly know me as that loyal Vice president standing alongside the President quietly, every day of our administration until my oath to the Constitution required me to do otherwise. But, they don't know me as a conservative leader in Congress, a conservative governor. They don't know me, as a husband, the father, of two kids that are serving in the military today, and their families. And, ah, I'm always struck, Lynn, after we leave one of these sessions, people will grab some of our staff and say, I didn't know he had a sense of humor. I get that we all end up, being defined by the roles that we play from time to time, but that's what I've loved about Iowa. The warm reception that we've gotten, has been incredibly encouraging to me. Lynn Schmidt: Well, I personally wanted to thank you for, upholding your oath to the Constitution on the day that it seemed to matter most. Mike Pence: Well, Lynn, thank you for that. There almost not a day goes by, that people from, every walk of life and every political background don't take a minute to stop and to express that. And I always answer it the same way. It was God's grace, going into that day and the controversies, never imagining the violence that would ensue, I knew what our duty was, and, it was simply to keep the promise that we'd made with my left hand on Ronald Reagan's Bible on January 20, 2017. And if I have the privilege of being President of the United States, I want people to know that I'll always support and defend the Constitution, so help me God. Lynn Schmidt: Again, I want to thank Vice President Pence for joining me today on the podcast. I hope listeners enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Make sure you subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast platform so you won't miss an episode of what keeps you up at night.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emil Frankel, a former U.S. assistant secretary for transportation policy, joins the podcast to break down the Israel-Hamas war in understandable terms. With host Lynn Schmidt, columnist and St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board member, he also discusses greater threats to democracy here and abroad. The two ex-Republicans also laud President Joe Biden for his foreign policy accomplishments. President Biden's address to the country on 10/19/2023. This Atlantic Magazine piece recognizes General Mark Millay as a patriot who protected the U.S. Constitution from former President Donald Trump. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Susan Polan, associate executive director for public affairs and advocacy with the American Public Health Association, talks about the decline in trust and the politicization in public health in America and the work health experts are doing to keep communities happy and healthy. Polan joins Lynn Schmidt, columnist and editorial board member with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The conversation spans the rise in vaccine skepticism, the closure of rural hospitals, suicide prevention, opioid overdoses and combating “deaths of despair.”   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lynn Schmidt, Columnist and Editorial Board member with the Post-Dispatch,  talks with former Congressman Mickey Edwards and author of “The Parties Versus the People. How to Turn Republicans and Democrats into Americans.” Edwards was a member of Congress for 16 years, serving as the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. He was also a founding member of the Heritage Foundation. He is now a registered Independent. Edwards worries about the rise of authoritarian populism and about the lack of responsiveness and dysfunction of our government. Luckily, Edwards has some suggestions and shares that the power rests with all of us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the "What Keeps You Up at Night?" podcast hosted by Lynn Schmidt. The show where we discuss the big issues and worries facing America and the world and then begin the conversation about how we can go about solving them. I will be interviewing experts and politicians from across the country, from left to right on the political spectrum, as well as spanning the generations. Guests will include presidential candidates, authors, private sector individuals, and former Congressmen, just to name a few.  Be sure to subscribe to get future episodes coming soon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.