In The Tank

Federal agents raided more than 20 businesses this week in Minneapolis as the fight against fraud continues, and Governor Tim Walz is trying to take credit, but the public isn't falling for it. Another scam was busted at the Supreme Court, which issued a decision on race-based gerrymandering in Louisiana, stating definitively that the practice is unconstitutional.An advisor to Anthony Fauci has been charged with conspiracy against the United States; destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations; concealment, removal, or mutilation of records; and aiding and abetting, at the same time, former FBI director James Comey has been indicted over his threatening social media posts against President Trump. After yet another assassination attempt on the President, these issues are taken very seriously by the DOJ.On UNHINGED: Ann Arbor Michigan is removing neighborhood watch signs to make neighborhoods feel more “inclusive.” Not a joke.The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will talk about all of this and more on Episode #534 of the In The Tank Podcast.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET every Thursday on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

By just a hair, Virginia voters approved a gerrymandering plan that would eliminate five Republican districts, all in the name of "restoring fairness" to Virginia's elections-- which we recognize is more like restoring Democrat domination. Luckily a court has already ruled the referendum is unconstitutional, so the fight is not over yet.But the biggest news this week has got to be that a grand jury in Alabama has charged the Southern Poverty Lawa Center with 11 counts of wire fraud and other financial crimes, and the indictment revealed that SPLC has PAID members of white supremacist and other extremist groups as "insiders" and probably also instigators, most notably in the case of the infamous Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally.And on UNHINGED; a conservative journalist was attacked by a whole family of anti-ICE protesters, and now they are doing a pity-party media circuit instead of apologizing.The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will talk about all of this and more on Episode #533 of the In The Tank Podcast.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

We all know that the public education system in America is rotten, but it is actually even worse than you may realize. There are only so many hours in a school day, and while kids are falling behind in reading, writing, and arithmetic, teachers unions are making sure kids learn about how to be good left-wing activists. Many of these same groups support the "No Kings" protest movement, and we will discuss why that is. At the White House, Trump has signed an executive order about mail-in voting, in an attempt to limit fraud, but will it stick? And on UNHINGED: we will look at a very Canadian Communist Convention. The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, Chris Talgo, S.T. Karnick, and Jim Lakely will talk about all of this and more on Episode #532 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook. Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

Another point goes to capitalism in the long war of economics, as Poland has overcome its once-communist decay and rocketed into becoming one of the world's largest economies. Meanwhile, socialist Cuba slowly crumbles amid a fuel embargo and the decades of communist economic influence. We will contrast and compare these two examples of economic systems and see which one is best (Hint: it's not the one represented by the hammer and sickle).Trump is temporarily suspending the Jones Act, which has had a major impact on energy shipping, especially for East-coast states, and we will look at how serious a threat AI is to white collar jobs. Andrew Yang says it will be catastrophic, but is that just hyperbole?And on UNHINGED: An attempted terror attack failed in New York City last week, amid a protest over the growth of Islam in the city.The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, and Jim Lakely will talk about all of this and more on Episode #530 of the In The Tank Podcast.

BlackRock and Larry Fink is continuing to blink on climate policy. The investment giant appears to be abandoning some of its climate-focused dogma in favor of protecting investor returns, a crazy idea that apparently everyone forgot for a few years. At the same time, the economic catastrophe that is Net Zero is beginning to convince even New York Governor Hochul that climate policies mostly just crush affordability and energy security.Meanwhile, a major victory for free speech comes out of Missouri, as the courts have decreed that the Biden administration was WRONG for using social media as speech police. We’ll explore what this settlement means for the future of online expression and government overreach.And on UNHINGED: a Chinese professor makes the bold claim that poverty can be eliminated by simply printing more money.The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, and Jim Lakely will talk about all of this and more on Episode #531 of the In The Tank Podcast.

In the days leading up to the attack on Iran, a rift formed between the Pentagon and AI company Anthropic. The dispute rose over restrictions the company imposed on the AI model used in US intelligence and military operations. The feud, interesting in its own right, provided insight into how the government is using AI in the theater of war.The Heartland Institute's Donald Kendal, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo will talk about all of this and more on Episode #529 of the In The Tank Podcast.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

New York City is struggling with its budget, and despite Mayor Mamdani campaigning on affordable housing, he’s now turning to property tax hikes to try to close the gap. This is fairly typical for Democrats—and totally unsurprising. Meanwhile, Trump struck a deal with Japan that looks poised to sidestep China while also boosting American energy abundance. We’ll also cover socialism in our schools—how bad it really is—and how to counter it.And on UNHINGED: the Obama Presidential Center, scheduled to open this spring, is astonishingly ugly—and fitting for the Obama legacy.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo will talk about all of this and more on Episode #526 of the In The Tank Podcast.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

Justin Haskins joins us to talk about his and Jack McPherrin's new book, "The Next Big Crash," covering the shady dealings of Wall Street insiders and elites who have conspired to rig our economy and transfer control over our futures to massive financial interests. When the next crash comes, it could very well be more devastating than any before. On a brighter note, federal employment is at the lowest level it has been since 1966, showing that the Trump administration really has made progress on cutting federal bloat, while American private sector jobs are improving. Meanwhile, the SAVE America Act may be passed soon, but Democrats say it will disenfranchise voters by requiring them to simply have ID.On UNHINGED: How would you feel about living in a constant, ubiquitous surveillance state? Ring is more than happy to provide, but promises it will only be used for finding lost dogs.The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and guest Justin Haskins will talk about all of this and more on Episode #526 of the In The Tank Podcast.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

This week, Bitcoin is DOWN, but does that mean anything to those of us who don't own it? Some argue that it indicates the dollar is strengthening, which is good news for affordability. AND the Washington Post has laid off a third of their staff, journalists are unemployed all over the place, and it could mean the beginning of the end for the far-left publication. Finally school is out... all the time, it seems, because students seem to be missing class for protests, snow weeks, all kinds of things that aren't school. In New York City, Mamdani's government is focusing on removing programs for high-achievers, and refocusing on "green" initiatives.For UNHINGED: Kathy Griffin is at it again, this time she is angry that First Lady Melania Trump's documentary is doing well, and recommends you turn in your pesky MAGA neighbors.The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo will talk about all of this and more on Episode #525 of the In The Tank Podcast.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

The scale of fraud in federal entitlement programs is truly staggering with some estimates reaching into the TRILLIONS, and we have to ask, who can be held accountable for all this?Fresh off the plane home from Switzerland, Linnea, Donald, and Jim discuss the Heartland Institute's inaugural WORLD PROSPERITY FORUM, the antidote to the globalism of the World Economic Forum held at Davos every year... which Linnea and Donald may or may not have also gone to visit while in Europe.And on UNHINGED: An insane viral video of a nurse shows her instructing "resistors" on how to harm ICE agents. How did we even get to this point? And why on Earth are there so many videos like this?The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and Donald Kendal will talk about all of this and more on Episode #524 of the In The Tank Podcast.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

On In The Tank Podcast #523, Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick break down the latest reminders that socialism doesn’t “fix” anything—it wrecks it. From political theater in Washington to chaos in corporate America, and from Venezuela’s collapse to what’s brewing in New York City, the panel connects the dots on how bad ideas keep spreading.The panel digs into Democrats holding a candlelight vigil… for Jan. 6. Then the crew looks at a Hilton franchise caught in a PR firestorm after targeting ICE bookings, and asks the obvious question: when did basic law enforcement become a corporate punching bag?The conversation also turns to Venezuela’s oil—why anyone still wants access to it, what decades of socialism did to the country, and why America shouldn’t be taking notes. Finally, the panel looks at NYC’s trajectory, including Mamdani’s tenant-power agenda and what it could mean for the city if these policies keep gaining ground.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET every Friday on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

Hollywood is at a breaking point—and audiences can feel it.On In the Tank Podcast #522, Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, S.T. Karnick, and Donald Kendal dig into what’s reshaping movies and TV right now: DEI-era gatekeeping, studios quietly changing course, shrinking opportunities for creators, and the growing role of AI in entertainment.They’re joined by Christian Toto, returning for his fifth annual appearance, to break down how Hollywood’s incentives filtered out creative voices—and why so many films now feel safe, preachy, and lifeless.The panel also tackles Disney’s new AI deal involving OpenAI’s Sora platform and what it means for writers, actors, and storytelling itself. Plus: the crew runs through their “Unhinged” list of the worst movies and TV of 2025—and what might actually be worth watching next.If Hollywood has lost its edge, this episode explores why—and what comes next.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET every Friday on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metalsChapters: 00:33 Intro01:57 Special Guest Introduction03:55 Support Our Sponsor! 05:50 Unhinged: Worst Movies of 2025 22:08 Film Affected By DEI49:15 AI in Movies? Good or Bad?1:19:25 The Future of Movies: Embracing The ExperienceSTORIES COVERED ON THE SHOW:DEI To Blame? - Writers and other roles in movie companies are being filtered by DEI politics in Hollywood. Does this have an effect on the quality of films?https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-lost-generation/https://variety.com/2025/film/news/hollywood-drops-dei-programs-donald-trump-disney-paramount-amazon-1236327202/AI in Movies - Where is it good, and Where does it suck?https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-openai-sora-agreement/https://archive.ph/2xtns Optimism for the Future: the best films of 2025, what to look forward to in 2026 and beyond.https://x.com/vegasstarfish/status/1961588349799731453https://www.imdb.com/calendar/

"Woke" and its pushers continues to be exposed for the ugliness, fraud and tyranny their policies unleash on the rest of us, all over the world. We'll cover how the architect of Jaguar’s disastrous rebrand has finally been canned, and Rep. Aftyn Behn’s loss to Matt Van Epps in Tennessee reveals her and her party as very sore losers indeed.We'll also take a look at the years of widespread fraud inside Minnesota’s social services system, and discuss how Governor Walz not only buried the problem but may be setting the stage for even more abuse through a new program.And on UNHINGED: Multiple-time violent criminals are being released to attack people again, and other craziness.The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and S.T. Karnick will talk about all of this and more on Episode #521 of the In The Tank Podcast.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

Thanksgiving is approaching, but grocery prices seem to just keep getting higher. We will discuss what causes food costs to rise, and how it can be stopped.A new exclusive from the Free Beacon reports that George Soros gave a quarter million dollars to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which works with advertisers for Big Tech trying to deplatform conservative voices and destroy X.com. Plus, Rasmussen polling found that a worrying chunk of young voters would be willing to hand functions of government over to AI, including policymaking decisions and our very rights. And on UNHINGED: Trump Derangement Syndrome increasingly appears to be a genuine pathology, with sufferers totally unable to cope. The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo will talk about all of this and more on Episode #520 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metalsInteresting and recommended video on AI: We Are Not Ready for Super Intelligence: Chapters: 00:38 Intro 02:17 Panel Introduction06:47 UNHINGED: Trump Derangement Syndrome Continues20:57 Real Reason Food Cost is High43:30 Advisory Metals 45:33 Soros continues to control the media54:31 AI OVERLORDS?

America’s great exodus from major cities and entire states keeps accelerating — and the election of socialist Mayor Mamdani in New York City is only speeding things up. Yet polls show young Americans becoming more favorable toward socialism, even embracing ideas like government-run grocery stores. What does that say about our culture, our education system, and the nation’s future?On the education side, things are just as alarming. UC San Diego reports that incoming students can’t meet basic math expectations — not just at grade level, but far below it. How did we get here, and how can states and the federal government fix this before it truly spirals out of control?PLUS on UNHINGED:An AI-generated country song has charted in online music sales. Is this a sign of an unhinged future — or has mainstream music been formulaic and awful for years anyway?The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo break it all down on Episode #519 of the In the Tank Podcast.Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat!Streaming on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Support our sponsor, Advisor Metals:https://climaterealismshow.com/metalsChapter: 02:08 Intro5:48 TOP Country song is AI????24:36 Exodus of NYC and other Blue States36:11 Most Young Voters Embrace Socialism1:10:43 How Do We Fix Our Education System?

On Tuesday, New York City elected a trust-fund communist as mayor. New Jersey, which seemed to be trending red, put a scandal-ridden Democrat in the governor's mansion. In Virginia, voters rejected a black Republican conservative woman over a woke former CIA spook who pledged to force girls and women to endure biological men in their private spaces again. Oh, and Dems in the Old Dominion also elected a man who wished a political opponent and his children would be murdered so his grieving wife would finally agree with him on policy as she held her family in her arms.The weird part is that all these results were expected for weeks. What happened? On Episode #518 of the In the Tank Podcast, the Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo will break it all down. It seems that the rise of socialism has not been arrested after all. Is this an outlier, or a sign that the midterm elections in 2026 will be a bloodbath for Trump and the MAGA movement.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, X, and Facebook.Visit our sponsor, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

Are Democrats holding SNAP funding hostage to keep the Schumer Shutdown alive? The In the Tank crew dives into the latest Washington tricks — and whether major reforms are long overdue.As the Democratic Party embraces openly socialist candidates, we ask: are there any moderates left?On UNHINGED, the team rants about Christmas displays popping up before Halloween 🎃 — and then wraps up with a lighter segment on our favorite spooky-season books and movies.Featuring Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, and Chris Talgo of The Heartland Institute.🕐 Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, and X — and join us in the live chat!Visit our sponsor, ADVISOR METALS: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

The AI Revolution is happening at an incredible speed. New AI products, like OpenAI's Sora 2, continue to push the envelope and blur the lines between reality and fabrication. And as this revolutionary technology continues to advance and integrate deeper into our daily lives, serious questions are emerging about power, control, and human rights in the digital age. Should there be a framework—an “AI Bill of Rights”—to protect individuals from algorithmic abuse, data manipulation, and government or corporate overreach? The ITT crew discusses how real this future is becoming, the potential threats to privacy and autonomy, and whether society is prepared for the moral and political challenges AI is bringing to the surface.The Heartland Institute’s Donald Kendal, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, and Justin Haskins will discuss all of this and more on Episode #516 of the In The Tank Podcast. Watch LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat!Chapters: 0:37 Intro2:06 Start6:41 Debate on the role of AI in education26:05 The Radical Normalization of AI Tech43:12 AI Game: Is it real?58:30 AI Bill of rights?

The government is still shut down, and Democrats are warning that the expiration of Obamacare subsidies at the end of this year will make healthcare unaffordable for millions. But that’s not true. While the system certainly needs reform, the real problem lies deeper than temporary subsidies. The Heartland crew will break down what needs to change to make healthcare work for everyone.Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has floated the idea that the United States may need to “decouple” from China if they continue to play unfairly in global markets. What would that mean for essential materials and the broader economy—and has America waited too long to act?And on this week’s UNHINGED segment, CNN revives an old feminist slogan that claims men who find women attractive are a societal problem. The panel will discuss why this narrative keeps failing and what it says about modern media culture.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, Chris Talgo, and special guest AnneMarie Schieber will discuss all of this and more on Episode #515 of the In The Tank Podcast. Watch LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat!VISIT our sponsor: https://climaterealismshow.com/metalsSHOW NOTES:CNN, After years of progress on gender, the male gaze is back:https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/11/health/male-gaze-wellnessThe Epoch Times: US May Decouple From China If Rare Earths Dispute Persists: Bessenthttps://www.theepochtimes.com/us/bessent-says-if-china-refuses-to-be-a-reliable-partner-us-and-allies-will-have-to-decouple-5929817The Federalist: No, Obamacare Premiums Are Not Doublinghttps://thefederalist.com/2025/10/08/no-obamacare-premiums-are-not-doubling/The Federalist: Here’s How Republicans Should Fix Health Care Rather Than Bailing Out Obamacarehttps://thefederalist.com/2025/10/07/heres-how-republicans-should-fix-health-care-rather-than-bailing-out-obamacare/Forbes: How Obamacare Set In Motion Today’s Premium Crisishttps://www.forbes.com/sites/sallypipes/2025/10/14/how-obamacare-set-in-motion-todays-premium-crisis/

Are Democrat-led cities spiraling out of control? Weeks of unrest, weak law enforcement, and rising violence are testing the limits of left-wing policies.In Portland, ANTIFA attacks ICE facilities by night while petty crime dominates by day. In Chicago, local leaders defend policies that fuel gang violence and lawlessness. As the Trump administration vows to crack down, the question is — how far should it go?Plus: President Trump threatens Hollywood with tariffs on movies filmed overseas, and in UNHINGED, we reveal shocking text messages from a Democrat AG candidate showing violent hatred toward a GOP legislator.Join Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, and Chris Talgo for a fiery discussion on all this and more in Episode #514 of the In the Tank Podcast.👉 Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, and X — and join us in the live chat!VISIT OUR SPONSOR, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

Are Democrat-led cities spiraling out of control? Weeks of unrest, weak law enforcement, and rising violence are testing the limits of left-wing policies.In Portland, ANTIFA attacks ICE facilities by night while petty crime dominates by day. In Chicago, local leaders defend policies that fuel gang violence and lawlessness. As the Trump administration vows to crack down, the question is — how far should it go?Plus: President Trump threatens Hollywood with tariffs on movies filmed overseas, and in UNHINGED, we reveal shocking text messages from a Democrat AG candidate showing violent hatred toward a GOP legislator.Join Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, and Chris Talgo for a fiery discussion on all this and more in Episode #514 of the In the Tank Podcast. Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, and X — and join us in the live chat!VISIT OUR SPONSOR, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

The United States government has shut down once again as Democrats demand the reversal of major spending cuts while Republicans and President Trump refuse to back down. At the same time, the ADL is facing growing backlash after its “Glossary of Hate” targeted groups like TPUSA, prompting even the FBI to distance itself. Meanwhile, Chicago schools continue to struggle with failing literacy rates, yet the teachers union chose to highlight and celebrate Assata Shakur, a convicted terrorist. And while the Wall Street Journal claims the U.S. is losing the race to China on green tech, is that really the full story? The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, and Chris Talgo will discuss all of this and more on Episode #513 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat!

The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk is still having an impact on current public discussions about the radical left and their intolerance of dialogue and ideas that challenge the prevailing leftist dogmas. The media wasted no time trying to dismiss leftwing political violence as a “both sides” problem, but we know better.The Heartland Institute’s Eann Tang experienced how difficult it is to be a young conservative, especially on college campuses, but he is going to share why he holds on to hope and optimism for the future. We’ll also take a look at some very Unhinged behavior, talk about the folly of “both sides-ism” in the wake of leftist violence, and there seems to be reason to hope that Big Tech censorship of conservatives is beginning to wane. The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken,Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, Chris Talgo, and Eann Tang will discuss all of this and more on Episode #512 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat!VISIT OUR SPONSOR, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

The impact of Charlie Kirk’s assassination has been felt far wider and deeper than many expected. Tributes have sprung up around the globe — from the UK and Australia to South Africa, Europe, South America, and Asia. Yet much of the media first misinformed the public and then tried to push the “both sides are violent” narrative, while thousands of online leftists cheered his death and desecrated memorials. What does this say about the moral health of our institutions — and the people shaping public opinion?Speaking of what’s wrong with our institutions: this week The Heartland Institute received a letter from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) clearly intended to bully. He’s demanding that by September 30 Heartland hand over any and all communications since Election Day 2024 discussing why the Endangerment Finding for carbon dioxide should be rescinded — after reports that Heartland influenced the Trump administration’s decision to attempt that rescission. Heartland President James Taylor has a simple reply: pound sand.Join Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, and James Taylor as they break down the media spin, the moral rot, and Sen. Whitehouse’s fishing expedition on Episode #511 of the In the Tank Podcast. Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join the live chat on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, and X.

Unspeakable horror struck on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah yesterday. Charlie Kirk, the founder of TurningPoint USA, was murdered by an assassin's rifle shot while he was speaking to a crowd of thousands. Charlie's talent, credibility, intelligence, authenticity, patience, and courage were on display for all to see to the very end of his life. He was a champion of liberty and a tireless patriot whose love of country was deep and heart-felt. More than that, Charlie was a devoted Christian and a loving father and husband. At the age of just 31, he left a legacy greater than many public figures twice his age.The assassination of Charlie Kirk was an act of evil. It was also undoubtedly a political act spawned out of the dark heart of modern leftism. We live in a country in which prominent media outlets suggested Charlie brought his public slaying upon himself. In today's media and political environment, anyone who vigorously differs from leftist ideology and Democratic Party talking points is painted as a fascist, a threat to democracy, a domestic terrorist -- or, as President Biden once put it -- a threat to "the very soul of this nation." This is the political environment in which the killing of Charlie Kirk occurred.In just the past 13 months, radicals have attempted two assassinations on President Trump and killed one of his most-prominent and successful advocates. Earlier than that, an avowed Marxist gunned down a health insurance CEO and was celebrated for it by many on the left. Radical leftists got very close to pulling off assassinations of Supreme Court justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. And let's not forget the radical left Bernie Bro who tried to murder a baseball field full of Republicans just a few years ago.This must stop. And it starts with the Democratic Party putting an end to its eliminationist rhetoric, expelling from its party and offices anyone who encourages or excuses violence, and leading the march back to respectful debate. For a start, they can do away with the "both sides" lie. And they can also stop saying that every election and policy debate they lose is not the dawn of fascism.On Episode #510 of The Heartland Institute's In the Tank Podcast, we will talk about the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk, mourn his loss together, and try to give each other hope that America's tolerance for this madness is soon coming to an end.

The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen recently collaborated on a poll asking voters under the age of 40 what kind of government they support. Shockingly, more than half said they would back socialist candidates for president — and even more favored nationalizing major industries. This reflects the same troubling trend seen across Europe in recent decades, where increasingly left-wing governments took hold, even with supposedly “conservative” politicians supporting leftist policies.On UNHINGED, we examine the case of a British comedian arrested for making jokes on Twitter, the broader war on free speech (even at the pub!) in Britain, and the looming threat of digital IDs. Join The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, and Chris Talgo for Episode #509 of the In the Tank Podcast. Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat!

Labor Day has long been claimed by socialists in the United States who pretend to be champions of the working class — but history shows they’ve never truly stood with America’s workers. In fact, socialist policies hurt the middle class and working poor more than anything else, and leftist “soft on crime” agendas only make matters worse.This week, we’re reclaiming the holiday as an America First Labor Day. Plus, we’ll talk about Cracker Barrel’s embarrassing backpedal on their woke redesign after massive customer and social media backlash. And we’ll cover how Trump’s energy policies are driving gas prices back down to sane levels, making this one of the most affordable Labor Day weekends in years.Join The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, and AnneMarie Schieber for Episode #508 of the In The Tank Podcast. Tune in LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and join us in the live chat!SUPPORT THIS SHOW'S SPONSOR, ADVISOR METALS: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

Just because a war is abroad—and between countries other than your own—doesn’t mean it won’t have impacts at home. In the USA, history shows that U.S. intervention in foreign wars increases federal intervention in our everyday lives; constant involvement in wars has led to much of the creeping expansion of our government over time. The whole world seems to be watching as Trump attempts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. We’ll talk about why it’s good for domestic freedom that Trump is resisting getting the U.S. directly into the war.On UNHINGED, Loudoun County schools are once again in the news—this time for suspending boys who complained about a girl in their locker room. Also, bank executives are beginning to point the finger at the Obama and Biden administrations for debanking conservatives, and some college students have apparently been exaggerating their progressive bona fides to keep attention off themselves in school.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and S.T. Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode #507 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET every Friday on YouTube and Rumble and jump into the live chat!VISIT OUR SPONSOR, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metals

We are only six months into the Trump Administration 2.0, and The Age of Trump is already in full swing. National Review hails his presidency as “truly historic,” outlining a laundry list of accomplishments he has already achieved. The left and right clash over what Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C., really means. Is this a bold reset of a broken city or a dangerous power grab?Also, California Governor Gavin Newsom is threatening a political counterstrike over Texas’ redistricting push, setting the stage for another coast-to-coast political showdown.The Heartland Institute’s Donald Kendal, Jim Lakely, and S.T. Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode #506 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and sound off in the live chat!PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSOR, Advisor Metals: https://climaterealismshow.com/metalsCHAPTERS00:00 Intro5:01 Sam Altman's AI Nightmare Coming True?20:37 The Age of Trump46:30 The Federalization of Washington, DC58:28 Texas Redistricting and Gavin Newsom

Over just the last seven months, Trump’s administration has landed one blow after another on the administrative state and “deep state.” Most recently, Trump’s EPA and Department of Energy teamed up to announce a pending repeal of the greenhouse gas Endangerment Finding, which has allowed the government to regulate nearly every aspect of our lives since its passage in 2009.  Democrats still try their best to “resist” the Trump administration—either petulantly, like Cory Booker’s grandstanding, or through activist judges. All of it began with the Russia Hoax, which we are still unraveling.  Meanwhile, on the culture war front: Leftists are losing it over an ad series put out by American Eagle featuring Sydney Sweeney and a pun involving “great jeans.” They claim this is literal fascism, and we wonder if it’s another sign that “woke” is falling out of favor in media.  The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and S.T. Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode #504 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and sound off in the live chat!  VISIT OUR SPONSOR, ADVISOR METALS https://heartland67740.ac-page.com/advisor-metals-page

A recent and highly disturbing New York Times article promoting the idea that doctors should expand the definition of death in order to harvest more organs is stirring up disgust and debate about utilitarianism and the role of doctors or so-called “bioethicists” in shaping medical policy. What is the current state of the organ donation industry and what kind of policy actually makes sense. How far is too far when it comes to medical care?Along similar lines, in this week’s UNHINGED segment, we spotlight another disturbing case: ex-CNN reporter Jim Acosta conducted a ghoulish interview with an AI simulacrum of a teenager killed during the Parkland school shooting—all for the purpose of pushing gun control.Finally, the Swedish Prime Minister is facing criticism for “consulting” AI language models for opinions on how to govern the country.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, S.T. Karnick, (possibly Justin Haskins), and AnneMarie Schieber, along with special guest Dr. Heidi Klessig, will dive into all of this and more on Episode #505 of the In The Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and sound off in the live chat!

Ever wonder what happens when political spin meets reality? It's like watching a magician whose tricks have been exposed – suddenly everyone can see the wires! 🎭 In this explosive episode, we're serving up a feast of political commentary that's more satisfying than whatever's NOT rotting in Kansas City's taxpayer-funded grocery experiment. • 🎯 Obama's Russia-gate narrative gets the fact-check it deserved years ago• 🎪 Hunter Biden's media circus tour – damage control or career suicide?• 🤡 Cory "Spartacus" Booker's latest cringe compilation• 🏪 Socialist grocery stores: when ideology meets produce sectionsDon't miss the live chat where YOU can roast these political performances alongside us! Hit that notification bell and join the conversation at 1 PM ET. #RussiaGate #HunterBiden #InTheTank #Obama

Is America quietly shifting from a nation of property owners to a nation of renters? In this episode, we expose the growing forces behind the decline in homeownership—from skyrocketing prices to the corporate consolidation of housing. How is this trend impacting society and the political landscape?Plus, we dive into another urgent emerging issue: the rise of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and what they mean for your financial freedom.The Heartland Institute's Donald Kendal and Justin Haskins discuss all of this and more on Episode #502 of the In the Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and participate in the show in the live chat!

After losing the presidential election and seeing the administrative state’s efforts steamrolled by Trump’s agenda, the left is ramping up its calls to violence—and even acting on them. Just in the last week, there were two attempts on the lives of ICE agents, resulting in injuries and deaths. Likewise, real "color revolution" insurrection plots are being staged by ex-USAID employees who believe they are the rightful government of the United States—not the president. Also, an AI impostor mimicked Marco Rubio in an effort to gain access to other high-level government officials, and Elon Musk has expressed interest in starting his own political party.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and Sam Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode #501 of the In the Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and participate in the live chat!

On this special 500th episode of the In The Tank Podcast, the team takes a look at Culture -- from pop culture like movies, to broader American cultural trends like national pride. Is the dominant left-wing culture finally on its way out? Or are recent flops just a a hiccup in some eternal progressive march? Should conservatives even participate to try to influence it, or is it a lost cause?The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, Sam Karnick, as well as our special guest--the ever-popular Donald Kendal, will discuss all of this and more, on Episode #500 of the In the Tank Podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and participate in the show in the live chat!

Riots are once again breaking out in California, all the way to Chicago and East coast cities. The National Guard is on the streets of LA to handle violent protests against ICE, and it seems there is evidence that these multi-day protests are anything but organic. Similar protests are planned around the country this weekend, attempting to counter a military showcase parade President Trump has planned for the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. The media can't be trusted to cover it fairly, which leads to our next question: is the "knowledge" economy falling apart? The mainstream news media, academia, and scientific establishment are rapidly losing credibility in the eyes of the average person, and it may be well deserved.Turning our eyes abroad, Trump says he struck a deal with China on trade, we'll look at the good, the bad, and the ugly -- and the UK's Labour Party recently levied taxes that resulted very quickly in a nice demonstration of the Laffer Curve, ending in less government income rather than more.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will cover all of this and more on episode Episode #498 of the In the Tank Podcast.SHOW NOTES:Topic #1Combining the main topic and Unhinged, we have the Riots! https://openthebooks.substack.com/p/california-pumped-tens-of-millionshttps://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-defends-national-guard-la-deployments-says-ice-agents-must-be-protectedhttps://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5341670-fetterman-condemns-violent-protests-la/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/massive-no-king-protest-planned-in-more-than-1500-us-cities-to-counter-trumps-june-14-parade-10-points/articleshow/121730782.cms?from=mdr Topic #2"The Knowledge System Collapses"https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-ten-warning-signsTopic #3US-China Trade Dealhttps://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-china-trade-talks-resume-second-day-2025-06-10/Topic #4Labour Taxes Backfirehttps://removepaywalls.com/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/labour-ideological-attack-private-schools-backfiring/

Join The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, S.T. Karnick, and Jim Lakely as they dive into Episode 497 of the In The Tank Podcast. This episode explores timely and provocative topics, including the Democrats' ongoing quest to find their own version of podcast superstar Joe Rogan—can they cultivate a voice that resonates widely in the digital age?The team also discusses President Joe Biden's reliance on the autopen presidency. With Biden increasingly using automation and pre-scripted methods to fulfill presidential duties, what does this mean for transparency, authenticity, and public perception of leadership?Finally, they break down former President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." The hosts analyze its economic promises, potential impact on climate and energy policies, and how it stacks up against the Biden administration's previous legislation. Tune in for insightful discussion, sharp analysis, and engaging debate on today's critical issues.

The legacy media that half this country relies on to inform them about the world is irrevocably broken. For the past five years, they’ve lied constantly to cover up the biggest political scandal of the century: that Joe Biden has been in accelerating cognitive decline since before he was sworn in as president.Of course, it's worse than that. The media attacked anyone who merely stated that obvious fact, calling what you saw with your own eyes and heard with your own ears “misinformation,” “disinformation,” or even “Russian propaganda.”CNN's Jake Tapper is now promoting his new book Original Sin and pretending that he and the rest of the legacy media innocently missed Biden’s decline until his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last summer. This, like everything else the media peddles these days, is a lie. Tapper—now serving as an avatar for the entire corrupt media—says he looks back on his coverage of Biden with “humility.” That simply won’t do. The word he must use is “regret,” or “embarrassment,” or even “horror.” And that must be coupled with a pledge to stop lying and a promise to be held accountable every single day. This, of course, will not happen.The media has brainwashed half the country into believing things that aren’t true and told them to ignore truths staring them in the face. Their corrupt complicity in the cover-up of the century is more dangerous and societally destabilizing than any of the hundreds of fake scares the media peddles about Donald Trump being a “threat to our democracy.”The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and Sam Karnick will discuss this important topic—and more—on Episode #496 of the In the Tank podcast. Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and participate in the show via the chat.

The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen just completed another polling study—this one asking people how worried they are about AI and what should be done about it legislatively. To no one's surprise, people are worried and think the government has a responsibility to get ahead of it.We’ll also cover the way people can fool even themselves with AI, how some are totally outsourcing their thinking to it, what effect that has (or seems to have), and what the mass expansion of AI is going to do to the economy—especially in terms of energy demand and white-collar jobs. The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, S.T. Karnick, and Donald Kendal will discuss all this and more on Episode #495 of the In the Tank Podcast.

The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports released a new poll showing that 71% of Democrats support Elon Musk being IMPRISONED for his DOGE work. This insane position is held by 80% of self-reported "liberals" from the polling. The poll results were released the same day as this episode.This is sadly not very shocking, as we take a look at what leftist-dominated Reddit says about Elon in our Unhinged segment. We also discuss DOGE's work so far, including issues at the U.S. Treasury Department, and whether or not the pork uncovered by DOGE is actually being cut. It seems many representatives want the spending to keep on rolling along. The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode 494 of the In the Tank Podcast.

Spend any time at all watching or reading the news, and you may notice an odd trend in the Democrat party-- they seem to be embracing policies more and more that totally alienate the "normies," people who hold generally average views on social and political issues. Democrats increasingly favor extreme positions, like defending gang members and embracing ideologies that would have been universally rejected just a few years ago. Where it may end is anyone's guess, we try to parse it out here.We also cover anti-gun activist David Hogg's potential expulsion from the DNC, how Trump Derangement Syndrome apparently was the deciding factor for many baby boomers in Canada,  and a look back on Trump's first hundred days as President, part deux. The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will discuss all of this and more on Episode #492 of the In the Tank Podcast.

Tariffs are the subject of heated debate not just between Democrats and Republicans, but within the spectrum of right wing economic thought as well. Trump has announced reciprocal tariffs for every country on the planet, in an attempt to end unfair trade imbalances across the board. Some countries have already started falling in line, the question is, what will the end result for American citizens be?The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will discuss. Join us as we also discuss the staff purges at various U.S. health agencies, Tim Walz' weird Marxist comic book, the house arrest of Marine Le Pen, and more on Episode #490 of the In the Tank Podcast.

The 2024 election will go down in history as a radical and lasting political realignment in America on the right. The Republican Party of the 80s and 90s is gone, and with it the influence of past presidents and the thought leaders of the right. In their place is a new populism led by former Democrats who were driven out by radical leftists. But is this unusual coalition of former Democrats and populist writers and YouTube stars built to last?The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick will discuss. Plus, we will cover the Supreme Court ruling on “ghost guns,” the defunding of American Pravda (NPR and PBS), and more on Episode #489 of the In the Tank Podcast.SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://donate.heartland.org/campaign/594169/donate

Who actually runs this country? Voters asked for real change in November, and Donald Trump and his team are doing all they can to deliver it as quickly as possible. Yet federal judges use questionable authority to thwart it, keeping the Deep State status quo of unaccountable opposition to the people’s will — which includes shoveling YOUR MONEY to their connected leftist cronies.Who is really in charge of the Executive Branch of the United States? The Constitution says it’s the president, who was elected by all the people to direct the administrative state. The legacy media and even some conservative legal scholars say: “It’s complicated.” Is it, really?On episode #488 of The Heartland Institute’s In the Tank Podcast, host Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, and S.T. Karnick discuss the escalating resistance to the restoration of a government that serves the people and its elected representatives, instead of the other way around.

The Heartland Institute’s Donald Kendal, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo present episode 487 of the In The Tank Podcast. Former ITT host Donald Kendal returns after only a few months and the world has gone insane. Suddenly, the left is burning the most popular electric vehicles while a Republican President promotes them in front of the White House. No, the world did not go insane, it was driven to insanity by an incredibly corrupt media system - a media system that has lied to us about virtually everything. We cover some more examples of this on this week's episode.Support the show! https://heartland.org/donate/

The Heartland Institute's Tim Benson wrote a paper analyzing the money funneled to green groups through the Inflation Reduction Act, where everything predictably cost way more than our government claimed. The Supreme Court decided that a district judge could tell the President when and how to pay USAID contractors, and Canada retaliates against Trump's tariffs. The President gave his first address to Congress, to the surprise of no one, the Democrats hated it.The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Sam Karnick, and Tim Benson will discuss all of this and more on this episode of the In The Tank podcast.

The "experts" are still trying to rewrite the narrative on the government response to COVID, and one of President Trump's picks supports the questionable PRO Act. Meanwhile, VP Vance had strong words for the Orwellian language controls in Germany, and DOGE continues to uncover corrupt and wasteful government spending.The Heartland Institute's Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo will discuss all of this and more on this episode of the In The Tank podcast.

Carefully constructed narratives and funding related to public health are being re-evaluated by this new administration, bringing sunlight to disinfect a contaminated NIH. Critics of President Trump and DOGE claim that Trump's actions represent a Constitutional crisis, Politico finally admits that Democrats were wrong to claim the economy was great under Biden, and RFK's confirmation process continues amid significant pushback.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and special guest Bonner Cohen, senior fellow with the National Center for Public Policy Research, will cover all of this and more on this episode of the In The Tank podcast.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET and enjoy the live chat!

The Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the status quo continue, causing the right people to worry about their next paychecks. Nations around the world are coming to the negotiation table on subjects no one thought they would, while some very unstable individuals are attempting to incite violence in retaliation against Trump's efforts.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and H. Sterling Burnett dig into these subjects, with a special focus on Elon Musk's DOGE and how a simple funding freeze and a small audit are making the entire deep state panic—while awakening average Americans to the true extent of wasteful government spending through groups like USAID. 

It’s an understatement to say that Donald Trump hit the ground running to start his interrupted second term. The speed and precision with which he has canceled nearly every achievement of the Biden nothing this country has ever seen before. It is simply breathtaking, and happening at such a frenetic pace it is difficult to keep up.The Heartland Institute’s Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, and Chris Talgo will do their best, though. Trump has issued hundreds of executive orders on all sorts of policy areas. On immigration, he closed the border, sent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across America to round up and deport criminal illegal aliens, and even suggested he’ll use Gitmo to house them until flights back to their country of origin can be arranged. And he also declared that the federal government will no longer put up with “sanctuary” cities and states harboring illegals.Trump froze all federal grants to assess whether they are worth continuing or canceling because they are wasteful or harmful to America. He demanded the federal workforce actually show up in the office again, or be fired or resign with severance. He’s frozen all foreign aid to determine its wisdom. Trump has allowed America’s energy sector to go full ahead again, and even fired the alarmist scientific advisory board at the EPA. What have we left out? Who can keep up? We will talk about what is nothing less than the most-transformative first 10 days a president has had in American history.