Ayn Rand is one of the most famous novelists and philosophers of the 20th century. Her ideas about free markets and free minds still captivate millions. Gloria Alvarez with the Objective Standard Institute tells Rand’s fascinating story.

There are two contemporary narratives of the Trump era. According to one, the 45th and 47th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, is a right-wing autocrat who aspires to end the American republic. According to the other, he is saving the republic from left-wing extremism. Which version is more accurate? Sir Niall Ferguson, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, explores this question.

5-Minute Videos

Donald Trump: The MAGA President

Michelle Thibeau served in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command in Afghanistan. As a woman and a soldier, she knows that there are many roles in the armed forces that women can and should fill. Is combat one of them?


Do Women Belong in Combat?

Barack Obama promised to fundamentally transform America. Over two terms in office, he did just that—on race, healthcare, and foreign policy. But was it change for the better? Carol Swain examines the impact of the 44th president and the legacy he left behind.

Barack Obama: Transforming America

Even Barack Obama’s political opponents appreciated the significance of his election. The charismatic new president would take America into a post-racial future.  But is that what happened? Renowned political scientist, Carol Swain, examines the 44th president's stunning rise to the nation’s top office. 

Barack Obama: “Hope and Change”

On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists brutally attacked Israel, murdering over 1,200 civilians and taking 251 hostages. The world’s response? Mass rallies—in support of the attackers. Larry Elder explains why this moment is not only critical to contemporary geopolitics but is a pivot point for Western civilization.

What “Free Palestine” Really Means

“You have the right to remain silent…” It’s one of the most famous phrases in American law. But where does it come from? In Miranda v. Arizona (1966), the Supreme Court ruled that police must inform suspects of their rights before questioning. John Malcolm of The Heritage Foundation explains how that decision reshaped criminal justice—and why it remains deeply controversial.

Miranda v. Arizona: The Right to Remain Silent

 Fracking: some call it one of the greatest innovations of the last fifty years. Others insist it’s an environmental disaster. Who is right? Linnea Lueken, research fellow at the Heartland Institute, sets the record straight. 

The Truth about Fracking

What does it mean to be free? When Professor of Philosophy Sean McDowell poses this question to his students, they typically respond: “Freedom means doing whatever you want as long as you don’t hurt anyone.” But is it really as simple as that? Or is this question more complex and consequential than you might think?

What Does It Mean to Be Free?

After radical Islamic terrorists struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, swung into action. His every thought was about keeping America safe. But 9/11 was only one of several major crises Bush would have to face. Elizabeth Spalding, senior fellow at Pepperdine University School of Public Policy, examines Bush’s challenging presidency.

George W. Bush: The War on Terror

No one alive on September 11, 2001, will ever forget the shock and horror of that day, most especially the man who was recently elected the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush. Was he prepared to meet the moment? Elizabeth Spalding, senior fellow at Pepperdine University School of Public Policy, describes the path that brought him to that day.

George W. Bush: From Texas to Ground Zero

Does a simple classroom prayer violate the Constitution? That was the question before the Supreme Court in the 1962 case Engel v. Vitale. Joel Alicea, Associate Professor of Law at Catholic University, explains why this ruling dramatically reshaped the role of religion in public life—and why its impact is still felt today.

Engel v. Vitale: Banning Prayer in School

Is all speech protected under the First Amendment or is there a line that can’t be crossed? In 1969, the Supreme Court answered this question in the case of Brandenburg v. Ohio. Joseph Fornieri, Professor of Political Science at Rochester Institute of Technology, explains why free speech is the liberty from which all other liberties flow.

Brandenburg v. Ohio: Hate Speech Is Free Speech

Why is Africa poor?  Is it because of its colonial past or is it because of present-day policies? Senegalese-American entrepreneur and philanthropist Magatte Wade answers these questions, and offers a new path for a brighter, more prosperous future for the continent.

Free Markets Can Free Africa

Is Wikipedia still an impartial, crowd-sourced encyclopedia, or has it become a propaganda tool for a particular point of view? Investigative journalist Ashley Rindsberg charts the evolution of one of the world’s most popular websites, and comes to some surprising and disturbing conclusions.

Can You Trust Wikipedia?

Millions of Latino voters shifted right in 2024. Is this a true political realignment, or a one-time phenomenon? The answer to this question may determine the future of American politics.

Why Latinos Voted for Trump

Millones de votantes Latinos se inclinaron a la derecha en 2024. ¿Fue un verdadero realineamiento político o un fenómeno puntual? La respuesta a esta pregunta podría determinar el futuro de la política estadounidense.

¿Por Qué Los Latinos Votaron Por Trump?

The Roman Empire began as a model of Republican Government, but eventually descended into an autocracy. Is America headed for the same fate? Niall Ferguson, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, examines this question.

Rome Fell. Will America?

Bill Clinton may have been the most fortunate president in US History. He took office at a time of unparalleled peace and prosperity, when America stood alone as the world’s superpower. What did Clinton do with this unprecedented opportunity? Historian and political commentator Bill Whittle tells the story of a President who accomplished much, but could have accomplished so much more.

Bill Clinton: The Fall from Grace

At the start of 1992 nobody imagined Bill Clinton, an obscure Southern Governor, would become President of the United States. But by the end of the year, it seemed inevitable. How did this most skillful of politicians pull it off?  Historian and political commentator Bill Whittle describes Clinton’s improbable triumph.

Bill Clinton: The Comeback Kid

Success comes with risk. Those who take it often reap the biggest rewards. But what happens when government removes risk—freely spending taxpayer money and facing no consequences for failure? Carol Roth, author of You Will Own Nothing, reveals how this "risk-free" approach has left America drowning in debt without much to show for it.  

This video was made possible by a generous gift from The Peter & Judy Copses Foundation.

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Understanding Ayn Rand

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