How can free-market principles address some of America’s biggest policy challenges?

On this episode of the Washington Signal Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer sits down with Dan Faoro, President of the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), for a wide-ranging conversation about public policy, shareholder activism, economic freedom, disability policy, education, and the future of conservative advocacy.

Faoro discusses the mission of the National Center for Public Policy Research and its key initiatives, including Project 21, the Free Enterprise Project, and Able Americans. He explains how these programs seek to expand opportunity, promote free-market solutions, and challenge policies that often create unintended consequences.

The conversation covers:

• The mission and history of the National Center for Public Policy Research
• Project 21 and conservative outreach in Black communities
• Shareholder activism and corporate governance
• ESG, DEI, and fiduciary responsibility
• Disability policy and the Able Americans initiative
• Regulatory barriers and unintended consequences in public policy
• Consistency in conservative principles and policymaking
• The role of trade associations and policy organizations
• Free markets, economic freedom, and government intervention
• China, economic competition, and national security concerns
• The legacy of communism and lessons from Eastern Europe
• Family, fatherhood, and leadership development initiatives

Faoro also discusses the Free Enterprise Project’s efforts to challenge corporate activism through shareholder proposals and litigation, including a successful legal challenge to Nasdaq board diversity requirements that he argues reinforced shareholder rights and corporate independence.

Throughout the discussion, Andrew and Dan explore the tension between good intentions and real-world outcomes, emphasizing the importance of evaluating policies based on results rather than rhetoric.

The episode concludes with a conversation about family, mentorship, leadership development, and the importance of cultivating the next generation of policy advocates.

00:00 — Intro + Meet Dan Faoro
01:24 — The National Center for Public Policy Research
03:02 — Project 21 and outreach efforts
04:05 — The Free Enterprise Project
05:05 — Able Americans and disability policy
06:01 — Unintended consequences in public policy
09:37 — Consistency in conservative principles
13:03 — Holding policymakers accountable
16:05 — Populism and the political landscape
20:15 — Shareholder activism and corporate governance
21:18 — The Nasdaq board diversity lawsuit
24:30 — ESG, DEI, and corporate influence
27:19 — China, economic competition, and national security
30:39 — Lessons from communism and Eastern Europe
33:21 — New initiatives at NCPPR
35:07 — Life outside policy work
35:43 — Where to learn more about NCPPR
36:14 — Closing thoughts

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What happens when political movements abandon the principles that made them successful?

On this episode of the Washington Signal Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer sits down with Grover Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), for a wide-ranging conversation on free markets, limited government, federalism, taxation, trade, labor policy, and the future of the conservative movement.

Drawing on decades of experience in public policy and political advocacy, Norquist discusses why ideological consistency remains essential, how federalism serves as one of America's greatest strengths, and why he believes economic freedom continues to outperform centralized government planning.

The conversation covers:

• The importance of principle-driven policymaking
• Limited government and the role of federalism
• Tax reform and the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
• Organized labor and worker freedom
• The East Palestine rail derailment and rail policy debates
• Government regulation and unintended consequences
• Tariffs, free trade, and industrial policy
• Artificial intelligence and regulatory challenges
• California’s wealth tax proposal and interstate competition
• Energy policy, nuclear power, and economic growth
• Property taxes and local government spending

Norquist also reflects on the evolution of the conservative movement, the importance of maintaining intellectual consistency in public policy debates, and why he believes competition among states helps drive innovation, growth, and accountability.

Throughout the discussion, he argues that government solutions often become larger and more permanent than the problems they were intended to solve, while market-based approaches tend to produce better outcomes for workers, consumers, and taxpayers.

The episode concludes with a look at future policy battles at the federal, state, and local levels, along with a personal discussion about history and travel.

00:00 — Intro + Grover Norquist joins
01:27 — Why principles matter in politics
05:20 — Bipartisanship versus philosophy
09:01 — The Taxpayer Protection Pledge
12:01 — Labor unions and worker freedom
14:43 — The East Palestine rail debate
18:50 — Government responses to crises
22:22 — Tariffs, trade, and industrial policy
26:55 — Federalism and state competition
27:22 — Artificial intelligence and regulation
30:42 — California’s wealth tax proposal
35:23 — Energy policy and nuclear power
39:32 — Grover Norquist’s interests outside politics
40:23 — Property taxes and local government reform
41:32 — Closing thoughts

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What happens when parents finally get a firsthand look at what their children are being taught in school?

On this episode of the Washington Signal Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer sits down with Nicole Neily, President and Founder of Defending Education, a national organization focused on parental rights, academic transparency, and accountability in K-12 and higher education. Prior to founding Defending Education, Neily also founded Speech First, a leading campus free speech organization that challenged First Amendment violations at public universities.

Drawing on years of work in education policy and civil liberties, Neily discusses how COVID-era school closures transformed the national debate over education and why parental involvement has become one of the defining policy issues of the past decade.

The conversation covers:

• The rise of the parental rights movement
• COVID-19 and the public’s renewed focus on education
• The history and role of the U.S. Department of Education
• Teachers unions and their influence on public policy
• School choice and educational competition
• DEI programs in K-12 and higher education
• Campus free speech and Speech First’s legal battles
• Accreditation agencies and higher education reform
• The future of colleges and universities amid declining enrollment
• Parental notification policies and transparency in schools
• State-level education reforms and the role of federalism

Neily also explains the origins of Defending Education, how the organization investigates school policies and curricula, and why she believes many parents have become more engaged in education than ever before.

The discussion explores broader questions about accountability, educational outcomes, bureaucratic growth, and whether America’s education system is preparing students for future success.

Throughout the episode, Neily argues that meaningful reform will require greater transparency, stronger parental involvement, and a renewed focus on academic achievement rather than ideological activism.

00:00 — Intro + Nicole Neily joins
01:00 — Why education became a national issue
03:05 — How America’s education system changed
06:06 — Declining academic standards and outcomes
07:25 — Schools of education and ideological influence
10:33 — Founding Defending Education
13:13 — COVID, parents, and public awareness
17:24 — Teachers unions and political influence
19:30 — School choice and education reform
23:20 — Why some states are improving outcomes
26:00 — Trump administration education reforms
29:31 — Accreditation and higher education
34:25 — Campus free speech and Speech First
37:25 — Current battles in K-12 education
40:08 — Travel, family, and personal interests
40:36 — Where to learn more about Defending Education
41:12 — Closing thoughts

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How can a recycled soda can become a national security issue?

On this episode of the Washington Signal's Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer is joined by Anthony Musto, North American Strategy & Growth Lead at Constellium, and Ben Carlson, Director of the Center for Strategic Industrial Materials at SAFE, for a discussion on aluminum manufacturing, recycling, supply chains, and the growing competition between the United States and China.

The conversation explores why aluminum remains one of the most important materials in the modern economy and how recycling infrastructure has become increasingly tied to economic security, energy policy, manufacturing competitiveness, and national defense.

Major topics include:

• Why aluminum is critical to transportation, aerospace, energy, and defense
• The economic and energy benefits of aluminum recycling
• America’s growing dependence on imported aluminum inputs
• Chinese industrial policy and global aluminum markets
• Why millions of tons of aluminum scrap leave the U.S. each year
• Supply chain resilience, national security, and critical materials
• Recycling infrastructure and sorting technology challenges
• The role of permitting reform and industrial policy
• Building a stronger domestic manufacturing base

The discussion also examines how China has expanded its aluminum production and recycling capacity, why U.S. manufacturers are concerned about scrap exports, and what policymakers can do to strengthen domestic supply chains.

Throughout the episode, both guests argue that aluminum recycling should be viewed not simply as an environmental issue, but as an economic and strategic opportunity that can support American manufacturing, reduce energy consumption, and improve supply chain security.

00:00 — Intro + Meet Anthony Musto and Ben Carlson
01:39 — What Constellium does
02:43 — SAFE and strategic industrial materials
03:28 — Why aluminum matters to the modern economy
05:14 — The power of aluminum recycling
06:18 — Manufacturing jobs and economic impact
07:39 — The aluminum scrap export problem
10:00 — AI, energy demand, and supply chain security
11:58 — Why recycling infrastructure matters
16:30 — Permitting reform and recycling facilities
20:21 — Aluminum, energy use, and facility footprints
23:23 — Policy solutions and domestic investment
26:32 — Sorting technology and recycling innovation
30:11 — China’s influence on aluminum markets
33:15 — What policymakers should do next
35:14 — Outside interests and personal stories
37:31 — Closing thoughts

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How does a tariff on steel end up affecting the price of canned food at the grocery store?

On this episode of the Federal Newswire Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer sits down with Scott Breen, President of the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), to discuss the intersection of trade policy, food security, manufacturing, and consumer prices.

Breen explains how steel tariffs are impacting the American food can supply chain, why domestic tinplate steel production has declined dramatically over the past decade, and what that means for farmers, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.

The conversation explores a fundamental policy question: how can the United States strengthen domestic manufacturing while avoiding unintended consequences that increase costs for American families?

Major topics include:
• The role canned food plays in food security and emergency preparedness
• Why U.S. tinplate steel production has fallen from 12 lines to 3
• How steel tariffs affect food prices at the grocery store
• Competition from imported canned food products
• Buy American policies and country-of-origin labeling
• SNAP benefits, public procurement, and domestic agriculture
• Supply chain resilience and national security concerns
• Recycling, sustainability, and the future of metal packaging

The discussion also examines bipartisan legislation designed to improve country-of-origin labeling and proposals aimed at ensuring federal food purchases better support American farmers and manufacturers.

Throughout the episode, Breen argues that strengthening domestic manufacturing requires a balanced approach—one that supports upstream steel production while also protecting downstream industries that employ thousands of American workers.

00:00 — Intro + Scott Breen joins
01:25 — What the Can Manufacturers Institute does
02:42 — Food security and the importance of canned goods
04:08 — Steel tariffs and rising grocery prices
05:11 — Why domestic tinplate production declined
09:19 — Manufacturing jobs and downstream impacts
10:58 — Imported canned foods and competitive disadvantages
14:48 — American farmers and the food supply chain
17:14 — SNAP benefits and Buy American policies
20:08 — The American CANS Act explained
21:34 — Food security, sustainability, and preparedness
27:05 — What consumers and lawmakers can do
29:18 — Scott Breen’s interests outside work
30:06 — Where to learn more about CMI
31:05 — Closing

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How can America reduce waste, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and rebuild its recycling infrastructure at the same time?

On this episode of the Federal Newswire Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer sits down with Heidi Sanborn, founding director and CEO of the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) and the National Stewardship Action Foundation.

Sanborn discusses the growing crisis facing America’s recycling and waste management systems, why domestic recycling infrastructure is collapsing, and how short-term economic thinking has made the United States increasingly dependent on China for recycled materials and manufacturing inputs.

The conversation explores how environmental stewardship, economic resilience, permitting reform, and supply chain security increasingly overlap — and why policies designed to promote sustainability can sometimes unintentionally undermine it.

Major topics include:
• Why waste and pollution are closely connected
• The collapse of America’s recycling infrastructure
• China’s influence over global recycled material markets
• The Remade in America Pledge
• Trade policy, tariffs, and domestic manufacturing
• Recycling, permitting reform, and regulatory barriers
• Mechanical vs. chemical recycling systems
• Hazardous waste disposal and marine flare safety
• Producer responsibility and product stewardship laws
• How AI and technology are changing recycling operations

Sanborn also explains how the National Stewardship Action Council works with states across the country to create policies focused on producer responsibility, safer waste management systems, and stronger domestic recycling markets.

The discussion closes with a broader conversation about balancing environmental goals, affordability, regulation, and long-term economic sustainability.

00:00 — Intro + Heidi Sanborn joins the show
01:25 — How Heidi got started in recycling
02:10 — Why waste equals inefficiency
05:18 — Recycling policy and regulatory challenges
08:14 — Why companies buy recycled materials from China
11:19 — Recycling, trade policy, and American manufacturing
16:28 — The Remade in America Pledge
20:08 — Chemical recycling vs. mechanical recycling
22:26 — Permitting reform and environmental policy
27:17 — Marine flare disposal challenges
30:04 — What the National Stewardship Action Council does
32:29 — Life in Sacramento and Lake Tahoe
33:14 — Where to follow NSAC and support the mission

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Why does religion remain at the center of so many global conflicts — and why do policymakers often ignore it?

On this episode of the Federal Newswire Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer is joined by Sarah Makin, religious freedom advocate and producer of Faith Under Siege, to explore the role of faith in global conflict, diplomacy, and human rights.

Drawing on her experience in government and international advocacy, Makin argues that one of the biggest blind spots in U.S. foreign policy is a failure to understand religion as a core driver of identity, motivation, and conflict.

A major theme of the conversation is how authoritarian regimes view faith as a threat — because it represents a source of authority beyond the state.

The discussion covers:
• Why religion plays a central role in global conflicts
• How U.S. diplomacy often misunderstands religious dynamics
• Why authoritarian regimes fear people of faith
• Religious persecution in China (Uyghurs, Christians, others)
• The crisis in Nigeria and the role of extremist ideology
• Why religious persecution is a “canary in the coal mine” for genocide
• Lessons from Iraq and the Yazidi genocide
• The role of faith-based organizations in humanitarian work
• Why smaller NGOs often outperform large aid institutions
• The importance of religious literacy in foreign policy

The conversation also takes a deep look at the war in Ukraine — particularly the often-overlooked issue of religious persecution.

Additional topics include:
• Russia’s use of the Orthodox Church as a political tool
• The myth of Ukrainian religious persecution
• Documented attacks on churches, clergy, and faith communities
• The targeting of evangelical, Catholic, Jewish, and Orthodox groups
• The broader role of faith in Ukrainian society

Makin also discusses her film project, Faith Under Siege, a documentary series highlighting the persecution of religious communities in Ukraine under Russian occupation. The project includes both a full-length film and shorter features focused on specific faith groups and stories.

The episode closes with a broader reflection: ignoring religion in policy discussions doesn’t eliminate its influence — it simply makes decision-makers less equipped to understand the world.

00:00 — Intro + Sarah Makin joins
01:06 — Why religion drives global conflict
03:13 — U.S. foreign policy blind spots on faith
05:42 — Authoritarian regimes vs people of faith
07:19 — Religious persecution in China and beyond
10:01 — Nigeria crisis and extremist ideology
12:40 — “Canary in the coal mine” for genocide
13:58 — Iraq, Yazidis, and humanitarian work
16:08 — Faith-based NGOs vs large aid systems
23:50 — Ukraine: churches, war, and persecution
26:18 — Russia, the Orthodox Church, and propaganda
33:58 — Faith Under Siege documentary
37:49 — Personal interests + closing

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As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, so does the debate over how — and whether — it should be regulated.

On this episode of the Federal Newswire Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer is joined by Zach Lilly, Director of Government Affairs at NetChoice, to break down the growing policy battle over AI, free markets, and government oversight.

Lilly explains why public fear around AI has surged in recent years — driven in part by decades of pop culture narratives and amplified by ongoing debates over social media and technology policy. He argues that much of today’s AI conversation didn’t start fresh, but instead picked up where earlier tech debates left off.

A major focus of the episode is the challenge of regulating a rapidly evolving technology. Lilly warns that traditional legislative approaches struggle to keep pace with AI’s speed of innovation — where tools and capabilities can change week to week.

The discussion also covers:
• Why AI debates are shaped by pop culture and public perception
• The difference between “permissionless innovation” and the precautionary principle
• Why free market voices have become less dominant in tech policy debates
• How state-level AI regulations are being crafted and marketed
• Why some AI laws are framed as “child safety” measures
• The risks of one-size-fits-all regulatory approaches
• How AI is already improving fields like healthcare and diagnostics
• Why rapid innovation makes static regulation difficult
• The role of federal vs state governments in AI policy

A key part of the conversation focuses on the Guard Act, a proposed federal bill that Lilly describes as a sweeping age verification system disguised as chatbot regulation. He explains how such policies could effectively require identity verification across large portions of the internet, raising concerns about privacy, surveillance, and constitutional rights.

Additional topics include:
• How AI integration across platforms could expand data collection requirements
• The risk of treating all users as potential bad actors
• Why government-led AI design could slow innovation
• The balance between safety, privacy, and technological progress
• Concerns about AI being used as a regulatory enforcement tool
• The importance of intellectual and ideological consistency in policymaking

The episode also highlights a broader philosophical divide: whether emerging technologies should be allowed to develop freely — with limited intervention — or shaped early through government regulation.

At its core, the conversation makes the case that how the U.S. approaches AI policy now will have long-term consequences for innovation, economic growth, and individual liberty.

00:00 — Intro + Zach Lilly joins the podcast
00:54 — Why people are suddenly afraid of AI
02:27 — Pop culture and the fear of AI
04:16 — AI vs social media policy debates
05:02 — Why regulating AI is uniquely difficult
06:34 — Rapid innovation and legislative challenges
07:25 — Permissionless innovation vs precautionary principle
08:03 — Why free market voices are quieter today
10:01 — Public perception and political messaging
11:20 — AI in music, creativity, and real-world use
14:03 — Translation tools and everyday AI benefits
14:45 — State-level AI regulation trends
15:10 — How AI laws are framed politically
16:17 — Federal vs state regulatory approaches
17:06 — Colorado AI law controversy
18:36 — Government control vs private innovation
20:16 — Using AI to reduce regulatory burdens
22:22 — AI as a government enforcement tool
23:08 — Why regulation should constrain government use
24:04 — The Guard Act explained
25:01 — Age verification and data collection concerns
26:24 — AI integration across the internet
27:34 — Privacy risks and identity verification
28:03 — Government vs individual choice
29:35 — “Empowering parents” vs real control
30:23 — Intellectual consistency in policymaking
32:07 — NetChoice legal strategy and court wins
33:09 — Where the Guard Act stands today
34:20 — Federal framework concerns
35:36 — Outside interests: gaming, travel, and hobbies
39:08 — Closing

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