The Commonwealth Matters

On this special Christmas episode of The Commonwealth Matters, we take a step back from the hustle and bustle of the season to reflect on its true meaning. Amid gift-giving, parties, and festive decorations, it’s easy to forget the central focus of Christmas: Christ Himself. Joining us this week to talk about the character of Christ and the deep theology behind of our great Christmas carols is Jonathan Landry Cruse, pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Jonathan is a hymn writer and author of multiple books, including Sing in Exaltation: A Christmas Devotional Exploring our Favorite Carols and The Character of Christ: the Fruit of the Spirit in the Life of our Savior.

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy

Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kentucky

E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/

What would you do if your child’s school library contained books that were inappropriate for children? For our guest Miranda Stovall, this was not a hypothetical situation. After discovering explicit books in her child’s middle school library in Louisville, she took action—but found no support from teachers, principals, or the school board. Joining Miranda is Beanie Geoghegan, her co-founder of Freedom in Education. They also have started the Good Book Drive, an initiative to replace harmful materials with literature that champions truth, goodness, and beauty. In this episode they share why this initiative is needed and how they're meeting the needs of our children in the classroom. To find out more about the Good Book Drive, and to donate, go to freedomined.org/good-book-drive/.

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy

Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kentucky

E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/

America faces its toughest economic challenges in decades: record-high inflation, a staggering $35 trillion federal debt, and heavy-handed regulations that threaten to stifle growth. These conditions set the stage for Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency. But what’s the way forward? How can the federal government create policies that foster economic growth and prosperity?

Joining us to talk further is Dr. Alex Salter, who is an Associate Professor of Economics at Texas Tech University and a scholar with the Free Market Institute. Dr. Salter has written several books and has published nearly 300 opinion pieces in leading outlets like The Wall Street Journal and National Review.

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy

Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kentucky

E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/

Thanksgiving is a cherished American tradition, filled with turkey, pumpkin pie, and football, but have you ever stopped to wonder what we’re truly celebrating? Is it just about family and food, or the story we learned in school about Pilgrims and Indians sharing a feast? How accurate is the history we’ve been told?

In this episode, we explore the true story behind the first Thanksgiving and examine the role of faith in the establishment of the American colonies. Joining us is Dr. Thomas Kidd,  professor of church history at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also teaches American history, and is the author of numerous books, including his most recent Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh. Kidd has written for media outlets like the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, and he blogs on the Gospel coalition website.

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy

Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kentucky

E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/

In this episode, we dive into the the 2024 presidential election, where Donald Trump secured a significant victory over Kamala Harris with 312 electoral votes. Reflecting on an analysis written the day before the election, we explore the key factors that tipped the scales, including voter sentiment and the impact of Democratic policy priorities.

You can read Richard Nelson's article, "Voter Anger, Democratic Policy Priorities Could Tip Election to Trump" here.

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy

Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kentucky

LinkedIn: Commonwealth Policy Center

E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/

School choice was dealt a blow in Kentucky when Amendment 2 went down in flames on election day by nearly 2 to 1 margin. Voters rejected the idea that Kentucky parents should have some kind of choice in education by teacher deception and misinformation about the amendment, and it was funded by the National Educational Association. Was defeat of Amendment 2 good for Kentucky? Big education hasn’t delivered when it comes to the success of Kentucky students, as we are near the bottom in education performance in K-12. Joining us to talk about big education is Howard Husock, a senior fellow in domestic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy

Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kentucky

LinkedIn: Commonwealth Policy Center

E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/

In this week's episode, we dive into a pressing question: Is overpopulation the true challenge we face, or is depopulation a more urgent concern? To discuss this important issue, we are joined by Lyman Stone, a senior fellow and Director of the Pronatalism Initiative at the Institute for Family Studies, and the Chief Information Officer at Demographic Intelligence. Lyman has extensively studied global family formation and demographic trends. His insights have been featured in leading publications like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Tune in to hear Lyman’s perspective on population dynamics, the potential impacts of declining birth rates, and what it all means for the future.

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy

Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kentucky

LinkedIn: Commonwealth Policy Center

E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/

Election day is next week (Nov. 5, early voting begins Oct. 31)! Also on the ballot in Kentucky is Amendment 2, which would open up the opportunity of school choice to parents across the Commonwealth. Yet, there’s strong opposition and misinformation going around. To learn more about the amendment go here. To view other election resources, including voter guides, go here.

Is school choice a good thing for families and children? Will it improve education outcomes? Joining us to talk about this important amendment is Dr. Gary Houchens, professor of Education Administration and Director of Educational Leadership, the doctoral program, at Western Kentucky University. He is a former school member of school teacher, principal and he is on the board of EdChoice Kentucky, and a scholar with the Bluegrass Institute.

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy

Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kentucky

LinkedIn: Commonwealth Policy Center

E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/

To what extent should Christians be engaged in politics? Do Christians have a responsibility to vote? And what if there are two bad choices at the top of the ticket? Joining us to discuss this issue further is pastor and author Bob Russell. Bob is the former pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, the author of a number of books, and has a mentorship ministry to younger pastors.

To view CPC Election resources, including voter guides, candidate forums, and information on Amendment 2, go to www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/24general

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy

Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kentucky

LinkedIn: Commonwealth Policy Center

E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/

With Election Day fast approaching on Tuesday, November 5th, the choices we make will shape our nation’s future—from the presidency to Congress and to state leaders. In this episode, we explore how Christians can thoughtfully engage in the public arena, guided by distinctly Christian principles. Join us as we unpack biblical tenets that offer a clear, Christian perspective for you to apply this election season.

To view CPC Election resources, including voter guides, candidate forums, and information on Amendment 2, go to www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/24general

If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Like and Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/commonwealthpolicy

Follow us on Twitter: @CPC4Kentucky

LinkedIn: Commonwealth Policy Center

E-Newsletter: https://www.commonwealthpolicycenter.org/mailing-list/