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Regulations not only take freedom away from average Americans and business owners. They also take trillions of their hard-earned money in opportunity cost. Andrew Langer breaks it down on Swamp Secrets. “It’s not that you’re just losing money by paying [an employee] to fill out paperwork for the government, but in terms of the productive time that that employee is missing out on that has a cost to business and the economy, etc. If you’re forced to buy a new-fangled pizza oven because your pizza oven pollutes too much, that’s money you can’t spend in your business buying more sauce, expanding, getting other equipment, hiring other employees, all kinds of things that you might otherwise want to do,” said Langer. The American Action Forum released a report estimating that in the first three years of the Biden administration, direct regulation costs have increased by $1.3 trillion, but given Langer’s additional considerations of indirect effects, regulations have actually cost the economy a total of $25 trillion in lost opportunity cost. Langer also addresses in this episode a recent op-ed he co-authored with CPAC Executive Vice President David Safavian on upcoming hearings on UnitedHealth Group, their monopoly on healthcare, and their relationship with advocacy-group-in-disguise, AARP. Read their article at The Washington Examiner and follow @CPAC and @Andrew_Langer on social media for more updates.

Vice Chair of AFPI Center for Election Integrity Hogan Gidley, Founder and CEO of Faith Wins Chad Connelly, and RNC Committeewoman for Nevada Sigal Chattah talked how conservatives can get involved to secure election wins on the CPAC 2024 stage on this episode of America Uncanceled. As Gidley stated, “More involvement matters.” Gidley and Connelly’s involvement in local churches and with pastors in Virginia buoyed Governor Glenn Youngkin to victory. They’ve seen firsthand that more involvement does in fact matter. They registered hundreds of thousands of voters in that race and as a result, contributed to a Republican victory. Likewise, in Nevada, Chattah and a team of grassroots activists are hitting the ground running registering voters, getting them to the polls, encouraging early voting, recruiting poll watchers, and harvesting ballots. Chattah and the Nevada GOP are perhaps leading the nation in a multi-faceted offensive called No Excuse Nevada to defend election integrity and secure Republican victories. More involvement from grassroots conservatives and better voter turnout from the Christian community is indeed the way forward to Republican success in elections. For more, follow @CPAC on social media. You can also follow Matt Schlapp @MSchlapp or Mercedes Schlapp @MercedesSchlapp to keep up with current events.

This month will mark the third year of CPAC Hungary. This international CPAC was born out of a partnership with the Center for Fundamental Rights who continues to host CPAC Hungary in beautiful Budapest. As the only CPAC conference in Europe, CPAC Hungary has been a uniting force for European conservatives and will certainly be no different this year. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is set to deliver the keynote speech for the third year in a row and will be joined by President of the Dutch Party for Freedom Geert Wilders, President of Spanish Vox Santiago Abascal, and more conservative leaders from Europe and around the globe at this year’s conference on April 25 and 26. Stay tuned for more updates on CPAC Hungary 2024 at CPAC.org and on social media @CPAC.

Earlier this week, it was reported in the press that California has another target for its green lunacy: railroads. The CPAC Foundation's Center for Regulatory Freedom was on top of the issue and filed comments with the EPA. To summarize the situation, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) submitted a request for authorization to enforce its In-Use Locomotive Regulation, aiming to "revolutionize" the locomotive industry within the state by imposing zero-emission standards by 2030. This ambitious directive mandates that all locomotives be no older than 23 years and operate entirely emission-free. Regardless of the intentions behind this proposal, the practical implications could spell disaster for the uniformity and functionality of the United States' railway systems. The Impracticalities of Zero-Emission Locomotives In our comments, CRF argues that the zero-emission goal set by CARB is currently unattainable with existing technology. Locomotives that meet these standards simply do not exist in the U.S. market today, and the requirement for operators to allocate substantial funds annually towards zero-emission equipment seems both premature and financially burdensome. The costs projected for large and small rail operators are staggering, potentially reaching into the billions annually, diverting crucial funds from safety and operational efficiency improvements. Furthermore, the required overhaul of the American electrical grid to support such a fleet underscores the enormity of this undertaking, suggesting a fundamental mismatch between CARB's aspirations and the current technological landscape. Threats to National Railway Uniformity, Constitutional and Legal Concerns Beyond the technological and financial hurdles, CARB's proposal threatens the necessary uniformity of U.S. railways. If California's request is granted, it could set a precedent that allows for a patchwork of state-specific regulations that disrupt national standards set by federal law. Such a scenario would not only complicate logistics but also increase operational costs significantly, which would likely be passed on to consumers. This is not just a challenge of logistics but of legal precedence as well, potentially conflicting with the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The proposal also raises other significant constitutional questions. The Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act (ICCTA) frames a clear argument against CARB's regulations. The ICCTA provides exclusive federal oversight of railway operations, which would preempt state laws like those proposed by CARB. Moreover, accepting CARB's rules could violate the Dormant Commerce Clause by allowing California to impose its regulatory standards on interstate commerce, effectively dictating national commerce policies through state-specific legislation. A Call for EPA’s Consideration In light of these considerations, CRF urged EPA to reject California’s waiver request. Granting such a waiver would not only acknowledge an impractical and legally dubious regulatory approach but could also set a dangerous precedent affecting the fundamental principles of federal oversight in interstate commerce. The risks associated with disrupting the national railway system's uniformity, potentially inflating costs, and undermining proven emissions reduction strategies are too great to overlook. In this pivotal moment, the EPA's decision could dictate the future not just of California's railways but of the entire nation's railway system. It is imperative that regulatory actions are grounded in feasibility and federal consistency to protect the interests of all stakeholders involved.

The Left is abusing every means of the justice system to prevent President Trump from winning the 2024 election. Mike Davis of the Article III Project weighs in on America Uncanceled. Corrupt and politically-motivated judges have placed President Trump under an illegal and unprecedented gag order, targeted his businesses, levied astronomical financial penalties on him, and trapped him in a court room preventing him from campaigning and attending family events. “This is part of the Democrats’ pattern. They fear voters. So, they’re waging lawfare and election interference,” commented Davis. He recommends Trump continue to speak publicly about his trials as doing so brings awareness of the Left’s election interference and drums up enthusiasm for him in Americans, and he warns Democrats that throwing President Trump in jail would only secure his victory in November. For more, follow @CPAC on social media. You can also follow Matt Schlapp @MSchlapp or Mercedes Schlapp @MercedesSchlapp to keep up with current events.

Political plants in the administrative state of the federal government are rigging our elections, weaponizing the justice department, and poisoning the minds of children in public education. Author of “Government Gangsters” and national security expert, Kash Patel addressed these issues and more at CPAC in DC 2024. Patel also announced at CPAC that he is collaborating with Steve Bannon and War Room Entertainment to expand conservative media and turn his book into a film. Patel’s book and now movie are part of his efforts to expose the deep state and motivate Americans to reclaim their democratic republic from corrupt bureaucrats. The American people are the key to solving the corruption of our federal government government and taking our country back, but doing so requires initiative, perseverance, and action. “You pick one thing, whether its health care, education, sheriff, law enforcement, countering drugs, narcotics, weapons, what have you, ending the forever wars, veterans affairs. You pick one thing and you go out in your communities and you do it 245 times, and you will see that message resonate because Americans across this country are tired of the swamp,” Patel advised. Patel invited Americans to join him in busting government gangsters and restoring our constitutional republic. Watch Patel’s full remarks on Rumble @CPAC.

In this lively episode of the Bill Walton Show, Bill talks with Jim Pinkerton in a thought-provoking discussion about investing in the turbulent waters of today's toxic political climate. With a focus on the stark Red-Blue divide in America, Jim offers a contrarian view that it’s fertile ground for what he terms "directional investing." Drawing from his upcoming book, "The Secret of Directional Investing: Making Money Amidst the Red-Blue Divide," Pinkerton—a veteran of the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations and a long-time Fox News contributor—unpacks the intriguing idea that political polarization, while daunting, can be a goldmine for the astute investor and entrepreneur. The conversation digs into a deeper exploration of Federalism and the concept of states as laboratories, not just of democracy, but also micro-economic innovation hubs. Pinkerton paints a picture of a "United States of Arbitrage," where individuals and businesses pick states for their cultural climates and regulatory frameworks, much like how businesses today scout for tax havens. Bill and Jim weave through topics with ease, touching on the explosive potential of AI and its voracious energy demands, the dynamics of state-driven economic incentives, and the possible futures shaped by these forces. They muse on how states compete to attract burgeoning industries by aligning social policies with corporate needs, imagining a nation where your address might reflect your ideology as much as your lifestyle. “If a red state were really on its game, thinking for itself,” says Jim, “it would announce to the world that any student who got an 800 on his or her math SAT would get a free ride.” The episode doesn't just dissect current trends; it offers a visionary look at how today's divisions could be tomorrow's opportunities, making it a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the intersection of politics, economics, and the future of innovation in America. Also, you’ll learn which state seems to think its idea of economic development is transgender surgery, hoping to become to transgenderism what the Cleveland Clinic or Johns Hopkins are to cancer. Watch the full episode here.

A new CPAC documentary captured the horrific reality of the border crisis in Arizona. The documentary follows Matt and Mercedes Schlapp on a tour with border officials in Nogales, Arizona, where the border crisis is at some of its worst. “The reason we got involved in this issue is because DHS decided to pull CDP, customs, men and women in blue, off the ports of entry so that they could help with migrant processing. So that, to us, that is a dereliction of duties,” said Director of the Nogales Port Authority, Jamie Chamberlain. Frighteningly, “Through Nogales-Mariposa port of entry, we catch more fentanyl than any of the other ports of entry put together,” Chamberlain reported. Contrary to the narrative of the mainstream media, migrants are not just women and children coming over as refugees. Many are able bodied young men apparently seeking work. And many are not even coming from Mexico anymore but South and Central America, Africa, and the Middle East. One migrant the Schlapps interacted with in the documentary was a thirty-year old male from Guatemala and admitted to arriving illegally in the United States seeking work “to come support the family” back home in Guatemala. Chamberlain, commented, “That is not an asylum reason to be here and so, the administration knows this. Clearly, that is not a reason. 99% of the people that are crossing are not actually being persecuted from their own government.” Indeed, many of the migrants shown in the footage are young adult males crossing over with the aid of cartels and under pretenses that do not qualify for asylum. At the same time, migrants are bringing lethal fentanyl and human trafficking over the border, killing and endangering thousands of innocent Americans. Watch the full documentary on X @CPAC.

Passover is often referred to as a holiday of freedom, as it marks the most iconic freedom story of all: the exodus of the ancient Hebrews after hundreds of years of servitude in Egypt, as they are miraculously extracted from powerful Egypt, guided across the sea and into the wilderness to receive the Law, eventually making it to the promised land. This story of G-d’s deliverance has captured the hearts and minds of humanity for thousands of years, serving as a glimmer of hope for all peoples and providing the evocative imagery which frames the ultimate triumph of those facing tyranny and adversity. So evocative, in fact, that Benjamin Franklin (as conveyed by Thomas Jefferson)  suggested this image as the Great Seal of the United States: "Pharaoh sitting in an open Chariot, a Crown on his head and a Sword in his hand, passing through the divided Waters of the Red Sea in Pursuit of the Israelites: Rays from a Pillar of Fire in the Cloud, expressive of the divine Presence and Command, beaming on Moses who stands on the shore and extending his hand over the Sea causes it to overwhelm Pharaoh. Motto: Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God." During a visit to The Museum of the Bible a few years ago, I learned about the “Slave Bible”, which was a special bible printed by English slave owners to give to their slaves in British colonies in the Caribbean. Apparently concerned that this story would ignite their imagination, it removed any and all references to the exodus story, resulting in a Hebrew Bible missing 90% of the original content! While the message of the exodus is universal, it finds particular significance in Jewish homes at the Passover Seder, observed this year on the evenings of April 22 and 23rd. The seder, the Hebrew word for “order”, is just that - a framework for an experiential and orderly recounting of this great story. As they have for literally thousands of years, Jews around the world come together to read ancient texts about their ancestors and celebrate survival. They eat bitter herbs to literally taste the bitterness of slavery, Matzah to recall the unleavened bread they ate in their haste to leave Egypt, and many other foods and activities to drive this story home to another generation that is passing down the torch of tradition. This year, the Jewish people will be gathering with a heavy heart, after having spent the last 6 months in a state of crisis. Weighing on all of our minds are all of those Passover Seders that are missing seats - those of the hostages as well as those of the thousands of fallen and wounded. Just a few weeks ago at CPAC we hosted Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose American-Israeli 35-year-old son Saguie remains in captivity. Mark & Julie Levine sensitively shared Sagui’s story with the conference attendees [link]. Sagui’s newborn daughter - who he has never met -  will likely experience her first passover without her father. This heartbreaking scene will be repeated in hundreds of homes. Our minds are clouded with images that belong to a dark past, of tyranny and evil. However, at the same time the Passover story also provides a glimmer of hope, as we know how the story ends. Playing in the background of the Seder will also be the story of all the adversity that has been overcome throughout the generations. And as the Seder concludes with the words “Next Year in Jerusalem”, Jews around the world are joined by friends and allies in reaffirming our commitment to speak out proudly against evil, to be a force for good, and - most importantly - to do our part to educate those around us to live in the image of G-d by endowing all of humanity with freedom to make the choices that uplift all of us.

In this episode Bill Walton is joined by Dr. Robert Malone in a wide ranging and engaging discussion about modern societal and financial control mechanisms. Their great concern is the relentless and growing overreach of both governments and corporations into personal freedoms through the guise of security, safety and public health. Robert W. Malone is an internationally recognized scientist/physician and the original inventor of mRNA vaccination as a technology. He holds numerous fundamental domestic and foreign patents in the fields of gene delivery, delivery formulations, and vaccines: including for fundamental DNA and RNA/mRNA vaccine technologies. He has developed some 100 scientific publications with over 14,000 citations of his work. He now focuses on daily podcasts, interviews, op-eds, advocacy with legislators and building a twitter feed of over a million people. His life changed from that of a scientist to an advocate because of his personal experiences and concerns regarding the safety and bioethics of how the COVID-19 genetic vaccines were developed and forced upon the world. He discovered the many short-cuts, database issues, obfuscation and frankly, lies told in the development of the Spike protein-based genetic vaccines for SARS-CoV-2. Some of the topics covered: The regulatory capture of the federal government has warped and shaped the work of Congress and Federal agencies to such an extent that they no longer represent what is in the best interests of the nation, the world, and humanity. WHO's Pandemic Treaty is intended to override most of our national sovereignty in health policy decisions, effectively allowing a global body to dictate local health measures. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) which have the potential to be a sinister tool for government financial surveillance and social control. Financial Privacy Concerns The payment processor Stripe, which recently demanded Malone's financial details, reflecting broader concerns about privacy and autonomy in financial transactions. Labeling Dissent as extreme, such as "far-right" or "Nazi," to delegitimize and silence criticism, comparing it to historical tactics used during the McCarthy era. Surveillance and Control under the guise of safety and security, suggesting a slippery slope toward more intrusive governmental and corporate practices. Robert Malone is a courageous and deep thinker, a man who should be listened to. Watch here.

Net neutrality is hardly neutral. Director of CPAC Foundation’s Center for Regulatory Freedom Andrew Langer breaks down the implications of the Biden administration’s resurrections of the Obama-introduced net neutrality. These regulations, imposed by the Obama era FCC, slowed innovation and Internet speed and decreased Internet quality. When the Trump administration removed net neutrality regulations, the United States enjoyed a time of Internet prosperity with high-quality and high-speed Internet even during a time of heavy use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, after a 2020 presidential election filled with disinformation spread through the Internet, censorship of conservative voices on social media and search engines, and amidst another presidential election, the Biden administration is reintroducing net neutrality. “This is a very different net neutrality proposal than it was under the Obama administration. What’s different about it? Well, now, the Left is unabashed about not caring about content neutrality online. Right, the Biden administration leading up the election in 2024, they’re all about combating misinformation online, disinformation online in the name of supposed national security,” Langer explained. “So, there is a huge national security component to this new net neutrality proposal that has come out of the FCC. And that is incredibly disturbing.” The new proposal is bound to be challenged, and the Center for Regulatory Freedom will be monitoring the developments of the regulation and challenge of the regulation. Watch the full episode here.

The recent efforts to reinterpret the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act's provisions—specifically the "March-in" rights—are not just attacks on a piece of legislation but on the very foundation of university-led innovation that sustains the United States' global leadership in technology and medicine. The efforts of the CPAC Foundation's Center for Regulatory Freedom, our partners in the Coalition Against Socialized Medicine, and our allies working to protect Bayh-Dole, clearly must have been doing something right, because in recent weeks those working to undermine the act have gone on the offensive--challenging us and our allies in social media, and publishing articles trying to shift the narrative. Helen Santoro’s recent article for Lever (and republished at Jacobin), is but one example, particularly targeting how universities like UCLA profit from federally funded research, like the cancer drug Xtandi. However, this criticism overlooks the fundamental benefits of the Act, especially for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their crucial role in fostering academic and community growth. The Bayh-Dole Act was a legislative milestone that transformed the landscape of federally funded research by allowing universities, small businesses, and non-profits to own patents on their innovations. This pivotal change facilitated a surge in technology transfer activities and has been crucial in translating academic research into real-world applications. Universities can patent discoveries made with federal funding and then license these patents to the private sector, creating a revenue stream that sustains further research and educational excellence. Critics of the Act, like Santoro, argue that it encourages universities to prioritize profits over public good, particularly in the context of pharmaceutical pricing. However, such critiques miss the broader picture of the Act’s impact. The revenue generated from these patents is a lifeline for many institutions, particularly smaller colleges and HBCUs, which often operate with limited budgets. This income supports further scientific research, academic programs, and scholarships, contributing to a cycle of innovation and education that benefits society at large. David Kappos, a staunch defender of intellectual property rights and a key figure in shaping modern patent policy, has emphasized the importance of the Bayh-Dole Act in maintaining a vibrant national economy centered on innovation. According to Kappos, the ability to secure patent rights on federally funded research encourages private sector investment in potentially risky but high-reward areas. This is not just about creating profits but about bringing scientific breakthroughs to the market where they can have real impact. For example, the development of Xtandi involved significant investment in terms of money and research hours, which was made possible only through the incentives provided by the Bayh-Dole Act. The revenue UCLA has earned from Xtandi is reinvested into the university, funding research facilities and academic scholarships that might otherwise be unaffordable. This model is especially crucial for HBCUs, which have historically been underfunded compared to other institutions. The ability to patent and license inventions provides these schools with a financial boost that can be transformative, promoting not only further research but also greater educational opportunities for traditionally marginalized communities. Moreover, the current debates around "March-in" rights—a provision that allows universities and research institutions that receive federal seed monies to license patents to third parties under specific circumstances—are particularly contentious. Critics pushing for a broader interpretation of these rights argue that it would help reduce drug prices. However, such a move could also undermine the financial model that has enabled university research to flourish. Kappos points out that broadening march-in rights to control prices was explicitly excluded from the Act's provisions, as it would introduce significant uncertainty into the patent licensing process, deterring private investment and stifling innovation. It's important to consider what is at stake if the Bayh-Dole Act is undermined. Without the revenue from patent licensing, universities might struggle to fund research at current levels, potentially slowing the pace of scientific discovery. This is particularly critical for HBCUs and smaller institutions, where such funds play an outsized role in resource allocation. The Bayh-Dole Act has been a cornerstone of America's innovation economy, particularly benefiting universities and research institutions, including HBCUs. Any efforts to reinterpret its provisions must carefully consider the potential impacts not just on drug prices but on the health of the institutions that drive American innovation. The ongoing success stories of universities turning research into real-world solutions affirm that those defending the Act's original intent are indeed on the right path. As the debate continues, it is crucial that the academic and broader communities understand the stakes involved and advocate for policies that support sustainable innovation and access to advancements in healthcare.