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Lara Trump joined Mercedes Schlapp on America Uncanceled in February to share her thoughts on the 2024 presidential election, share updates on President Donald Trump’s campaign, and to discuss the strategic path forward she saw for the RNC. After landslide wins in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada, President Donald Trump solidified himself as the favorite Republican candidate among Americans. These wins caused candidates Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy to drop out of the race and endorse President Trump. In contrast, Nikki Haley, funded by never-Trumpers, refused to drop out despite embarrassing losses in these states. “It’s very clear at this point that everyone in the Republican Party and honestly, I would say anyone who cares about the future of this country wants Donald J. Trump to be their nominee for president, and I believe that we are going to see a historic win for him on November 5th of this year,” said Lara Trump. President Trump’s victories thus far indicate that Americans are waking up to the dark reality President Biden has led America to, a stark contrast to the peace and prosperity we enjoyed under the Trump administration. Illegal immigration, inflation, and a weaponized federal government are driving Americans to the Republican Party, and President Trump is rallying Americans around his America first message and proven leadership. Since this interview, Lara Trump was elected to co-chair of the RNC. She was unanimously elected to the position which will support the new chair of the RNC, Michael Whatley. Whatley and Trump are taking the reins from Ronna McDaniel who stepped down after several years of turmoil and tension with conservatives in the party. The rise of Whatley and Trump to leadership in the RNC gives hope for a conservative revival in the Republican Party and the nation.

Dobbs v. Jackson overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, removing the federal stamp of approval on abortion and kicking the issue back to the states. The decision reopened the debate on where abortion should be decided: at the federal level or the state level. At the last two CPAC national conferences, CPAC posed this question to its attendees in the annual straw poll, and both years yielded overwhelming results in favor of the state level. In the 2023 straw poll, participants were asked, “Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe Vs. Wade, which should Republicans make more a priority: 1. Regulating abortion laws at the state level, or 2. Continuing to push for more abortion laws through Congress”. A resounding 74% of participants responded in favor of regulating abortion laws at the state level. That number only grew in the 2024 CPAC straw poll. This year, 83% responded in favor of the issue being decided by the states. Both years, only 13% of participants advocated for a national solution while the percentage of those undecided shrunk from one to the next. In 2023, 13% were unsure of how the issue of abortion should be settled, but in 2024, just 4% had yet to make up their mind. The conclusion is clear, and the American people are certain: abortion is not a federal issue. The American people want the Tenth Amendment upheld and the issue decided by the states.

Mercedes Schlapp sat down with Journalist and host of The Megyn Kelly Show, Megyn Kelly at CPAC in DC 2024 for a discussion on the state of the media, the Left’s weaponization of government, and the Left’s attacks on children. Kelly’s twenty years in reporting have given her a front row seat for the Left’s takeover of the mainstream media. What started as subtle, left-wing sympathies morphed into explicit support of the Democrat Party in the 2016 presidential election. Mainstream media’s covering of the Trump campaign and later Trump presidency became an onslaught of calculated attacks on the conservative president and his supporters. Kelly calls this the “assisted suicide” of the mainstream media that killed the industry and gave rise to the thriving alternative media industry where conservatives have found refuge. “They thought it was important to say their own opinion, ‘He’s a bigot. He’s a racist. He’s a this. He's a that.’ And completely sacrificed their objectivity and in so doing, sacrificed the industry. I’ve said before it was an assisted suicide. Trump helped them, but they did it to themselves,” Kelly explained. The Left was not satisfied with stopping at censoring conservatives and have now weaponized the justice department to wage lawfare against President Trump and his supporters. The case in Fulton County, Georgia is a prime example. The District Attorney Fani Willis has shown herself to be nothing but corrupt after she unsuccessfully attempted to cover up her conflict-of-interest affair with the prosecutor on the case, Nathan Wade. Much like in the New York and Mar-a-Lago cases, the case Willis is overseeing is a witch hunt based on weak or even manufactured evidence intended to intimidate, ruin, and prevent the former president from ever returning to office. “We never used to do this to each other. We would fight; we knew we disagreed...but we would never put a man’s freedom at risk because we disagreed with him,” said Kelly. The Left has not only put our conservative leaders in danger but are putting America’s children in danger with radical transgender policies for women’s sports. Incidents are increasing of young girls severely injured by a female-identifying male playing on girls’ sports teams. These incidents have escalated the issue of biological males competing with females from giving equal opportunities to girls to concern for the safety of female athletes. A young girl in North Carolina suffered permanent brain injuries and paralysis after receiving a blow to the head with a volleyball spiked by a male player. In Massachusetts, a female field hockey player’s teeth were knocked out when she was hit in the face by a ball thrown by a male player. Still more, three more female athletes were injured in a basketball game by a 6 foot tall male player. Kelly warned, “Someone’s going to die. Find your voice.” Watch the full conversation on X @CPAC.

The prosperity and freedom of the American people is the very last concern of the current federal government and representatives that the American people have elected. Florida Congressman Byron Donalds called out this perversion of the purpose of the federal government in his remarks at CPAC in DC 2024. From billions of dollars in aid being sent to Ukraine, more funds supporting illegal immigrants, the weaponization of the justice system against citizens, and energy policy burdening Americans’ everyday lives and activities, the federal government is truly failing to perform its duty of serving the American people. As Donalds, stated, “The federal government has one primary job. It’s to secure this nation and to secure its people. That’s its first job before anything else.” And the federal government is failing in its job. The contrast between the massive amounts of aid being sent abroad while the American people suffer from an invasion of militant illegal aliens at our own southern border and under a declining economy most clearly demonstrates the real loyalties of our governing officials, and they do not lie with the American people. Strong leadership like that of President Donald Trump can correct course, return the power to the people, and make America strong and prosperous again. “We have to have leadership that holds our government accountable,” Donalds said. “We have to have leadership that’s going to have a bold vision of what we should do and not be afraid of polls, of what people think we need to do. We got to have leadership that’s going to say tough things when we need to hear them, and we have that leadership this November in Donald J. Trump.” For more, visit CPAC.org or follow @CPAC on social media. You can also follow Matt Schlapp @MSchlapp or Mercedes Schlapp @MercedesSchlapp to keep up with current events.

America is suffering from an epidemic of loneliness, and author of “The Weaponization of Loneliness” Stella Morabito explains the epidemic is the result of a deliberate plan from the Left taken from an ages old playbook. The Left has deployed identity politics and cancel culture to compartmentalize individuals into specific groups and force conformity while isolating, censoring, and ostracizing those who do not conform. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns further enforced a sense of conformity by doubling down on censorship and adding physical isolation to the existing social isolation created by identity politics and cancel culture. “Political censorship is designed to isolate us, get us to shut up about what we believe, or even lie about what we believe, and that creates even more isolation even though people think they’re getting relief from isolation by obeying this conformity impulse,” explained Morabito. “When you look at political correctness and the censorship industrial complex...it’s really an anti-thought, anti-friendship, anti-conversation process and when you isolate people it sort of creates a captor-hostage situation.” In this way, the Left has weaponized loneliness to force dependency on the state and eradicate freedom of speech and thought. In response, Morabito has started Stella’s Book Club. Her book club offers community to those who dare to think freely and who otherwise would be isolated by the Left’s culture of conformity. The club and Morabito’s book combat the weaponization of loneliness with more speech and diverse conversation. Learn more about the club at stellasbookclub.com and find “The Weaponization of Loneliness” online. For more, visit CPAC.org or follow @CPAC on social media. You can also follow Matt Schlapp @MSchlapp or Mercedes Schlapp @MercedesSchlapp to keep up with current events.

Last month, CPAC Foundation’s Nolan Center for Justice joined ranks with Faith and Freedom Coalition to pen a letter to Brad Zaun, Chairman of Iowa Senate Judiciary Committee urging reforms like those of President Trump’s First Step Act to the state probation system. The letter identified three states that implemented compliance credit programs with positive results. Compliance credit programs such as the ones cited in the letter encourage continuing education and stable employment while shortening probation periods and reducing the load on taxpayer funded probation programs. As such, the letter urges Iowa to implement a similar compliance credit program to both solve their workforce crisis and save valuable taxpayer funds. Last March, the Iowa House proposed a bill suggesting a system, in which, “an individual on probation may earn discharge credits, educational credits, and workforce credits that reduce the individual’s term of probation.” The system proposed to reward educational achievements, stable employment, and probation compliance with shortened probation terms. The bill passed the House last year and was picked up again in February of this year by the Senate with a fiscal note, exploring the financial impact of the system. Read Nolan Center for Justice and Faith and Freedom Coalition’s full comments on compliance credit systems in the letter here.

This episode features the CPAC in DC 2024 panel discussion with Tim Ballard and Eduardo Verastegui moderated by Nancy Ross on the horrors of human trafficking. Ballard and the work he did as a Homeland Security Agent to rescue victims of child sex trafficking was the inspiration behind the film, The Sound of Freedom. The movie declared, “God’s children are not for sale.” Verastegui, producer of the film, faced rejection for five years over this film until Angel Studios picked it up and gave a platform to the movie’s message. The film made waves last summer when it debuted for exposing the ugly reality of human trafficking. Americans flocked to theaters to support the film and its message, but the movie still met its critics from the media and the $150 billion dollar industry that is human trafficking. “The experts, the professionals, they told us, ‘This movie’s not going to work. Nobody will see a movie about child trafficking.’ Five years…rejected,” said Verastegui. “They didn’t believe in the movie, but you know who believed in the movie? The people. And the people said, ‘Enough is enough. God’s children are not for sale.’” The movie was a crucial cooperation between American and Mexican filmmakers whose home countries are the largest consumer of trafficking and the largest supplier of trafficking, respectively. As Ballard explained, “The Sound of Freedom would have forced a conversation [the Left] didn’t want to have, especially on the border, where tens of thousands of kids have disappeared into the belly of the United States, which is the number one consumer of child rape videos in the world. So, this is not the place you want to be [as] a child unaccompanied in our country, and they’re given no respect, no regard.” The Sound of Freedom prompted Verastegui, seeing his country on the brink of disaster, to run for President of Mexico. He believes cooperation between the governments of United States and Mexico is necessary to end the tragedy of human trafficking and promises to take action and pursue a productive relationship with the United States if he assumes office. He stated, “Through bilateral efforts we can make again Mexico and the United States great together.” For more, visit CPAC.org or follow @CPAC on social media. You can also follow Matt Schlapp @MSchlapp or Mercedes Schlapp @MercedesSchlapp to keep up with current events.

Brazilian journalist Marco Antônio Costa speaks with Mercedes Schlapp on the Lula Da Silva regime’s persecution of political opponents on this special edition of America Uncanceled. The Brazil Supreme Court recently established a new Center to Combat Disinformation and Protect Democracy intended to target critics of the Supreme Court and Lula Da Silva regime. In other words, the judiciary has legitimized “crimes of opinion” and officially eradicated free speech. The court has already arrested and charged a photographer, homeless man, and popcorn vendor who were present at a conservative protest with no proof of criminal activity or violence, but these individuals have still been charged without ability to appeal. Costa himself is a victim to this political persecution that is also censoring journalists who dare report truthfully or express conservative opinions. “We are living under fire by the Supreme Court,” said Costa. This tyranny is holding the Brazilian people captive with fear. They are afraid to speak out and take action, but Costa advises, “Silence is never an option.” He warns that journalists who do not expose the tyranny in Brazil are accomplices to the tyranny, and he urges action. For more, visit CPAC.org or follow @CPAC on social media. You can also follow Matt Schlapp @MSchlapp or Mercedes Schlapp @MercedesSchlapp to keep up with current events.

Brazilian Congresswoman Bia Kicis shares the struggles her and other conservatives are facing in Brazil with Matt Schlapp on this special episode of America Uncanceled. Conservatives like Kicis no longer have free speech, despite the Brazilian constitution guaranteeing it. Conservatives in Brazil are being thrown in jail for as much as criticizing the Supreme Court or the Lula Da Silva regime. “They are afraid of the truth,” Kicis says of the Left’s hatred of free speech. “The people of Brazil are mostly conservative. They are Christian, and [the Left doesn’t] want the truth to come out because the truth…is not beautiful. The truth is they want to take away our freedom.” Fortunately, not all hope is lost. The people of Brazil have proven their ability to unite and gather in great numbers in support of freedom and conservative values. The victory of Javier Milei in Argentina gives the Brazilian people hope that a conservative revival is still possible. Kicis believes that if conservatives can just unite and organize, they can defeat the Left. “While there’s life, there is battle and there is hope,” she said. “We have to win the battle.” For more, visit CPAC.org or follow @CPAC on social media. You can also follow Matt Schlapp @MSchlapp or Mercedes Schlapp @MercedesSchlapp to keep up with current events. Share

Hallelujah! He is risen! We rejoice today at the glorious resurrection of our Lord whose Passion and Death secured our redemption. Just as His suffering brought His resurrection so does it promise to bring us new life. This reality offers us joy and comfort every day but especially today amidst the tensions, evils, and trials of earthly life. Let us take heart this Easter knowing that the trials each of us face, both big and small, unite us closer to the Lord who transforms our trials and “makes all things new” and who through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection gives us hope that we will be reunited with God in perfect happiness in heaven. From the CPAC family to yours, have a Happy and Blessed Easter!

Alexandria, VA – CPAC Foundation has released the 53rd Edition of its annual Ratings of Congress. This report, widely considered the “gold standard” on evaluating political ideology, includes an exhaustive compilation of 76 key roll call votes in the House and 41 key roll call votes in the Senate. This comprehensive report evaluates more than 35,000 individual votes cast by all 535 members of Congress across the full spectrum of policy issues. “CPAC is excited to present the 53rd edition of CPAC Foundation’s Ratings of Congress. We are proud to carry on the responsibility of holding our representatives in Washington D.C. accountable to the American public,” said CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp. “Freed from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, conservatives finally received the chance to promote and vote on a wide array of amendments. The incredible diversity of issues touched on by these amendments has helped differentiate establishment Republicanism from the true constitutional conservatives more than ever.” Lawmakers receiving the Award for Conservative Excellence for Conservative Ratings of 90% or above: Lawmakers receiving the Award for Conservative Achievement for Conservative Ratings of 80% to 89%: To produce this year’s scorecard, CPAC Foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability analyzed every vote taken last session and selected a wide array of issues relating to fiscal matters, taxation, regulation, education, the environment, Second Amendment rights, election security, life, and government integrity. All lawmakers in America at the federal and state levels are scored on a 100-point scale. Among the lowest scoring Republican Members of the U.S. Senate were Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY-68%), Mitt Romney (R-UT-59%), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK-55%), and Susan Collins (R-ME-54%). Despite being touted by the media as ‘moderates,’ the highest scoring Democrats in the U.S. Senate received the following paltry scores: Joe Manchin (D-WV-30%), Jon Tester (D-MT-15%), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ-12%). Congress became even more polarized during President Biden’s third year in office. Democrats only voted with the conservative position an average of 2% of the time, demonstrating a level of cohesion not found among Republicans, the likes of whom average an 80%. In total, Congress votes with the conservative position just 41% of the time. CPAC Foundation is the first and only organization in America to annually publish individual ratings for all the nearly 8,000 federal and state lawmakers in America. CPAC Foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability is also home to the nation’s most comprehensive conservative policy database, containing over 23,000 detailed bill analyses which span 50 years of Congress and all 50 state legislatures.

CPAC Foundation’s Nolan Center for Justice recently penned a letter to Chair of the Corrections and Criminal Law Committee Aaron Freeman urging the adoption of policies that would allow elderly and seriously ill inmates to request sentence modifications. Last year, the Indiana legislature considered House Bill 1648 that proposed early releases for elderly and terminally ill inmates reasoning that these individuals historically have low recidivism rates and are more costly to the state prison system. The bill was passed by the House and was referred to the Corrections and Criminal Law Committee upon arriving in the Senate. The Nolan Center for Justice’s letter cited data from the United States Sentencing Commission and the Indiana Department of Corrections on the low recidivism rates for these groups and from the National Institute of Corrections on the higher costs of these inmates. Director of the Nolan Center for Justice Patrick Plein urged Chairman Freeman “to support and advance fiscally prudent, conservative policies that would provide a narrow, but meaningful opportunity for geriatric and medical sentence to a population that poses no risk to public safety.” Read the full letter here.