Podcast
Roots, Rights and Reason with Lee Smith
Hosted by AmericasFuture · EN
America's Future presents: Roots, Rights and Reason with Lee Smith cuts through the noise to reclaim the truth of America’s foundations. Bestselling author and investigative journalist Lee Smith dives deep every week into the ideas that built the United States—natural rights, liberty, the Constitution, and moral order. With top guests and sharp analysis, Lee exposes the forces threatening America’s future and explores how we can stand firm in truth and reason.
New episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET on Rumble and all major podcast platforms.
The Roots Rights & Reason Show - America's Future
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How Higher Education Turned Against America
4d ago00:28:57Tap to summarizeHow did America’s colleges and universities move from teaching the foundations of Western civilization to promoting ideologies increasingly hostile toward the nation’s history, principles, and institutions?In this episode of Roots, Rights & Reason, Lee Smith speaks with Peter Berkowitz, the Tad and Dianne Taube Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, about the rise of campus antisemitism following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks and its connection to a broader rejection of Israel, America, and the West.Berkowitz traces the decades-long decline of liberal education, explaining how universities shifted from helping students examine competing ideas to encouraging political activism and ideological conformity. He also discusses his forthcoming book, Reclaiming Liberal Education in America, and outlines how educators can restore intellectual inquiry, constitutional principles, and the study of America’s founding.The conversation concludes with a call for Americans to rediscover The Federalist Papers and the extraordinary experiment in ordered liberty entrusted to each generation.Follow Lee Smith on X https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit The Roots, Rights & Reason Show: https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-showSubscribe to our Rumble channel: https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFutureFollow Us On Social MediaX: https://x.com/AmerifutureFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFutureInc1946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americasfutureusaSubscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed: https://americasfuture.net/subscribe/
Transcribe →Restoring Faith and Unity in America with Dr. Ben Carson
2w ago00:25:14Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Roots, Rights & Reason, host Lee Smith welcomes Dr. Ben Carson for a timely conversation about faith, religious liberty, education, and the principles that shaped the United States. Dr. Carson explains why America’s growing secularism has weakened its sense of community and common purpose, and stresses the importance of teaching children an honest and complete account of American history while preparing the next generation to defend faith, liberty, community, and life.Drawing upon his extraordinary career as a pediatric neurosurgeon, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and founder of the American Cornerstone Institute, Dr. Carson also reflects on how his childhood faith inspired his calling to medicine, the future of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and his work empowering young people through education. Above all, he offers a message America urgently needs to hear: disagreement does not make us enemies, and restoring faith, unity, and respect for one another is essential to preserving the nation for generations to come.Follow Lee Smith on X https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit The Roots, Rights & Reason Show: https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-showSubscribe to our Rumble channel: https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFutureFollow Us On Social MediaX: https://x.com/AmerifutureFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFutureInc1946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americasfutureusaSubscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed: https://americasfuture.net/subscribe/Catch up on all past editions here: https://americasfuture.net/newsletter
Transcribe →The Rise and Fall of the California Dream
3w ago00:36:03Tap to summarizeThe Rise and Fall of the California DreamIn this episode of Roots, Rights & Reason, Lee Smith welcomes Michael Anton, former Director of the U.S. Department of State's Policy Planning Staff, former Deputy Assistant to President Donald J. Trump and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication, and Senior Fellow at the Claremont Institute, for a thoughtful discussion on California's remarkable transformation. Drawing from his newest collection of essays and his lifelong connection to the Golden State, Anton reflects on the culture, optimism, and opportunity that once defined California while examining the political and economic forces that have reshaped it over the past several decades.From the enduring influence of the Beach Boys and California's agricultural abundance to the state's changing political landscape and its impact on the American Dream, Anton offers both personal reflections and historical insight into one of America's most influential states. Blending culture, history, and public policy, this conversation asks an important question: Can the California Dream be restored, or has a defining chapter of the American story come to an end?Follow Lee Smith on X https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit The Roots, Rights & Reason Show: https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-showSubscribe to our Rumble channel: https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFutureFollow Us On Social MediaX: https://x.com/AmerifutureFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFutureInc1946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americasfutureusaSubscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed: https://americasfuture.net/subscribe/Catch up on all past editions here: https://americasfuture.net/newsletter
Transcribe →Inside The U.S.-China Trade Deal with Mitch Silk
4w ago00:34:03Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Roots, Rights & Reason, host Lee Smith sits down with Mitch Silk to explore the remarkable path that led him from a teenage job in a Florida restaurant to representing the United States at the highest levels of international trade negotiations.Silk offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the Trump administration's landmark Phase One trade agreement with China, sharing firsthand accounts from the negotiating table while examining the strategic challenges that continue to define the U.S.-China relationship. From trade and intellectual property to Taiwan, global energy, and economic diplomacy, this conversation provides valuable insight into America's evolving role on the world stage—and the relationships, leadership, and strategic thinking required to protect its interests.Follow Lee Smith on X https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit The Roots, Rights & Reason Show: https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-showSubscribe to our Rumble channel: https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFutureFollow Us On Social MediaX: https://x.com/AmerifutureFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFutureInc1946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americasfutureusaSubscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed: https://americasfuture.net/subscribe/Catch up on all past editions here: https://americasfuture.net/newsletter
Transcribe →The AI Race: Why Semiconductor Chips Will Shape The Future
Jul 1500:27:21Tap to summarizeArtificial intelligence is transforming nearly every aspect of modern life, but behind every AI breakthrough lies a technology few people fully understand: semiconductor chips. In this episode of Roots, Rights & Reason, Lee Smith welcomes back former University of Southern California President and engineering pioneer Max Nikias to explain why semiconductor innovation has become the defining geopolitical and technological competition of our time.Nikias explores why the United States currently leads the world in advanced semiconductor technology, how innovation has flourished in free and open societies, and why continued investment in education, research, and entrepreneurship will determine America's future. From national security and economic competitiveness to education and small business, this conversation offers an optimistic yet sobering look at the opportunities and challenges of the AI revolution, and why every American should begin learning how to harness its potential.Follow Lee Smith on X https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit The Roots, Rights & Reason Show: https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-showSubscribe to our Rumble channel: https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFutureFollow Us On Social MediaX: https://x.com/AmerifutureFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFutureInc1946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americasfutureusaSubscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed: https://americasfuture.net/subscribe/Catch up on all past editions here: https://americasfuture.net/newsletter
Transcribe →Manufacturing Movements: Inside Political Protest
Jul 800:25:32Tap to summarizeFeaturing Adam Swart, founder of Crowds on Demand and one of the nation’s leading experts on organized demonstrations and advocacy campaigns, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the mechanics of modern political protest. Drawing on more than a decade of experience coordinating lawful public events and grassroots advocacy efforts, Swart joins Lee Smith to discuss how demonstrations are organized, funded, and strategically mobilized in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape.Throughout the conversation, Smith and Swart examine the impact of social media on activism, the incentives driving large-scale protest movements, and the difference between meaningful civic engagement and demonstrations designed primarily for attention. They also explore the importance of transparency in political organizing, the role of funding and professional advocacy networks, and why Swart believes ordinary Americans are too often underrepresented in the public square.Follow Lee Smith on X https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit The Roots, Rights & Reason Show: https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-showSubscribe to our Rumble channel: https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFutureFollow Us On Social MediaX: https://x.com/AmerifutureFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFutureInc1946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americasfutureusaSubscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed: https://americasfuture.net/subscribe/Catch up on all past editions here: https://americasfuture.net/newsletter
Transcribe →The Scientific Case for Covid's Lab Origin
Jul 200:24:26Tap to summarizeFeaturing physician-scientist Dr. Steven Quay, author of the newly released book The Code as Witness, this episode explores the growing body of scientific evidence surrounding the origins of COVID-19. In conversation with Lee Smith, Dr. Quay outlines the research and molecular analysis that led him to conclude the virus originated in a laboratory rather than through natural transmission from a wildlife market.Throughout the discussion, Dr. Quay examines the unique characteristics of the virus, the implications of gain-of-function research, and the critical lessons the scientific community and policymakers should take away from the pandemic. The conversation also addresses the need for stronger biosecurity safeguards, improved oversight of high-risk laboratory research, and practical steps to reduce the likelihood of future global public health crises.Follow Lee Smith on X https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit The Roots, Rights & Reason Show: https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-showSubscribe to our Rumble channel: https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFutureFollow Us On Social MediaX: https://x.com/AmerifutureFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFutureInc1946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americasfutureusaSubscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed: https://americasfuture.net/subscribe/Catch up on all past editions here: https://americasfuture.net/newsletter
Transcribe →Is Cuba's Communist Regime Finally Collapsing?
Jun 2400:29:53Tap to summarizeEpisode Fifty-Two: Is Cuba’s Communist Regime Finally Collapsing? Lee Smith and returning guest J. Michael Waller, Senior Analyst for Strategy at the Center for Security Policy and author of Big Intel: How the CIA and FBI Went from Cold War Heroes to Deep State Villains examine the current state of Cuba’s communist regime, the growing pressures threatening its survival, and the pivotal role the United States could play in shaping the island’s future.Throughout the episode, Waller explores Cuba’s decades-long influence on international intelligence operations, its enduring relationship with adversarial powers, and the strategic opportunities facing the Trump administration as the regime weakens. The discussion also delves into the broader implications for U.S. national security, Cold War-era espionage networks, and what the collapse of communist rule in Havana could mean for both Cuba and the Western Hemisphere.Follow Lee Smith on X https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit The Roots, Rights & Reason Show: https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-showSubscribe to our Rumble channel: https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFutureFollow Us On Social MediaX: https://x.com/AmerifutureFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFutureInc1946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americasfutureusaSubscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed: https://americasfuture.net/subscribe/Catch up on all past editions here: https://americasfuture.net/newsletter
Transcribe →Mass Migration and the Crisis of the West
Jun 1700:26:53Tap to summarizeIn Episode Fifty-One of Roots, Rights & Reason, host Lee Smith welcomes political philosopher and writer Nathan Pinkoski for a timely discussion titled Mass Migration and the Crisis of the West. The conversation examines the controversy surrounding the 1973 French novel The Camp of the Saints, which recently drew renewed attention after being temporarily removed from Amazon, and explores why its themes continue to resonate today.Smith and Pinkoski discuss mass migration, censorship, multiculturalism, and the growing identity crisis facing the West. The episode explores the loss of cultural confidence in Europe and the United States, the influence of decolonization ideology, and the broader debate over national identity, assimilation, and the future of Western civilization.Follow Lee Smith on X https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit The Roots, Rights & Reason Show: https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-showSubscribe to our Rumble channel: https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFutureFollow Us On Social MediaX: https://x.com/AmerifutureFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFutureInc1946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americasfutureusaSubscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed: https://americasfuture.net/subscribe/Catch up on all past editions here: https://americasfuture.net/newsletter
Transcribe →AI in Education
Jun 1000:31:27Tap to summarizeLee Smith welcomes career educator and philosopher Jake Tawney for a thought-provoking discussion on one of the most consequential issues facing classrooms today: the rise of artificial intelligence in education. In Episode Fifty of Roots, Rights & Reason, Tawney challenges the conventional debate over AI by arguing that the most important questions are not about technology itself, but about what it means to be human, how students learn, and whether artificial intelligence is gradually replacing the very skills education is meant to cultivate.Throughout the conversation, Smith and Tawney explore the distinction between AI algorithms and conversational interfaces like ChatGPT, examining how these tools may shape human communication, critical thinking, and intellectual development. Tawney warns that technologies designed to automate reasoning inevitably risk diminishing the human capacities they replace, while also offering practical guidance for parents, educators, and policymakers seeking to navigate AI responsibly in the classroom. The episode presents a timely and philosophical examination of a rapidly evolving technology and its profound implications for the future of education, human formation, and society itself.Follow Lee Smith on X https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit The Roots, Rights & Reason Show: https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-showSubscribe to our Rumble channel: https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFutureFollow Us On Social MediaX: https://x.com/AmerifutureFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFutureInc1946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americasfutureusaSubscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed: https://americasfuture.net/subscribe/Catch up on all past editions here: https://americasfuture.net/newsletter
Transcribe →