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
13episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
What Happened To Harvard? with Harvey Mansfield
4d ago00:26:27Tap to summarizeLee Smith welcomes renowned political philosopher, Harvard professor, and author Harvey Mansfield for a candid conversation about the decline of one of America’s most influential institutions. Drawing from his latest book, Where Harvard Went Wrong, Mansfield reflects on more than seven decades at Harvard and explains how the university gradually shifted from a place of intellectual diversity to one increasingly shaped by political activism, ideological conformity, and institutional groupthink.Throughout the episode, Smith and Mansfield examine the cultural and political forces that transformed higher education, from the student rebellions of the 1960s to the rise of modern campus activism. The discussion explores Harvard’s recent controversies, including leadership failures, declining public trust, grade inflation, antisemitism concerns, and the growing divide between academic elites and the broader American public. While acknowledging the serious challenges facing Harvard and other universities, Mansfield also offers a measured assessment of the path forward and why restoring intellectual balance remains essential to the future of higher education in America.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 →Killed To Order: China's Organ Harvesting Industry
2w ago00:32:36Tap to summarizeIn Episode Forty-Eight of Roots, Rights & Reason, host Lee Smith welcomes award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and New York Times bestselling author Jan Jekielek for a sobering discussion about one of the most disturbing human rights atrocities of the modern era. Drawing from his newly released book Killed to Order, Jekielek exposes the Chinese Communist Party’s state-run forced organ harvesting industry and explains how prisoners of conscience, particularly Falun Gong practitioners, became targets of a system driven by political repression, dehumanization, and profit.Throughout the episode, Smith and Jekielek examine how decades of Western engagement with Communist China overlooked mounting evidence of brutality in pursuit of economic partnership. The conversation explores the CCP’s use of propaganda, coercion, and global influence operations, while highlighting growing efforts in the United States to expose forced organ harvesting and hold those responsible accountable. It is a powerful discussion about morality, totalitarianism, and the true nature of America’s greatest geopolitical adversary.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 →No Liberty to Libel: Rethinking Free Speech In America
3w ago00:32:01Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Roots, Rights & Reason, Lee Smith welcomes Carson Holloway, Washington Fellow in the Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life and author of No Liberty to Libel: The Constitutional Case Against New York Times v. Sullivan. Holloway examines one of the most consequential Supreme Court decisions in modern history, arguing that the “actual malice” standard established in New York Times v. Sullivan has strayed from the Constitution’s original meaning and made it extraordinarily difficult for public figures to defend their reputations against false and damaging claims.Drawing on the Founders’ understanding of natural rights, Holloway explains that reputation was once regarded as a fundamental right alongside life, liberty, and property. As today’s media landscape is shaped by rapid information cycles, anonymous sourcing, and the widespread reach of digital platforms, the conversation raises urgent questions about accountability, public trust, and the future of American discourse, and whether the Supreme Court may be ready to revisit one of its most influential First Amendment precedents.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 Classical Roots of Leadership
4w ago00:29:30Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Roots, Rights & Reason, Lee Smith welcomes C. L. Max Nikias for a compelling conversation on leadership, resilience, and the enduring wisdom of the classical world. Drawing from the works of Homer and Xenophon, Dr. Nikias explains how the traits of great leaders, vision, discipline, courage, and self-restraint have been understood for centuries and remain essential today.From his personal journey as an immigrant to his leadership at one of America’s top universities, Dr. Nikias reflects on the principles that shape strong leadership in times of uncertainty. This episode explores how classical education informed the Founding Fathers, why resilience is the defining test of leadership, and what it will take to cultivate the next generation of leaders in a rapidly changing world.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 Western Way of War
May 600:40:34Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Roots, Rights & Reason, Lee Smith welcomes historian Victor Davis Hanson for a clear and grounded look at what defines the “Western way of war” and how it is shaping modern conflict. Hanson explains that, at its core, this approach relies on overwhelming technological superiority, precision targeting, and strategic infrastructure disruption; seeking decisive outcomes without prolonged ground engagements. Drawing on current tensions in the Middle East, he contrasts this doctrine with insurgent-style warfare, arguing that restraint from entering drawn-out, on-the-ground conflicts is not weakness, but strategic discipline. The conversation expands into a broader geopolitical lens, exploring how economic pressure, supply chain disruption, and coalition dynamics function as extensions of military force. Hanson outlines how blockades and targeted strikes can weaken regimes not only militarily but internally, accelerating political fracture and forcing high-stakes decisions from leadership. With historical parallels ranging from World War II to the Cold War, this episode offers a clear-eyed assessment of how modern power is exercised, and what victory may look like in an era where dominance is measured as much by strategic patience and leverage as by force.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 Multipolar Shift: Who Controls The World Next?
Apr 2900:25:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Roots, Rights & Reason, Lee Smith welcomes returning guest J. Michael Waller for a timely discussion on the concept of multipolarity and its growing influence in global affairs.Smith and Waller examine competing visions of global order, from alliance-based systems rooted in shared interests to spheres of influence dominated by adversarial regimes. The conversation explores the role of NATO, the rise of China, shifting dynamics in the Middle East, and the future of American leadership on the world stage. At a moment of rapid geopolitical change, this episode offers a clear-eyed assessment of what is at stake in the debate over the balance of global power.Follow Lee Smith on X: https://x.com/LeeSmithDCFollow J. Michael Waller on X: https://x.com/JMichaelWallerNew 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 Birthright Citizenship Debate
Apr 2700:32:23Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Roots, Rights & Reason, Lee Smith welcomes renowned legal scholar Richard A. Epstein for a timely and thought-provoking examination of birthright citizenship and the original meaning of the 14th Amendment. Drawing on decades of scholarship in constitutional and Roman law, Epstein challenges widely accepted interpretations and argues that modern legal frameworks have strayed far from the historical statutes that once governed citizenship in the United States.Together, they explore the role of naturalization laws, the legal distinction between allegiance and jurisdiction, and the broader implications for national sovereignty and the rule of law. As debates over immigration and citizenship continue to shape the American political landscape, this conversation offers a deeper look at the legal foundations and consequences behind one of the most contested constitutional questions of our time.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 →Taxation and Tyranny
Apr 1500:32:25Tap to summarizeLee Smith welcomes Constitutional Attorney KrisAnne Hall to examine the original constitutional framework of taxation and how far the United States has departed from the Founders’ design. Drawing on founding-era documents and early American history, Hall explains how taxation was intended to function at the state level, with the federal government relying primarily on tariffs and limited, apportioned contributions from the states. She outlines the philosophical foundation behind this structure, rooted in consent, representation, and the protection of individual liberty.The discussion traces the pivotal shift from that system to the modern federal income tax, exploring how wartime measures, political incentives, and the passage of the 16th Amendment reshaped the balance of power between the citizen and the central government. Smith and Hall also examine the long-term consequences of direct taxation, the role of regulation in expanding federal authority, and the broader question of whether the current system aligns with the principles of a constitutional republic.Follow Host Lee Smith on X: https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-show/Subscribe to our Rumble channel : https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFuture?e9s=src_v1_saFollow Us On Social MediaFacebook: (20+) FacebookTwitter: (2) America's Future USA (@amerifuture) / XInstagram: Americas Future USA (@americasfutureusa) • Instagram photos and videos
Transcribe →Mathematics and the Formation of the American Mind
Apr 800:28:13Tap to summarizeLee Smith welcomes educator and author Jake Tawney to examine the true nature of mathematics and its role in shaping both the individual mind and the American founding. Challenging the modern view of math as mere computation, Tawney argues that mathematics is fundamentally about truth, discovery, and the formation of human reason; training the mind to think clearly, pursue what is true, and communicate it effectively.Drawing on the intellectual traditions of the Founding Fathers, the conversation highlights how mathematical reasoning played a critical role in early American governance, including the debate that led to President George Washington’s first veto. As modern education moves away from these foundations, Tawney makes the case that recovering mathematics as a formative discipline is essential not only for intellectual development, but for the preservation of a free and self-governing society.Follow Host Lee Smith on X: https://x.com/LeeSmithDCNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-show/Subscribe to our Rumble channel : https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFuture?e9s=src_v1_saFollow Us On Social MediaFacebook: (20+) FacebookTwitter: (2) America's Future USA (@amerifuture) / XInstagram: Americas Future USA (@americasfutureusa) • Instagram photos and videos
Transcribe →The Information State and the War for Truth
Apr 200:27:47Tap to summarizeEpisode Forty: The Information State and the War for TruthIn this focused discussion, Lee Smith sits down with writer Jacob Siegel to examine what information warfare actually is and how it has evolved from a tool of foreign conflict into a defining force within American political life. Drawing from his new book The Information State: Politics in the Age of Total Control, Siegel explains how modern information warfare extends beyond propaganda to include the struggle for narrative control, the manipulation of communications systems, and the targeting of decision-making itself.The conversation traces how efforts to combat foreign disinformation gradually expanded into the regulation of domestic speech, blurring the line between legitimate national security concerns and the policing of American political expression. Smith and Siegel also explore the deeper philosophical roots of information control, the danger it poses to national sovereignty, and what it would take to recover a public sphere that protects both truth and liberty.Follow Host Lee Smith on X: @leesmithDCFollow Jacob Siegl on X: https://x.com/Jacob__SiegelNew episodes drop every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.To watch Roots, Rights and Reason, visit https://www.americasfuture.net/the-roots-rights-reason-show/Subscribe to our Rumble channel : https://rumble.com/c/AmericasFuture?e9s=src_v1_saFollow Us On Social MediaFacebook: (20+) FacebookTwitter: (2) America's Future USA (@amerifuture) / XInstagram: Americas Future USA (@americasfutureusa) • Instagram photos and videos
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