The Isabel Brown Show – Detailed Summary

Episode Overview

Episode Title: The Conservative “Civil War” Is Real—Here’s The Fix
Date: February 20, 2026
Host: Isabel Brown (The Daily Wire)
Guest: Dr. Kevin Roberts (President, The Heritage Foundation)

This episode explores the current state and future of the American conservative movement, focusing on internal rifts referred to as the “conservative civil war,” strategies for revitalizing conservatism, and the impact of Heritage Foundation’s policy playbooks, especially Project 2025. Isabel and Dr. Roberts discuss generational frustrations, policy successes, and how the right can unify and govern moving forward.

Main Themes and Purpose

• Addressing the so-called "conservative civil war" and ideological fragmentation on the right.
• Explaining the goals and impact of Heritage Foundation projects (especially Project 2025).
• Strategies for conservatives to move from reaction to proactive governance.
• The importance of reviving American institutions, especially the family, local government, and education.
• Responding to Gen Z’s concerns and redefining what conservatism means for coming generations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What is the Heritage Foundation? (03:32)

• Roberts: Heritage is more than a think tank; it's a “right-of-center public policy organization” that advocates for solutions at federal and increasingly state levels, and even influences international conversations.
• Quote: “We will work with anybody, anytime, anywhere, on any issue on which there's agreement.” (04:37)

2. Project 2025: Conservative Policy Blueprint (06:19)

• Heritage’s Project 2025 served as a large-scale policy coordination effort—mimicking the left’s organizational tactics, not their ideology.
• Coordinated 110 conservative groups, resulting in nearly 1900 recommendations for a conservative administration. Within a year, 800 were implemented under Trump/Vance.
• Roberts: “That’s the kind of thing that scares the left, because what are those recommendations aimed at? The source of their power, the American administrative state.” (07:49)

Notable Policy Examples (08:36)

• Elimination of the Department of Education: a long-standing Heritage goal.
• Elimination of USAID: Removing instruments viewed as misusing American tax dollars overseas.
• Quote: “This is the first time in the history of the conservative movement that we have the entire elimination of departments or agencies that stand in the way of self-governance.” (09:50)

3. Fragmentation in the Conservative Movement (11:31, 36:37)

• Loss of unifying figure Charlie Kirk; anticipation for a future after Trump cannot run in 2028.
• Importance of establishing a new blueprint and vision for the right, avoiding excessive intra-movement fighting.
• Roberts: “We spend way too much time having these internecine fights. We need to be focused on aspirational vision…” (27:55)

4. Heritage’s Four Cornerstones for Conservative Renewal (13:16)

1. Revitalization of the American Family: “If we don’t revitalize… the American family, this republic is done.” (12:06)
2. Dignity of Work and True Free Enterprise: Focus on small business and genuine economic opportunity—not “crony corporatism.”
3. Revitalized National Security: Less interventionism, more emphasis on allies pulling their own weight, and ensuring American self-interest.
4. Reclaiming American Citizenship Identity: Cultural assimilation and pride in American uniqueness.

5. Gen Z and International Policy (17:33)

• Shift from old-guard Republican interventionism to restraint and prioritizing domestic interests (ex: Heritage’s opposition to Ukraine aid).
• Roberts: “We want Ukraine to win, but we want the Europeans to pull their weight... There should be very, very few wars because America’s economic strength, its cultural strength… just that alone has reminded the world who the boss is.” (19:20)

6. Frustrations of Young Conservatives (22:38)

• Young people, especially men under 35, support more aggressive conservative policies—sometimes feeling the administration isn’t bold enough (e.g., on immigration, abortion).
• Heritage agrees: “...the reason for those pendulum swings… is because Washington still succeeds enough—establishment Washington still succeeds frequently enough to block his [Trump’s] agenda.” (22:38)

7. Mistakes and Missed Opportunities on the Right (24:58)

• Tentativeness of Republican policymakers.
• Over-acceptance of left-wing media narratives by the conservative base.
• Too much energy spent on internal arguments instead of unified action.
• Roberts: “The thing that Heritage is probably best known for... is the statement: stop being so tentative. You’ve been elected duly to do XYZ job. You have appropriate legal and constitutional authority. Pull all of the levers.” (27:55)

8. Recapturing Institutions & Building a Parallel Economy (29:24)

• First step: parallel institutions (schools, media, businesses) to create alternatives.
• Second step: Re-entering and recapturing mainstream institutions—especially public schools and other enduring bodies.
• Example: Recent conservative reforms at University of Texas; cautious optimism for similar change elsewhere.

9. The Problem of "Chronically Online" Conservatism and Factionalism (36:37)

• The big tent must remain welcoming of ideological diversity, though vigilance is needed on non-negotiable values (e.g., rejecting anti-Semitism).
• After Kirk’s death, concern over lack of unifying figures and increasing online infighting.
• Roberts: “We need to spend time remembering what we agree on—an aspirational vision. And where there are differences... say what aren’t the ideas in our system, but even more, what we stand for.” (38:03)

10. Policy Priorities for the Future & Washington’s To-Do List (39:57)

• Top issues: Affordability, Health Care Reform, Education Reform.
• Critique: “Squishy Republicans” and big business lobby money often block meaningful healthcare reform.
• Urgency for more boldness in “pulling the levers” of power.

Voter ID: The SAVE Act (41:52)

• Emphasized as common sense, highly popular even among Democrats (71% support).
• Calls for grassroots action: “Call your members of Congress and the Senate… You must pass the Save America Act.” (43:20)

11. Research for Real Impact: Heritage’s Indexes (44:51)

• Index of Military Strength: Shows decline under previous administrations, improvement under Trump/Vance.
• Index of Economic Freedom: American resurgence and international emulation (e.g., Japan’s new government).

12. Revitalizing Federalism and State-Level Innovation (51:19)

• States as crucibles for conservative policy—school choice, tax reform, deregulation.
• Contrasting Virginia’s leftward shift with “Freedom Caucus” Wyoming and reformist southern states.
• Roberts: “Conservatives, spend more time thinking about your states. That’s where the future is.” (53:19)

13. The Primacy of the Family (55:29)

• Reinforcing the importance of the family table and engaged parenting as the bedrock of American civic life.
• Roberts: “The family dinner table every single night can be a glimpse of heaven in this life.” (57:51)

14. Optimism for Gen Z and the Future of Conservatism (58:10)

• Gen Z is “willing to go fight for that future because you understand that there’s something to fight for.”
• Roberts: “I’m exceedingly optimistic about Gen Z. I think y’ all are awesome.” (58:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Kevin Roberts, on why Project 2025 alarmed the left:
  “That’s the kind of thing that scares the left, because what are those recommendations aimed at? The source of their power, the American administrative state.” (07:49)

• Isabel Brown, on frustration with the right’s tentativeness:
  “It’s a hard life to have to actually govern. It’s easy when you get to point the finger... But then when you get the levers of power, you have to have the courage to pull them.” (24:18)

• Roberts, on conservative mistakes:
  “Stop being so tentative. You’ve been elected duly to do XYZ job. You have appropriate legal and constitutional authority. Pull all of the levers.” (27:55)

• Roberts, on citizenship and assimilation:
  “Cultural assimilation into the greatest republic in the history of man.” (13:16)

• On recapturing institutions:
  “We have to think about how we get back into those institutions and not do self-cancellation... now we’ve got the opportunity... to take many of them back.” (30:12)

• Roberts, on the big tent of conservatism:
  “Remember what you said, which is that we can have a difference of opinion on a couple of issues... but it doesn’t mean we need to trash each other because of those differences.” (38:09)

• Roberts, on the future being at the state level:
  “If you said, Kevin, I’m gonna give you one magic wand, make one change. Conservatives, spend more time thinking about your states. That’s where the future is.” (53:19)

• On family and the dinner table:
  “It’s where we learn not just our table manners, but... mitigate some differences of opinion... the family dinner table every single night can be a glimpse of heaven in this life.” (57:51)

• Optimism for Gen Z:
  “I’m exceedingly optimistic about Gen Z. I think y’ all are awesome.” (58:54)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:32 – “Conservative civil war”: Isabel introduces theme and guest.
• 03:32 – Dr. Roberts defines Heritage Foundation’s mission.
• 06:19 – Unpacking Project 2025 and left-wing reaction.
• 08:36 – Discussion of specific Project 2025 outcomes: Department of Education & USAID.
• 11:41 – Planning for the post-Trump conservative movement.
• 13:16 – The Four Cornerstones: Family, Work/Enterprise, Security, Citizenship.
• 17:33 – On Gen Z’s foreign policy frustration and the Ukraine aid bill.
• 22:38 – Young conservatives' desire for bolder action.
• 24:58 – Common mistakes on the right & calls for courage.
• 27:55 – Tentativeness and need for unified, vision-driven conservatism.
• 29:24 – Building parallel institutions & recapturing existing ones.
• 36:37 – Maintaining the conservative big tent.
• 39:57 – Policy priorities: affordability, healthcare, education.
• 41:52 – Voter ID/SAVE act as legislative priorities.
• 44:51 – Heritage’s research: Indexes for military strength and economic freedom.
• 51:19 – The critical importance of state-level policy innovation.
• 55:29 – The family’s central role; advice for young parents.
• 58:10 – Optimism and faith in Gen Z’s role in conservatism’s future.

Final Thoughts

This episode served as both a call to action and a roadmap for conservatives—to move from outrage and defense to a more proactive, coordinated, and optimistic embrace of policy, culture, and institution-building. Isabel and Dr. Roberts championed restoring civil society, focusing locally, and seizing the historic opportunity presented by generational shifts within both the movement and American society.