Breaking Battlegrounds

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we take a break from politics to put the spotlight on people who are working to make the world a better place. First, we are joined by Jacqueline Way, a world-renowned keynote speaker. Later in the program, Christena Durham of the Huntsman Foundation calls in to discuss their work to combat stigma around mental health challenges. - Jacqueline Way is a world-renowned keynote speaker with one of the most watched TEDx Talks "How to Be Happy Every Day – It Will Change the World." She is a dedicated world changer serving humanity with love every day. Her soul purpose is to teach, inspire and empower the hearts and minds of people globally to create a happy, meaningful life and world together. She expresses her purpose through her global giving movement 365give. The charitable organization was created with her 3-year old son with a simple vision to "Change the World 1 give, 1 day at time." She is committed to living the highest expression of who she is through her work, family and by touching the lives of others. - Christina Durham is the Vice Chairwoman of the Huntsman Foundation. Christena serves on the boards of several charitable organizations, including the Huntsman Foundation, The Road Home, the Huntsman World Senior Games, the Carmen Pingree School for Autism, and the Moran Eye Center, and is committed to serving others. Christena is the mother of seven children and grandmother to several grandchildren. - Connect with us: www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are joined by syndicated radio host Erick Erickson for a look at last week's election and what it might mean for the upcoming Georgia senate election and the 2024 presidential election. - Erick, a native of Louisiana who grew up in Dubai, had been a practicing attorney for six years in Macon. He handled corporate law, estates, and elections. He served as a volunteer attorney for President Bush's election and re-election. He managed and consulted on federal, state, and local campaigns. One day a partner in his law firm came in and asked him, "Do you know what the definition of a d*****s is?""No," Erick replied."You," the partner said. "Go do politics. That's your passion."Two weeks before his wife gave birth to their first child, Erick told her he was leaving his law practice to become a full time blogger. Some friends had started the website RedState.com and they wanted to put him in charge of it. That was 2005.Two years later, Erick was elected to city council in Macon, Georgia, where he served until being offered a job on radio full time at WSB.In 2009, CNN hired Erick to be a political contributor. In 2010, the local radio host in Macon, Georgia got arrested then lost his job and the station needed someone to fill in quickly. They asked Erick, given his background on TV.With no radio experience, Erick sat behind the microphone three hours a day every day for three months until they found a replacement. He got paid in an expired gift certificate to Outback Steakhouse. The replacement quickly got promoted to another market and Erick again went back, with no pay, to take the microphone until a replacement was found.While there, a vacancy came open in Atlanta, Georgia on WSB Radio due to Herman Cain's run for President.On January 11, 2011, during an ice storm that forced Erick to sleep on the floor of his office his first week on radio, he started his show. He has been there ever since.During his eight years on radio, Erick has been a regular guest host for Neal Boortz, Herman Cain, and Rush Limbaugh.A few years ago, Erick also started work on his M.Div at Reformed Theological Seminary. He connects to his audience with a plethora of knowledge about politics, life, raising kids, and even cooking.Erick lives in Macon, Georgia with his wife, two children, and golden doodle. -George serves as President of Data Orbital and Managing Partner of The Resolute Group. For the last decade he has leveraged his political instincts, data expertise and strategic relationships to advance conservative clients and causes throughout Arizona and a growing number of states. He believes conservative policies create thriving communities and wants to arm conservative candidates and organizations with the best data, messaging, and strategy.With a strong grassroots and data background, George has worked at the local, state and national levels. Under George's leadership, Data Orbital is a top ranked survey research and data visualization firm that is known for its accuracy and transparency. Data Orbital was the most accurate firm that polled Arizona political races and is top rated by FiveThirtyEight. Data Orbital's survey research has been featured in top news outlets and publications such as The Washington Post, Politico, The Hill, NBC News, Fox News, Fox Business, The Arizona Republic, LA Times and others.As managing partner of The Resolute Group, he led the effort to keep the Arizona legislature conservative, playing in the most contentious districts and races across the state. He advises conservative candidates and organizations across the country on strategy. The firm is building a reputation for taking on and leaning into the toughest fights. They aim to shape the landscape, not merely exist in it.George's engagement is driven by his personal faith and his Lebanese heritage. He knows firsthand the price of freedom and the importance of protecting our core values and Constitutional rights. In addition to his domestic political work, George is engaged in efforts to advance democracy and prosperity in Lebanon and lift up the Lebanese people both in the United States and in Lebanon.George graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's in Political Science. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, George currently lives in Phoenix, AZ. When he is not tracking local and national political developments and advising clients, George enjoys traveling with his family and spending time with his two boys. - Connect with us: www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we are joined by Ryan Tyson of Florida's Tyson Group and Rich Lowry of the National Review for a midterm election results recap. Ryan Tyson is the President and managing partner of The Tyson Group, which is a center-right polling and market research firm with polling experience in 48 states. He serves as Executive Director of Preserve the American Dream, a Florida based 501(c4) that primarily educates the public and media on quantitative and qualitative research it conducts across the state and around the country. As a Florida based strategist, Tyson has developed multiple organizations devoted to fundraising, research, electioneering and independent expenditure efforts. He has served as strategist and pollster on multiple statewide ballot initiatives in Florida, using his research techniques to not only to craft successful ballot titles and summaries on 'Yes' campaigns, but also exposing the weaknesses in 'No' campaigns. He has also worked for some of the largest corporations in Florida and his political acumen and prowess are known to many across the country. Tyson's wide range of experience in all levels of national, state, and legislative campaigns and has made him a valuable asset in the Sunshine State. Having advised on multiple statewide campaigns including for former President Donald Trump's Florida campaign, Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Rick Scott, Tyson's unique mix of data driven campaign strategy has resulted in Florida Politics twice naming him as one of the top 100 "most influential people in Florida Politics." He received his Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of Florida. He currently resides in Tallahassee with his wife, Mary Beth, and three sons, John David, Brennan and Benjamin. - Rich Lowry is the editor in chief of National Review. He writes for Politico, and often appears on such public-affairs programs as Meet the Press. He is a regular panelist on the KCRW program Left, Right & Center. He is the author of Lincoln Unbound, The Case for Nationalism: How It Made Us Powerful, United, and Free, and Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years — a New York Times bestseller. Lowry began his career as a research assistant for Charles Krauthammer. In 1997 he was selected by William F. Buckley to lead National Review. - Connect with us: www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are joined by Republican candidate for Nevada's governor, Sheriff Joe Lombardo, and Congressman Byron Donalds, a Republican from Florida's 19th congressional district. - Joe Lombardo began his service to others in the United States Army and served bravely in the Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve - protecting Americans both domestically and abroad. After his service to his country, Joe dedicated himself to protecting our communities – serving in law enforcement over the last 30 years. Joe quickly rose through the ranks of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and, after 26 years on the force, was elected as Sheriff of Clark County, Nevada in 2014. Throughout Joe's career, his leadership of our communities has never faltered. He now intends to further his public service and represent, protect, and serve the entire state of Nevada. Sheriff Lombardo maintains professional affiliations which include Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), National Sheriffs Association (NSA), FBI – Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA), Vice-Chair Nevada Commission for Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy Associates. He has also served as Board Member for the LVMPD Foundation (2007-2014), After School All-Stars (2015-2020), Goodwill of Southern Nevada (2007-2009), Make A Wish (2015-2020), Committee Member for the NV Communications Steering Committee (2012-2014) and MCC's representative to the Public Safety Advisory Committee (2012-2014). Joe currently serves as a Board Member for Nevada Child Seekers and Chairman of MCCA Intelligence Committee. Sheriff Lombardo holds a B.S. and a M.S. in crisis management, both from UNLV. - Byron Donalds grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and he is also the proud son of a hardworking and loving single mother. His mother dedicated her time instilling in him that greatness requires sacrifice, which drives him as a devoted family man and United States Congressman.Byron is a graduate of Florida State University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in finance and marketing. Byron's career led him to Southwest Florida, where he worked in the banking, finance, and insurance industries. Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016, Byron represented Hendry County and east Collier County in the State Capitol. During his tenure in the Florida House, Byron served as the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee Chair during the 2018-2019 Legislative Session and served as the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee's Chairman 2019-2020 Legislative Session. While serving in the Florida House, primarily focused on elder affairs, criminal justice reform, and ensuring that each child has access to a world-class education.Byron is committed to serving and giving back to the community that gave him so much. He has served Southwest Florida in many ways, including previously serving on the Board of Trustees for Florida Southwestern State College after being appointed by then-Governor Rick Scott. Byron continues to volunteer in his church as a youth leader and a mentor. He also enjoys volunteering as a coach in youth football and basketball leagues.Congressman Byron Donalds lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife, Erika, and their three sons: Damon, Darin, and Mason. Byron has spent his entire adult life serving others, whether it be through volunteering, business, or leadership. He is committed to representing Florida's 19th Congressional District's conservative values in Washington DC to ensure a stronger Florida and a stronger nation. - Connect with us: www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we are joined by Georgia's Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan. Later in the show, we are joined by David Drucker and Joe Simonson for their analysis and predictions for the 2022 midterms. - A former professional athlete and successful entrepreneur, Geoff Duncan was elected Georgia's Lieutenant Governor in November of 2018. A former professional baseball player and successful entrepreneur, Geoff Duncan was elected Georgia's Lieutenant Governor in November of 2018. After a successful career as a scholarship pitcher at Georgia Tech, Geoff was drafted by the Florida Marlins' organization where he spent six seasons playing baseball in the minor leagues. Lt. Governor Duncan has established himself as a bold leader and champion for healthcare, technology, and economic development. His business experience and outlook allow him to bring a common sense private sector approach to state government, which has resulted in significant legislative achievements throughout his time in office. A cornerstone of his accomplishments, Lt. Governor Duncan was instrumental in building a historic bi-partisan coalition to pass Georgia's Hate Crimes Law and repeal the state's archaic Citizen's Arrest Law. Furthering his motto of putting "policy over politics," Lt. Governor Duncan championed multiple bi-partisan policy initiatives during the 2022 Legislative Session that focused on enhancing public safety and generating support for aged-out foster youth. Mere months before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, Geoff unveiled the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation ("PIN"), a public-private partnership that leads coordinated, statewide efforts to position Georgia as the Technology Capital of the East Coast. PIN is comprised of leaders across the state who are united by their vision to advance Georgia, and are committed to prioritizing technology advancement. PIN guides and supports pilot programs that help foster access, growth, entrepreneurship, and innovation throughout the state – charting a bold path forward for Georgia's future. Geoff is the author of the recently published book titled, "GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America's Conservative Party." Notwithstanding his many accomplishments in private and public life, Geoff is most proud to be a husband, and a father of three young men. - David M. Drucker is the senior political correspondent for the Washington Examiner. He has previously reported for CQ Roll Call and the Los Angeles Daily News. - Joe Simonson is a senior investigative reporter for the Washington Free Beacon. He previously worked as an investigative reporter and campaign correspondent for the Washington Examiner. His work has appeared in the New York Post, the American Conservative, and National Review. He lives in Washington, DC. His Twitter handle is @SaysSimonson. - Connect with us: www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are joined first by Republican candidate for United States Senate in Arizona, Blake Masters. Later in the program, Congressman Drew Ferguson of Georgia calls into the show. Finally, we are joined in studio by Timothy Sandefur of the Goldwater Institute. - Blake grew up in Tucson, Arizona. In 2012, he married his high school sweetheart, Catherine. Happily married for 10 years now, Blake and Catherine are raising and homeschooling their three beautiful boys, Miles, Graham, and Rex.After graduating from Stanford and Stanford Law School, Blake co-founded a successful software startup called Judicata. In 2014, he co-authored the #1 New York Times bestseller Zero to One. Having sold more than 4 million copies, it's the world's most popular book on startups and venture capital.In 2015 Blake became President of the Thiel Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes science and innovation. The Foundation's Thiel Fellowship Program has paid 225 young people to drop out of college so that they can create new companies. Businesses started by Thiel Fellows are together now worth more than $45 billion! From 2018 to 2022, Blake was Chief Operating Officer at Thiel Capital, an investment firm that specializes in the technology sector, where he helped grow assets under management by billions of dollars.Blake also joined President Trump's transition team in 2016. Blake saw firsthand how deep The Swamp really is and how establishment forces immediately tried to undermine President Trump's MAGA agenda. Now Blake is putting his successful business career on hold to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate because the same old establishment politicians and the same old establishment candidates have failed us. He brings a wealth of experience to the table on how to defeat not just the progressive Democrats, but also the weak and compromised RINO Republicans.America is in decline and the world is a dangerous place. Blake uniquely understands the modern threats that we face.At home, we see an unholy alliance between Big Government, Big Tech and Big Business, who collude to wreak havoc on our economy, destroy our border, impose their radically liberal ideology on our culture, and censor any dissent. Blake uniquely gets how this regime, working hand in hand with the Democrats, is weaponizing technology to destroy America as we know it.Abroad, we see the menace of authoritarian countries like China. Blake has an unrivaled understanding of how China uses technology to not only control and terrorize its own citizens, but also to steal our intellectual property and wage digital warfare against America.As a father, Blake's #1 priority is to ensure America (and Arizona!) remains the best place in the world to raise a family. To do that, we need to make sure America is still recognizable by the time our children are grown. Blake will lead as we fight for our culture.The failures of current leaders like Joe Biden and Mark Kelly have made our situation dire. But Blake rejects the feelings of hopelessness that they are pushing on us. Blake knows that we can win, and we must win. But winning requires electing innovative leaders who truly understand what is happening in this country, and how to restore American freedom and greatness. As a lifelong Arizonan and someone with deep experience in business and the technology industry, Blake is the only one in this race with the necessary skills and background to win the fight in Washington. - Congressman Ferguson represents Georgia's 3rd Congressional District and is the Chief Deputy Whip for House Republicans. He also serves on the Committee on Ways and Means. Congressman Drew Ferguson is a proud native of West Point whose family roots in the West Georgia area are several generations deep. He attended the University of Georgia and gained early acceptance to the Medical College of Georgia. After graduating with a degree in dental medicine, he moved back to his hometown and established a successful family dental practice.In 2008, Congressman Ferguson was elected mayor of West Point and was at the forefront of attracting and keeping jobs in his community. By lowering taxes, eliminating government barriers and reforming education, he led a community in economic ruin back to life. Today, a wide range of new businesses and industries call West Point and the surrounding area home. Led by KIA Motors, automotive suppliers and related businesses, 16,000 new jobs have been created so far. Congressman Ferguson came to Washington to apply the lessons he learned revitalizing West Point to creating policies that once again make America the most competitive place to do business.Just as important as the creation of jobs, Congressman Ferguson wants to remove barriers that prevent those in poverty from moving into the middle class. Smart and effective welfare entitlement reform that actually helps people move ahead rather than trapping them in a cycle of poverty is the first step. Congressman Ferguson believes these problems cannot simply be regulated away, but should look for solutions that get government out of the way of American innovation growth. This is as much a moral issue as it is a practical matter.Drew and his wife, Julie, reside in The Rock, Georgia, and together they have six children: Anderson Drew Ferguson V, Lucy, Mary Parks, Thad, Elizabeth, and Olivia. - Timothy Sandefur is the Vice President for Legal Affairs at the Goldwater Institute's Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation and holds the Duncan Chair in Constitutional Government. He litigates important cases for economic liberty, private property rights, free speech, and other matters in states across the country. Timothy is the author of several books, including Frederick Douglass: Self-Made Man (2018), Cornerstone of Liberty: Property Rights in 21st Century America (coauthored with Christina Sandefur, 2016), The Permission Society (2016), The Conscience of The Constitution (2014), and The Right to Earn A Living (2010), as well as more than 50 scholarly articles on subjects ranging from Indian law and antitrust to copyright law, the constitutional issues involved in the Civil War, and the political philosophy of Shakespeare, ancient Greek drama, and Star Trek. A frequent guest on radio and television, he is well known to radio audiences as "Tim the Lawyer" on the Armstrong and Getty Program, and his writings have appeared in Reason, National Review, the Claremont Review of Books, The Weekly Standard, The Wall Street Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The Objective Standard, where he is a contributing editor. He teaches public interest litigation at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School. He is an Adjunct Scholar with the Cato Institute and is a graduate of Hillsdale College and Chapman University School of Law. - Connect with us: www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are joined by Abe Hamadeh, Republican candidate for Arizona Attorney General. Later in the show, award winning filmmaker Jeff Hays joins us to bring the story of the real Anthony Fauci. - Abraham is an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and just returned from a 14 month long deployment to Saudi Arabia. On behalf of the United States Army, Abraham negotiated military sales and managed the training for Saudi Arabia's domestic security forces both in the Kingdom and in the United States. He implemented the first of its kind new enhanced security vetting in response to the 2019 Pensacola terrorist attack. His direct counterparts were generals, colonels, and lieutenant colonels in the Saudi forces as well as high ranking civilians in their respective ministries. Abraham's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Gold German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, and Overseas Service Ribbon among others. Abraham is a former prosecutor of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Abraham has appeared in court to prosecute criminals, uphold victims' rights, and seek justice for the community. Abraham earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Arizona State University and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona College of Law. During his law studies, Abraham was awarded the Udall Fellowship by the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys' Advisory Council which placed him at the city, county, state, and federal prosecutor offices. - Jeff Hays, an award winning filmmaker and television producer since the early nineties, gained national attention with Fahrenhype 9/11 (2004), a response to Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. He followed that with On Native Soil (2006). Narrated by Kevin Costner and Hilary Swank, the documentary focused on the perspective of surviving family members of 9/11 victims and their efforts to create the 9/11 Commission. The film was acquired by Lions Gate and NBC and was short-listed for an Academy Award. Hays produced a yearlong television series for Lifetime Television, and then returned to documentary film with Doctored in 2012, and Bought in 2014. In 2017, Jeff partnered with Dr. Patrick Gentempo to create Revealed Films. and together, they have released nine multi-part series covering subjects including, health and nutrition, medical issues, wealth- building, religious and political topics. (Money Revealed, Wine Revealed, Christ Revealed, Supplements Revealed, GMOs Revealed, and Vaccines Revealed,etc.) Revealed Films launches 3-4 series each year adding the rich stream of information they've produced in the past. Revealed is currently finishing a series on the use of psychedelics in therapy called Mind If I Wake You Up, and filming for a new series on marriage and relationships. In addition to the Revealed projects Jeff Hays Films was the Executive Producer for The Fix, a documentary series based on Johann Hari's NY Times bestseller, Chasing the Scream. The Fix was acquired by Jeffrey Katzenberg's company, Quibi. JHF has acquired the rights to two other books to produce via film, the NY Times bestseller, Lost Connections, by Johann Hari and The Bad One, by Erin Tyler. JHF has partnered with Josh Bezoni, Gia Walsh and Brookwell McNamara entertainment to produce Woke AF, a JP Sears comedy. Additionally, JHF is producing a series with Adam Carolla on resilience, and The Millionaire Within Her with Kristi Frank. Jeff resides in the mountains of Utah with love of his life, Dori. They work out of Jeff Hays Films' soundstage and studio in Midvale UT. Together they have 11 children and many grandchildren. - Connect with us: Official website: www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are joined by former Secretary of State and former CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Later in the show, Brian Domitrovic calls in to talk about Biden's inflation. - Michael R. Pompeo served as the 70th Secretary of State of the United States, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and was elected to four terms in Congress representing the Fourth District of Kansas. He is a distinguished fellow at Hudson Institute, where he focuses on promoting U.S. national security, technological leadership and global engagement.Mike graduated first in his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986. He served as a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army, leading troops patrolling the Iron Curtain, rising to the rank of Captain. Mike left the military in 1991 and then graduated from Harvard Law School, having served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review.Up next was almost a decade leading two manufacturing businesses in South Central Kansas – first in the aerospace industry and then making energy drilling and production equipment. These two companies made real stuff and provided high – quality jobs for hundreds of hard-working Kansans.In 2010, Mike watched government grow too big and decided to run for Congress. He won and was re-elected three more times to represent South Central Kansas – the heartland of America. Despite being an outsider and fairly junior, Mike played important roles on the House Benghazi and House Intelligence Committees, working to keep our soldiers and diplomats safe and America more secure.Becoming America's most senior spy, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, was Mike's next chance to champion American values. He improved collection and operations and made sure that American leaders had the best information in the world to make decisions that impacted the lives of every American and the generations behind us.President Donald Trump saw that good work and decided to make Mike America's 70th Secretary of State. As our nation's most senior diplomat in the Trump Administration and President Trump's chief negotiator, Mike helped to craft U.S. foreign policy based on our nation's founding ideals that put America First. America became a massive energy exporter and a force for good in the Middle East with real peace cemented in the Abraham Accords. Mike placed special emphasis on renewing alliances with key allies, including India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea. He also led a return to America's founding principles and a focus on every human life being worthy and the protection of the unborn. The largest human rights gatherings ever held at the State Department occurred under his leadership.Mike's time at the State Department marked the end of naïve engagement with the Chinese Communist Party, pulling back the curtain shielding the egregious acts of the CCP that threaten American jobs and freedoms. He focused efforts on calling out and punishing perpetrators of attacks on basic human dignity in places like Cuba and Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, Nigeria, China and elsewhere. Mike also led a team that executed America's largest ever global repatriation effort in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.Married to Susan, Mike and his wife have one son, Nick. The Pompeos dedicated many volunteer hours to their home church — including teaching 5th grade Sunday School and Mike's time as a church Deacon. The Pompeos also volunteered on numerous educational, fine arts and local government programs and projects. Nick's Dad also went undefeated as a coach of his son's 3 on 3 team in summer league. Mike and Susan's two retrievers, Sherman and Mercer, each named after important American generals, are patriots too! - Brian Domitrovic is the Richard S. Strong Scholar at the Laffer Center in Nashville. He is the author or editor of six books including the standard history of supply-side economics, "Econoclasts" (2009). His forthcoming book, "Taxes Have Consequences," co-authored with Art Laffer and Jeanne Sinquefield, recounts how the income tax's top rate has determined the fate of the American economy since it was first adopted in 1913. - Connect with us: www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are joined by Pardis Mahdavi, an Iranian-American scholar who recently published an incredible op-ed in the Washington Post, "When Iran's 'morality police' came for me." Later in the show, Matt Beienburg of the Goldwater Institute joins us with an update on Arizona's ESA program. - Pardis Mahdavi is the dean of the social sciences division in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University, and a professor in ASU's School of Social Transformation. Mahdavi's approach to higher education has been informed by her personal journey as an Iranian-American woman growing up in the U.S., as well as her training as an anthropologist where she learned to be reflexive about complex power dynamics. She has focused her academic career on diversity, inclusion, human trafficking, migration, sexuality, human rights, feminism and public health.Prior to joining ASU, she was the acting dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Before coming to Denver, she was at Pomona College from 2006 to 2017, where she most recently served as professor and chair of anthropology, director of the Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College, as well as dean of women.She has published five single authored books and one edited volume in addition to numerous journal and news articles. She has been a fellow at the Social Sciences Research Council, the American Council on Learned Societies, Google Ideas and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She has consulted for a wide array of organizations including the U.S. government, Google Inc. and the United Nations. - Matt Beienburg is the Director of Education Policy at the Goldwater Institute. He also serves as director of the institute's Van Sittert Center for Constitutional Advocacy. Published in local and national outlets, Matt's work focuses on promoting educational freedom, parental rights, and greater civic appreciation of America's founding principles. Prior to joining Goldwater, Matt served as a senior analyst at the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), where he regularly drafted fiscal estimates and briefed members of the state legislature on major policy initiatives in K-12 and higher education. Matt previously worked in human capital consulting for Mercer, where his projects included surveying teacher engagement and analyzing the competitiveness of staff salaries at low-income area charter schools in Los Angeles. He has also worked in Washington, D.C. with Imagine Schools and the Center for Education Reform. A native of Arizona, Matt earned a bachelor's in economics from Claremont McKenna College, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a master's in public affairs from Princeton. - Connect with us: www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we are joined by Dr. Aaron Friedberg, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and an expert on China. Later in the show, Kerry Picket of the Washington Times calls in to discuss some of the week's biggest headlines. - Aaron L. Friedberg is a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on China and US-China relations, great-power competition, and US foreign and defense policy. Concurrently, he is a professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University, where he is codirector of the Center for International Security Studies.Dr. Friedberg serves on the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. In addition, he is a counselor of the National Bureau of Asian Research, nonresident senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, and president and founding board member of the Alexander Hamilton Society. From 2003 to 2005, Dr. Friedberg served as deputy assistant for national security affairs in the Office of the Vice President of the United States. After leaving government, he was appointed to the Defense Policy Board and the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion.Dr. Friedberg is the author, coauthor, or editor of several books, monographs, and book chapters. His books include Getting China Wrong (Polity Books, June 2022); Beyond Air-Sea Battle: The Debate over US Military Strategy in Asia(Routledge, 2014); A Contest for Supremacy: China, America, and the Struggle for Mastery in Asia (W. W. Norton & Company, 2011); In the Shadow of the Garrison State: America's Anti-Statism and Its Cold War Grand Strategy(Princeton University Press, 2000); and The Weary Titan: Britain and the Experience of Relative Decline, 1895–1905(Princeton University Press, 1988).Dr. Friedberg has been widely published in policy journals, academic publications, and the popular press, including in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Commentary, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, War on the Rocks, the American Political Science Review, Asia Policy, China Economic Quarterly International, Daedalus, Harvard International Review, and Washington Quarterly.Dr. Friedberg has a PhD and AB in government from Harvard University. - Kerry Picket is a senior congressional reporter for The Washington Times and fill-in radio host at SiriusXM Patriot 125. She previously covered the hill at other DC-based outlets including the Daily Caller and the Washington Examiner. Before that, she produced news for Robin Quivers of The Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM, wrote entertainment news for MTV Radio, and worked as a production assistant at MTV.com. She appears frequently as a guest commentator on cable news programs and syndicated radio shows. - Connect with us: www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe