Libertas (Issue 43. 2 - Fall)

Dear Friends,

You will find one of my favorite photos from the Reagan Ranch on the back cover of this edition of Libertas. It features Reagan Ranch Board of Governors member Al Moore and his granddaughter, Andrea. I was Governor at the time and was greeting Young America’s Foundation’s supporters and friends outside of the adobe ranch home on the property. The smile on Al’s face was priceless.

No one has done more to save President Reagan’s beloved Rancho del Cielo than Al. This edition features a fitting tribute to his leading role in preserving the Ranch, acquiring the surrounding properties, and building the Reagan Ranch Center in downtown Santa Barbara.

The greatest tribute to Al, however, isn’t the investments he made in physical assets. It is the impact on all of the young people who visit the Reagan Ranch. Many students and rising leaders visited the Ranch this summer as part of YAF’s conferences and seminars, including a unique program held in partnership with economist Dr. Arthur Laffer and Hillsdale College. More students will journey to Rancho del Cielo this fall. Each of them will have a life-changing experience learning about the life and values of our 40th President. That is the legacy of Al Moore.

In addition to our activities at the Reagan Ranch, YAF’s 44th annual National Conservative Student Conference returned with a bang to Washington, D.C., as more than 600 attendees heard from the leading conservative speakers. We also held exciting programs at the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Illinois, YAF’s National Headquarters in Virginia, and our William & Berniece Grewcock Capitol Hill Townhouse in the nation’s capital.

This issue of Libertas includes a terrific cover story on Fox News Channel’s Greg Gutfeld, a graduate of our National Journalism Center and currently the nation’s #1 late-night television host.

Additionally, you will find informative pieces featuring 2ndVote Advisers Executive Chairman Andy Puzder and Fossil Future author Alex Epstein.

You should also be encouraged by YAF’s surpassing 800,000 subscribers on our YouTube channel, YAFTV (YouTube.com/YAFTV). YouTube is the #1 way that young people get their information, and we are proud that YAF leads all conservative youth groups on this digital platform.

Finally, a great, big thank-you to each of you—our supporters, students, friends, and allies.

The Conservative Movement really does start here—with YAF—and you make our work reaching the next generation possible. Thank you!

Keep fighting for freedom,

Governor Scott Walker President

LIBERTAS

Special Feature

22 From the National Journalism Center to the Top of Pop Culture: A Profile of Greg Gutfeld

By Emily Jashinsky, Director of the National Journalism Center and Culture Editor at The Federalist

10 44th Annual National Conservative Student Conference Draws Noem, Cruz, and Lee

By Jaime Hahn, Conference Director

17 Knowles, West, Miyares, and Donalds Inspire More Than 600 at YAF’s High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch

By Madison Habersetzer, Conference Director

26 Your Money, Their Values—Abortion and Woke Capitalism

By Andy Puzder, Executive Chairman of 2ndVote Advisers

29 Remembering Al Moore and His Legacy at the Reagan Ranch

By Andrew Coffin, Vice President and Director of the Reagan Ranch

32 Alex Epstein: Challenging the Climate Alarmism of Campus Radicals

By Michael Mastrianna, Associate Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise

35 Schweizer, Strassel, and Fellow Conservative Leaders Join YAF Supporters at Largest-Ever Rawhide Circle Retreat

By Kelleigh Clarke, Development Officer for Foundation Relations

On the Cover:

Today’s #1 late-night TV host, Greg Gutfeld, got his start as an intern with the National Journalism Center, a project of Young America’s Foundation.

Gutfeld joins a long line of YAF alumni who are bringing balance to media and journalism, including talk radio host Mark Levin, Breitbart Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board Member William McGurn, and Townhall Editor Katie Pavlich, among others.

Photo courtesy Fox News Channel

Also in This Issue:

4 YAF’s Premier Campus Lectures Energize Millions

5 YAF’s Buckley Breakfast Club Trains Capitol Hill Interns

6 Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise Launches Economics Leadership Seminars

7 Annual YAF Cruise Program Features Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Scenic Alaska

8 Alumnus Gabe Kaminsky Receives Inaugural Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism

39 Join YAF President, Governor Scott Walker, and Tonette Walker on 2023 Lisbon to London Cruise

Libertas, the Latin word for liberty, is a publication of Young America’s Foundation which highlights the programs, events, students, alumni, supporters, and staff of the Foundation. You may contact Libertas and Young America’s Foundation by writing to: Young America’s Foundation, National Headquarters, 11480 Commerce Park Drive, Sixth Floor, Reston, Virginia 20191; calling 800-USA-1776; or visiting yaf.org.

Editors: Raj Kannappan and Kelleigh Clarke; Publisher: Governor Scott Walker; Publication Design: Jonathan Briggs; Assistant Editors: Jason Barbour, Vic Bernson, Patrick X. Coyle, Kyle Ferrebee, Karalee Geis, Jaime Hahn, Clare Hinshaw, Caroline Howerton, Jessica Jensen, Charlie Jones, Breana Marsh, Michael Mastrianna, Gianna Milaro, Chris Miranda, Tom Robinson, Kara Zupkus; Washington, D.C., event photographers: David Keith and Bob Updegrove; California event photographer: Jacqueline Pilar; Illinois event photographer: Alex Rodriquez. This document and all herein contents, images, stories, graphics, and design, fall unto copyright © 2005 to 2022 Young America’s Foundation, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Any use of Libertas’ content without the written permission of Young America’s Foundation is prohibited.

Young America’s Foundation Board Of Directors

Governor Scott Walker President Ronald Pearson Vice President Frank Donatelli Secretary and Treasurer Kimberly Begg

T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Wynton C. Hall

Nicole Hoplin

Kate Obenshain Keeler

Peter Schweizer

Thomas L. Phillips

Director Emeritus

Reagan Ranch Board Of Governors

Frank Donatelli Chairman Edwin Meese Co-Chairman

Robert F. Agostinelli

Governor George Allen Candee Arndt Dr. Suzanne Becker Lisa M. Buestrin George & Becky Norton Dunlop Bruce & Kathi Eberle

Richard Gaby & Barbara Van Andel-Gaby Robert Giuffra, Jr. Timothy S. Goeglein

Michael W. Grebe

Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold

Eric & Nicole Hoplin

Ann Knapheide Mark Larson

Rebekah Mercer Dennis & Nancy Moore

Doug & Pat Perry

Thomas L. Phillips

Rear Admiral JJ Quinn

Ruppert & Cheryl Reinstadler

Richard & Jane Schwartz

Craig Shirley Owen & Bernadette

Casey Smith

Tonette Walker

Jay Webber

National Journalism Center Board Of Governors

T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Chairman Chris Bedford Elizabeth Donatelli

John Gizzi

Emily Jashinsky

Rich Lowry

Alex Marlow

The Honorable Alex Mooney Larry O’Connor

Gabby Orr Katie Pavlich

Ronald Pearson Kirby Wilbur

Thomas L. Phillips

Chairman Emeritus

YAF’s Premier Campus Lectures Energize Millions

Young AmericA’s FoundAtion is the onlY orgAnizAtion in AmericA thAt speciAlizes in sending the most prominent leaders in the Conservative Movement to college and high school campuses. The Foundation’s speakers are on the front lines year-round, boldly challenging the politically correct efforts at our nation’s schools and providing students with the intellectual diversity often neglected in their classrooms. These lectures are often the only time young people hear a conservative viewpoint during their time on campus.

During the spring 2022 semester, YAF’s campus lecture program brought conservative ideas to millions of young people in person and online through the Foundation’s YouTube channel, YAFTV (YouTube.com/YAFTV).

The top pro-freedom speakers—including commentators Ben Shapiro, Michael Knowles, Matt Walsh, and Liz Wheeler; Senator Ted Cruz; senior counselor to President Donald Trump Kellyanne Conway; Vice President Mike Pence; YAF President Governor Scott Walker; Lt. Col. Allen West; rapper Zuby; and talk radio host Larry Elder, among others—addressed student audiences nationwide.

More than 4,700 young people waited for hours to hear Ben Shapiro at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) and Iowa State University, events made possible by YAF’s Fred and Lynda Allen Lecture Series. At UNCG, the campus Left attempted to ban the Young Americans for Freedom chapter for posting a quotation by Shapiro on Instagram that read, “Men cannot become women. Women cannot become men. Men who believe they are women are not real women.” In response, Shapiro

addressed a sold-out crowd in the campus gymnasium during a speech titled, “Men Cannot Become Women.”

Through the Foundation’s Robert & Patricia Herbold Lecture Series, Kellyanne Conway encouraged young people at the University of Iowa, University of WisconsinWhitewater, and The Catholic University of America to stand up for the First Amendment by promoting free expression and debate on the issues most important to Generation Z.

The Foundation also hosted two live campus broadcasts of the popular Verdict with Ted Cruz podcast. Featuring Senator Cruz, Michael Knowles, and Liz Wheeler, the standing-room-only programs reached students at Yale University through YAF’s Irving Brown Lecture Series and the University of Alabama through the Logan Family Lecture Series.

YAF’s in-demand campus lectures drew national and local media coverage from the Washington Post, New York Post, C-SPAN, Fox News, ABC News, Boston Globe, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, and numerous other outlets.

Young America’s Foundation stands ready to support students across the country who wish to host a conservative speaker on their campus and make an immediate impact. To request a YAF speaker for their school, students can visit YAF.org/ speakers or call 800-USA-1776.

Kellyanne Conway, senior counselor to President Donald Trump, speaks at The Catholic University of America as part of YAF’s Robert and Patricia Herbold Lecture Series.

More than 2,700 young people attend YAF’s campus lecture featuring commentator Ben Shapiro at Iowa State University, made possible by the Fred and Lynda Allen Lecture Series.

YAF’s Buckley Breakfast Club Trains Capitol Hill Interns

Since its founding more than 50 years ago, Young America’s Foundation has worked with distinguished leaders to inspire young people to become lifelong advocates for greater personal freedom and limited government.

In particular, YAF has partnered with accomplished leaders in the nation’s capital, including President Ronald Reagan; Vice President Mike Pence; Attorneys General Edwin Meese III and John Ashcroft; Secretaries Jack Kemp, Donald Rumsfeld, Caspar Weinberger, Betsy DeVos, and Ben Carson; and numerous members of the United States Congress.

Today, YAF’s William & Berniece Grewcock Capitol Hill Townhouse is the home of the Foundation’s work to advance conservative ideas in Washington, D.C. The 3,600 square-foot facility—located just steps from U.S. Capitol and congressional office buildings—provides an ideal meeting location for YAF students, alumni, supporters, and allies in Congress to gather for intimate meals, receptions, and discussions.

This summer, YAF hosted the second annual Buckley Breakfast Club speaker series—named after William F. Buckley, Jr., the founder of the Foundation’s chapter affiliate, Young Americans for Freedom—at our Capitol Hill Townhouse. The seven-week program for Capitol Hill and Washington, D.C.-area interns offered education and encouragement for attendees to advance America’s founding principles.

Young conservatives from more than 100 colleges and more than 90 congressional offices participated in sessions with key members of Congress and Conservative Movement leaders. Speakers included Congressman Byron Donalds (FL-19) and Jim Jordan (OH-04); Congresswomen Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Claudia Tenney (NY-22), and Lisa McClain (MI-10); YAF alumna and Townhall Editor Katie Pavlich; The Federalist Editor-in-Chief Mollie Hemingway; and Hillsdale College Assistant Professor Dr. David Azerrad.

Young America’s Foundation alumna and Townhall Editor Katie Pavlich (left) meets with Buckley Breakfast Club attendee Helena Jefferson at YAF’s William & Berniece Grewcock Capitol Hill Townhouse.

Interns discussed topics such as effectively communicating conservative policies, challenging media bias, pursuing a career in policymaking and public office, and the future of the Conservative Movement. Attendees also gained access to YAF’s student resources, upcoming programs, and information on joining or establishing YAF chapters on their college campuses.

Reflecting the sentiment of many Buckley Breakfast Club attendees, one intern stated, “These YAF events have reached many students who have not heard these ideas before… hundreds of young people will go back to their college campuses ready to fight for conservative ideas.”

Following Congressman Byron Donalds’ remarks, college students in the nation’s capital enjoy meeting with him during YAF’s opening Buckley Breakfast Club session.

Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise Launches Economics Leadership Seminars with Hillsdale College and the Laffer Center

As pArt of its mission to inspire future generAtions of AmericAns with free mArket principles, Young America’s Foundation’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise has joined Hillsdale College and the Laffer Center—led by renowned economist Dr. Arthur Laffer—to launch a new program that educates early-career professionals in government, journalism, and academia.

The three organizations have historically advanced sound economic principles and policies among a wide range of audiences. While these efforts have been impactful, the leaders of the organizations saw a unique opportunity to train new audiences—particularly young legislators, journalists, and college faculty members—to ensure a brighter and more prosperous future for America. These individuals are positioned to make a positive impact immediately and for decades to come.

The Economics Leadership Seminar—inspired by Laffer’s work in high-level policymaking over the course of more than four decades, including advising President Ronald Reagan and

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher—offers participants a tailored curriculum, distinguished economic experts, and an interactive educational experience.

The latest seminar in this series took place at the Reagan Ranch Center and Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, in conjunction with YAF’s 41st anniversary celebration of the 1981 Economic Recovery Tax Act. Signed into law by Ronald Reagan at Rancho del Cielo, this legislation brought about the largest tax cuts in American history.

The weekend program drew state legislators from Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Over the course of three days, Laffer, economic historian Dr. Brian Domitrovic, and YAF President and 45th Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker led sessions on U.S. tax history, tax policy, and advancing pro-growth economic policies at the state level.

A highlight of the program was a memorable tour of Rancho del Cielo, where lawmakers absorbed the lessons of Ronald Reagan’s leadership and policies that they could apply to their states and today’s legislative debates.

Representative Jason Zachary of the Tennessee House of Representatives remarked, “This, by far, was the best legislative and leadership conference I’ve attended in my four terms serving in the legislature. The three days felt like a Ph.D. in economics.”

Early-career state legislators from across the country tour the Reagan Ranch during the Economics Leadership Seminar, hosted by Young America’s Foundation, Hillsdale College, and the Laffer Center.

Economist Dr. Arthur Laffer addresses YAF supporters during the 41st anniversary celebration of the 1981 Economic Recovery Tax Act, held in conjunction with the Economics Leadership Seminar.

Annual YAF Cruise Program Features Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Scenic Alaska

Young AmericA’s foundAtion’s supporters And friends set sAil on YAf’s 2022 cruise for a memorable journey from Seward, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia. Guests enjoyed lively meals, discussions, and excursions while cruising aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner.

YAF’s unique “Seminars at Sea” sessions brought like-minded cruisers together with Foundation leaders and key allies to discuss the future of the Conservative Movement in America and abroad.

Cruise speakers included Lord Daniel Hannan of Kingsclere, a former member of the European Parliament; talk radio host Larry O’Connor; Rear Admiral JJ Quinn and Kim Quinn; and YAF President Governor Scott Walker, who was joined on the cruise by his wife, Tonette.

In addition, YAF Vice President and Chief of Staff Jessica Jensen, Vice President and Director of the Reagan Ranch Andrew Coffin, and Director of Development Jason Barbour joined the journey to ensure an enjoyable experience for the Foundation’s guests.

The cruise featured stops along Alaska’s scenic Inside Passage: Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. While in these majestic ports, cruisers enjoyed a wide variety of excursions, including whale watching, gold panning, and hiking.

The program concluded with a special post-cruise dinner featuring The Right Honorable Stephen Harper, who served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015, created the modern Conservative Party of Canada, and became the longest-serving Conservative Prime Minister since Canada’s founding Prime Minister in 1891.

During his remarks, Harper warned of the dangers of weak leadership plaguing Western nations, including America and Canada. He also thanked Foundation supporters for standing strong for freedom, highlighting the impact of the organization on his daughter—who attended

YAF’s High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch and interned at the Foundation’s national headquarters in Reston, Virginia.

Harper’s participation continued YAF’s longstanding tradition of hosting influential heads of state—including Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Spanish President José María Aznar, Lady Margaret Thatcher, and Polish President Lech Walesa, among others—during annual cruise programs.

YAF’s next annual cruise—from Lisbon, Portugal, to Southampton, England—will take place from July 2 to 13, 2023 (see inside back cover for more details). Speakers will include Governor Scott Walker, former YAF President Ron Robinson, Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women President Michelle Easton, talk radio host Larry O’Connor, and New York Times bestselling author and YAF Director Peter Schweizer, among others.

YAF President Governor Scott Walker (left) presents 22nd Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (right) with a Reagan Ranch belt buckle in recognition of his work to advance freedom in Canada and worldwide.

YAF supporters and friends visit Hubbard Glacier while aboard the Foundation’s 2022 cruise to Alaska.

Alumnus Gabe Kaminsky Receives Inaugural National Journalism Center Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism

the nAtionAl JournAlism center (nJc), A proJect of Young AmericA’s foundAtion, AwArded its inAugurAl prize for excellence in investigAtive JournAlism to recent nJc Alumnus gAbe kAminskY during YAF’s 44th annual National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C. (see page 10). YAF established this prize as an annual honor to recognize NJC alumni who excel in their craft of truth-seeking reporting.

Since 1977, NJC has provided aspiring journalists with the premier opportunity to learn the principles and practices of journalism. During the 12-week paid internship program, students are placed at trusted media outlets and organizations—including the Washington Times, Fox News, WMAL, Media Research Center, and more—and participate in classroom education at Young America’s Foundation to develop their skills in news editing, TV reporting, and other areas.

During his 2021 NJC internship, Kaminsky was placed at The Federalist, where he became one of NJC’s most prolific students by writing nearly 200 articles during the program. Of note, he produced early and extensive original reporting on the school board controversies in Loudoun County, Virginia, related to student and parental rights in education.

Kaminsky then interned at The Daily Wire, where he reported on radical leftist Ibram X. Kendi’s speaking fees at taxpayer-funded colleges and the proliferation of Critical Race Theory in public school curricula nationwide.

Following Kaminsky’s graduation from the University of Pittsburgh, the Daily Caller News Foundation recruited him as an investigative reporter. In his new role, Kaminsky has peeled back the curtain on the intersection of money and politics, with original reporting that uncovered personal debt owed by leftist members of Congress who were also advocating for loan forgiveness, questionable stock trading by public officials, and Congressman Bobby Rush’s (IL-01) extensive use of proxy voting while traveling.

Young America’s Foundation is proud to recognize Kaminsky as a model for the National Journalism Center’s future journalists. His dedication to the truth above narrative and original investigative journalism places him among a distinguished group of NJC graduates—including Fox News Host Greg Gutfeld (see page 22), Wall Street Journal columnist William McGurn, and Washington Examiner columnist Tim Carney, among others—committed to doing the hard work of serious investigative journalism and exposing the powerful people whom mainstream media outlets too often protect.

YAF President Governor Scott Walker and National Journalism Center (NJC) Director Emily Jashinsky present NJC alumnus Gabe Kaminsky with the Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism during YAF’s 44th annual National Conservative Student Conference.

Allen, Walker, and Kengor Educate High School Students at the Reagan Boyhood Home

Young AmericA’s foundAtion welcomed high school students from Across the midwest to the second annual American Exceptionalism Seminar at the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon, Illinois.

The weekend program provided students with a grounding in the principles of individual freedom, a strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values. The young people in attendance—representing high schools from across Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin— interacted with prominent leaders and YAF’s staff to learn the arguments and tactics to effectively advance conservative ideas among their peers.

The seminar commenced with the inaugural Reagan Boyhood Home Roundtable Luncheon featuring 67th Governor of Virginia George Allen, a longtime member of the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors. Addressing YAF students, supporters, and friends in Dixon’s historic Post House Ballroom, Allen discussed the importance of pro-growth policymaking at the state level across America.

Author and Grove City College Professor Dr. Paul Kengor delivered two informative presentations during the program, the first contrasting the principles of Reagan conservatism

Illinois State Representative Jeanne Ives addresses students’ questions following her speech.

with the principles of progressivism and the second outlining the key differences among communism, socialism, and democratic socialism. He noted,

For conservatives, the goalpost is set: the time-tested values, the permanent things, the abiding truths based on biblical and natural law. For progressives, however, the end goal or goal post is always moving and evolving.

Students and their parents enjoyed a dinner banquet featuring educator and radio host Dr. Jake Jacobs, who inspired the audience to become more active in voicing their beliefs. He declared, “Now is the time for a new birth of freedom!” All students received a copy of Jacobs’ book, Mother, Should I Trust the Government?

Governor Scott Walker, YAF’s president, addressed seminar attendees the following day, sharing his story of facing down 100,000 leftist protestors in the Wisconsin State Capitol in 2011 and encouraging the young audience to stand up to leftist bullies who seek to cancel and silence them.

Illinois State Representative Jeanne Ives reminded students about the importance of setting a courageous example for their peers.

Student Reagan Hayes from Homer Glen, Illinois, remarked, “I never would have felt the strength to keep fighting my school board if I hadn’t found this program.”

As a fitting conclusion to the program, students toured Ronald Reagan’s boyhood home, now preserved and operated by YAF. They learned how growing up in a modest home in Dixon, Illinois, shaped President Reagan’s values, preparing him for a lifetime of leadership, service, and achievement.

Governor George Allen captivates students and friends of YAF during the inaugural Reagan Boyhood Home Roundtable Luncheon, held in conjunction with the American Exceptionalism Seminar.

High school students from across the Midwest participate in YAF’s American Exceptionalism Seminar at the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon, Illinois.

Young America’s Foundation

Former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and YAF President Governor Scott Walker participate in a discussion on greater education freedom.

Senator Mike Lee offers a compelling case for promoting personal liberty.

YAF’s 44th Annual National Conservative Student Conference Draws Noem, Cruz, and Lee

Jaime Hahn, Conference Director

Following Young America’s Foundation’s 44th annual National Conservative Student Conference, student Mateusz Brake from the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign remarked,

I’m the child of immigrants who love America. Thank you for embodying all that makes America great at this conference. Thank you for speaking the truth boldly and for giving us the tools to spread reason.

Along with Mateusz, more than 600 participants— and millions more online—participated in the National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C., where they gained inspiration and equipped themselves with the tools to advance conservative ideas.

Not only that, but students also expanded their network of like-minded peers, met with the top leaders in the Conservative Movement, and held lively discussions about the issues most important to their generation. Foundation supporters and alumni joined the program for select sessions.

Senator Ted Cruz headlines the opening dinner banquet of the 44th annual National Conservative Student Conference.

“You are lucky to be taking part in saving this country. That’s a battle worth fighting, and I am really proud to be fighting it alongside you.”

— senAtor ted cruz

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem addresses a question from a student during YAF’s National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C.

Tonight, I am here to give you a word of encouragement. I have two very simple points: America is in crisis, and revival is coming. We are on the cusp of something amazing, and you all are lucky to be young at a time when so many people’s eyes are opening up to liberty. You are lucky to be taking part in saving this country. That’s a battle worth fighting, and I am really proud to be fighting it alongside you.

The second day of the program featured a speech by Vice President Mike Pence, who noted, “The idea of

American freedom has created the most prosperous nation in the history of the world.”

Additional speakers throughout the day included author and Grove City College Professor Dr. Carl R. Trueman; 11th U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos; National Review Staff Writer Alexandra DeSanctis Marr; Princeton University Professor Dr. Robert P. George; Ethics and Public Policy Center President Dr. Ryan T. Anderson; and Warrior Poet Society Founder and CEO John Lovell.

The 17th U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson, concluded the day with stirring remarks about American exceptionalism. He noted,

Freedom of speech is such an important part of the American dream. And what other country has a dream? Have you thought about that? Is there a

Founder and CEO of the Warrior Poet Society, John Lovell, encourages students to prepare effectively to advance their ideas in society.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, YAF alumna and National Review Staff Writer Alexandra DeSanctis discusses the importance of advancing the right to life at the state level.

Actor and filmmaker Kirk Cameron takes a selfie with a student in the audience.

Senator Ted Cruz headlined the opening dinner banquet, stating,

Bestselling author and The Daily Wire Host Andrew Klavan receives a warm welcome at YAF’s conference.

YAF’s summer interns from across the country participate in the National Conservative Student Conference.

Portuguese dream? Or a Nigerian dream?...Only America has a dream. It is the place that everyone wants to come to.

— dAne hudson, gustAvus Adolphus college

The next day, YAF Program Officers Gianna Milaro, Hunter Morrow, and Charlie Jones, along with the Foundation’s William & Berniece Grewcock Intern Scholars, hosted an exclusive morning reception for YAF chapter members to discuss effective campus activism strategies.

Senator Mike Lee kicked off the morning sessions, discussing the importance of limited government, how the

Biden administration’s policies violate citizens’ rights, and the appropriate role of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Following Lee’s remarks, actor and filmmaker Kirk Cameron, musician and author Zuby, economist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, and The Daily Wire Host Andrew Klavan educated students on a wide range of topics, including advancing conservative values in culture, the five pillars of economic prosperity, and more.

Female conference attendees also enjoyed a ladies’ luncheon hosted by the Clare Boothe Luce Center for

YAF alumnus and 48th Attorney General of Virginia Jason Miyares highlights his efforts to roll back Critical Race Theory in Virginia’s schools.

Young America’s Foundation

Libertas

Scholars Dr. Ryan Anderson (left) and Dr. Robert George (right) discuss the importance of traditional values for living a fulfilling life.

Renowned economist Dr. Arthur Laffer discusses the five pillars of prosperity during a lecture sponsored in honor of Thomas and Marjorie Mairs.

Dr. Ben Carson, the 17th U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, addresses YAF’s National Conservative Student Conference.

Hundreds of YAF students, alumni, and supporters enjoy a dinner banquet featuring Mollie Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist.

“This is the first time I have ever been able to have a truthful and factual discussion about conservatism, and I learned more than I ever will in school.”

Conservative Women (CBL), which featured CBL President Michelle Easton and 37th Treasurer of the United States Bay Buchanan.

That evening, Foundation supporters and alumni took part in a special reception featuring The Federalist Editorin-Chief Mollie Hemingway, who signed copies of her latest book, Rigged.

The day concluded with a dinner banquet for YAF students, supporters, and alumni headlined by Hemingway, who spoke on the threat of Big Tech and the challenges that journalists face in a field where truth-seeking is increasingly rare.

During the dinner, emceed by talk radio host Larry O’Connor, YAF awarded the first National Journalism Center (NJC) Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism to The Federalist’s Gabe Kaminsky. YAF President Governor Scott Walker and NJC Director Emily Jashinsky presented the award to Kaminsky for his important work exposing

corruption in politics and critical race theory in schools (see page 8).

The next day began with a Buckley Breakfast Club speaker session featuring Congressman Jim Jordan (OH04), who underscored the importance of public officials upholding their promises to the American people. The Foundation launched the Buckley Breakfast Club speaker series—named in honor of William F. Buckley, Jr.—to offer the thousands of summer interns in the nation’s capital the opportunity to hear from and meet with conservative leaders in Congress and policy experts in Washington, D.C.

The day also featured speeches from Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08), YAF alumnus and 48th Attorney General of Virginia Jason Miyares, author and podcast host Eric Metaxas, New Discourses Founder Dr. James Lindsay, and Lt. Col. Oliver North.

on page 16)

Longtime YAF ally Congressman Jim Jordan headlines a Buckley Breakfast Club session, held in conjunction with the National Conservative Student Conference.

Congresswoman Kat Cammack addresses the next generation of young conservative leaders.Conference attendees enjoy meeting with rapper and author Zuby.

Author Eric Metaxas signs copies of his book, If You Can Keep It, for students following his remarks.

Commentator and author Vince Everett Ellison speaks about the importance of a meritocratic society.

Young America’s Foundation

Libertas

Young people gather in Washington, D.C., for YAF’s 44th annual National Conservative Student Conference.

(Continued from page 14)

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem headlined that evening’s dinner banquet with an inspiring message for the young audience. She advised,

When you look at hard things coming your way…approach [the situation] with an enabling attitude…see it as an opportunity to do something historic—something once-in-alifetime that will cause you to overachieve.

The final day of YAF’s National Conservative Student Conference featured remarks from YAF’s longest-serving faculty member, economic historian Dr. Burt Folsom; Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03), who also serves as cochair of YAF’s Campus Free Speech Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives; Governor Scott Walker; Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21); and author and commentator Vince Everett Ellison.

Author and podcast host Liz Wheeler, the closing conference speaker, encouraged the young people in attendance to boldly challenge both wokeism and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at their schools.

Throughout the week, students also enjoyed meeting likeminded friends through lively debate sessions, a networking breakfast sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, a screening of The Hong Konger documentary, evening tours of the National Mall, a 5K run around the national monuments, and Freedom Karaoke.

Students departed YAF’s premier conference educated, trained, and inspired to advance freedom on their college campuses in the new academic year.

Dane Hudson from Gustavus Adolphus College noted, “This is the first time I have ever been able to have a truthful and factual discussion about conservatism, and I learned more than I ever will in school.”

University of Virginia YAF members celebrate their YAF Chapter of the Year award, presented to them on stage during the National Conservative Student Conference.

Student Kale Ogunbar from Penn State University enjoys meeting Lt. Col. Oliver North.

During the program, attendees enjoy hearing Congressman Mike Gallagher’s perspective on strengthening America’s national security policies.

Commentator Liz Wheeler addresses students during the closing dinner banquet of the conference.

Knowles, West, Miyares, and Donalds

Inspire More Than 600 at YAF’s High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch

By Madison Habersetzer, Conference Director

Hundreds of eager students from across the country—representing 24 states and 142 high schools—gathered for Young America’s Foundation’s June High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. More than 600 attendees, including students, parents, supporters, community members, and conservative leaders, participated in the weeklong program.

During the conference, students walked in President Ronald Reagan’s footsteps at his beloved Rancho del Cielo, gained knowledge and inspiration from conservative leaders and faculty members, and enjoyed the company of peers from around the nation.

The program began with an activism training session, during which attendees learned how to start and grow their

YAF chapters and effectively communicate conservative values in their schools and communities.

Lt. Col. Allen West headlined the opening dinner banquet of the conference, empowering attendees with his uplifting message:

Because of your skin color, that does not define you as being an oppressor, and because of my skin color, that does not define me as being oppressed. Every single one of us lives in the greatest nation that the world has ever known, and we can choose to be victors and not victims. That’s what conservatism is.

The following day, students experienced a memorable tour of the Reagan Ranch, which has become a rite of passage for

HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE AT THE REAGAN RANCH

Students (from left) Abby Pickens, Meriel McCormick, Lucas Vaughan, and Owen Eney meet with Lt. Col. Allen West during the opening reception of the conference.

young conservatives nationwide. Since the Reagan family entrusted YAF in 1998 with preserving the 688-acre Rancho del Cielo, the Foundation has used this premier Presidential property as a venue for educating and training young people with our 40th President’s freedom philosophy.

Attendees gained an appreciation for Reagan’s ideas and lasting accomplishments by exploring the property’s modest adobe home, hay barn, Secret Service Command Post, helipad, and Freedom Wall—where the names of YAF’s

generous supporters are engraved in honor of their commitment to passing on Reagan’s values to future generations.

Back in the classroom, students learned from a wide range of speakers, starting with distinguished economic historian Dr. Burt Folsom, who debunked popular myths about the great entrepreneurs—including Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Cornelius Vanderbilt—in American history. That evening, The Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles spoke about the dangers of the Left’s obsession with gender identity,

HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE AT THE REAGAN RANCH

“A narcissistic culture celebrates pride. To escape the madness and the misery, we need not think less of ourselves, but we certainly must think of ourselves less.”

— michAel knowles

The Daily Wire Host Michael Knowles gives a speech on the narcissism of gender identity. (From left) Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and Congressman Byron Donalds tour the Reagan Ranch with YAF President Governor Scott Walker.

The King’s College Executive Vice President Brian Brenberg exposes the injustice of woke anti-capitalism.

Commentator Elisha Krauss discusses the dangers of transgenderism.

Students meet popular commentator Liz Wheeler following her remarks.

stating, “A narcissistic culture celebrates pride. To escape the madness and the misery, we need not think less of ourselves, but we certainly must think of ourselves less.”

The King’s College Executive Vice President and Fox News Contributor Brian Brenberg discussed the injustice of woke anti-capitalism.

On the heels of Brenberg’s timely remarks, #1 New York Times bestselling author and YAF Director Peter Schweizer headlined the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable, held in conjunction with the conference. Addressing students, supporters, and friends of YAF, Schweizer shed light on the subversive collaboration between the Chinese Communist Party and Big Tech, arguing that the Chinese government’s plan is “to supplant the United States, to transform the international community, and change life here in the United

States in ways that will no longer make it recognizable.”

Following the luncheon, entrepreneur and The Federalist Senior Contributor Helen Raleigh shared her family’s first-hand perspective of escaping Communist China. Underscoring the limits on free expression in China, she implored students to be watchful of propaganda in government, media, and education.

YAF President Governor Scott Walker discussed the continued importance of America’s founding principles, remarking, “If we stand up for what is right and decent, if we’re on this side of the flag and everything she stands for, which is about freedom, we can prevail.”

Given the Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, two pro-life advocates—activist Anna Strasburg and commentator Liz Wheeler—joined students in celebrating this

HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE AT THE REAGAN RANCH

Hundreds of students from across America attend YAF’s High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch.

#1 New York Times bestselling author and YAF Director Peter Schweizer headlines the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable luncheon, held in conjunction with the High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch.

St. Therese Classical Academy student Carina Su receives YAF’s resources during the program in Santa Barbara.

Entrepreneur and The Federalist Senior Contributor Helen Raleigh discusses her family’s first-hand experience escaping from Communist China.

victory and encouraged the young audience to continue fighting for the lives of the unborn.

Actor and producer Kevin Sorbo and commentator Elisha Krauss then spoke to conference attendees about the importance of voicing conservative viewpoints in popular culture.

Rising conservatives in public office—YAF alumnus and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and Congressman Byron Donalds (FL-19)—also addressed attendees. Miyares made the case for American exceptionalism by sharing his mother’s account of fleeing Communist Cuba, while Donalds presented a compelling argument for smaller government.

President Reagan’s son, Michael Reagan, served as the closing conference speaker, inspiring students with personal stories of his father’s convictions and leadership.

Reflecting on her experience attending the conference, Ani Rostomyan from Burbank Senior High School remarked, “It was liberating to be around people who don’t shame and bully me for my beliefs.”

Like Rostomyan, her fellow attendees at YAF’s High School Conference departed Santa Barbara with a greater appreciation for conservative principles and the values upon which America was founded.

HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE AT THE REAGAN RANCH

“It was liberating to be around people who don’t shame and bully me for my beliefs.”

— Ani rostomYAn, burbAnk, cAliforniA

Economic historian Dr. Burt Folsom, YAF’s longest-serving faculty member, entertains students with his compelling stories of America’s greatest entrepreneurs.

YAF Vice President Patrick Coyle and his daughter, Tessa Coyle, enjoy touring Rancho del Cielo.

Student Gabriella Judaken asks a question of a speaker during the conference.

High schoolers gain inspiration to advance conservative principles during their visit to the Reagan Ranch.

From the National Journalism Center to the Top of Pop Culture: A Profile of Greg Gutfeld

By Emily Jashinsky, Director of the National Journalism Center and Culture Editor at The Federalist

In the fall of 1982, Johnny Carson reigned supreme over late-night comedy. That October, he signed a new, multi-year contract with NBC, which, according to a New York Times report, ensured that the Tonight Show would continue to generate an estimated $30 million in revenue a year.

Later in the decade, with Carson atop pop culture and Ronald Reagan in the White House, a young man from San Mateo, California, was looking for an opportunity to begin his career. He was, according to his internship application to the National Journalism Center (NJC), “preparing for a future in media.”

That application, from a 22-year-old Greg Gutfeld, is

remarkable in retrospect. From Gutfeld’s time as an intern at NJC—a project of Young America’s Foundation—to his days building the eccentric Red Eye show, to his current role as the host of Gutfeld! on Fox News, he has become one of the most consequential figures in modern media.

Greg Gutfeld’s application to the National Journalism Center in 1982 hints at his future success in media and journalism.

Four decades since 1982, Carson’s crown now belongs to Gutfeld, recently dubbed “the king of late-night” by Newsweek. Gutfeld regularly pulls in the genre’s highest ratings without airing on a broadcast network, an unthinkable feat until he pulled it off at Fox— much to the shock of TV’s chattering class.

As a regular presence on Fox, Gutfeld offers

The National Journalism Center

Young America’s Foundation’s National Journalism Center (NJC) is the nation’s premier journalism training program that combines hands-on media placements with educational sessions dedicated to promoting truth-seeking journalism.

Founded by M. Stanton Evans in 1977, NJC provides aspiring journalists with the opportunity to learn the principles and practices of responsible reporting. NJC’s 12-week internship program gives interns the tools and experiences to combat liberal bias in the mainstream media.

Students are matched with media outlets that reflect their interests and experiences, including the Washington Times, Fox News, C-SPAN, WMAL, the Santa Barbara News-Press, The Federalist, Roll Call, Washington Examiner, and others. These placements help young journalists develop practical journalism skills and a better understanding of media, society, and public policy and how the three intersect in Washington, D.C. and across the country.

To learn more about the National Journalism Center, please contact NJC Director Emily Jashinsky at ejashinsky@yaf.org or 800-USA-1776.

Gutfeld addresses a sold-out audience of young people at YAF’s 40th annual National Conservative Student Conference in 2018 in the nation’s capital.

analysis of politics and culture that comes with a depth and intellect not often seen on cable airwaves—and all in his trademark comedic style. His takes are unconventional, unbothered, and unlike those of any other late-night host.

This August, Gutfeld! hit a hot streak, becoming the first cable program to finish the month as the most-watched late-night show in all of broadcast and cable. The show averaged 2.191 million viewers, outpacing The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2.156 million viewers), The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.339 million viewers), and Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.144 million viewers). During the same window, Gutfeld! also beat out every show on CNN and MSNBC in the prized 25-54 demographic.

Gutfeld’s influence is not limited to comedy either. As a longtime co-host of The Five on Fox News, he is one of the most visible personalities in news media and on all of television. He is also a bestselling author several times over and has more than three million followers across social media platforms, including two million on Twitter alone.

Gutfeld’s rise began with NJC. Journalist M. Stanton Evans founded NJC in 1977, just a decade before Gutfeld

Gutfeld speaks about the importance of hard work during YAF’s Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable luncheon in 2014 in Santa Barbara, California.

enrolled in the program, with the goals of educating and developing reporters who would prioritize truth over narrative and strengthening America’s news media one young journalist at a time.

As an NJC intern in 1987, Gutfeld worked for R. Emmett Tyrrell—the founder and editor of the American Spectator then bounced around to Prevention and other Rodale magazines until landing at Men’s Health, where he was promoted to editor-in-chief in 1999. He went on to serve in the same role at Stuff and then edited Maxim before

assuming his role as host of Red Eye at Fox News in 2007.

It is impossible to overstate how influential Red Eye was at the time. Gutfeld’s subsequent success is a testament to his utter disinterest in conforming to the poor standards of mainstream media. When popular culture fawned over Barack Obama’s ill-fated pledges of “hope” and “change,” Gutfeld saw herds of sanctimonious sheep begging to be mocked—and millions of people eager to hear that kind of fearlessness.

Before nearly anyone else, Gutfeld identified a wildly underserved market of viewers craving authentic commentary that felt less scripted and more honest. Fox News had the good judgment to provide Gutfeld a more prominent platform on the network, endearing its loyal fans to his quirks and biting takes.

Success followed Gutfeld from Red Eye to The Five, then to The Greg Gutfeld Show, which aired on Saturdays at 10:00 p.m. Remarkably, Red Eye drew more viewers than did many prominent shows on CNN and MSNBC. At one point, the program beat Piers Morgan’s primetime CNN show in the 2554 age demographic. Far more viewers were watching Gutfeld than they were feted celebrity hosts like John Oliver, Seth Meyers, and James Corden.

Today, Gutfeld! is often the top show in all of late-night television. That does not happen by accident. It is what happens when the right person collides with the right opportunities.

Gutfeld wrote of his NJC internship in his bestselling book, How To Be Right: “My first gig: I got paid a stipend, and arrived in D.C. with just a tie and a few hundred bucks…I was dirt broke, we were all dirt broke, but I really didn’t think about it.” He reflected, “My life as a writer and editor began in a mailroom, doing odd chores, like mailing out other people’s letters.” Gutfeld also recalled bumping elbows with the likes of Andrew Ferguson, P.J. O’Rourke, and Ronald Reagan himself.

In a 2014 speech to YAF students and supporters at the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, California, Gutfeld dispensed some advice for aspiring journalists in the shoes he once occupied. “It’s more valuable for you to listen than for you to voice an opinion about yourself,” he stated. “Over time, you will develop the confidence to have an opinion, but the first thing is to listen.”

Throughout his career, Gutfeld has brought attention to the work of YAF’s student activists by using his platform on Fox News to tell their stories. He has highlighted the Foundation’s annual commencement speaker survey— which contrasts the large number of leftist speakers hosted by the top U.S. universities for graduation ceremonies with the few right-of-center speakers hosted on campuses—and featured YAF’s GPA Redistribution Contest, an annual

“It’s more valuable for you to listen than for you to voice an opinion about yourself. Over time you will develop the confidence to have an opinion, but the first thing is to listen.”

— GREG GUTFELD

During a segment on The Five, Gutfeld highlights YAF’s GPA Redistribution Project, organized by the Foundation’s student activists on campuses nationwide.

Following his speech at the Reagan Ranch Center in 2014, Gutfeld signs copies of his book, Not Cool: The Hipster Elite and Their War on You, for student attendees.

project that dispels the supposed wonders of socialism in practice.

Gutfeld returned to NJC in 2017 to a star’s reception, joining many fellow alumni at the program’s 40th anniversary celebration at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. There, he joked about playing “six degrees of NJC,” a game at which just about anyone in American media can excel. NJC is a self-perpetuating program, producing young journalists whose commitment to excellence inspires others to follow their lead year after year.

As American media and culture have undergone dramatic changes since the time of Johnny Carson and Ronald Reagan,

NJC has trained aspiring young journalists willing to buck the mainstream leftist narratives by seeking facts above all else.

Increasingly, there is no room at legacy media organizations for journalists who put truth before narrative. While the faltering Tonight Show of today might not want anything to do with Greg Gutfeld, plenty of viewers do, and for good reason. He’s honest. Not only is this the most moral path, but the American public’s demand for truth-seeking journalism also makes it the most successful one.

Indeed, Greg Gutfeld, an ambitious young journalist from Southern California, is Exhibit A for the mission of the National Journalism Center.

Gutfeld tours Rancho del Cielo, walking in the footsteps of the man whom he considers the “greatest President we’ve had in modern time.”

(From left) Governor George Allen, Susan Allen, and former National Journalism Center Director Elizabeth Donatelli meet with Gutfeld during NJC’s 40th anniversary celebration in 2017.

Hillsdale College students (from right) Nate McBride, John Bell, and Jack Sinko meet New York Times bestselling author Greg Gutfeld following his remarks at YAF’s 2015 Midwest Freedom Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Your Money, Their Values— Abortion and Woke Capitalism

By Andy Puzder, Executive Chairman, 2ndVote Advisers

About Andy Puzder

Andy Puzder is the executive chairman of the board of directors at 2ndVote Advisers, which is an asset manager with funds invested in companies that place profits ahead of a politically progressive ESG (environmental, social, and governance) agenda.

Puzder is the former CEO of CKE Restaurants, where he helped turn Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. into globally known fast food powerhouses. Puzder became CEO in 2000 and led the company out of serious financial difficulties, expanding CKE to more than 3,800 restaurants.

Earlier in his career, Puzder was a commercial trial lawyer in St. Louis. He authored legislation in Missouri—acknowledging that life begins at conception and granting unborn children rights in contexts other than abortion (such as criminal, tort, and inheritance laws)—which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services in 1989

Puzder is a frequent lecturer and author on economics, business, and public policy for Young America’s Foundation’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise. To invite Puzder to speak on campus, students and educators can visit YAF.org/speakers.

He is also a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, senior fellow at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, member of the Washington University Law School Board of Advisors, director at The Job Creators Network, and member of the advisory board at Prager University.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was clearly a win for those of us who want a legal regime more supportive of unborn children. But, contrary to a popular misconception, Dobbs did not make abortion illegal. Rather, it empowered the people of each state to determine abortion’s legal status through their elected representatives.

Currently, 22 states provide or will soon provide protection for unborn children. In 28 states, there are few or no such protections. Without a doubt, in the next few years, both sides in each of these states will attempt to make the

laws regarding abortion more or less restrictive.

But politics will not be the only arena in which this fight will be waged. In particular, the leaders of corporate America are making certain all of us know how virtuous they are by attacking the Dobbs decision and by committing the funds of their investors and revenues of their businesses to pay employees who want to travel to get an abortion.

For example, leftist retailer Patagonia recently announced that it would not only cover the cost of medical insurance, including abortion care, but also added that “[w]here restrictions exist, travel, lodging and food are covered.” It even

“Woke capitalism attempts to reorient modern corporations from generating returns for investors to advancing the agenda of the Left...”

— ANDY PUZDER

committed to providing “training and bail for those who peacefully protest for reproductive justice.”

One would expect traditionally left-wing companies like Starbucks and the New York Times to adopt similar policies, and indeed they have. But it is not limited to them. At least 60 major U.S. corporations have already announced abortion travel perks, including Amazon, Microsoft, CVS Health, Kroger, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Mastercard, Target, and, of course, the now totally and irreparably woke Disney.

The commitment of these companies is ostensibly to “reproductive health” but actually and only to abortion on demand. There is no sign that they will fund any unusual expenses for employees who want to have their babies. Nor does there appear to be any limit on the availability of abortion subsidies based on the health or gestational age of the unborn child.

It is all abortion, all the time, for these virtue-signaling CEOs and their companies.

Are you a confused pregnant employee wanting to fly home to talk to your parents about what to do? Don’t think about asking for extra time off, much less money for airfare. Have you decided to

keep your baby, and do you need money for baby clothes, a stroller, or a crib? No employee benefit there. But if you are eight and a half months pregnant and considering traveling to California so that an abortionist can dismember your otherwise healthy child in your womb, rest assured that your top-level bosses are happy to help—not with their own money, of course, but with the company profits they are supposed to be earning on behalf of their investors.

It is another turn in the wheel of “woke capitalism”— sometimes referred to as “stakeholder capitalism” or “ESG” (environmental, social and governance) investing. In the past,

ESG investing—or environmental, social, and governance investing—seeks to bring the Left’s agenda on abortion and other issues into U.S. corporations.

Former CEO Andy Puzder addresses hundreds of college students at YAF’s 41st annual National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C.

SPEAKER COLUMN

woke capitalism was the excuse for big companies to support radical climate policy, critical race theory training, and so-called “governance” codes that mandated hiring based on race or sex rather than merit and character. Now, these corporations are adding support for abortion on demand.

In short, woke capitalism attempts to reorient modern corporations from generating returns for investors to advancing the agenda of the Left—but only the cultural agenda. Woke capitalism has certainly not induced Fortune 500 CEOs to support unionization efforts at their workplaces.

In other words, Amazon and Starbucks are happy to pay the travel costs of abortion, and they will continue shelling out so that the likes of Robin DiAngelo can lecture their workforces about how racist they are. But don’t expect CEOs to agree to bargain collectively with their employees about the terms and conditions of employment.

So, if you participate in a pension plan or a mutual fund, be aware that the fiduciaries who are supposed to prudently invest your money on your behalf are quite probably using it instead to support an agenda with which you may not agree. Like most Americans, you might be uneasy about abortion— or at least late-term abortions—and you are probably hoping

that the money you have earned will be used to make your future more secure. But the CEOs of the companies in which you have invested, and major financial firms like BlackRock, State Street, and Goldman Sachs, do not care what you think or what you expect. They are too busy playing to a crowd that most definitely doesn’t include you.

On the positive side, the great thing about the free market is it will self-correct, and companies focused on profits rather than politics will be rewarded in the long run. In the meantime, be careful where you shop and, if you are concerned about the conduct your money is supporting, be very careful where and with whom you invest.

University of Michigan YAF chapter members enjoy meeting with Andy Puzder following his remarks at the Foundation’s National Conservative Student Conference in 2019.

Fox Business Network Host Maria Bartiromo interviews Puzder on the dangers of ESG investing.

Remembering Al Moore and His Legacy at the Reagan Ranch

By Andrew Coffin, Vice President and Director of the Reagan Ranch

Young America’s Foundation has lost a leader and titan of our cause. When it comes to the Reagan Ranch, there is no one like Al Moore.

YAF stepped forward to save the Reagan Ranch in 1998, and many generous Americans joined our efforts, making extraordinary, sacrificial gifts to protect Ronald Reagan’s beloved Santa Barbara ranch home and the principles, values, and ideas represented by this national treasure.

But no one did more during their lifetime than Al.

Al’s support of YAF goes back to 1990, well before we saved the Reagan Ranch. But Al really dug in once he learned about our plan to protect Ronald Reagan’s home and share its lessons with young people.

He was fond of talking about the Reagan Ranch Membership Card bearing his name that YAF mailed him, the result of a $25 gift to support our organization’s new campaign to protect the Ranch. Al went on to do far, far more for the Ranch, but he was proud of that membership card. It meant that he was there at the very start.

Over the years, Al stepped forward at critical moments—decision points that would impact the future of the Ranch, the future of YAF, and the future of the Conservative Movement. He gave the lead gift to complete the Reagan Ranch Center, YAF’s “Schoolhouse for Reaganism” in downtown Santa Barbara, but, when given the opportunity to put his

name on the building, Al decided that it would be more appropriate to name the building after Ronald Reagan.

As former YAF President Ron Robinson has said many times, “There would be no Reagan Ranch Center today without Al Moore.”

But Al’s heart was at the Ranch itself. He identified with Ronald Reagan’s love for the outdoors and his work ethic. He loved the vistas and the trails and getting behind the wheel of an ATV to drive himself around the property, just as the President enjoyed driving the trails in his beloved Jeep.

Al insisted on driving himself well after his weakening eyesight made the prospect of getting behind the wheel seem risky and inadvisable to many of us. But, after successfully navigating the rugged terrain, Al took joy in giving his doubters a hard time. “I’m mad at you,” he would say. “You didn’t trust me!”

— AL MOORE

YAF certainly learned to trust Al—to trust that, at those critical moments, he would step forward with bold leadership and remarkable generosity. These moments often happened during meetings of the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors. Al and his dear wife, Bette, served as some of the earliest members of this esteemed board.

Al participated in these meetings faithfully—in person for many years, and then via video for more recent gatherings. He never missed a meeting. Al enjoyed sitting back and listening to

“We’ve talked about this enough. We all know what needs to be done. And, well, Bette and I are going to see that it is done.”

Al Moore joins Young America’s Foundation for the 2006 grand opening of the Reagan Ranch Center in downtown Santa Barbara, made possible by his leadership gift to complete the “Schoolhouse for Reaganism.”

his fellow board members deliberate over big decisions. Colleagues such as Attorney General Ed Meese, Judge William Clark, retired Secret Service agent John Barletta, Governor George Allen, then-YAF President Ron Robinson, Board Chairman Frank Donatelli, and so many other great leaders would weigh the pros and cons of significant expenditures or new approaches.

After much was said, Al would interject, at just the right moment, to stop the debate. Al’s statement usually went something like this: “We’ve talked about this enough. We all know what needs to be done. And, well, Bette and I are going to see that it is done.”

— GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER

Al and Bette, who passed away in 2014, ultimately sponsored the Tack Barn at the Reagan Ranch, gave a gift to acquire what we now call the Moore Ranch, and then expanded the boundaries of the property yet again with the acquisition of the Moore Family Ranch. In all, more than 180 acres have been added to Rancho del Cielo to protect the viewshed and borders of this historic property.

Most recently, Al and his family provided another leadership gift to create the Moore Family Retreat Center on the Moore Family Ranch. This overnight retreat facility, once completed, will allow conservative leaders, students, and other guests to take inspiration from the Ranch in the Heavens the way Ronald Reagan did.

All told, Al and his family invested more than $15 million

in YAF’s Reagan Ranch project during Al’s lifetime.

Al leaves a remarkable legacy in his hometown of St. Louis—through his family, the many individuals who worked with and for him over the years, and the many causes he supported.

But Al also leaves an expansive legacy at the Reagan Ranch.

As Governor Scott Walker, YAF’s president, noted, “Al Moore took a leap of faith time and time again to build what we have at the Reagan and Moore Ranches. His legacy will be far more than physical properties. It will be the thousands of young people whose spark is lit with a love for freedom.”

Every conservative leader who learned and took inspiration from Ronald Reagan’s example at the Ranch has Al Moore to thank.

Every supporter of YAF who was inspired by the Foundation’s efforts to protect and share Ronald Reagan’s legacy—and stood shoulder to shoulder with Al in investing in this cause—followed the lead of this great American who propelled this project forward at so many critical junctures.

Future generations of Americans who visit the Reagan Ranch will not know Al in the same way, but they will certainly know his name and what he did for them—he will continue to be an important person in the lives of young people from across the country who walk in Ronald Reagan and Al Moore’s footsteps at the Reagan Ranch.

“[Al Moore’s] legacy will be far more than physical properties. It will be the thousands of young people whose spark is lit with a love for freedom.”

Al and Bette Moore visit Freedom Wall at the Reagan Ranch, which honors the legacy of Ronald Reagan and the generous Americans who have invested in Rancho del Cielo to pass on President Reagan’s ideas to future generations.

Much like President Ronald Reagan enjoyed driving the trails of Rancho del Cielo in his beloved Jeep, Al Moore (right) enjoys driving an ATV around the property with former YAF President Ron Robinson.

Al Moore (second from left) is joined by (from left) Lee Riggs, Dennis Moore, Nancy Moore, and Andrea Moore at a dedication ceremony for the Moore Family Ranch in 2017.

Foundation leaders and Al Moore’s family members help unveil a special plaque at the entrance to Moore Ranch in 2017. (From left: Reagan Ranch Board of Governors Chairman Frank Donatelli, Al Moore, Dennis Moore, Nancy Moore, former YAF President Ron Robinson, and YAF Vice President and Director of the Reagan Ranch Andrew Coffin.)

Alex Epstein: Challenging the Climate Alarmism of Campus Radicals

By Michael Mastrianna, Associate Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise

Texas A&M University Professor Andrew Dessler—a leading climate scientist who directs the Texas Center for Climate Studies—said on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience that it isn’t worth listening to “climate deniers.” He stated proudly, “I won’t debate the science. The science is set.”

Similarly, Penn State University’s Michael Mann, a distinguished professor of atmospheric science, advises students to ignore differing perspectives entirely. As he wrote on Twitter, “All of the noise right now from the climate change denial machine, the bots & trolls, the calls for fake ‘debates.’ Ignore it all.” He continued, “Deniers are desperate for oxygen in a mainstream media environment that thankfully is no longer giving it to them.”

From Harvard University to the University of California, Los Angeles, academic courses such as “Climate Change and the Apocalypse” and “Environmental Justice & Inequality” are proudly displayed on university websites and catalogues as legitimate, scientific educational experiences.

Additionally, media organizations and public figures often

Alex Epstein’s latest book, Fossil Future, presents a compelling case for society to employ more fossil fuels to achieve greater human prosperity.

engage in fear-mongering to influence the next generation on the issue of our planet’s survival. In 2019, for example, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed, “The world is going to end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change.”

This oppressive environment explains, to some extent, why many young people view climate change as something that will literally kill them and their peers. How can this messaging not terrify America’s youth?

As Young America’s Foundation has done on the issues of the day since its founding in 1969, we are confronting today’s climate alarmism by educating young people with the facts and presenting them with a compelling argument articulated by a leading thinker on the topic—philosopher and author Alex Epstein.

The founder and president of the Center for Industrial Progress, Epstein was motivated to become a philosopher on energy and climate issues because of his experience as an undergraduate at Duke University, where he says he “learned next to nothing about how fossil fuels improve

Epstein’s campus lecture at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Rinker School of Business, part of YAF’s Advancing Energy Freedom Lecture Series in early 2022, draws tens of thousands of online viewers.

billions of lives around the world.” He was, however, “exposed to endless proselytizing about how fossil fuels are causing climate catastrophe.”

Epstein asserts that fossil fuels are a low-cost, effective antidote to global poverty and that they have allowed humanity to reach the level of development and flourishing that we currently enjoy. Unlike most so-called experts, he brings a humanistic approach to the issue—acknowledging that natural gas, oil, coal, and other fossil fuels have an impact on the environment. He argues that the advantages of affordable, reliable energy far outweigh that environmental impact—an approach that he calls the “human flourishing framework.”

Epstein has always been willing to debate anyone on the morality of fossil fuels and has publicly done so with the leaders of environmentalist organizations including Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, and 350.org.

Indeed, at a time when Californians are suffering from rolling blackouts precipitated by ill-considered government energy mandates and European governments are revisiting their nations’ “green energy transition,” Epstein’s message appears tailor-made for maximum impact.

Today, Young America’s Foundation is working with Epstein to bring much-needed intellectual diversity to Generation Z’s energy and climate debates. From addressing college and high school audiences at the Foundation’s conferences nationwide to participating in YAF’s campus lecture program—through the Advancing Energy Freedom Lecture Series—Epstein is reaching larger youth audiences than ever before.

Not only that, students of all ages—as well as educators—

can request a complimentary copy of Epstein’s latest book, Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas—Not Less, from Young America’s Foundation (YAF.org/fossilfuture).

Since the book’s release just a few months ago, more than 1,000 K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students and educators nationwide have received copies of this timely resource from the Foundation. An anonymous faculty member at the University of Texas Permian Basin echoed the sentiments of many who have requested the book, stating,

I live and teach in the Permian Basin, which is the major source of energy for our country. But even here, my students tend to buy into the global warming hysteria and demonize fossil fuels. I would love to have the information and tools to combat these false narratives.

Epstein says he wrote Fossil Future to be the resource he wishes he had gotten as a student. The book provides the intellectual ammunition to embolden young people to think critically, challenge the claims of imminent catastrophe, and apply a pro-human perspective to today’s debates.

America’s universities and schools have effectively fostered a culture of climate hysteria and suppressed genuine discussion on the issue. Young America’s Foundation is pleased to be sponsoring Alex Epstein to confront this challenge head-on. Thanks to our supporters, we are informing students and offering educators an alternative perspective on one of the most significant debates for the next generation.

Founder and President of the Center for Industrial Progress Alex Epstein addresses YAF’s 2021 National Conservative Student Conference in Houston.

Schweizer, Strassel, and Fellow

Conservative Leaders Join YAF Supporters at Largest-Ever Rawhide Circle Retreat

By Kelleigh Clarke, Development Officer for Foundation Relations

More than 170 loyal supporters and friends of Young America’s Foundation gathered at the Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort in California’s Santa Ynez Valley for YAF’s annual Rawhide Circle Retreat. This event—the largest Rawhide Circle Retreat in YAF’s history—brought together supporters from across the country to spend time with YAF leadership and like-minded friends.

The Alisal, California’s premier dude ranch set on more than 10,500 acres, provided a memorable backdrop for discussing YAF’s nationwide youth outreach efforts and plans for significant growth in the coming years.

The program began with a reception featuring live music and camaraderie at the picturesque resort. YAF President Governor Scott Walker welcomed guests, highlighting the importance of YAF’s supporters in ensuring the Foundation and its thousands of students nationwide persevered during the last year despite the Biden administration’s failed policies.

The group reconvened for breakfast and several informative sessions the next morning. Supporters introduced themselves before hearing from #1 New York Times bestselling author and YAF Director Peter Schweizer, who revealed his groundbreaking findings about U.S. elites’ relationships with the Chinese Communist Party—as reported in his latest

Young America’s Foundation supporters and staff enjoy a hike at the Alisal Guest Ranch in Solvang, California.

Wall Street Journal Editorial Board Member Kimberley Strassel (middle) meets with Foundation supporters Ken and Marci Kalbfell following her remarks.

investigative book, Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win.

Perhaps most informative was a panel session moderated by YAF Vice President Patrick Coyle that featured YAF student leaders Catriona Fee from The Catholic University of America, Nickolaus Cabrera from the University of Virginia, and Nick Baker from Saint Louis University. These top student activists discussed their experiences and the obstacles they overcame to bring prominent conservative speakers to campus and

stand up for free speech. For instance, Baker shared his YAF chapter’s struggle against the Saint Louis University student government, which rejected his club’s request to install American flags in campus classrooms.

During a special dinner event, Walker noted that YAF’s recent successes were made possible because of the Foundation’s generous supporters. In particular, he highlighted the 25 successful campus lectures the Foundation hosted in just the last month and presented

YAF Vice President Patrick Coyle (right) moderates a panel featuring top YAF student activists (from left) Catriona Fee, Nick Baker, and Nickolaus Cabrera.

Frank Donatelli, Reagan Ranch Board of Governors chairman and YAF director, emcees the closing dinner banquet.

(From left) Vice President and Director of the Reagan Ranch Andrew Coffin, Tom and Joan Streiff, YAF President Governor Scott Walker, and Vice President Raj Kannappan visit the plaque at Rancho del Cielo recognizing the Streiffs’ support of YAF during the Rawhide Circle Retreat.

Rawhide Circle Retreat attendees Brian and Winsome Schwalbach visit President Ronald Reagan’s modest adobe home at his Western White House.

CIRCLE RETREAT

a brief video featuring live commentary from YAF student leaders who were hosting events the very week of the Rawhide Circle Retreat.

He then presented longtime Foundation supporters Richard and Jane Schwartz and Ray and Susie Screbant with YAF’s Defenders of the Reagan Ranch medallions, recognizing their critical support that helped protect the Reagan Ranch during the Alisal Fire of 2021. He also awarded this medallion to YAF’s committed staff based in Santa

Barbara who remained onsite at Rancho del Cielo to protect the property during the fire.

During the Rawhide Circle Retreat, members of the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors held their annual meeting and toured the Reagan Ranch, where they were briefed by Walker, YAF Vice President and Director of the Reagan Ranch Andrew Coffin, and Associate Director of the Reagan Ranch Brent Kilpper on the damage and recovery efforts following the Alisal Fire.

(From left) Governor Scott Walker and his wife, Reagan Ranch Board of Governors (BOG) member Tonette Walker, enjoy spending time at Rancho del Cielo with their son, Matt Walker, and fellow BOG member Candee Arndt.

YAF Director of Development Jason Barbour (left) welcomes Joan Sanders and Jonathan Maulbetsch to the 2022 Rawhide Circle Retreat.

Reagan Ranch Board of Governors members Jane and Rick Schwartz participate in a flag ceremony at the Reagan Ranch in honor of their longstanding support to protect Rancho del Cielo for future generations.

RAWHIDE CIRCLE RETREAT

Rawhide Circle members also toured Rancho del Cielo, located just a few miles from the Alisal, and participated in a luncheon discussion with Vice President Mike Pence and Governor Scott Walker.

Wall Street Journal columnist and editorial board member Kimberley Strassel headlined the closing dinner banquet of the program, highlighting the failures of the Biden administration and discussing how conservatives can effectively advance our values and policies.

Throughout the week, attendees also enjoyed a variety of memorable outdoor excursions—including horseback riding, hiking, fishing, and golf—that allowed for continued conversations among both old and new friends.

Young America’s Foundation looks forward to hosting the next Rawhide Circle Retreat in Colonial Williamsburg in May 2023.

Members of the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors, their guests, and YAF’s leadership team visit Freedom Wall at Rancho del Cielo.

YAF Director Ron Pearson and Liliana Longest enjoy an outdoor reception during the program. Rawhide Circle members take a hay ride to an outdoor barbecue lunch at the Alisal Guest Ranch.

Peter Schweizer Ron Robinson Michelle Easton

Governor Scott Walker

Fall

National Headquarters 11480 Commerce Park

Sixth Floor Reston, Virginia 20191 800-USA-1776

Longtime Reagan Ranch Board of Governors member Al Moore passed away on August 2, 2022 (see inside, page 29). Pictured above are Al, his granddaughter, Andrea Moore, and Young America’s Foundation President Governor Scott Walker at the Reagan Ranch in 2016. For more than 30 years, Al gave his leadership and generosity to advancing the Foundation’s mission. No one did more during their lifetime than Al to preserve and pass on Ronald Reagan’s legacy at the Reagan Ranch. Young America’s Foundation and the countless young people inspired by our 40th President’s values are forever indebted to Al Moore.