Upstream Ideas
Summary: "He who seeks to improve conditions must propagate a new mentality, not merely a new institution." — Ludwig von Mises Our aim at Upstream Ideas is to do just as Mises suggested by turning the dial on how you look at the political and policy issues facing Illinois, Chicago and our nation. We present new ideas that inform salient policy decisions, start new conversations and move beyond partisan politics all while challenging the status quo. Dan Proft along with distinguished guests and contributors lay out in-depth issues in a digestible way to better understand why conditions are what they are and how they could be improved. We produce content in a variety of formats including long-form interviews, multiple segment radio shows and mini-monologues. We arm you with new information and fresh perspectives with the goal of making Illinois and the United States of America a bit more free, a bit more just and a bit more civilized.
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Podcasts:
Two weeks ago it was a forthcoming Manafort indictment and trouble for Trump. Now, the investigators are in trouble and, along with the Wall Street Journal, calling on Mueller to resign. Why is it hard to imagine anything Mueller produces will be fully trusted? Are Trump’s public feuds with Corker and Flake leading to the purge of mainstream Republicans in Congress? New York Post columnist and Fox News Contributor, Michael Goodwin joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Speaker Ryan announces that the FBI is finally going to comply with subpoenas for documents concerning the Trump Dossier and Uranium One. How did the Russian Collusion investigation become an investigation into the investigators? How can Clinton and Podesta claim they didn’t know who funded the dossier even though it cost upwards of $9 million? Is justice finally being served in the underreported IRS scandal? Fox News Channel Anchor, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Trump capable of kissing and making up with GOP Senators to get tax reform passed? Will Trump’s tax plan force Springfield to cut taxes? If unions in Illinois are so great, why do they want to punish people who don’t want to join? Wall Street Journal Columnist, Senior Economist for CNN and former Donald Trump adviser, Stephen Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is anyone allowed to have an independent thought rather than automatically choosing one side or the other? Is it a full time job for people to walk around and find things that offend them? Do groups like the NAACP or Black Lives Matter do anything but try to anger their base? Vlogger “Red Pill Black,” Candace Owens joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Four instances makes for "corporate culture" at American Airlines, according to the NAACP. What should travelers expect next time they go through airport security with the newly instated protocols? How often are resources wasted on people that are already pre-screened? Has it occurred to the TSA to implement some common sense into the process? Founder and Publisher of Jetwhine.com, Robert Mark joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
“The President violates everything they thought they knew about the world.” How is Trump’s handling of the internal GOP strife from a communications perspective? Have they offered any examples of things that have gone wrong? Is Trump the beneficiary of the lack of integrity of his political opponents? Dilbert cartoonist, Scott Adams joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
There are still unanswered questions surrounding the mission in Niger. Is it possible American troops could have been betrayed by local allies? Does the whole Russian collusion story reveal how dirty politics can get in the DC swamp? Is this the real scandal or should there be more concerns about the uranium one deal? Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, Michael Rubin joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How pathological is identity politics? A feminist laments that The Human Stain didn't harass or do worse to more black women. Critics argue that Weinstein was able to act the way he did because of toxic masculinity. Where were the tough guys using their masculinity to confront him? Screenwriter, essayist, and author of “The Great Good Thing: A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ,” Andrew Klavan joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
“He is without integrity and if you're without integrity then it doesn't really matter what position you're taking in any given moment because how can I trust him.” Governor Rauner is not the guy he said he was going to be and his reelection ad is trying to distract from that. Will he face the consequences in the primaries or the general election? Dan and Amy take calls from listeners who voice their concerns.
“Illinois politicians who have presided over the destruction of the state’s economy and bankruptcy of the city, the county, the state, they’re trying to get bailed out by Amazon HQ2.” Should Illinois sell what's left of the state to Amazon to get HQ2? Is this going to have the same disappointing ending as Chicago’s bid for the Olympics? Founder & CEO of Spend Management Experts, John Haber joins Dan and Amy to discuss Chicago’s chances of landing Amazon HQ2.
The UK's National Health Services is contemplating a surgery ban for smokers and the obese until they can prove they are changing their ways. Is this a foreshadowing for what single-payer health care would look like in the US? Managing Editor for the Washington Examiner and author of Overcoming Obamacare: Three Approaches to Reversing the Government Takeover of Health Care, Philip Klein joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
"No Justice, No Peace" Maxine Waters' understudy Rep. Frederica Wilson demands an apology from Gen. Kelly and suggests he also owes an apology to the American people. But should Rep. Wilson be the one out there apologizing for her actions? Hosts of the Viewers’ View, Diamond and Silk join Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Rep. Wilson the victim of sexism because she couldn’t wear her eccentric hats on the House floor? Is MSNBC's Joy Reid right to insinuate that Gen. Kelly is a segregationist and misogynist? How would Trump’s tax plan help Illinoisans as another car plant decided to not invest in Illinois costing thousands of jobs? Is Rep. Kinzinger still supporting Gov. Rauner? Rep. Adam Kinzinger from Illinois' 16th Congressional District joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Representative Frederica Wilson called herself a “rockstar” for her role in politicizing the death of an American soldier in Niger. General Kelly responded and made a sobering statement questioning what is even considered sacred in this country anymore. Did those with “Trump derangement syndrome” bail him out of this controversy once again? Fox News Anchor of Special Report, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What happens in Syria now as ISIS is being driven out? What are the next steps? Is it still going to be a state that is ruled by war criminal like Assad? What has the politicization surrounding the deaths of Americans in our armed services say about the political climate we are living in? Former member of Congress representing Michigan’s Eighth Congressional District, officer in the U.S. Army, and FBI special agent, Mike Rogers joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
