Washington Should Trust Parents, Not Bureaucrats

What happens when programs created to help children and families become buried under federal rules?Dr. Ben Carson sits down with Assistant Secretary Alex Adams, who leads the Administration for Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services, for a wide-ranging conversation about Head Start, foster care, parental authority, family stability, and the proper role of government.Adams explains why the administration is seeking to move away from prescriptive federal requirements and put parents and local communities back in the driver's seat. He discusses proposed Head Start reforms that he says would reduce regulatory burdens while expanding access, the nationwide Home for Every Child foster-care initiative, efforts to support young adults aging out of foster care, and what he calls the “orphan tax”— the use of foster children's Social Security survivor benefits by states to offset government costs.Dr. Carson and Assistant Secretary Adams also discuss marriage, fatherhood, work, the “success sequence,” bipartisan welfare reform, and why strong families remain foundational to a strong country.In this episode:Head Start and parental control; federal regulation versus outcomes; foster-home shortages; faith-based foster families; support for children aging out of care; Social Security survivor benefits; family stability, marriage and fatherhood; work and welfare reform; and why both men remain hopeful about America's future.Subscribe to Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson for conversations about faith, liberty, community, life, and the ideas shaping America's future.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What keeps a calling alive through success, grief, reinvention, and age? Kathie Lee Gifford joins Dr. Ben Carson for a candid conversation about the dreams planted in childhood and the faith that gave those dreams direction.Gifford recalls the Billy Graham film that changed her life, the advice that helped her navigate entertainment, her advocacy for children affected by HIV/AIDS, and the biblical stories that continue to shape her work. She also shares the simple conviction behind her next chapter: “If I have a pulse, I have a purpose.The conversation turns to redemption, hearing God call us by name, and the hope Gifford finds in the promise that all things will be made new. Her comments about the Shroud of Turin, biblical translation, historical events, and public policy reflect her own views and recollections.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you build a strong family in a culture that often pulls families apart? Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, joins Dr. Ben Carson to discuss why marriage still matters, what children need from parents and mentors, and how faith can help couples stay on the same teamDaly shares his own story of family instability, foster care, and the coach who modeled trustworthy leadership. He and Dr. Carson explore marriage as a path toward selflessness, the risks of fear-driven parenting, practical boundaries around smartphones and social media, and the importance of giving teenagers room to succeed and fail while they are still at home.The conversation also addresses premarital counseling, late-life divorce, grandparents, and Daly’s account of Focus on the Family’s Hope Restored marriage intensives. Statistics and program outcomes mentioned in the episode are presented as Daly’s statements and have not been independently verified for this package.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Therapy is more available and more culturally influential than ever. Yet anxiety, depression, loneliness, political fixation, and fractured relationships remain widespread. In this episode, Dr. Ben Carson speaks with psychotherapist and Therapy Nation author Jonathan Alpert about the difference between feeling better in the moment and actually getting better.They also examine what is commonly called “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” or TDS. While Alpert emphasizes that TDS is not an official diagnosis found in the DSM, he discusses the political hyper-fixation, anxiety, restlessness, and damaged relationships that can develop when any political figure becomes the focus of an unhealthy obsession.Alpert argues for therapy that is goal-oriented, accountable, and designed to build resilience. The conversation explores diagnostic language in everyday life, endless therapy, political polarization, victimhood, faith, personal responsibility, and how Americans can rediscover common ground.This discussion reflects the participants’ views and is not medical advice.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Ben Carson once considered himself the worst student in his class. Then one unexpected moment changed the way he saw himself, and ultimately changed the course of his life.In this special episode of Common Sense, Reagan Hannus turns the tables and interviews Dr. Carson about how our perception of ourselves is formed, why parents have such an important role in shaping their children's lives, and what decades of operating on the human brain taught him about human potential.Dr. Carson also discusses the influence of social media on young people, the opportunities and dangers presented by artificial intelligence and virtual reality, how to make difficult decisions without being controlled by fear, and the advice he believes young adults need most today.From books and education to faith, family, human connection, and the extraordinary capacity of the brain, this conversation is about refusing to allow your circumstances - or other people's expectations - to determine what you can become.Subscribe to Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson for conversations about faith, liberty, community, life, and the issues shaping America's future.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As America marks its 250th anniversary, an urgent question has emerged: Who is responsible for telling America’s story—and what happens when the nation’s most trusted historical institutions begin interpreting the past through the lens of contemporary political activism?Dr. Ben Carson is joined by Vince Haley, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, for a revealing discussion about the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of American History, and the administration’s review of how American history is being presented to the public.Haley argues that the museum has moved away from presenting a coherent account of America’s founding, failures, achievements, sacrifices, and ideals—and toward using history as an instrument for activism and social advocacy.Dr. Carson and Haley discuss:● Why patriotism appears to be declining● How historical knowledge shapes national identity● What the administration found at the Smithsonian● The difference between teaching difficult history and promoting national despair● Slavery, abolition, the Civil War, and America’s struggle to fulfill its founding principles● The forgotten contributions of Black Patriots during the American Revolution● The influence of faith and the Great Awakening on America’s founding● DEI, merit, race, and political division● How museums and schools shape future generations● What citizens, parents, and grandparents can do to preserve America’s storyHistory is more than a collection of artifacts and dates. It tells people who they are, where they came from, and what they have the potential to become.Watch the full conversation and tell us in the comments:Should a taxpayer-supported national museum promote contemporary political causes—or present the fullest possible account of America’s history?Subscribe to Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson for thoughtful conversations about faith, liberty, community, life, and the challenges facing America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when the institutions entrusted with preserving American history begin advancing a political story of their own?In this episode of Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Carson sits down with U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas to discuss congressional oversight, the Smithsonian Institution, the use of taxpayer dollars, border enforcement, socialism, and the responsibility of young Americans to defend the nation’s founding principles.Congressman Gill explains why he believes simple questions can expose ideological assumptions inside public institutions. He also discusses a recent SNAP hearing, the dramatic change he sees at the southern border, and why he believes Democratic Socialists are pulling their party, and the country, further left.The conversation closes on a more personal note: how faith helps Gill withstand criticism, why politics cannot become an ultimate end, and what younger Americans can do to preserve opportunity for their children and grandchildren.This is a conflict over truth, accountability, and inheritance: will citizens govern their institutions, or will institutions train citizens to distrust what common sense tells them?In this episode:● What Rep. Gill says the Smithsonian gets wrong about American history● Why calling punctuality, civility, and linear thinking “white supremacy” creates backlash● The common-sense question he asked about soda and SNAP benefits● Why he views recent border enforcement as a change in political will, not law● How Democratic Socialists are reshaping the Democratic Party● Why young Americans must understand socialism’s historical record● How faith and criticism shape Gill’s approach to public serviceIf this conversation made you think, share it with someone who wants public institutions to answer to the people they serve.Subscribe for more conversations about faith, liberty, community, life, and the common-sense principles America needs now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Carson sits down with Congressman Byron Donalds for a powerful conversation about faith, resilience, education, the American Dream, and the future of the country.Congressman Donalds shares his personal story of growing up in Brooklyn, being raised by a single mother, making serious mistakes as a young man, and ultimately turning his life around through faith. He explains why he believes America remains the greatest country in the world for those willing to work hard, take responsibility, and persevere.Dr. Carson and Congressman Donalds also discuss the crisis in American education, the danger of victimhood, the rise of socialist ideas, the importance of economic literacy, and why young people need to rediscover the principles that made America exceptional.This is a conversation about second chances, faith, courage, family, and why the American Dream is still worth defending.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many of America’s veterans carry wounds the rest of us cannot see.In this episode of Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Carson sits down with Lieutenant Colonel Curt Kolvet to discuss the invisible battles many service members continue to face long after deployment ends — including PTSD, depression, isolation, family strain, and the heartbreaking reality of veteran suicide.Lt. Col. Kolvet reflects on 23 years of military service, the pressure of leading men and women in combat, the burden placed on military families, and the moments that forced him to reconnect with his humanity and his faith. He also shares how his Christian faith sustained him through deployment, leadership, trauma, and the transition out of military life.This conversation is a reminder that service does not end when the uniform comes off — and that veterans and their families deserve gratitude, support, community, and hope.In this episode:● What civilians often misunderstand about military service● Why many veterans suffer silently● The pressure military families carry● How faith sustained Lt. Col. Kolvet in combat and leadership● Why he wrote a devotional specifically for veterans● What struggling veterans need to hear right now● Dr. Carson’s reminder that America must recover faith, courage, and common senseIf you know a veteran, thank them. If you know someone who is struggling, reach out. And if this conversation encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.Subscribe for more conversations about faith, liberty, community, life, and the common sense principles America needs now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Delano Squires joins Dr. Ben Carson to discuss his new book, The Vanishing Black Family, and the hard truths behind America’s family crisis.In this conversation, Dr. Carson and Delano examine why family breakdown cannot be explained by economics alone, how fatherlessness affects children, why marriage and fatherhood matter, and what churches, communities, schools, and cultural leaders can do to rebuild strong families.This episode explores:• Why family formation is central to a healthy society• The impact of fatherlessness on children• Why Delano Squires believes the crisis is spiritual and cultural, not merely economic• How welfare policy, feminism, and popular culture reshaped views on marriage and family• Why the Black family crisis should concern all Americans• The role of churches, HBCUs, mentors, fathers, and community leaders in restoring marriage• What future generations need from us nowStrong families build strong communities. Strong communities build a strong nation.Subscribe to Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson for conversations rooted in faith, liberty, community, and life.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.