The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

Hear Ben Sasse! May 13, 2026

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Ben Sasse — Nebraskan, senator, university president, Harvard and Yale scholar — is dying of stage IV pancreatic cancer, and he is using his remaining time to speak truth to America. Staring death in the face, he's declared that Congress is asleep at the wheel, that our neighborhoods matter more than our political tribes, and that "there are no maverick molecules in the universe." You may not agree with everything he says — but a dying man speaking this boldly deserves your full attention.

Watch Ben Sasse's interview on 60 Minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcT9O5Sjmd0

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Whitefield and America Apr 29, 2026

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Names like Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, and Adams have become synonymous with the founding of America. But one name, often forgotten, holds just as much influence if we only read the pages of history.

The name? Whitefield. George Whitefield, credited with unifying the colonies in the first intercolonial event, preaching the idea of a God-ordained destiny for the colonies, and warning of Parliament's encroachments on the colonies' liberties, was instrumental in tilling the soil for the American Revolution. In this episode, Stephen examines the life and legacy of Whitefield in this episode, drawing on themes from his book, "Forgotten Founding Father."

Get "Forgotten Founding Father" today: https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Founding-Father-Whitefield-Leaders/dp/1581821654/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0

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Religion is the Issue Apr 15, 2026

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To understand the tensions occurring today in Iran, we must first understand the religious background of the nation's Shiite Muslim leadership. While the U.S. State Department may view the Iranian conflict in political, geographic, and military terms, the nation's leaders interpret it through a profoundly religious and even apocalyptic lens. As a result, any U.S. administration—including that of Donald Trump—must recognize that negotiations with Iran are not grounded in Western values, but in an ideological and religious worldview that ultimately drives its decisions.

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Read the Declaration Apr 01, 2026

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As the 250th anniversary of America's founding approaches, it's prudent for us to turn back to the wisdom contained in our founding document. Even in the midst of the hellacious upheavals of our time, the eternal words of the Declaration of Independence serve as a foundation for freedom, faith, and revolution, not just in America, but around the world. Listen as Stephen sheds light on pivotal passages of the Declaration of Independence and issues a stirring personal challenge.

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The Tyranny of Utopia Mar 18, 2026

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Utopian dreams, though often clothed in the language of hope and progress, have brought profound suffering by denying the broken reality of the human condition. Rooted in the realism of the Judeo-Christian tradition, Stephen insists that we must see the world as it is—not as we wish it to be—recognizing that no perfect state exists on this side of eternity. By distinguishing between “utopia” (“nowhere”) and “eutopia” (“good place”), we can expose how the pursuit of perfection so often becomes tyrannical, and why wisdom, counsel, and humility remain the safer path forward.

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Thoughts on Iran Mar 04, 2026

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Since 1979, Iran has been under the control of a Shiite extremist Muslim government. As of February 28th, that regime is under direct attack due to targeted efforts by the United States and surrounding regions. What began as uprisings from Iran's young people is now a historical tipping point for both Iran and our own nation. Listen in to hear Stephen's thoughts about the disconnect between the president and Congress, the aftereffects of the initial attack, and what we can expect moving forward.

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Preserving Fire Feb 25, 2026

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Why do I call myself a conservative? The answer, despite what our current political landscape may tell you, is not that controversial. Fundamentally, I believe in a limited government, free markets, strong national defense, and an emphasis on individual responsibility. As a historian, I have studied the atrocities brought upon humanity by tyrannical and unrestrained governments. Our Founding Fathers gave us a framework to prevent this, and we should follow their lead in order to preserve our liberty.

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” - Gustav Mahler

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The Coming Crisis: Water [From the Archives] Feb 11, 2026

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Following the latest episode about the macro threats shaping our world, Stephen is re-airing an episode from 2021 that speaks directly to one of the most critical: the growing fresh water crisis. Five years after originally publishing this episode, the danger of declining fresh water remains just as urgent.

Note: The Lake Mead capacity figure cited in this episode has continued to decline since the episode was recorded, falling from 35% to 33%.

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Seeing Behind the Scenes Jan 28, 2026

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Water. Birthrates. Global warming. Melting ice. Droughts. Religious shifts. These are the real factors shaping our world, not the hypothesized political incentives argued over on cable news stations. We are living through a time of global restructuring, and we must look beyond headlines to fully understand what kind of future we are walking into. Go with Stephen “behind the scenes” to explore the macro forces that could change everything.

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