We hope you enjoy these top news stories about TFAS activities, alumni and events this week. Please visit us on social media for additional up-to-the-moment TFAS news and information and sign up for our newsletter to receive weekly updates.

TFAS alumni, staff and faculty continue to provide coverage of COVID-19.  Read their analysis, information and tips by visiting this week’s “Quick Links.”

TFAS Launches Virtual Program to Bring Best of DC Directly to Students’ Homes

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and closures by our university partners, TFAS is unable to offer in-person academic internship programs in Washington, D.C. this summer. We are heartbroken to not be welcoming students to D.C. as we have for 50 years. However, we are determined to find new ways to continue our important mission of teaching liberty and leadership to rising generations. That’s why we are excited to announce TFAS Virtual Summer, a new online program that brings the excitement, connections and important lessons of a TFAS summer in Washington, D.C. directly to students. You can read all about the program at TFAS.org/VirtualSummer.

We are already receiving a positive response from students who are enrolling, and need to find additional virtual internship sites to meet the growing demand. Please consider hosting a TFAS student for a remote internship this summer. Our students are bright and motivated undergraduates ready to learn and help your organizations succeed as they develop essential real-world skills. We are looking for virtual positions that involve research, writing and other projects that students can work on for 10+ hours a week. Can you or any of your contacts help? If so, please fill out our intern request form here or email U.S. Programs Director Joe Starrs at jstarrs@TFAS.org.

Host a TFAS Intern This Summer

TFAS Podcast: What is Democratic Socialism?

Economist Dr. Anne Bradley joins TFAS for a candid discussion on the definition, appeal and contradictions of democratic socialism and why it is never the answer (not even during a pandemic).

You can listen to our conversation above or read a transcription at TFAS.org/PodcastEp2. This episode was released this week on the TFAS “Liberty + Leadership” Podcast. To never miss an episode, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Google or your favorite podcasting app.

Markets in Action: Economics Lesson of the Week

As the spread of COVID-19 causes high schools across the country to close their doors, TFAS is providing resources to help our teachers and parents continue the important task of educating our nation’s future leaders. Each week, we’ll feature a different lesson from our high school programming division – the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE).

This week’s lesson is “Markets in Action.” This lesson has two goals. The first is to expand students’ understanding of markets by discussing government-imposed frictions that affect the market-clearing price and quantity. The second is to involve students in analyzing examples of economic reasoning using problems and activities. Through two optional mini activities and a 1 vs 100 Game Show, students practice applying the tools of supply and demand analysis to real-world scenarios. At the end of this lesson students will be able to:

• Explain how various policies and regulations impact market price and quantity.
• Use a supply and demand graph to illustrate the impact of various policies and regulations.

Downloadable lesson guides and slides provide instructions. TFAS offers a plethora of online lesson plans, readings, handouts, video demonstrations and hands-on activity guides to teach the “economic way of thinking” in engaging and relatable ways. Visit TFAS.org/FTELessons for a one-stop guide to our available resources.

TFAS Alumni + Friends Cover COVID-19 Concerns

TFAS speakers Andrés Guilarte and Jorge Galicia warn Americans that the U.S. under coronavirus lockdown is just a small taste of what it’s like to live in a socialist state in an interview with The Federalist.

Gracy Olmstead, Novak ’15, opines for The Wall Street Journal on the “healing touch” of the Easter season amid the coronavirus crisis.

Ryan Lovelace, Novak ’17, reports for The Washington Times on Apple and Google’s combined efforts to create COVID-19 contact tracing methods through cell phones.

Frederico Bartels, PPF ’18, co-authors an article for RealClear Defense on the dangers of cutting the defense budget due to the economic impact of COVID-19.

Tony Mecia ’92, ’93, Novak ’01, interviews former UNC Charlotte public policy student about the relevance of her dissertation on the impact of the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic. Read the full interview in the Charlotte Ledger.

Kenneth Rosen, Novak ’18, writes for Newsweek on Pope Francis’ tribute to priests, doctors and nurses who have risked their lives on the front lines of the ongoing coronavirus battle.

Rym Momtaz ’05, ’07 discusses French president Emmanuel Macron’s response to the coronavirus crisis in Politico.

Alexandra Hudson, Novak ’19, shares her thoughts on the importance of civility and personal freedoms amid the growing coronavirus pandemic in a piece for the Tennessean.

Tom Bossert ’97 opines for ABC News on the United States’ coronavirus response.

Jared Keller ’08 reports for Task & Purpose on the COVID-19 death of a USS Theodore Roosevelt sailor.

TFAS regent emeritus Dr. Lee Edwards opines for The Daily Signal on how U.S. presidents throughout history have turned to religious comfort in times of crisis.

TFAS trustee Peter McPherson writes for Inside Higher Ed on the importance of retaining high-risk students during the coronavirus crisis.

Baruti Kafele ’12 opines for Mises Institute on the impact of price controls on supply shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MORE QUICK LINKS

Stephanie Slade, Novak ’16, joins the Cato Daily Podcast to talk about conservative nationalism and question recent arguments that traditional conservative views of the Constitution ought to be replaced.

TFAS professor Richard Benedetto is featured on Chicago’s Morning Answer to discuss partisanship in the media.

Kari Travis ’12 says North Carolina ranks last at getting unemployment payments to residents in a piece for the Carolina Journal.

TFAS trustee emeritus Mitch Daniels shares how parents can help improve their children’s writing skills in a piece for The Washington Post.

Foundation for Teaching Economics teacher Tom Rooney has been selected as a 2020 James Madison Fellow.

Codie Drake ’16, ’17 received a Master of Philosophy in international peace studies from Trinity College Dublin during their virtual commencement.

Stephanie Slade, Novak ’16, interviews The Dispatch senior editor and TFAS friend David French on the value of classical liberalism for Reason.

Maria Danilova ’01, ’02, is the 2020 recipient of the Carter Journalism Institute’s Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award.

TFAS Grewcock Senior Scholar Dr. Donald Devine opines for the Imaginative Conservative on weakened cultural institutions in America today.

Tim Alberta, Novak ’18, profiles Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer in a piece for Politico.

Peter Suderman, Novak ’10, writes for Reason about Quibi, a new small-screen video streaming service.

Garrett Kennedy ’02 is a partner at DLA Piper law firm in New York.