The Fund for American Studies (TFAS)

10/11/2026

Stephanie Slade, Novak ’16, has become a leading voice on fusionism and debated the future of the American right across the country. In 2016, she received the TFAS Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship, using the opportunity to explore the politics of religious liberty and the growing divide between faith and free enterprise.

A decade later, Slade continues to write about religion and politics as a senior editor at Reason. Her work has appeared in The New York Times and U.S. News & World Report. This year, she published her book, “Fusionism: Liberty, Virtue, and the Future of the American Right.”

Slade has remained engaged with TFAS, speaking with new classes of Novak and Woodhouse Public Policy Fellows about fusionism and the fundamentals of reporting. On Oct. 21, she will return to TFAS headquarters for a live recording of the Liberty + Leadership Podcast with TFAS President Roger Ream ’76.

Register by Oct. 14 at the link in the comments.

10/09/2026

This summer, TFAS’s high school division, the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE), held 31 high school student programs and 56 teacher programs across the country. Through its immersive programs, students and teachers learn how to use the economic way of thinking to better understand national and international issues.

Learn more about this summer's FTE programs at https://tfas.org/news/ftes-summer-programs-build-tomorrows-leaders/.

10/08/2026

"You may not be interested in the national debt. But the national debt is interested in you."

This Economic Education Month, Ted Tucker, executive director of the Foundation for Teaching Economics, makes the case that "deficits don't matter" may be good politics but is bad economics.

The $40 trillion national debt is already affecting household budgets, from inflation to mortgage rates, making economic literacy even more essential to understanding how we can change our fiscal course. Drawing on cautionary tales from overseas, Tucker argues that we can counter rising debt by reinstating the core economic principles that govern our lives and applying them to economic policy before it’s too late.

Unchecked federal debt and election-year spending drive up inflation and interest rates, proving national deficits do matter.

10/08/2026

Are we living in a truly capitalist society?

People often say "capitalism" when they mean the status quo. Housing shows why that distinction matters.

Emma Camp, Novak ’25, argues that the housing crisis is a product of a failure to let capitalism work. While many young people can't afford a home of their own, many overlook the source of the problem. If we want more homes and lower costs, we need an environment where the people who build them can do their jobs.

Hear more from Emma Camp and Anne Bradley on the latest episode of Liberty + Leadership in the comments.

10/07/2026

Mark your calendars for Nov. 10 🗓️

Join TFAS in New York City for the 33rd Annual TFAS Journalism Forum + Awards Dinner as we celebrate Neil Cavuto and Jan Crawford for their excellence in journalism and honor the next generation of courageous journalists.

Learn more and reserve your tickets today!

Save the date for The Fund for American Studies 33rd Annual TFAS Journalism Forum + Awards Dinner in New York City on Nov. 10.

10/06/2026

Calling all TFAS alumni! 📣 Reconnect with fellow alumni at upcoming networking events, volunteer opportunities and happy hour receptions near you.

Find a reception in your area at alumni.TFAS.org.

10/05/2026

When the leaders of the world's top AI companies warn that the technology is spiraling out of control and ask for help, it's time to listen. These are the people who should know.

In his latest piece for The American Spectator, TFAS Senior Scholar Dr. Donald Devine explains why AI needs a referee, not a ruler. He argues that accountability must remain with the people and institutions that put AI to work, and that the answer doesn't require more government control. Instead, it may mean clearing away outdated rules so that industry can work together on real solutions.

When Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, joined by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Google’s Demis Hassabis, and xAI’s Elon Musk, warns that artificial intelligence is simply out of control and that they need help to fix it, one must listen. These are the people who should know. Today we have what a Wall Street.....

10/03/2026

Some people know exactly what they want to do. Others take time to discover their passion. For Lauren Veldhuizen ’26, that discovery happened during her senior year at Wake Forest University, when she joined the Wake Report, a TFAS Student Journalism Association publication.

She credits TFAS with giving her the push she needed to kick-start her journalism career, from the Wake Report to National Review.

10/02/2026

The Fund for American Studies is excited to honor Jan Crawford with the Kenneth Y. Tomlinson Award for Courageous Journalism at the 33rd Annual TFAS Journalism Forum + Awards Dinner on Nov. 10 at the Metropolitan Club in New York City. The award recognizes journalists who pursue the truth, often against tough odds.

Crawford has covered the Supreme Court and legal affairs for more than three decades. She is recognized for her insightful reporting and commitment to journalistic integrity.

Join TFAS in honoring Crawford at TFAS.org/jawards26.

10/01/2026

Join TFAS in honoring Neil Cavuto at the 33rd Annual TFAS Journalism Forum + Awards Dinner in New York City.

Cavuto is an award-winning business journalist who has covered some of the nation’s most significant business and political events, including the Sept. 11 attacks, the 2008 financial crisis, the 1987 stock market crash and both Persian Gulf Wars. TFAS will present Cavuto with the Thomas L. Phillips Career Achievement Award on Nov. 10 at the Metropolitan Club.

RSVP at TFAS.org/jawards26 to secure your spot.