Scott Powell
Policy Expert
Author
Business Owner
Scott Powell is a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute and author of Rediscovering America, exploring the unique greatness of America through the backstories of national holidays and founding principles.
Biography
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Scott Powell is a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute's Center on Wealth, Poverty, and Morality. A former fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, he has dedicated his career to examining American history, constitutional principles, and the foundations of liberty. He is also a member of the Committee on the Present Danger China.
Powell is the author of "Rediscovering America: How the National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story About Who We Are," an Amazon bestseller that explores the deeper meaning behind American holidays and their connection to the nation's founding principles. The book examines how national holidays reveal the Christian foundations and exceptional nature of American history.
As a historian and policy expert, Powell writes regularly for major publications including The Federalist, Town Hall, Newsmax, and American Thinker. His analysis covers constitutional principles, American exceptionalism, threats to American heritage, and contemporary policy challenges. He has been particularly active in the Defend Arlington effort to preserve historical monuments, including the Reconciliation Monument at Arlington National Cemetery.
Powell's expertise spans the American founding, constitutional governance, free market economics, and the intersection of faith and American history. He frequently discusses the spiritual dimensions of America's founding, including George Washington's documented experiences of divine protection and the role of Christianity in shaping the nation's governing principles.
A frequent guest on the Kim Monson Show since May 2022, Powell has appeared approximately 37 times. His segments often coincide with national holidays, providing historical context and connecting founding principles to contemporary civic challenges. He is known for his detailed knowledge of the Pilgrims, the Declaration of Independence, and the constitutional framework that distinguishes American governance from all previous systems.
Books by Scott Powell
Episodes
49 appearancesJune 29, 2026
The Ideas, Faith, and Courage That Forged America
Culture, Community & Civil Society
Lawrence W. Reed and Scott Powell explore the ideas, faith, and courage behind America's founding. Broadcast for June 29, 2026.
“America, in contrast, is the only nation in human history that was completely born of noble and deeply spiritual principles.”
April 22, 2026
Smart Meters, Cell-Cultured Protein, and the Reconciliation of Science and Faith
Colorado Politics & Policy
Mike Rawluk on smart meters and Arvada drones, Scott Powell on intelligent design, and Trent Loos on cell-cultured protein. April 22, 2026.
“There's no freedom or no rights without responsibility. So people have lost sight of this, and it's really to our detriment that we have people that are clamoring for rights all the time, and they don't understand what their responsibilities are as citizens.”
March 5, 2026
Lakewood’s Zoning Fight, Colorado’s Tax Assault, and the Case for National Repentance
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Lakewood rezoning referendum, HB26-1203 ranked choice voting, Colorado property tax crisis, and the case for national repentance. March 5, 2026.
“And, you know, when we think of our history, America was really born out of spiritual revival.”
“Iran has the fastest growing Christian population in the world. Iran does. Can you believe that? So there's reason for a lot of hope.”
December 26, 2025
Christmas, the Founding, and the Surveillance State
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
“The founding of America was the greatest political and civic event in human history, which is why domestic and foreign evil enemy forces relentlessly work to destroy the United States.”
November 24, 2025
Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims, and Lincoln’s Vision for American Democracy
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
“We are absolutely unique in all of human history. Before the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, there was no nation in all of human history that put the power into the hands of the people, that the sovereignty of the nation was dependent upon the people and the people's choices.”
September 25, 2025
The World Lived in Political Darkness Before the U.S. Constitution
Ballot Measures & TABOR
Scott Powell on America's revolutionary founding. Liberty Toastmasters explores God-given rights. Cherry Creek School Board.
“Prior to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, basically the world lived in what we could call political darkness. That is to say that governments always were in control of the people, that people really didn't have true freedom.”
September 1, 2025
Labor Day and the Founding Principles of Economic Freedom
Constitution & Rule of Law
Scott Powell and Jay Davidson explore Labor Day's deeper meaning through American founding principles and Austrian economics on September 1, 2025.
“The Bible makes more than 450 references to the value and importance of work, specifically referring to work as a virtue more times than it refers to other virtues, such as prayer, faith, hope, joy, forgiveness, mercy, grace, or peace.”
July 7, 2025
Finding Diamonds in Daily Habits and the Fight for Equal Justice
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Brad Beck shares 'The Stargazer' on daily habits while Scott Powell discusses equal justice and the 14th Amendment. July 7, 2025.
“A solid foundation of true justice ensures that freedom does not enable the powerful to oppress the vastly larger numbers who are in a weaker position.”
June 9, 2025
LA Riots and Data Surveillance Test Constitutional Boundaries
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Brian Joondeph, Scott Powell, and Chris Harris discuss LA riots, color revolutions, data surveillance concerns, and constitutional principles on June 9, 2025.
“And that's why, you know, a minimalist government and a robust free market is really the solution because the market sorts it all out when you let it work.”
May 6, 2025
Constitutional Crisis and Judicial Activism Threaten American Governance
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
“You know, the founders of our Constitution saw the judiciary to be the weakest branch of government.”
April 11, 2025
Colorado Firearms Bill Signed as Legislature Advances Parental Rights Restrictions
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Governor Polis signs SB25-003 while HB1312 advances through the legislature. Second Amendment advocates launch the Second Syndicate. April 11, 2025.
“There are the leaders, what we'll call the ring leaders, and then there are the rank-and-file support people who come out, you know, who get their signs. And so this is– Lenin would call the street protesters, the sign carriers, the useful idiots.”
“And where does civility come from? Civility really comes from a relationship with God. When we think of Western civilization, we think of the period of chivalry, the way men treated women and so forth. There's a great tradition that came out of Christianity that led to civilization and civilized behavior.”
“Our country is bankrupt. We've been on a trajectory of bankruptcy really since the Obama administration. The combined debt now, when we add up a state debt and federal debt, our debt levels are now at 133%.”
March 13, 2025
Defending Free Speech and Fiscal Sanity in the Battle for American Values
Colorado Politics & Policy
Brad Beck examines free speech, Rep. Ty Winter reports on Colorado legislative battles, and Scott Powell explains why DOGE reforms are critical. March 13, 2025.
“We need to cast a vision that a reformed government, a downsized reformed government, will be a much better future than continuing on the status quo.”
“You know, the national debt at the beginning of of the Obama administration, the end of the Bush administration, that would be 2008, was about $8 trillion. That's only 17, yeah, it's about 17 years ago that the national debt was around $8 trillion, and we ballooned it to $36-plus trillion. That's a fourfold, almost more than a fourfold increase in our debt in this relatively short period of time. If that trajectory continues, the American economy will collapse.”
January 22, 2025
Living in Extraordinary Times: Scott Powell on the Second American Revolution
Colorado Politics & Policy
Scott Powell analyzes Trump's historic second term as a moral revolution, while Trent Loos reports on Colorado's energy agenda. January 22, 2025.
“We're living in historic, really biblical times. This is perhaps, Donald Trump is going to be, the 47th president is perhaps going to be the most consequential president in all of our history, with the exception, of course, perhaps of our early, our first president.”
“This second American revolution that we're in right now is really a moral and spiritual revolution.”
“America was born on these amazing ideas of equal value, of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.”
December 4, 2024
Military Food Scarcity at Fort Carson and Trump Cabinet Picks Signal Course Correction
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Pam Long exposes Fort Carson food scarcity, Scott Powell analyzes Trump cabinet picks, and Trent Loos defends property rights. December 4, 2024.
“Sedition and treason are high crimes and misdemeanors, and that's really what we've seen.”
November 27, 2024
Revolutionary War Conclusion and Pilgrim Origins of Self-Government
Constitution & Rule of Law
Ben Martin chronicles the Revolutionary War's final campaigns and Scott Powell reveals the Pilgrims' five achievements. November 27, 2024.
“The Mayflower Compact basically stated that governance would be done by a democratic vote, that everybody's wishes would be taken into account on any decisions, and that they would look out for each other, they would protect each other.”
“Before our country was born, we know that we were blessed in freedom, and God's plan was for America to have a free market system, period. Not, you know, people say capitalist, but I like the free market jargon because it really is based on freedom of choice.”
October 14, 2024
Great Accomplishments Begin With Character: Columbus Day Reflections and Colorado Ballot Analysis
Ballot Measures & TABOR
DiManna on Denver politics and HD2 race; Powell on Columbus's character and American heritage on Columbus Day, October 14, 2024.
“America is the first country in all of human history that was founded on the idea that people had unalienable rights that came from God, and that the people having those unalienable rights, God-given rights, should govern, that they should be the sovereign, that they should be the authority for government.”
September 3, 2024
Lafayette’s Legacy and American Founding Principles
Constitution & Rule of Law
Colonial Williamsburg's Mark Schneider explores Lafayette's legacy while Scott Powell examines American exceptionalism. September 3, 2024.
“You know, what's exceptional about America is that we've also had one constitution for 235 years, while the average length of other nations' constitutions in the world has been less than 20 years.”
September 2, 2024
Lessons from Lafayette and the Virtue of Labor
Culture, Community & Civil Society
Mark Schneider on Lafayette's legacy and Scott Powell on the virtue of labor. Kim Monson Show, September 2, 2024.
“While democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude and outcome.”
July 30, 2024
Providence, Elections, and the Fight for Honest Government
Ballot Measures & TABOR
Kim Monson explores divine providence in American leadership, ranked choice voting threats, and TABOR protections.
“And so he had incredible courage that came from the protection of God that he knew deep in his heart. And so this enabled him to have great courage. And, you know, courage is one thing that is infectious. When people see courage, they gain courage.”
July 3, 2024
How America Won Against Impossible Odds and Why Freedom Still Demands Courage
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Scott Powell and Trent Loos explore the spiritual roots of American freedom and modern civic courage on July 3, 2024.
“America is the only nation in human history that was completely born of noble and deeply spiritual principles that all men are created equal, that they have been given God-given rights that can't be taken away by any man or earthly authority.”
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