Did Coleman Hughes Destroy Dave Smith? Exploring the Role of Ideology in U.S. Foreign Policy

Empires don’t run on power alone — they run on ideas.
After Dave Smith’s appearance on The Free Press with Coleman Hughes, social media lit up with claims that “Coleman destroyed Dave.” But beneath the viral headlines lies something far more important than who won the argument — the ideological fault lines that define how America sees the world.

This debate wasn’t just about Israel and Palestine. It exposed the moral frameworks that have guided U.S. foreign policy for decades — from Neoconservatism’s crusading mindset to the influence of Zionism and the ever-present fear of “radical Islam.” These ideas have justified endless intervention and reshaped America’s sense of justice, security, and even divine purpose.

Tonight, we’ll look past the outrage and ask the deeper questions: What actually drives American foreign policy? Have we traded principle for ideology? And is there a path forward rooted in liberty, peace, and moral consistency?