A significant group of scholars and staff have left the Heritage Foundation to join Advancing American Freedom, an organization led by former vice president Mike Pence. This shift follows controversy surrounding Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts's video defending podcast host Tucker Carlson, which sparked internal backlash due to Carlson's interview with a known extremist. The departures include leaders of Heritage's legal, economics, and data centers, who will now head similar initiatives at their new institution. The exodus has also led to resignations from board members and other scholars, with many citing dissatisfaction over the think tank's response to accusations of antisemitism and its handling of the controversy.