Podcast appearances and mentions of Victor Davis Hanson

The House of Representatives recently passed a resolution to honor the late Charlie Kirk—no thanks to 118 Democrats who voted against the measure, including Reps. Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett, and more.   Why did they snub Kirk, especially after the House unanimously passed a resolution commemorating the shooting of the Democrat speaker of […]

The House of Representatives recently passed a resolution to honor the late Charlie Kirk—no thanks to 118 Democrats who voted against the measure, including Reps. Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett, and more. Why did they snub Kirk, especially after the House unanimously passed a resolution commemorating the shooting of the Democrat speaker of the Minnesota State Legislature? Victor Davis Hanson breaks down how this refusal to honor a man who was just assassinated reflects a troubling shift in our politics where basic decency, civility, and bipartisanship are being replaced by ideological purity tests on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “ If you listen to what Ilhan Omar said about him, that he was a racist and he was a racist every day of his life. And AOC said she was not going to honor him. And Jasmine Crockett said Caucasians, only two Caucasians—that was not true, by the way, as everything she says is almost not true.  “What they're angry about was—what was Charlie Kirk? I said in an earlier video, he was very successful in channeling the natural rebelliousness of youth to focus against the establishment. He's saying to young people: The establishment are baby boomer leftists and these are the people who are responsible for a lot of our unhappiness. And that's why they're angry. And he was also angry at racialists, tribalists—like Jasmine Crockett, like AOC, like Ilhan Omar—who self-identify, essentially, by their skin color or appearance rather than incidentally.”

There is no margin of error for the success of American society. On today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson explains the phenomenon known as a “total systems collapse,” in which a society metaphorically implodes when it casts aside values like common sense and meritocracy and replaces them with diversity, equity, and inclusion as the base for society. “  We are a very sophisticated society. We require meritocracy, empiricism, credentials. And we have very sophisticated transportation, education, health care, etc., etc. And if we don't follow the norms that gave us that prosperity, security, and freedom, then the system starts to break down. And we've seen the indices of that. “ We saw that same systems collapse with the tragic killing of Iryna Zarutska. And everything went wrong. First of all, why would you enter a light-rail car without having to have a ticket? This was an honor system. It encouraged people to abuse the system—to think that you really don't have to pay anything for a free ride. It said you couldn't have a concealed weapon, but what does that mean when you don't even have security to check people? You can't stop and frisk people, apparently, anymore. She came in there and there were four people around her, including the assailant. He killed her. But what kind of society is it where the four people adjacent, behind her just walk by her—watch the killer commit this horrific act of cutting her throat. And then after he leaves and he mutters, “Got the white girl,” then they don't do anything. They didn't do anything to stop it. They didn't do anything, just to walk a few feet over, a foot over, and try to help her in her death throes. What ideology is that that allows that to happen? 

There is no margin of error for the success of American society.   On today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson explains the phenomenon known as a “total systems collapse,” in which a society metaphorically implodes when it casts aside values like common sense and meritocracy and replaces them with diversity, […]

Decarlos Brown Jr. Robin Westman. Audrey Hale. These are just a few names of killers that the Left rushed to defend while ignoring their victims.  On today's episode of "Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words," Hanson discusses the growing trend of "upside-down morality," in which the Left and the media downplay violent crime, hide key facts, distort the narrative, and prioritize "understanding" criminals rather than defending the innocent. How does society reverse course on this dangerous rhetoric? “When Iryna [Zarutska] was killed on the light rail, there were three people right across the aisle. And when they saw her collapse and she was looking at—looking at the ceiling, thinking, ‘I'm dying because a man just killed me for no reason. No one is helping me,' they each got up, solitarily walked right by her in her last gasp—did not offer a tourniquet, did not offer to help, did not call anybody. I don't know why they did that.  “Maybe they thought if they did something like Daniel Penny and tried to intervene and save a life that they might be prosecuted or they might, who knows, or they were cowardly. But it's the same idea that we don't have any empathy for the victim, and if the victim doesn't fit a particular status that we call victim, the real victim of a physical act of violence or murder or assault, but if they don't fit a particular rubric as a victim that is based on their sexual orientation or their homeless status or their race, that we don't really care about them.”

Decarlos Brown Jr. Robin Westman. Audrey Hale. These are just a few names of killers that the Left rushed to defend while ignoring their victims.   On today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson discusses the growing trend of “upside-down morality,” in which the Left and the media downplay violent crime, hide […]

Story #1: The memorial service for Charlie Kirk showed the contrast of grace and forgiveness from Erika Kirk and other speakers compared with the darkness from Democrat figures like Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX). Will argues that America faces a choice: revival through faith and truth or collapse through lies and hate. Story #2: Host of ‘The Wade Show With Wade,' Wade Stotts, joins Will to discuss whether America should follow the path of forgiveness or the hammer. From President Donald Trump's fiery rhetoric to Crockett's refusal to condemn violence, Stotts breaks down how justice, accountability, and cultural leadership can push back against the Left's dangerous rhetoric. Story #3: Victor Davis Hanson, Author of ‘The End of Everything: How Wars Descend Into Annihilation‘ and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institute, explains how civilizations like Carthage and Constantinople were annihilated, why internal decay leaves nations vulnerable, and what lessons America must learn to avoid the same fate. Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: ⁠⁠Watch Will Cain Country!⁠⁠ Follow 'Will Cain Country' on X (@willcainshow), Instagram (@willcainshow), TikTok (@willcainshow), and Facebook (@willcainnews) Follow Will on X: ⁠⁠@WillCain (00:00) Will's Monologue: Charlie Kirk Memorial shows Grace vs Hate(06:45) Ilhan Omar, AOC, and Crockett Double Down on Smears(17:38) Wade Stotts on Forgiveness vs the Hammer(25:20) Trump's Rhetoric, Justice, and Holding the Left Accountable(41:17) Victor Davis Hanson: Lessons from Annihilated Civilizations(49:04) Hanson on Carthage, Constantinople, and the Aztecs(56:09) Can America Avoid Collapse? Hanson's Warning(1:08:24) Last Takes with The Crew: Michelob jumps to top of beer rankings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was not violently stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail because she lacked “situational awareness.” We were told by many on the Left that we couldn't blame the three to four bystanders who didn't jump to her aid because it was only rational for them to worry about their own personal safety.  As Americans, it is our duty to uphold the rule of law. Citizens and visitors to the U.S. should always expect a high degree of safety, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today's edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” We in America are unwilling to recognize the unconformable truth that  "we have a crime problem in the United States in the African-American inner city. Not in rural African-American communities. Not in African-American women. Not necessarily in African-American men over 40 or 50. But from 15 to 40, that demographic comprises about 3% of the country, and they're committing about 50% of the violent crimes, as we saw with Iryna. And yet, we didn't talk about it.”

Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was not violently stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail because she lacked “situational awareness.” We were told by many on the Left that we couldn't blame the three to four bystanders who didn't jump to her aid because it was only rational for them to worry about their […]

Historian and bestselling author Victor Davis Hanson joins Eric Metaxas for a hard-hitting conversation on the dangerous consequences of unchecked rhetoric and a justice system that fails to uphold equal accountability. Hanson argues that these failures directly contributed to the tragic political assassination of Charlie Kirk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Universities have long been captured by liberal academics, and the fight for America's youth on campus at times feels hopeless. What made Charlie Kirk effective was that he did not run from that problem but ran head-on into it. Victor Davis Hanson explains this key aspect of Charlie Kirk's legacy, emphasizing how his approach was effective, and what our job is now to carry on his mission in saving our country from the campus on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “He did not go in the traditional academic pathway. He dropped out of college at 18. And he had to live by his wits, not in the artificial bubble of academia or the la-la land of the campus, where there are no consequences to behavior. … He learned to organize and galvanize people in a practical way. “And he said, ‘The universities are training generation after generation after generation in this seriously dangerous leftist dogma.' In other words, if you're worried about this bizarre transgender movement, this cult-like effort to have biological men compete in women's sports, to take one example; or you're worried about the idea that you can steal $950 and not be prosecuted; or if you think that race is essential and not incidental to who you are—where did these things come from? And he said they came from the campus.”

Universities have long been captured by liberal academics, and the fight for America's youth on campus at times feels hopeless. What made Charlie Kirk effective was that he did not run from that problem but ran head-on into it.   Victor Davis Hanson explains this key aspect of Charlie Kirk's legacy, emphasizing how his approach […]

Historian and bestselling author Victor Davis Hanson joins Eric Metaxas for a hard-hitting conversation on the dangerous consequences of unchecked rhetoric and a justice system that fails to uphold equal accountability. Hanson argues that these failures directly contributed to the tragic political assassination of Charlie Kirk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlie Kirk's death ignited a fire within Western civilization, and it is sending a message to the Left: No more. It's been one week since Kirk was shot dead while debating on a college campus, and the Right is reacting more viscerally than we've seen from it in recent memory. Not only that, but we're seeing worldwide support for Kirk, mass demonstrations against illegal immigration in Europe, the fall of France's government, and a grassroots movement saying, “Enough is enough,” here in America. Victor Davis Hanson analyzes the events that pushed the West to its boiling point and where we go from here on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “What is this moment? We're seeing it in the United States with thousands of people are commemorating the death of Charlie Kirk. There's no tolerance for the usual left-wing, socialist craziness, the abhorrent violent smears of conservatives who've died. And you don't see major bureaucrats, or generals, or Hollywood figures—increasingly, they're not coming out and rejoicing because they feel that they're going to get a big pushback. “ We also are tired of what I call boutique anti-Americanism. We see Ilhan Omar suggesting that our elected government is worse than the dictatorship in Somalia; or we see AOC calling Donald Trump a fascist, as she has in the past; or we see Rashida Tlaib just demonizing and damning the United States, even though her parents fled the Middle East to come here. And we're tired of it. It doesn't mean we're gonna outlaw free speech or try to use the same tactics as the critics of America do. But what we're saying is, we're a unique place. We're better than the alternative. We don't have to be perfect to be good. So, you can say all you want, but we're gonna not just ignore you, we're gonna do our best to make sure your voices have no influence.”

Megyn Kelly is joined by Victor Davis Hanson, author of “The End of Everything,” to discuss the media and the left's refusal to report on the alleged Charlie Kirk assassin's "trans" connection, the truth about what we're learning about the killer's political motivation, the gaslighting about what is obvious, the media framing the Kirk assassination as part of the alleged killer's “love story,” the truth about the "trans" boyfriend, Kirk's tremendous legacy and impact, a religious revival among young people after his passing, how Kirk's legacy will be about bringing young people to God and a life of faith, the powerful tributes to Kirk following his passing, the grace and respect he showed in his conversations with everyone, the full text messages between the alleged assassin and his boyfriend revealed in the charging documents, the confession revealed in those exchanges, questions surrounding the shooter's parents, FBI Director Kash Patel's fiery exchanges with Democrat politicians, growing political polarization in America, and more. More from VDH- https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/victor-davis-hanson/the-end-of-everything/9781541673519/ Cowboy Colostrum: Get 25% Off Cowboy Colostrum with code MK at https://www.cowboycolostrum.com/MKAll Family Pharmacy: Order now at https://allfamilypharmacy.com/MEGYN and save 10% with code MEGYN10PrizePicks: Download the PrizePicks app today and use code MEGYN to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/MEGYNBirch Gold: Text MK to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold  Follow The Megyn Kelly Show on all social platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MegynKellyTwitter: http://Twitter.com/MegynKellyShowInstagram: http://Instagram.com/MegynKellyShowFacebook: http://Facebook.com/MegynKellyShow Find out more information at:https://www.devilmaycaremedia.com/megynkellyshow Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Left's preferred method of vengeance for the past few years has been cancel culture, in which it deplatforms, doxes, blacklists, and suppresses speech for being illiberal. But now, after justifying and even celebrating Charlie Kirk's death, the Left is pretending to be free speech warriors.   Victor Davis Hanson breaks down why the Left can't handle the backlash after Charlie Kirk's assassination and why cancel culture is finally turning on its creators on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “They have been canceled and they're very, very angry. And they feel that the Charles Kirk death, assassination has opened the gates of censorship. No, it hasn't. It's making a larger point, that when somebody dies, there's a period, traditionally, of grace. They're also very angry because the murder of Iryna Zarutska opened the gates, they feel, of collectivizing, stereotyping black crime in a way that's unfair.  “And they kind of say the Right wants a George Floyd moment. But remember one thing, it's very, very important about this dichotomy, this dialogue back and forth: When George Floyd died under police custody, he was used by the Left to advance a larger agenda, based on a premise. And we were told that George Floyd died violently while in police custody because this was a normal event in the United States, where police systematically killed suspect, unarmed black males. That was not true. That was not true.”

Less than a week after Charlie Kirk's assassination, the Left has incessantly pushed several falsehoods about the horrific death of this young conservative leader and Turning Point USA co-founder.   Charlie Kirk's assassination is NOT conservatives' “George Floyd moment.”   Not only does Kirk himself, a devout Christian, husband, and father of two, have nothing […]

The Left's preferred method of vengeance for the past few years has been cancel culture, in which it deplatforms, doxes, blacklists, and suppresses speech for being illiberal. But now, after justifying and even celebrating Charlie Kirk's death, the Left is pretending to be free speech warriors. Victor Davis Hanson breaks down why the Left can't handle […]

Norm MacDonald, introduction, Serenity Prayer, patriotic song, Varney and Company, Maria Bartiromo, motivation, meditation, Victor Davis Hanson, Jordan Peterson, Trump supporters, Machiavelli, conclusionBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-true-conservative--2039343/support.

Less than a week after Charlie Kirk's assassination, the Left has incessantly pushed several falsehoods about the horrific death of this young conservative leader and Turning Point USA co-founder. Charlie Kirk's assassination is NOT conservatives' "George Floyd moment." Not only does Kirk himself, a devout Christian, husband, and father of two, have nothing in common with Floyd but after his death, his followers channeled their anger toward fostering greater community and spirituality, not burning down historic churches, police precincts, and federal courthouses. Kirk's death is not the result of “Right on Right” violence. Bullet casings from the scene of the crime had anti-fascist phrases like “Hey fascist! CATCH!” and “Bella Ciao” written on them. The suspect in Kirk's assassination, Tyler Robinson, was in a romantic relationship with his roommate, a biological male who identifies as a girl, according to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.  “So, the Left seized that moment and tried to push through agendas—and were successful—that otherwise would not have happened. Nobody's trying to do that now. "They're trying to commemorate Charlie Kirk by one positive way, and that is everybody go out and register to vote. Register as many people as you have. Register more people that are young and conservative than has ever been registered before. And then turn out in the November midterms in one year. And then do the impossible. Overturn historical precedent and elect a conservative House and Senate to empower a conservative Charlie Kirk agenda.”

Charlie Kirk knew the key to winning a generation to conservatism meant addressing the root cause of America's political problems: a cultural decay that has trapped young people in “prolonged adolescence.”   His solution was to champion cultural and economic values that are congruent with the founding principles of this nation and a flourishing society. On today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson explains how Kirk urged a generation to grow out of “prolonged adolescence,” rediscover marriage and family, and demand policies that make owning a home and raising children possible again—and why his legacy will be felt for years to come. “ We turned to common sense in half the country, but he was going as an emissary into hostile territory and telling people: ‘There is a reason why you're leaving in the millions. … We have to champion the idea that a two-parent family is not aberrant. It was the historical norm for 2,500 years. It's a good thing to have two or three children. It's a good thing to be a young person and wanna buy a house in your 20s and not in your 40s, or to have a child in your 20s and not in your late 30s.' Nothing wrong with the latter, but he was trying to offer a different paradigm that had proved successful.”

Charlie Kirk knew the key to winning a generation to conservatism meant addressing the root cause of America's political problems: a cultural decay that has trapped young people in “prolonged adolescence.” His solution was to champion cultural and economic values that are congruent with the founding principles of this nation and a flourishing society. On […]

CONTINUED Victor Davis Hanson's book, The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America, argues that the foundational principles of American citizenship and the nation's success are being eroded by these forces. A central theme of Hanson's work is the critical importance of the middle class, a concept he traces back to classical Greece and Rome. Drawing on Aristotle, Hanson highlights that a state's good fortune depends on citizens having "moderate and sufficient property," enabling autonomy and self-reliance. The middle class, combining "muscles with mind," traditionally served as the "soldiers of the republic" and were "skeptical of government." Unlike the poor, who risk dependency on "bread and circuses" from the government or wealthy patrons, or the rich, who "inevitably use their wealth to tamper with politics," the middle class is self-reliant and less susceptible to these extremes. This ideal, initially embodied by the independent farmer as envisioned by figures like Thomas Jefferson, was later translated into the "shopkeeper or the independent trucker or the traveling salesman" in post-industrial America, maintaining their autonomy. However, this middle class has recently experienced a decline in real wages, with any brief gains quickly eroded by inflation. Hanson posits that America is experiencing a "hollowing out" of its middle class, reminiscent of the decline of the Roman Empire, which was ultimately reduced to two classes: the extremely wealthy and those dependent on handouts. He cites California as a contemporary example, describing it as a "medieval society" with vast wealth alongside a dependent "peasant class," as millions of middle-class citizens have reportedly fled the state. The Obama administration's "Pajama Boy" and "Life of Julia" campaigns are presented as symbols of this shift, promoting a "nanny entitlement state" where the government provides for individuals from birth, reducing the need for traditional self-reliance, marriage, or property ownership. This, Hanson suggests, reflects a Democratic Party agenda that has "written off the working middle class" in favor of a "bicoastal elite" and big government. Globalization, particularly through immigration policy, is identified as another destructive force. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 is criticized for dismantling meritocracy, prioritizing family relationships and proximity to the border over skills or English fluency. This, driven by an "unholy alliance" of the Democratic Party seeking new constituents and the Republican Party desiring cheap labor, has led to a massive influx of non-native-born and illegal residents. The Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986 also failed, as promises of border security were not kept, and employer verification mechanisms were easily circumvented. Hanson asserts that the absence of a secure border fundamentally undermines U.S. citizenship. He highlights how increased numbers of immigrants, coupled with lax voting laws, have politically impacted states like California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado, which have "flipped" to the Democratic Party. The desire for "dignity," as expressed by a legal immigrant named Mr. Rojas, underscores the allure of American equality compared to the social stratification in countries like Oaxaca, Mexico. Furthermore, Hanson addresses the rise of the "unelected," or "deep state," which he describes as a "permanent investigative bureaucratic class" with "contempt for the people" and an ability to undermine elected government. Examples range from the obscure Raisin Administrative Committee, which dictates what farmers can do with their crops, to high-ranking officials in agencies like the FBI and CIA who felt empowered to act outside accountability. The concept of "la resistance," adopted by some bureaucrats after Donald Trump's election, saw individuals like Kevin Clinesmith and "Anonymous" actively seeking to undermine the administration, with even a Georgetown Law Schoolprofessor, Rosa Brooks, publicly contemplating a military coup. Finally, Hanson criticizes the "nullification" of federal law, exemplified by "sanctuary cities" that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, creating an "asymmetrical" system where such actions are condoned for the left but condemned as "insurrection" for the right. He also argues that impeachment, designed as a constitutional check, has been "distorted" and "abused" into a political "campaign strategy," particularly in the two impeachments of Donald Trump. This has set a "terrible precedent," potentially leading to further political weaponization of constitutional mechanisms.

CONTINUED Victor Davis Hanson's book, The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America, argues that the foundational principles of American citizenship and the nation's success are being eroded by these forces. A central theme of Hanson's work is the critical importance of the middle class, a concept he traces back to classical Greece and Rome. Drawing on Aristotle, Hanson highlights that a state's good fortune depends on citizens having "moderate and sufficient property," enabling autonomy and self-reliance. The middle class, combining "muscles with mind," traditionally served as the "soldiers of the republic" and were "skeptical of government." Unlike the poor, who risk dependency on "bread and circuses" from the government or wealthy patrons, or the rich, who "inevitably use their wealth to tamper with politics," the middle class is self-reliant and less susceptible to these extremes. This ideal, initially embodied by the independent farmer as envisioned by figures like Thomas Jefferson, was later translated into the "shopkeeper or the independent trucker or the traveling salesman" in post-industrial America, maintaining their autonomy. However, this middle class has recently experienced a decline in real wages, with any brief gains quickly eroded by inflation. Hanson posits that America is experiencing a "hollowing out" of its middle class, reminiscent of the decline of the Roman Empire, which was ultimately reduced to two classes: the extremely wealthy and those dependent on handouts. He cites California as a contemporary example, describing it as a "medieval society" with vast wealth alongside a dependent "peasant class," as millions of middle-class citizens have reportedly fled the state. The Obama administration's "Pajama Boy" and "Life of Julia" campaigns are presented as symbols of this shift, promoting a "nanny entitlement state" where the government provides for individuals from birth, reducing the need for traditional self-reliance, marriage, or property ownership. This, Hanson suggests, reflects a Democratic Party agenda that has "written off the working middle class" in favor of a "bicoastal elite" and big government. Globalization, particularly through immigration policy, is identified as another destructive force. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 is criticized for dismantling meritocracy, prioritizing family relationships and proximity to the border over skills or English fluency. This, driven by an "unholy alliance" of the Democratic Party seeking new constituents and the Republican Party desiring cheap labor, has led to a massive influx of non-native-born and illegal residents. The Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986 also failed, as promises of border security were not kept, and employer verification mechanisms were easily circumvented. Hanson asserts that the absence of a secure border fundamentally undermines U.S. citizenship. He highlights how increased numbers of immigrants, coupled with lax voting laws, have politically impacted states like California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado, which have "flipped" to the Democratic Party. The desire for "dignity," as expressed by a legal immigrant named Mr. Rojas, underscores the allure of American equality compared to the social stratification in countries like Oaxaca, Mexico. Furthermore, Hanson addresses the rise of the "unelected," or "deep state," which he describes as a "permanent investigative bureaucratic class" with "contempt for the people" and an ability to undermine elected government. Examples range from the obscure Raisin Administrative Committee, which dictates what farmers can do with their crops, to high-ranking officials in agencies like the FBI and CIA who felt empowered to act outside accountability. The concept of "la resistance," adopted by some bureaucrats after Donald Trump's election, saw individuals like Kevin Clinesmith and "Anonymous" actively seeking to undermine the administration, with even a Georgetown Law Schoolprofessor, Rosa Brooks, publicly contemplating a military coup. Finally, Hanson criticizes the "nullification" of federal law, exemplified by "sanctuary cities" that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, creating an "asymmetrical" system where such actions are condoned for the left but condemned as "insurrection" for the right. He also argues that impeachment, designed as a constitutional check, has been "distorted" and "abused" into a political "campaign strategy," particularly in the two impeachments of Donald Trump. This has set a "terrible precedent," potentially leading to further political weaponization of constitutional mechanisms.

CONTINUED Victor Davis Hanson's book, The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America, argues that the foundational principles of American citizenship and the nation's success are being eroded by these forces. A central theme of Hanson's work is the critical importance of the middle class, a concept he traces back to classical Greece and Rome. Drawing on Aristotle, Hanson highlights that a state's good fortune depends on citizens having "moderate and sufficient property," enabling autonomy and self-reliance. The middle class, combining "muscles with mind," traditionally served as the "soldiers of the republic" and were "skeptical of government." Unlike the poor, who risk dependency on "bread and circuses" from the government or wealthy patrons, or the rich, who "inevitably use their wealth to tamper with politics," the middle class is self-reliant and less susceptible to these extremes. This ideal, initially embodied by the independent farmer as envisioned by figures like Thomas Jefferson, was later translated into the "shopkeeper or the independent trucker or the traveling salesman" in post-industrial America, maintaining their autonomy. However, this middle class has recently experienced a decline in real wages, with any brief gains quickly eroded by inflation. Hanson posits that America is experiencing a "hollowing out" of its middle class, reminiscent of the decline of the Roman Empire, which was ultimately reduced to two classes: the extremely wealthy and those dependent on handouts. He cites California as a contemporary example, describing it as a "medieval society" with vast wealth alongside a dependent "peasant class," as millions of middle-class citizens have reportedly fled the state. The Obama administration's "Pajama Boy" and "Life of Julia" campaigns are presented as symbols of this shift, promoting a "nanny entitlement state" where the government provides for individuals from birth, reducing the need for traditional self-reliance, marriage, or property ownership. This, Hanson suggests, reflects a Democratic Party agenda that has "written off the working middle class" in favor of a "bicoastal elite" and big government. Globalization, particularly through immigration policy, is identified as another destructive force. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 is criticized for dismantling meritocracy, prioritizing family relationships and proximity to the border over skills or English fluency. This, driven by an "unholy alliance" of the Democratic Party seeking new constituents and the Republican Party desiring cheap labor, has led to a massive influx of non-native-born and illegal residents. The Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986 also failed, as promises of border security were not kept, and employer verification mechanisms were easily circumvented. Hanson asserts that the absence of a secure border fundamentally undermines U.S. citizenship. He highlights how increased numbers of immigrants, coupled with lax voting laws, have politically impacted states like California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado, which have "flipped" to the Democratic Party. The desire for "dignity," as expressed by a legal immigrant named Mr. Rojas, underscores the allure of American equality compared to the social stratification in countries like Oaxaca, Mexico. Furthermore, Hanson addresses the rise of the "unelected," or "deep state," which he describes as a "permanent investigative bureaucratic class" with "contempt for the people" and an ability to undermine elected government. Examples range from the obscure Raisin Administrative Committee, which dictates what farmers can do with their crops, to high-ranking officials in agencies like the FBI and CIA who felt empowered to act outside accountability. The concept of "la resistance," adopted by some bureaucrats after Donald Trump's election, saw individuals like Kevin Clinesmith and "Anonymous" actively seeking to undermine the administration, with even a Georgetown Law Schoolprofessor, Rosa Brooks, publicly contemplating a military coup. Finally, Hanson criticizes the "nullification" of federal law, exemplified by "sanctuary cities" that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, creating an "asymmetrical" system where such actions are condoned for the left but condemned as "insurrection" for the right. He also argues that impeachment, designed as a constitutional check, has been "distorted" and "abused" into a political "campaign strategy," particularly in the two impeachments of Donald Trump. This has set a "terrible precedent," potentially leading to further political weaponization of constitutional mechanisms.

CONTINUED Victor Davis Hanson's book, The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America, argues that the foundational principles of American citizenship and the nation's success are being eroded by these forces. A central theme of Hanson's work is the critical importance of the middle class, a concept he traces back to classical Greece and Rome. Drawing on Aristotle, Hanson highlights that a state's good fortune depends on citizens having "moderate and sufficient property," enabling autonomy and self-reliance. The middle class, combining "muscles with mind," traditionally served as the "soldiers of the republic" and were "skeptical of government." Unlike the poor, who risk dependency on "bread and circuses" from the government or wealthy patrons, or the rich, who "inevitably use their wealth to tamper with politics," the middle class is self-reliant and less susceptible to these extremes. This ideal, initially embodied by the independent farmer as envisioned by figures like Thomas Jefferson, was later translated into the "shopkeeper or the independent trucker or the traveling salesman" in post-industrial America, maintaining their autonomy. However, this middle class has recently experienced a decline in real wages, with any brief gains quickly eroded by inflation. Hanson posits that America is experiencing a "hollowing out" of its middle class, reminiscent of the decline of the Roman Empire, which was ultimately reduced to two classes: the extremely wealthy and those dependent on handouts. He cites California as a contemporary example, describing it as a "medieval society" with vast wealth alongside a dependent "peasant class," as millions of middle-class citizens have reportedly fled the state. The Obama administration's "Pajama Boy" and "Life of Julia" campaigns are presented as symbols of this shift, promoting a "nanny entitlement state" where the government provides for individuals from birth, reducing the need for traditional self-reliance, marriage, or property ownership. This, Hanson suggests, reflects a Democratic Party agenda that has "written off the working middle class" in favor of a "bicoastal elite" and big government. Globalization, particularly through immigration policy, is identified as another destructive force. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 is criticized for dismantling meritocracy, prioritizing family relationships and proximity to the border over skills or English fluency. This, driven by an "unholy alliance" of the Democratic Party seeking new constituents and the Republican Party desiring cheap labor, has led to a massive influx of non-native-born and illegal residents. The Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986 also failed, as promises of border security were not kept, and employer verification mechanisms were easily circumvented. Hanson asserts that the absence of a secure border fundamentally undermines U.S. citizenship. He highlights how increased numbers of immigrants, coupled with lax voting laws, have politically impacted states like California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado, which have "flipped" to the Democratic Party. The desire for "dignity," as expressed by a legal immigrant named Mr. Rojas, underscores the allure of American equality compared to the social stratification in countries like Oaxaca, Mexico. Furthermore, Hanson addresses the rise of the "unelected," or "deep state," which he describes as a "permanent investigative bureaucratic class" with "contempt for the people" and an ability to undermine elected government. Examples range from the obscure Raisin Administrative Committee, which dictates what farmers can do with their crops, to high-ranking officials in agencies like the FBI and CIA who felt empowered to act outside accountability. The concept of "la resistance," adopted by some bureaucrats after Donald Trump's election, saw individuals like Kevin Clinesmith and "Anonymous" actively seeking to undermine the administration, with even a Georgetown Law Schoolprofessor, Rosa Brooks, publicly contemplating a military coup. Finally, Hanson criticizes the "nullification" of federal law, exemplified by "sanctuary cities" that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, creating an "asymmetrical" system where such actions are condoned for the left but condemned as "insurrection" for the right. He also argues that impeachment, designed as a constitutional check, has been "distorted" and "abused" into a political "campaign strategy," particularly in the two impeachments of Donald Trump. This has set a "terrible precedent," potentially leading to further political weaponization of constitutional mechanisms.

CONTINUED Victor Davis Hanson's book, The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America, argues that the foundational principles of American citizenship and the nation's success are being eroded by these forces. A central theme of Hanson's work is the critical importance of the middle class, a concept he traces back to classical Greece and Rome. Drawing on Aristotle, Hanson highlights that a state's good fortune depends on citizens having "moderate and sufficient property," enabling autonomy and self-reliance. The middle class, combining "muscles with mind," traditionally served as the "soldiers of the republic" and were "skeptical of government." Unlike the poor, who risk dependency on "bread and circuses" from the government or wealthy patrons, or the rich, who "inevitably use their wealth to tamper with politics," the middle class is self-reliant and less susceptible to these extremes. This ideal, initially embodied by the independent farmer as envisioned by figures like Thomas Jefferson, was later translated into the "shopkeeper or the independent trucker or the traveling salesman" in post-industrial America, maintaining their autonomy. However, this middle class has recently experienced a decline in real wages, with any brief gains quickly eroded by inflation. Hanson posits that America is experiencing a "hollowing out" of its middle class, reminiscent of the decline of the Roman Empire, which was ultimately reduced to two classes: the extremely wealthy and those dependent on handouts. He cites California as a contemporary example, describing it as a "medieval society" with vast wealth alongside a dependent "peasant class," as millions of middle-class citizens have reportedly fled the state. The Obama administration's "Pajama Boy" and "Life of Julia" campaigns are presented as symbols of this shift, promoting a "nanny entitlement state" where the government provides for individuals from birth, reducing the need for traditional self-reliance, marriage, or property ownership. This, Hanson suggests, reflects a Democratic Party agenda that has "written off the working middle class" in favor of a "bicoastal elite" and big government. Globalization, particularly through immigration policy, is identified as another destructive force. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 is criticized for dismantling meritocracy, prioritizing family relationships and proximity to the border over skills or English fluency. This, driven by an "unholy alliance" of the Democratic Party seeking new constituents and the Republican Party desiring cheap labor, has led to a massive influx of non-native-born and illegal residents. The Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986 also failed, as promises of border security were not kept, and employer verification mechanisms were easily circumvented. Hanson asserts that the absence of a secure border fundamentally undermines U.S. citizenship. He highlights how increased numbers of immigrants, coupled with lax voting laws, have politically impacted states like California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado, which have "flipped" to the Democratic Party. The desire for "dignity," as expressed by a legal immigrant named Mr. Rojas, underscores the allure of American equality compared to the social stratification in countries like Oaxaca, Mexico. Furthermore, Hanson addresses the rise of the "unelected," or "deep state," which he describes as a "permanent investigative bureaucratic class" with "contempt for the people" and an ability to undermine elected government. Examples range from the obscure Raisin Administrative Committee, which dictates what farmers can do with their crops, to high-ranking officials in agencies like the FBI and CIA who felt empowered to act outside accountability. The concept of "la resistance," adopted by some bureaucrats after Donald Trump's election, saw individuals like Kevin Clinesmith and "Anonymous" actively seeking to undermine the administration, with even a Georgetown Law Schoolprofessor, Rosa Brooks, publicly contemplating a military coup. Finally, Hanson criticizes the "nullification" of federal law, exemplified by "sanctuary cities" that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, creating an "asymmetrical" system where such actions are condoned for the left but condemned as "insurrection" for the right. He also argues that impeachment, designed as a constitutional check, has been "distorted" and "abused" into a political "campaign strategy," particularly in the two impeachments of Donald Trump. This has set a "terrible precedent," potentially leading to further political weaponization of constitutional mechanisms.

CONTINUED Victor Davis Hanson's book, The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America, argues that the foundational principles of American citizenship and the nation's success are being eroded by these forces. A central theme of Hanson's work is the critical importance of the middle class, a concept he traces back to classical Greece and Rome. Drawing on Aristotle, Hanson highlights that a state's good fortune depends on citizens having "moderate and sufficient property," enabling autonomy and self-reliance. The middle class, combining "muscles with mind," traditionally served as the "soldiers of the republic" and were "skeptical of government." Unlike the poor, who risk dependency on "bread and circuses" from the government or wealthy patrons, or the rich, who "inevitably use their wealth to tamper with politics," the middle class is self-reliant and less susceptible to these extremes. This ideal, initially embodied by the independent farmer as envisioned by figures like Thomas Jefferson, was later translated into the "shopkeeper or the independent trucker or the traveling salesman" in post-industrial America, maintaining their autonomy. However, this middle class has recently experienced a decline in real wages, with any brief gains quickly eroded by inflation. Hanson posits that America is experiencing a "hollowing out" of its middle class, reminiscent of the decline of the Roman Empire, which was ultimately reduced to two classes: the extremely wealthy and those dependent on handouts. He cites California as a contemporary example, describing it as a "medieval society" with vast wealth alongside a dependent "peasant class," as millions of middle-class citizens have reportedly fled the state. The Obama administration's "Pajama Boy" and "Life of Julia" campaigns are presented as symbols of this shift, promoting a "nanny entitlement state" where the government provides for individuals from birth, reducing the need for traditional self-reliance, marriage, or property ownership. This, Hanson suggests, reflects a Democratic Party agenda that has "written off the working middle class" in favor of a "bicoastal elite" and big government. Globalization, particularly through immigration policy, is identified as another destructive force. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 is criticized for dismantling meritocracy, prioritizing family relationships and proximity to the border over skills or English fluency. This, driven by an "unholy alliance" of the Democratic Party seeking new constituents and the Republican Party desiring cheap labor, has led to a massive influx of non-native-born and illegal residents. The Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986 also failed, as promises of border security were not kept, and employer verification mechanisms were easily circumvented. Hanson asserts that the absence of a secure border fundamentally undermines U.S. citizenship. He highlights how increased numbers of immigrants, coupled with lax voting laws, have politically impacted states like California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado, which have "flipped" to the Democratic Party. The desire for "dignity," as expressed by a legal immigrant named Mr. Rojas, underscores the allure of American equality compared to the social stratification in countries like Oaxaca, Mexico. Furthermore, Hanson addresses the rise of the "unelected," or "deep state," which he describes as a "permanent investigative bureaucratic class" with "contempt for the people" and an ability to undermine elected government. Examples range from the obscure Raisin Administrative Committee, which dictates what farmers can do with their crops, to high-ranking officials in agencies like the FBI and CIA who felt empowered to act outside accountability. The concept of "la resistance," adopted by some bureaucrats after Donald Trump's election, saw individuals like Kevin Clinesmith and "Anonymous" actively seeking to undermine the administration, with even a Georgetown Law Schoolprofessor, Rosa Brooks, publicly contemplating a military coup. Finally, Hanson criticizes the "nullification" of federal law, exemplified by "sanctuary cities" that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, creating an "asymmetrical" system where such actions are condoned for the left but condemned as "insurrection" for the right. He also argues that impeachment, designed as a constitutional check, has been "distorted" and "abused" into a political "campaign strategy," particularly in the two impeachments of Donald Trump. This has set a "terrible precedent," potentially leading to further political weaponization of constitutional mechanisms.

CONTINUED Victor Davis Hanson's book, The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America, argues that the foundational principles of American citizenship and the nation's success are being eroded by these forces. A central theme of Hanson's work is the critical importance of the middle class, a concept he traces back to classical Greece and Rome. Drawing on Aristotle, Hanson highlights that a state's good fortune depends on citizens having "moderate and sufficient property," enabling autonomy and self-reliance. The middle class, combining "muscles with mind," traditionally served as the "soldiers of the republic" and were "skeptical of government." Unlike the poor, who risk dependency on "bread and circuses" from the government or wealthy patrons, or the rich, who "inevitably use their wealth to tamper with politics," the middle class is self-reliant and less susceptible to these extremes. This ideal, initially embodied by the independent farmer as envisioned by figures like Thomas Jefferson, was later translated into the "shopkeeper or the independent trucker or the traveling salesman" in post-industrial America, maintaining their autonomy. However, this middle class has recently experienced a decline in real wages, with any brief gains quickly eroded by inflation. Hanson posits that America is experiencing a "hollowing out" of its middle class, reminiscent of the decline of the Roman Empire, which was ultimately reduced to two classes: the extremely wealthy and those dependent on handouts. He cites California as a contemporary example, describing it as a "medieval society" with vast wealth alongside a dependent "peasant class," as millions of middle-class citizens have reportedly fled the state. The Obama administration's "Pajama Boy" and "Life of Julia" campaigns are presented as symbols of this shift, promoting a "nanny entitlement state" where the government provides for individuals from birth, reducing the need for traditional self-reliance, marriage, or property ownership. This, Hanson suggests, reflects a Democratic Party agenda that has "written off the working middle class" in favor of a "bicoastal elite" and big government. Globalization, particularly through immigration policy, is identified as another destructive force. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 is criticized for dismantling meritocracy, prioritizing family relationships and proximity to the border over skills or English fluency. This, driven by an "unholy alliance" of the Democratic Party seeking new constituents and the Republican Party desiring cheap labor, has led to a massive influx of non-native-born and illegal residents. The Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986 also failed, as promises of border security were not kept, and employer verification mechanisms were easily circumvented. Hanson asserts that the absence of a secure border fundamentally undermines U.S. citizenship. He highlights how increased numbers of immigrants, coupled with lax voting laws, have politically impacted states like California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado, which have "flipped" to the Democratic Party. The desire for "dignity," as expressed by a legal immigrant named Mr. Rojas, underscores the allure of American equality compared to the social stratification in countries like Oaxaca, Mexico. Furthermore, Hanson addresses the rise of the "unelected," or "deep state," which he describes as a "permanent investigative bureaucratic class" with "contempt for the people" and an ability to undermine elected government. Examples range from the obscure Raisin Administrative Committee, which dictates what farmers can do with their crops, to high-ranking officials in agencies like the FBI and CIA who felt empowered to act outside accountability. The concept of "la resistance," adopted by some bureaucrats after Donald Trump's election, saw individuals like Kevin Clinesmith and "Anonymous" actively seeking to undermine the administration, with even a Georgetown Law Schoolprofessor, Rosa Brooks, publicly contemplating a military coup. Finally, Hanson criticizes the "nullification" of federal law, exemplified by "sanctuary cities" that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, creating an "asymmetrical" system where such actions are condoned for the left but condemned as "insurrection" for the right. He also argues that impeachment, designed as a constitutional check, has been "distorted" and "abused" into a political "campaign strategy," particularly in the two impeachments of Donald Trump. This has set a "terrible precedent," potentially leading to further political weaponization of constitutional mechanisms.

CONTINUED Victor Davis Hanson's book, The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America, argues that the foundational principles of American citizenship and the nation's success are being eroded by these forces. A central theme of Hanson's work is the critical importance of the middle class, a concept he traces back to classical Greece and Rome. Drawing on Aristotle, Hanson highlights that a state's good fortune depends on citizens having "moderate and sufficient property," enabling autonomy and self-reliance. The middle class, combining "muscles with mind," traditionally served as the "soldiers of the republic" and were "skeptical of government." Unlike the poor, who risk dependency on "bread and circuses" from the government or wealthy patrons, or the rich, who "inevitably use their wealth to tamper with politics," the middle class is self-reliant and less susceptible to these extremes. This ideal, initially embodied by the independent farmer as envisioned by figures like Thomas Jefferson, was later translated into the "shopkeeper or the independent trucker or the traveling salesman" in post-industrial America, maintaining their autonomy. However, this middle class has recently experienced a decline in real wages, with any brief gains quickly eroded by inflation. Hanson posits that America is experiencing a "hollowing out" of its middle class, reminiscent of the decline of the Roman Empire, which was ultimately reduced to two classes: the extremely wealthy and those dependent on handouts. He cites California as a contemporary example, describing it as a "medieval society" with vast wealth alongside a dependent "peasant class," as millions of middle-class citizens have reportedly fled the state. The Obama administration's "Pajama Boy" and "Life of Julia" campaigns are presented as symbols of this shift, promoting a "nanny entitlement state" where the government provides for individuals from birth, reducing the need for traditional self-reliance, marriage, or property ownership. This, Hanson suggests, reflects a Democratic Party agenda that has "written off the working middle class" in favor of a "bicoastal elite" and big government. Globalization, particularly through immigration policy, is identified as another destructive force. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 is criticized for dismantling meritocracy, prioritizing family relationships and proximity to the border over skills or English fluency. This, driven by an "unholy alliance" of the Democratic Party seeking new constituents and the Republican Party desiring cheap labor, has led to a massive influx of non-native-born and illegal residents. The Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986 also failed, as promises of border security were not kept, and employer verification mechanisms were easily circumvented. Hanson asserts that the absence of a secure border fundamentally undermines U.S. citizenship. He highlights how increased numbers of immigrants, coupled with lax voting laws, have politically impacted states like California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado, which have "flipped" to the Democratic Party. The desire for "dignity," as expressed by a legal immigrant named Mr. Rojas, underscores the allure of American equality compared to the social stratification in countries like Oaxaca, Mexico. Furthermore, Hanson addresses the rise of the "unelected," or "deep state," which he describes as a "permanent investigative bureaucratic class" with "contempt for the people" and an ability to undermine elected government. Examples range from the obscure Raisin Administrative Committee, which dictates what farmers can do with their crops, to high-ranking officials in agencies like the FBI and CIA who felt empowered to act outside accountability. The concept of "la resistance," adopted by some bureaucrats after Donald Trump's election, saw individuals like Kevin Clinesmith and "Anonymous" actively seeking to undermine the administration, with even a Georgetown Law Schoolprofessor, Rosa Brooks, publicly contemplating a military coup. Finally, Hanson criticizes the "nullification" of federal law, exemplified by "sanctuary cities" that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, creating an "asymmetrical" system where such actions are condoned for the left but condemned as "insurrection" for the right. He also argues that impeachment, designed as a constitutional check, has been "distorted" and "abused" into a political "campaign strategy," particularly in the two impeachments of Donald Trump. This has set a "terrible precedent," potentially leading to further political weaponization of constitutional mechanisms.

Victor Davis Hanson and co-host Sami Winc discuss the implications of the recent murder of Iryna Zarutska, Israel's hit on Hamas leaders in Qatar, Homan's interview with Mika, Russian drones in Polish airspace, and Britain's Nigel Farage grows in popularity, and more in the Friday news roundup.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Charlie Kirk shaped modern conservatism and reached youth in ways no one else could—and that's precisely what made him so dangerous to the Left.   The trailblazing 31-year-old activist and commentator who founded Turning Point USA was regularly smeared as a “fascist,” a “Nazi,” and a “threat to democracy” by the Left. It was only a matter of time until a crazed person put those words into action. On today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson pays tribute to Kirk and explains how his death is more than just a personal loss; it signals a dangerous new era where political violence is becoming normalized. “ He connected with people. He had a podcast. He was an extemporaneous speaker. He could ad lib. He wrote columns. He was fearless. He was—he registered voters. He might have been more responsible for winning key states than any other political activists in the 2024 election. I don't think anybody in our generation—I'm speaking my generation—could have done what he did. “ We are legitimizing political violence. If you call someone day after day after day, "white, white, white, white"; "racist, racist, racist"; "fascist, fascist, fascist"; "Nazi, Nazi, Nazi"—we hear that from Joy Reid. We see it on "The View." We see it on MSNBC. Even just seconds after Charlie died, we had Matthew Dowd go on and basically said that he got what he deserved because he was an extremist, etc., and he and you "live by the sword, die by the sword" sort of argument he used.”

Europe, the United States, and other like-minded Western countries are facing four “self-inflicted wounds.”   These “Four Horsemen of the Western Civilization Apocalypse” didn't arrive overnight.   At the turn of the 20th century, Western elites thought that they could create “heaven on Earth” by moving away from fossil fuels, allowing open borders, and embracing […]

Charlie Kirk shaped modern conservatism and reached youth in ways no one else could—and that's precisely what made him so dangerous to the Left. The trailblazing 31-year-old activist and commentator who founded Turning Point USA was regularly smeared as a “fascist,” a “Nazi,” and a “threat to democracy” by the Left. It was only a […]

Hugh talks about Charlie Kirk and his remarkable rise and horrific assassination. Victor Davis Hanson joined Hugh to add his historian’s thoughts —and as another friend of Charlie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe, the United States, and other like-minded Western countries are facing four “self-inflicted wounds.” These “Four Horsemen of the Western Civilization Apocalypse” didn't arrive overnight. At the turn of the 20th century, Western elites thought that they could create "heaven on Earth” by moving away from fossil fuels, allowing open borders, and embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Results? Skyrocketing fuel costs, which have in turn destroyed the “ viability of the middle classes that are now in revolt,” millions of unassimilated Islamic refugees, plummeting fertility rates, and the beginnings of tribalism, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today's edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”

It's been a whirlwind first few months of Trump 2.0, but he and Republicans need to stay focused on the next big election: midterms 2026.   Victor Davis Hanson reviews the first months of the Trump administration—highlighting successes that critics said were impossible—and identifies three areas for caution.

Megyn Kelly covers the breaking news of the assassination of Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus during a Turning Point event - tragically dead at 31-years-old. She reflects on his legacy and on today's horrifying developments with Glenn Beck, Victor Davis Hanson, Mark Halperin, Emily Jashinsky, Rich Lowry, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Father Mike Schmitz.

President Donald Trump held a tech summit last week where a number of notable tech CEOs and gurus—who previously were vehement opponents of Trump—met at the White House. This included former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, members of Google, and more. It's a quid pro quo: If major tech companies stop offshoring and start investing billions of dollars in the U.S. and create jobs, then Trump will approve their investments, productions, and use of greater energy sources. Victor Davis Hanson breaks it all down and explains how this move is similar to what former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt did when World War II broke out on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”  “These CEOs don't like Trump. They're opposed to him ideologically, but they have one thing in common: They're patriotic.”  “Maybe, just maybe, Trump can do for the United States in these emerging, absolutely essential fields of artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, robotics, genetic engineering what FDR did in the War Production Board.”

President Donald Trump held a tech summit last week where a number of notable tech CEOs and gurus—who previously were vehement opponents of Trump—met at the White House. This included former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, members of Google, and more.   It's a quid pro quo: If major tech companies stop […]

But it's not just congressional Democrats on offense, as his own family is blasting him as an “embarrassment.” Victor Davis Hanson breaks down the Kennedy family's hypocrisy—especially considering their silence on Ted Kennedy's Chappaquiddick scandal and JFK's infidelities—on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”   “ This is the irony. What is […]

For the past dozen years, Hoover's online publication Strategika has examined contemporary conflicts and national security challenges by assembling academics of varied thought to re-examine past struggles. On the occasion of its 100th issue, historian Victor Davis Hanson, Hoover's Martin and Ilie Anderson senior fellow and the man tasked with bringing the publication to life, discusses the institution's growing commitment to the study of history (Hoover's having a compliment of historians rivaling that of world-class universities) and how a Strategika-like approach explains complicated conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Also discussed: how Victor's passion for military history stems from his male ancestors' involvement in two world wars, his thoughts on how best to introduce young learners to classical opuses, plus the problem of university history departments discouraging intellectual diversity. Celebrate Strategika's 100th issue titled, The Current Status of Military History, by exploring the full collection of essays here. For more episodes of Matters of Policy & Politics, subscribe here.   

But it's not just congressional Democrats on offense, as his own family is blasting him as an “embarrassment.” Victor Davis Hanson breaks down the Kennedy family's hypocrisy—especially considering their silence on Ted Kennedy's Chappaquiddick scandal and JFK's infidelities—on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “ This is the irony. What is an embarrassment to the Kennedy family was not Bobby Jr. working for Donald Trump. It really wasn't. It was Ted Kennedy in 1969: a U.S. senator driving off a bridge with Mary Jo Kopechne, allowing her to drown in the car, and then for 24 hours, trying to fabricate a narrative that was completely a lie so he could get out of responsibility. And then using the Kennedy money and leverage in Massachusetts to get off with this, with no criminal exposure at all. A woman was killed. And yet, no one—none of the Kennedys said that he was a predator or he embarrassed them. “ You know what else is an embarrassment right now that Caroline Kennedy should be worried about? Her son, Jack Schlossberg. What has he done? He gets on social media, he made fun of Melania Trump's voice the other day and tried to wear a wig and ridicule her.”

Britain has seen an influx of illegal immigrants from the Islamic Middle East, often without proper background checks. Scandals involving Pakistani immigrants grooming young girls went largely ignored by authorities due to fears of political backlash. Ordinary citizens face harassment for expressing patriotism, even as immigrant communities display cultural or political symbols freely.   Victor Davis Hanson explains that this crisis is part of a larger European problem, and how the social, demographic, and political pressures facing Britain and Europe threaten the stability of their nations on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “They've had a series of controversies and incidents and scandals in which Pakistani illegal immigrants have been grooming young British girls in the sex trades. And this was apparently known to authorities. But they felt that it was politically correct, in the age of DEI and woke, to seriously pursue any legal ramifications, until the public was outraged. “And this is in addition to the beginning of massive demonstrations, on the part of the British, Scottish, Irish, Welsh public, to perceived indifference from the United Kingdom Labour Party to the plight of their own citizens. In other words, they're censoring thought, dissent of British citizens, but not in the same manner they are of illegal aliens. And this translates into some very Orwellian and absurd incidents.”

In this episode Victor Davis Hanson and Jack Fowler discuss the implications of Trump's proposal to increase Chinese student enrollment in American universities, including concerns about espionage and national security, the cultural and moral decline in Western societies, flag burning, the state of the Virginia gubernatorial race, and more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“World War II was a brilliant work of American strategy, productivity, and courage and sacrifice. And the result was we destroyed the greatest threat to mankind, and we did it as economically as we could in American cost and lives,” Victor Davis Hanson says. He also addresses why the U.S. allied with the Soviet Union during the war: "We fought World War II and won the war, and we came away with losing very few soldiers. At the end of the war, the Soviet Union had no intention … of honoring their commitments made both at Yalta and then before the Japanese theater had ended at Potsdam. “But nevertheless, when the war was over, the United States was the preeminent power in the world—except for Britain—had lost fewer combatants than any of the major three allies, Britain, the United States, Russia, and China as well, and had lost fewer than Japan and Germany. “So, we fought that war very economically by giving material aid to the Soviet Union, who used their manpower and lost 20 million people to kill three out of every four German soldiers. “That's not an argument that you like the Soviet Union. I detest the Soviet Union. But it's an argument that in the ability of the United States to defeat Germany in 1941, it was a wise military strategy to use a third party to kill the German army, kill it off, and that's what happened, it was a success."

Victor Davis Hanson explains why this was not simply a tragedy, but an act of evil, and why the media and political leaders refuse to have an honest discussion about the factors behind it on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “They won't have any discussion over transgenderism. This falls in the broader category of exempt DEI woke topics, but I think we should talk about this. This is the fourth or fifth incident—I don't even like the word "incident"—occurrence of transgendered shooters who are protected by authorities. “We were told, "Be careful about Big Pharma. Be careful about Big Med." All of those worries and prohibitions and cautions were thrown out the window, as were SSRI antidepressants. These were selective serotonin prohibitors. In other words, they altered the chemistry of the brain, supposedly, to correct mental disturbances, depression, bipolarity. But they're very dangerous drugs. But when it came to the exempt topic of transgenderism, suddenly the society was supposed to accept that this was not a mental disorder. It was not a rare occurrence. It was a national crisis where large percentages of the population were transgendering.”

-Victor Davis Hanson warns that Democrats' unprecedented attacks on Trump—from ballot challenges to assassination attempts—are backfiring. -Daniel Lipman (Politico) joins via the Newsmax hotline, discussing Trump's resilience, the Ukraine–Russia stalemate, and Democrat reactions to crime reductions in D.C. and Chicago Today's podcast is sponsored by : BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (www.patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since striking Iran's nuclear sites and military personnel last June, America and Israel have brought the Islamic regime to its knees. A web of paranoia, triggered by Israel's systematic dismantling of Iran's terrorist surrogates and in-country air defense systems, has caused the regime to lash out against an already wary population.   The Obama-Biden administration tried for years to position Iran, and its surrogates, as a “counterweight” to Israel and the more moderate Arab countries in the region, favoring neither one side nor the other. President Donald Trump's strike on Iran and subsequent sanctions have tipped the scales in favor of Israel and the more moderate Middle East regimes. “ We don't have to be the instigators. We don't have to stage coups. All we have to do is turn up the heat and let this pot boil over. And boil over it will,” argues Victor Davis Hanson on today's edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”

Victor Davis Hanson interviews Dr. Seb Gorka, discussing the significant changes in national security and counterterrorism under the Trump administration, the historical context of Trump's presidency, the disruption of the post-war order, and the ongoing threats posed by Iran and global terrorism, and much more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.