Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes – GOP Mayor: Real Leaders Step Up Because Trump Won’t (w/ Mayor David Holt)

Date: September 16, 2025
Host: The Bulwark
Guest: David Holt, Mayor of Oklahoma City

Brief Overview

This episode features Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt discussing the challenges facing American democracy in the wake of polarizing political violence, the impact of social media, the current state of the Republican Party, inclusive governance at the city level, and housing policy. Holt, a Republican known for his landslide victories and pragmatic leadership, shares lessons drawn from Oklahoma City’s history—including its recovery from the 1995 bombing—and outlines what it means to lead constructively in an era marked by toxic rhetoric and national division. The conversation covers the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the rise of dehumanizing language in politics, bipartisan approaches to key issues, and how electoral reform might restore national unity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mayor Holt’s Background & Political Standing

• Holt is the 38th mayor of Oklahoma City and 83rd President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
• Elected in 2018, reelected in 2022 with a 40-point margin against MAGA-aligned opponents.

  “I'd say they were like legitimate opponents, but totally MAGA. Like that was the 2022 challenge that I had was sort of from my right.” (David Holt, 01:24)

2. Dehumanization and Political Violence

• Holt emphasizes the core role of dehumanizing language leading to political violence.
• Connects recent events (the assassination of Charlie Kirk) to historical tragedies like the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
• Warns that language framing opponents as “vermin” or “rats” lays groundwork for violence.

  “Every violent act in, you know, human history began with people saying things. And inevitably they began to talk about their political opponents in ways that dehumanize them.” (David Holt, 02:54)

• Advocates for a return to seeing the shared humanity in opponents.

  “We are just barely this different and we are the same this much. Right.” (David Holt, 04:58)

3. The Role of Social Media

• Social media amplifies constant, inflammatory political discourse.
• Holt reflects on the old American wisdom not to talk about politics and religion constantly.
• Points out how social media keeps people "living through life enraged all the time."

  “It's put like a walking argument into our pockets all day long. We were not built for that.” (David Holt, 06:24)

4. Grappling with the Reality of Political Violence

• Political violence is not new to America—history marked by civil war, unrest, and acts like the OKC bombing.
• The American project’s success lies in providing alternative conflict resolution (rule of law).
• Calls for better civic education on why institutions exist:

  “All of these things exist to keep you from feeling like you have to kill each other.” (David Holt, 08:40)

5. Civic Recovery & Community Healing

• Oklahoma City's healing after the 1995 bombing provides a guide—memorialization, programming (Better Conversations), and public education.
• Reminds listeners to “pull back from this precipice” and value America’s unique system.

  “Nobody wins in this. Nobody who lived through the Civil War would say, well, great, that was awesome … This is not going to end well if we keep going down this path.” (David Holt, 10:32)

6. Leadership Failure & Trump’s Rhetoric

• Directly criticizes Donald Trump for divisive responses and refusal to set a healing national tone:

  “In 2025, I don't know anybody in the United States, even, even people who are admirers of the President who turned to the White House for calm influences at this point.” (David Holt, 12:27)

• Praises local leaders (including Republican Senator James Lankford) for responsible responses.
• Stresses focus on local, achievable change:

  “One of my models in life is control what you can control. So I'm going to try, in my own little corner of the universe, to set a standard.” (David Holt, 13:28)

7. Diversity, Inclusion & Freedom

• Holt's NYT op-ed highlighted diversity as a source of strength, not a battleground.
• Cites the lack of diverse leadership (historically all-white, all-male mayors) as proof of structural exclusion.
• Frames inclusive opportunity as consistent with conservative, Republican values:

  “It's Republican to be thinking of these pathways to inclusion.” (David Holt, 15:06)

• Discusses LGBTQ+ inclusion as a matter of freedom, not ideological conflict:

  “True freedom is when other people do things that you completely disagree with, and as long as it's not hurting other people, you have to support that.” (David Holt, 16:53)

8. Local Conditions vs. National Gloom

• Oklahoma City thrives: low unemployment, falling crime, reduced homelessness, civic optimism.
• Shows how local governance and intentional “doing things differently” can create pockets of political cooperation even in polarized times:

  “I have so militantly and intentionally talked about this narrative that we do things differently in Oklahoma City, and a whole lot of people have bought into that.” (David Holt, 18:33)

9. Federal Overreach & Law Enforcement

• Discusses the mixed impact of federal intervention (e.g., ICE, federal law enforcement) in cities:

  “When they come in sort of by force, and they're not coordinating with the professionals and the experts, it's highly debatable that that's going to produce any kind of lasting result.” (David Holt, 20:29)

• Argues that most urban crime prevention comes from community-based interventions, not just police presence.
• Emphasizes the need for police-community trust, especially among minorities and immigrants.

10. Housing Policy & Bipartisanship

• National housing crisis is a bipartisan issue—simply not enough units to meet demand.
• Notes a recent bipartisan housing bill is a rare example of productive Congressional action:

  “We think that's an area of bipartisan consensus. Like that's something everybody wants across the political spectrum.” (David Holt, 26:28)

• Hopes mayors’ advocacy can help push through meaningful legislation.

11. The State of the Republican Party & Electoral Reform

• Laments erosion of core Republican values and civil behavior since the Bush era.
• Advocates for open, non-partisan electoral systems (as in OKC) to incentivize coalition-building:

  “Show me an electoral system like that, and I will show you much more unifying and pragmatic outcomes and candidates that are incentivized to build coalitions.” (David Holt, 29:18)

• Criticizes national trends toward increasingly exclusionary primaries and gerrymandering:

  “We're working harder and harder … to get fewer and fewer people making all the decisions. And those people are generally outliers on the political spectrum.” (David Holt, 29:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• On Dehumanization:

  “What's more dehumanizing than literally calling them animals? And it paves the way, obviously, for you to do these horrible things because you've separated their basic humanity, you know, from their political opinions.” (David Holt, 03:46)

• On Social Media:

  "But social media ... It's put like a walking argument into our pockets all day long. We were not built for that." (David Holt, 06:24)

• On Freedom:

  “True freedom is when other people do things that you completely disagree with, and as long as it's not hurting other people, you have to support that.” (David Holt, 16:53)

• On Local Electoral Reform:

  “Show me an electoral system like that, and I will show you much more unifying and pragmatic outcomes and candidates that are incentivized to build coalitions like, I don't know, like the way we did for, like, 230 years in this country.” (David Holt, 29:18)

• On Civic Healing:

  "We've got to pull back from this precipice ... we've got to remember what a special thing we've built in America and take advantage of it." (David Holt, 10:46)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:24] Holt on his 2022 election and facing MAGA opponents
• [02:54] Dehumanization and Oklahoma City’s history of political violence
• [05:32] Amplification of division via social media
• [08:08] American history and the persistence of political violence
• [09:59] Lessons from OKC’s recovery post-bombing
• [12:27] Trump’s rhetoric and the importance of local leadership
• [14:29] Diversity, meritocracy, and true Republican values
• [18:33] Oklahoma City’s “golden age” and unifying civic culture
• [20:29] Federal interventions, ICE, and real crime prevention
• [24:31] The national housing crisis and bipartisan action
• [26:28] Mayors pushing for bipartisan housing legislation
• [27:42] The state of the GOP and the importance of electoral reform

Conclusion

Mayor David Holt offers a model of optimistic, pragmatic, coalition-driven leadership that seeks to rebuild trust in civic institutions and American pluralism. He argues for depolarization, inclusion, and a recommitment to the fundamentals of democracy and freedom, contrasting sharply with the divisive, reactive politics that currently dominate national discourse. Holt’s strategies—grounded in both principle and Oklahoma City success—point toward potential solutions: electoral reform, civic dialogue, and local leadership exemplified at the city level.