Podcast Summary: “Never Another Child” - Dale From The Midnight on Bullying & S*icide | Digital Social Hour #1803

Podcast: Digital Social Hour
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Shawn Michael (“The Midnight”)
Date: February 2, 2026
Episode Theme:
A candid conversation with Shawn Michael, also known as “The Midnight,” covering the intersection of social media activism, rising concerns about bullying and suicide among youth, and a frank critique of current sociopolitical issues, including immigration, election integrity, and the challenges facing Western values.

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Shawn Michael’s journey as “The Midnight”—a social media influencer, outspoken advocate against bullying and suicide, and a controversial commentator on politics and culture. The discussion weaves between his personal mission to save children from suicide, reflections on dealing with hate online, and unfiltered perspectives on political and societal challenges in America and abroad.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Origin of “The Midnight” (00:33–01:33)

• Shawn reveals his nickname came from his younger days of joining friends at clubs only after midnight, joking that he’d “come in, just… wreak havoc at midnight.”
  • Quote: “I didn’t come out before 12 o’clock at night. … I wreaked havoc at midnight. That was it.” (00:39–00:50)
• Shares a lighthearted story about family—his daughter carrying on the “midnight” tradition, staying out until 4 a.m. (01:21–01:31)

Sociopolitical Concerns: Immigration, Security, & The State of the Nation (01:48–13:14)

• Immigration and Open Borders:
  • Shawn argues unchecked immigration is creating chaos, mentioning possible infiltration by bad actors.
  • Quote: “We don’t know who’s good, we don’t know who’s bad. … Now all of a sudden you’re seeing all this chaos happening all around the country.” (01:52–02:17)
• Terrorism & Community Threats:
  • Points to ISIS flags in Australia, missing billions in Minnesota, and alleges money is being funneled to terrorism.
  • Criticizes public figures like Ilhan Omar and Gavin Newsom for unexplained wealth.
  • Expresses frustration over lack of transparency in political fundraising.
• Election Integrity:
  • Claims widespread issues with voter ID, mail-in voting, and potential for election rigging, particularly in New York and California.
  • Announces intention to run for New York City mayor, “I will put my candidacy in to be the next mayor of New York city.” (05:54)
• On Dearborn, Michigan:
  • Claims Sharia law is overtaking local governance, with “badges in Arabic,” and streets named after terrorists.
  • Quote: “Dearborn, for all intents and purposes, has fallen to a Muslim community. … The badges are in Arabic.” (07:08–07:31)
• Islam and Compatibility with the West:
  • Offers nuanced perspective but ultimately argues incompatibility with Western values.
  • Acknowledges peaceful Muslims and their struggles.
  • Highlights violence against both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.
    • Quote: “60,000 peaceful Muslims have lost their lives too, protecting the innocent people of Christianity.” (08:49)

Free Speech and Government Overreach (11:03–13:27)

• Criticizes UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (mispronounced as “Stommer”) for alleged treason and suppression of free speech.
• Warns that similar censorship could reach the U.S. if the “left” wins future elections, emphasizing the risks for conservatives and free speech advocates.
• Predicts a bleak future if socialism takes hold in America, comparing potential outcomes to Cuba or North Korea.
  • Quote: “If socialism takes over… take a look at Cuba, take a look at Venezuela, look what’s going on in North Korea.” (13:51)

Bullying, Suicide Prevention, and Social Media Activism (17:55–21:53)

• Personal Motivation:
  • Shares the heartbreak of trying to help a young girl on TikTok who ended her own life—this became the impetus for his activism.
  • Quote: “Her mom said, ‘Thank you so much for reaching out to my daughter, but she’s already taken her life.’ … That’s when I said, never another child under my watch.” (17:55–18:16)
  • His team monitors the internet for at-risk children and has “talked down” 136 children from suicide.
• Statistics and Hidden Epidemic:
  • Stresses that over 4,200 children die by suicide annually in the U.S. due to bullying.
    • Quote: “Over 4,200 children… taking their lives every year in the United States of America due to bullying.” (18:59)
  • Criticizes media for ignoring this ongoing crisis compared to school shootings.
• Approach to Bullies and Victims:
  • Advocates for empathy towards bullies as well, suggesting many are hurting themselves.
    • Quote: “It’s not about the child’s getting bullied. It’s about the bullying itself. We even go to bullies’ families and try to find out … why are you doing this?” (19:54)
• Role of Social Media:
  • Snapchat called out as the most insidious platform because parents are absent from it, giving bullies unchecked access to victims.
  • Instagram also cited for amplifying appearance-based bullying.
  • Accepts the double-edged nature of social media.

Handling Online Hate & Building Community (00:00, 21:14–21:53)

• Repeats his personal rule to give everyone one warning before blocking, with a spirit of compassion.
• Many former online attackers have become close supporters after this approach.
  • Quote: “I always give everybody one warning on my platform. Everybody has the benefit of one warning. … Some of the closest relationships I have on my platform are people that attacked me, really.” (00:00, repeated at 21:14)

Influence, Censorship, and Trump Support (16:01–17:49)

• Describes explosive growth and repeated shutdowns on TikTok and other platforms due to political views.
• Praises Trump’s current term and the impact he perceives the administration to have, yet insists he would denounce Trump if proof of criminality or inhumanity emerged.
  • Quote: “Humanity always comes first over my platform, before politics.” (17:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Never another child under my watch.” (18:16, Shawn Michael)
• “[Socialism]… if you want to live the way those people live, then let’s go. Socialism, let’s go. I’ll sign up for it.” (13:53, Shawn Michael)
• “Over 4,200 children… taking their lives every year… due to bullying.” (18:59, Shawn Michael)
• “If you do not like him and you can’t stand the way he speaks, put headphones on and don’t listen to him. Make believe you’re deaf. Watch what he does with your vision and your eyes. The guy is a beast.” (16:47, Shawn Michael on Trump)
• “The number one culprit, I believe, is Snapchat. Because none of the parents are on Snapchat. All the kids are on Snapchat.” (20:53)

Highlighted Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:33–01:33: Origin of “The Midnight” nickname & family stories
• 01:48–13:14: Immigration, election integrity, Dearborn, Islam, and Western values
• 08:49: Facts about Muslim and Christian victims in Nigeria
• 11:03–13:27: UK censorship concerns, rise of socialism, political realignment
• 17:55–21:53: Bullying, suicide prevention, his mission, and digital activism
• 20:53–21:09: Snapchat & Instagram’s impact on adolescent bullying
• 00:00, 21:14: Handling hate online with a “one-warning” rule
• 16:01–17:49: Social media censorship, Trump support, and personal principles

Conclusion

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Shawn Michael (“The Midnight”) combines personal stories with intense social commentary, foregrounding his fight against bullying and suicide with his perspective on America’s political future. Whether discussing his compassionate approach to online hate or his campaign to support at-risk youth, Shawn’s message is underscored by a call for humanity above all.

Connect with The Midnight:

• TikTok: @theMidnight123
• Instagram: @themidnight123_
• Facebook: Shawn Michael

This summary captures the episode’s main themes and core moments, offering an insightful overview for listeners interested in activism, politics, and personal resilience in the digital era.