Louder with Crowder: "Australia Shooting: It's not the Guns, it's Islam"

Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Steven Crowder
Main Theme:
An examination of the mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia, analyzing whether gun control or underlying ideological factors—specifically the role of Islam—are at the root of such attacks. The episode also covers related recent events such as the Brown University shooting, discusses media and government responses, and critiques contemporary interpretations of classic literature like Orwell's "Animal Farm."

Episode Overview

Steven Crowder and team focus on two recent mass shootings—one in Australia, one at Brown University (Rhode Island)—and argue that the prevailing left-wing narrative wrongly focuses on gun control and right-wing extremism, instead of what Crowder asserts is the more significant issue: radical Islam. The conversation then critiques how media, politicians, and even Hollywood obfuscate or reinterpret these events and broader cultural issues.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Australia Hanukkah Shooting — Facts & Critique of Gun Control Narratives

[22:11]

• Both shootings were perpetrated by a father and son, Sajid and Navid Akram, with ties to Islamic extremism and known to authorities.
• Australia has some of the world’s strictest gun laws; yet, the violence still occurred, using non-semiautomatic hunting firearms.
• Crowder claims this demonstrates that even the most restrictive gun policies do not prevent determined attackers, especially when an entire society is largely unarmed:

  “The constant is not lax gun laws. The constant isn’t even, by the way, guns themselves.”
  [23:30]

• “94% of mass shootings take place in gun free zones. Obviously schools are included in that category... And a place like Australia, the entire country is pretty much a gun free zone.”

[46:18] — On the shooters’ background:

“Navid Akram was already known to some security personnel in Australia since 2019 over an Islamic State plot. Later was deemed to not be a threat… guns used, bolt action rifle, shotgun…obtained through some kind of hunting or gun club license.”

2. Government and Media Response

Australia’s Response

[50:18]

• Crowder criticizes the Australian government for responding with calls for stricter gun control and hate speech regulations, rather than addressing the importation of populations with high rates of anti-Semitism or radicalism:

  “This is how you know that your governments aren’t looking out for you. This is how you know that there is political theater at play. Saying that right wing extremism or hate speech has any bearing on this is dishonest.”

[1:10:55] — On root causes:

“If only the left was as unforgiving of Islamists as they are of somebody who posted a racist tweet when they were a teenager. It’s true. That follows you for life. Being part of the Mujahideen…people change.”

Media Framing

• Mainstream outlets focus on “right-wing extremism” and “guns,” rarely addressing the religious and ideological motivation, according to Crowder.
• Notable example: the left celebrating a Muslim bystander who tackled a shooter, using it as evidence against “Islamophobic” narratives:

  “Of course we can blame the ideology of Islam… When that guy, if it was empty, fine. But he didn’t shoot the shooter, right?...He still was unconcerned. Think about that for a second.” [55:13]

3. Analysis of Defensive Gun Use and Public Safety

[1:00:33]

• Crowder demonstrates, both rhetorically and practically, how even the most basic firearms (bolt-action, lever-action rifles, small handguns) can be used rapidly and lethally—suggesting “assault weapon” bans are superficial.

• Argues that an armed citizenry is a strong deterrent and faster responder than police:

  “If you can put a shooter in a headlock and disarm him, better case scenario would be shoot him, blow him away 10 minutes earlier. 10 minutes earlier... Or even more. I forget how long they said this went on, but it was a while.”

• Criticizes the “wait for police” attitude:

  “Police response time is often…longer than a split second. And it’s particularly relevant here because relying on the cops may be what resulted in these people being able to go completely confident, unfettered for minutes at a time.” [1:04:40]

4. Islamic Extremism and Western Societies

[1:14:02] — Citing Numbers and Sermons:

• Crowder underscores the rise in Australia’s Muslim population from under 100,000 in 1985 to over 813,000 in 2025, connecting this to higher rates of anti-Semitic violence and quoting surveys:

  “198 million Muslims worldwide support the use of violence against civilian targets to defend Islam… that would mean 89,000 Muslims in Australia alone support violence against civilians.”

• Showcases imams preaching jihad as a religious obligation.

  “Jihad continues until judgment day. Jihad is the only solution when it comes to infidels.” [1:24:03]

• Contends that Western societies should require immigrants/members of the Islamic faith to actively denounce concepts like jihad in order to remain:

  “They have to actively denounce it to be in our borders.” [1:17:39]

5. Parallel Event: Brown University Shooting

[19:40]

• Less information available, but Crowder criticizes the university president and media for their slow, vague reaction and warns about premature “filling in the gaps” with speculation or conspiracy.
• Emphasizes that even in highly regulated, gun-controlled states like Rhode Island, violence persists.

6. Cultural Critique: Propaganda, Animal Farm, and the Modern Left

[1:33:20]

• Discusses a new film adaptation of Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” which, rather than warning against socialist totalitarianism, reframes the story as a critique of capitalism.

  “When people get mad about cultural appropriation, do we have a problem with taking a famous piece of writing, taking its original intent and using it to convey the exact opposite?”

• Cites Andy Serkis’ quote from the film’s promotion:

  “We’ve smuggled the politics in so that…So that it’s…smuggle it in. That can be opened up between young people and families and old.” [1:40:56]

• Warns about propaganda targeting youth and what he sees as church and studio complicity.

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Gun Control & Defensive Use

• “You can do that. You know, it would be better not having to just be on top of your kids, but being able to return fire. That’s what I’m saying.” [1:06:14]

On Islam & Western Societies

• “You cannot claim to be a Christian and believe that there is any more overwhelmingly evil force in the world today than Islam. It subverts everything that we believe and seeks to delegitimize it. And if you disagree, you are at risk of being killed by those who disagree with you.” [1:14:45]

On Government Response

• “You will never eradicate crime. You will never eradicate gun violence as seen here. The great act of evil is barring people from protecting themselves.” [1:10:22]

On Cultural Reinterpretation

• “How is that not a problem? How is that not a slap in the face to the legacy of Orwell?...Same man who writes 1984, which is about doing exactly this.” [1:39:13]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:10–04:50] — Podcast opens, quick reference to shooting topics and holiday banter
• [19:40–22:11] — Brown University shooting details and critique of media/political responses
• [22:11–26:50] — Transition to Australian shooting, recitation of facts, comparison to US gun debates
• [46:18–51:30] — Detailed background on Sydney shooters; ideological context
• [50:18–54:00] — Government/media reaction and framing; emphasis on “right wing extremism”
• [55:13–1:09:23] — Defensive gun use; demonstration of firearms; critique of police reliance
• [1:10:55–1:17:39] — Islam’s role; statistics and policy arguments
• [1:24:03–1:27:03] — Excerpts of Australian imams’ sermons advocating jihad
• [1:33:20–1:49:00] — "Animal Farm" discourse and critique of modern leftist propaganda
• [Throughout] — Satirical asides, pop-culture tangents, and interludes (marked by comedic tone)

Summary Tone and Language

The episode is direct, polemical, sometimes confrontational—Crowder deploys biting sarcasm, dark humor, and frequent mockery, particularly when referencing political opponents, media personalities, or government officials. The show also includes live exchanges with co-hosts filled with banter, quick sidebars, and references to pop culture (e.g., "Animal Farm," "Die Hard"). Content is intended for an audience comfortable with blunt, right-leaning critique and irreverence.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode provides Crowder’s arguments that gun policies are ineffective bulwarks against ideologically motivated violence, using the recent Sydney attack as a case study. His solution is a greater focus on defending Western cultural and religious values, more honest public discourse about the roots of violence—including the influence of some forms of Islam—and renewed vigilance against cultural propaganda that, in his view, erodes foundational freedoms.

Listeners will also find cutting satire about political campaigns, media coverage, and a lengthy sidebar critiquing modern adaptations of classic anti-totalitarian literature, warning of the dangers of ideological subversion through pop culture.